PRIME DIRECTIVE: Space may be the final frontier, but I'll never get there by any monies derived from this as Harry Potter and all properties of such are owned by the Dark Lady JKR. All content, characters related to Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures, Inc....except maybe some of that stuff that ended up being used in Starfleet Battles which is owned by the Amarillo Design Bureau who used much of their content via the Starfleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph Schnaubelt and published by Ballantine Books.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN – COUNTERPOINT

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Chapter Note: The Brenari refugees have been changed to a different type of group of that race to better suit this chapter. It is not an error.

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PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction." Criss Jami (The Killosopher) – American existentialist poet, songwriter and essayist – 1987-

LAST UPDATED ON: 08-25-2020

Commodore's Log, Star Date 51840.3. After a narrow escape from being assimilated by the Borg through the machinations of Arturis, we find ourselves in a quandary. Much of the space ahead of us is claimed by the Devore Imperium, a highly xenophobic race with ships much larger than Voyager. Initial reports about the Imperium show gaining access through their territory will be difficult. Going around them will add significant time to our already long trip and there are dangers to both side of the Imperium almost as dangerous as the Devore themselves.

This new barrier to the fleet getting home comes after a bit of good news. Through methods Harry Potter admits were distasteful, he was able to gain enough information from Arturis to be able to program the ship to jump to the Alpha Quadrant. Using a course and speed felt to be the safest, the faux Dauntless will hopefully make contact with the Federation in 3 months' time. In the interest of safety, no biological crew will be onboard. Instead it will be crewed by droids of Harry's creation. These droids will be under the control of a specialized data bank housing the entirety of a full copy of the Doctor's and Zim's programming. They will be our ambassadors back to Starfleet. Going with them are all our logs as well as all the technology and tactical information we have gathered so far. Of course, this includes all the messages from the crew back to their loved ones, families and governments. Even if it takes the full 60 years or more to return to Federation space, at least those back home know we're still fighting to get return to them as fast as we can. It will hopefully give them some measure of closure even as it alerts them of how both here and those back home will be moving on with our lives.

Additionally, it is hoped the geniuses at Utopia Planitia will be able to reverse-engineer the technology from the ship. Hopefully, this will help in the war with the Dominion and give the Federation and others a chance against the Borg.

None of this, of course, helps us in our current conundrum of how to either sneak through Devore space or convince a rabidly xenophobic race that we're indeed, just passing through.

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FLEET ROOM, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 41, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51841.2

"While the offer, is genuine, I am unsettled that this Kurros felt it best to beam his isomorphic projection onto Voyager instead of hailing us with the offer as is standard communication protocol throughout the known galaxy," Tuvok said with an irritated look on his face.

Around the table, there were many nods at this but V'Lana shook her head, "Ah but that doesn't show any sort of power, Tuvok. By just showing up in the Commodore's room, he's demonstrating that he and his think-tank have the capability to penetrate our defenses. In a way, he was providing some proof that they are worth the price."

Janeway took a sip from her coffee, "I can't help but be suspicious. First we have a problem in getting back to the Alpha Quadrant faster than the long haul and Arturis showed up to exploit that. Now we have a barrier to get through and lo and behold we have another group showing up to help us."

"Well if you go around looking for difficult problems to solve, you would tend to have to show up around people having problems," Harry said from his seat next to Seven. "What I don't like about it is that from the little we know of this think-tank's actions from the records we copied from the Zahl and the Terkellians is that they show up around people who are desperate. That's what's setting off my red flags. Again if they are the intellectual equivalent of adrenaline junkies, I could see them going for the really hard problems. My worry is less about the problem and more of the desperation by the client."

"Indeed. We are much more likely to accept their help and whatever their price may be simply because there is little alternative," Tuvok agreed.

"Do we have any idea what they might ask for," Chakotay asked. "Unique items could mean a lot of different things. Given we're from the Alpha Quadrant…well practically anything we have is unique."

"Maybe we can give them Arturis. With his people assimilated, there are few of his kind left. With his big brain, it sounds like he'd fit right in with them," B'Elanna said with a scowl.

Janeway gave her chief engineer a flat look, "People aren't trade goods, B'Elanna."

B'Elanna didn't seem phased by the rebuke as she simply shrugged in response, "True but given how dangerous Arturis and his magic voice is, he's not only rather unique but keeping him contained would be a challenge and you said this Kurros and his team like challenges. Better them than us having to do it."

"I believe the protections Captain Potter have put into place are more than adequate," Captain Tahl said dryly. "For my part, I also have to feel suspicious of the fact that this is all coming at a time that we're being asked to smuggle Brenari agents into Devore space. As being from a telepathic race myself, I sympathize with them. However, even with the issue with the Borg, I believe it should be quite well known that Voyager and its crew trends towards humanitarian actions. So as Captain Potter said, the Brenari would ask if we weren't here but it does mean we might have even more reason to travel through Devore space and thus need Kurros' help.

After twenty or so minutes of further debate, Janeway finally stood up, "It is obvious that we must be cautious. Luckily, we have the luxury of time. The Brenari do not have a time constraint and we have plenty of time to take in order to make the best decision. I think it best that we pursue the other options brought up as I try to find out what the price for Kurros' help is.

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MAXIMUM SECURITY BRIG, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 41, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51844.6

Arturis looked up from the book he was reading at the slight pop of air. His people's gift of language extended to the written so it had not taken long for him to be able to read the various books onboard the fleet. He had wondered if he'd ever be given access to the vast library in the databanks.

"I'm surprised to see you," Arturis said. "I would think it more prudent for any contact with me be done via a screen. That way you could artificially distort what I say."

Harry shrugged as he gave the high-security brig a quick once over, "Your language skill is subtle and works best on the unawares. Besides, after today, either we will be doing that or it won't matter."

Arturis closed his book and shifted from where he lay on his bed to a seated position, "That sounds rather ominous."

Harry smirked, "Take it as you like. Actually I'm here because we need your help. After some thought I figured out a way to get that help from you in a way which will allow us to give you your freedom. Or at least freedom enough so that you're out of the brig. You're too valuable to just let go. You may think the fight against the Borg is futile but I'm not going to throw away someone of your skills simply because you think it's hopeless."

Arturis raised an eyebrow, "My help? A short while ago I almost had your entire fleet assimilated into the Collective. Now you're willing to work with me? I find that a bit hard to believe."

Harry waved his hand and conjured a lounge chair for himself and sat down in it. "Yet here we are. Look Arturis, what you did was terrible but I am one who understands the sheer amount of anger and despair that drove you through it. You haven't had 200 or so years of watching thousands of sentients get assimilated before your eyes. You haven't had to listen to their screams as all of what they are is eaten away by the Borg. You simply are imagining the horror of what was done to your people. I've lived having to witness that horror as it happened. So I'm willing to cut you a little slack for being focused on the wrong thing. However, that point is moot, if you agree to help us, you won't be able to try your hand at revenge again."

Arturis crossed his arms against his chest, "Again, that sounds ominous. What is it that you need my help with?"

"What do you know of the Devore Imperium?" Harry asked.

Arturis snorted, "That they are an inferior species with a tech level far higher than their intellect should be allowed to have. It is one thing to be cautious around other species, it is another to continue to see every sentient not of your race as suspect out of hand."

"They are a bunch of xenophobic fascists, aren't they?" Harry said with a chuckle. "Well unfortunately for us their space is the best route back home. Going around has a lot of problems and we're trying to finagle a way through their space. However, we have plenty of telepaths onboard and while I have a way to hide them, when we get inspected, they'd get suspicious where all are telepaths went."

Arturis face brightened up, "Ah. You want me to go through and make a systematic change to your records."

"Exactly," Harry beamed. "A lot of the back-stories are easy. Vorik was killed by B'Elanna during their Pon Farr fight. Tuvok was with Suder when the Kazons took over the ship and died with him. Sohn was killed in the Q civil war. Making up a plausible story is one thing. But that means we have to alter all the records of actions of our telepaths after the moment of their supposed deaths. That's beyond our means in the time we have. You, on the other hand, were able to steal Voyager's data and not only craft your ship to fool us but create an entire fake database good enough to fool us in further. If you can do that, I'm pretty sure you can fool the Devore."

Arturis was silent for a moment before nodding, "Yes. A difficult task but with full access to Voyager's database it is doable. However, with my command of coding, I could easily insert various things in that would either change at a predetermined time or I could leave in things I know that the Devore would see but your people wouldn't catch. I do not see how you could stop me from betraying you."

"That's because you've never been exposed to a wizard before. You and the rest of the crew have seen only a fraction of what I can do," Harry explained. "If I wanted to, I could cast a spell that would make you do anything I told you. However, it's a dark spell and with your intellect, you'd be fighting it all the time. However, using that spell would be coming from an attitude of fear. I respect the threat you could represent but I don't have to fear you. I acknowledge your position isn't one where you have a lot to bargain with, but I'd much rather get you onboard with helping us without resorting to morally repugnant actions."

Arturis mulled this but before he could speak, Harry locked eyes with him. His green eyes cold, "However, I've done a lot of morally repugnant things in my lifetime. I accept the burden of those actions and don't try to pretty them up. Just because I don't want to do a thing doesn't mean I won't do such a thing if pushed. I just want you to know that in this you're dealing with me and not Janeway and her Starfleet rules."

Arturis gave out a dry chuckle, "I understand. And thank you. It's refreshing to speak with someone who is honest about how things are and not how things we wish them to be. I am in your power and am at the mercy of how far you wish to go relative to the cost. So, what will you due to keep me from betraying you?"

Harry gestured and a table and chair appeared. A further wave made a piece of parchment and a pen appear on the table, "Back when I was leading a rebellion against fascists who were running the magical school I was in, my best friend came up with a rather ingenious way to ensure we knew about traitors. Sadly, her method wasn't thought through well enough but in her defense she was only 16 years old at the time. My version is much better."

Arturis got up from the bed and sat in the provided chair. He quickly skimmed the document. "Ah…your magic compels me if I sign, correct? Yes, this is clever. I also can guess how your friend made mistakes. Too much leeway in the wording can allow all sorts of ways of interpretation. Focusing on intent is much more secure," Arturis said.

"As I said, I've been around the block to know how people could get around things. Your skill with language makes it even more of a challenge. But intent? You can't fake that," Harry said with a satisfied smile.

Arturis read the document again before putting it down and looking at Harry with an appraising look, "If I agree to this, I take it I would be given more freedom as long as I do not leave your fleet? While that is tempting, I doubt the rest of the crew would be so open to my being able to go where I wish."

Harry shrugged, "True but on the other hand if these people want to wear uniforms and have a command structure, well they need to follow orders, yes? However, it might be best that you stay on my ship at first. On the other, other hand, there are plenty of science nerds in the crew that will see your attempt to kill them as being less important as getting access to your language skills. Plus, as the document attests, you're under my protection. By now I would hope the crew realizes that brassing me off is a bad idea."

Arturis sighed, "I wish I'd known that prior to my plot against Janeway. I would have made sure you were neutralized before I made my move. You are simply too much of an unknown to deal with."

Harry laughed, "You aren't the first to think that. So what do you say? It's not perfect but it's better than staring at these four walls for who knows how long?"

Arturis nodded, "As you say. I will sign. My people were never one to remain idle. This confinement would drive me insane if it were to continue. If I'm to be a reluctant guest of your fleet, I might as well make use of the time."

"That's the spirit!" Harry said as he watched Arturis sign and the flare of magic as the contract took hold. "As time goes by, I'm sure we'll find plenty of new races for you to learn about and expand your linguistic horizons."

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MAIN DECK , THE THINK TANK, SECTOR 41, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51846.2

"While this is an impressive vessel with unique opportunities, I fail to see why you find me unique. Drones taken out of the Collective, while rare, are not unheard of. The major differences between myself and the other former drones in our fleet is they did not undergo being put through the maturation process. I fail to see how that makes me anymore unique than the others," Seven said.

Janeway nodded, "And if you find her unique due to her being able to regain her humanity, if she were to stay, she would be turning her back on the very people who made such a leap possible. That and because of those bonds which continue to grow, it makes her less likely to agree even if I was inclined to let her go. In some ways, Seven could be seen as a child still in need of guidance."

Kurros spread his hands, "I understand your concerns. I myself faced such things when I was recruited. And to be blunt, but this team is known throughout this region as being some of the most premiere intellects. I would hope you could entertain the thought that we might see Seven of Nine in a different light than you. However, regardless of the honor of being invited, we understand it is a big step. Take some time to think of it. We will remain nearby and await your decision. We have many problems we are working on that do not require us to be in a particular place while working on them. This offer to Seven of Nine is independent of our offer in regard to the Devore. While we shall refuse to help you with your issue with the Devore is she declines now, if Seven of Nine decides later to accept our offer, then we shall gladly welcome her aboard."

Janeway was silent for a moment before nodding, "We shall think on what you've said. As much as I wish to protect Seven, I would be remiss in denying her an opportunity such as your offer. I would like her to have more time to think on it and discuss it with those of my crew she is close to."

Kurros nodded, "Of course, Commodore. Regardless of the path you choose, we will be waiting for Seven of Nine's eventual answer." With a gesture, Janeway and Seven found themselves being beamed back to Voyager and into Janeway's ready room.

Seven scowled, "I am beginning to understand why so many of the crew become irritated while working with me. If they perceive me in the same way as I am feeling about Kurros, then I am starting to understand the reason for their irritation."

Janeway chuckled, "No one likes a smart-ass Seven. Especially when that smart-ass is right more often than not. Still, I agree. Kurros and company do very much project a 'we are so much better than you' sort of vibe. Do you think you may be tempted to take them up on their offer after you've had time to think on it?"

Seven shook her head, "No. I continue to suspect their motives. However, they could easily have just taken me off Voyager. In time, I might have become more compliant with their goals given I would have little choice in the matter."

Janeway also shook her head, "True, but no matter how much of an honor they make the invitation to be, their offer still makes you out to be an object to be traded instead of a real person. I'm not about to give away that person just to get us through Devore space."

Seven nodded, "Thank you, Commodore. It does help that Harry Potter's plan using Arturis' skills appears to be far more workable."

Janeway sighed, "It looks like we'll find out, now won't we?"

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BRIDGE, USS EQUINOX, SECTOR 43, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51865.2

"Is that a threat, captain?" Prax asked menacingly if not eagerly.

"No, Major Prax. It is a statement of my irritation that you cannot seem to trust your own instruments and so resort to needlessly badgering my crew with questions we've answered the same way as we have done in the last six inspections," Tahl said coldly. "While I understand that your people do not like telepaths, I would hope an advanced culture like the Devore would have common curtesy not to poke at old wounds. Do you think I like what the Borg did to me? What they took for me? It is like going through life half-blind. I have to live with it every hour of every day as do the rest of my Romulan compatriots. We do not need your constant carping on it! If you were missing your legs, I wouldn't be poking your stubs and wondering if you really lost your legs or were somehow trying to fool me with your disability. Now, we agreed to these inspections. You have inspected us! Unless you have found something different than the last six times, I expect you to be on your way, Major."

Prax did not seem intimidated as he sneered, "I'll see your ship impounded for your insolence!"

Tahl laughed in his face, "I'm sure you would if you were in charge. But you're not, are you? So why don't you run off and take your complaints to your commander. At least Colonel Kashyk views these continued inspections to be just as tedious and only done because bureaucrats on your home world seem to think they are needed. I would have thought a soldier like yourself would be tired of doing busy work for civilians who sit behind a desk all day with no concept what it is like out here in space."

Prax scowled darkly and turned, made a motion to his men and left the bridge.

After they were gone, Dhael turned to her captain, "Is it wise to push him, Commander? He is looking for the smallest excuse to do us wrong."

Tahl laughed as he itched around where the faux Borg implants met his flesh. While not real, they did act to hide his innate abilities from detection. They were uncomfortable and brought back bad memories of his time in the Borg. "Exactly why I push him. It is one thing to be rather meek and respectful at first, but if we have nothing to hide, any sentient in our position would begin to become irritated at the continued probing. By showing our teeth, we further help with the charade that we have nothing to hide."

Dhael looked unconvinced but she respected her captain's judgement.

Tahl looked at his status board reader to see that the Devore teams had beamed away. He couldn't help but wish that the smug Prax would try and impound his ship. Then the Devore would find that the sheer size of their vessels was a poor indication of real combat capability.

OoOoO

"This container has an anomalous reading!" the Devore sergeant said after reading his instrument's report.

Harry sighed, "Yes it does. Just like it has the last six times you folks have scanned it." He made a gesture to Veer who opened the container that was about half the size of a shuttle. "As you can see, it's as empty now and as it was the last six times we showed you people. And I'll tell you again that the readings are because I augmented the container to increase its tensile strength."

Major Prax strode up with the look of someone who was expecting trouble and enjoyed that expectation, "What have you found?"

Harry sighed again, "He found the same thing your people always find! Merlin! Do you people do a brain dump after every inspection? Look here!" Harry walked over to where an empty power converter case was stored next to ones still in their containers. "Now watch this." He then proceeded to turn the empty container into a corgi which then began to bark a bit and run around Harry before he turned it back to a box. "Now scan that box. You're going to find it has the same anomalous reading! As I have explained every time you show up! My magic leaves a trace! Hell, if it weren't for the nanotech in my body I adapted to keep me from being assimilated by the Borg, I'd probably melt your machine with an anomalous reading!"

Major Prax scowled. It did seem to be his default expression in most situations. "You and your people are becoming combative. This will not be tolerated."

Harry ran a hand through his hair, "And you and your people are like a broken record! You keep us under constant surveillance, you monitor our approved route and you show up and find the same damn readings and you seem surprised we're getting brassed off? You're not finding anything because there isn't anything to find! Now get the hell off my ship before I turn you into a corgi. At least you'd be cute while being irritating!"

OoOoO

Colonel Kashyk smiled as he watched his fuming second leave. "You know, Kathryn; your people aren't making this easy for you."

Janeway shrugged as she sat in the chair normally used when she was talking to them. Now Kashyk was in her chair and she just had to grit her teeth and get through it. "Well it would help if your people treated us less like scum and more like fellow spacefarers. Given we've survived this long in the Delta Quadrant away from our people and fleet support, I'd expect a modicum of respect. Even more so given we've met and continue to meet every metric your people put upon us to get through your space. Just like you, we are a proud people and we're not used to be treated like criminals."

Kashyk laughed and sat back for a minute, the sounds of Mahler's Second Symphony filled the room. Finally he said, "That is true Commodore. Still, I think you will find it unwise to be anything other than pliant. You are, as they say, at our mercy."

"Mercy?" Janeway said dryly, "Is that what you call the outright contempt and suspicion we've encountered since the moment we made contact with your people? I can understand your Imperium's position. However, we are trying to get home. I fail to see how that is anyway surprising or why we would have any desire to interfere with your people."

Kashyk gave Janeway a knowing look, "Come, come, Commodore; you had no trouble interfering when it came to the war between the Collective and the aliens from Fluidic Space. You also just recently helped the Terkellians. Hardly the actions of a non-interested party."

Janeway made a dismissive gesture, "At the time we felt that Species 8472 was a threat to all life in this Quadrant. Regardless of how that turned out not to be correct, we acted on it. As for the Nihydron pirates, they were criminals. Helping the Terkellians was not only a transaction for needed supplies but being true to what any fleet does, keeping the peace and enforcing the law. Are you not sitting here to ensure your Imperium stays safe and your laws are being honored? We would have done the same for you if you had had a similar problem with such pirates."

Kashyk laughed, "Well said, Commodore! Now, how about we have dinner. I have found some interesting things in your database to talk about over some of your fine Earth foods."

Janeway shook her head in amazement, "You Devore have a strange way of inviting a lady to dinner. Does it always start with a police action?"

Kashyk laughed again, "Only the very best dates!"

OoOoO

"I must say, Harry, that while I've seen you do some pretty impressive things, this tent of yours is the most impressive," V'Lana said as she walked around as Harry inspected the furniture for and degradation as they were all transfigured from other materials.

Harry smiled, "Well I'm pretty impressed I was able to pull it off. This branch of magic is pretty much a niche bit of sorcery used mostly by those few who make such things. The only reason I was able to do this is I made a point of learning such magics after the Second Voldemort War and used it extensively throughout the Eugenics War. Made long-stake outs a lot more comfortable. I'm sure my friend Hermione would be impressed. Of course I tried to make it more comfortable than the tent I lived in for the better part of a year."

V'Lana nodded as she followed Harry out of the tent and out of the container. The Brenari infiltrators as well as the fleet's Vulcans and Betazoids milled about nearby. "I can imagine. Still, it's impressive how you mask it all from the Devorian sensors."

Harry smirked as he took the drinking tube offered up by Veer's back arm as he continued to work on his PADD. "Thanks Veer. As to shielding; beyond all the tricks I learned running from Voldemort, I learned to spoof all sorts of sensors during the Eugenics War. This education went even further during my time with the Borg. Hiding from the Collective on one of their own Cubes is no mean feat, let me tell you!"

"But I am still confused over one thing. Not once did any of the Devore just walk into the container to scan it further. Given their paranoia, I'd expect at least one of them to do it,' V'Lana asked.

"I'm sure they normally would. However, beyond part of the Notice-Me-Not type spells, I also have some aversion wards," Harry explained. "Normally such wards would make it such that they'd never even notice the container in the first place. However, since they are looking through security logs and the like, they'd get suspicious if no one seemed to notice this huge container in the bay they were inspecting. So in this case, the ward can be powerful but subtle. That and the fact that for their readings, actually walking in wouldn't make a lick of difference."

"That makes sense," V'Lana said. "It beats your first idea of simply transfiguring all of us telepaths into inanimate objects."

Harry nodded, "While that would have been easier, the minute we found out how many inspections we'd have to endure…well it's just not a workable solution especially for sentient beings. You'd all be psychotic by the time we crossed Devore space."

"Well listening to what the others have said, I think some of the crew is going to go that route if they have to deal with many more of these inspections," V'Lana said with a grin.

"Don't remind me," Harry groaned. "I dream of spacing Prax most nights. He reminds me of an amalgamation of my old school enemy Draco merged with his two goons Crabbe and Goyle. Not the memories I want to be dredged up, that's for sure."

XxXxX

BRIDGE, THE PHOENIX, SECTOR 42, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51886.2

"Cloaking system ready," Alars said from his station behind Harry.

"Veer?" Harry asked.

"Hugin and Munin are in position and their camouflage systems are online and ready to go," Veer replied from his own station parallel with Alars.

"Right. Initiate the phased cloak and engage the camo system," Harry ordered as he himself worked to ensure both happened in perfect tandem with each other.

If anyone had been looking out a viewport, they'd have seen the strange sight of the two, small, former Hazari vessels flying in tight formation shimmer into the form of the Phoenix even as that ship flying close by, faded from view. While they had yet to use the two former Hazari ships as the long-ranged scouts they had been made into, they did make it possible for this gambit to go forward.

A few minutes went by before Veer called out, "That is the go code from Voyager. Transition was well within the tolerances of evading detection by Devore sensors."

Harry looked up to where Seven stood next to his command chair, "Well first we sneak off and drop off our Brenari friends and then go see what Kurros and his fellow Ravenclaws want now."

OoOoO

"It saddens us that you feel that way, Seven of Nine. However the time for refusing our offer is over," Kurros said in a tone which didn't sound at all that sad.

"Here it comes," Harry muttered to himself.

Kurros, however, heard him, "Very perceptive Captain Potter. Bevvox has had to change her mind what we wanted out of this action quite a few times due to the complications which continued to plague our efforts to predict them. Initially we had planned for the Hazari bounty hunters we hired to capture your ships. After the ships and the crew were sold off to the highest bidder, it was felt you would jump at our offer of sanctuary. Yet Captain Potter's interference in that plan meant that initial attempt did not go as expected. However, your actions in saving the crew from assimilation did allow us the time to predict your next move and how to counter it."

"You set us up," Harry said flatly. "It was you working through agents I'm betting who got the Brenari to contact us. It's one thing to try and hide our own telepaths. It's another thing entirely to actively bring in agents working to help refugees escape persecution."

Kurros spread his hands as he smirked slightly, "You are very perceptive, Captain Potter. I am sure you too will enjoy working with us. As much as we initially felt Seven of Nine would make a fine addition to our crew, you are the most unique being we have encounter outside an ascendant being like a Q."

Seven's eyebrow went up in surprise, "I fail to see how you believe that Harry would consent to such an arrangement. While I have little in the way to keep from complying with your demands, he is most capable."

Kurros' smile deepened, "Oh we are fully aware of it. Yet, the renegade Arturis is not the only one who was able to make off with Voyager's logs and such. In them, we found an interesting reference to Captain Potter's perchance for heroism. His 'saving people thing' as it were. Now he has a chance to once again save his people he cares for. In exchange for your cooperation and acceptance in staying with us, we have an agreement with the Devore for them to let your fleet continue through their space without any further interruptions. However, with but one coded transmission, they will be alerted to your role in bringing in enemies of the Imperium into their space. For all of Colonel Kashyk's fascination with your people and your Commodore, the Devore High Command will instruct their fleet to destroy your vessels and leave no survivors. It is their way of sending a message to the nearby powers of their determination."

Seven turned to Harry who stood there rigid, his hands clenched into tight fists, "It seems we have little choice but to comply."

Kurros nodded, "We plotted out this course of action most carefully. In your parlance; checkmate."

Harry was silent before he began to chuckle. This chuckle turned into a bitter laugh. "Checkmate? CHECKMATE? Let me tell you something Kurros. I twice survived magicks that had killed every person they touched throughout our history. I was told our entire magical world was doomed but I found a loophole and saved my people. If it weren't for an errant wormhole, I would have saved the best and the brightest from my home world. Even then I staved off assimilation into the Collective while being under their cybernetic noses the entire time. I've faced a 20-meter demon snake that could kill with a glance and I killed it. I outflew a dragon and chased off a horde of soul-sucking monsters with a spell most adult wizards would be hard pressed to fend off one of those vile creatures. So you think you have me checkmated?"

Kurros' face hardened, "There is nothing you can do to save your people if you do not stop resisting. We have looked at every avenue you might take. There is no course you can chart that ends in your victory."

Harry laughed a cruel and bitter laugh, "That's because you are thinking logically. Magic makes logic it's bitch, my nerdy friend." Harry suddenly reached out and grabbed Seven in one hand as he manifested the Elder Wand in the other. "IGNIS INFERNALIS!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. Immediately a flood of fire erupted from his wand. The artificial lifeform barely had time to squeal before it was consumed. "Now it's checkmate," Harry snarled before apparating with Seven back to where the Phoenix was waiting, still hidden under its cloak.

"Send the signal!" Kurros shouted out as he dashed out of the room. "Send the signal now!" He almost made it to his private shuttle before being consumed by flames in the shape of a basilisk.

OoOoO

"The Marianne is drifting without power and both Voyager and the Equinox have sustained damage. Automated fighters are engaging but fourteen have already been destroyed. Only minor damage to the Devore dreadnaught. The two cruisers are in worse shape but still are capable of projecting significant combat power," Veer said in a surprisingly flat tone as the Phoenix got within sensor range.

"It appears that Kurros was as good as his word, Harry," Seven said in a tone devoid of emotion.

"Don't count your galleons out yet, Seven," Harry said through gritted teeth as Borg-like sensor tethers jacked into all of Harry's nanotech ports instead of the usual two beneath his collar-bones.

All around them, a grinding, groaning sound was heard as Harry muttered in almost a mechanical voice, "Armor deployed," If Seven could see the hull, she'd recognize much of the armor now surrounding most of the ship as being similar to the modification her team had made on Voyager when she still was a drone.

"Captain!" Alars cried out in alarm as the ship dropped out of warp even as it accelerated almost to full speed towards the battle. "We won't make it through their defensive screen!"

"I'll get us through. Seven, strap in and strap in hard," Harry said through clenched teeth.

As the dagger-like ship raced toward the battle, it was quickly detected and fired upon. Due to the amount of fire, it was obvious the Devore didn't feel the Phoenix was much of a threat, especially given even the smaller Devorian cruiser could bring a ship the size of the Phoenix into their shuttle bays.

However, as the various particle beam weapons and missiles streaked towards the Phoenix, few hit as the ship seemed to unnaturally be able to jink, slide and roll out of danger. Soon more fire was hastily directed as the Phoenix rapidly shortened the distance between it and the Devore.

"All available power to forward shields and hull integrity," Harry intoned as if speaking to himself. Inwardly he thought that this was the closest thing to Quidditch he'd probably get in his lifetime. It felt glorious even if the chances of surviving were poor. Still, for a brief moment, Harry felt as if he could feel the wind in his hair, bludgers careening past him, the Snitch desperately trying to get away.

"Captain!" both Alars and Veer all but screamed as Seven called out, "Harry!"

"Rig for collision," Harry snarled out with a predatory grin. "Ramming speed!"

Sentients on all the engaged ships gawked as the Phoenix somehow evaded the onslaught of fire fired before the Phoenix slammed into the Devorian dreadnaught. Even as they cried out, they were further amazed to see the Phoenix exit in one piece from the other side of the ship.

On board Voyager, Janeway waved some smoke out of her eyes, "Report!"

"The Phoenix seems to somehow to have survived the strike. It is, however, rapidly decelerating and seems to be in the process of losing power," Tuvok said as he leaned closer to his tactical station as a crewman behind him used a fire extinguisher on the panel behind him.

"Incoming transmission from the Phoenix!' SLT Mohindra called out.

The message came through patchy and filled with static, "Kathy, you need to tractor the Marianne and the Phoenix away. It doesn't matter where. Just get away. All of you need to get out of here. I'll catch up after I finish this," came the voice of a very tired sounding Harry Potter.

"What does he think he…" Riker started to say but Janeway cut him off with a chopping motion. She hit the direct encrypted frequency to the Equinox, "Tahl, we're getting out of here and getting out fast. Tractor the Phoenix while we take the Marianne. Have the fighters cover us but they are expendable as of now. The best speed we can handle. Potter says he's going to deal with the Devore and not to hang around while he does it. I'm inclined to make haste to do so."

Mohindra spoke up after Tahl acknowledged the order, "While the Phoenix is in bad shape, it looks like the crew got beamed over to the Marianne."

"Is Harry with them?" Janeway asked even though she knew the answer.

"No ma'am, he's not," Mohindra said in a small voice.

OoOoO

"How did this happen? Tell me Colonel? How could we be warned of the danger and have eight inspections and not get but a bare hint of the power of this Harry Potter?" the Devorian Admiral roared at Colonel Kashyk who clung to a support bar as the dreadnaught continued to be wracked by secondary explosions. All around them klaxons were going off and shouts from the crew as they tried to contain the damage on their ship.

"Don't blame him, Admiral. If the big brains on the Think Tank underestimated me, the good Colonel can hardly be blamed!" Harry said moments after he appeared on the bridge wearing his Iron Man styled armor with the faceplate up.

"Are you here to gloat?" The Admiral spat out. "The other two ships can easily catch your pathetic fleet and keep them in contact. We have an entire fleet at the nearby Starbase. An entire sector fleet. There is no escape for you and those renegades!"

"I'm aware of that base, Admiral. I wonder. Do you think you can make it there in time to escape your doom?" Harry said before his faceplate slammed down. He made a quick gesture which caused Major Prax, who was cradling an injured arm next to the engineering station, to turn into a corgi before disappearing.

"Cut those damn sirens off and stop shouting!" the Admiral shouted over the din. "You are officers of the Devore Imperium! Not panicking school children!"

Presently the klaxons were silenced and the crew's voices faded to a rushed hum as they continued to feverishly work on how to counter the damage to their ship. This, of course, was punctuated by the annoying barks of the Corgi Prax.

The Admiral finally sat down after conferring with his Chief of Engineer who had dashed off with his orders when a sensor tech cried out, "Sir! We're reading intense heat building up around the area where the enemy ship rammed us."

Before he could further question the tech, another tech spoke up, "Admiral! Getting similar readings on the Pycohn and Rasslev! It's not any energy we have on record.

The Admiral looked at Colonel Kashyk and scowled, "Alert all ships. Break off pursuit and make best speed to Galaron Base."

The crew bent to their task as Colonel Kashyk carefully made his way to the Admiral, "Sir?"

The admiral once again scowled at the junior officer. "You heard that bastard. He up and told us that we'd be lucky to get to base before whatever he has done destroys us. Given what I've seen today; I shall take him at his word."

OoOoO

"Commodore!" I'm detecting what appears to be a quasi-Federation signal trailing us," Tuvok said, breaking into Janeway's reading of the current damage report.

She turned, "Can you get a better lock on it?"

Tuvok shook his head even as he said, "Sending to Astrometrics; stand-by Commodore."

A few minutes went by till the comm beeped, "Astrometrics to the bridge," came Treana's voice.

"Go ahead," Janeway ordered.

"It appears to be the scout ships Hugin and Munin. I would guess that Harry fiddled with our modifications to mask their Federation technology to more closely match standard Hazari tech. However, both ships seem to be having trouble keeping up."

"Understood, Janeway out," the Commodore said before turning back towards the main screen, "Ro, inform the Equinox that we're slowing down to let Harry catch up."

"Aye Commodore," JLT Ro Laren said as she sent the signal to Paris on the Equinox,

After about ten minutes Tuvok spoke up, "It is indeed the Hugin and Munin. Also, it appears that there are six Marauder fighters mated up to the hulls."

Janeway shook her head, "Well let's reel him in and count up the damage. As soon as that's done, continue to the Deribe system so we can hide out and make repairs. I'm sure Harry will tell us how he managed to keep the Devore from following us.

OoOoO

Excerpt from Cadet History Training, Second Year, Level 4. Krenim Fleet Academy press

"Year 4328 was pivotal for the Krenim Empire though few knew it at the time. The first important even was the attack on the Borg by Species 8472 in response to Borg incursions into Fluidic Space. The enormous damage done to the Collective created a lull in their relentless offensive throughout the Quadrant. Then, a seemingly minor incident rapidly became one that brought down the Devorian Imperium. Records from then Terkellian Fleet Command show how the Federation of Planets vessel, the USS Voyager of the Alpha Quadrant (the ship responsible for the defeat of Species 8472) had contacted them for supplies. In return for their help, the small, castaway fleet agreed to destroy a den of Nihydron pirates which had been plaguing the sector for years and even had begun to make incursions into Krenim outer colonial space.

After successfully destroying the pirates, the Federation fleet returned to its mission to travel back to their home in the Alpha Quadrant. However, this required them to traverse Devorian space. Records are spotty but we know with some certainty that the renegade Bevvox Consortium conspired with the Devore. The Consortium had planned to press-gang two important members of the Federation fleet into their ranks. To do this, they manipulated elements of the Brenari Resistance to ask the Federation fleet to insert them into Devorian space so they could assist extracting refugees suffering under oppression from the Imperium. These Brenari agents would give the Devore the excuse to impound or destroy the Federation fleet and deal a crippling blow to Brenari efforts in their space.

However, neither the Consortium nor the Imperium were expecting the power displayed by one Harry Potter. A figure that later went on to become one of the most influential sentient in this galaxy as he instigated the Reformation. While that was years in the future, Harry Potter showed his power by utterly destroying the Bevvox Consortium such that its wreck has never been found.

The Devore Imperium suffered a similar fatal blow. Somehow Harry Potter ignited a form of energy which infected the three ships the Imperium had sent to capture or destroy the Federation fleet. These ships barely made it to the nearby Galaron Base where the Devorian 10th Sector Fleet was docked before being consumed by this energy. Again, reports are spotty, but the energy which had almost destroyed the three ships acted in almost a sentient, guided way. As desperate personnel beamed off the stricken vessels, some of the fire leapt into the transporter stream and thus infected the Starbase.

Worse, as the three initial ships exploded, the infected wreckage got close enough to other ships, civilian and military, to infect them with the demon fire as well. In a matter of hours, the ships in orbit were burning, killing thousands of naval and maritime crews. The true horror, however, came when Galaron Base fell out of orbit. Survivors who had managed to get their ships away from the initial and subsequent ship explosions reported little in the way of destruction past the expected damage from the impact of the remains of the Starbase. However, the demon fire somehow had lain dormant as it delved into the planet's crust. A week later, the same fires which had devastated everything in orbit erupted out of the ground all around the globe. Within another week, there was not a spark of life left on Galaron III. Three point seven billion Devorians along with a few thousand from other races died along with the entire biosphere.

Even at this late day, Galaron III is barely habitable with restoration still mostly at the bacterial, fungal and low life form stage. This restoration continues to be met with resistance. Many in the sector feel it best to leave Galaron III alone less somehow the demon fire might somehow reawaken and spread to nearby systems.

The loss of the 10th Sector fleet and the facilities and staging capabilities of Galaron Base threw the Devorian High Council into disarray. So much so that the Federation fleet was able to escape out of their space as enemies of the Devore rapidly took advantage of the chaos. This chaos would eventually lead to the Terkellian Protectorate and finally to the Krenim Empire fully absorbing the Terkellians and over 72% of the former Devorian Imperium.

Even with the current Pax Communis, most of the races in this part of the Delta Quadrant are happy there is so much distance between here and the Alpha Quadrant. One Federation ship challenged the might of the Borg and Species 8472 and survived. Four ships brought down an entire empire. The farther away the humans of the Alpha Quadrant remain, the easier the citizens of this region breathe.

XxXxX

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Star Date: Star dates are weird. I know I'm probably not doing them perfectly. Of course time in the series was always vague. Weeks if not months could go by between episodes with little remarked on it. Funny how in so many episodes, Voyager barely had enough food or fuel to function and yet between episodes where there is a large time jump, this never seemed to be a problem. That or in the 7 years on the ship, it was rare for any character outside the Captain to change their hair, or get promoted, or get older (looking at you Naomi Wildman!) or even switch jobs. Poor Harry Kim and Vorik, the forever ensigns!

Ramming Speed! This chapter is an homage to a favorite Justice League Unlimited scene of mine where Brainiac 5 tells Green Arrow that he'll get their ship to their target on the Fatal 5's ship. He uses his 12th level intellect to fly through a barrage of incoming energy beams to smash into the Fatal Five's ship in order to board it. That and "ramming speed!" is a homage to both Worf in Star Trek: First Contact as well as D-Day in the movie Animal House.

Catastrophe: Harry did warn Arturis how far he'd go when pushed to protect people under his care. Too bad Kurros thought he could think away past that! Also, Harry's use of fiendfyre is very much influenced by Harry's use of it in Darth Marr's fic, "Revenge of the Wizard" where a similar fate happens when you allow such magicks to rampage unchecked. OF course, many fics have shown the dangers of such as well as HP canon and the movie.

Hugin & Munin: What better name for a pair of long-range scout ships then the ravens of Odin who roam the Nine Worlds and report back to him?