Equinox

by Diane Carey

  "You're all welcome aboard," she began. "I want you to know that Captain Ransom's death was at his own hand. We gave him every opportunity to beam aboard. We all wanted to save him. Whatever you may think, I respect him very much for his strength and conviction. In the end, he commended you to this ship and asked me to get you home. I have my own way of doing that. You'll have to live with it."

  She paused a moment, clasped her hands behind her back, and gazed briefly at the carpet before looking up again.

  "The last time we welcomed you aboard, you took advantage of our trust. You betrayed this crew. I won't make that mistake again."

  As the words hung, the other crew looked nervous. Would they indeed spend thirty years in her brig?

  She just wanted them to think about it for a moment.

  "Noah Lessing," she began then, "Maria Gilmore, James Morrow, Angela Tassoni, Brian Sofin ... you're hereby stripped of rank. You'll be expected to serve as crewmen on this vessel. Your privileges will be limited and you'll work under close supervision for as long as

  I deem fit. This time, you'll have to earn our trust. Dismissed."

  She nodded to Tuvok, who motioned the complement out of the room. As they all filed out, Janeway moved to Chakotay. The two of them stood looking at each other for as many seconds as it took to empty the room. A long silence.

  The door swept closed.

  "Repairs?" she asked.

  He offered a nominal shrug. "Coming along."

  "How's the crew?"

  "A lot of frayed nerves. Neelix is organizing a potluck to help boost morale."

  She managed a little smile at the idea. "Will I see you there?"

  "I'm replicating the salad."

  "I'll bring the croutons."

  The clouds broke when he smiled at her. What a relief!

  As she led the way out onto the bridge, where they both had plenty of work to do, Janeway felt her shoulder muscles suddenly break too. He was walking beside her now, close enough to make a difference.

  The bridge around them was a cluttered mess, but more lights came on as they stepped down through a sprinkle of debris to the command deck.

  "You know," she said, "you may have had a good reason to stage a little mutiny of your own."

  He gazed at her, wondering if she meant he might have been justified to do it.

  "The thought occurred to me," he said, "but that would've been crossing the line."

  The chord of understanding rang and rang. He made a small gesture-toward the command chair. Inviting her back into his sphere of trust? She really wanted to be there.

  As she turned toward the chair, a glint of metal caught her attention, beneath the shavings and dust. She bent down, and retrieved the ship's commission plaque.

  U.S.S. VOYAGER

  UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS Starfleet Registry NCC-74656

  Intrepid Class Kathryn Janeway, Master and Commander

  With the side of her hand, she scraped dust from the brushed metal plaque.

  "All these years ... all these battles," she murmured. 'This thing's never fallen down before."

  Chakotay came to her side again, and they both thought of the man who had driven them apart and who had sacrificed himself so they might come together again. "Let's put it back up where it belongs."

  Janeway stood up and looked at him warmly. He'd said "let's." They did it together.

  When the plague was back in place, hanging on a dirty bulkhead as proudly as ever, they retreated to the command center. Chakotay seemed content, if reserved, and started to leave to pursue his many duties.

  "Wait." As his foot touched the bridge step, Janeway reached out with one hand and grasped his wrist, both to hold him here and also to provide a bond they both very much needed. With the other hand, she tapped her chair controls and began to record a message.

  "Captain's log, U.S.S. Voyager, Stardate 53105.2. Captain Kathryn Janeway recording. We have incorporated the Equinox survivors into our crew. This log entry is an official tribute to Captain Rudolph Ransom, commander of the Starfleet Science Vessel Equinox, and to his officers and crew who did not survive their voyage. Captain Ransom and his ship's entire complement faced difficult decisions in the Delta Quadrant, but throughout their ordeal they comported themselves with courage and determination. Let the record read, hereafter, that they died in the line of duty. Captain Janeway ... out."