"Kim to Janeway."
Harry's voice filtered through to her consciousness, rousing Kathryn from sleep.
"Kim to Janeway," Harry repeated.
Kathryn opened her eyes and pushed herself up so her weight rested back onto her arms. She reached out for her commbadge, which was lying on the table by her bed along with her pips, and activated it.
"Janeway here," she said, hoping her voice didn't sound too sleepy.
"Sorry to wake you, Captain. We've arrived at the system."
"Thank you, Harry. I'll be right there. Janeway out."
Kathryn set the commbadge back down on the table and rubbed her face. Then she rose from the bed and headed for the bathroom.
After a quick sonic shower, Kathryn put on her uniform, quickly applied some make-up, attached her commbadge and pips to her uniform and ran a brush through her hair. Then she replicated a cup of coffee and took a sip, savouring the taste and feel of the velvety liquid slipping down her throat.
Exiting her quarters, she walked straight into Chakotay and almost spilt the boiling liquid down the front of his uniform.
"Sorry," they said together.
Kathryn looked up at Chakotay's face, her sapphire blue eyes locking with his chocolate brown ones. She saw amusement at their synchronized speech, and affection for his friend.
Kathryn began to feel uncomfortable, and broke the connection by taking another sip of her coffee.
Chakotay took in the woman in front of him, her beautiful hair freshly brushed, her uniform crisp and clean, her skin smooth and soft. The corners of his lips turned up into a bittersweet smile. Kathryn had demonstrated time and again with crystal clarity that they could never be more than friends, but Chakotay knew that he would never stop loving her. But his love made her uncomfortable, and so he hid it from her in the hope that it's absence from their friendship would serve to strengthen that friendship.
Kathryn's husky voice interrupted his thoughts. "We should get to the bridge."
Chakotay nodded and they fell into step together and headed for the turbolift.
Kathryn strode out of the turbolift, Chakotay close behind her.
"Report," she ordered.
Harry Kim ran a hand through his thick black hair and rose from the command chair, silently handing command of the vessel back over to his captain. "We are approaching the fourth planet now, Captain. There are signs of civilisation, but sensors still have not detected any life-signs and we appear to be alone in the system, no ships have been detected. All systems are normal."
Kathryn suppressed a wry grin. What was normal for Voyager's systems anyway? "Thank you, Mr Kim," Kathryn said with a small smile at the young Ensign, who, she mused, was not quite so young anymore. "Keep scanning, just to be sure, I don't want any surprises."
"Aye, Captain," Harry acknowledged, and Kathryn noticed with a small measure of satisfaction that he had not said 'Ma'am'.
"Mr Baytart," Kathryn addressed the Ensign who was currently manning the conn, "Put Voyager into a geosynchronous orbit above the largest continent. Mr Kim, keep scanning for ships," she ordered as she sat down. She grinned at Chakotay. "Just in case."
Ensign Pablo Baytart's fingers danced nimbly across the conn as he guided Voyager smoothly into orbit of the fourth planet of the system. He did not quite have the finesse that Tom Paris had when he flew, but he was a skilled pilot nonetheless, and very capable. And so when Tom Paris entered the bridge, Kathryn signalled to him to wait.
Tom was itching to sit down at the conn, some days his job was very boring, sitting, flying in a straight line, nothing to do but sit, flying in a straight line, watching the view screen. But this, putting a ship into orbit, required skill, accuracy and talent, which Tom had in abundance, and fancy flying was what he lived for. Deep down he knew that he deserved to wait - he had been late for his shift, and that Pablo deserved to show of his talent for flying.
As the ship slid into orbit, Tom patted his friend on the shoulder. "Nice one, Pablo," he said, commenting on the young man's smooth piloting.
Pablo noticed for the first time that Tom Paris had been watching over his shoulder. Tom was the acknowledged best pilot on the ship, and it was true. Pablo smiled, clearly pleased by the praise his superior officer and friend.
He rose, and handed the conn over to Tom, not that there was much for Tom to do now. As he was leaving Kathryn spoke.
Simply saying, "Thank you, Ensign," she accredited his performance.
Pablo's face lit up. "Thank you, Ma'am," he said.
Kathryn turned to Chakotay and smiled ruefully. "It's taken me 5 years to train Harry not to say that," she sighed, "Maybe it's not such a bad thing we've got a long journey ahead of us."
Chakotay smiled. "Whatever you say," he said sotto voce.
Kathryn turned back to the viewscreen, gazing at the marbled planet they now orbited.
"Ma'am," she heard from her left, even quieter than before.
She whipped her head around to Chakotay again, who appeared a picture of innocence, and shot him a withering look.
Chakotay flashed her a cheeky, dimpled grin.
Deciding to ignore him, she surveyed the landmasses on the planet's surface, and observed for herself the sign's of civilisation. She wanted to investigate.
Standing, she began issuing orders. "Chakotay, Tom, Tuvok you're with me. Harry, you have the bridge." Then she headed for the turbolift, with Chakotay, Tom and Tuvok behind her.
Continued in Part 2