Lt. Gold returned from the other room and went to the control panel. He opened a locker and handed black backpacks to Chakotay and Kathryn. "Those are prepared with the standard survival kit." He also pulled out two weapons belts already holding a couple of large knives. "I'm going to issue you phasers and rifles. I know you resigned your commission, Commander, but I think in this case Starfleet will make an exception for a civilian carrying a plasma rifle. Hopefully we won't need them."
"I'll feel much better having them, though," Chakotay said as he put on the belt. Kathryn put hers on, and they donned their phasers and kept the rifles within reach.
Gold pointed to the empty wall to the left of the controls. "If we have to leave under a red alert, we go through there. That green button at the top of the controls opens a passageway. We follow the tunnel to its end, then up a ladder to the surface and to a transporter pad. Not even I know where we will be sent when I activate the transport. The location cycles daily. I'll take the lead. Admiral, you'll be in the middle, and Commander Chakotay will bring up the rear. Do you have any questions?"
Before any response could be made, the faint rumble of another explosion could be heard. "Another bomb?" Kathryn asked.
Gold studied the control panels intently. "Yes, but contained. The team must have found before it went off. There's also a shuttle craft above us, Federation signature. The sensor readings are a little unusual, though."
Kathryn looked over the lieutenant's shoulder for a moment and then broke into smile. "It's the Delta Flyer!" The alert beacon on the panel turned green just as the comm activated.
"Captain Proton to Queen Arachnia."
Kathryn laughed at the confused look from Gold. "Go ahead, Mr. Paris," she replied.
"If you can return to the top level, we're ready to beam you aboard," Tom said.
"Stand by." She ended the link and took the rifle Chakotay was holding out to her. "Lieutenant Gold, that's our ride."
"But, ma'am, we need to find out where you're supposed to be going next."
"I know you have a job to do, Lieutenant, so if you want to find out where I'm supposed to be, go right ahead. Where I am going to be is on that ship."
"I'm assigned to protect you, Admiral."
"Then I suggest you come with us."
Gold looked at the comm on the control panel, then at Kathryn, and picked up his rifle and pack.
"Good choice," Chakotay said as he clapped Gold on the back and headed for the turbolift.
When the three of them were back in the living room of the cabin, Kathryn contacted Tom. "Three to beam up." As soon as they were aboard the Flyer, Tom engaged the engines and began a steep climb. B'Elanna and Harry were also on board.
Kathryn introduced Gold to everyone. "Where are we heading?" she asked.
"The Paris Family Estate," Tom answered.
"We're going back to San Francisco?" she asked with surprise, concerned about an all-out attack against her in such a crowded city.
"The north of England, Admiral. The land has been in our family for generations and is isolated. The house has enough room for us, and the equipment we need to make some plans. We should be there in about 30 minutes."
Harry handed Kathryn and Gold two PADDs. "These are the latest reports from Commander Harkin."
Chakotay leaned over Kathryn's shoulder as they read the reports together. Chakotay's face hardened and his eyes blackened, his arm protectively going around Kathryn's shoulders. "Cardassian," he hissed.
"Yes," Harry replied. "The French authorities tracked down the leader before Harkin had finished questioning the couple in Paris."
"So this is about me and the Maquis; not the Doctor as we thought."
"It seems so. This Cardassian had been hiding out on Earth for about a year, and took over the Terran Guard six months ago. When Voyager returned and you were on it, he started hatching a plan to get to you. But then you left and went to Trebus. When you came back and were seen with Kathryn, he enacted his plan, but against her. He wanted you to feel like you were responsible for her death. None of the other former Maquis crew has been targeted."
Chakotay stared down at Kathryn, the pain clear on his face. "Spirits, Kathryn! I had no idea."
She took his hand. "It's not your fault, Chakotay. You couldn't have known. No one knew."
"There has to be some way I can draw them away from you."
"No! I need you with me, Chakotay. I understand what you're feeling, but right now I need the commander, my first officer."
He looked around at the others and saw the determination on their faces. He squeezed Kathryn's hand and nodded his head, and she watched as the former Starfleet officer rose to the surface of his black stare. They would win this latest battle like each one they had fought before. Failure had never been an option.
"How did you know where to find us, Tom?" Chakotay asked.
"My dad can be a very determined man, especially when his favorite former science officer is in trouble," Tom said. "I don't know all the details, but he is working with Commander Harkin."
The rest of the short trip was spent discussing possible plans and the security measures for the Paris' vacation home. In just under 20 minutes, Tom began a steep descent to minimize the time of their approach, and therefore possible detection. The view opened up below them to windswept rolling hills. Kathryn gasped when the estate came into sight. "That's no house, Tom. That's a castle."
He grinned at her. "Yeah, I guess it is. I said there'd be room for everyone. 16 to be exact, plus two apartments. The building was constructed by an ancestor in the late 20th century as a replica of a castle. It's fully modernized, but the exterior is maintained to look like ancient stone."
"It's beautiful," she said.
Tom landed the Delta Flyer behind the "house." A biting wind was blowing when they exited, and everyone hurried inside. Kathryn noticed that Tom was carrying hers and Chakotay's bags they had taken to the safe house. "I took the liberty of retrieving these while we waited for you," Tom said as passed Kathryn in the entryway. "You and Chakotay can have the west wing."
Chakotay chuckled. "We don't need a whole wing, Tom."
"It's really just an apartment," Tom said. "It's separated enough that you won't be disturbed by the rest of us."
As he spoke, a buzz of voices grew louder. They entered a large sitting room where at least 20 of the old crew were talking animatedly. "Admiral, Commander!" Ayala called to them. "Are we glad to see you!"
"Please, just Kathryn and Chakotay," Kathryn said. "I'll admit I'm glad to see you, too. I'm not one for hiding out when there's work to be done." She put her hands on her hips and said, "Report!"
For the next two hours, the group poured over the available reports from Starfleet Security, searching for clues as to where the rest of the terrorist cell was hiding and what their plans were. Chakotay left Kathryn on the settee and nodded his head for Tom to follow him. In a few minutes, they returned with large tray of sandwiches and coffee. Chakotay carried a plate and cup to Kathryn and sat down beside her. "Please eat something," he said quietly. "You haven't had anything all day."
She smiled softly at him and took the plate. "Thank you. I guess some things will never change."
"I'll always take care of you, love, as much as you'll let me." He held her gaze for a moment more, then slid back against the cushions with his own plate.
As night began to fall, Commander Harkin and Owen Paris arrived at the estate. Harkin pulled Gold off to the side and spoke with him briefly before giving his latest information to everyone. A small group of six members of the Guard had been found in Marseilles with a cache of weapons. Harkin believed this was the main supply site, and the computer data recovered was being analyzed to trace down other members. "We do not believe this is a very large group, but they do appear to have many points of contact. One concern is that about a third of the weapons in their computerized inventory were not at the cache site and not recovered at the safe house. Somebody has them, and we need to find them."
Finally, Chakotay couldn't keep his thoughts to himself any longer. "Commander, Admiral Paris, is it true this started because of me?"
Owen looked at him with a twinge of sympathy. "You do appear to have been the catalyst, Chakotay. Make no mistake, though, the Terran Guard is up to something more than trying to hurt you and Admiral Janeway. The attacks escalated quickly and were out of proportion to a group trying to kill one admiral or one Maquis. We're still conducting interrogations, and there have been hints at a larger purpose. We aren't prepared to say what that is yet."
Harkin spoke up. "Admiral Janeway, we need to speak to you and Chakotay in private for a moment."
"Of course, Commander," she said as she and Chakotay stood up. They followed Owen to a small study.
"I don't want this information to go beyond this room right now," Harkin said. "I'll be taking Lieutenant Gold back to Headquarters with me, and you should have no contact with anyone at Starfleet Security other than myself. In light of the incident that occurred at your home, and then the safe house being compromised, we believe someone within Starfleet may be involved. Because of the possibility of an inside job, I'm willing to let you and your capable crew be responsible for your safety and plan of action. Admiral Paris assures me that very few people know this estate exists, and fewer that it belongs to him. Even many of the locals believe it to be abandoned."
"Tom gave you the west apartment, right?" Owen asked. Kathryn nodded. "If by some chance you are discovered here, in the bedroom you will find a red button hidden behind the left side of the headboard. If that button is pushed, the headboard drops to reveal a passageway. That tunnel branches off to the left to lead up into the sitting room you were just in. It also continues on to exit in a small cottage at the edge of this land. The cottage is an abandoned groundskeeper's home." The corner of his mouth curled upward. "I know you like to face problems head on, Katie, and preferably with a phaser. But if things get out of hand, the hidden passage can get you to safety to regroup."
Harkin spoke again. "We really don't expect anything to happen for at least 24 to 48 hours. The inroads we've made in France have sent most of the remaining Guard into hiding. They know that security forces around the globe are on high alert. I won't contact you until I have something of importance to report. I don't want to risk compromising your location."
"Are you staying, Owen?" Kathryn asked.
"No, not tonight. I'll be continuing on to France to aid the interrogations. Tom knows this house and grounds as well, if not better, than I do."
Kathryn smirked. "Yes, some house, Owen."
He laughed. "It seems I had some rather pretentious ancestors. I'm not going to complain, though. This land is a nice place for family vacations to escape the city. Perhaps you and Chakotay can spend some time here when you can enjoy it."
"I would love that, Owen," Kathryn said, genuinely touched.
The four of them returned to the sitting lounge, and Owen, Harkin, and Gold left for France. A late dinner was replicated for everyone, and they put aside the planning and worrying for a while to enjoy being together with former shipmates. The events of the last couple of days were taking their toll on Kathryn and Chakotay, and they soon excused themselves to get some rest. Chakotay wondered if Kathryn would be uneasy about their crew seeing them retire to bed together, but she linked her arm through his, told everyone goodnight, and followed Tom to the apartment.
Two other bedrooms were on the same hall as the west apartment and Tom pointed them out. "Ayala and Andrews are staying in here. They insisted on being close for security." Tom smirked at Chakotay. "Don't worry, though. Your bedroom is at the back, and the soundproofing works well."
"Watch it, Tom," Chakotay growled.
"I'm just pointing out the details of the house," Tom said as he opened the double wooden doors. They entered into a small office and continued through to a kitchenette with a replicator and a breakfast nook. Beyond that was a lounge, with a large bedroom and bathroom to the left.
"This is lovely, Tom," Kathryn said as she turned to take in the apartment.
"It's usually only used for guests. I've already put your bags in the bedroom. If you need anything, B'E and I are only a comm link away."
"Thank you." Tom left and closed the double doors behind him.
Kathryn and Chakotay looked around the space and smiled at each other. The apartment was decorated with heavy, dark woods and rich, saturated colors. Chakotay ran his hand over the desk in the office. "This is a true antique, not a replica," he told her. "I bet most of the furniture is."
In the lounge, Kathryn knelt to run her fingers over the thick imperial blue, burgundy, and gold rug. "Authentic wool," she commented. Paintings of various scenic places from several Federation worlds adorned the walls. Chakotay studied a large medallion in the ceiling over the sofa and wing chairs while Kathryn looked in the bedroom. A large, high bed dominated the room, which also held two dark wood wardrobes. She traced the fleur de lis pattern in the headboard, and then located the hidden button behind it before moving on. The tile and marble bathroom featured a sunken, heated tub with an inlaid sunburst mosaic.
Kathryn returned to the sitting room, and Chakotay smiled softly at her wistful look. "This apartment has everything you love, doesn't it?" he asked indulgently. She grinned and said, "I think we just became best friends with Admiral and Mrs. Paris."