Author's Note: The main character is an original character of my own design. However, she and the basic plot are all I can even remotely call my own. Voyager doesn't belong to me, I'm just sort of borrowing a small corner of it.

Please review and comment, I would like to learn from you guys about how I can make this better.

Enjoy!

Captain Kathryn Janeway loved first contact situations. Meeting a new species and making a good first impression gave her such a thrill. One of the few things that made the Delta Quadrant somewhat bearable. Voyager was still stranded hundreds of thousands of lightyears from Federation space, with no hope of reaching it in any of their lifetimes. Janeway knew the journey home would be difficult, to say the least. Giving the crew and their mission a purpose gave them something to do. Acting as though their journey home was just a routine long-ranged mission gave everyone a reason to get up in the morning and also offered these sorts of first contact opportunities.

This time, it was a species named the Q'intanth'ri, or that was the closest Janeway could come to figuring out what they were called. A rather ethereal humanoid species, they were a very sensible race but friendly.

"We would be glad to offer any assistance you might require. Medical supplies, simple technology, anything you need," Janeway said, gesturing widely with her arms as she paced across the bridge deck. She didn't like that she did that, but she was just too excited.

"And in return?" said the Q'intanth'ri on the viewscreen, his speech slow but soothing. The ice blue eyes on his reptilian face drooped, giving him the look of an older member of his species.

"In return," she replied, smiling warmly, "We'd like to learn more about your people. Our mission is to explore new life and meet new people. Knowledge is what drives us."

"A noble trait, Captain. I must discuss it with our leaders, but I anticipate your terms will be suitable." With a kind half-smile, the Q'intanth'ri signed off and the viewscreen changed to a beautiful view of his planet. It was an ice planet, as far as Janeway could tell. She wondered if they had survived underground, much as other species in the Federation had. Oh, she couldn't wait to see what she could learn about them.

Finally throwing herself into her captain's chair, she saw Chakotay smiling at her out of the corner of her eye.

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"You," replied her first officer with a laugh. "You live for this."

"Oh, you have no idea. We're the first to meet this species…" She shook her head. "This is what Starfleet is all about."

Chakotay continued to smile to himself and Janeway was in too good of a mood to chide him for it. Tapping her finger impatiently on the armrest, she tried to wait for the Q'intanth'ri to call back. After a few minutes, she could stand it no longer.

"While we wait, Ensign, why don't you do some passive scanning? See what we can learn," she said, glancing up and backwards to the young Operations officer.

"Yes, Ma'am," Ensign Harry Kim replied. Janeway turned back to the viewscreen, hearing the quiet taps as his fingertips hit the computer console.

"The surface temperature is very cold, looks like it's negative 100 degrees at the equator. There's some sign of ancient ruins on the surface, but the energy signatures are faint, indicating underground dwellings."

Just as she thought.

"There are a few artificial satellites surrounding the planet, I count…seven, besides the first ones we saw." Those satellites had first caught Voyager's attention when they were in warp; fascinating small metallic bodies, the most distant of which were capable of warp speed. Ensign Kim continued to rattle off interesting findings and Janeway listened carefully, keeping each nugget of information filed away in case it would come in handy later.

After several minutes, when Kim had run out of things to say, Tuvok spoke up. "The Q'intanth'ri are signaling again, Captain."

Janeway grinned. "On screen."

"Captain Janeway. I have discussed the matter with my people and as you correctly deduced, we are in need of supplies." The creature gave a great sigh. "We're recovering from a terrible illness that has spread throughout our small civilization. Our scientists have come up with a cure, but we cannot synthesize enough and quickly enough to help those who need it most. If you would be willing to assist us, anything you ask for will be granted."

Janeway's jaw tightened for a moment with emotion. "If you give us the chemical composition of your cure, I will do everything in my power to get you what you need. You have my word."

The reptilian face seemed to relax into what she assumed was relief. "Thank you, Captain. I'll have my scientists send you all the information you require."

The viewscreen went blank.

"Six hundred thousand doses?" repeated the EMH Doctor later as Janeway stood with one hand on her hip, the other on a vacant biobed. The hologram rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "And how much time do I have?"

"There's no time limit, but I assure you all those lives hang in the balance," Janeway replied.

The Doctor gave an irritated sigh then walked around his desk and sat in his chair. Tapping the monitor, he scanned the information then gave a slight shrug. "The compound seems simple enough. I should be able to synthesize it. Timing…could be a problem, but I'll get working on it right away. It should go quicker with Kes's help," he added after a moment.

Kes, the elfin Ocampan, gave a grave nod. "We'll make it, Captain." A small smile curved on her lips. "It'll give me a chance to study my biochemistry."

The Doctor grunted and Janeway smiled. Leaving the two of them to work, she made her way back to the bridge.

Chakotay was still in his chair, chin resting thoughtfully on one hand.

"Thoughts, Commander?" asked Janeway as she sat down.

"Ensign Kim has been in contact with the Q'intanth'ri. The toll on their people was…unbelievable. Nearly a third of their people likely won't survive." He shook his head. "Speed is going to be the deciding factor. Speed is the only thing that can save them."

Janeway sighed. "We should make preparations for the delivery. Ensign Kim, contact the Q'intanth'ri again."