CHAPTER 35
Entering Janeway's ready room Chakotay was pleased to find a coffee waiting for him. Sitting down he reached for the cup. "Thanks, after last night I need this."
Janeway looked up from the padd which she was reading to the man who, as her prisoner, had sat in exactly the same spot only four months previously. "It would appear this is becoming a tradition. After the first time, I never expected that you would ever again be sitting here enjoying my coffee."
She rubbed the padd along her chin. "Certainly not of your own free will."
"Neither did I." Chakotay replied with a slight grin. He sat relaxed with legs stretched out in front, enjoying a few minutes of rest which he knew would be all to brief. As usual he was completely at ease, ready to match wits with his adversary. An adversary who, very quickly, was becoming a friend.
Slowly, thoughtfully, Janeway placed the padd onto the desk where it joined several others. Picking up her coffee she leaned back in her chair. "Would you answer a question?"
"Certainly….If I can." Chakotay replied carefully as he sipped the warm liquid. He did not want to jeopardize their growing friendship, but there were still certain facts which he could not reveal. At least not yet.
Holding her cup in both hands she locked eyes with the commander. "Why did you meet me in the Badlands?" The captain was determined to solve at least one puzzle.
Luckily one puzzle which Chakotay was willing and able to solve. "I wanted to arrange a meeting with Admiral Janeway. Since he sought me out in prison I assumed that he had certain details, information, which would make him more receptive to what I had to say."
Surprised, but at the same time not surprised, Janeway settled her cup on the arm of the chair. "If you wanted to speak with the Admiral, why did you not allow the first rendezvous to take place?"
Looking slightly embarrassed Chakotay shifted in his seat. "Ummm….I was taken by surprise."
The look which Janeway gave him did not ease his predicament. "You see Captain, I had issued very clear orders, that if I was captured under no circumstances were they to attempt a rescue. I knew Starfleet, or the Cardassians, would keep me heavily guarded. Perhaps try to use me as bait for a trap. I gave B'Elanna, and the others, a good tongue lashing for taking the risk."
Sipping her coffee she studied the Maquis leader. "I don't suppose you would tell me how your disappearing act was achieved."
Chakotay replied with a grin. "Sorry. That gives me a slight advantage. Which with you I intend to keep."
He knew the rules of the game, every move, every word was being scrutinized. After all was he not doing the same.
She tilted her head to the side, an impish gleam in her eyes. "You do realize, I will not stop searching for the answer. I hate mysteries. I also enjoy challenges and you have just offered me one. You have my promise, I'll discover how you pulled off that vanishing act."
Chakotay heaved a martyred sigh. "Oh….I know that you will. But for the time being I'm safe. Even under threat of torture my crew will not talk."
She laughed. "I'm not prepared to go that far. At least for the moment."
Chakotay tried to sound serious. "I think that I'm in trouble."
"You can bet on that." Janeway affirmed, her eyes dancing with mischief.
The light in her eyes dimmed as she became serious. "When we return to the Alpha Quadrant, are you prepared to meet with Admiral Janeway?"
Before Chakotay could respond she held up her hand. "But I warn you, he'll want the truth. He will not accept that you are protecting others."
Chakotay gazed intently at the captain. Before I give you my answer, would you answer a question?"
"If I can." As was Chakotay, Janeway was prepared to go only so far. At least for now.
The Maquis leader then asked the last question which she had been expecting. "What is your relationship to Admiral Janeway?"
Startled by the question she appraised Chakotay. Janeway then replied softly, with a smile on her face. "He's my father."
"Your father!" Chakotay exclaimed, giving a short, low whistle, it was his turn to be startled. Now he understood who he was dealing with. "I thought perhaps a niece. I didn't know that he was married."
With a trace of sadness she explained. "When I was a year old, my mother and older brother were killed in an accident. Dad never remarried. Chakotay, I'm telling you this in confidence. Only a handful of people know that Edward Janeway is my father. Tuvok is one of those few, the only member of my crew with that knowledge."
The Maquis leader nodded. He knew that the captain was not one to ride on somebody else's coattails. "You have my word, this will remain between you and I."
Chakotay looked at the captain with renewed respect, and most importantly trust. "Admiral Janeway is one, if not, the most respected officer in Starfleet. With a reputation for honesty and open mindedness, but a man not to be lied to or played with. A man well known for his consideration and respect for others. All the qualities which you have inherited."
He sat up straight. Placing his empty cup on the desk Chakotay rested his hands on his knees. "You asked if I would meet with the Admiral. Yes! If I have your word that it will not be a trap."
"Would you accept my word?" If the circumstances were reversed she knew that her answer would be yes. She had come to trust the word of the Maquis leader, but would that confidence be reciprocated.
Chakotay locked eyes with Janeway. "Yes Captain. I would."
She took a deep breath. "Commander Chakotay, you have it. Before I left for….the Badlands, I was given a special order from my father. He gave me complete authorization, should I be unable to recapture you, to arrange a meeting. At a time and place of your choosing. If upon our return you want to meet with the Admiral, and you are prepared to be open and honest, and offer the proof which we require, then I give you my word it will not be a trap."
Chakotay's breathing became slow and even. "What do you, and the admiral, know about the Cardassians and the Dominion?"
Rising from her seat she picked up the two empty cups and walked over to the replicator. Returning she handed Chakotay a fresh cup, then sitting down she rested her arms on the desk.
Looking intently at the Maquis leader she answered his question. "We know that there is an alliance between the two. We know that there were meetings before the peace negotiations, however, they could have been trade negotiations. Other than that not too much, the nature depending on when this alliance was formed. An alliance of aggression formed before the Maquis became a threat. Or an alliance of protection caused by a growing Maquis menace."
Maintaining eye contact, Chakotay prepared to give the captain the answer which she was seeking. "If I tell you which it is without being able, at this exact moment, to show you proof, would you believe me?"
"Yes," she replied. "I would believe that you were telling me the truth based on what you have seen. However, since I do not know what this proof of yours entails, I must add that the admiral, and myself, may interpret this information in a different way. You must realize that before my father takes any action, you will have to provide absolute indisputable proof. Until then we are both prepared to keep an open mind, to whatever you have to say."
Chakotay gave a slight nod. "Fair enough. The alliance was formed before the peace talks were even started. This alliance was the reason behind the Cardassian request for the peace negotiations with the Federation. The treaty between the Federation and Cardassia is a sham. A way to gain the help and trust of the Federation. To gain the time which both they and the Dominion require to build up their forces. The colonies were to be used as a secret base near Federation space, an area where Starfleet could not venture into. A secret base where they would train and increase the number of Jem' Hadar in preparation for an invasion."
"You have proof of this?" She did not require a reply, by now she knew Chakotay well enough. Cold fear for the safety of the Federation washed over her. She could only hope that he was misinterpreting, at least some, of the evidence which he had.
She stared into the eyes of the Maquis leader, willing him to be wrong, knowing that he was right.
"Yes Captain, I do have proof." Replied Chakotay without hesitation, and in a decisive manner leaving no room for doubt.
"What," asked Janeway, "do they hope to gain. What prevents them from turning on each other if they do gain control of the Alpha Quadrant?"
Chakotay gave a small shrug. "That is a good question, one which I cannot fully answer. The Jem' Hadar are missing an isogenic enzyme, forcing them to be dependant on the substance ketracel-white. Until recently the Vorta had control of all this white, as it's simply called. I do know that Cardassia managed, somehow, to gain control of the substance. As long as they maintain this control the Founders would never attack. Now, due to the Dominion's shape shifting abilities, the Cardassians never know if they are being spied upon. Prevents them from trying to plot against the Founders."
The Maquis leader added sarcastically. "A very trustful alliance."
Janeway spoke quietly. "I think that we had better get ourselves home as quickly as possible."
Chakotay agreed. "What did Tuvok discover?"
She handed him a padd. "The frequency of the pulses are increasing. He's down in the science lab running more scans, trying to discover why. What makes this planet special."
Chakotay scrolled through the padd. "It certainly appears to be something of value down there, something which requires this much power. I suggest setting a course, then once in orbit see if close range scans reveal anything. If feasible, an away tem with full security."
"I was thinking along the same lines." Hesitating a moment she placed her cup on the desk. "However, I'm not certain if this is the best decision."
"What do you mean?" The captain's hesitation gave Chakotay cause for concern.
Janeway found it difficult voicing her doubts. What if Chakotay agreed? Would that be the end of their hunt for the two mission crewmembers? "Are we wasting our time and resources on a fertile search. The odds that Kim and Torres are still alive are very slim. The longer we wait we may lose our chance to return home. Perhaps we should accept the loss, concentrate on the Array."
She added sadly. "The old man mentioned, more than once, about running out of time. It could mean many things, including the possibility that he is dying or planning to leave. If he dies, we may not be able to locate or operate his transportation device. If he leaves, he will probably take or destroy his equipment. Tuvok feels that the pulses are just surplus energy being sent to a collector. Our long range scans have not revealed any life signs."
"All that energy could be affecting the scanners." Chakotay pointed out.
"I had thought of that." Janeway replied.
The Maquis leader took a deep breath. "A decision of this nature is never easy. The curse of command. However, I never did like coincidences. The last time I ignored one it landed me in prison for several months."
"Only four." Janeway retorted. "At least so far."
For a moment Chakotay smiled, then a deep sadness crossed his face. "What Tuvok said is….logical."
Collecting his thoughts, Chakotay ran a finger along the rim of his cup. "It is difficult to have the respect of a crew who feels that any one of them could be abandoned the moment that things get rough. They only see the lose of a comrade. They do not know, or understand, or really care about the decisions behind it. Then there is the living with yourself. Never being sure that you had done all that was possible. It is not easy losing a member of your crew. Both of us, unfortunately, have been in that position."
Janeway nodded. The muscles in her face tightened, reflecting the pain which only belonged to a captain. "One never forgets. They return to haunt your dreams and your darkest moments. As you said, it is the curse of command. The burden which we carry, knowing that at any time our decisions can cost a life."
She gazed down at her desk. "Those under us regard us as infallible. They expect us to always have the right answers, always follow the correct course of action, to always know what to do. While in truth we have the training and the expertise, but seldom is anything black and white."
Moving forward Chakotay placed his arm on the desk. "We may be jumping to conclusions. How can we be certain that this alien has his equipment on the Array. All Tuvok found were traces of holographic imaging projectors. Nothing else. The examination lab, his equipment controlling the displacement wave might not be there. Is there not the possibility that we were transported elsewhere? He does have that capability. Does this alien live on the Array? Perhaps the planet is his natural environment."
The Maquis leader fixed his eyes on his counterpart. "What is your decision? Do we investigate this planet or try returning to the Array?"