Ask me

      Vice-admiral.       Sometimes she still didn’t believe it when she was addressed like that. For seven long years, the “captain” has become a second skin, a title, a position, a second personality. She had heard that word more often than her own name. It became everything to her. Captain Kathryn Janeway, Federation starship Voyager. She had said that phrase so many times in search of friends among new races. The number of First Contacts she had probably reached numbers similar to Captain Kirk’s time again for the first time. Her entire long journey was just an incredible combination of prolonged stress and the intoxicating spirit of scientific discovery. It was difficult. But looking back, she was surprised to realize that it was a happy time. The best crew a captain could ever dream of. A real family that could overcome any difficulties together. Their long journey, which seemed endless, ended so abruptly and unexpectedly… The Admiral adjusted the seemingly alien pips. She was too used to the gold circles that sparkled provocatively on her collar. And the single plate now felt ridiculous. As is the new title. Like the name pronounced by a mother with tears in her eyes, who does not believe that she sees her daughter again. As a new form, the aftermath of the Federation’s war with an unknown Dominion, numerous sensors against changelings throughout the Headquarters, her crew members bragging about promotions and many other details that unsettled her. The return of the lost ship caused an extraordinary stir. Even after several months of endless hearings, reports and interviews, the topic remained hot. Why did she agree to another one? For example, Chakotay went on a trip to the lands of his ancestors, escaping from the nimble paparazzi. And Tuvok returned home to the Volcano to his family. But she believed that she had to make sure that the feat of her crew was not forgotten. To make every name on the long list go down in history. Exhaling and taking a last glance at herself in the reflection of the mirrored surface of the table, she put on a duty smile and pressed the communication button. — Admiral Kathryn Janeway! We are flattered that you agreed to answer a couple of questions for our publication! The interviewer’s cheerful voice was heard. The woman reached out and took a cup of coffee from the table. Grinning, she took a sip. — I would always be honored. One day she’ll get used to her new life. To her work at Headquarters, to her fellow admirals in the next office, to her Voyager family building their lives. The fact that she would fall asleep to the noise of San Francisco, and not the quiet hum of the warp core. That the Borg threat has remained light-years away, and all her loved ones are nearby, and they are not in danger. Maybe one day, that’s how it will be. Although who knows exactly how life will turn out?..