CHAPTER 11
Captain Janeway assembled her senior staff along with Seven and Neelix below the shade of a small outcropping of deciduous trees. Most of them had shed their uniform jackets in response to the warm afternoon and B'Elanna was down to her tank.
Janeway made eye contact with each one as they joined her and once they were settled she began.
"First let me say how glad I am to see each and every one of you. I know the next few days are going to be difficult, but I have the utmost confidence in your abilities to keep our crew safe. That said, please, report on what you know of our present situation."
The captain motioned for Commander Tuvok to begin. "We are located, as planned, on the northern hemisphere of the largest landmass on Ripshyn, approximately 200 kilometers from the nearest coast. According to our previous scans and from what I could determine upon entry, we are in an uninhabited area. The only sentient life on this planet is located in a colony approximately 80 kilometers to the west. Indigenous animal life in the surrounding vicinity is limited to a few small squirrel-like species and several varieties of birds. There is no immediate threat to our security that I have perceived. It is, however, likely that the natives have detected our presence. We know they possess some technology even though they are not space-faring. I would estimate they will be able to reach us in approximately four of this planet's days."
Janeway nodded at her security chief. "When we adjourn here I want you to take a team to the top of this hill, get a look and make sure we're not missing anything. I don't want to be surprised in the middle of the night. And while you're up there scan for fresh water sources. This is fertile ground, there should be something nearby."
"Yes Captain."
She turned her attention to the EMH. "Doctor?"
"Mr. Paris, Miss Delaney and I have confirmed the original count of one-hundred and forty-five crew members. There were thirteen minor injuries including lacerations, muscle strains and mild concussions. Most of those were from before we left Voyager, but there was also one pod that had a rough landing. Two crewmen suffered broken bones. They have been treated and released. We have four engineers with non-life threatening plasma burns to their lower extremities. They are resting comfortably in a pod and I will be watching them closely for signs of infection. All in all, I'd say we were very lucky."
"I'd agree with that. Thank you doctor." She turned to the Lieutenant to her right. "Mr. Paris, since we won't be in need of a helmsman any time soon, you're permanently assigned to medical duties. Please inform Ensign Delaney of the same orders."
"Yes ma'am," Tom nodded.
Janeway addressed her engineer next. "B'Elanna?"
"We have thirty-two escape pods. Twenty-nine of them held crewmembers. The other three were medical supplies, food and water, communications equipment and the data storage pod. I was just about to begin diagnosing the data. So far, it seems intact. We should have all of our most crucial databases from Voyager, including mission and personal logs up until an hour before we abandoned ship."
"Good, that's good news. Please make securing those databases your top priority."
Neelix spoke up next. "The escape pods are of no real use to us on the surface. What should we do with them?"
Ensign Kim interjected. "They can be configured into temporary housing, but since we are expecting the colonists we probably won't need them much longer."
Neelix nodded in agreement. "Can we remove the power cells? They could be a valuable commodity for trade."
B'Elanna rubbed her forehead ridges with her thumb. "Retrieving those power cells is no walk in the park, Captain. They're crammed under the main console. I hope the here Doc here's been programmed for massage because whoever has that job is going to need one."
Seven raised an eyebrow. "I will do it," she replied almost immediately. B'Elanna cracked a sarcastic smile and was about to make a joke when Seven continued. "That is, I will supervise. I know of someone who would be well suited for the task."
"Oh?" B'Elanna asked skeptically.
"Naomi Wildman. She is of small stature. She is nimble, and possesses the necessary fine motor skills. She follows directions and has boundless energy."
Janeway smiled. "Good thinking Seven. Just ask her mother first."
"Yes Captain."
"Our next priority should be to retrieve as many supplies as we can and organize them so that they can be properly managed."
Janeway looked to Tuvok who picked up the ball. "Each pod contains tactical gear and tricorders. There are also sleeping and weather provisions, flashlights, medical kits plus food and water rations."
The captain pointed to Ensign Kim. "Harry and I will assemble the crew into teams and gather the supplies, then we'll make camp.
Tuvok nodded his agreement. "This hillside provides suitable protection from the elements, which seem to be in our favor today.
"Agreed. Thank heaven for small miracles," she said and her gaze glanced upwards to a perfectly cloudless sky. "We have about six hours until nightfall. Let's have everyone set up sleeping arrangements before dinner. Neelix, recruit a few helpers and begin to construct an area for eating together and doling out rations."
"Yes Captain," he replied.
Janeway folded her hands in her lap. "Now that the pressing issues have been settled, it's my turn to share what I know." She took a deep breath.
"My pod was the last to leave Voyager. I witnessed the end of that station while you all were beginning to descend into the upper atmosphere. I'm assuming no one else had a reasonable vantage point." She looked around and was met with shaking heads.
"Destruction was…complete. Neither we, nor the colony are in danger from it any further."
As she regarded the others she saw an uneasy mixture of relief and sadness reflected in their faces.
"You're sure that Voyager was destroyed as well?" Ensign Kim asked, clearly clinging to the last vestiges of hope.
Janeway looked to him as she would look upon an innocent child. "I'll admit, I couldn't see Voyager. I was on the other side by then. But there is no other explanation for the station's annihilation and given the timing, her condition and the course laid in before I left I'm certain Voyager is gone."
"If it's all the same to you, ma'am, I'd still like to try and establish communications," Harry requested. "Our sensors won't pick up anything in orbit but the data pod's com system should be strong enough to get through."
Janeway let out a soft sigh then nodded. "Securing the data has priority, but when B'Elanna's done you're welcome to try. Tomorrow we will attempt to establish communication with the settlement as well." She then turned to the rest of her staff.
"It's times like this that I wish we had a qualified counselor, instead that's a job that will fall to each of you. You know the members of your departments. Keep an eye on them, some will have more trouble dealing with our situation than others. This may well be the end of our quest to get home, but it's also a new chapter. We have lost Voyager, but that doesn't make us any less of a family."
There were nods all around and Janeway noticed from the corner of her eye that Tom had gently put a hand on B'Elanna's knee.
"That brings me to one last thing," her voice took a somber tone. "I'm sure it hasn't been lost on any of you that someone is missing from this meeting."
Janeway looked around the group. Only Seven and Tuvok still had their attention on her. The others were glancing sorrowfully toward the ground or to the distant horizon, kindly averting their eyes. Was it for her benefit, she wondered.
Numb, she spoke her next words as if standing somewhere far away from her own body. "Commander Chakotay gave his life so that we might all have a chance to survive. And believe me when I tell you, no one was more surprised than I when that moment came. While I don't completely agree with what he did, there's no changing it now."
She felt emotion beginning to build inside her and lifted her chin stoically.
"Chakotay was a good officer. He was an even better friend. His absence, his sacrifice. It won't go unnoticed," she vowed.
Neelix cleared his throat. "Captain, with your permission, I'd like to arrange a memorial service for tomorrow afternoon."
"Thank you Neelix. Please use whatever resources you need."
"We have a lot of work to do before dark. We'll reconvene tomorrow morning to start some long-term planning. Dismissed."
As the senior staff dispersed to their respective duties Ensign Kim took Tom Paris by the arm. Kim led him away from the Captain who had detained B'Elanna for an unknown reason.
"I don't get it," Kim said under his breath. "What happened with Chakotay?"
Tom stopped walking and turned to his friend. "Near as I can tell, he drugged the captain with a hypospray and put her in an escape pod."
Kim's eyes grew wide. "Wow."
"I know," Paris agreed. "It's a good thing he didn't make it."
"Why's that?" Kim asked, taken aback.
"Cause she'd probably kill him."