I'm really very sorry this has taken so long. Summer is a busy time for my and that coupled with a bit of writer's block has impeded my progress. I'm thankful to those of you who have stuck by my story and I plan to move it along a little faster now.

The usual disclaimers apply, most of the characters belong to someone else. I don't own a thing and I make no money off of this story. Please enjoy.

Kathryn wanted to return to the Delta Flyer and help with the ever progressing sensor sweeps but the Knox had quarters available to her and Amelia. After the trauma the child had endured Kathryn thought it best to stay where she and the child could have a bit of space to themselves. She figured she could still help with the evaluation of the recon information and with development of a strategy. She didn't count on how tightly Amelia would cling to her, not letting her out of sight for a single moment. Neither did she count on how desperately the child would call out for Chakotay when it came time to sleep.

Kathryn couldn't take Amelia with her to discuss what the recon teams found, as that sort of information was too disturbing to allow a child to hear. As Amelia refused to be left with strangers, Kathryn eventually had Celes beamed back from the surface to watch Amelia while she conferred with Edward Janeway on the information gathered.

The USS Geronimo joined them two days after Amelia and Chakotay's rescue. Kathryn was moved by the presence of members of her former Voyager crew. The team leaders met every day, this included crew from the Geronimo and representatives from the recon teams on the ground as well as those in charge of organizing the locals and setting up safe houses. They were in the briefing room discussing the deplorable conditions some of the older children who worked in the mine were forced to endure when the doors to the room flew open. Amelia rushed in like a whirlwind with Celes on her heels.

"Mommy! I want Daddy! Why is he still down there? I want to see him! Where is he? Why can't I see him? I want him NOW!" Amelia demanded.

Kathryn was shocked. Amelia was generally a very well behaved child and not prone to tantrums of this magnitude. Sure Amelia had been clingy of late, but she wasn't one to scream and demand things. Kathryn quickly reminded herself that the child had been through a traumatic experience. Kneeling down to Amelia's level Kathryn spoke to her in a firm but quiet voice. "Daddy is still on the planet surface. He's helping to bring home all the children who were taken. Reyana was very nice and took care of you and Daddy. She's been very sad ever since her granddaughter was taken away. Don't you think it's only fair for us to help her find her granddaughter?"

"Yes." Amelia conceded. "I just miss Daddy. When is he coming back? Will I see him when he's done helping?"

"Of course you will. He'll be back as soon he can, we just aren't sure exactly when that will be. Now please go back with Tel so we can all get back to our plan to help Daddy and the others, okay?" The room was deathly still as Kathryn spoke. Those who knew them personally noted with interest that Kathryn had not attempted to dissuade Amelia from calling Chakotay Daddy.

"Okay, Mommy. When will you be done? I want you to come back with me. Will we have dinner together?"

"I don't know honey. We may be ready to go down and help Daddy get the children tonight. I may be a while."

"Oh." Amelia was obviously disappointed. "Is Celes going to spend the night with me?"

"Yes. Yes she is. She's going to stay with you tonight and you and she might go down to see Reyana tomorrow if it's safe. She'll probably need some help. She might have to take a few of the children until their families are found. Can you do that for me? Can you help?"

"Yes, Mommy I can help Reyana." Amelia was cheered by the thought of being helpful to someone she cared for, just as Kathryn knew she would be.

As Amelia left, Kathryn noted the way Edward Janeway stared sadly after her. She reminded herself that it was his own fault he would never have a relationship with his grandchildren and got down to business.

On the surface they had uncovered a mine worked by pre-teen and teenaged children; mostly boys very few girls, two large apartment style buildings that housed children of various ages being trained to be servants able to do domestic work including cleaning and home and yard maintenance and repair, and two buildings that resembled industrial buildings from the outside but were actually used to train children of various ages to entertain some of the more despicable of the establishment's clientele. One of the industrial type buildings seemed to contain the operation's headquarters as they had detected that the scattering field was being generated from that location and the main computer system seemed to reside there as well.

Seven's virus had begun to work and the scattering field had been disabled without alerting the children's captors. Unfortunately it would only be a matter of time before it worked its way into the rest of the systems and all the information was lost. Finding the Starfleet contact that had provided Chakotay's address to these criminals was vital. They had to move quickly or Chakotay and all those close to him would end up in danger.

Kathryn was glad that Tepatalina was still within the Federation borders. Anyone caught would be prosecuted. She glanced over at Admiral Edward Janeway and sighed, at least she thought they would be prosecuted; all prisoners would be taken to the Knox or Geronimo. She certainly didn't need to know if something more sinister awaited them at the hands of Admiral Janeway senior so she pushed the thought aside and continued to plan the takedown of the child slave traders.

VVVVV

With the takedown strategies in place the recon teams on the surface were joined by several strike forces. Teams were given priority assignments. Some teams were primarily focused on securing and evacuating the children. Others were to secure and detain any and all criminal contributors. Still others, while helping to ensure the other objectives, would stay behind and secure all equipment, data, and information in order to uncover as many conspirators as possible as well as find and return the children that had been taken.

Chakotay, with Dathrel's help, had managed to organize a large group of locals to help lead the children to several safe houses. The safe houses were homes of families which had volunteered, most of which had a child or children taken from them at some point. Reyana and several other locals readied the safe houses by preparing fold out or makeshift beds, locating and readying children's clothing of all sizes and gathering supplies and foodstuff in order to feed what might be starving children. The safe house operators were taken by surprise when Kathryn asked where the first aide and medical supplies were. It seems the locals had focused on having the children returned but not on having them returned injured or sick.

With the safe houses and rescue teams in place Reyana returned to ready her own home. She hoped that she would soon see her granddaughter but she would gladly welcome any other displaced children as well. Celes beamed down with Amelia to help Reyana ready her home for incoming children. They would stay until the offensive began then they would beam up to the safety of the Knox.

VVVVVVV

"I agree with your father Kathryn." Chakotay's voice came through the Kathryn's commbadge from his location on the planet. Edward stood by listening, thankful to have Chakotay supporting his position.

"How can you say that? Would you just sit and watch from the Delta Flyer?" Demanded Kathryn.

"No, but I'm not the single mother of two four-year-olds. With all due respect Admiral I think Amelia needs you. She needs to be reassured, and she needs to know you are with her. This ordeal has been hard on her." Chakotay tried to appeal to her maternal side.

"I'm well aware of this, Captain, after all, I have been the one soothing her when she's woken up screaming for you these past few nights." Kathryn's tone held an accusation that Chakotay didn't quite understand. Kathryn silently chided herself for allowing her emotions to color her statement. It wasn't as if Chakotay was avoiding his responsibilities; he was preparing for a rescue mission. It wasn't as if he was neglecting his duty as a father; he didn't know he was one.

"She calls for me?" Chakotay asked softly.

"Yes. She apparently only feels safe with you." The silence after Kathryn's statement lingered for a few moments before Edward Janeway decided to break the silence.

"Well, I still say Kathryn should oversee the operation here with me. She can stay close to Amelia and help with the command decisions, as Admirals are meant to do." Kathryn bristled at Edward's words but his next statement clinched her decision. "Besides, this is MY mission, Goldenbird. Starfleet has put me in charge of this one."

"And you'd be at a dead-end if it weren't for my people Admiral. If it weren't for Chakotay, B'Elanna, and Seven you wouldn't have any clue where to even begin. I was considering analyzing the sensor readings and overseeing the information upload from the Delta Flyer to ensure the containment of the virus and maximize the data saved, but I think given the circumstances my abilities would be put to better use on the surface. I'll secure the main computer on the surface, B'Elanna can oversee the procedure from the flyer where she can be in contact with Seven if need be. You need us Admiral, and since we aren't here on Starfleet orders we can just leave if you're not willing to accept the help we offer in the manner in which we offer it." That would be Kathryn's last word on the subject. She left Edward Janway's office and appeared only minutes later in the transporter room dressed in full tactical gear.