Disclaimer:
This story is based in the "Star Trek" universe. The use of anything related to "Star Trek" in this series is not intended to infringe upon the rights of Paramount Pictures. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.
All other content or otherwise are works of my own imagination. All events are fictitious in nature.
Any similarities to persons living, dead, or otherwise are purely coincidental.
This story contains strong themes of homosexual content, if this offends you in any way, please refrain from reading further. If you are not of legal age to read this, please leave now. Ok as well before we start this is based on the series Star Trek Voyager but with a twist from the original story line and i hope you like it.
Chapter 23: Shore Leave Part 2
"You should have followed them!" barked Admiral Montgomery. "In a runabout, are you insane. I would have been destroyed." I barked back. "Watch your tone commander." Said Montgomery. "No sir, with all due respect I have just lost 2 of my best friends and my husband. How the hell do you expect me to react? Everything isn't a bed of roses as the minute for me." I screamed at him. "Okay Jack that's enough I think you have made your point." Said my mother. "That son of yours is out of control. He should not be speaking to me like that whether has your son or not." Montgomery told her. "I realise that Ken and I will have a word at another time but right now we need to focus on finding and rescuing Admiral Janeway, Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Walker. Now of course this is your assignment as you are head of project full circle and those on Voyager now fall under your command, but I think it would be wise to use my son in this and the other senior staff from Voyager don't you." My mother explained to him. "No I don't actually. They are too close to the situation and therefore won't be objective. I will send out a starship to track the signal that Commander Carter placed on the hull of that ship. Now if that's all I have work to do." Montgomery said and returned to his desk. I was about to seriously lay into him but my mother grabbed my arm and said "Save it. Now move" I walked out the office with her close behind me. "He is right. I think it is best for you to just get Matthew and go home. Now!" she said to me in a forceful tone. I looked into her eyes and said "Fine." I turned away from her and went to walk away. The problem with my mother was that she could read me like a book. I heard her sigh before she said "Jack wait." I stopped and turned back around to face her. She looked around her and then approached me. "Okay you win, speak with the senior staff from Voyager and come up with a plan to rescue them." She said. "Thank you." I said smiling. "I'll get you Voyager and the crew out of drydock and take you myself." She said to me. "Why do this? You would really risk your career for me." I said to her. "Jack that's my son in law and friend out there. How can I not help you?" she said to me. "Fine but I want you to stay here and cover for us; I don't want you out there." I told her. "But who will command the mission?" she asked. I looked straight at her. "Me!" I said. She smiled before saying. "There is no way I can change your mind I know how stubborn you are. But I will agree on one condition." She said. I looked at her. "Take Dan as your first officer." She said. "Good idea. But you will need to be onboard to give me command control." I told her. "Don't worry I know. You just come up with the plan and the leave the rest to me." She said. I nodded and walked away.
I stood in the front room and of the house surrounded by the former senior staff of Voyager. I had just finished explaining the situation of what had happened with Kathryn, Tom and Chakotay and also what my mother and I had spoken about. "If anyone in this room does not wish to be involved in the actions we are about to talk about then please speak up now as they are not exactly Starfleet approved and you would be risking your career. But I would ask that you not reveal any of it to anyone." I told them. No one moved or spoke up. "Then I assume you are all happy to do this no matter what happens." I said. People nodded. "Before we do start talking about this who will command the mission?" Paris asked. "I am!" I said and people looked slightly shocked. "I really hope this isn't going to be a problem especially of course for you Mr Tuvok, I realise you hold the rank of commander but I do think it would be best for you to be at Tactical during the mission." I said. "A logical choice, I have no objections." He replied. "And that goes for the rest of you; you all need to be at the same place you always have been where Captain Janeway came to depend on you. I am the only expendable person and this is my mission. I will take full responsibility for the outcome if and when we get back." I told them. "Jack to be honest I don't think anyone has a problem with this. All we care about is getting them back." B'Elanna said. "Good, my first officer will be Lieutenant Commander Daniel Fletcher who is a close friend of mine." I explained to them. "So Mr Tuvok I turn to you again and ask any ideas of how we are going to pull this off?" I asked. "Before I do answer may I assume that you will not be following Starfleet directives with the exception of the prime directive?" he asked. Everyone looked at me and waited with baited breath for my answer. I sighed before saying. "Okay listen I will follow the rules, Kathryn didn't spend 7 years trying to get us home for me to get back and break the rules straight away. But I will follow them to a certain point until I have no choice but to break them." I said and paused before continuing. "Listen to me very carefully all of you. I will stop at nothing to get Admiral Janeway, Chakotay and my husband home. We did not spend 7 years on the brink of death almost every day for this to happen the minute we get back home. Do I make myself clear?" I said. "Of course." Everyone said one at time. "Good, now Tuvok, based on that what do we have?" I asked "I suggest a stealth approach." He said. "I agree, sneak up on them, board the ship and get our officers and run like hell." I said. "That's all well and good but we are going to have one hell of fire fight on our hands if the Jem Haddar have some friends with them." Said B'Elanna. "I'm sure we will but we will get through it, this crew has with stood a heck of a lot more than the Jem Haddar." I said. "Great thanks Jack, more repairs for me to do." She said making everyone chuckle. "It should help with the new armour." Said Harry. "If it still works." Said Paris. "It should. But even without it, we survived for 7 years without it in the delta quadrant. I think we can handle the dominion." I said. "Good point." Said Paris. "When do we leave?" asked the doctor. "As soon as my mother can get the crew together and find a way for us to `borrow' Voyager." I said. "So basically be prepared to leave at a moment's notice." Said Paris. "That's right Tom. In addition my grandparents are happy to take Miral for you as they will have Matthew for me for the duration of the mission." I said. They looked at each other and then said "That would be great thanks Jack." I then turned to Seven of Nine. "Seven by your estimation how many transphasic torpedoes do we have left on board?" I asked. "Approximately seven. But there a limited amount of photon torpedoes remaining." She said. "Leave that with me, now does anyone else have anything else they want to add before we leave?" I asked. No one said anything. "Very well, dismissed." I said. Everyone slowly left apart from Seven and the doctor. When everyone went I turned to them and said "Problem?" I asked. "No I need to do a check up of Matthew." Said the doctor getting out a tricorder. "Of course he's upstairs in his crib asleep. Up the stairs and to the end of the hall." I said and he went off and I turned to Seven. "Problem Seven?" I asked. "No I'm waiting on the doctor he and I are residing together temporarily." She said. "I see." I said. At that moment the computer chirped "Incoming transmission from Mum." Said the computer. "Open a channel." I said. The computer beeped again and then changed to mum's face in her office. "Jack it's done the crew is ready to go. Get the staff together and get to my office." She said. "Okay, but before you go we need photon and quantum torpedoes for the ship." I told her. "Already done, your grandmother is coming over now for Matthew and your grandfather have gone to Tom and B'Elannas. Get ready to go at 19:00. Carter out." She told me and the screen went black.
After sending the senior staff a message I turned to seven and the doctor. "You both may as well stay. We are getting ready to go. Will you look after Matthew until my granny arrives." I asked. "Of course." Said the doctor he said and away I went packing everything that he would need from clothes to teddy bears. I then went and packed some bits of mine including a few bits for Tom. Having then showered, dressed and done my hair I went back downstairs with 15 minutes to go. My granny had come and was sat with Matthew. I took him from her and kissed and cuddled him. "I going to miss you baby, but daddy will see you soon and I will be bringing your daddy back with me. We will both see you soon." I said to him. I kissed him one last time but it broke my heart to hand him over but finally I did and watched him and my granny beam away. Over the course of the next 5 minutes the rest of the senior staff beamed in with their stuff and together we were ready to go. We all beamed to mum's office and there was Dan and my mum waiting for us. "Good your here, let's move." She said. I looked at Dan who nodded. "Carter to drydock nine to beam to Voyager." She said. "Standby Admiral." Said a male voice. Within seconds we arrived on board Voyager in transporter room 1. Harry then went over to the controls and beamed all of our stuff to our quarters. The mission was ready to start
As we all walked onto the bridge I noticed a few engineers at their posts doing some work. Each of the senior staff took their posts relieving the engineers. It was nice to see the original crew back together. Me, mum and Dan all stood in the centre of the bridge. Mum tapped her commbadge and spoke "All hands attention! This is Admiral Julie Carter. By order of Starfleet command prepare to beam back to drydock." She said and then nodded to Harry who beamed all the engineers away. "The ship is clear apart from us." Said Harry. "Good. Mr Kim, upload this and begin transport." She said handing him a pad. She then turned to me. "Computer this Admiral Julie Carter authorisation Carter Alpha 9572 omega 35." She said. "Confirmed." Said the computer. "Transfer all command control to Lieutenant Commander Jack Carter." She said. "Transfer complete U.S.S Voyager now under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jack Carter." The computer announced. "Thanks." I said. "Transport complete Admiral, the crew is in Cargo bays 1 and 2." Said Harry. "All hands this Admiral Carter take your posts." She said. Mum then turned to me. "I best go and cover for you. Here are the command codes to override the docking clamps for drydock. Good luck." She said handing me a pad. She hugged me and then left the bridge. As she left people came on to the bridge and took their posts. B'Elanna left to go down to engineering. When Tuvok confirmed that all decks and all stations were ready to depart I went over to Harry and gave him the pad. "Work your magic Mr Kim." I said. He smiled and worked the controls as I went back to stand in the centre of the bridge. He then nodded to me and I knew we were ready to go. "Last chance for anyone to get off because from here you're in for the long haul." I said. "Jack let's just go." Said Paris. I smiled. "Very well, all stations prepare to depart." I said. "Harry do it." I said. "Docking clamps and umbilical separation complete." He said. "Mr Paris impulse engines to ¼ and take us out." I said. "Aye sir" he said. Paris worked the controls and flew the ship out of the docking bay. "We are clear." He said finally. "Go to full impulse." I said. "Bridge to Torres, fire up the core." I said. I felt the ship start to hum and I knew the core was online. I went over to the engineering station and watched the warp field power up. "Jack we are being hailed. It's Starfleet." Harry said. "Audio only Harry. Open a channel." I told him. "Voyager this is Starfleet command identify yourself." Said my mother. I smiled to myself. "Sorry mum I'm a little busy right now." I said. "Jack what the hell are you doing? Power down and return to earth now." She said. "No can do mum sorry." I said before signalling for Harry to close the channel. "Tom I think we need to get out of here fast. Set a course for that beacon. Warp 9" I ordered. "We need two more minutes to get out of here. The core isn't fully online yet" he replied. "Voyager this is Captain Picard on the Enterprise, Commander Carter stand down." Said Picard over the comm. "Sorry captain I can't do that." I said. "Mr Carter I have orders to fire on you, if you don't stand down." Picard said. "Then that's what you will have to do." I said. The channel closed and we took a direct hit as the ship went into red alert. "Direct hit no damage." Said Kim. "Shields up, arm phasers." I said. "Voyager to Picard I have no wish to fire, but if you don't leave me any choice then I will." I said. "Mr Carter return to earth now or I will fire again." He said. This time I closed the channel and we took another hit. "Bridge to Torres how much longer on the core." I asked. "1 minute." She said. "Tuvok target their engines and fire." I said. He nodded and fired. "Direct hit to their port nacelle they are venting plasma." Said Paris. "Torres to bridge we can go." She said. "Warp speed Mr Paris." I said as I sat in the command chair. He took us to warp and we were away. "We are on course. ETA 4 hours. The signal is stopped dead just near Cardassia." Said Paris. "Maintain Course." I said and breathed out.
As I sat in the command chair I turned to Dan. "I need to speak with your privately." I said to him. He nodded and we both stood up "Mr Tuvok the bridge is yours." I said and walked down the steps in to the ready room and stood in front of the big windows. As soon as the doors shut behind him I turned to face him. "Okay, I need to make sure you know everything that we have to do on this mission. I can't afford to have anything go wrong. Do you understand me?" I said to him. He looked at me and then came and stood by my side as we both looked out of the windows. "Jack, I know how much this mission means to you and I promise you I will do whatever I can to help you get your husband back, on that you have my word." He said to me. "Thanks that really does mean a lot to me." I said before turning to face the desk and making my way across. "Now I have a little bit of work to do so you have the bridge." I told him. "Okay, but I would recommend you change your colours. Yellow doesn't really say command now does it." He said. I smiled. "I will." I replied and he walked out. I replicated some coffee and a new shirt and put it on. Red was so my colour. As I sat at the desk I couldn't help but notice how bare the room was. Captain Janeway had taken everything with her when she left the ship and the room was very bare. After taking a few sips of coffee and I sent a memo out to the crew telling them that their old quarters were still theirs and they could have them back. I then assigned quarters to Dan and sent him a memo on them. When those two small jobs were done I began work on my statement of defence for my court martial which was inevitable after what I had done. As I sat writing I tried hard not to think about Tom or Kathryn or even Matthew who was back on earth. I must have lost all track of time because I was startled when the door chime went off. "Come in." I said. The doors opened and in walked Chell. "Yes chell what can I do for you?" I asked. "Sir I came to ask where in particular you want me to spend my time. In the engine room or in the mess hall?" he asked. I really did not have time to mess around with such silly questions. "Where you have always been Chell in the engine room. Forget the bloody mess hall the replicators work and it's not like we have to save power. Now get out." I said to him and turned and walked out. How that man worked on this ship for seven years without someone killing him is amazing. "Commander Carter to the bridge." Said Dan after chell left. I stood up and walked out of the ready room and on to the bridge. "Report." I said as I entered. "We have picked up the Jem Haddar ship 200,000 kilometers off the port bow." He said. "On screen." I said taking the chair. "They have detected us and are powering weapons." Said Kim. "Red Alert, All Hands to battlestations." I said. "Deploy armour, arm phasers, load torpedoes." I ordered. "Hail them" I ordered to Harry. "No response." He said. "Can you locate any of our people over there?" I asked. "Affirmative, I have them they are being held in what looks like a storage bay." Said Kim. "Alright, what's the status of their shields?" I asked. "There shields are at maximum." Reported Tuvok. "Tuvok can you take out their shields without harming our crew?" I asked. "Affirmative." he said. "Good, Seven, Paris your with me. Doctor meet me in transporter room 1. Dan the bridge is yours." I said getting up to go. I entered the turbolift with Seven and Tom and we rode down to deck 6. Stopping off at the armoury on the way we each took a tricorder, a phaser and a compression rifle and I took an extra phaser for the doctor. When we were armed we moved on down to the transporter room and found the doctor waiting. After handing him the phaser we each took our positions on the transport pads. "Carter to bridge, Mr Tuvok do it." I said. "Aye sir." He said. He fired and when the transport attendant said "Their shields are down." I quickly looked up and said "Beam us to our people." He worked the controls and we dematerialised and found ourselves inside the storage bay. There were several jem Haddar there so we each jumped behind a storage bin and laid down fire taking them all out. Unfortunately in doing so we set off their intruder alarm. "Get the away team." Said Paris. I moved over with the doctor to the Admiral, Tom and Chakotay and untied their arms and legs and removing their gags. "Jack, thank god your here, how many starships are here?" asked Kathryn. "Just Voyager." i said. "Why just voyager?" she asked, but i never got a chance to answer her when Paris said "We have company." "Time to go." i said. I hit my combadge and said "Voyager we have them 7 to beam out." We dematerliased and reappeared in the transporter room of Voyager. "Doctor take them to sickbay and check them over. I need to get back to the bridge." i said to him as i took off my phaser and tricorder and rifle and left them with the transport attendant. "Wait a minute Jack who is in command here?" asked Kathryn. "Kathryn go with the doctor, all of you go with the doctor i will explain later right now i need to get this ship out of here before we end up in the middle of a fire fight." i said to her and left the transporter room with Paris and Seven and rode the turbolift up to the bridge.
"Status?" i asked as i walked out onto the bridge and took the command chair. "We have 5 Jem Haddar attack ships on approach and 1 dreadnought heavy." reported Tuvok. The blood drained from my face and a chill went down my spine. "What do we do Jack?" asked Dan. "We fight, if they follow us back we will be putting earth at risk." i said. I looked at each member of the senior staff and then said "Red Alert, All Hands to Battlestations!" The bridge went crimson red as the red alert started flashing. "Mr Tuvok Armour Phasers, Load Torpedoes." i said. He nodded in response. "Bridge to Torres Deploy Armour." i ordered. "Yes Sir." she said and i watched as the armour deployers were activated and surrounded the ship. "How far away are they?" i asked as the ship was hit. "Forget i asked. Damage?" i asked. "Armour integrity down to 97%" said Tuvok. "Fire Phasers. Evasive pattern Delta 4." i ordered. Tuvok targeted and fired on one of the Jem Haddar attack ships. We took some more hits and Tuvok continued to fire Phasers taking out one of the attack ships. At that moment the turbolift doors opened and Admiral Janeway, Commander Chakotay and Tom walked onto the bridge. "Don't worry Jack we are just here to help.This is your mess you deal with it" said Kathryn smiling at me. "Very well, Tom, Chakotay get down to engineering and assist B'Elanna. Kathryn if you don't mind taking over at the engineering station" i ordered. They each nodded and took their places. We took a number of hits before Tuvok reported "Armour down to 64%" he said. "I think it's time that dreadnaught took a hike. Mr Tuvok target that thing with transphasic torpedoes and fire." i said. He did so and fired 3 transphasic torpedoes at the ship destoying it. "Bring us about heading 391 mark 478 and target the other 5 ships." i said. "Targets aquired." said Tuvok. "Photon and Quantumn torpedoes full spread." i said. Tuvok released a series of torpedoes destroying 3 of the 5 remaining ships. "Sir." shouted Harry. "What is it?" i asked. "One of the attack ships is on a collision course... impact in 5,4,3..." he reported. "Paris get us the hell out of..." was i all i said before i was thrown to the floor. "Direct hit" Said kim. "We have lost armour, hull breaches Deck 6 through 10 sections 9 alpha through to 25 beda." Harry then reported. "Evacuate those decks and re route field power to forward shields." ordered Dan. "Shields to full power." i ordered. "Target that last ship and fire." i ordered. Tuvok fired 3 quantum torpedoes and destroyed the last Jem Haddar attack ship. "The last enemy target has been destoyed." said Tuvok. "Stand down red alert, damage report." i asked. "The armour held up really well, the only major damage is the hull breaches from the collision other than that no damage." said Kim. "Good work. Mr Paris, set a course back to Earth. Warp Nine." i ordered. "Aye sir." he said as i sat back in the command. I looked over at Kathryn who smiled and nodded at me. "Kathryn i think it would be best for you, Chakotay and Tom to return to quarters and rest before we get back to Earth." i said. "Good idea." she said and left the bridge and went to her quarters.
The four hours it took to get back to Earth seemed like a lifetime. I went to see Tom and see how he was doing but he was so tired he was out like a light. Eventually though we did arrive back at Earth and what a welcoming comittee we had. The moment we entered sector 001 and were on approach to earth i knew we were in for a rough ride. "Sir we are being hailed by starfleet command." said Kim. "On screen." i said. The viewscreen came alive and there stood my mother and father, Admirals Montgomery and Paris and Captain Picard. "Commander Carter you're back." said Paris. "Yes sir, and i have recovered Admiral Janeway, Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Walker." i said. "Good job." he said. My mother then spoke up. "Mr Carter prepare to dock Voyager in the same docking bay you stole her from and surrender Voyager to the engineers. You will dismiss your crew with the exception of the senior staff who i will meet on the bridge." she said. "Yes ma'am." i said. "Have Admiral Janeway, Chakotay and Mr Walker meet me on the bridge also." she said. "Understood." i said. "Carter out." she said. I looked around and said "Looks like we are done for guys." "Jack we all knew the risks and we accept that." said Kim. "I agree" said Tuvok. I smiled and returned to back to the command chair. "Mr Paris, take us to drydock and dock this ship." i said. "Yes sir." he said and slowly worked the controls making our way over to the docking births and docking the ship. "All Hands attention, Dismissed. All senior staff to report to the bridge." i said. "Carter to Janeway" i said. "Go ahead." she said. "My mother has requested that you, Chakotay and Tom be on the bridge can you round them up and join us." i said. "Understood we are on our way." she said. I smiled and closed the comm channel. 5 minutes later Tom, Chakotay and Kathryn appeared on the bridge and the first thing Tom did was come down and give me a big hug and kiss. "My hero." he said. I smiled holding him. "Yes well done Jack. To you all." said Chakotay. "Yes well done, but what the hell were you thinking? I never expected behaviour like this out of anyone of you especially you Jack. I spent 7 years drilling starfleet procedures and rules in to you and this is how you repay me. Thanks a lot." said Kathryn. "But saying that you all did good work and i intend to support you at your court martial." said Janeway coming over and giving me a big hug. "Well done Jack, you have made me proud." she said. "Thank you sir." i said. At that moment the bridge went into cheers and whilstles as everyone came down and patted me on the back. "To the best crew in starfleet." i said. "That remains to be seen." said my mother walking on to the bridge with a number of security guards all carrying phasers, one of them was carrying a large equipment case and i knew what was in there. Our restraints. "Everyone back to your stations." i said. Everyone sat back down as my mother came down to face me. "I'm sorry to have to do this Jack." she said in a quiet voice. "Commander Tuvok, Lieutenant Commanders Jack Carter, Daniel Fletcher, Thomas Paris, B'Elanna Torres, Lieutenant Harry Kim, Seven of Nine, Doctor by order of Starfleet Security and Starfleet Command i hereby place you all under arrest. Your charges range from assualt on fellow officers to the theft of a federation starship and treason. None of you have to say anything but anything you do say can and i will be used in your court martial." said my mother. She then nodded at the security officers who each came down and took a set of restraints and then moved to a member of the senior staff and put them in the restraints. Their arms in front of them. My mother came over to me. "Jack deactivate the doctor." she said. I went over to the doctor and said "Sorry Doc." He smiled as i pressed a button on his Mobile Emitter and then pulled it off handing it to my mother. She took it and placed it in the equipment case. One officer came up behind me and took my arms. "I'll do my son thank you ensign." she said. "Yes ma'am." he said. He stepped back and handed her the restraints. Shhe pulled my arms out straight and placed the restraints on me. "All the prisoners are secure Admiral." said the ensign. "Good. Carter to starfleet security beam all the voyager senior staff and myself to the holding cells." she said. "Yes ma'am." they replied and dematerialised and then rematerialised in a room filled with holding cells. "Well i covered for you well. This is only a formality as well. I told your father everything so he knows and together along with the help of Admiral Paris and Admiral Janeway we are going to defend you. Your court martial is in 3 days. Until then you will remain here." she said to me and then each of us together. "Step inside your holding cells." she said. We each walked inside a holding cell and she worked the controls and activated the force fields. She then released the restraints which came over and went round each cell opening a rift in the forcefield and asking for the restraints and our commbadge. "I'm so sorry everyone." she said turning and leaving the room. "Welcome home indeed." said Paris from his cell. Everyone chuckled. "I can't appologise enough to you all. I said that i would take all the blame but starfleet seems to want to hold you all equally responsible but this isn't over. I'm pretty sure we will get let off. I mean for christ sake we are Voyager heros." i said again making everyone laugh. "We shall see." i told myself. Some shore leave this has been.
Only two more chapters to go in this saga email me your comments and suggestions. Love hearing from people who read these stories. xxx