Olympian Efforts By Penny Proctor & CyberMum
Summary: The Slipstream is working great and finally, the Voyager Olympics are going to take place.
Prologue
Captain's Log, Stardate 55546.03.
We have just returned to normal space after our latest successful slipstream attempt, and thankfully, the last few jumps have been uneventful. I am relieved that we have put 4,000 light years between us and the warring factions of the Soman. Even better news, Ensign Delaney from Astrometrics confirms that we have put the Delta Quadrant behind us: we are now in the Beta Quadrant, only 8,000 light years from home.
This region of space seems to be unusually dense and it will take at least a week to determine the safest route for our next slipstream voyage. Things are going to be slow for a while, and everyone is in a celebratory mood since hearing that we are officially out of the Delta Quadrant, so I've decided to authorize the long-delayed Olympics planned by Mr. Neelix and Lt. Paris. After all the good work of recent weeks, the crew deserves a diversion.
"Ow...ch."
The exclamation was somewhat muffled and obviously involuntary and Kathryn Janeway made no effort to hide her amusement as she watched her First Officer lower himself gingerly into the chair on the other side of her desk. She placed the PADD she had been studying on top of the pile that she was sure had multiplied tenfold over the course of the day and settled back in her chair.
"It's not funny, Kathryn," Chakotay said with a grimace.
"I'm not laughing, Chakotay." She tried valiantly to straighten out her grin and look sympathetic. It was a noble but unsuccessful effort and the subject of her amusement did not look happy at all.
"So I shouldn't ask how the training session went?" she asked him and was rewarded with a glare that almost equaled one of her own.
"Why I let you talk me into participating in the decathlon of all things, I'll never know."
"Why I...? Because we decided that boxing should not be part of these Olympics and because you assured me, and Tom and Neelix for that matter, that you are in - what was it you said? Oh yes - you are in great shape and are looking forward to the challenge of the sport."
"I said..."
"And," she cut him off before he could continue, "you told me you would do the decathlon if I did the fifteen hundred meter freestyle swim."
"I..."
She waggled a finger at him. "Never dare me, Chakotay."
"I just wanted to see you in a bathing suit."
Janeway snorted with laughter and Chakotay had the grace to look sheepish.
"So?" she asked after a moment. "Was it worth it?"
This time it was Chakotay who guffawed. "Every moment." He replied without hesitation. "However," he continued and she raised an eyebrow in anticipation. He shifted carefully in his seat. "I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. Trust me, at my age, the pole vault and the high jump are major mistakes. Is there any way I can change sports, Captain? Archery? Bridge?"
"Bridge?"
"It was introduced as an official Olympic sport during the 2006 Athens Olympics, Kathryn. I've done a bit of research."
"I didn't know you played bridge. And no, you may not change sports, Commander." She grinned at him. "You're committed."
"I played with my mother and my aunts when I was small. They taught me in desperation. I was a reluctant fourth when they were short a player." He paused for a moment as if in deep thought. "I don't suppose you need a volunteer for bridge duty for the next few days? I mean Voyager's bridge, not..."
"I know exactly what you mean, Chakotay, and the answer is still no. We're more than adequately covered. You made up the duty roster yourself."
"Well," he sighed dramatically. "It was worth a try."
"And a very good try it was, Commander." She shuffled through the pile of PADDs as she spoke and pulled one out. "Speaking of duty rosters, I need you to go through this list of shift assignments in engineering. B'Elanna was concerned about a couple of the timing issues. She's worried she's inadequately covered during changeovers."
Chakotay took the proffered PADD and studied it for a moment. "She's right," he said. There are a couple of gaps during the gamma switch. I think a few of her crew have done some shift trading since I wrote up the roster. I'll rearrange the schedules and see if I can keep everyone happy."
"Thanks." She extracted another PADD from the pile. "And here's something else I think you might want to see." She activated the PADD. "Halfway down."
He reached out for the device, grimacing slightly as he stretched. Janeway didn't say a word, but her eyes twinkled. Chakotay grinned reluctantly in return and then turned his attention to the business at hand. He read for a moment and then dropped the PADD back onto her desk.
"They're betting against me," he said, obviously offended.
"Not really. Have a look at the odds. They seem to have a lot of confidence in you. I have every confidence in you." She smiled serenely. "As a matter of fact, I might just place a bet myself..."
"Kim to the Captain." Janeway's communicator badge crackled slightly as she tapped it to reply.
"I'm here Harry. Report."
"We are approaching a class six nebula, Captain. It's extremely dense and I've requested a complete scan from Astrometrics before we proceed."
"Very good."
"Stand by. We are being hailed, Captain." Harry sounded surprised. "Audio only. It's a request to board in forty-seven minutes and twenty-three point one seconds."
Act one
Captain Janeway leaned over Megan Delaney's shoulder and watched as the young woman initiated a tracer line through the readout on the monitor in front of her.
"Do you see them, Captain?" Megan asked.
"Yes. Good work, Megan."
The young woman couldn't quite hide her satisfaction. "When Harry asked me to analyze the radiation levels in this area of space the readings were inconsistent with what we would consider normal for those surrounding a class six nebula of this size. "
"And this is one of the largest nebulae we've seen."
"Right. So there had to be some explanation for the excessive radiation." She powered up the largest view-screen in the Astrometrics lab and the nebula appeared in its center, divided into grids, each one marked numerically.
Megan entered a calculation into the computer and a magnified quartet of grids filled the screen.
"The dark masses that you see are emitting radiation at levels I've never seen before." Megan continued. "They're almost volcanic in their eruption force."
"Hot spots." Janeway turned back to Megan. "That's what my astrophysics professor at the Academy called them. They're an extremely rare phenomenon. And as far as we know, there is nothing we can do to stem the flow. I see at least four of them, and I imagine there are more. So how do the natives manage...?"
Megan recalibrated the readout and entire nebula appeared once again on the large screen, but this time there was a difference. Janeway gazed at it and frowned in concentration.
"A channel. Right through the nebula."
Megan nodded. "Yes, Captain, and it's not a natural one either. I don't know how they did it, but someone has carved a route through it, and it's definitely traversable."
"And the probable architects of this passageway are due to contact me again in..." Janeway checked her chronometer and started toward the door, "three minutes. And eighteen seconds. From what I've seen so far, they are sticklers for punctuality. Among other things."
"I'll continue to run the scans, Captain," Megan told her, "just to be on the safe side."
"Good work, Ensign. I'll look for your report later."
Janeway was frustrated and Chakotay was fascinated. The three Norratii who sat across from them at Voyager's conference table were calm, polite and intransigent. The heavily veiled threesome had arrived on board four hours ago and Janeway had spent the hour prior to their arrival negotiating the procedures for their visit. So far they had not even made enough progress to convince them to unveil. They still had no idea what the Norratii looked like.
"Even the Tak Tak weren't this finicky." She groused quietly to Chakotay at one point when the Envoy had requested - no, demanded - that only the Captain serve the Oleris tea - and only from the Ambassador's right-hand side. "And I thought some of our First Contact protocols too formal," she continued. "We're positively lax."
But the Norratii had made it very clear to them that unless their very specific codes of behavior were followed to the letter, and their many requests for information met, there would be no contact at all, first or otherwise, and that as far as they were concerned Voyager and her crew were no better or worse than any of the other "multitudinous species of questionable origin" who had entered into their space and deserved no "preferential treatment".
Janeway folded her hands in front of her and took a deep breath.
"Ambassador," she began, "let me reiterate once again that our only request is passage through your Ma'adim Channel on our way to our home on Earth. We have no other intentions - no hidden agenda..."
"Captain," the Norratii who had identified himself as Second Envoy interrupted her, "we appreciate your hospitality, and have been impressed with your efforts to conform to our standards. We are well aware of your desire to return to your ...Earth - as you have no doubt discovered during our dialogue, we value our home above all."
"Well then..."
"But at this time we cannot allow you passage through our space and the Ma'adim Channel."
The Third Envoy nodded in agreement, his veils shifting and shimmering with the movement. "It would be irresponsible of us to allow it, and would contravene our vows of protection."
Chakotay, who along with Neelix, Tuvok and Tom Paris rounded out Voyager's diplomatic mission, caught Janeway's eye just as she was about to speak. She nodded at him imperceptibly and he raised his hand in the accepted Norratii manner.
"You may contribute," the Envoy responded.
"We appreciate your hesitation, Envoy, and are aware of the dangers involved in negotiating the channel, but our pilot is skilled, and we have had much experience in just this sort of intricate maneuver during our journey."
"We are in no doubt of that," the Second Envoy said. "Your skills are not in question."
"But there are other issues, are there not?" Chakotay probed gently. "You have certain rituals that must be followed."
The Third Envoy's veils shimmered again as he indicated his agreement.
"Yes. Only certain elements may pass through the channel."
"Elements?" Janeway was puzzled.
"I believe he means those who are deserving," Chakotay explained. "And as yet, we have not proven ourselves."
The Ambassador nodded. "This is correct."
"I would be honored if you would speak to me of your traditions." Chakotay continued. "I too come from a culture where customs and rituals play an important role in our lives. Perhaps if we continue our discourse over a dish of vlerdan we can reach an accord."
"This would be an acceptable start," the Ambassador rose slowly from his chair. "And I invite you to join me in one hour. I will instruct you as to the arrangements shortly."
The other two Norratii rose in unison and flowed after their leader as he left the conference room.
There was a moment of silence after the doors swept shut.
"Vlerdan?" Tom grinned.
"I read some of the data the Norratii sent over along with their requests. It's a traditional dish."
"Thank you, Commander. I thought we were at an impasse." Janeway leaned back in her chair and sighed audibly. "We were going around in circles and not accomplishing a thing."
"It suddenly struck me that all their posturing was ritualistic, rather than pretentious or political. The veils, the argot, the protocols - it all adds up to a society steeped in tradition or religion."
"An excellent premise, Commander," Tuvok responded. "Perhaps if you continue to approach them on this basis we can negotiate a passage through the channel after all."
"I hope so Tuvok. But I have to admit I find them a very interesting species. I'm looking forward to our discussions."
