"Doctor, a jump-gate is forming in front of us!" he exclaimed.
Magus immediately got to his feet and stood behind Drathro.
"Is it Imperial?" he asked.
"It's a double-jump gate!" Drathro replied.
The two of them watched the screen as the jump-gate formed in space. Then, to their surprise, a Federation starship emerged.
"It's an Intrepid-class ship," Drathro reported, trying to get a fix. "It's Voyager!"
"Are you sure?" asked Magus. "Voyager was reported lost before the Empire took control of the Federation."
"It's definitely Voyager," Drathro confirmed.
Janeway now stood next to Paris on the bridge of the other ship.
"It's confirmed, Captain," said Paris. "It would have taken us nearly a week to travel this far at warp nine!"
"But what about that ship?" asked Chakotay.
"I've run it through the computer, and I can find only one possible match," said Tuvok. "It matches a ship designed over four hundred years ago."
"Captain! We're being hailed by the alien vessel!" Kim reported.
"On screen," Janeway ordered.
To the surprise of just about everyone on the bridge, the image of Phineas Magus appeared on the screen before them.
"Greetings, Captain Janeway. Can I be of any assistance?"
A short time later, Magus and Janeway walked through the corridors of Voyager, discussing their current situation.
"And you think President Watt is here, in the Delta Quadrant?" Janeway asked.
"We think we've tracked him down to the next star system," Magus replied. "With any luck, we should get to him in the next few days."
"Then it appears we are not the only ones who found something in the Delta Quadrant."
"Ah, yes, the Galactica fleet," Magus said. "You say they want to get to the Alpha Quadrant with you?"
"That's Commander Adama's wish, Doctor."
"Although that could pose a problem, their addition would be most welcome to the Free Federation, as would yours," Magus noted.
"I'm not sure if all of my current crew would want to join with you," said Janeway. "The Maquis members would want to return to the demilitarized zone."
"By the time we get back, Captain, that zone, along with the Neutral Zone, may not exist!"
While the Galactica fleet maintained their position, awaiting the return of Voyager, their fighter patrols continued. The next watch was the turn of Apollo and Starbuck.
"You think we ever will get to Earth?" asked Starbuck.
"Now that we have Voyager helping us, we could," Apollo replied. "I don't know how long it will take us to get there, but we will."
Then, Starbuck picked up something on his sensor array.
"Are you getting what I'm getting, Apollo?" he asked.
"Looks like a... what did they call it... a jump-point?"
"Yeah, whatever it's called, it's right in front of us!"
Then, the ship that had created the double-jump gate emerged, and it made the Viper fighters look like insects.
"What is that thing?" asked Starbuck.
"Looks like a Star Destroyer, but much larger!"
The pilots could do nothing but watch as the Star Destroyer's tractor beam emitter came online. Soon, the two "tiny" fighters were being pulled toward the massive ship.
"I'm trying all the reverse thrust I can... but nothing!" said Starbuck.
"Don't try anything!" said Apollo. "You'll only burn out your engines!"
"We can't just be captured like this!"
"Set your distress signals so the Galactica can find us!"
Moments later it was over. The two Vipers were in the main hangar deck of the massive Star Destroyer. As the two pilots were being dragged from their cockpits, Vader marched in.
"You are from the Galactica fleet?" he boomed.
They did not answer.
"I want the location and strength of your fleet."
"I can't give you that information," said Apollo.
"I want their exact location and number," Vader insisted. "Then perhaps you need a little persuasion."
Reaching out through the Force, Vader took a hold of Starbuck's throat. As the seconds passed, he tightened his grip around Starbuck's neck, making it more and more difficult for him to breathe. Finally, Apollo could take no more.
"Alright! I'll give you what you want!"
Vader released his grip. Starbuck dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Take him to the interrogation chamber," Vader ordered. "I will deal with him shortly."
As Magus prepared to leave Voyager, he was making his farewells to Janeway on the bridge.
"I suggest you return to your fleet, Captain," he said. "May I suggest we meet here again in say... seventy-six hours?"
"That sounds reasonable," said Janeway.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by Kim.
"I'm picking up a distress signal on a long-range sensor sweep," he reported.
"What is its point of origin?"
"Not far away from the Galactica fleet."
Janeway soon joined Kim at his station.
"I recognize that signal from my time on the Galactica," she said. "It's an automated signal from one of their Viper fighters."
"But it's coming from inside a much larger vessel," said Kim. "And it's not the Galactica or the Pegasus!"
"A Star Destroyer!" said Magus. "They've been captured by the Imperials!"
"How do you know?" asked Janeway.
"Check your readings, Captain. It is either a Star Destroyer or a Super Star Destroyer!"
Kim checked the readings and looked surprised at Magus.
"Confirmed!" he said. "But how did you know, Doctor?"
"I will tell you later, Ensign. Until then, I suggest we try to help your new friends, Captain."
Magus then activated his communicator.
"Magus to Drathro. Beam me aboard, and then follow Voyager into the double jump-point."
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