Author's Notes: Welcome to my first Star Trek: Voyager fanfiction! I've loved the show for years, but never had a decent idea on what to write about it. Dove headfirst into rewatching the series a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get this idea out of my head. I think I have a few unconventional ideas about some of the relationships within the show, and they're probably going to show the longer this goes on, so expect a little bit of OOC behavior, but I hope I do them justice. Thank you so much to my lovely friends (You know who you are!) who have listened to me obsess and analyze for weeks! Love you!

Obligatory Legal Disclaimer: Of course I don't own them, or we would be in California right now dyeing Robert Beltran's hair back to black and scouting out the rainforest for filming.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Please review!

XXX

CHAPTER 1

"It is an M-Class planet. Astrometrics scans show no sign of humanoid lifeforms. The northern hemisphere is mountainous and has an area approximately 7.8 million square kilometers in diameter that our scanners suggest to be rich in deuterium." The picture of the green and blue planet on the viewing screen inside Voyager's briefing room spun to highlight a large chunk of its northern-most continent. Seven of Nine's metal-tipped fingers danced across the console on the wall, bringing up the planet's specs beside its swirling display. "There is also evidence of dilithium crystals several meters below the crust that may prove worthy of procuring if we can find an efficient means of excavating the crystals without destroying them in the process."

Harry Kim pointed to the highlighted section of the planet. "Conveniently, the dilithium and deuterium deposits are concentrated on this continent." He smiled. "So we can potentially harvest both in one go."

"It looks like Earth." commented Chakotay from his seat near the Captain's chair. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. "And you said it has no humanoid life? No civilization of any kind?"

"No." Seven pulled up a magnified geographical scan. "Scans do not show any evidence of civilization. The planet has water and plant life, as well as multi-cellular fauna, but no bipedal humaoids. There is no pollution associated with any kind of industrial processes present."

"Wait." Tom raised an eyebrow, letting go of B'Elanna's hand to gesture incredulously. "You're telling me that you two found an uninhabited, unpolluted, M-Class planet rich in both deuterium and dilithium, smack-dab in the middle of the Delta Quadrant, not five lightyears outside of an industrialized binary star system? Is it rich in latinum, too?"

"When we hosted the Tinvarians last week, did they mention this little gem?" Chakotay turned to look at the Captain, sitting relaxed in her chair at the table's head.

The Captain shook her head once, drawing her hand up to her mouth, her expression pensive. The Tinvarians were an altruistic people, but hadn't been very eager to share too much information about their world or culture. "No. Not a peep." she answered. "...They seemed well traveled." She cut her eyes to Chakotay's. "Surely they have noticed this star system as close as it is to their own."

"The Tinvarians most likely do have knowledge of this system, Captain." Tuvoc chimed in. "The flight plan they provided us to reach their sister system leads us around it."

"A system that is full of warp-capable races that likely also use deuterium in some form to power their ships." Kathyrn drummed her fingers across her chin. The whole thing was definitely a bit suspicious. "Surely if it was their territory, they would have mentioned it seeing as we are going near it."

"Or that could be why the flight plan leads us in an arc around it." commented Chakotay, lacing his fingers together on the table. "It isn't as if the Tinvarians were very forthcoming about themselves."

"But you'd think they'd mention the shiny gold mine next door." Tom frowned.

"Sounds just a little too good to be true." B'Elanna muttered as she crossed her arms. "Why hasn't anyone come along and sucked it dry by now?"

"Unknown." Seven lifted the stack of PADDs left at her seat and handed them out to the other officers.

"Could be blind luck." commented the Doctor, quickly scanning over the information presented to him.

"Sometimes that's the only luck you need." Kathryn set her PADD down on the table in front of her to address her senior officers. "This definitely merits a little exploration."

Tuvoc raised one eyebrow. "Captain, we are due to arrive at Tinvari II in seven days."

"That doesn't give us much time." laughed Chakotay. "We would have all of an hour to explore." He turned his eyes to Harry and Seven at the display. "How far out off course is this little diamond in the rough?"

"From where we are now, it would take four days to detour- two to get there and two to get back on track." answered Harry. He met the Captain's eyes. "But if our scans are correct-"

"They are correct." Seven interrupted.

Harry smiled at her, amused, before turning his attention back to his Captain imploringly. "There is enough deuterium on that planet to totally refill all the tanks- you could power seven Voyagers for a hundred light-years easily with the deuterium under that mountain range."

"We could take the Flyer." said Tom, sitting forward excitedly. "A handful of us could hang back and take a sample while the rest of you meet with the Officials on Tinvari II. We could rendezvous back here after your meeting. By then we should know if its all too good to be true or not. We could make it on the Flyer for a week."

"Good idea, Tom." Kathryn said with a smile. "Am I to take it that you would be volunteering?"

"I'd take a vat of leola root stew over another Cleansing Ceremony." Tom muttered, then glanced apologetically at his superiors. "No offense."

"None taken." Chakotay chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've ever been naked in church."

Seven set her PADD down beside Kathryn's. "Captain, permission to accompany Mr. Paris on this excursion?"

Kathryn smiled, proud that Seven was volunteering. "Granted." She laughed, her eyes moving to meet every other set in the room. "Anyone else?" Kathryn asked, standing up from her chair with excited flourish. "Tom, Seven, go gather all the supplies you need. I want you ready to head out by 1600 hours." She clapped a hand on her First Officer's shoulder. "Chakotay, why don't you join them? The more minds at it, the better."

"I should go as well, Captain." B'Elanna volunteered. "I can make sure that the deuterium can be processed at the concentration we need for our systems."

"Uh, Captain?" Harry only had to look pleadingly at his Captain to be awarded by her smile and nod. "Thank you, Captain."

"It's settled, then." said Kathryn. "If that's all... Dismissed."

XXX

The shuttle bay was brightly lit and abuzz with activity as Tom and Harry carried the last cases of tools and supplies into the Flyer's cabin. Tom grunted with the effort to shove the last case into the storage locker. "Good grief, Seven, what's in this one? Cement?"

The ex-drone turned her head to peer curiously at him over her shoulder from where she stood in the Flyer's small midsection. "Why would we need to bring cement?" She pushed the terminal door shut over the replicator and turned to the two men standing behind her.

"No, Seven, I didn't mean-" Tom started to explain.

"Are we all set to go?" Chakotay called out as he stepped inside, his overnight case slung over his shoulder. He smiled at his crewmates, setting the case in the locker with the others. "We are going to be away from Voyager for at least twelve days. Now is the time to double check you have your security blankies and toothbrushes."

"We're ready as we'll ever be, Commander." said Harry. He smiled, excited.

"Good." said Chakotay. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get those samples!"

"Eager, much?" asked B'Elanna from her place beside Seven, affixing the panel in place with her tool. "You act like we're going on vacation."

"Compared to another day with the Tinvarians? Ha!" Chakotay laughed. "Don't tell the Captain, but if she hadn't asked me to accompany you, I would have volunteered!" He clapped Tom on the shoulder. "I've had all the church I think I can stand for one lifetime. The Great Shrine of Tindan is drafty!"

"Oh really?" Tom clapped his hands together with a teasing smirk. "Why don't you tell us all about it?"

"Another time, maybe." Chakotay clapped a hand on the disappointed man's shoulder. "Now, let's get those system checks done so we can launch."

"Already finished, Commander." said Seven, holding out a PADD his way.

"I think we can all agree to drop ranks while we are on this mission, crewman." Chakotay took the PADD from her hands with a smile, brushing his thumb across her's as he did. A smirk turned her lips for a second or two before she turned back to assist B'Elanna, stepping aside for Harry and Tom to pass her into the cockpit.

"As you wish."

"I think this is in order now, Seven." B'Elanna said, handing the tool to the blonde before turning to go into the cockpit. "I'm going to help Tom and Harry with pre-launch."

"Alone at last." Chakotay mumbled as the door slid shut behind the half-Klingon, setting the PADD on the nearest case. He ran his hand down Seven's arm, taking her metal-laced hand and gently pulling her to him. "In such a small shuttle, that will be a luxury." He kissed her cheek. "Interesting place for a date, hmm?"

The blonde nodded with a teasing smile. "Anything less would be unacceptable."

"Well, then I'm glad I meet your expectations." With another quick kiss- this time on the mouth- he released her. "Ready?"

"Let's go."

XXX

Please review!

~The Lady Mage~