IX

Ambassador Kurn was making a clandestine trip near Fenris, which he knew was dangerous, but the confusing telemetry in the aftermath of the encounter near that planet, that had left three ships destroyed, required some sleuthing on his part. There was too much at stake for information to simply be gathered from distant data.

He would meet first with Prime Minister Sladek, and garner information from the Fenris Government, then he would meet with Admiral Shelby aboard Voyager. No one besides the three principles knew of the meeting. It would be a one-on-one with both the Prime Minister and then the Admiral. In his private message to both, on behalf of Chancellor Worf, he offered his services, as a neutral, to try and determine what had happened.

His first stop was the Fenris Capitol. Arriving there, he was not surprised to see the Fenris military in the streets, keeping order, and setting up defensive arrangements. That was prudent, after the events of several days ago. Yet despite the preparations, the Capitol city seemed relatively calm, people trying to go about their business.

All of this he witnessed from inside the Prime Minister's office, overlooking the vast city. He had beamed into the office from his cloaked scout ship that had been given permission to deposit him on the surface.

Sladek approached him as he materialized. "Ambassador Kurn", Sladek said warmly. He had met the man many years earlier, their paths crossing during the Dominion War. "It has been a long time."

"Mr. Prime Minister", Kurn replied, respectfully bowing his head. "It has indeed. I wish it was under more auspicious circumstances."

"I agree, but your offer to assist both sides is appreciated, Ambassador."

They took their seats, two men, from different worlds, who had fought in war, and despite their heritage, now wanted to work to avoid it. After pleasantries, they began to discuss the events for the visit. Twenty minutes into the interview, neither still had firm grasp of what had taken place. The Prime Minister shared with Kurn the raw telemetry, and the summary of the information that the Defense Ministry had put together. The experts there had no better idea what had happened, anymore than others around the Quadrant.

Kurn then floated what he and Worf had talked about in front of the High Council. He recounted again his long-ago discussion with his brother, Lieutenant Commander Data, and Commander Riker aboard the Enterprise. He would deliver the same observation to Shelby.

The Prime Minister looked as stunned as the members of the High Council had been.

"Are you saying", the Prime Minister replied, his eyes wide in shock, "that there's a possibility that the Captain of the Intrepid did this on purpose?" He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "That's...truly, what are the chances of such a thing, and why do it?"

"Prime Minister, as you know", Kurn offered, "as they say on Earth, sometimes the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. There may be other people within The Federation who do not answer to Admiral Shelby, or even Admiral Necheyav."

"Who else could be influencing him."

"Again, Mr. Prime Minister, I offer no proof, but have you ever heard of what is called, Section 31?"

"The mythical group inside The Federation? I have never believed such stories."

"The Romulans had the Tal Shiar, and there was nothing mythical about that group. The Cardassians, even in our own Empire, there have been splinter groups that tried to undermine the status quo by deceit and violence. Why should The Federation be different?"

"Then what your suggesting, and I know all of this is hypothetical, Ambassador, is that someone, inside The Federation, is acting independently, or at least covertly, of Admiral Necheyav and the Federation President, and is trying to alter events?"

"Alter events", Kurn observed, "or setting into motion events that would change the status quo more favorable to them."

"I have been concerned, over the last several years, Ambassador Kurn, about the growing militarism within The Federation, but I always thought Necheyav was the driving force behind that."

"To a degree, Prime Minister, you are correct, but our intelligence services believe there are...other, more sinister, and more dangerous forces working either independently of Necheyav, or using the Admiral to eventually move power away from the Admiral."

"A coup?"

Kurn nodded. "Possible, or", he offered, "it is possible that whoever is driving events knowingly works with Necheyav, and visa-versa, but Necheyav is not aware of all they are, or all they want to obtain."

The Prime Minister looked aghast. "The Master teaches the apprentice, and then the Apprentice becomes the Master."

"Precisely, Prime Minister." There was brief silence. "I will be taking this message to Admiral Shelby as well. I will have to, as they say, soft-peddle it a little, but if I see data similar to what you have, I think I can convince Shelby that it is a possibility. Beyond that, I can do no more."

"I appreciate your efforts, Ambassador Kurn", he said, still shaken by the possibility. "I will tell you that our mutual friend Qochur has been named the new Commander of the Rangers. I understand you and the Chancellor both know him."

"He is an honorable, brave, and dependable person, Prime Minister. Perhaps, when cooler heads prevail, I will be able to see him again."

Kurn took his leave of the Prime Minister, boarding his ship, and heading toward his meeting on Voyager with Elizabeth Shelby.

San Francisco

For the first time in a few weeks, Admiral Edward Jellico called together his three major allies in the growing struggle against Necheyav, and this man Sloan. It was all but certain Sloan was the head of Section 31, although there was still no proof they could lay their hands on. The four Admirals were confounded, like everyone else, with events near Fenris.

"Why in God's name", Mike Patterson said, "would a Ranger shoot first at a Federation ship?" He was still highly agitated about what had occurred.

"Who knows, Mike", Owen Paris said with some annoyance. "Does that even matter now? We've got the possibility of a real war on our hands now, not just a theoretical one."

Jellico immediately turned to Riker. "Will, I know you and Picard recently talked to Ambassador Kurn. What do you believe the Klingons will do at this juncture." Jellico tried to always read between the lines, and look for something that might not be obvious. It was what had made him one of the more effective negotiators that The Federation had ever had.

"If it's true, and Fenris did fire the first shot, I don't think Worf will move", he said honestly. "He is not going to attack The Federation if Fenris has just started a war. He's not even going to attack The Federation, I believe, if Necheyav started the war. He will put a show of force at the Federation/Klingon border, but unless we would strike them, they won't strike back."

"You said 'if'", Jellico responded, playing Devil's Advocate.

Will shifted uncomfortably. "There is the strange occurrence of Intrepid sending out four probes immediately before the battle began."

"What are you saying, Will", Owen countered. "The Rangers and that Fenris ship had to know a probe isn't a torpedo. That would be a mistake even the greenest Cadet wouldn't make."

"I just know-hell, we all know, that that isn't standard procedure. Why fire probes when you're that close to two ships? Maybe they weren't meant for those ships? Maybe he was baiting them, and they were stupid enough to take the bait? I don't know, but it's damned strange."

As they were arguing, one of Jellico's aid contacted him via a hail. He went into his study to see what was up, while the other three men continued their musings.

"Maybe it's time we mobilize our fleet, to let Necheyav know that if we go to war against Fenris, that there will be a Federation Civil War?"

Will shook his head. "It's too soon for that, Owen", he said plainly. "The fact that, as far as we can tell, Necheyav hasn't ordered an attack on Fenris could mean she doesn't want a war, only the spoils of a war."

"Getting things cheap?" Patterson looked over at Owen Paris after saying that. "But hell, they fired first. In her shoes, I'd be launching an attack right now."

"Maybe Sloan is again the wild card", Owen offered. "He could be staying her hand, and telling her to let things simmer down."

"Or he could be the one pushing for a conflict, and Necheyav doesn't want to?"

"You could be right, Will", Patterson responded. "But how do we find out."

Jellico came back into the room. "Maybe it's time we round up Mr. Sloan and interrogate him", he said, sitting back down.

"You're kidding me, Ed?" Riker knew the man was ballsy, but...

"No I'm not", he countered with a voice of stone. "Besides, I just got some other news, which might mean we should bring in Sloan and hold him."

"What news?"

He looked at Owen Paris, then smiled icily. "I just received word from Tuvok: they found an XB facility on Ganymede, and freed those being held. According to Tuvok, they completely destroyed their communications ability, so it'll be a while before Necheyav finds out."

"There's more", Owen said, reading the man's face.

Jellico nodded. "Janeway was seriously injured. They are on Vulcan now, and she's being treated, and will recover."

The other three let out a sigh of relief, all of them, for their own reasons, very fond of Kathryn Janeway.

"I think you're right, Ed", Riker said after hearing that news. "Let's grab Sloan."

"Before we adjourn, I'd like to run by you of who I think should interrogate the son-of-a-bitch."

Vulcan

Upon Landing, the XB's were immediately taken to the secret facility where the former Voyager EMH, and Vulcan physicians would begin treating and rehabilitating those beings. The first part would be to determine the extent of surgery that was needed on each former drone, then begin the process of physical and psychological rehabilitation.

Seven had promised that she would lend her expertise to the process, but she had a personal matter to attend to first.

Kathryn Janeway had taken virtually the whole trip to fully regain consciousness, after her narrow escape on Ganymede. Even with The Doctor's quick work once aboard Calgary, seeing Kathryn so terribly wounded had shaken her like nothing since Icheb had died. She had tried to keep an air of little concern-not for Kathryn's health, but for her belief that The Doctor would patch her up. Inside, she had vomited later in her guest quarters, and spent a while sobbing in the aftermath of the Ganymede operation. Her crying was in part for the gruesome scene in the lower level of that facility, and in part because Kathryn had come too close to being killed.

The Doctor made sure Seven was present when Kathryn fully woke, as was Captain Kim. As Janeway opened her eyes, fully conscious for the first time since the shooting, she looked around, and almost immediately saw the tender, brilliant smile of Seven of Nine.

"Seven?"

"Kathryn", Seven said with a shaky breath. "Welcome on board the Calgary. It is...a relief to see you awake."

"What happened to me?"

Seven sat in a chair close to Janeway's biobed. "Just before we headed back to our ship on Ganymede, a guard that was unaccounted for shot you with his phaser. That was three days ago."

"I was shot..." She tried to sit up. Seven steadied her former captain, while the Doctor moved the bed into a sitting position.

"Yes you were", the Holographic Doctor advised, smiling as he came into her view. "And, naturally", he began with his legendary smug speech, "thanks to my incredible skill, you're on your way to a full recovery." He winked at Janeway, letting her know he was trying to make her laugh, which she lightly did. Then he, too, became serious. "I am glad you still haven't used up all your lives, Kathryn." He gently laid a hand on hers.

"As always, Doctor, thank you. I'm glad you were here."

Next Harry smiled down on her. "Hey Admiral, glad you could join us."

"Harry", she said, with a small tear in her eye, so proud of this man, who had grown into his manhood on Voyager. "Just like old times, huh?"

Harry laughed. "Situation normal, Captain", he said. "You did have us worried for a while."

"I'll report for duty as soon as I can, Captain", Kathryn said, firmly grabbing his hand and squeezing. "I promise."

"Not until I say so", The Doctor interjected. "Then again, you never were one to listen to my advice."

"I will this time, Doctor", Janeway said with a smile, "but can I at least be released to my guest quarters? I could use a good night's sleep."

"I don't see why not", the photonic man said, running a medical tricorder over her for good measure. "But you are on forty-eight hour rest. We're on Vulcan, and you don't need to commanding anything. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, Doctor", she said with a nod. "Seven, would you escort me? And perhaps you can round up Tuvok, Tom, and B'Elanna so we can quietly talk."

Seven nodded. "Before we do that, Captain Kim does have some news to impart." She looked over at her friend.

Harry nodded. "While you were recovering, we received news that there was a firefight above Fenris." Kathryn held her breath. "The Intrepid was destroyed, along with a Fenris cruiser, and a Fenris Ranger ship...being commanded by Ani Besho. There were no survivors on any of the ships."

Janeway lowered her head, taking a steadying, calming breath. "Has war broken out?"

Harry shook his head. "Not yet. All indications are that no one expected this, and everyone's trying to figure out what the hell happened."

"That's good." She turned to Seven. "I know you were friends with Commander Besho, Seven." She again grabbed Seven's hand. "I'm so very sorry."

"As am I, Kathryn", Seven said softly. "However, before we gather the others, and talk about Fenris, I demand you take a long nap."

"But I just woke up", Kathryn said crossly.

"Irrelevant", Seven said with a twinkle in her eyes. "You must comply, or I'll kick your ass, Kathryn."

Everyone around them within earshot laughed.

"Since you put it that way, I will offer no resistance."

Twenty minutes later, with the assist from a sedative from The Doctor, Janeway was back to sleep in her VIP quarters, Seven remaining watch in the living room of the expansive abode.

Aboard Voyager

"Ambassador Kurn", Admiral Shelby said, stepping away from the transporter controls. She was the only one in the transporter room to meet the Ambassador. "Welcome to Voyager."

Kurn towered over the diminutive Admiral as she approached him, extending his hand in the human custom. "Admiral Shelby, thank you. I know you are risking a lot meeting with me clandestinely, but I thank you for seeing me in this difficult hour."

"My First Officer knows you are here, Ambassador, but no one else in the crew is aware of your presence. They were simply told that a classified emissary was coming to discuss the situation with me."

"I am sorry you had to lie to your crew like that", meaning every word, "but what I will be telling you is...delicate."

"I understand, Ambassador." She then addressed the computer, "Computer two to transport to the Admiral's quarters, Authorization Shelby pi-2-6-1-zeta. Erase all traces of this transport from all longs and sensors."

"Authorization accepted. There will be no records of this transport."

In moments, the two people were in the Admiral's quarters. Once there, the Admiral gave a further command to the computer. "Computer, enable a level ten force field and a level ten sound barrier around the Admiral's quarters, Authorization Shelby beta-alpha-6-1-7."

"Level 10 force field, and level 10 sound barrier enabled, per orders of Admiral Elizabeth Shelby."

She gave a smirk to the Ambassador. "That gives us an extra layer of privacy."

Shelby had already arranged the table in her room so they both had drinks. They jumped right into it.

"By the urgency of your request, Ambassador, I assume this has to do with the brief battle the other day?"

"It does, Admiral Shelby", Kurn said gravely. "However, first the Chancellor has asked me to give you his personal greetings, his memory of your distinguished service aboard the Enterprise is still something he remembers well."

Shelby had been incredibly impressed with now-Chancellor Worf when she was assigned to the Enterprise during the Borg incursion. One reason she was willing to accept Kurn today was the fact that they had served together for a short while.

"When you see him again, please, give him my respects, and thank him for his kindness, Ambassador."

Kurn went right to business. "As you know, Admiral, one thing that has confounded everyone-and I am sure it confounds you, and Admiral Necheyav, as it does Prime Minister Sladek, is the firing of four probes just before the exchange ensued. I have commanded my own ships in combat, as you know, and it does not make much sense."

Shelby sighed. "That has confounded us, too, Ambassador. It makes no sense, but as I'm sure you know, a probe is easily distinguishable from a torpedo. Sensors immediately know the difference between the two."

"In normal situations, I agree, Admiral." He then delved again, into the story of his conversation with Data, Riker, and Worf all those years ago on the Enterprise. Their exchange over fooling another ship's sensors was nothing new, but usually, it didn't involve anything more than computer-generated magic. Shelby's face grew grim as the import of what Kurn was saying hit her.

"Are you suggesting that Captain Munshif...reprogrammed his probes to resemble photon torpedoes when launched." Her face was red, her voice had slowly risen.

"I am suggesting it is a possibility, Admiral", Kurn said calmly, having many situations like this before. "As you said yourself, and I agree, a first-year Cadet could distinguish between a normal probe and photon torpedo. Their signatures are unique. Yet both can be modified for other uses, can they not? Commander Data showed me his work, and even demonstrated it on one of the Enterprise's holodecks. It is possible to change the modify the signature of a probe to look like a Torpedo coming out of its launch tube."

Shelby's looked changed from angry to stunned. Yes, she knew such things were possible, but for the life of her, she couldn't imagine why such a thing would have been done.

"Perhaps, Admiral", Kurn said as gently as a Klingon could, "that Captain Munshif was answering not to you, or Admiral Necheyav, but to someone else? Perhaps Section 31."

She eyed him with a hard look. "You know of Section 31?"

"Section 31 is perhaps the worst kept secret, yet the most effectively-cloaked entity in the Galaxy. People are certain it exists, but have never been able to prove it. I do not know myself, but with so much on the line-a war that would not stay near Fenris, and could entangle the Empire, all options must be considered."

One word came to Shelby's mind, but she dare not say it out loud.

Sloan

She had never liked Necheyav's "adviser", and didn't trust him either. She knew that much. Something about him just didn't add up. Could he be the head of Section 31? If so, was there a chance he could have his own people in place within The Federation?

"Ambassador, if Commander Data's work has been preserved-and if it is in the Federation database, I can run his theory myself." Shelby asked the computer to run an inquiry of what Data had proposed, to see if it was in the database.

It was.

Again, under concealment, the Admiral and the Ambassador transported to Holodeck 2, and ran the simulation more than one time. Kurn advised her he recognized the program immediately. It was proved, beyond doubt, that it was possible to configure a probe to resemble a photon torpedo. Shelby even knew now what to look for.

They returned to her quarters, Shelby shaken by what was a possible subterfuge by Section 31. "Ambassador, are you going to be in the area the next few days?"

Kurn nodded his head. "I am. I will give you the coordinates of where my ship will be cloaked, which will be far outside the Fenris exclusion zone, I assure you."

"I want a day or two to run some scans on what happened in that battle. I now know what to look for, and I believe I can confirm or refute this possibility. I will only allow my First Officer to monitor the scans and tests. If what you suspect is true..."

"It puts all of us in a bind, Admiral', he said, finishing her thoughts. "If this is true, then someone could be trying to start a war deliberately. Again, it is only theory, but Commander Besho was no rookie commander. She has a long, distinguished career, first in Starfleet, then as a Ranger. I do not believe she would attack unprovoked."

The Ambassador was beamed back to his ship, which immediately headed to the coordinates Kurn had given Shelby.

Elizabeth Shelby was almost shaking when she summoned her First Officer to her quarters a few minutes later.

The next day, Kathryn Janeway was granted permission to go to Tuvok's home on Vulcan, simply to relax and enjoy some fresh, albeit warm, Vulcan air. T'Pel told Kathryn in quite clear terms that she was to relax-no gardening, no sight-seeing. She was to take it easy.

To make sure Kathryn behaved, T'Pel convinced Tuvok to allow Seven of Nine to delay her work at the new XB hospital, so she could look after Janeway as well.

Kathryn was sitting in a chair on a patio that was adjacent to T'Pel's garden, reading through some pads about the latest events. She stopped for a moment to ponder her part in these events, thankful that she had been spared once again.

Like the others, she had never seen anything so vile, and so sickening as the blood-drenched "surgery" rooms on Ganymede, with parts of Borg implants, and parts of bodies lying everywhere, the overwhelming stench of blood and death permeating even their clothing. To think that anyone, let alone anyone in The Federation, could participate in such barbarism had made her physically ill.

Kathryn remembered lecturing Seven about her actions on Freecloud, the Cardassian prison, and the Ferengi outpost, demanding to know if Seven really felt all those people deserved dying because of how Bjayzl had cut up Icheb. At the time, Kathryn couldn't fathom what seven has done.

As if on cue, Kathryn's silent musings were interrupted.

"Kathryn", the cool voice of Seven made her look up.

Kathryn smiled. "Seven, what brings you here? I thought you were at the XB hospital."

"I was", the former drone said, taking a seat next to Janeway, "but T'Pel convinced Tuvok that you needed someone to make sure you weren't doing anything strenuous so soon after recovering. He thought I'd be the best bodyguard for you in that respect."

Kathryn lightly laughed. "I'm sure The Doctor concurred with that assessment."

Seven smiled and snickered. "The Doctor was begging Tuvok to send me-that's how little her trusts you."

Kathryn laughed once more. "The Doctor is one smart hologram", she said as they both chuckled. Janeway became serious. "How are you doing, now that we're far away from Ganymede?"

Seven looked down briefly, then back up at Kathryn. "I was going to ask you that, since you almost died, but since you asked first...I'm still so fucking mad at what I saw, Kathryn. That such...inhumanity still exists in this Galaxy is beyond heartbreaking. The relief I felt in rescuing Ludmilla is the only thing that has kept me from completely going off the deep end."

"It's funny you mention that, Seven", Janeway observed. "Just before you got here, I was thinking back to one of the first conversations we had after we tracked you down. I questioned you, rather harshly, about the price others paid for Bjayzl's actions in the past, and that all those people didn't need to die in a quest for revenge." Janeway looked into Seven's blue eyes. "I think now I was wrong to chastise you, looking back on it."

Seven sat up a little straighter, her eyes widening in surprise. "Really? I thought you were correct in taking me to task, Kathryn."

"Sensibilities can fall by the wayside when you witness something as utterly gruesome as we saw on Ganymede, Seven. Yes, Bjayzl is the reason Icheb died, of that there's no doubt, but seeing that barbaric dungeon is a reminder that not everything is black and white. As far as I'm concerned, everyone in that place deserves to be locked up for life, maybe even worse."

"That's exactly what those butchers had done to Icheb, Kathryn", Seven said, losing some of her composure. "They cut up my son, used no anesthetics, and left him to suffer and die alone. To think that someone that I thought...loved me", now she shook, remembering Bjayzl's betrayal, "is one thing that will never leave my soul."

"Seven", Janeway said, moving her chair a little closer to the blonde, putting her hand on Seven's arm, which was propped up on the armrest, "I can't imagine how that must feel, and to know that, in my own way, I did something similar to you, in abandoning you, when you needed me-when we needed each other-fills me with so much pain. You deserved none of that: Chakotay's death; Icheb's murder; my abandoning you. I am so sorry for the pain I have caused you over the years."

Seven reached out and embraced Kathryn, both of them sobbing over the bitterness of the past, that had finally led them to this moment on Vulcan. So much pain, and grief, and regret came pouring out of the two women, as they desperately clung to one another, realizing that this moment, while not quite an absolution of their sins, was the moment they were putting the bitter past behind them. The tears ran on, held back by years of exile from each other, in seeing once promising futures evaporate in bouts of loneliness, drunken stupors, random sex, and in striking out blindly at the Universe. It was a wonder that they tears didn't last for the twenty years it had taken for them to fall.

Fortunately for them, T'Pel was away at the market. She had gone to the market so the two woman could share some time along, knowing they needed it. She had anticipated that Kathryn and Seven needed something like this to occur. T'Pel did not share human emotions, but she understood them, and understood the human need to show them.

Twenty minutes later, the two women were cried out, trying to recover their composure, but still clinging to each other, needing the simple bond of their shared, and separate experiences that had led them here.

They finally broke the long embrace, both of them looking at one another mottled, tear-stained faces, the sight making them laugh for a few moments, thinking of what a sight they would be if others were to glimpse at them right at that moment.

"Kathryn", Seven said softly, still holding her hand, "you have nothing to apologize for any longer. You never did. I was just as much at fault for or estrangement. Now we simply have to look ahead to the time we have left."

"Oh, if it were that easy, Seven of Nine", Kathryn said with a shaky laugh. "It's always going to be there, in the corners of our minds, my dear, no matter how far ahead of us we try to look. It has defined who we are."

"I've been so ashamed of what I did just before you found me. Maybe you believe, after what we saw, that I had some justification, but if I had had you in my life..." She paused, almost losing her composure once more, "I'm certain that I'd never have taken that path."

"I imagine if we had remained close, I wouldn't have gone on alcohol and sex binges in Cuba. But again, we can't change that past. Somehow, we have to remember it, not repeated it, and become stronger for it."

Seven leaned in toward Kathryn. "I am stronger now. You had to grab me, kicking and screaming-and by using some trickery", she chuckled, thinking of the ruse that allowed the Phantom to ensnare her. "But I think, once again, you've saved me, Kathryn. I was on a path of destroying myself. Thank you."

Kathryn shook her head. "I think we saved each other. I was simply withering away in Indiana-much as I love it there-having given up on trying to make a difference."

"You still have to fulfill your promise to take me to Bloomington, you realize that?"

Janeway gave a full, hearty laugh, warming Seven's heart. "I do, don't I?" They laughed together for a moment. Kathryn stilled and became serious. "You know, I hated you for so long, Seven? Even though you did nothing to deserve that hate, I blamed you for my short-comings. Yet, for all that...", she cupped Seven's face in her hands, "I never stopped loving you."

Soft tears ran down both their cheeks, an understanding finally coming between them.

"I felt the same way, Kathryn", Seven said with some agony. "When Chakotay died, I treated you so badly, and it wasn't your fault. But I've always loved you-more than anything in this Universe."

By mutual assent, they came together, softly, for the first time, they kissed each other, the joy of life coming alive in both of them. They had survived, despite their best efforts to destroy themselves. They realized, finally, that, together, nothing could beat them.

To Be Continued...