A Love Between A Captain & Borg

Part 1

"Personal Log; Captain Kathryn Janeway: Star Date 53263.2.

A lot of things have happened since being stranded here in the Delta Quadrant. It's been six years since the 'Caretaker' threw us 75,000 light years away from home and stranded us in an unchartered and unfriendly quadrant of our known galaxy.

During this time there have been many casualties and far too many deaths for my liking which unfortunately could not be prevented. When I joined Starfleet and Maquis crews together they became one crew, my crew. I vowed to get them all home. That some will now no longer be with us on our journey is a constant weight upon my heart. The guilt of their loss I feel keenly, even though their deaths were in the line of duty and unpreventable due to Voyager being constantly attacked in this aggressive and unwelcoming place. But as Captain of the Federation Starship, U.S.S Voyager, I know that deaths will happen and there will uncountably be more which I will try and stop from happening as much as I physically can. My job is to keep Voyager as safe as I possibly can, keep a heading for home and to make sure our casualties are kept to the bare minimum at times.

Not an easy task when this crew has face down the angry mob of the Kazon, the organ snatching Vidiians, the brute force of the Hirogen and the irascible, perfection striving Borg. There were countless other species who have had nothing short of malevolent intentions towards this ship and her crew. We enjoy exploring and meeting new species whenever possible, it makes a new experience for us that we can share with others when we return.

But it has not all been bad. We have added to our crew, our small family. Ensign Samantha Wildman's little girl, Naomi has been a constant delight to all of us. Of course concerns for her safety and development have been
Present and whilst we all do our best we know it is a far from perfect situation. But she is a healthy, happy and well rounded child who at times seems older than her six years. Whether that is due to her mixed heritage of a human mother and a Ketarian father or the fact she is the only child onboard a Starship of 141 adults is anyones guess. She is my Captain's Assistant and has taken to the role seriously and judiciously. I am in no doubt that when she is old enough, and God willing that me make it back in time, Naomi will attend Starfleet academy and turn out to be a very fine officer. I just hope she has time to be a little girl before then, which regrettably Voyager isn't much of a home for a child and the Delta Quadrant isn't much of a playground.

We have two other additions to our crew, Mr Neelix a Talaxian and Delta Quadrant native. He's taken on the responsibility for cooking for the crew which do have mixed views on due to the spiciness but don't tell him that! and also being our moral officer and ambassador. He is a bright and cheerful man of a kind disposition. He originally arrived on Voyager with his partner, Kes a young Ocampa. I grew very fond of both of them and was deeply saddened when Kes had to leave Voyager due to her evolution to a higher state. Kes, we watched her grow from such a naive child into a loving and caring adult. We all miss her dearly especially Neelix, I don't think he will ever get over her.

Our final addition so far was a young female Borg Drone. Her full Borg designations was Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix 01. I was relieved when she advised me very succinctly that Seven of Nine would be acceptable. I watched with growing pride at how she has clawed back her humanity strand by fragile strand. Oh she is willful, argumentative, exacting in her pursuit of perfection. We have butted heads more times than I care to remember but I thoroughly enjoy being Seven's mentor, sometimes she is the one teaching me than me teaching her. But she is singly the most loyal individual to this crew and my command on this ship. She challenges me and yet supports me like no other. We have a bond that transends rank or friendship it is utterly unique to her."

Since severing Seven from the collective it has been trying but with each day we are prevailing, with the Doctors help Seven can now sing,dance and also hold a conversation with other crew members. Seven looks up to me as a mentor, in a way it is like bringing up a child by teaching her humanity. It has been a difficult challenge but Seven is a remarkable young woman and the most beautiful I have ever seen. "Computer pause".