Welcome to the second part of a pack of wolfs, if you haven't read part one yet I highly recommend you do so now I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it and as always please leave a review. The action really picks up in this part as the crew struggles to stay alive and get out of the desperate situation they are in.
Acting captains log commander Chakotay reporting stardate: 55023.3 it's been 2 days since the first attack and we are still under siege. Since the first attack the enemy ship has appeared every 42.42 minutes and we still have no idea why. Attempts to establish contact with the alien ship has been answered only static more attacks. So far the ship is holding up well the armor is holding back the worst of the charges and we've been slowly restoring the ship. It's not an easy task with more than a quarter of the crew out of commission and systems still shutting down. Voyager needs her captain now more than ever but she has been affected the worst and I don't know if I can take her place, not this time. Moral is at an all-time low and I've heard ore then a few people wishing that we had returned when we had the chance, my senior staff is not to blame however they've been trying their very best and I don't think any of us has slept since the first attack. I've called a staff meeting to discuss the situation and try to find a solution, if anyone can find a way out it's this crew and I have every confidence we'll be able to work this out.
Chakotay was sitting in the conference room which seemed unrecognizable. The wall console had exploded and the lights where blinking but at least where still here he thought feeling incredibly tired. The doctor had been handing out stimulants to the senior staff but they didn't seem to be as effective on Chakotay as they should be. I must be getting old he thought, he had done plenty of days like this in both the maqui and as part of the voyager crew but it had never affected him like this. He was waiting for his senior staff to arrive which was rather more complex than it was usually since the turbo lifts where still down. Harry had joined him straight from the bridge but the rest where either working on repairing the ship or her crew. They had to be beamed over to the conference room one by one by the transporters of one of the shuttles. Tom Paris, the doctor and Tuvok where there already and they were still waiting for B'elanna. They all looked as tired as Chakotay felt and none of them where speaking right now. They would never admit it but they could really use this down time and they were all making the most of it.
B'elanna materialized by the door looking even worse than the others, she had a slight burn on her left hand and looked about ready to collapse and Tom stood up and went to hug her which she gladly accepted. Then he pulled out her chair and helper her in to it. After which all eyes turned to Chakotay. Welcome everyone said Chakotay to open the meeting, thank you all for coming I know you've all been very busy. We are under siege and if we are going to make it out of this we need to work together so first order of business what's our status? Stable B'elanna answered, things are bad but they are at least not getting worse. The armor seems to be holding back the draining effect of their weapons and we've been able to stop the spread in the ship. However so far we have been unsuccessful to restore power to the affected systems. We had to take the core offline since the containment systems where starting to become affected. This means where operating on the backup generators, which are enough but not by much. Is there any chance of restoring the core so we can get out of here, harry asked desperately. We don't have the power for a cold restart right now, B'elanna responded and even if we did we couldn't get to warp while armored.
Alright so that's not an option Chakotay responded what did their weapons do exactly? They seem to have caused an overload in the affected systems which caused them to discharge all their stored energy, Tuvok answered. This resulted in a power drain which spread throughout the ship affecting system after system, harry added. So is there anything we can do about it? Chakotay asked any tactical options. Well our weapons seem to have little to no effect they just seem to miss or pass through them. So far I have not figured out how that could happen, said Tuvok sounding if possible a little bit desperate. I might have an answer to that, harry answered. I've been going through all our sensor readings from the attacks and I couldn't get a clear picture it all seemed to be in flux. I've tried to combine the readings and now I think I might have a clear picture. Harry took out a pad with the image of a ship on it with some sensor data displayed beside it. It looked like an oval with two bites taken out of it in the back, and something that looked like a deflector dish on its front dorsal. It's roughly the size of the delta flyer just a few meters longer, harry continued. Yes ensign but how come we can't hit it, Chakotay asked. I was getting to that sir harry responded. It seems to be able to hide in a layer between subspace and our space. That's where it is right now, however when it comes to attack us it leaves that layer so it can harm us. However my theory is that it doesn't leave it entirely it's partially here and there and it's continuously shifting in-between the two. That's why we can't get a clear reading and that's why we can't seem to hit it.
Everyone went quiet for a moment they all realized the situation they were in. under attack by an enemy that they had no hope of ever even able to harm. Oh and sir there is one more thing you should know, harry continued. I think there is more than one the energy signature varies between attacks as far as I can tell there are at least 5 of them. Once again everyone was quiet and let the situation sank in. Tom broke the silence by saying it's a wolf pack. I'm sorry lieutenant Tuvok responded I don't know how a group of terran canines has any bearing on our current situation. No not literally wolfs Tuvok, said Tom. During earths Second World War in the Mid-20th century the Germans used to use submarines called U Boats. They were lying in the shipping lanes in groups waiting for passing convoys. They would attack and then hide again attack and hide they were known as wolf packs. That's as good a way to think of it as any I suppose, said harry, but how does that help us. Well said Tom there are two ways to disable a submarine either you force it to surface or you force it to sink. And the best way to hunt a submarine is with another submarine. What do you mean Tom said Chakotay; I doubt we could take voyager in to the subspace layer that would take a lot of energy which we don't have right now. I didn't mean voyager, tom said. Everyone was quiet again trying to guess what Tom was talking about. O the flyer, said B'elanna with a sound of joy in her voice. That's absolutely brilliant; she hasn't been damaged at all yet and could probably make the passage easily. But what could the flyer do when there? Chakotay asked, wouldn't it be hit by the same weapons we were. Well when there she could theoretically hit the enemy ships and force one of them to our side that way we could talk to them negotiate, harry answered. And we started outfitting the flyer for operation endgame in case we needed it, B'elanna added we could finish it to protect it against the charges. That sounds like a good plan; Chakotay said Tom, B'elanna you get on as soon as possible.
Tom and B'elanna started to get up to leave when Chakotay motioned for them to stay put. I have one more point of concern what about the injured crew he asked. Shouldn't they have regained consciousness yet I mean they were hurt but not enough to induce a coma. No it shouldn't have done, the doctor answered. However it's my believe that the same thing that effected the ship has been happening to them. What their energy has been drained, Harry asked almost jokingly. Well in a manner of speaking, the doctor answered. The humanoid body is governed and controlled by electrical impulses and in theory they could have been affected just like the systems aboard this ship. In a way you are not all that different ensign. So there electrical impulses have been drained and that's why they won't wake up, not to sound ungrateful but shouldn't they be dead then Chakotay asked. Well if the drain would have continued they certainly would be, the doctor continued. However we managed to slow it down and stop it with neural stimuli. You managed to stabilize it then doctor, said Chakotay. But is there any way to reverse it, to make them regain consciousness. There might be the doctor said, one of our patients already has, Naomi regained consciousness a few hours ago. That's good so you can undo it, harry asked. No not really Naomi was stabilized mere minutes after losing consciousness, in sickbay. Also because she is so young she might be more resilient. I could reverse the progress probably with a more powerful neural stimulant but that would require the main surgical bed to be operational which it isn't. so basically Chakotay started, we can't revive the crew before where out of this mess. One more question how come we haven't all been drained. Well all the people that have been drained where weakened when it happened, the doctor answered. That might have contributed. But you all seem more tired than you were under similar circumstances so you might not be wholly unaffected. Alright everyone your dismissed, but one more thing I want all if you to get at least four hours of sleep. They all started to protest and said that they were needed. Everyone accept the doctor who agreed completely. Yes you won't be much use going on like this if you want to protest I can make it an order. Everyone muttered a silent agreement and started to make their way over to the door. Chakotay remained seated and the doctor who was the last one to leave turned around and said, same counts for you commander. Chakotay looked up almost asleep already and said yes doctor.
Tom and B'elanna where waiting near the pattern enhancers placed on deck one to facilitate transport. All the other had been beamed over to their respective quarters and they were awaiting transport themselves. Where is Miral she asked Tom do you even know? Of course I know Tom responded. She's been in sickbay ever since Chell brought her in remember. So you've been with her all this time B'elanna shouted sounding a little angry. Yes is that a problem Tom asked confused. Yes of course it is a no, no never mind it's nothing I just need to see her okay can we go there please. Yes, yes of course tom responded. When the transport confirmation came they were transported to sickbay where they picked up Miral. After which they headed to their quarters B'elanna fell asleep almost immediately when she lay down on her bed with Miral in her arms.
Six hours later the senior staff was back at work again, Harry and Chakotay where on the bridge. Chakotay felt completely useless Harry at least was helping to oversee repairs and coordinating internal communications. Chakotay however wasn't doing anything he thought; procedures dictated that there always be a command level officer in the center seat. But right now there were no orders to give or reports to go over, and he couldn't feel more useless. Any updates ensign? He asked Harry for what felt like the 20th time in the last half hour. Nothing new to report yet sir, work on the flyer has been progressing as expected, as of yet engineering has not yet managed to restore any systems and the doctor has made no progress reviving any of his patients. Thank you ensign, Chakotay said wishing he hadn't bothered the hard working ensign. Promising himself he wouldn't do it again knowing full well he wouldn't be able to keep the promise. He decided to start work on another attempt to hail the aliens. He really wanted to resolve the situating without forcing one of them to surface as Tom put it against their will. However he was starting to think that that might just be the only option. Next attack is in two minutes sir, said Harry and Chakotay worked a little harder to get his hail ready.
Over in shuttle bay one work had started on the delta flyer people several crewmen were working on her and scanning. B'elanna and her team had just finished installing all the armor generators to the hull and she was now trying to get it to work. Tom was working with ensign walker to try and get the deflector ready to make the vortex necessary to pass over to the subspace layer but tom couldn't keep his mind on the task. He was really worried about B'elanna she seemed to be on a very short fuse and really distracted by something. When she was with Miral it seemed to be alright but after they returned her to sickbay she got depressed again. When he asked her what was wrong she said everything was fine I really hate it when she is like this. If only she would open up to me she just can't understand that I want to help her.
B'elanna was working on connecting the armor generators to the Flyers computer system, at the tactical console. She was mad at the aliens mad at herself and most of all mad at herself She was still blaming herself for constantly thinking about Miral, she thought getting to see her and be with her would have helped but it almost seemed to make it worse. All these things were going through her head and she wasn't concentrating properly. She had forgotten to turn of the power in the cirquit she was working on. Aarch you stupid Petach
Tom heard her shout looking over at her he saw his wife with a burn on her hand. You insane piece of stupid junk. She kept shouting kicking the console slamming t with her fists. Ensign Walker looked up she had no idea what to do about it. Could you please get a med kit from the locker in the shuttle bay Walker, Tom asked. Getting the hint Walker walked away and Tom went over to his wife. What's wrong B'elanna please talk to me. I don't want to talk to you, B'elanna screamed. You're going to have to we're married; we have a kid its mandatory. That calmed her down a bit. Is it the surprise? He asked. Yes it is, no it isn't I don't know, she said. Alright I shouldn't have sprung it on you like that but I thought it would be a good idea for the grandparents to meet Miral and things have been going better between you and your dad right? Yes it was, it was a really sweet thing you did alright it's not that. Alright B'elanna what is it then please just talk to me… I don't know what it is okay she almost sounded scared herself. Here we are the entire ship is broken and the crew needs me now more than ever and the only thing I can…. The only thing I can think about is… What B'elanna just talk to me alright whatever it is we can get through this. Its Miral okay I can't think of anything else and the entire ship needs me. The entire ship needs me and all I can do is think about my daughter. But that's normal B'elanna, do you think she left my mind even for a second. But I can't work like this. No you can think about her and work I know you can, it's hard but just think you're working for her to keep her safe. And I know that that's hard but it'll get easier I promise and I know you can do it alright. Alright, alright thank you Tom I needed to hear that. Your welcome now let me take care of your hand. Tom took a dermal regenerator of the emergency med kit stored underneath his pilot chair and called Ensign Walker back in so they could continue to work.
Chakotay couldn't take it anymore, he had to do something, his try to communicate had failed once more and he knew it was never going to work. Whoever it was that was attacking them they apparently no interest in talking. At least not the easy way he thought walking through the heavily damaged corridors of the ship. His ship at least until Janeway would wake up or if she woke up as he found himself thinking more and more. The doctor didn't want to mention it during the briefing. However Chakotay knew that of all the patients the captain was doing the worst. He was constantly blaming himself for not responding to ensign walker's call immediately. If he would have responded sooner she might have been okay, it's my fault if she dies said one voice in his head. She can't die so shut up said another. She can't she die she is a human so a mortal you've had people die close to you before so what's different. She just can't die we saw an older version of her she can't and so internal struggle kept going on but if he was entirely honest with himself he knew that that timeline was gone and nothing was fixed.
He was just walking around deck five with no real destination in mind but ending up where he unconsciously wanted to go sickbay. He entered and saw the doctor still hard at work at his computer reviewing scans. With Miral's crib standing next to him. I see they've put you on babysitting duty doctor, Chakotay joked without any real feeling behind it. Oh hello commander no it's now problem really, the doctor answered. She's been in here almost the entire time since the problems started, quiet as a mouse. Must be those strong Klingon genes keeping her calm in the face of danger. Yes must be, Chakotay muttered. Looking over at the main surgical bay where the captain was lying. How… how is she doctor? He asked almost afraid to hear the answer. Honestly? It's pretty bad commander her brainwaves are the weakest of any of the patients and I barely managed to stabilize her. I'll probably be able to get her body back eventually but her mind might be more of a problem. We need to get back to full power as soon as possible if she is to make a full recovery the doctor said solemnly. And what about Seven? Chakotay asked trying to hide his concern for this particular crewman. The doctor who of course knew about the blossoming relationship between the two saw right through it and understood what he meant. She is doing better than most of the others, she was regenerating at the time of the attack. That meant while she was being drained it was refilling her at the same time her cargo hold is a mess but she we'll be fine. Well I'll let you get back to work doctor, said Chakotay and walked back out the door. Chakotay decided to head over to the shuttle bay to check up on the work on the delta flyer. Since there was no real hurry he decided to go there the hard way taking the jefreys tubes to get down he made his way through the ship. Everywhere he came he saw his crew hard at work trying to fix things and couldn't help but feel proud. With this group of people we can get through this and everything the galaxy can throw at us.
He was almost at the shuttle bay when his combadge chirped. Paris to Chakotay come in Chakotay. He decided not to respond and just walk in to the bay saying you called with a grin on his face. He saw the work group standing next to an almost unrecognizable Delta flyer. Its armor was deployed so every inch of hull was covered with a duratanium alloy, voyager must look like this right not to he thought. The alloy was shining in the low lights of the shuttle bay giving the impression that the shuttle was brand new. She looks beautiful he thought. Your quick Tom said. I just called you. Yeah I was already on my way, so you're all done Chakotay responded. Mostly yeah, Tom answered B'elanna is doing the last tests on the retraction mechanism for the weapon ports right now. The deflector modifications are done we should be able to enter the layer without any problems now. Great and how are you going to force it back to normal space when your there. We programmed it to create a localized polarized magneton field to destabilize the subspace layer ensign walker piped in. which should force any ship within 500 meters to enter normal space. You have thought of everything haven't you, said Chakotay. The armor retracted and B'elanna stepped out of the flyer. Well she's ready to. Go she said. Alright lieutenant Torres and Could I have a quick word in private please. Yes sir they replied and walked with him in to the corridor.
I'll get to the point quickly. The captain isn't doing so good we need to get out of here quickly or she won't make it. Mr. Paris I want you to launch as quickly as possible, I suggest you take ensign Walker with you and… what are you talking about, B'elanna objected. I'm going with him. I don't think that'd be a good idea Chakotay said. Think that… what because of Miral, B'elanna shouted. He has a point Tom interjected. I'm an officer on this ship, she responded. And I will continue to perform my duty I know honey, I know but there is just no reason to risk both our lives on one mission, Tom responded. And besides voyager needs its chief engineer right now alright? and I'll be fine don't worry. He said when he saw the look on her face. Walker is a fine officer and she'll run the weapons just as well as you can. Right so that settles it Chakotay jumped in we need to get going now, here are your orders lieutenant. Go in to the subspace layer try to contact the alien ships and get one of them to come to our realm either the easy way or the hard way understood? Yes sir. And remember where working on a clock faster is better alright. Understood Tom answered let's go.
They walked back in to the shuttle bay and started the prelaunch checklist and Walker was informed she would take B'elanna's place. Now remember, B'elanna said. phasers won't work the torpedo launchers will it takes about 1.5 seconds for the ports to open fire and close during which you're vulnerable so be careful. We know said walker we do don't worry we'll be fine. Alright where ready good hunting said Chakotay and bring me back something alright. With that Tom and walker stepped into the flyer and took off.
The moment the flyer cleared the doors of the shuttle bay the armor sprung back in place as they had expected one of the ships entered their almost immediately to open fire on the flyer. No we'll see of all our hard work was worth it said tom. Well if it isn't it'll be a very short ride responded walker. The plan was to wait for the ship to loose interest in the flyer and then go in after it. It took a while the ship kept firing for a lot longer than they did on voyager however eventually it stopped and submerged again. Status? Tom asked to walker. All systems up and operational was her reply. The armor seems just as effective on the flyer as it is on voyager. Great power up the main deflector and let's pay them a visit. Ay sir powering deflector rift opening straight ahead responded walker. Alright there we go, said Paris.
It was a strange place they entered a world of light and plasma. Tom had been in one of these layers before but it didn't look like this. He saw not just five of the alien vessels but eight and they all changed their course for the flyer the moment they entered. Try to hail them ensign, ordered Tom. No response sir, answered Walker. Well now I guess we'll see what this armor can really do, tom thought. I guess we'll have to do this the hard way he said. Prepare to fire the weapons walker. Ready and awaiting your orders sir. You know what we have to do disable the engines of one of them so we can force it to cross over. Yes I know sir I'm ready. Alright going in. it was an unfair fight their weapons really didn't do much damage and now they were on the same plain the delta flyers torpedoes where devastating. The alien ships didn't appear to have any proper shielding so the torpedoes struck their hulls. They focused on one ship so they didn't have to do that much damage to the rest of them. The only thing tom had to make sure of was not to get hit when they were firing. The one advantage that they had was maneuverability, the delta flyer was usually quite a maneuverable ship bt a lot of the armor was covering the RCS thrusters so she was very sluggish. After a few minutes their target was dead in space and they were ready to force it to cross over. Alright sir I you get us within a kilometer I can set up the magneton field, Said ensign walker. Yes ma'am Tom responded. They maneuvered alongside to her and started the field. A vortex started to open and they were being pulled in. all of the sudden Walker saw that their rear armor was failing. Sir we are losing rear armo… an explosion went off and walker was blown out of her seat. Tom was protected by the back of his chair but al systems started to shut down before his eyes and a gas leak started to form and Tom was having problem's breathing. The last thing that went through his mind before losing consciousness was about Miral and if he would ever see her again.
To be continued
Well I hope you enjoyed part 2 the third and probably final part should be up in a day or two.
