How did a pair of twins both end up serving on the same ship, on the other side of the galaxy? This is Megan and Jenny Delaney's story.
Jenny Delaney's heart was pounding as she stepped into Captain Janeway's Ready Room. Through the spacious window, the sharp curves of Deep Space Nine cut against the stars. The Cardassian structure was an unwanted reminder of the entire situation.
"Crewman Delaney."
She forced her gaze away from the window. Captain Janeway sat at her desk, looking up at Jenny over a PADD. Her regal Victorian bun made the captain even more intimidating. Jenny hoped she'd made herself looked presentable. Her dark curls were pulled back into a short braid, and her green science uniform was fresh out of the replicator.
"Captain," Jenny replied with military professionalism.
"Crewman," Janeway smiled softly. "This isn't a court marital. At ease."
Jenny relaxed somewhat, and forced a small smile. "Yes, Captain."
Janeway's blue eyes returned to her PADD. "Jennifer Eponine Delaney, age 22, born on a corn farm near Montreal—I'm a farm brat myself—majored in Stellar Cartography at Starfleet Academy. You chose the shorter program, graduating with the rank of Crewman, though most of your professors felt you could've made the full ensign in just one more semester. You've served the last five months aboard the U.S.S. Hemmer. And," Janeway took a sip of coffee. "…ever since your final year at the Academy, you've been putting in regular requests to be notified about any information regarding a member of the Maquis named Megan Delaney."
Jenny wasn't sure if this was a rhetorical question. Only when the captain glanced back up at her expectantly did she reply, "That's correct, Captain."
Janeway's blue eyes lingered on Jenny for a moment, then returned to her PADD.
"Captain T'Rein speaks highly of you. In fact, she says you're due for a promotion soon." She set down the PADD. "Sounds like a pretty good position you're leaving behind. A promotion aboard the Hemmer—that's a Nebula class, much bigger and flashier than Voyager. I'm curious, how did you find out that Voyager was assigned to capture the ship your sister is serving on?"
"Captain T'Rein pulled a few strings for me." Jenny replied, probably a bit too honestly.
"…Well, I don't suppose Starfleet can always keep something like that completely classified anyway. The Maquis interact with civilians in the area, and word spreads. You're far from the first person to make a request like this; families have been torn apart by this situation. Of course, Starfleet normally prohibits relatives participating in missions of this nature. But Captain T'Rein argues that an exception can be made."
Another awkward silence followed. Finally, the captain prodded, "This is your chance to make your argument, Crewman."
Jenny cleared her throat. "My sister and I have always been close, and I've always had her trust. If anyone can convince Megan to come in quietly, it's me."
"But can she also convince you?"
Jenny tried to imitate the calm air of her Vulcan captain from the Hemmer. "Everyone who knows us will tell you that I'm the more dominant twin. Always have been."
When Janeway spoke again, her voice was stern. "I won't sugarcoat this. Your sister will be lucky if she ends up in prison. We have a bit of a situation on our hands, regarding this Maquis vessel. We're not certain if anyone onboard is still alive at this point."
Jenny felt herself grow cold. From the captain's face, Jenny realized she'd probably visibly gone pale.
"That said," the captain added, "I'm an optimist. Perhaps it's wishful thinking, seeing as I've got an old friend aboard that ship."
That hit Jenny like a splash of water. The captain suddenly seemed less frightening, more human.
"Crewman, I want to help you find your sister. You deserve to be reunited with her, as much as I do with my security officer. But I have to be certain that this is a decision I won't regret. As an officer aboard my ship, I'll expect you to exercise the same objectivity as any other crewmember. We might find that the Maquis crew has been wiped out. We might find them alive, but be drawn into a battle with them. I need to know that you'll be prepared for the worst, and that you won't lose your sense of duty."
Jenny hoped what she was about to say wouldn't come off as snide; it was the only convincing argument she could come up with. "I didn't lose my sense of duty to Starfleet when my brother-in-law was killed by the Cardassians, and I didn't lose it when my sister joined the Maquis. And I won't aboard Voyager either." She then improvised a little white lie. "I'm only doing this as a duty to my sister. Whatever path she's chosen, she knew the risks. And I'll know that I did everything I could."
The captain searched Jenny's eyes, as if trying to read her.
"In that case," Janeway's mouth turned up into a small smile, "Welcome aboard Voyager, Miss Delaney."
A weight flew off Jenny's chest, leaving her feeling like a wet noodle. Still fighting to appear rigid, and feeling oddly guilty about duping the captain with that last line, she replied in a shaking voice, "Thank you, Captain."
"Thank me after we've found the Val Jean."
Continue reading the story here
Jenny Delaney's heart was pounding as she stepped into Captain Janeway's Ready Room. Through the spacious window, the sharp curves of Deep Space Nine cut against the stars. The Cardassian structure was an unwanted reminder of the entire situation.
"Crewman Delaney."
She forced her gaze away from the window. Captain Janeway sat at her desk, looking up at Jenny over a PADD. Her regal Victorian bun made the captain even more intimidating. Jenny hoped she'd made herself looked presentable. Her dark curls were pulled back into a short braid, and her green science uniform was fresh out of the replicator.
"Captain," Jenny replied with military professionalism.
"Crewman," Janeway smiled softly. "This isn't a court marital. At ease."
Jenny relaxed somewhat, and forced a small smile. "Yes, Captain."
Janeway's blue eyes returned to her PADD. "Jennifer Eponine Delaney, age 22, born on a corn farm near Montreal—I'm a farm brat myself—majored in Stellar Cartography at Starfleet Academy. You chose the shorter program, graduating with the rank of Crewman, though most of your professors felt you could've made the full ensign in just one more semester. You've served the last five months aboard the U.S.S. Hemmer. And," Janeway took a sip of coffee. "…ever since your final year at the Academy, you've been putting in regular requests to be notified about any information regarding a member of the Maquis named Megan Delaney."
Jenny wasn't sure if this was a rhetorical question. Only when the captain glanced back up at her expectantly did she reply, "That's correct, Captain."
Janeway's blue eyes lingered on Jenny for a moment, then returned to her PADD.
"Captain T'Rein speaks highly of you. In fact, she says you're due for a promotion soon." She set down the PADD. "Sounds like a pretty good position you're leaving behind. A promotion aboard the Hemmer—that's a Nebula class, much bigger and flashier than Voyager. I'm curious, how did you find out that Voyager was assigned to capture the ship your sister is serving on?"
"Captain T'Rein pulled a few strings for me." Jenny replied, probably a bit too honestly.
"…Well, I don't suppose Starfleet can always keep something like that completely classified anyway. The Maquis interact with civilians in the area, and word spreads. You're far from the first person to make a request like this; families have been torn apart by this situation. Of course, Starfleet normally prohibits relatives participating in missions of this nature. But Captain T'Rein argues that an exception can be made."
Another awkward silence followed. Finally, the captain prodded, "This is your chance to make your argument, Crewman."
Jenny cleared her throat. "My sister and I have always been close, and I've always had her trust. If anyone can convince Megan to come in quietly, it's me."
"But can she also convince you?"
Jenny tried to imitate the calm air of her Vulcan captain from the Hemmer. "Everyone who knows us will tell you that I'm the more dominant twin. Always have been."
When Janeway spoke again, her voice was stern. "I won't sugarcoat this. Your sister will be lucky if she ends up in prison. We have a bit of a situation on our hands, regarding this Maquis vessel. We're not certain if anyone onboard is still alive at this point."
Jenny felt herself grow cold. From the captain's face, Jenny realized she'd probably visibly gone pale.
"That said," the captain added, "I'm an optimist. Perhaps it's wishful thinking, seeing as I've got an old friend aboard that ship."
That hit Jenny like a splash of water. The captain suddenly seemed less frightening, more human.
"Crewman, I want to help you find your sister. You deserve to be reunited with her, as much as I do with my security officer. But I have to be certain that this is a decision I won't regret. As an officer aboard my ship, I'll expect you to exercise the same objectivity as any other crewmember. We might find that the Maquis crew has been wiped out. We might find them alive, but be drawn into a battle with them. I need to know that you'll be prepared for the worst, and that you won't lose your sense of duty."
Jenny hoped what she was about to say wouldn't come off as snide; it was the only convincing argument she could come up with. "I didn't lose my sense of duty to Starfleet when my brother-in-law was killed by the Cardassians, and I didn't lose it when my sister joined the Maquis. And I won't aboard Voyager either." She then improvised a little white lie. "I'm only doing this as a duty to my sister. Whatever path she's chosen, she knew the risks. And I'll know that I did everything I could."
The captain searched Jenny's eyes, as if trying to read her.
"In that case," Janeway's mouth turned up into a small smile, "Welcome aboard Voyager, Miss Delaney."
A weight flew off Jenny's chest, leaving her feeling like a wet noodle. Still fighting to appear rigid, and feeling oddly guilty about duping the captain with that last line, she replied in a shaking voice, "Thank you, Captain."
"Thank me after we've found the Val Jean."
Continue reading the story here
