Chapter 4 – A rescue plan of some sort
"This line of thinking is not constructive."
"What do you mean 'not constructive'? We need to get them back."
"While your loyalty to the missing crew members is commendable, your plan is unsound. It will surely lead to the ship being seized again or destroyed. I do not need to remind you of the consequences for the crew."
"Oh! So we do nothing. Well, I can tell you—"
"You know, a better idea might be—"
"That's getting us nowhere—"
"Bloody stubborn—"
"THAT. IS. ENOUGH."
Chakotay thumped his fists on the Officers' room table, his eyes glaring at the four men mulling around. They stopped in their tracks, stunned by his outburst. It was not often they saw the Commander's ire at close quarters. One by one, they sat down in silence, awed by the large angry man dominating the room.
For all they knew, Voyager was only hours away from the border, and they still didn't have any rescue plan in sight. All he was getting were half-baked ideas that would get the crew imprisoned or killed, not to mention the three missing women would then be lost for good.
Neelix, Tom, Tuvok, Harry. They all were looking at him, expecting a miracle like the Captain used to keep up her sleeve when the odds were monumentally against Voyager surviving yet another disaster.
Except she didn't have to get angry, he thought as he sank back in his chair, pushing a hand through his short cropped hair. She could tease out the possible from the idiotic out of each and everyone's contributions and then make the final decision, always displaying confidence in their eventual success. She was —.
He bowed his head. Spirits, why was he thinking of Kathryn in the past tense?
He could not let her down. He could not abandon her. There must be some trick they could pull out. To save her. To save them all.
He put his hand up to signal he did not want any interruption. "Tuvok is right. We can't fight the Voth as long as we are in their territory. The four escort ships outgun us. Even if we were to get the engines back to full warp capability, we'd be dead or captured without able to put up a fight. Once outside their territory, we'll still have the same problem. They know Voyager and they will have us on their sensors half a light-second after we cross their borders," he summarised.
"So we need another angle. Tom, what about taking a shuttle?"
"The Voth have access to Voyager's computer system and therefore to the flyers'. We can't use the shuttles without them knowing even if we could find a way of getting under their noses," Paris said.
He had hardly slept since B'Elanna had disappeared. He was sure the Captain would have already found a way to rescue three of her crew members if she had been in charge.
No, that was not fair on Chakotay. Their situation was hopeless. The safety of the crew was at stake here. It wasn't like a space battle where Voyager often had a good chance of fighting back, thanks to a captain who was a master tactician, a pilot with nerves of steel and a Chief Engineer who… He stopped his rambling thoughts. He did not want to go there.
"We have something else," Harry exclaimed. "Neelix' ship. The Voth don't know it exists because it's never been linked to Voyager's systems."
Neelix jumped up, all excited. "That's an excellent idea, young man. Your flyers are great machines of course but my ship has been through its fair share of tricky situations. I'll be happy to put it at your service. With myself at the helm of course," he added with much less confidence.
While Voyager was a flying marvel, the Baxial was his ship. The warp engine was a bit sluggish at times and the environmental controls were not exactly up to Starfleet standards. There were no transporters or replicators. Using the Baxial for a rescue mission would not be a picnic but there was more at stake here than his own comfort.
They needed to get the Captain back because…, well because she was the Captain. He had a great deal of admiration for her. He had also grown fond of the Chief Engineer who always refused to let him touch anything the rare times he was in Engineering but absolutely loved his banana pancakes. The Borg woman? She was okay. If you liked walking icicles. Anyway, they were from Voyager and as a fully recognised crew member and senior officer, he was duty-bound to help them.
"The idea has some merit," Tuvok conceded to everyone's surprise. "However, the Talaxian ship will be no match for our escorts. The Voth are sure to detect it when it leaves Voyager. It will not survive their fire power."
"We could disguise it," Tom said, a shrewd look on his face. "Let it pass for something it's not. I've noticed the Voth ships empty their bilge tanks in space once a cycle. Some of the stuff they are getting rid of is the size of a small planetoid. They probably use this remote area of space for their annual spring-cleaning. Anyway, the Baxial could drift into the waste stream with the engines off, using all that rubbish as a cloak and then turn to the Mother Planet once far enough away from the Voth ships. I saw that manoeuvre used once."
He was not going to tell them he'd seen that trick in a movie from Voyager's 20th century recreational database, about an evil empire and a ruggedly handsome pilot.
Chakotay sat up, seeing a ray of hope. "All right, that sounds like a plan. We need to know when the next waste dump will happen and from which escort ship."
"I'll take care of that," Tom said. "I'll also download all we have on the Mother Planet and Voth shipping routes close to that system into the Baxial. The Voth may not like mammalians but they allow a lot of inbound trade."
He looked at Chakotay, a look of desperation in his eyes. "Commander, I'm a better pilot than Neelix. Let me take the helm."
The Commander shook his head. "Neelix knows his ship. He'll be the pilot but you'll be coming as field medic. Our missing crew members may need medical attention. Get the Doctor to give you all the supplies you need." He smiled at seeing Tom's boyish grin for the first time since B'Elanna's disappearance.
"Harry, you'll stay on Voyager. Help Neelix ensure the Baxial is fully prepared for a few days' mission. Avoid bringing anything on board that would scream 'Voyager' on sensors. We'll leave our combadges behind."
"Will do sir," Harry answered. Although disappointed not to go with the others, he knew there was not much space in the freighter's cramped living quarters.
Chakotay stood up at the head of the table. "You are dismissed. Tuvok, I need to speak to you."
The two men faced each other across the table in the now empty room.
"You intend to go with Mr Neelix and Lt Paris," the Vulcan said.
Chakotay straightened up, ready to mow down any suggestion his decision was the wrong one. "Yes. Tom and Neelix can't do this alone. I know it goes against all Starfleet regulations for the second-in-command to leave the ship in such a situation, but I have to go."
"I understand Commander."
"You do?" Chakotay asked, surprised the Chief Security was ready to let him bend the rules so easily.
"Like Captain Janeway, you are a very determined individual once you've made your mind up. It is also my observation that you harbour feelings for the Captain which will make you disregard much of what I might have to say. Therefore, trying to keep you on Voyager would be an unproductive endeavour on my part."
"Thank you Tuvok," Chakotay admitted. Once again, the Vulcan's insights were a revelation, but he decided not to pursue that line of discussion. This was not the time to dawdle. "We have more to discuss."
He looked at the blank viewport, unconsciously imitating Janeway's posture when she pondered a difficult decision.
"Once Voyager crosses the border, I want you to find a safe but discreet harbour close by. You'll need time to get all systems back online. Keep a full sensor sweep to locate the Baxial, and come and get us after we leave Voth space in case the Voth decide to pursue us. I am pretty certain they'll count their losses and turn back home once they find themselves outside of their territory, even if Odala is eager to make an example of us."
"I concur with your analysis, Commander. However, your chances of getting within range of the Mother Planet are very low according to my calculations. The Voth scanning technology is formidable and the Baxial is not renowned for its speed or fighting capabilities."
Chakotay smiled. It was a good feeling to be one step ahead of the Vulcan. He turned away from the dark space outside. "Obfuscation, Tuvok."
The Vulcan's eyebrow rose half an inch.
"The Voth space is huge, with dozens of systems. It's very likely that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing in such a vast territory. Add a large dose of Neelix' best impressions of a bewildered trader if we get hailed, and I think we have a good chance to get to the Mother Planet without incident, or at least close to it. Getting out may be another matter. We will need to improvise."
Tuvok nodded his agreement. "There is no doubt that Mr Neelix is very good at confusing anybody with a modicum of rationality. And Mr Paris' creative mind will be more an asset in this undertaking than if he was to stay on Voyager. You have chosen your team well. I will revise the odds of this mission."
Chakotay could see how an unflappable Vulcan with a sense of humour could have become the close advisor and friend of a spirited captain.
His mood darkened again at the thought of Janeway. "One more thing. Your main responsibility will be to keep Voyager safe. In no circumstances will you send another rescue mission after us. If we aren't back within six days, you'll resume course for the Alpha Quadrant. You will not wait for us. That's an order, Tuvok."
"Understood, Commander."
"You have your orders, Tuvok. Dismissed."
The Vulcan inclined his head and left the room. Chakotay watched the door closing silently.
The rescue mission was reckless but his fate was not with Voyager. His only regret was that if he failed he would bring two good men to die with him.
If I ever see Kathryn again, she'll chop my head off.
He smiled to himself. Before or after conceding she had once done the same for me?
###
The animal's front limbs turned inwards, sharp claws glistening in the rain. Mesmerising waves of orange moved across its drenched skin. Head cocked, it sniffed the air and intelligent golden eyes followed the woman's movements. It did seem more hesitant than aggressive.
She noticed the oversized toe claws on the feet of its muscular back legs, and the long balancing tail swooshing in the sand. For a primitive species, it appeared to be an extremely effective hunting animal. Only then did she realise that she was more than likely its intended prey.
"Seven, don't turn your back on it. Walk slowly back towards us," Janeway shouted from the boat. She stood near a pile of branches at the front of the raft, while the other two women had gone to shore to replenish their firewood. The Chief Engineer had found an inventive way to disinfect the water from the river but they needed dry wood, which was not easy to come by in the wet climate.
"B'Elanna, look for others like it, hiding."
B'Elanna pointed out dark silhouettes in the trees a few metres ahead of their companion, the tropical deluge masking their numbers.
"Seven, RUN."
The Borg woman turned around and raced faster than Janeway had ever seen a human sprint. Two raptors leapt out of the forest after her, but the soft sand slowed them down. One of the animals fell over itself in a tangled mess of limbs and tail. The individual that had distracted Seven joined the pursuit.
Janeway and B'Elanna pushed the raft away from the riverbank as Seven leaped on the logs. Thinking its prey cornered, the lead raptor jumped and landed just behind the woman, its bulk rocking the raft dangerously. The flimsy hut collapsed, waves swamping the fire.
The animal's back legs slipped on the wet timber leaving Seven time to scramble out of its reach. The dinosaur soon righted itself, its back claws locking into the space between the logs. It made a loud clicking sound and the other raptors called back from the beach, easily keeping pace with the moving raft.
The two women came to stand by Seven's side as the animal's haunches quivered. It was ready to pounce, its body now a magnificent shade of red.
Seven grabbed a pole and raised it like a spear, certain that nothing could stop an attack. The other two women did the same. They were not ready to die without a fight despite the overwhelming odds against them.
The animal lowered its head and tail, its skin fading to a pale grey. Before Janeway could stop them, B'Elanna and Seven both crept forward, spears at the ready. Hissing sorrowfully, the raptor backed off to the end of the raft and then threw itself in the river, swimming back to the shore to join its companions. A few seconds later, they all disappeared into the darkness of the trees.
The three women found themselves alone, the rain settling down around them. The raft picked up speed in the strong current.
"That was too close." B'Elanna sat down, arms around her knees. "Much too close." She put her head down, her breathing laboured. She had not taken the time to think, simply reacting to protect Kathryn and Seven. The contemptuous attitude of that animal towards those it considered small and puny brought back memories she preferred to forget. This planet was really, really pissing her off.
Seven's legs were feeling weak, an alien sensation she found thoroughly unpleasant.
What she had just experienced was pure biological perfection. The animals that had chased her were the ultimate product of tens of millions of years of evolution on this planet, and Earth before that. Their genetic makeup was in an endless race to adapt, each generation of predators selected by changes in their prey and their environment. The weak will perish was a hard lesson to learn.
She was not looking forward to another encounter.
Janeway watched the banks grey with rain pass by, letting the raft and her thoughts carry her away from what might have happened. Instead, she focused on a scientific puzzle.
From what she had seen so far and what she remembered from that summer camp all those years ago, the food web on the Mother Planet was too bottom heavy. Apart from the couple of T-Rex they had seen from the top of the waterfall all these days ago, they had encountered no predators until now. The Voth had probably been very selective in what animals they had brought with them from Earth, but she found it strange nothing had evolved since to fill in the empty niches.
Or maybe there were even more dangerous hunters around. Secretive super-predators capable of keeping the populations of T-Rex and raptors under control. She did not relish the thought of coming across such animals.
The rain stopped. She got up and started to take stock of what was left of their gear. Most of the wood was gone, tossed in the river when the raptor had landed heavily on the raft. The fire was out and half of the drinking water containers had disappeared.
She repressed a flicker of anger. B'Elanna's and her own pair of boots were missing. An attack by predatory dinosaurs was something she had been expecting since landing on that god-forsaken planet barely eight cycles prior. If she'd been alone, she might even have welcomed the one-sided fight and its inevitable end. But her plan to reach the beacon had not included trampling up the side of a steep volcano barefoot.
Once again dusk crept quickly upon the women. B'Elanna and Seven beached the raft on a shoal in the middle of the river, carefully inspecting the shore for any trace of danger. Satisfied, they settled down for the night.
B'Elanna re-started the fire. "How did you know to look for more of these beasts?" she asked Janeway who helped by feeding sticks into the flames.
"Something Doctor Grant showed me at that summer camp I talked to you about. There was a long straight line of prints from a big herbivore, walking slowly on all fours, probably grazing. You could see the deeper impressions in the stone where it stopped. Facing it were the two-toed footprints of a single Velociraptor, the same species or a very close relative to the animals that attacked us. Dr Grant pointed out the raptor was too small to tackle a large animal by itself. He then showed us the running tracks of other raptors coming straight at the flanks of the grazer. One at the front to divert the attention of their prey, three or four jumping from the sides. A very effective strategy from a very intelligent animal."
"I am thankful for your teacher's expertise and your excellent memory," Seven said. She put rocks into the fire before dropping them in bamboo cylinders. The water hissed and bubbled.
"It doesn't explain why they suddenly ended their attack, though," Janeway wondered. "Nothing should make these animals change their minds once they locate a prey. Something spooked them."
"The raptor did look uncertain when it met Seven. Maybe the one that jumped on the raft got second thoughts when we appeared?" B'Elanna dropped a clean rag into the hot water.
"I believe that animal was ready to attack all three of us by then. It's only when we raised our poles that it backed off," Seven said, threading skewers through a couple of plate-sized fishes. With the help of a stick, she swept a few coals onto a flat stone and place the skewers on top of them.
"That's it!" Janeway exclaimed. "We raised our poles as if we were going to throw them at the animal. Then it took off and its friends with it."
"Well, the poles would not have helped us much. They are too blunt to be used as spears. Maybe clubs, but not good throwing them without sharpening the ends first," B'Elanna noted.
She untied the bandage around Janeway's arm. Two days of enforced rest had helped the Captain regain some of her strength and she had submitted to B'Elanna's skilled ministrations without protest, to the surprise of the amateur medic.
The cloth was soaked with fresh blood but the wound underneath had a healthy colour and was closing around the drain. Holding Kathryn's arm firmly above the elbow, B'Elanna yanked the small tube out and then proceeded to clean the wound with the warm sterile water. She pressed down as much as she dared, earning herself a dirty look from her patient, jaws tight against the pain. There was no discharge and the smell was gone.
The wound was healing well. However B'Elanna was worried she had cut more than just a few muscles. It was clear Kathryn had no feelings in her hand and fingers. Neither women had said anything.
Janeway helped the Engineer tighten the clean bandage and settled down to eat. "These animals are smart but not enough to realise our spears were useless. They've seen them in use before. I think they've met a species which uses weapons to hunt or defend itself. I wonder if the Voth know of its existence," she mused.