Chapter 24

The Missing Months pt. 4

"Who are you people?" Worf demanded as he narrowed his eyes. "And why are you on the mu'qaD veS?"

"Just relax big guy." Ayala replied as he reached for his phaser.

"Ayala." Chakotay grumbled as he waved him off. "Mr. Worf, things aren't what they seem to be."

"Who are you?" Worf asked again as he looked between the three of them.

"My name is Chakotay." Chakotay replied as he swallowed hard before giving Seska a quick look. "And we're with the Maquis."

"The Ma..." with wide eyes, Worf ran forward and punched Chakotay so hard that he flipped over the Transporter console.

Sensing movement, the Klingon warrior blindly reached out and flipped Seska over his shoulder where she fell haphazardly to the floor. Stomping off towards the door, Worf felt a sharp pain at his side. Turning he saw that Ayala had shot him with a phaser. As he attempted to run over to do damage to the man, Ayala quickly adjusted the phasers settings and shot him square in the chest sending the big brute toppling to the ground.

"That went well." Seska commented with a groan as she got back to her feet and rubbed at her now sore shoulder. That was yet another thing that they had to consider. The Maquis didn't have a doctor on board. The closet thing they ever had to a doctor was Tom Paris, but that coward was back in the Alpha Quadrant.

"We really should have recruited a doctor into our Maquis cell." Chakotay said with a wince as he stood to his feet. It was if he were reading Seska's mind. "Ayala, help me get our... friend to the holding cell."

Nervously Ayala moved forward and helped Chakotay pick the Klingon male up. Taking on Worf's full weight, both men stumbled out of the room as they headed to the brig. With a shake of her head, Seska watched them walk out of the room wondering what they had gotten themselves into this time.

Holding Cell A

As Worf finally began to rouse, he felt that he was laying on something hard. Opening his eyes, he sat up with a start as he saw that he was in a Klingon brig.

"I hope that you're not seriously hurt." Worf heard a voice say. Looking up he saw that it was the man who had called himself Chakotay, sitting in a chair on the other side of the force-field. "We don't have a doctor at the moment."

"I'm fine." Worf replied with a growl.

"I wish that you didn't attack us." Chakotay went on, trying hard not to feel so uncomfortable. "It would have been easier to break the bad news."

"And what is that bad news?" Worf asked skeptically. "That you and the other Maquis somehow took over this ship?"

"No... the bad news is we're stuck in the Delta Quadrant." Chakotay replied as he searched Worf's eyes. And what he found there was something he didn't expect. The Klingon started laughing.

"Do you take me for a fool, Maquis?" Worf asked as he stopped laughing, but still held a smirk on his face.

"No, I take you for quite the opposite Mr. Worf."

Seeing that Chakotay was being serious, Worf decided to open up a little bit. "Tell me, did you meet someone called the Traveler that brought you here?"

"No." Chakotay replied. "We were brought here by something called the Caretakers array." as he told him that, he went on to tell him all about being in Starfleet himself and then about his home planet Dorvan V being attacked by the Cardassians and how his father was killed by them. Chakotay was so ashamed and angry that he wasn't there with his father that he had the symbol of his Native American tribe tattooed on his face before taking up his father's cause with the Maquis. After that he told Worf about the Badlands, about the Caretakers array, and then Culluh and how they acquired the Klingon ship.

Worf stared at Chakotay and he realized something for the first time. He and the Maquis were all orphans born out of disaster. Even still he couldn't let his personal feelings conflict with his duty. "Even if I believe you about being in the Delta Quadrant, I still don't see what you want with me."

"We're a long way from home and we're on a Klingon vessel." Chakotay started. "We still haven't figured out this ship and we don't know how to activate the cloaking device or the weapons systems. I have thirty people on this ship. Thirty good people and I... all of us could really use your help."

"I only serve one, Captain." Worf stated boldly as he met the Indian's gaze. "And his name is Picard."

"I respect your loyalty... I really do." Chakotay said with a nod. "But like I said earlier we're a long way from home."

"And that's still not enough to convince me to serve with a group of terrorists."

"Then you'll rot in here Klingon." Chakotay said angrily as he stood to his feet and turned his back to him. "Before I leave, I wanted you to know that we're still in the territory of the people who killed the Klingons on this vessel. If we don't get weapons and the cloaking device back online we're not going to survive. Now tell me where's the honor in all of us dying in vain?"

Not waiting for him to reply, Chakotay walked out of the door and saw Seska waiting for him out in the corridor. "Well?" she asked as she walked over to him.

"He's not going to help us."

"Damn it!" Seska cursed. "Chakotay you do realize that no one here knows how to read Klingon." Well B'Elanna did but... "So what are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, I have a feeling that he'll come around." Chakotay replied as he briefly looked back at the cell block door. "I'll bring him some food in the next hour or so."

"That reminds me." Seska said with the first genuine smile she'd had in days. "Hogan and I managed to install the food circuits from the Val Jean into this ships replicators."

"And?"

"And the food actually tastes good." Seska answered as her smile wavered. "I'm glad it worked because I don't think the crew would have liked eating gagh."

"I'm glad you fixed it because I didn't want to burn through our food supply." Chakotay replied, even though they had enough food stuffs from Tobari to last at least three months. "Now let's go. I'm starved."

Worf was dozing off in the brig when he was awakened by a horrid screeching wail, like metal being twisted to the breaking point, an instant before he was flung to the deck of the brig. He stood up, only to get thrown to the deck again by a violent shock. The red alert sirens wailed to life.

"What have the Maquis gotten themselves into this time?" Worf asked the air as he crawled to his bunk, held onto it as he rose to his knees, bracing for another shock.

Not having to wait long to get his answer he looked up and saw that the force-field to his cell collapsed. Taking off at a dead run, he went for the bridge. It was a bit of a struggle to get there but once he did, he saw pieces of equipment in a state of disarray: consoles open, fiber optic tubes unconnected, and viewing screens dismantled. It was a frantic, desperate scene - a ship and crew totally unprepared and what made it worse was the fact that they were in the middle of a battle.

For the moment no one noticed him, as he stood in place watching, remembering what Chakotay had said. Then suddenly he thought that today was not a good day to die.

"I'm doing the best that I can but I can't shake them forever!" A'sha was in the middle of shouting as another Kazon scout ship zoomed by the main viewer.

Ignoring what she was saying and every other thing around him, Worf rushed over to Tactical and saw that Tuvok was having a hard time configuring his controls. Brushing him aside, he looked down at the console himself and saw what the problem was. Tuvok didn't know how to realign the weapons array. Quickly doing it, he didn't hesitate to send out an opening salvo of torpedoes.

As the Battleship Torres' photon torpedo tubes ejected glowing balls of light energy, they seemed to float toward the oncoming ships, almost too slowly. And in those brief seconds, the Kazon scouts hurtled at the Torres, unable to turn. As the photon torpedoes hit, they disintegrated the ships into thousands of fragments. Instantly, those fragments pulverized themselves on the ship's forward force-field and deflector screens. The smaller pieces burnt up on impact, clearly outlining the ship's force-field barriers.

The Maquis station onlookers reacted to the utter annihilation of the Kazon vessels and for the first time they all noticed that Worf was on the bridge..

"Report!?" Chakotay ordered as the Kazon ship fragments still smashed into the force-field screen; the smaller bits exploded like sparklers as impact heat consumed them. The larger sections bounced away, the bridge quivering as they hit.

Then one final gigantic fragment struck, causing the bridge to shudder. And then the viewer showed only the normal sub-warp effects. The stars ahead, relatively stationary; a feeling of motion, but smooth, visually normal.

"Only minimal damage was done." Ayala reported from OPS. "No casualties are being reported either."

You're wrong, Ayala, there are casualties. Losing my mind was a causality! "We're... we're in the clear sir." A'sha reported as she let out a sigh of relief.

"See." Chakotay said as he turned to look at hopefully his new recruit. "That wasn't so hard was it?"

"A Klingon warrior doesn't sit still in the heat of battle." Worf explained. "There is no honor in dying in vain. May I suggest that we leave enemy territory."

"Gladly." Chakotay replied with a smile as he turned to his helmswoman. "A'sha get us out of here."

"I can't sir, the warp drive isn't responding."

"Engineering, report." Chakotay said over the com.

Engineering

With Seska and her crew pouring over the instruments - all seemed very grim over the fact that they didn't know much about this alien technology. Seska, quite preoccupied, now spoke into the intercom.

"I'll have warp drive in just a second!" Seska yelled into the air. "We're still picking up the pieces down here."

As she promised after a few minutes the warp drive came back online. Seska wasn't B'Elanna but she still knew what she was doing.

"We are cleared to go to warp eight." Ayala reported. "Position report, Navigator..?"

"Helm control is completely restored." A'sha spoke up. "I'm computing a new course for us to take."

"Engage whenever you're ready." Chakotay said as he gave her a nod of approval before looking over at Worf, who nodded back. It seems that he was right about the Klingon. Whether he was Starfleet or not he was really going to be a big asset to the team.

Day 55

Mess Hall

Worf sat alone at a table drinking a glass of prune juice. This was something that he had done everyday since rematerializing on the mu'qaD veS or the Torres as the Maquis now renamed her. It wasn't so much as being anti-social then it was that he didn't want to give in. He didn't want to give in to the fact that he wasn't getting home soon, so he didn't want to get close to these people only to have to turn them in to Starfleet when they got back to the Alpha Quadrant.

But looking on the opposite side of the coin, he lived by a simple Klingon code of honor. Adapt or perish. In the back of his head he knew that they would probably not get home anytime soon and he figured that sooner or later he would have to adapt to his new environment and for better or worse his new captain. His final decision was made for him as the ships head Helmswoman walked over to his table.

"You mind if I sit here?" A'sha asked, even as she sat her tray on his table.

"Do I have much of a choice?" Worf mumbled, as he turned away from her gaze as if he wasn't interested in having a conversation.

"Naw you don't." she replied with a smirk as she started to eat her food. After a few seconds she couldn't take the un-nerving silence from him. "So what's your story? Day in and day out you sit here by yourself and you don't... mingle with anyone."

"I'm a Klingon warrior." Worf said proudly. "We do not... mingle."

As he said that she burst out laughing. "So you're going to sit here by yourself for the next eighty years?" A'sha asked through a fit of giggles. "That doesn't seem practical." As Worf growled low in his throat, it only made her laugh even more. Finally calming down she looked at him up and down. "Why are you still wearing your Starfleet uniform? The rest of the Maquis feel as if you don't like us."

"I am not Maquis." Worf replied as he turned away from her gaze again. "I am still a Starfleet officer."

"Starfleet officer or not you earned a lot of respect on this ship when you saved our butts from those Kazon attacks." A'sha told him seriously as she reached out and touched his hand, making him turn and look at her. "You certainly earned my respect. I have a duty shift to get to. I'll see you later." and with that she stood up, gathered her tray, took it to the wash station and walked out of the room.

Watching her with a smirk, for a minute he was reminded of Deanna. The two had broken up before he was assigned to come aboard the mu'qaD veS on a mission to the Klingon homeworld. Something in the back of his mind told him from the very beginning that Deanna would never truly be his but he had to try.

Mr. Worf, you're needed to the bridge. Chakotay's voice said over the comline.

"I'm on my way." Worf replied as he tapped at his combadge. Sighing he left his glass of prune juice on the table and walked to the bridge. When he got there, Chakotay looked up with a pensive look on his face, before he nodded to Tuvok.

"Show him."

Following his orders, Tuvok worked the controls and nodded for Worf to direct his attention towards the main viewer. Doing so Worf looked to the screen and saw a large metal cylinder slowly rotating on the screen.

"It is a torpedo shell casing." Worf noticed as he gave the commanding officer a look. "What's the importance of..."

"Magnify." Chakotay ordered as Tuvok did just that. Taking a closer look, Worf's eyes widened a little as he saw the words USS Voyager on the side of the shell casing.

Voyager

Briefing Room

Present Time

"After we did a brief examination on the shell casing, we figured the course that it might have come from." Chakotay was saying as he started to finish up his story that he was telling to the Voyager bridge crew and his main crew. "Don't worry we didn't desecrate the body that was inside, we just did scans. We had a few more run in's with the Kazon but we've been looking for you since that day."

Thank God we're not out here alone. Harry thought to himself. Letting out a sigh, he looked over at his counterpart. "So what do we do now?"

"I was actually hoping that I could have dinner with an old friend." Chakotay replied as he looked over at B'Elanna who blushed. "Then I'd like to see if we could trade for supplies before we set out on our way."

"You're not going to stay with us?" Harry asked in an almost boyish like shock.

"With all due respect I have my own ship." Chakotay replied. And for the first time since he'd been talking to the man, he noticed just how young he was. "After I get her patched up and we get supplies, I'd like to get as far away from this part of space as possible."

"So you're just going to leave after giving the Kazon, Federation based technology?"

"I didn't give them anything." Chakotay countered, trying to control his anger. "I blew up my ship before it could get to that point. Their scientists probably downloaded the schematics from our ship and adapted that information to some database. Even if they hadn't of done that after awhile they would have gotten the information from the Klingon ship before we took it."

"You're right." Harry admitted. From what B'Elanna told him about Chakotay he used to be a Starfleet officer and he knew the value of the Prime directive. Letting the tension out, Harry was suddenly enthusiastic again before he smiled over at Lt. Stadi and then settled his gaze on Worf. "I'd like to talk to Mr. Worf and Lt. Stadi. Tom... and Counselor Isis, I'd also like to talk to you later, Mr. Chakotay... "

"Chakotay will do just fine." the older man cut Harry off.

"Chakotay." Harry corrected. "Give your supply list over to Commander Rollins and we'll see what we can do about the supplies you need. If that's everything..."

"I would also like to talk to you as well, Captain." Tuvok spoke up as all eyes turned to him. Looking towards Chakotay he gave him a nod. "It is of utmost importance and will be on the behalf of the Maquis."

"All right." Harry replied wondering what he could possibly want. "Dismissed."

"So somebody thought that Tom would make a good first officer?" Chakotay said loudly as he and the others headed towards the door. "You guys really were desperate out here."

"Leave him alone, Chakotay." B'Elanna said with a grin as she put a hand around Chakotay's waist as they walked out of the room. "So you really named your ship after me?"

Looking at them go and seeing first hand how close his girlfriend and Chakotay seemed to be, Harry's heart started to twist. Focusing on business right now, he looked across the table and saw Lt. Stadi standing up smiling at him. Giving her a nod, he looked to Tuvok, who was waiting for him on the other side of the room, and walked over to him. As the two started to whisper, Tuvok removed something from his neck and handed it to him. Moving to a console, Harry placed the rod, that he was handed into the workstation and he gasped at what came up on the tiny screen. "No way."

"What is it, Harry?" Tom asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He's... he's a lieutenant on this ship." Harry replied trying to reel in his surprise.

"What?" Worf and Tom asked at the same time.

"I believe that I should disclose my mission at a later time." Tuvok said as he looked around the room before taking a seat. "In the meantime, I believe our time would be better served figuring out how we will proceed with our command structure."

"What do you mean?" Isis asked as she looked from Harry back to Tuvok.

"What I mean, Counselor is that Mr. Kim will no longer be Captain." the Vulcan explained. "According to Federation guidelines in the case of the Captain dying the next high ranking officer must take command of this vessel. Mr. Worf will now be the Captain of Voyager and since I am a full lieutenant, I will serve as his First Officer and Lt. Stadi will be second in command."

"Let's get one thing straight, Tuvok!" Isis shouted as she slapped the table hard and stood to her feet. "I don't give a damn about Federation guidelines."

"I... understand your outburst Counselor." Tuvok replied impassively as he raised an eyebrow. "You're needed in your current position, but surely you understand that this ship should be ran by seasoned Starfleet Officers?"

"What would you have us do?" Worf asked. "Follow the lead of an Ensign?"

"That man saved my life!" Isis shouted as she slapped the table hard again. "And he saved everyone on this ship."

"As well as gotten several people killed." Tuvok said as he pulled out a PADD. "As Mr. Chakotay was talking, I was reviewing your mission logs since appearing in the Delta Quadrant." As Tuvok started to read off the names, Harry flinched as he said Lyndsay's name.

"He was only trying to get us home." Tom countered.

"Understandable, however do you think his choices were the best way to go about it?"

Tom's voice caught in his throat and not being able to answer the question it was surprisingly Worf who threw the haggard crew a lifeline. "What do you have in mind Counselor?"

"Leave Harry in command on a trial basis." Isis replied thinking quickly. "You can be the ships Strategics Operations Officer and hold the same rank as Tom. If you feel at any time that Harry can't fulfill his duties, you can be Captain. I... I remember from my Starfleet history class, that an exception was made like this for Kirk when his Captain was killed. Spock was rightfully supposed to take command but he gave it up so Kirk could take charge. I'm not trying to compare the two, but all I'm asking is that you please give Harry a chance."

Hearing her plea, Worf took a long hard look at Harry. At first glance the young man before him looked as green as Targ shit and let a woman speak for him when asked why he should be Captain. Basically he was in over his head. But then again so am I. He thought to himself. Ever since the destruction of the Enterprise he had lost himself. His one mission in life was for him to die for his Captain on the bridge of the Enterprise in a glorious battle but instead had to watch as his ship plummeted to a useless planet and was destroyed. It was a place that he called home for well over seven years and a place that made him take a leave of absence on it's destruction. If he couldn't die protecting his home and his extended family then what was he worth? That's why he needed time away from things so he could find out who he really was. And now here he was on a voyage, farther then what he anticipated and was being asked to become Captain over people he didn't know.

Taking another deeper look into the man's eyes he saw a familiar spark. It was a spark that reminded him of Captain Picard, whenever he pondered where to go from here. Then another thought hit him. Maybe fate was giving him another chance to protect another ship, a new home, and a new family. Giving Harry the benefit of the doubt for the moment, he cleared his throat.

"You've obviously earned the respect of your crew..." Worf started. "...and after reading your reports, I see that you have done what you thought was necessary to keep your crew alive, however misguided some of your decisions have been. Until, I determine that you are... unfit for duty you will remain Captain."

"But sir, logic would dictate..."

"I stand by my decision." Worf replied with finality in his voice as he looked from Tuvok to Harry. "Don't make me regret it. If at anytime I feel that you are in over your head or I don't agree with your decisions, I will take command of this ship. We will figure out a command structure later." Ignoring Tuvok as he said that he would make a personal log about it to turn into Starfleet command, Worf walked out of the room so he could explore the ship.