[Nova Squadron]

(Flying in a dense debris field.)
MAJ'EL: Tighten into a triad formation.
ZEPH: On it. Thirteen metres apart.
MAJ'EL: Good. Maintain your distance.
ZEPH: You hear that, Grom? Let's cut the chitchat and concentrate.
MAJ'EL: Excellent. Beginning a z-plus 75 degree climb. Now open your coolant interlocks.
ZEPH: Opening coolant now.
MAJ'EL: Begin Boothby Supernova in three...
ZEPH: Two...
(Everything stops.)
GROM: What is this?
DAL: Hey. Sorry I'm late. Though it looks like you started without me.
ZEPH: Computer end programme. Why are you here? You don't have the qualifications to be in Starfleet Academy training modules.
MAJ'EL: I invited Dal.
ZEPH: Perfect.
MAJ'EL: After seeing his performance in the field, I believed it would be a mutually beneficial experience.
DAL: I've done some training solo, but I'm excited to learn from the best.
ZEPH: Er... okay.
MAJ'EL: Computer, restart training programme.

[Sickbay]

EMH: This organic matrix is remarkable, unlike any I've seen. I only wish I had better news.
POG: Come on, Doc. Stop dancing around it and give it to us straight.
ZERO: Please. How bad is the prognosis?
EMH: Even with my expertise, the damage is irreparable. Much more, and this body will cease function entirely.
ZERO: And never feel again. I knew this day would come, but it is no less devastating. I'd hope there was still some distant possibility.
EMH: Oh, there is. As your Tellarite friend has said many a time, if we can't fix it, we make a new one.
POG: Huh?
EMH: With Starfleet's recent advances in artificial physiology, an upgrade could recreate tactile sensations in whatever form you wish.
ZERO: So I could look like me and feel like me. How joyous! And terrifying.
EMH: Indeed. You would retain all such sensations, the good and bad. Are you certain that is what you want?
ZERO: What is life if not a balance of both? More than anything, Doctor, I just want to feel like... me.
EMH: Very well. I'll contact the Daystrom Institute right away.
ZERO: Actually, Doctor, I'd prefer Mister Pog to oversee the project.
POG: Wha...? Zee, you're not thinking straight.
ZERO: Your skills are unparalleled, and I'd hoped you could give it the old Jankom touch.
POG: Aw, now Jankom Pog is touched.
EMH: Ah, youthful camaraderie. It's settled, then. I'll send over some schematics to get started.
ZERO: Oh, so exhilarating. A new life of unknown possibilities awaits.

[Quarters]

CHAKOTAY: Been a while since my last Starfleet debrief. I may be a little rusty.
JANEWAY: You'll be fine. But don't forget, dress code. Admiral's orders.
CHAKOTAY: I remember the first time we saw one of these com badges. It was our last day on Voyager together. Our Voyager, I mean.
JANEWAY: Who could forget? It's not every day you meet a version of yourself from the future, and she blasts you back to the Alpha Quadrant. Strange to think my uniform's so similar to hers now.
CHAKOTAY: She did give us the designs. Either way, I think it suits you. It's funny. You travelled across time to get Voyager home safe, and I did the same with the Protostar.
JANEWAY: Just like old times.
CHAKOTAY: Only I'm not your number one any more, and this isn't the old Voyager.
JANEWAY: Nothing stays the same forever. I'm looking forward to what comes next.

[Briefing room]

JANEWAY: Apologies for the delay, Admiral.
JELLICO [on screen]: Our time-lost captain returns. Chakotay, must be good to be home.
CHAKOTAY: Ten years is a long time on that island.
JANEWAY: But we're glad to have him back, especially for the mission to come. This Protostar doesn't belong in our time. It threatens the fabric of reality and endangers my crew.
TYSESS: The question is, how do we send it back to the past without causing further damage to the timestream?
JANEWAY: Mister Tysess believes if Voyager can reopen the wormhole near Solum, the exit may lead to Tars Lamora.
JELLICO [on screen]: Sorry to interrupt, Vice Admiral, but I have to stop you right there. Starfleet Command has discussed it, and we will be taking over the Protostar mission from here.
CHAKOTAY: With respect, Admiral, is that necessary? We've come this far.
JELLICO [on screen]: And we can't afford another crisis. Starfleet's already spread too thin by the Romulan evacuation, damaged fleets from the Living Construct, A500 androids barely keeping member worlds going...
JANEWAY: So let us finish what we started.
JELLICO [on screen]: You're too close to it, and I've seen how it clouds your judgment. Your orders are to escort the Protostar to Earth. The Department of Temporal Investigations will handle the rest.
TYSESS: What about our crew?
JELLICO [on screen]: Reassigned. Janeway will return to her desk, and those would-be cadets will be taken off ship and re-evaluated. Sorry, another crisis calls. We'll see you in San Francisco.
CHAKOTAY: Not the welcome home I expected.
JANEWAY: I have a duty to my crew. I'm not keen on putting our fates in the hands of bureaucrats. Options?
TYSESS: I hate to say it, but Jellico may be right. We can't go rogue again.
JANEWAY: I see. And you, Chakotay?
CHAKOTAY: I agree. We're too close. It's been a long road, Admiral. Maybe it's time our journey finally ends.

[Mess hall]

POG: The mission's over? Aw.
ZERO: This feels rather abrupt. We risked life and limb finding our old ship.
MAJ'EL: Seeing the mission through would be a logical conclusion.
ROK: Does Starfleet understand Gwyn's very existence depends on it?
ZERO: I expect so. They merely trust their own to finish the job over a few Starfleet Academy hopefuls.
POG: Don't worry. Jankom's sure they'll open a Special Rogue Misfit Division just for us.
GWYN: I don't understand. Wesley said that we're important.
POG: Maybe we were. But let's face it, our role here is done.
DAL: We rescued Chakotay and found the Protostar. This Special Rogue Misfit Division should be proud. I mean, sure, I wish it could have been us to fix our mistakes.
ROK: You mean unexpected variables?
DAL: But fixing time is a big job. And if there's a risk of losing Gwyn, I'm happy the Federation's taking over.
GWYN: You're right. This is bigger than any of us now.
TYSESS [OC]: Commander Tysess to Gwyn, you're needed on the bridge. It is urgent.
GWYN: On my way.

[Bridge]

JANEWAY: Mister Tysess, what's the situation?
TYSESS: Someone's tapped into the Watson subspace relays. We're receiving a long-range transmission from a downed Starfleet shuttle on Solum.
JANEWAY: Expecting a call? Put it through.
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear me?
GWYN: Ilthuran!
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: Ah, Gwyndala. Oh, bless the stars. You're all right. I'm not too late.
JANEWAY: This is Voyager. Is something wrong? Do you need assistance?
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: It's Asencia. She's assumed power. Too much power. And now a war is coming for you.
GWYN: What's happened?
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: The Council is no more. Asencia's harnessed new technology I've never seen, building military forces at an unfathomable rate.
GWYN: No.
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: My contacts in the uprising sent me these disturbing visuals. Within those domes, months go by, while outside merely hours. A fleet constructed in no time. Who knows what other weapons she's devised.
GWYN: How is this possible?
CHAKOTAY: Even in Solum's future, the Vau N'Akat have never possessed that kind of time manipulation.
JANEWAY: So the question is, where is she getting this technology from?
ILTHURAN [on viewscreen]: Ah! They found me.
(Communication lost.)
GWYN: Father!
(Picture returns.
JANEWAY: Asencia.
ASENCIA [on viewscreen]: Hello, Admiral. Reporting for duty. And Gwyn. Still alive, I see. I've never thanked you for my trophy.
GWYN: If you do anything to him...
ASENCIA [on viewscreen]: Oh, yes. That reminds me. Thank you, Iltheran. Now I have their subspace coordinates.
JANEWAY: Iltheran is seeking asylum with the United Federation of Planets and is under my protection.
ASENCIA [on viewscreen]: I'm not your ensign any more. But I will leave you with a parting gift in honour of the time we spent together. It just flew by.
(Communication ends.)
TYSESS: Cetacean Ops is detecting something incoming, Admiral. Something big.
JANEWAY: Red Alert! Shields up!

[Rev-1]

JANEWAY [on screen]: I advise you to turn back now. Any attack on our vessel will be considered an act of war.
DREDNOK: Acknowledged.
(Fires a continuous beam.)

[Bridge]

JANEWAY: Damage report.
TYSESS: We're caught in some sort of energy drain. Shields are down to 87% and dropping.
CHAKOTAY: It's siphoning our power. And something else is charging up on the enemy ship.
GWYN: We have no idea what her weapons are capable of.
JANEWAY: Helm, get us out of here.
HELM: I can't, Admiral. It's disrupting our warp field.
CHAKOTAY: Impulse too. We're sitting ducks.

[Rev-1]

HOLO-ASENCIA: Bleed Voyager dry, and target Rev-1's torpedoes on the Protostar.
ILTHURAN: No!

[Bridge]

HOLO-JANEWAY [OC]: Janeway to Janeway. The Protostar's being hammered. We won't last long.
CHAKOTAY: We can't lose that ship. We have to send it back.
JANEWAY: I am fully aware of our temporal predicament, but right now my concern is for the crew of Voyager. I can't protect two ships at once.
CHAKOTAY: Then let me handle the Protostar.
JANEWAY: Be careful. I just got you back.
CHAKOTAY: Don't worry. I have help. Gwyn, you're with me.
GWYN: Gwyn to Protostar crew. Meet us in transporter room 2.

[Corridor]

POG: What's going on? Voyager's draining more juice than a dikironium cloud creature.
CHAKOTAY: The Protostar needs her crew.
DAL: Wait, you want us?
CHAKOTAY: It was our ship. Who better?
GWYN: If the Protostar goes down, I go with it.
ROK: We'll make sure that doesn't happen.
ZERO: Maj'el, where are you all going?
MAJ'EL: Weapons are down. Commander Tysess is mounting a shuttle defence and needs as many pilots as possible.
(Explosion.)
POG: Grom!
CHAKOTAY: Chakotay to the doctor. We have a medical emergency. One injured.
EMH: I have patients pouring in and can barely treat them all.
ZERO: I'll take her to sickbay. The doctor could use some assistance. Safe journeys, friends.
ZEPH: We're down a pilot. You sure you know how to fly?
DAL: Well, er...
CHAKOTAY: He knows how to go fast. Go. Starfleet needs you.
DAL: Yes, sir.
POG: Well, what are we waiting for?
ROK: Good luck, Dal.
DAL: Hey, see you on the other side.
GWYN: Not if I see you first.

[Protostar]

HOLO-JANEWAY: Took you long enough.
CHAKOTAY: You didn't think I was gonna fly this ship all by myself? Ready to be my first officer?
GWYN: Yes, sir. Rok, status report.
ROK: Enemy weapons targeting forward shields. And... Bripple just had an oopsie in my pocket.
CHAKOTAY: Begin evasive manoeuvres. Pattern Omega one.
(Murf initiates.)

[Sickbay]

ZERO: I'm sorry I can't be of more assistance in my diminished state.
NOUM: As long as you're conscious, you're helpful. Now hand me a hypospray.
EMH: The osteo-regenerators can't keep up with all these wounded.
NOUM: Well, then we do it the old-fashioned way.
(Quick hypo for the pain then pushes Grom's dislocated shoulder back into place.)

[Bridge]

JANEWAY: Status report.
TYSESS: Systems failing. Shields at 19%.
JANEWAY: We need to stop that energy drain before we're fully exposed. Get my torpedoes back online.
TYSESS: Re-routing secondary power. Quantum torpedoes are armed and ready.
JANEWAY: Target the enemy weapons array.
TYSESS: We can't get a lock. Too much chronometric interference.
JANEWAY: Our weapons are useless if we can't find our target. The Nova Flyers are faster than our shuttles. Could they slip into close range and relay coordinates?
TYSESS: Already ahead of you.

[Shuttlebay]

ZEPH: Over here. Mark 2 Nova Flyers, redesigned by Lieutenant Paris himself.
DAL: They look bigger up close.
ZEPH: Let's hope they're faster, too.
MAJ'EL: Commander Tysess has unlocked the safety protocols. These are not just for target practice any more.

[Nova squad]

MAJ'EL: Prime your sensors. Once in range, scan the enemy ship's weapons array until Voyager can get a lock.

[Rav-1]

DREDNOK: Enemy fighters approaching.
HOLO-ASENCIA: Then let's welcome them properly.
ZEPH: Multiple's incoming. Laying down cover fire.
MAJ'EL: Incoming. Stay close.
(Dodging round the debris.)
DAL: Whoa! They ain't gonna make this easy.

[Bridge]

TYSESS: Shields at 12%.
JANEWAY: Nova Flyers, we need coordinates.

[Nova Squad]

ZEPH: I can't keep a lot. There's too many drones. We have to fall back.
MAJ'EL: Not an option.
DAL: Zeph's right. We fall back for the drones away and clear a path for the Protostar to get a lock.

[Bridge]

JANEWAY: That's a heck of an idea. You copy that, Protostar?
GWYN [OC]: Loud and clear.

[Protostar]

GWYN: Buy us an opening.

[Nova squad]

DAL: Come on.

[Protostar]

CHAKOTAY: We only get one shot at this.
POG: Ah, don't be so dramatic. Er... recalibrating deflector, Captain.
GWYN: There's our opening.
ROK: We've got a visual. Locking on.
CHAKOTAY: Admiral, we've scanned the weapons array. Sending the coordinates now.

[Bridge]

JANEWAY: Received. Now get out of there.
TYSESS: Shields at 3%. 2%!
JANEWAY: Fire quantum torpedoes. Full spread.

[Nova squad]

DAL: Why'd they stop following us?
(The drones form a shield grid in front of Rav-1 to intercept the torpedoes.)

[Protostar]

CHAKOTAY: No.

[Voyager]

TYSESS: Shields gone. Systems offline.
JANEWAY: Then we're at Asencia's mercy.

[Solum]

ASENCIA: I am rather enjoying my new toys. You don't want to watch? Your strategic mind has been so useful, Traveller.
(Wesley is her prisoner.)