2 Feb 2018 - Apologies for reposting the story. Deleted the last chapter by mistake.
Chapter 1 – Impasse
After weeks of working in Engineering, I've learnt to read Torres' moods. There is the contended engineer after she's managed to tear apart a damaged piece of Voyager and make it work. The surly Torres emerges as if it was a personal affront to her skills if the equipment has broken down again. That phase usually does not last long before it morphs into the Klingon equivalent of a tornado, wiping all that stand in her path, people or bulkheads.
Recognising the impending signs of bad weather, I duck. At the same time, I keep an eye on who else might want to join the fray despite the Captain's orders.
I hear a small crunch followed by a strangled grunt behind me.
"Bloody hell," Seska says, amused, "that's the second time you've broken his nose. You'll be on half-rations for a week if the captain hears of it."
Torres' glare is fixed on me. "It's not him I wanted to hit."
The Starfleet crew members are facing us, eyes hard, fists tightly clenched at their sides "There's another solution," I hurry to say in a conciliatory tone, deliberately avoiding looking at the unfortunate man slurring a few invectives. "What about shutting down the environmental controls to the lower decks? We'll then have enough power to re-rout to essential areas while the repairs are done."
Despite her temper, Torres is a brilliant engineer, but there's only so much she can do given most of her crew are unfamiliar with the ship's integrated technologies. While my input is hardly tolerated at the best of times, I was not going to wait for another system to fail before speaking up. The orders from the bridge are making less and less sense and with half a dozen staff on the Kazon ship, Torres is short of manpower as well as good advice. Voyager is a wounded ship, her strength sapped by anger and revenge. That I am unable to lessen her decline eats at me every waking hour.
Waiting for Torres' decision, I speak to Ashmore in quiet tones. In turn, he talks to Chell and they soon leave for sickbay with Carey, now thankfully silent, between them. A fragile, but precious germ of friendship has started to grow between some Starfleet and Maquis, but I fear it is still too easily buffeted by doubts and uncertainty.
I give a warning look to the few remaining Starfleet watching, and they go back to their tasks. The palpable outrage which flared up only a few minutes ago starts to diffuse. Another day in the upside-down world that is the Delta quadrant.
When I return to my workstation, Torres' frown is firmly in place. "Show me how it could work."
Bringing up the power schematics of the lower four decks, I explain the relay bypass in terse engineering lingo. Now it's my turn to feel anger. I should know better than to expect an apology from a Maquis, but it riles me that Starfleet crew members are still considered as less than human. The Captain has got a lot to answer for that sad state of affair. God knows I have made my concerns and fears known. All I got in return are double shifts under the command of a feral half-Klingon.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened," Torres says, bracing her arms against the console. Before I can make sense of what exactly she is apologising for, the Captain's voice can be heard from the open corridor door, an irritated tone accentuating each word.
"Torres, what part of 'nobody is to hurt a 'fleet' didn't you get? I just saw Carey in the turbolift. He told me he got a broken nose bumping into a Jefferies access door. Somehow, I don't believe him."
Everyone gets very busy at their stations, leaving Torres and me to face the inevitable dressing down.
"Starfleet here," she says pointing at me, "wants us to drop all upgrades to the warp engines and repair the shields instead. We argued. Carey just got caught in the middle."
"What's the problem with the shields?" comes the sharp retort.
"They're fluctuating. Nothing major, but repairing them will take at least ten hours. They can wait." Torres' hands are now kneading the console side. She is spent, tired beyond her usual ire, a state not too rare nowadays.
The Captain glances at me. "And you think she's wrong?"
Great. Another remark like that and Torres will phaser me next time I open my mouth. We both know my fight is not with the Chief Engineer. "I asked myself how long our allies will wait to take what they really want once they realise the shields are failing."
Chakotay turns around, already on his way out of Engineering. "Torres, start on the repairs. Janeway, in my quarters once they're done."
I keep my back to the wall until the end of the shift.
My greatest thanks to Dee474 for her encouragement and clear eyes.