Disclaimer: I obviously do not in any way own Star Trek: Voyager or any of the familiar characters.

A/N: This was written for NaNo 2014.

"Captain to the bridge."

Janeway closed her eyes for a brief second when Tuvok's stoic voiced filled her ready room. She was under no delusion as to what his summons meant. She had in fact been waiting the last several hours for this call to come. What had only a few hours ago seemed to take forever now seemed to have flown by at warp speeds that would give Voyager a run for its money. With a glance at the stars outside she noticed they were going by at a much slower pace now. Tom had obviously slowed recently as they awaited her arrival and therefore further orders as well. Her entire frame seemed tense as she stood and, in a manner as stoic as Tuvok's voice, made her way out of her ready room.

The bridge was silent upon her arrival. The only sounds that could be heard was the usual dull buzz of the engines vibrating through the deck paneling and the soft beeping of the consoles as the crew worked away. The lack of joking, banter, or daily conversations made the ship seem so much more silent though and the anticipation could be felt in the recycled air as if they were all waiting with baited breath for a pin to drop and break the silence.

It was no secret that she was the pin in this instance. They were waiting, each and every one of them, for her to give the order that everyone already knew she would give. Her decision, like that pin dropping, was no secret. In the back of her mind she reminded herself that it wasn't just her decision. She had discussed it thoroughly with the senior staff and they all agreed it was the only viable option.

After all, how bad could it really be? She almost didn't want to bother asking that question even to herself. "Is this it?" she asked instead, more or less unnecessarily considering.

Chakotay stood from his chair as she approached and for a brief moment their eyes met before they both looked away. She continued past him and rooted herself in the middle of the bridge, her arms crossing automatically over her chest as she gazed at the viewscreen and the mass of swirling colors dancing amongst the darkness of space like a gentle morning fog. It reminded her distinctly of the Kolyan Kolyar in Devore space.

She felt more than saw Chakotay step up behind her. "Yes, Captain." His tone was calm, but she could feel, or perhaps sense, the tension in his muscles as his arm grazed her shoulder when he took another step forward to stand at her side.

The simple and beautiful view before them was deceivingly foreboding. Beyond that aurora like phenomenon was an expanse of danger, like a welcome mat that Death itself had set out as a way to lure in some company in the inky dark abode. The scientific curiosity in her was enthralled by the unknown laying before them. The responsible captain, the part of her that had gradually overshadowed her curiosity over these last few years, made her apprehension and wariness increase tenfold.

She was responsible for these people and she had failed them before. She couldn't allow that to happen again. As she studied the makeshift border just a few more light years before them she remembered the conversation with the Ofttar trader two weeks ago...

"I feel I should warn you though, Captain Janeway...," the trade specialist began as Tuvok oversaw the supplies being beamed aboard. He was a high-spirited fellow, albeit a bit sly with a tendency of stinginess. Overall she had discovered his greatest thrill in life seemed to come from wheeling and dealing. She'd seen that spark of challenge in the eyes of others before. She herself had recognized it in herself a time or two.

"About what, exactly, Mr. Grefftus?"

The humanoid, who was no taller than her, leaned in closer and lowered his voice as if to impart a secret. His breath was a bit putrid, no doubt due to the moldy green drink he was constantly sipping, and it took all her well-honed will power not to pull away.

"The Mawr Anga."

Her forehead creased as she frowned. The universal translator didn't seem to be able to translate the phrase. "The Mawr Anga?"

Grefftus winced and looked around as if searching for any of the passersby of the station who might have heard. "Shhh," he said, and for the first time she was presented with physical proof that he was capable of frowning. "Careful, Captain. The Mawr Anga is something that inspires great fear in many people of this sector. It's not something we speak much about. There are very few visitors from outside the sector that come by here, you see...so most people are already familiar with it. You and your crew though...you're not from around here, so I feel you should be warned about what lay ahead if you continue."

"You haven't yet told me what it is, Grefftus."

"It's danger, Captain. Danger with no way out. Many ships go in, but few return. The expanse is littered with storms, phenomena like you've never seen, and some say there are even monsters living amongst the stars themselves."

She arched an eyebrow, not quite believing him. So far it all sounded like misplaced fear set around some sort of legend. A rumor with no basis of fact. Compared to what the crew had just recently faced she doubted it would be that much of an obstacle.

"I've seen it, Captain," Grefftus continued after apparently picking up on her disbelief. "Not all the way inside, exactly, but I've seen first-hand a ship who did manage to escape. It was barely habitable and limping along like a wounded Reanic beast."

Janeway had to admit that many rumors were based on some grain of truth somewhere along the line. Besides which, Grefftus may be crafty, but he had yet to outright lie to her. Even if there wasn't a 'monster' the prospect of spatial storms could be an adherence to Voyager who had so recently emerged from yet another fiasco.

"How far does this expanse extend?"

Grefftus shook his head, his bushy gray hair flying around like weeds in a hurricane. "Too far. To go around it you would have to travel two of your years out of your way. To go through it you might make it in a month. Theoretically."

"Theoretically?"

"I told you, Captain, not many have escaped. There's very little known about the area really."

She nodded even as her hope continued to wither. Which it seemed to be doing more and more frequently lately. How many expanses, voids, and bleak undertakings could the crew withstand? They were already traversing a thin line as it was.

"If you'd prefer to stay I can set you up with a lovely fertile plot of land on Sanik IV that's..."

That had been the last time she'd talked with Grefftus, but his warning still rang clearly in her ears as if he were standing right beside her. "Sensor readings?" she requested, walking to the helm and laying a hand on Tom's shoulder out of habit.

The pilot glanced up at her and for the millisecond that their eyes met she saw the same concerned look in his eyes that she herself was unwilling to show. There was also a hint of knowing behind that look. He like the rest of the crew was already well aware of what order she'd soon give. She had the distinct impression he had known what she'd choose to do before she herself had been sure.

"Grefftus was right, Captain," Harry Kim reported from behind her. "The sensors are picking up a magnetic eddy and plasma storms." He paused for a moment as he reviewed the data. "The readings are similar to those of the Badlands."

"Any signs of other ships?" Or monsters, she added silently.

"No, ma'am, but…"

"But?"

"There's interference. The sensors can't seem to get clear readings past two light-years."

And so it begins.

It was either face the unknown or spend two extra years that they couldn't afford to sacrifice. The choice was simple and yet held a complexity that she wasn't about to dwell on at that very moment.

"Alright, Mr. Paris," she said, giving the pilot's shoulder a squeeze before turning and heading back to the center of the bridge. Once again she met Chakotay's eyes for a brief second before he averted his watchful gaze. "Take us in."

"Yes, ma'am," Tom replied as his fingers began dancing across the console.

It might not be so bad, Kathryn told herself, they might make it through without a hitch. How many expanses could they traverse that wanted them dead? At some point the universe had to give them a break.

"How long until we reach the border?"

Ever prompt Tuvok answered first. "Approximately two hours and five minutes, Captain."

"I'll be in my ready room." Turning she retraced the path back to her ready room. "Notify me when we get there."