The Lily Plague Crisis

by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff

Chapter Twenty-One: The Weight of Blood

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Chakotay did not like what he was hearing. He had gone back to Lt. Kim's1 station to take a closer look at the data Commander Mathias had sent with her report. "So you're saying they have seized the Commissary in Camp One."

"Yes Captain." came Commander Mathias's voice over the channel to Voyager's bridge. "Once the refugees discovered that the girl was dead they overpowered all the Helenite guards and Starfleet personnel in the area of the Commissary. The Guard that hit the girl managed to escape, and now they are demanding his death."

"Did you find out the girl's name?" Chakotay asked as he leaned over Harry Kim's shoulder.

"Her name was Dania, Sir." Mathias continued. "Her mother was a Starfleet casualty of the Dominion war. Her father is a Katarian who came here with her after she was exposed on Earth..." there was a pause. "He's one of the leaders of the faction that seized the commissary."

Chakotay bit his lip. "Is there any chance of this spreading to other camps?"

"I don't know," Mathias said, "but if it does we're in trouble."

"There is a woman in Camp Six who is an experienced negotiator." Chakotay began. "She's a Trill Ambassador with a battlefield Commission in Starfleet."

"Do you think the refugees will listen to her?"

"She has something that might get their attention."

"What's that?" Mathias asked.

"A daughter who is a Plague carrier." There was a moment of silence after that statement.

"I'll be awaiting her arrival. Mathias out."

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'dia Ona held her daughter to her as she tried to rock back and forth on the floor of the Jordan's living quarters. All of the chairs on the ship were currently occupied by refugees from Bennion that her and her husband had allowed to remain on board for shelter. Most had chosen to make a go of it in the camp, but the few with small children and her family members had elected to remain on board the ship at the camp's edge.

Kensie would just not settle down for her nap. She would not eat her lunch, and had grown very cranky. Ona tried without success to sooth the child with a lullaby from the island region of Trill where her current host had been born.

E'ron entered the living quarters of the runabout and knelt down to take his daughter from Ona's arms. "There is a call for you in the forward cabin. It doesn't sound good."

Ona stood shaking her tired head and made her way to the front of the ship. She sat down in the pilot's seat and activated the viewer in the console to find Chakotay frowning at her.

"There has been an incident in Camp One Ambassador."

Ona's eyes widened. "How many dead?"

Chakotay's brow furrowed. "Two confirmed. How did you know there were dead?"

"Just because I don't have my past hosts memories straight doesn't mean I don't have their instincts."

Chakotay then filled her in on what had happened, even sending her images taken of the riot on a secured channel.

Ona was torn between two duties. The duty of a mother to a child that she believed was getting sick, and the duty to sentients that she had chosen when she became a Diplomat in the first place and again when she had accepted the battlefield commission from Admiral Hollinger2 as his Diplomatic Officer aboard USS Kelly. "I need to talk some things out with my husband, Captain. I'll signal you when I'm ready for transport to Camp One."

She switched off the viewer and made her way back to her husband. "There has been some trouble in Camp One and Captain Chakotay wants my help to negotiate." She ran her fingers along the side of her daughter's now sleeping face. "If something goes wrong," she looked in her husband's purple eyes with all the intensity four lives could manage, "make sure Kensie is taken care of."

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1. Harry Kim was given a promotion to Lt. And made the new Chief of Security. (See Star Trek: Voyager Spirit Walk Book I and II.)

2. Admiral Dennis Hollinger is the head of the Seventh Fleet affiliation of Star Trek Fan Clubs and his flag ship is the USS Kelly Star Trek Fan Club. He is also a very good friend of mine who was the one who introduced my husband and I to the club.

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