RECONSTRUCTION BLUES
By Rocky and the VVS7.5 staff

Time Frame: March 2380 - January 2381
Prologue:
Utopia Planitia Shipyards, Mars
October1, 2380 Stardate 56756.2

The shipyards at Utopia Planitia were a vast hive of activity. At any given time, between ten and 15 ships could be found in various stages of construction. Major ship refits were occasionally done at the Mars facility-particularly ones involving the replacement of aging warp drives-but maintenance-related activities were mostly shunted to McKinley Station. Utopia Planitia, long a center of research and development, was in the business of producing brand new starships, to augment and increase the size of the fleet.

Captain Kathryn Janeway watched as the ensign's hands flew smoothly over his controls, guiding the small shuttle easily among the never-ending stream of support ships and repair pods. At regular intervals they passed some large vessel, covered with the tentacles of supply lines and power cables. Idly, Janeway wondered how the shuttle pilot was able to navigate in the absence of stars, then chided herself for her foolishness. Even in space, courses were set by computer, by mathematical precision. But still...

*All I need is a tall ship and a star to steer by.* The feeling of wonder, the thrill of exploration evoked by those words could not be denied.

Janeway glanced over at her companion. Admiral Hayes sat relaxed, a PADD on his lap. He looked up to meet her eyes and smiled.

"Almost there, Captain."

Janeway smiled back, at what she hoped was the message implicit in those words. It had been nearly a year since Voyager's triumphant return. Almost immediately, it seemed, the excitement of their homecoming had given way to the slowly turning wheels of bureaucracy, to review boards and talk of court-martials, prosecutions, and pardons, and finally, the crew-together for eight years-going their separate ways.

Janeway herself had been given an Earth-bound assignment, to teach at the Starfleet Academy for a period of "six months", according to Hayes, while he and the rest of the brass figured out just what to do with her. Janeway could appreciate his quandary-in the eyes of the public she was a hero, but to many of her fellow officers-and more importantly, her superiors-she was a maverick who couldn't quite be trusted to operate within the confines of the chain of command.

The six months had already stretched to eight, with no end in sight, no official word yet from HQ. Janeway had to admit she found the teaching enjoyable, the interaction with her students rewarding, but part of her yearned to return to space. In the last few months that yearning had increased, become a palpable ache. Despite the pleasures of living on Earth, of being close to Chakotay as he completed his degree and began his own academic career, something was missing.

Then, unobtrusively, almost casually, a communiqué had arrived from the Commander-In-Chief, asking her to report to Utopia Planitia. No further details were given. Janeway had heard the rumors-that the team at the Warp Propulsion Lab had finally made progress on the transwarp drive, that a prototype had been developed and tested, that a mission was already being planned to take advantage of the almost unlimited potential of transwarp and explore the far reaches of the galaxy. Her sources of information were better than most; she knew how much was fact and how much fiction. But nothing had been confirmed. Until now.

The shuttle banked sharply and entered an enormous chamber, set apart from the rest of the shipyard. A slender ship was anchored there, its elongated, spoon-shaped saucer section rising gracefully from its midsection. Twin warp nacelles were attached to the aft section of the ship, with a third nacelle set perpendicular to the others. Whether it was a trick of the light, Janeway could not say, but it almost appeared as though the ship shifted restlessly beneath the cables tethering it to the dock, as if it strained to be free to soar among the stars.

The shuttle approached the vessel from the starboard side, skimming across the large hull. Janeway leaned forward in anticipation, and her breath caught sharply as the bold lettering came into view.

U.S.S. Voyager II NCC-75700.

Hayes hadn't failed to notice her reaction. "This is the latest vessel of the enhanced Intrepid Class. Longer and more powerful than the older ships of that type, and as you've no doubt guessed from the additional nacelle, capable of transwarp." He gestured at the ship through the viewscreen. "She's a beauty, isn't she?"

Janeway nodded slowly, never once taking her eyes off the ship. "She certainly is." With an effort, she turned to the Admiral. "Of course, it seems a bit strange seeing a ship with that name in the Alpha Quadrant."

Hayes laughed. "I agree. Which is why this beauty isn't going to be here much longer, not much past the time it takes to finish getting her ready for her great adventure." He glanced at her expectantly. "So, Kathryn, what do you think? Ready for another mission?"

Act 1 : March - May

Student Dormitories, University of Chicago
March13,2380 Stardate 56204.2

Chakotay wearily set down his PADD and flexed his shoulders up, forward and back. The first third of his dissertation was complete, and it was time for a break. True to the ancient saying, March had indeed come in like a lion. The lingering chill of a harsh Chicago winter seeped through the walls of the students' quarters despite the temperature controls. He shivered involuntarily and crossed the small room to the replicator, from which he extracted a large mug of hot tea. He clasped his hands around the mug to warm them and stood at the large window for a while, letting his mind rest and wander. The grassy quadrangle below bore signs of late winter: tiny, bold patches of snow surviving defiantly in shady nooks. The trees, however, had small swellings on the tips of their branches. Spring was most certainly on its way, but the cold made it feel as if winter would never end.

His impatience with the weather fed another growing irritation; despite his fascination with anthropology and archaeology, the subjects of his dual doctorate, he faced another two, perhaps three more months to obtain the degree he was determined to have. He sighed and moved away from the window.

A doctorate certainly wasn't achieved overnight, he reminded himself, but took years of dedicated effort-effort which he'd already invested. He was very fortunate that all he had standing between himself and the degree was the dissertation-the research had already been completed on Voyager. Even if he wasn't genuinely interested in his topic, this was certainly preferable to contemplating the blank walls of a prison cell for 18 months-which is what would have happened had the Presidential pardon not gone through. Still, he longed to be doing something else, something vigorous. Something to challenge his body as well as his mind.

He sighed again as he thought of the years which had elapsed since his Academy days-his earliest assignments aboard Federation starships, the daring raids with his Maquis cell, then Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant. That part of his life was over. He had left Starfleet behind twice now, but this time it was final.

Kathryn crept into his thoughts. During the final work on the dissertation, he had suggested remaining at the university during the week instead of transporting home each evening, and she had reluctantly agreed. They could be together on weekends; a practical but lonely solution which would enable him to drive towards completion in a timely manner. Only two more days till he could hold her in his arms again - it was certainly something to look forward to.

His comm unit beeped. He smiled when he saw who it was. "Kathryn! I was just thinking about you!"

:::Aren't you supposed to be working?::: she said teasingly, though he could see she was pleased.

"Believe me, I'm working very hard," he reassured her.

:::I'm glad to hear that,::: she said, giving him her 'captain's glare'. :::No slacking off, mister, if you know what's good for you.:::

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a salute, nearly upsetting his mug of tea. He hastily grabbed a napkin. "Is that what you say to your students?"

:::I don't have to,::: she said smugly. :::They wouldn't dream of being slackers.:::

"Got them beaten into submission already?" he nodded sagely. "I'm not surprised."

She chuckled. :::Seriously, Chakotay, they're a good bunch. Lively, inquisitive-they'll all make fine officers one day.:::

"It sounds like you're enjoying yourself."

:::I am, I really am.::: She paused. :::You know, when Admiral Hayes first brought up the idea of teaching at the Academy I had my doubts. I didn't expect him to give me another ship right away-I don't even know if I wanted one, or at least not right away. But I never envisioned myself in the classroom.:::

"Where did you see yourself?" he asked curiously.

:::Scientific research,::: she said promptly. :::The data we brought back from the Delta Quadrant is enough to keep entire teams of scientists busy for years.:::

"And you thought you'd be one of them. Well, I'm sure you will be called in for consultations from time to time."

:::It's already begun,::: she said. :::I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at the Lunar Observatory, to meet with Dr. Haydn.:::

His eyebrows rose. "Dr. Alex Haydn? Of the Haydn Solar Genesis Theorem?"

:::The one and the same.:::

Chakotay whistled. "You're moving in pretty rarefied circles, Kathryn."

:::Not bad for a starship captain,::: she agreed. :::It beats lecturing about supernovae at the Federation Geographic and Astronometric Society.::: She looked at something outside his field of vision. :::Chakotay, I've got to run. I've got a class in a few minutes. But I just wanted to call and say I miss you.:::

"I miss you, too, Kathryn. But I'll be seeing you this weekend."

:::I know. Still...::: she held out her hand.

He pressed his to the screen, wishing he could touch her. "I'll call you tomorrow, darling. I love you."

She smiled. :::Bye.::: The screen went dark.

Chakotay glanced at the PADD-laden desk and heaved a sigh. He sat down and took a sip of his now-cold tea. He picked up the list of comments from his advisor, Dr. Zaji, and resumed work on the second third of the dissertation, "AStudyoftheRubberTreePeopleofCentralAmerica:TheSkySpirits", grateful once again that he had made good use of his limited spare time in the DQ. Without that advantage, to have arrived at this stage would have taken another year - or longer.

Parade Grounds, StarfleetA cademy, SanFrancisco
March25,2380 Stardate 56231.8

"Cadets," the voice of the Commandant thundered across the stadium, "Dismissed."

With these words, Parents Weekend at Starfleet Academy officially began. The disciplined lines of Starfleet cadets collapsed into chaos as the students dispersed willy-nilly. Some headed for the exit, some for the stairs leading to the stands and some seemed to wander aimlessly around the field. March was going out like a lamb, and the unexpectedly mild day seemed to give everyone a case of spring fever. Cadets and parents alike moved without hurry, as if determined to enjoy the sunshine.

In the stands, Samantha Wildman tightened her grip on her husband's hand without taking her eyes off her daughter. Below, Naomi's golden hair was easy to find in the crowd as she made her way toward her parents. Sam watched the young woman move confidently, pausing to exchange a word with another cadet before continuing on. Naomi had been enrolled at the Academy less then ninety days, but she had already acquired a new poise. "Oh, Gres," Sam said. "Look at her. She's all grown up. She's not my baby any more."

He squeezed her hand briefly. "She'll always be your baby. Just don't tell her that today. I don't think she'd appreciate it."

Sam smiled, and together they turned and made their way down the steps to the spot Naomi had suggested as a meeting place. Parents Weekend at Starfleet Academy always began with a dress parade by the cadet corps. When Samantha had been a plebe, she had forgotten to arrange a meeting place in advance and it had taken over an hour find her parents. This time, she had been smart enough to make arrangements. Next year-Sam decided she wasn't going to think about that yet. Right now, all she wanted was a hug from her daughter. She didn't have to wait long. Almost as soon as her feet left the stone steps and touched natural grass, Sam was engulfed by a blonde streak that shouted, "Mom!" just before wrapping her in a bear hug. Eyes closed, Samantha returned the embrace and tried to commit the feeling to memory. Her daughter had grown-suddenly she was taller than Sam-and she had clearly grown up as well. Whatever her calendar age, by Ktarian standards Naomi was an adult, and it showed. Sam found that realization both daunting and comforting.

Then Naomi pulled away to hold Greskrendtregk just as enthusiastically. "Look at that," she said, lightly touching the shiny new third pip on her father's collar. "Looks good, Dad."

"Thanks." Heedless of her dignity, Greskrendtregk put an arm around her and tucked her close. "So do you."

Naomi smiled widely. "You always said you hated dress uniforms, Mom, and now I know why. They're such a pain. But they look sharp, don't they?"

"I don't think your father was talking about the uniform, but yes, they do." Samantha still couldn't stop staring at her daughter. It wasn't just the physical development that was noticeable. Naomi had acquired a confidence that seemed to radiate from her, as if from some hidden warp core.

Before Sam could think of something to say, she realized that a young Human cadet was standing awkwardly to one side. Like Naomi, he wore the hash marks of a first year midshipman and like Naomi he was blond and attractive. He cleared his throat, and Naomi suddenly noticed him. "Oh, good. Mom, Dad, this is my friend Griff Harley. Griff, these are my parents, Lieutenant Commander Greskrendtregk and Lieutenant Wildman."

Griff straightened immediately. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Greskrendtregk smiled. "Oh, yes, Naomi's mentioned you. You were in the same temporal mechanics class."

Sam watched the young man's face light up when he realized Naomi had spoken of him. "Yes, sir. I don't think I would have passed it without her help."

"And now we're both on the Archery Team," Naomi added. "Griff's much better than I am, though."

"You've improved a lot," he said quickly, and looked from Greskrendtregk to Sam. "Really. Considering that she'd never been in competition before, it's amazing."

Naomi looked pleased, and Sam understood. Participation in some athletic endeavor was required of all cadets, and Ktarians were almost always at a disadvantage in that regard. Competitive sports were not part of the Ktarian culture and in any event, Naomi never had the opportunity to participate in any group sports on Voyager. During their last year in the Delta Quadrant, though, Tuvok had had the foresight to give Naomi instruction in Archery. Still, she was a comparative novice, especially in relation to her teammates. "I'm sure you've been a big help to her," Sam said.

To her secret amusement, the young man blushed scarlet and his gray eyes took on an unmistakable puppy-dog expression as he looked at Naomi. He was rather sweet, Sam decided. She caught her husband's eye and he smiled in return. He, too, realized that Naomi had made a conquest. She wondered if Naomi knew it.

"Are Neelix and Sarexa here?" Naomi asked, looking around. "I promised to introduce Griff to them."

"We're meeting them later," Samantha said. "We wanted to have a chance to talk with you first." She smiled at her daughter's friend, wondering just how much of a friend he was. "Are your parents here yet?"

He shook his head. "Not yet, ma'am. Their transport got held up at Deep Space Six. They're coming from Osurah II."

"Well," Greskrendtregk began, but Naomi suddenly brightened and thrust her hand in the air.

"Icheb!" she called, waving frantically. "Over here!"

Sam noted that Griff's mouth tightened slightly before assuming a forced smile. Turning, she saw Icheb, flanked by Owen Paris on one side and Alicia Paris and a female cadet on the other. The Paris family smiled in unison and came in their direction.

"Who is that with them?" Greskrendtregk asked. "Is she Deltan?"

"Yes. Her name's Mialla. She's on the swim team with Icheb."

Greskrendtregk looked over Naomi's head to catch Sam's attention, and then raised his eyebrows. The complete absence of inflection in Naomi's voice was a dead giveaway-Naomi didn't like Cadet Mialla.

Sam looked again at the young woman whose shoulder touched Icheb's as they walked. Like all female Deltans, she was tall, graceful and bald. The lack of hair only emphasized the perfect shape of her head and her large, dark eyes. Even though Deltans were required to take suppressants to reduce their natural pheromones, Sam fancied she detected something unusual. It could be that Mialla's suppressants were not 100% effective, which sometimes happened, or it could be that Sam's mind was filling in a gap it didn't expect to find. She glanced at Greskrendtregk to see his reaction. Sure enough, his nose was twitching, a sure sign that he, too, noticed something, which meant the suppressants were probably not working correctly. He realized she was studying him and shrugged ruefully.

"Lieutenant Wildman," Icheb said as the Paris contingent drew close. He seemed unaffected by the Deltan cadet. "It is good to see you again. And you, sir."

"You're looking well, Icheb," Sam said, and it was true. As introspective as ever, Icheb nevertheless conveyed the impression of a happy young man. It was also true that his notable efforts on the swim team - apparently the Brunali physiology was perfect for the butterfly stroke, and Icheb was setting records every time he dove into the pool - had enhanced his physique. Old married woman though she was, Sam could appreciate why Mialla was clinging to Icheb's arm possessively. "I hear congratulations are in order, to you and your team."

Owen Paris beamed. "Yes, the Academy won the FCAA swim meet for the first time in forty years."

"It was a team effort," Icheb said earnestly. "Mialla - oh, I forgot." He quickly introduced Mialla to Greskrendtregk and Samantha. "Mialla was a team captain this year."

"Then congratulations to you, too," Samantha said.

"Thank you." Mialla spoke with the same slight accent of all Deltans speaking Standard. She fixed her gaze on Icheb, and the pheromone level increased perceptibly. "He's right, it was a team accomplishment."

"We will see you at the restaurant, won't we?" Alicia Paris asked Sam. "I'm counting on a mini-reunion for our Voyager alumnae."

Sam smiled slightly. As a mother, she recognized the hidden meaning behind Alicia's innocent wording - she wanted to make it clear to Mialla that dinner was to be a family function, and not one at which the girl would be comfortable. "Absolutely. Ambassador Neelix and his wife would never forgive us if we missed them."

"Oh. Mother, I have invited Mialla to join us," Icheb said. "Her parents were unable to make the trip to Earth."

Alicia's smile seemed only slightly forced. "Of course."

"Griff is going to join us too," Naomi said quickly. "His parents aren't going to arrive until tomorrow."

From the look on Cadet Harley's face, Sam guessed he hadn't been aware of his invitation. She also guessed he didn't mind. Icheb, on the other hand, frowned slightly but he said nothing.

No one said anything, and the silence was suddenly awkward. "Commander, Lieutenant," Owen Paris said a little too heartily, "I haven't congratulated you on your new posting."

Sam bit her lip. This wasn't how she and Greskrendtregk had intended to break the news.

"New posting?" Naomi turned to her father.

"We were just about to tell you," Greskrendtregk said. "Your mother and I have been transferred to Deep Space Twelve."

Owen's face reddened. "Put my foot in it, didn't I?"

"Deep Space Twelve is in the Gamma quadrant." Icheb looked at Samantha with confusion, as if he didn't quite believe what he had heard. "On the other side of the Bajoran wormhole."

"I know where it is," Naomi snapped, but she recovered her composure at once. "That's, uh, big news."

"It's a real honor," Owen assured her. "Admiral Ross is demanding Starfleet's finest for the inaugural crew."

Naomi's smile was weak, as was her voice. "That's wonderful. When do you leave?"

"Next Tuesday." Naomi suddenly looked miserable, and very young, and Sam had to stifle an impulse to stroke her daughter's hair.

There was another uncomfortable silence, this time broken by Alicia Paris. "We were just about to tour the new library. Cadet-Griff, is it?-why don't you join us." She smiled at Samantha. You can catch up with us later."

Samantha gave Cadet Harley credit for perception, for after a quick, worried glance at Naomi, he nodded immediately. "Cadet Griffin Harley, ma'am. And it would be my pleasure."

As Alicia bundled the Paris party off, Cadet Mialla called over her shoulder, "It was nice to meet you."

"Icheb's girlfriend seems, uh, very nice," Greskrendtregk said, and Sam winced. That was not the way to ease into a difficult family discussion.

"She's not his girlfriend. She just wants to be. Even if she has to dilute her suppressants to do it." Naomi's mouth set in a flat line, the way it always did when she was upset. "So. Does everyone know about this new assignment but me?"

"Admiral Paris hardly constitutes 'everyone.'" Samantha was irritated by Naomi's tone. "We wanted to tell you first, but keep in mind that Headquarters told *us*."

"You must have known this was coming." Naomi looked from one parent to another, her gaze accusing them of silence, and conspiracy and who knew what else.

Greskrendtregk suddenly looked miserable, and Sam felt a flare of anger. The poor man was constantly fighting his own guilt about being absent during Naomi's childhood - as if it were his fault. This had to stop, and stop now. "We applied for the positions last month," Sam said coolly. "We just heard yesterday that we had been accepted. The competition for this posting has been fierce and you should be proud that your father was selected."

"And your mother," he added.

"You're going to the other side of the wormhole. If anything happens to it, you'll be decades away." Naomi folded her arms across her chest with a maximum of drama.

Samantha knew her daughter had intended that comment to be a shaft to the heart. Instead, she almost laughed. "Naomi, you of all people should realize that Starfleet has faster-than-warp drive now. We brought it to them, with Voyager."

"But things can go wrong." Naomi glared at her mother. "You know they can."

"That's the risk of being in Starfleet," Greskrendtregk said firmly. "If things do go wrong, we cope. If we can't, we don't belong in the uniform."

His tone was gentle, but Naomi's head jerked slightly at the rebuke. "But it's not fair. We've only just got back together, and you're leaving me alone."

"You won't be alone," Sam reminded her. "You've got Icheb here at the Academy, and Neelix and Sarexa will always be there for you. And I suspect Alicia Paris would love to see more of you."

"You've got everyone from Voyager," Gres added. "Plus, it's not like we would see each other that often anyway. Even if we were on Earth, you would be pretty busy for the next few years."

Naomi's frown showed that her father's point hit home. Both she and Icheb were going to have to remain as full time students for the entire summer session in order to advance with the rest of their respective classes in the autumn semester. The Academy had strict rules limiting visitation and time away for underclassmen. There would be little opportunity to see her parents unless they signed on as faculty. Naomi was constructing her own life now, one which moved her out of the family nest.

Finally, Naomi said quietly, "You're right. But it feels so strange, like I have to start over, somehow. Is it always like this, after a long mission? Do you always feel alone?"

"Nothing stays the same forever," Gres told her. "Not even for civilians. The trick is to find your anchor, build around that and let everything else sort itself out. Your mother is my anchor, and nothing can ever change that, no matter how far apart we may be. Now that you're an adult, you'll find your own anchor. And I'm willing to bet it won't be your parents. That's part of growing up."

Samantha studied her daughter as she considered these words. To her relief, Naomi nodded. "I guess you're right. But - it's okay if you two are still my anchors for a while longer?"

Gres hugged her. "Of course. You'll always be our girl."

"You'll at least be back for Parents Weekend next year, right?"

"Umm," Gres looked to Samantha for help.

"We probably won't be able to make it next year, honey." Samantha gave in to her instincts and let her hand stroke Naomi's hair. "You see, that's when the baby is due."

Naomi's eyes grew large. "A baby? You're going to have a baby?" Then her face brightened with delight and she hugged Samantha enthusiastically. "That's wonderful! Why didn't you tell me right away? Is it a boy or a girl? Does anyone else know?"

"It's too soon to tell. I'll write you as soon as we know." Sam couldn't help grinning. Until now, she hadn't realized how nervous she had been about breaking this news. "And other than the Doctor, no one else knows. We wanted to tell you first."

"Well, come on!" Grabbing Sam's hand, Naomi began to lead her across the stadium field. "We have to find Icheb and the Parises. And wait until Neelix hears!"

Smiling, Samantha tightened her grip on her daughter's hand and reached to clasp her husband's.