Retribution
by Christina and Sara

Act 1

The bridge had grown silent as the ship went to warp. Each officer was busy. Tuvok was attempting to track the path of the damaged vessel, while Harry was performing the scans for supplies when they first dropped out of the slipstream. Tom was watching their course closely. Chakotay, for his part, studied the reports that were trickling in from the various departments and answered calls from B'Elanna every few minutes; Voyager's chief engineer was not happy at the deviation from her slipstream protocols.

B'Elanna was right, Chakotay told himself. Now, instead of an hour, it would be two or three before the ship had recovered. They should not be expending this kind of energy, but given the circumstances he didn't see any way to avoid it. As he logged out of the tactical console, his eyes wandered toward the Ready Room door.

Kathryn had been very pale when she'd returned to the bridge...He logged into the Medical Officer's console and read the Doctor's preliminary report. He was shocked at the atrocities that had been carried out on the young woman. It gave rise to feelings that he'd thought long buried. Shoving them aside, he turned the bridge over to Tuvok and headed toward the Ready Room.

He entered to find Kathryn standing by her view port.

"What do you have, Commander?" she asked. Her gaze never the left the view port.

Chakotay noted her level of tension at a glance and moved toward the replicator; Redilian green tea was just the thing. She didn't turn during his entire monologue on intermediate sensor data, nor when he set the steaming cup on a low table near the view port. But when he rested his hands on her shoulders, gently kneading, she sighed deeply and leaned into him for a brief moment.

"Continue monitoring the situation," she turned and smiled her thanks.

Chakotay eyed her warmly. "Aye." Their eyes locked and he moved minutely closer. "I read the Doctor's report."

She shook her head sadly. "The attacked her and sliced off her hands. And they have access to Borg weapons." She closed her eyes.

"The attack was over long before we were close enough to help them. Don't beat yourself up over what you couldn't prevent."

Kathryn nodded. "How do you know? Perhaps we should have found another way to destroy the Borg-one that didn't leave Borg technology lying about..."

"You don't know for sure..."

"We don't? A Borg ship stopped by and offered the technology?"

"If the Borg were here, then these people are damn lucky they weren't assimilated."

"I...True..." She sighed heavily, " Continue monitoring our recovery from the slipstream."

Chakotay noted the somber determination in her eyes and nodded in agreement. "I'll take care of it. Anything else?"

Kathryn gave him a small grin, "Maybe a smile."

Chakotay's answering smile brought out his dimples. "I can do better than that." Leaning closer he wrapped his arms around her and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He pulled away, leaving a second kiss on her forehead. "You going to be okay?"

Kathryn squeezed his hand before picking up the cup of tea and heading for her desk. "I will be. Thanks for asking."

Chakotay nodded as he crossed toward the door. "Any time. See you on the bridge?"

Kathryn nodded already focusing her attention on the data on her terminal. "I'll be there in another few moments. And Chakotay?"

He paused as the door opened.

Kathryn glanced up only for a moment before looking back at the screen. "We will find them."

"Aye, Captain."


"Doctor, I have completed my analysis."

The Doctor looked up from his work and gave the young ex-Borg a questioning look. "Well?"

Icheb cocked his head and moved confidently to the computer. "We shall need access to the replicator systems."

The Doctor nodded. "Prepare a list of materials, and we'll present it and our findings to the Captain." The replicators was just one of many systems that were offline until Voyager had recovered from the energy drain caused by using the slipstream tech. They would have to get special permission. He didn't anticipate any problems, however.

Icheb nodded. "I have done so." He picked up a PADD. "Here you are. I will be in the lab until you need me."

"Excellent. Thank-you for your assistance." The Doctor glanced at his still comatose patient. He was perfectly capable of replicating the required prosthetics, but Icheb's knowledge offered some new ways of assuring the new hands would integrate smoothly with the patient's own neurochemical systems. And it was good practical experience for the young man.

Icheb paused in the doorway. Trish Gallagher was leaning against the corridor wall. "Are you all right?" he asked the young ensign.

She shook her head and gestured toward sickbay, "It's all so violent. Casualties of war are terrible in their own right, but this is a brutal assault and from what I can see, it was deliberate."

"How so?"

The Doctor answered from just behind Icheb, "They were tortured. This young man was repeatedly injured, beaten to the brink of tolerance before he was killed. I'm positive that he was meant to suffer, they kept him alive and in pain before they slit his throat."

Icheb winced slightly at the idea. "Why would they damage another so?"

"Who knows. But, whatever the reason they did the same thing to that girl out there." He said, pointing to the patient in the next room. "The difference is she's alive."

"Perhaps they thought she was already dead?"

The Doctor shook his head, "I don't think so. I think she was supposed to live at least long enough to let others know what happened." He turned to face Icheb. "I'll notify you if I require any further assistance.

The Doctor turned back to his work as Icheb exited. "Sickbay to Captain Janeway."

In her Ready Room, Kathryn looked up from the preliminary report she was reading. "Yes?"

"Captain, I have finished with my autopsy," the Doctor's voice said.

"Any idea on how long ago it happened?"

"Rigor mortis is well established. I would estimate six hours ago. I have also submitted my requisition for the necessary replicator use to construct a new pair of hands for the girl."

"I'll authorize it. Anything else you can tell me?"

The Doctor hesitated. "I did an extensive examination of our guest and the body and I turned up some interesting results. They both share 15 out of 16 pairs of genetic markers."

There was a pause. "What are you saying, Doctor? These two were related?"

"Captain there is a 99.7% chance that they were siblings."


"Thank you, Doctor," she whispered, settling slowly back in her chair as the comm unit switched off. More tragedy for some distant, unknown, family. She knew that feeling...to lose loved ones...to watch those you love suffer...

"Bridge to Janeway." Chakotay's voice centered her, bringing her back to the present. With an effort she focused on his voice.

"Go ahead, Chakotay."

"We're approaching the third planet of the star system. Sensors show it is populated with the same species of humanoids as our guest."

"Any other information?"

"Negative, Astrometrics is still off line from our slipstream exit. As a result, we still can't scan for more than three light years in any direction. Megan reports that she and Sarexa are working on it, however, and she's confident she'll have it up to full range within the hour."

"E.T.A to the planet?"

"Two hours at our present speed of warp six."

She wanted to order him to be there in one, but didn't. Warp six was taxing their systems as is.


"Doctor, how is she?" Janeway asked immediately upon entering Sickbay about an hour later. "Any improvement?"

"Her condition is stable, for now. I have done what I could, but there's a limit. I'm afraid the worst of her afflictions will be psychological."

Janeway nodded. She could certainly understand that. The Doctor continued, "Icheb's nanoprobes have integrated quite well within her system and are repairing damage on the cellular level. This will in turn make it easier for her body's own neurochemical mechanisms to control the new prosthetics. If all continues to go well, I should be able to fit her with them shortly."

Kathryn stared down sorrowfully at the young woman. "Has she regained consciousness at all? We are approaching a planet and I need some information."

The Holodoc frowned. "No, I could revive her for a short time, but she is better off asleep, for the moment."

Kathryn nodded. "I understand, but I was hoping to be able to speak with her first."

"Bridge to Captain Janeway."

Kathryn looked up sharply. "Go ahead, Commander."

"We're picking up a ship in the vicinity. It's on an intercept course."

"I'm on my way."

Kathryn gave the doctor's arm a squeeze. "Do what you can."

The hologram nodded. Kathryn took one final look at the young victim and darted out the door. As the lift deposited her on her Bridge she began issuing orders.

"On screen. Tom, how far are we from the planet?"

"Still thirty minutes away, Captain." "Harry?"

"No response to standard hails, Captain."

"Tuvok?"

"Their weapons are powered, their shields up. They possess significant weaponry, and pose at least a moderate danger to our defenses. Our shields are up, but only at seventy percent."

"We're still a little off our feet from the slipstream," Chakotay said as she sat down. "To maintain warp 6, we lost energy in other areas."

"Captain," Tuvok said, "Sensors indicate their weapons could be Borg in origin."

"Reroute power from all non-essential systems to the shields." Janeway ordered. "Hail them again, Harry."

"Frequency open, Captain."

Kathryn tried to control the irritation the whole situation was creating for her. She wanted answers, but first she needed to know if this was the same vessel that had attacked the other ship. "Approaching vessel, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We are on a mission of mercy. We have a young girl onboard who needs medical attention."

The response was a definite silence. Kathryn raised an eyebrow as she looked at her First Officer. "They don't want to talk," she observed darkly.

Chakotay's response was silenced as a brief flash of static filled the commspeakers Both commanding officers glanced at Harry as he began to filter the interference. After a few seconds Harry nodded toward the view screen. The image of a militaristic-looking male appeared on the dark screen. It was obvious that he was of the same species as their patient in Sickbay, but his face held no trace of welcome. "Starship Voyager. This is the Qelgat. You are not welcome here. Depart at once or we will destroy you!"

Kathryn rose to her feet. "We're on a peaceful mission. Captain?" she paused waiting for the alien to provide his name. The unknown Captain stared at the screen. "Your presence is not desired..." He turned when someone spoke to him. Then he turned back to the screen and cut off the transmission.

"Captain, they are powering weapons," Harry said with a hint of alarm.

"Red alert," Janeway said as she sat down. "Tom, evasive action."

She'd barely spoken when the ship shook and the illumination disappeared completely. The lights came back on almost immediately, but only at half strength.

"Report!" Chakotay ordered.

"The ship is flanking us, they will be in firing range in ten seconds." Tuvok said. "Damage to decks three section two, no casualties," Harry responded. "Engineering is responding." The lights flickered and then the bridge was fully illuminated once more.

Janeway stood. "Tom, get us out of here, warp two." Chakotay nodded. "Well, I think we found the who."

"What do you mean?" Kathryn halted her forward motion and awaited further information.

"Their weapons' signature is identical to those used on that ship."

"I concur with the Commander," Tuvok answered her gaze. " Their weapons systems are definitely Borg in origin." Kathryn glanced thoughtfully around the bridge as the Vulcan continued. By the time he fell silent her decision had been made.

"Where would they have found Borg tech?" Harry asked.

"They found a derelict Borg ship," Tom replied. "The crew abandoned the ship when we freed them."

"Or they died..." Harry added. "It makes sense.

"If we're up against Borg technology, I don't want any surprises. I want to know just how much Borg tech that ship has. But right now, Tom heading two-four point three. Harry scan for any ships or messages." The alien ship didn't follow. "I want a detailed analysis of that ship in half an hour. Maintain our course until we are just outside the system." She glanced at Chakotay and shook her head.

Destroying the Borg had seemed like a good idea. She hoped the positive benefits continued to out-weigh the negatives.


She closed the PADD with the various reports. Her hunch had been correct, the Qelgat ship had Borg weapons, but none of the other technology. This was not very reassuring. Somewhere these people had found a Borg ship and who knew what they could develop from it. Such power could alter the balance of power in this region...

She didn't want to get into a philosophical debate with herself over this, so she picked up the Doctor's report. She didn't get very far.

"Captain, we've intercepted a subspace message from the third planet," Harry's voice said. "It's being sent over a dozen frequencies." "Let's have it."

The image of a young man of the same species as the victim in their Sickbay appeared on the screen. His eyes were wild and panicked as if he were trying to face fears he would rather forget. "To all people, I have grave news for the Empire. The armies of the Soman Democratic Union have chosen to align themselves with the great enemy from beyond our borders. We have proof that the SDU have gained access to Borg technology. SDU ships have initiated a siege on our homeworld." Janeway stared as the static increased and the image vanished. She looked up as Chakotay entered her Ready Room. "The Soman Democratic Union are the ones with the Borg tech," he said.

"Most likely, but it's my guess that they have only the technology as opposed to being former Borg themselves."

"Still a fearful possibility. The young woman and her family were fleeing a planetary siege and were chased down."

"Possible. Yet, we are still no closer to an understanding of what is going on." She strode toward the door with her first officer right behind her.

"Captain," Tom called as they entered the bridge. "What course should I set? Back to that planet?"

Janeway shook her head. "No, I'd say we've had a taste of our welcome there. This whole situation just gets more and more murky. We need some more information before we go any further. Let's hold our position here until Astrometrics is fully operational once more."