Or you can fuck off and/or spread my ass and kiss it because this is an opinion based forum and I will state my opinions. If you got a problem with me block me.
Well, just reading along, then that escalated quickly! lol Personally, as usual, I would have just made sure to pay more attention to the smaller details. I enjoy it more when peoples careers make sense and when more details match up with the whole of the 'trek universe'. :P
I think as the show progressed we should have seen the crew become much looser in protocol. After awhile, the crew no longer think of Voyager as an assignment but as their home. By the end of the show, Voyager is simply no longer the same ship it was at the beginning. What we see in the actual show, most of the crew are ready to go home but some like Tom Paris already regard Voyager as their home. I have to imagine someone like Naomi Wildman, who grew up on Voyager since birth, would have mixed feelings about leaving the ship. I do think it is odd that the Maquis were required to put on uniforms and be given provisional ranks, whereas Seven doesn't get any. Sure, we know the real life reason, but there has never really been an in-universe justification for why she doesn't need to integrate into the crew like the Maquis.
Suppose over he years gradually more crewmembers wanted to 'leave Starfleet' (which probably would be a natural development as most Starfleet careers don't seem lifelong), what should Voyager do with them? Saying they have to leave the ship isn't really an option after all. Would they just serve in non-starfleet capacities, such as Kes, Neelix or Seven? Or would they simply be forced to remain 'in' for the duration of the voyage, even if that had lasted the full 75 years ?
Would have been interesting to see how she faces the moment actually happening. Of course it would have been nice to see her mother too! That's another thing I would rewrite: Use more of the recurring characters. It's strange to me how Wildman and Carry basically dropped out of existence for an extended period after making numerous appearances in the early episodes. I wish we saw more of the Maquis that Tuvok trained. Those misfits from "Good Shephard". With no transfers or resignations, Voyager would have the most consistent crew of any show.
VOY could've given a real sense of community onboard had they made more of the recurring characters, they didn't need to be as prominent as those from DS9, but having them pop up from time to time throughout would give the sense that these people did have lives and built upon their experiences and had friendships with others.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think that is covered in the Voyager novel that is set just when they get back. I think it's called Homecoming. I seem to recall that she was talking to Deanna Troi about being nervous about meeting her father. I think the Enterprise E was one of the ships that were there when Voyager blasted through the Borg sphere. And Picard had Troi talk to Voyager's crew about things.
Would have been cool to see something of the crew returning home instead of cutting right off when they're heading towards Earth.
In the seven years that Harry has been gone, his parents have adopted a new kid who has already been promoted to Lieutenant.
Harry having to deal with his extended family rejecting him owing to him not being "their" Harry, instead being a duplicate from another timeline/universe? The family would be polite and somewhat simplistic to this look-alike young man, but insistent in their position. Janeway would face a protracted court of inquiry concerning many of her decisions and actions. For public relations reasons, she would be "promoted" and planted behind a desk at Starfleet HQ. The Marquis crewmember would find that there is no general amnesty, nor statute of limitations, for their actions prior to being pulled into the delta quadrant. In consideration for their service on Voyager, they would be simply expelled from Starfleet service (including Chakotay and Torres), and placed on the same watch list as other surviving Marquis. Based upon Janeway's captains logs sent to Starfleet, the Equinox crew would be arrested and courts martialed, all would be convicted. They would be stripped of rank and benefits, and spend years in different Starfleet stockades.
^ The EMH is sent to Jupiter Station where, after learning of the entire corruption of its programme, it is deleted.
I always liked this idea from an online buddy on how VOY could have handled the ending by giving some closure to the characters. "And it doesn't have to be a big never-ending Return of the King thing. It can be like a "Wire" style montage of short, simple scenes: The Doc and Reg hug, see Zimmerman again, who's just fine, thank you. Kim shows up at his parents' doorstep, wearing LIEUTENANT's pips, hug. Chakotay and B'Elanna at an official hearing are cleared of all charges, as are all the other Maquis, in light of their service to Voyager. At another official hearing Janeway is cleared, promoted and given medals. Seven introduces Chakotay to that aunt, she calls her "Annika" and so does Chakotay. Tom meets his father. They look at one another. Then, B'Elanna and the newborn emerge from behind Tom, Admiral Paris is overwhelmed with joy. Admiral Paris: "I'm proud of you." The crew and other Starfleet officials, all in dress uniform, standing in front of the Voyager, landed at the Presidio. They toast the ship and her crew. Then, old Admiral Janeway, same time period we started, looking at a holo-image of that day, happy. The End."
Aren't you a bit depressive today? I'm sure that all the Maquis were paroled after the Dominion War. Most of the actions by the Maquis were directed at the cardassians, not the Fedration and the current Federation government which has dissociated itself from the cowardly policy by the earlier governments of the Federation has admitted that the Maquis were rigt in the first place and that their members should not be treated like criminals but as allies. The Maquis on Voyager were paroled because of their good work during Voyager's journey home. When Voyager arrived to Earth, Janeway decided to keep the Maquis who served on Voyager on the ship due to their loyalty and excellent performance. Most of the agreed to stay as members of the crew due to the cameraderie on the ship. Chakotay remained as First Officer and Torres as Chief Engineer. Paris did also decide to stay on the ship. His actions during Voyager's journey home made him sort of a role model for Starfleet because it proved that anyone who commits a mistake can make things right again. Tuvok had a short stint as security officer on Titan but after a request from Janeway, he's now back on the ship. Kim is trailing on as an Ensign because he don't want to quit Starfleet. Instead he's telling himself every day: "Well, I'm an officer and I'm doing a good job for Starfleet and the Federation. The Doctor was assigned to Jupiter Station for a while but Janeway wanted him back on Voyager so he's there now. The same for Seven who works in Astrometrics Lab on Voyager. Kes was restored back to normal by Q after the events in "The Gift"and was given a human lifespan due to her own wishes. Then she was sent to the beginning of year 2377 where she encountered a wayward Maquis ship. Later oon she also encountered Voyager again and stayed on the ship for a short while. She decided to join the Maquis crew and enede up on a planet near the borders to the Tzenkheti Alliance where she lives a normal, happy life, growing flowers and participate in adventourous expeditions. From time to time she visits her friends on Voyager. Neelix is still stuck on that horrible asteroids but he's getting second thougts about his choice of life and we haven't seen the last of our favorite Talaxian yet!
Not entirely. The only time we see Janeway after the conclusion of Voyager, she's an admiral and (iirc) working at Starfleet command. I got the impression that the majority of the Marquis didn't want to be on Voyager, nor particularly wanted to be in Starfleet either. It was a decision on the part of Chakotay. I think initially it would have been all of their intent to reconnect with the Marquis once they returned to the alpha quadrant. I'm not. They were trying their hardest to restart a war between the Federation and the Cardassians for their own goals, a war that (according to Picard) cost millions of lives. I don't think Neelix would have been unhappy in his new home, Neelix typically seem to be the type of person who was happy in their surroundings, Neelix likely would be happy almost any where he was. And if not, Neelix still had his small starship and could have ventured forth into the neighboring space. Would Naomi enter Starfleet academy one day? Hard to say, the decision would be a decade in her future and that's a long time to a child. Tom Paris was temporarily in Starfleet originally, his goal was a pardon for his crimes which I easily see him receiving. He could remain in Starfleet by simply making the request. Although in-spite of his (fairly) good record aboard Voyager, given his criminal record and being married to a former Marquis I wonder if he would have difficulty obtaining the needed security clearance. Tuvok would take a sabbatical from Starfleet to reconnect with his family and consider his options. A promotion to captain and a command of his own would be easy to see. I believe Harry would receive his lieutenant jg pip. Chakotay would return to his planet in the former contested territories and the life he had there, the conclusion of the Dominion War would see this world (and others like it) free from any claims by the Cardassian Union. Whether his world would remain independent, join the Federation, or pursue other options is hard to say. Many of the Voyager crew would stay in Starfleet, but some would wish to leave the service after their experiences. Of those who stay in Starfleet, most (imho) would never want to set foot on Voyager ever again.