"I swear," Lt. B'Elanna Torres said quietly but firmly, "one of these days I'm going to blast
that little son-of-a-bitch out the nearest airlock."
Captain Kathryn Janeway was often amused by B'Elanna's bluntness. This time was no
different.
"Fine," the Captain replied, "then you find and hire a replacement."
B'Elanna growled softly with frustration. Crewman Regar had been making his attraction
to her known in some very annoying ways. Annoying to a Klingon, that is.
"I thought the flowers were lovely," Janeway teased. "And the note he left for you in
Engineering was very touching."
"You saw that?!" B'Elanna felt some embarrassment, but only briefly.
"B'Elanna, everyone saw it."
"That's it," B'Elanna said, "he's gone. I'll advertise on the next inhabited planet we find for
a replacement."
Kathryn had to laugh aloud at that. B'Elanna was half Klingon and half human, and thank
God she was human enough to have a sense of humor.
Kathryn looked at B'Elanna as they walked side by side through Voyager's corridors. She
was one of the most drop-dead gorgeous women Kathryn had ever known. Beautiful, brilliant
and incredibly talented, B'Elanna was perhaps the most innovative and creative engineer Kathryn
had had the pleasure of knowing in her Starfleet career. In the past, she'd never formed close
relationships with her crew, with the possible exception of Lt. Tuvok, but here things were
different. They were all stuck together on Voyager, decades from home and in very alien
territory. It would have been impossible to maintain the usual distance with all they'd been
through together. Despite this lapse in Starfleet protocol, she was glad she'd formed friendships
with B'Elanna, Chakotay and the other senior officers. They sustained her when those hopeless
moments hit without warning.
Kathryn smiled and put an arm around B'Elanna's shoulders.
"Go easy on him, B'Elanna," she said. "He's young, he's alone and he has a crush on you.
Eventually he'll find someone else."
"He'd better," B'Elanna said, trying to sound serious but grinning despite her tone of
voice. "Otherwise he's -- what was that word Tom used, roadkill?"
Kathryn chuckled softly as they entered Conference Room 2. God, I hope she's kidding,
she thought.
She and B'Elanna were the last ones to arrive. Kathryn took her usual seat and began the
staff meeting.
"Mr. Kim, I believe we'll begin with you," she said. "What were your sensor readings on
the planet?"
Ensign Harry Kim cleared his throat before starting his report.
"There are no signs of intelligent life," he began, " in fact there is very little animal life at
all, but the planet has literally millions of species of plants. We've already eliminated the vast
majority as potential food sources since sensors detected various poisons in them, but there have
been several promising readings from one sector on the only continent in the southern hemisphere.
If we're going to find food, I believe it will be there."
"Thank-you, Mr. Kim," Kathryn nodded in his direction. "Mr. Paris, any thoughts on the
logistics of gathering what we need?" Kathryn was well aware that it was Commander
Chakotay's job to assign away teams and work out the details, but they'd discussed the need to
delegate their authority and give the senior officers some command training in case the Captain
and First Officer should be incapacitated, or worse. Lt. Tuvok was the logical choice for Second
Officer, but he'd need a well-trained staff if he was to get them all home. Lt. Tom Paris had been
their first candidate for advanced command training.
"Well," Tom said carefully, aware that he was being tested, "I spent all last night and most
of this morning going over each crewmember's area of expertise and drawing up a list of Away
Team personnel which might prove particularly useful for this mission. I also took into
consideration who worked best with whom to minimize potential conflicts which might slow
down our efforts. Each team should have someone at least minimally trained in handling medical
emergencies, a biospecialist, and an engineering specialist to handle the biocontainers. The teams
each have a well-defined area of the target sector in which to collect their samples, and everyone
will have several broad-spectrum anti-toxins in a medkit in case they run across a poisonous plant
or insect. I think that's it."
Kathryn was impressed.
"Nice work, Lieutenant," she said.
B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "You sound like a Starfleet manual," she complained.
"That's all I've been reading for the past two weeks," he retorted.
"Yeah," Harry said, "and guess who's had the joy of quizzing him?"
Chakotay and Kathryn smiled, but Tuvok only raised an upturned eyebrow.
"Then perhaps you've learned something as well, Mr. Kim," Tuvok stated. Only Kathryn
recognized that remark as Tuvok's peculiar way of making a joke.
"Do you have the list, Mr. Paris?" Kathryn asked.
Tom handed her a Padd, and as she read it she began to frown. She put it down on the
table in front of her and said, "I have only one correction to make."
Tom was surprised. He thought he'd done a perfect job with this assignment. What could
possibly be wrong with it?
"I'll be joining Lt. Torres' team," she continued.
Chakotay started to protest, but Kathryn put her hand up to stop him. She knew exactly
what he was going to say.
"Captain's prerogative, Commander," she told him. "While I agree that most of the time a
Captain's place in on the Bridge, everyone deserves a break once in a while, don't you
agree?"
He couldn't very well disagree. He knew Kathryn would love exploring this planet and it's
life forms, and he couldn't begrudge her that. He simply nodded in resignation.
"Good," she replied, "then it's settled. We'll begin transporting teams to the planet surface
at 0700 hours. Dismissed."
Tom Paris was sitting on the sofa in his quarters, feet up on the coffee table, pouring over
yet another Starfleet manual when Harry Kim arrived.
"I can't believe you're still at it," he told Tom. "You probably didn't study this much at the
Academy."
"You're right," Tom replied, "I didn't, but this is the real world, not a classroom, and you
don't get second chances or make-up exams out here."
Harry sat on the sofa beside Tom. They'd come close to losing Captain Janeway and
Commander Chakotay before, and it wasn't something he liked to think about.
"I know we have to be prepared for the unthinkable, but it still seems kind of gruesome,"
he said. "Like helping your parents write their wills."
"I know," Tom said, putting down the manual and rubbing his eyes. "I feel the same way,
but it has to be done. And, believe it or not, I think I like the extra responsibility. I never really
felt important until I came onboard Voyager. Now every member of this crew is vital to the
survival of the others, and if I can help the cause by taking these command courses, then so be
it."
Just then they heard Tuvok's voice over the comm system, "All Senior Officers report to
the bridge."
"Darn," Tom said nodding at the manual, "and I was just getting to the good part."
Captain Janeway was standing behind B'Elanna looking over her shoulder at the sensor
readings when Harry and Tom strode onto the Bridge. They took their usual places as
Commander Chakotay briefed them.
"We're getting a neutrino burst from about 1,000,000 kilometers off the port bow. Mr. Kim,
analysis please."
"These readings are typical of a wormhole --"
"Yeah," B'Elanna interrupted, "but there's no wormhole."
"Wait a minute," Harry continued, "the readings are changing."
"Could you be a little more specific, Ensign?" Chakotay asked.
"We have a wormhole," came the reply.
"On screen," Captain Janeway ordered.
There, on the screen, amidst a swirl of radiation, opened a huge wormhole. Just as they
saw something emerge from it, B'Elanna announced, "That's a freighter. It's a C class Federation
freighter!"
Try as they might, the thoroughly professional Voyager Bridge crew couldn't contain their
excitement. Janeway put a hand up to silence them, then said, "Hail them, Mr. Kim."
Within seconds an image appeared on the viewscreen. It was a woman, apparently the
captain of the freighter, but she did not look well. There were dark circles under her eyes, her
face was painfully thin and gaunt. Her expression was fixed, almost as if she were in a trance.
Kathryn was taken aback by the woman's appearance, but recovered quickly.
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager."
"I'm Meredith Wilson, Captain of the Federation Freighter Gulf Breeze. My readings keep
telling me this is Delta Quadrant. Please tell me I'm wrong."
Obviously illness didn't affect this woman's sense of humor.
"Believe me, I wish I could," Kathryn answered, "but this is definitely Delta Quadrant."
"Oh, peachy," Captain Wilson mumbled.
"Forgive my bluntness, Captain, but you don't look well. May we offer medical
assistance?"
"Well, thank-you for the compliment," Captain Wilson actually managed a smile, "but this
isn't the result of illness. It's just simple exhaustion. We've been operating with a sub-minimum
crew compliment, practically no fuel, no working replicators, and very little food. To be honest,
Captain, we're on the edge of starvation. What's the situation on Voyager?"
"Better than yours," was Kathryn's reply. "With your permission, we'll pull along your
starboard bow and beam you and your crew to Voyager for some food, rest and medical
attention. Then we'll talk. Agreed?"
"Agreed. We'd be most grateful for any assistance you could offer. Wilson out."
"Cavalry to the rescue," quipped Lt. Paris.
"Take us to within two kilometers, Tom," Janeway ordered. "Janeway to Sickbay," she
said tapping her comm badge.
"You rang?" the Doctor answered.
Kathryn just looked at Chakotay and rolled her eyes.
"You've got new patients, Doctor. They appear to be suffering from malnutrition and
exhaustion, and my guess is they're in no mood for humor, so do try to contain your rapier wit."
"Alas, no one appreciates my joi de vivre. Very well. I'm standing by."
"Thank-you," Kathryn said. She turned to face a grinning Chakotay and shook her head.
Whoever wrote his humor program, she thought, should be court-martialed. "I want to know
more about that wormhole. Analysis, Mr. Kim."
"Captain," Harry sounded unsure and hesitated for a moment, then continued, "my
readings indicate that the other end of the wormhole is outside the galaxy."
"Outside the galaxy? Are you sure?" asked Kathryn.
"Readings show that the other end is roughly 3,000 light years from the outermost know
star in Gamma Quadrant. But it's extremely unstable. There's a tremendous amount of radiation
and it's fluctuating rapidly."
"That thing's going to collapse any minute," B'Elanna interjected.
"I recommend we transport the freighter's crew," said Chakotay, "then take it in tow and
get out of here as quickly as possible."
"Agreed," Kathryn replied. "Are we ready to begin transport?"
"Aye, Captain," answered Harry.
"Then let's do it. Commander, Tuvok, shall we greet our guests?" Kathryn headed for the
turbolift, Tuvok and Chakotay following closely behind. "Mr. Paris, you have the Bridge."
"Yes, ma'am."
The entire freighter crew, with the exception of Captain Wilson, was aboard Voyager by
the time Janeway and company arrived to greet them. There were only sixteen people. They
were a ragged lot, so thin and weak that one even had to be supported by a crewmate. Captain
Janeway greeted them, then ordered Tuvok and Chakotay to help them to Sickbay. As soon as
they were gone, Captain Wilson's form appeared on the transport pad. She was roughly Kathryn's
height, but terribly thin. Still, her uniform was clean and neat, her short black hair swept back,
and it was clear that she was concentrating all her energy on trying to appear strong and
confident.
This is one woman who doesn't give up easily, Kathryn thought. She extended her hand to
the visitor.
"Captain Wilson," she said, "welcome aboard Voyager."
"Thank-you, Captain. I had a lovely speech prepared, but for the life of me I can't
remember it. Suffice it to say I'm delighted to be here. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see
another Federation ship."
"Yours is the first Federation ship we've seen in three years, so believe me the feeling
is mutual. I'll walk you to Sickbay, we can talk on the way."
"Excellent idea," Captain Wilson replied. "I assume my crew was safely transported?"
"Oh, yes," Kathryn said as they left the transporter room. "My First Officer, Commander
Chakotay, and Security Chief, Lieutenant Tuvok, escorted them to Sickbay. Rest assured they'll
get the finest medical attention Starfleet has to offer."
"I'm glad," Captain Wilson sighed, "and grateful to you. They've been through so much in
the past eight months."
"Is that how long you've been out of Federation space?"
"No, that's how long we've been out of the galaxy. I expect you already know that the
other end of that wormhole leads to about 3,200 light years outside Gamma Quadrant."
"Yes, though I didn't quite believe our readings at first."
"I couldn't believe it, either, but when we took it from Gamma Quadrant we were under
attack and didn't have time to find out where it lead. It spit us out in No Man's Land, then
vanished. Eight months later it reappeared and we hoped it would take us back to somewhere in
Gamma Quadrant. So much for that idea."
"Tell me," Kathryn asked, "who was attacking you?"
"God, I'd forgotten Voyager had been gone for so long. You don't even know about the
Jem Hadar or the Dominion. I'm afraid you're in for quite a shock, Captain. To put it in a
nutshell, a race of shapeshifters from Gamma Quadrant who call themselves the Dominion enslave
and breed a race of warriors called the Jem Hadar. It was through the Jem Hadar that they
planned to exterminate all non-shapeshifters. Members of the Dominion infiltrated Starfleet and
Klingon Chancellor Gowron became paranoid. He basically tore up the Kitimer Accord and
attacked DS 9 to get control over the wormhole there. He failed, but no new treaty had been
signed when we left Alpha Quadrant. So now the Cardassian Empire is in a shambles, the
Federation is barely keeping its head above water, and there are pissed-off bloodthirsty Klingons
everywhere. It's not a happy place to be."
Kathryn was in shock. How in the hell could this have happened? Surely she couldn't
be making all this up. Captain Wilson glanced at Kathryn.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have thrown all that at you in one toss."
"No," Kathryn replied, "it's all right. I'm glad you told me."
"I can give you all the details I know --"
"Later," Kathryn interrupted. "First you get medical attention and rest, then we'll talk
more."
They arrived at Sickbay and Captain Wilson refused medical help until she had gotten a
full report on each member of her crew. After satisfying herself that they were being well taken
care of, she allowed the Doctor to examine her.
Kathryn assigned quarters to the freighter crew, then offered the uninhabited officer's
quarters next to her own to Captain Wilson.
"You realize that once I go to sleep, I plan to stay there for a while," Captain Wilson said
with a smile.
Kathryn smiled in return. "Good," she replied, "you need the rest. We've taken your
vessel in tow to get it out of the way of that wormhole. We think it may collapse at any time and
the radiation is getting dangerously high. There's an M-class planet nearby, and we're sending
away teams there in the morning to gather plant specimens to augment our food supply. When
we're done, you and I can finish our conversation."
"I look forward to it."
"Now, may I show you your new quarters?"
"Lead on, McDuff," Captain Wilson answered.
I can't wait 'till we finish gathering those plants, Kathryn thought. This promises to be
one hell of a conversation.
