STAR TREK VOYAGE: Homeward Bound

CHAPTER 21

Paris' stomach twisted into knots as Janeway's icy-blue eyes settled on his face. He could feel the glacial effect spreading from his eyes to the back of his skull, then down to the tips of his toes. Determined not to let his friends down he stood tall and straight, returning the captain's stare. If Tuvok had the courage to do what he did, and admit it to Janeway, then Tom Paris could do the same.

Janeway's voice vibrated through the empty holodeck. "Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, on the charge of lying to a Starfleet officer….were you not released from prison, into my custody, under the provision that you would aid in the capture of the then Maquis leader Chakotay.

Not understanding where she was going with this Tom hesitated slightly before answering. The realizing that he couldn't be in any more trouble with Chakotay and his crewmates than with Janeway he replied. "Yes Captain, that is correct."

Janeway's next words startled him. "Is it not also correct that you lied to me? You agreed to help for only one reason….because you felt that I had very little chance of success? And….did you not withhold information that could have led to failure of my mission? "

Confused he looked over at Chakotay then back to Janeway.

She glared at him. "Don't bother replying. I already have your answer. Computer, on screen, Exhibit Two. The conversation between Tom Paris and myself on the bridge of The Explorer, when I was approaching the Badlands in search of Chakotay, after his prison escape."

Once again the screen lit up.

Paris: "Captain, Captain, you don't understand. It really doesn't matter. This is Chakotay's territory. I, or someone else, can tell you where he is, getting there is another story. Why do you think that he chose the Badlands? You have to know the storms. It would take a whole fleet to harm the Maquis in here. The possibility of a fleet surviving, either Starfleet or Cardassian, is practically impossible. Chakotay knows that."

Paris: "Besides, Chakotay has a warning system set up along the safe routes. This is one of his little secrets. I found out only by accident, and only because I was a pilot. He knows the moment any ship enters the Badlands, he has several surprises set up along these routes. No ship travels in the Badlands unless Chakotay allows it to. If I thought that you had a chance….I wouldn't be here."

Janeway looked at him. "Well….Mr. Paris, I would say that was clear enough. Wouldn't you agree? Lying to, and misleading, a Starfleet officer is a very serious offense."

Uncertain of how this would appear to the Maquis, Tom Paris again glanced over at Chakotay. As was Janeway's, both Evans and Chakotay's faces were unreadable.

Hearing Janeway once again addressing him, Paris turned his attention back to her.

The captain folded her hands before her on the table. "It would appear that you certainly know how to get into trouble. Lying, then disobeying a direct order. Mr. Paris….when Captain Cavit ordered you confined to quarters did you obey?"

Knowing that she already had the answer Paris took a deep breath. "No Captain, I did not."

Janeway held up a padd. "You certainly did not. Would you please enlightened us as to your movements immediately after you left the bridge."

Tom ran his tongue over dry lips. "After I left the bridge I did go to my quarters. But only long enough to leave my comm badge, then I left by way of a ventilation duct."

A small smile formed on Janeway's face. "Mr. Paris, would you please explain why you left your comm badge.

Paris wished that the floor would open up under his feet. "I was afraid that Cavit would ask the computer for verification as to my location. By leaving the comm badge the computer would determine that I was in quarters."

Kathryn Janeway tapped the padd on the table. "Well Mr. Paris, by trying to avoid detection, obviously you knew that this act was a gross violation of a direct order. Didn't You?"

Tom Paris wondered if he would survive seventy years in the brig. "Yes Captain, I did."

The captain turned her attention back to the padd in hand. "Well Mr. Paris, let's see what we have next. Ah yes, firing a phaser at a Starfleet officer. Computer, on screen, Exhibit Two-A. The scene in sickbay where Captain Cavit is about to administer the fatal injection to Commander Chakotay.

Holding the hypospray beside Chakotay's neck, Cavit sneered down at his prisoner.

Cavit: " Ready Maquis? Oh….there is just one more thing that you should know. I fear that there will be a terrible accident with the warp core. I'll have time to evacuate all of my crew to your ship however….there will not be enough time to send your crew down to the planet."

Cavit: "Don't worry Chakotay, for them it will be quick. Much quicker, and far more pleasant, than it will be for you."

Chakotay: "You will pay….."

The doors of sickbay were only partially open when Tom Paris fired at Cavit, sending the hypospray flying.

As the images faded away Harry Kim let out a small gasp. He had not known that Cavit had come to within a hair width of administering the fatal mixture. If Tom had not been such a good shot….

Janeway turned from the screen to Paris. "I guess there is no doubt that you fired that shot at Captain Cavit."

Tom Paris remained silent. This whole hearing was not making sense….or so he thought.

"Very well Mr. Paris," Janeway continued, "we will address the last charge of aiding in the escape of the Maquis prisoners in a moment."

Her eyes settled on the prisoner next to Paris. "Mr. Kim, when you attended the Academy were you not taught the correct manner of addressing a superior officer."

"Yes Captain!" Somehow Harry Kim managed not to choke on the words.

The captain's eyes passed over each of the five. "This scene takes place after the conversations between Chakotay and Tuvok.

Janeway turned back toward the screen. "Computer, on screen, Exhibit Three. The first conversation between Commander Tuvok and Ensign Harry Kim on the bridge."

His fists clenched by his side, anger written across his face Harry Kim stormed across the bridge toward Tuvok.

Kim: "Tuvok! Is it true? Is Cavit executing Chakotay?"

Tuvok: "It amazes me how quickly news travels on a ship of this size. No one other than the guards and myself were aware of Cavit's orders. How Ensign do you know?"

Kim: "Tuvok! What does it matter! Is it true?"

Tuvok: "Yes. It is true. The execution is taking place now in sickbay. I realize that you must find this stressful however, you must realize that Commander Chakotay is an outlaw. Due to the fact that we are stranded here in the Delta Quadrant, Captain Cavit is justified in his actions."

Kim: "Tuvok! How can you say that? Captain Janeway and Chakotay were working together. They saved my life. Do you really believe that this is justified?"

Tuvok: "This is difficult for all of you. Commander Chakotay did have a truce with Captain Janeway. That truce ended when Captain Cavit assumed command. Under Federation laws Mr. Chakotay has been convicted of treason and sentenced to prison. Captain Cavit took the actions, which he felt were necessary, for the good of the Federation that we serve. As members of Starfleet we must obey the orders of our commanding officers, without question, even if we do not understand or agree with those orders."

Kim: "Even if those orders amount to murder!"

Turning his back on Tuvok, Harry Kim stomped back to his station.

Janeway shook her head. "Ensign Kim, fresh out of the Academy, you not only yelled at and spoke improperly to your commanding officer, you also refused to answer a direct question. Not bad for your first posting."

Ensign Harry Kim was at a lost for words. He looked over at Chakotay. Sure he and the others had broken the rules, but they had done so to save Chakotay's life. He began to wonder what Janeway had said, or done, to Chakotay for the Maquis captain to allow her to take this type of extreme action against them.

Kathryn Janeway was not finished. "Now Mr. Kim, you provided Commander Tuvok with information which led to the escape of a Federation prisoner. Computer, on screen, Exhibit Three-A. The second conversation between Commander Tuvok and Ensign Kim on the bridge.

Kim: "Lieutenant Tuvok, there is something strange with sickbay."

Tuvok: "Ensign?"

Kim: "I….I wanted to see if Chakotay….if….if it was over. There is a force field blocking the sensors."

Tuvok: "It is unusual however, Captain Cavit probably erected the field to prevent Chakotay, should be become loose, from escaping. It is a sensible precaution."

Kim: "But….this field is not the usual type of force field. This one would prevent someone from entering, not leaving. Also the comm line is locked down preventing outgoing communication."

Tuvok's hands raced over the console. His head zipping back and forth as he studied the multiple readouts. Suddenly he bolted for the door.

Tuvok: "Security detail, meet me at sickbay! Enter if possible with phasers ready. Place Captain Cavit and Dr. Fitzgerald under arrest."

Janeway glared at the helpless Ensign. "Well….not only did you aid in the escape of a prisoner but your actions caused a Starfleet officer to act against, not just one officer, but two."

For a moment she glared at Kim. Almost causing the young ensign to tremble. "Do you have any regrets about talking to Commander Tuvok in the manner that you did?"

Harry Kim took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Yes Captain. If I had known about the conversations between Captain Chakotay and Commander Tuvok I would not have spoken to him in such a manner. I was unaware of Commander Tuvok's attempts to aid Chakotay. It is obvious now that Commander Tuvok found the situation just as unacceptable as I did. And that he was respecting Captain Chakotay's request not to interfere."

Janeway looked at Kim with an indefinable expression on her face. "I see. But other than that you have no regrets?"

The young Ensign looked Janeway in the eye as he answered her question. "No Captain. I do not."

Kathryn Janeway did a perfect imitation of a Vulcan as she raised her eyebrow. "Very well Ensign."

Once again her eyes focused on Tom Paris. "The last charge against you is coupled with the charges against Lieutenant Telfer and Ensign Lang."

Her eyes shifted to the couple at the end of the line. "Aiding in the escape of prisoners, arming said prisoners and with actions directing leading to the take over of The Explorer by the Maquis. Computer, on screen, Exhibit Four. The scene outside the cargo bay just as the Maquis escaped."

The Maquis rushed out of the cargo bay. Before they could draw their phasers Telfer and Lang found themselves being restrained by several of the Maquis.

Evans: "Trevor find something so that we can tie these two up. Then we'll take their comm badges and leave them in the cargo bay."

A breathless Tom Paris rounded a corner.

Paris: "Evans we have to hurry! Cavit has sentenced Chakotay to death. They are already on the way to sick bay where the execution will take place. Not only that but they're using a slow working extremely painful compound."

Evans: "Quick we have to find the weapons locker!"

Telfer: "You'll never find it in time. Besides Tuvok's security codes will never be broken. Let us help you. We can open the lockers."

Evans: "Go ahead, but we'll be watching every move."

Quickly the group, with Telfer and Lang in the lead, moved down the corridor. Coming abreast of a door Telfer, without hesitation, keyed in the entry code. Once inside both Telfer and Lang quickly opened the hand phaser lockers, then handed out the weapons.

When the images faded, for a moment there was only silence in the holodeck.

Then Janeway fastened her eyes on Telfer and Lang. "Any regrets as to your actions?

Since they were already in deep trouble, one more breech of conduct would not matter. Joining hands Telfer and Lang answered together. "No Captain! We do not!"

There was a strange smile on the face of Kathryn Janeway.

Suddenly she turned her attention back to Tom Paris. "Mr. Paris, isn't it true that this was, in fact, the second time that you helped Chakotay escape Federation officials.

Tom looked confused. "In all honesty Captain, I have no idea to what you are referring."

She feigned surprise. "Really, allow me to refresh your memory. Computer, on screen, Exhibit Five and Five-A. The scene between myself and Admiral Janeway, in my ready room, onboard The Explorer, while I was en route to Syzygie. And the scene between myself and Chakotay, in my quarters onboard Voyager. Previous authorization confirmation gamma-zeti-one for accessing the log records of my personal quarters."

Admiral Janeway: "Kathryn! We may have a problem. A member of Chakotay's crew has been captured….his pilot."

Admiral Janeway: "I was right, it's Tom Paris."

Admiral Janeway: "Kathryn, this will sound strange, but I have a feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye. I don't know what, it's a gut reaction, something just doesn't add up. The Bradbury spotted a shuttle heading for a colony on Babastis, which we suspect is one of Chakotay's main supply depots. When the shuttle disregarded our hails Captain Frelais suspected that it was Maquis. Except for trying to outrun our patrol Paris offered no resistance. Frelais made the arrest easily."

Admiral Janeway: "That is why I'm suspicious. The shuttle's comm system was working perfectly. Tom should have known that any reply would have been better than ignoring the Bradbury. I reviewed the tapes from both the Bradbury and the shuttle. Paris only made a halfhearted attempt to escape. He's a fine pilot, flying a craft with a great deal of maneuverability."

Admiral Janeway: "No! We made the arrest TOO easily. It was as if he wanted to be captured."

Break

Chakotay: "I can answer your father's question. Tom was on his way to Babastis to obtain a piece of badly needed equipment. I had been under the impression that he had betrayed me, that he had given himself up. I found out that it was just the opposite. That Starfleet patrol was on a direct course for my disabled ship. He allowed himself to be captured to divert attention. It gave B'Elanna time to complete emergency repairs so that I could return to the Badlands."

Tuvok raised both eyebrows.

Harry Kim, in total astonishment, turned to stare at his friend.

For a moment Tom Paris stared down at the floor. He wondered if he would ever be a free man.

For what seemed an eternity Janeway stared down at the table. Finally raising her eyes, her face as hard as a ship's hull, her gaze traveled over the five waiting for her judgment.

Then, in the form of Kathryn Janeway, the heavy hand of Federation justice fell. "Commander Tuvok, Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, Ensign Harry Kim, Lieutenant Telfer, and Ensign Lang, the evidence against you is overwhelming and clear. In addition …..each of you have admitted that you have no regrets regarding your actions."

She waited a moment before handing down her decision. "You have left me no choice but to find all of you….guilty as charged!"