Chapter 42.
False Profits.
(Scott POV)
I woke up, and went to get showered and dressed and got something to eat and some Coffee Checking in on my girls who were still asleep. As I headed the to bridge.
"Captain's Log, Stardate 50074.3, We have detected evidence that a Wormhole recently appeared and then disappeared in a nearby solar system, We're on our way there to investigate, End Lod," I said as I got there and went over to Harry.
"Based on the residual neutrino levels, I'd estimate it's been at least 6 months since the wormhole's last appearance," Harry said.
"From the dispersal pattern of the interstellar plasma, It looks like it isn't fixed, It seems to be traveling through space," Chakotay said.
"It may not be fixed on this end, But if it's shown up in the same location more than once, It's possible its exit point is constant and It's wagging around the Delta Quadrant like the tail on a dog," I said.
"Approaching the last known coordinates of the wormhole, Captain," Tom said.
"All stop, Harry, Initiate continuous neutrino scans," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
"Tuvok, Scan the planet in this system for life sign, Maybe there's someone around here who can give us some helpful information," I said.
"I am picking up an M Class atmosphere on the second planet, Humanoid life signs, However, Metallurgic analysis indicates a preindustrial civilization, A Bronze age level of technology," Tuvok said. "Curious, Captain,"
"What it?" I said.
"I'm detecting evidence that these people have had contact with the Alpha Quadrant," Tuvok said.
"What kind of evidence?" I said.
"It is a modulated energy discharge that appears to be consistent with the recent use of a replicator," Tuvok said.
"If they've got a replicator, it could mean the wormhole leads to the Alpha Quadrant and that someone's travelled through it," Harry said.
"Easy Harry, We don't even know which Alpha Quadrant Species it is yet. But What I want to know is what this wormhole looks like," I said." But Let's try to get some facts for your assumptions, Chakotay, You and Tom, to go down to that planet and have a look around, Launch a high resolution reconnaissance probe to gather information about the local population's dress and appearance,"
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"In the meantime Harry, what don't you and B'Elanna get started on a phase profile of this elusive wormhole's neutrino emissions," I said. "Let's see if we can confirm that it leads to the Alpha Quadrant,"
"Yes Sir," Harry said.
XXX
"Captain's Log Stardate 50074.5, Based on the information provided by the probe, we have replicated local attire for Commander Chakotay and Lt Paris, They have gone to the surface to investigate, End log," I said.
A few hours later.
"Captain's log Supplemental, I've been asked to join Lt Torres and Ensign Kim in the science lab, to hear that they've termed as very exciting news, End Log," I said.
As we got there.
"We've been able to confirm that the wormhole does lead to the Alpha Quadrant," Harry said.
"The problem is that on this end, it's jumping from point to point so quickly, that even at maximum warp, by the time we got to it's next probable location, it would be gone," B'Elanna said.
"So we were thinking if you can't bring the ship to the wormhole, bring the wormhole to the ship," Harry said. "We've detected a subspace instability at our location that's a result of the wormhole's last appearance here,"
"If we could somehow amplify and polarize that instability, we might be able to get the wormhole to reappear," B'Elanna said.
"Sort of like using a magnet to move a compass needle," I said. "The question is, How do we polarize the instability?"
"We haven't figured out that part out yet," Harry said.
"Do we at least know what this could look like," I said.
"Yes," B'Elanna said Pulling it up and I seen this before.
"No," I said.
"What?" Harry said.
"Harry, B'Elanna, That wormhole, could lead all the way back to Deep Space 9" I said.
"The Bajorian Wormhole," Harry said.
Then I was back on the bridge.
"Chakotay to Voyager," Chakotay said.
"McCall here," I said.
"We found the replicator, Captain," Chakotay said.
"And," I said.
"The Replicator is Ferengi, Captain, And I see 2 of them here," Chakotay said.
"Acknowledged, Keep me updated," I said.
"Aye Captain, Chakotay out," Chakotay said.
XXX
"Captain's log Supplemental, the Away team has returned with some very disturbing observations, about the situation on the planet, End Log," I said as I got into the Conference room.
"It seems the people have a myth, an epic poem called the song of the Sages, which predicts the arrival of 2 demigods from the sky, the sages, who would rule over the people as benevolent protectors," Chakotay said.
"But these Ferengi are anything but benevolent," Tom said.
"What they've done is co-opt the local mythology by using technology like the replicator to convince the people that they're the 2 sages spoken of in the poem," Chakotay said.
"Of Course, Being Ferengi, they haven't just co-opted the mythology, they've cornered the market, on everything," Tom said.
"It's disgusting Captain, the 2 Ferengi live in a palatial temple, while the people are lucky to have a roof over their heads," Chakotay said.
"Apparently it wasn't always like that, According to the people that we met, before the Ferengi came, the society may have been primitive, but it was flourishing, What I like to know is how 2 Ferengi got to the Delta Quadrant," Tom said.
"We've been looking into that, Tuvok," I said.
"According to Starfleet, computer records, approximately 7 years ago, the Federation Starship Enterprise hosted negotiations, for ownership of the Barzan Wormhole, Including among the bidding parties were 2 Ferengi, minor Functionaries known as Arridor and Kol," Tuvok said.
"And this Barzan wormhole it's the same one we've discovered now?" Neelix said.
"That or the Bajorian Wormhole," I said.
"Apparently, but we've confirmed what nobody know at the time, The Wormhole is fixed in the Alpha Quadrant, but in the Delta Quadrant it jumps around, It turned out to be Worthless," Harry said.
"But the Ferengi were not aware of that, and during a nefarious attempt, to secure the wormhole for themselves, they were pulled into it ad deposited in the Delta Quadrant," Tuvok said.
"Now that we've found them, what are we going to do with them?" Chakotay said.
"We weren't leaving them here," I said. "Not to Continue exploiting an innocent society, How are 2 coming with getting the wormhole back here and reopened?"
"We've been bombarding the area of the subspace instability with Verteron Particles," B'Elanna said.
"So far everything is going according to plan, but it's tricky, there are hundred factors that could deflected it from this sector, a Gravimetric shift, a solar flare," Harry said.
"And even if we're lucky enough to get it here, it won't be around here for long, we'll have a very short window of opportunity to get through," B'Elanna said.
"Well if we can get the wormhole here, we'll be taking 2 additional passengers with us," I said. "We'll turn them over to Ferengi authorities when we get there,"
"Captain I must remind you, that the Ferengi are not members of the Federation. They are not bound by the Prime Directive, Nor would it seem that the Prime Directive would allow us to interfere with the internal affairs of this society," Tuvok said. "As much as we may disapprove of what the Ferengi are doing,"
"The Federation did host the Negotiations, and if it weren't for those negotiations, the Ferengi wouldn't be here," I said. "So one could say, without being unreasonable, I think, that the Federation is partially responsible for what's happened and therefore, duty bound to correct the situation,"
"That is the most logical interpretation, Captain," Tuvok said.
"Your damn right, Tuvok, Have a security team meet us in Transporter Room 3, Let's Beam them aboard and give them the time before we take them by force if necessary," I said.
XXX
Tuvok and I were down in Transporter Room 3 with a Security team.
"I've got the locked on them, Captain," Chief said.
"Then Energize," I said.
As they were beam onboard.
"Who are you?" One of them said.
"Captain Scott McCall of the Federation Starship Voyager," I said.
"The Federation?" The Other one said.
"Shut up Kol, Let me handle this," Arridor said. "What, may I ask is the Federation doing in the Delta Quadrant?"
"It's a long story but suffice it to say, we've been stranded here for the past 2 years, We're on our way back to the Alpha Quadrant And we're taking you with us," I said.
"This is an Outrage," Kol said. "We won't allow you to tr,"
"You're crazy," Arridor said. "It would take decades to get back from here,"
"Show them Lt," I said.
Then Tuvok told them.
"And if all doesn't go according to plan?" Arridor said.
"One way or another you're coming with us," I said.
"We've been Kidnapped," Kol said. "Snatched, from the embrace of bliss, It's all over, No more limitless profits, no more unquestioning adulation of the masses, No more quadruple lobe rubs,"
"If I'm not mistaken, Captain the Federation has rules, and those rules forbid you to interfere with indigenous Cultures," Arridor said.
"What about your interference? You taken these people's religion and manipulated it for your own selfish purposes, pretended to be their sages," I said.
"Who's to say we aren't their sages, Captain," Arridor said.
"Don't be ridiculous," I said.
"The Song is sung of sages who can perform miracles, which thanks to our replicator we do," Arridor said. "The Song is sung of men, coming from the sky on a burning flame, When we crash landed our shuttle, in this quaint little town square, trailing behind us, a roaring ribbon of burning plasma,"
"You mean we really are the sages?" Kol said.
"The Point is Captain, that these people have believed for centuries, that gods known as the sages, would deliver them from their strife, to them, we are those Sages," Arridor said. "What happens to a people when they lose their gods, Despair, Fear, Confusion, And how can you, As a moral people, Blithely tear down the spiritual structure that has supported a community since before their gods were flesh? What would you be leaving them with?"
"Tell us, Arridor, Tell us," Kol said.
"Darkness, Doubt, Hopelessness," Arridor said.
"That was beautiful," Kol said.
"Tuvok, Transport them back to the surface," I said then beamed them down.
Then we were back in the Conference room,
"We can't just leave the Ferengi there, to continue exploiting those poor people," Tom said.
"But Arridor was right, we can't kidnap their gods either," Chakotay said.
"What other option is there?" Neelix said.
"What if they gods didn't just disappear Suddenly and inexplicably? What if they voluntarily? Gracefully?" I said.
"The Gods would be gone but people would be prepared for it," Chakotay said. "And they might accept it as a natural, Ordained occurrence,"
"Exactly," I said.
"But how do we get 2 Ferengi to just walk away from a monopoly on an entire economy?" Tom said.
"What motivates a Ferengi?" I said.
"Profit," Tom said.
"Then we must find a way to make it more profitable for them to leave," Tuvok said.
"Or Less Profitable to stay," I said.
"How do we do that?" Neelix said.
We have to out Ferengi, The Ferengi," I said.
XXX
"Ready Proton Burst, Harry," I said.
"Chakotay to Voyager, On my Mark," Chakotay said.
"Harry," I said.
"Ready," Harry said.
"Captain, I am still unable to penetrate the Ferengi dampening field, If the Awa team experiences difficulties, We will by unable to beam them out," Tuvok said.
"Keep working on it," I said. "In the meantime, We'll just have to rely on their ingenuity to get themselves out of there if Trouble arises,"
"Now," Chakotay said.
"Harry, Fire," I said.
"Initiating photon Bursts," Harry said.
"We still can not establish a transporter lock Captain," Tuvok said.
"Boosting power to the Annular confinement beam," Harry said.
"I got a lock," Tuvok said.
"Beam them back now," I said.
"Energizing," Tuvok said. "We have them Captain,"
"Is everyone okay down there Commander," I said.
"We're all here in one piece, Captain," Chakotay said.
"Good work," I said. "Report to the bridge as soon as everything is in order, We'll be entering the wormhole in approximately 7 minutes,"
"Acknowledged," Chakotay said.
"Shield status, Tuvok," I said.
"Shields are optimal," Tuvok said. AS Tom and Chakotay got to the bridge.
"Tom, Engage manoeuvring thrusters, and ease us into position," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
"Sickbay to Lt Tuvok," Doc said.
"Go ahead, Doctor," Tuvok said.
"Ensign Murphy was just found unconscious on Deck 2, We suspect foul play," Doc said.
"Murphy was escorting the Ferengi to their quarters," Chakotay said.
"Captain, Security, has been breached in the shuttle bay," Tuvok said.
"Seal that Airlock, Tuvok," I said.
Then We got hit. As the Klaxons went to Red.
"The Ferengi have phasered the shuttle bay door. They are exiting the ship," Tuvok said.
"Activating emergency containment field," Harry said.
"They're setting a course for the planet, Captain," Tom said.
"Lock a tractor beam on to that shuttle," I said.
"The Gravitational effects of the wormhole are refracting the beam, I can't get a lock," Chakotay said.
"Target their engines," I said.
"The Ferengi are hailing us Captain," Tuvok said.
"On screen," I said.
"Thank you for all your assistance, humans," Arridor said.
"It was lovely doing business with you," Kol said.
"We'll be heading back into orbit to transport our acquisitions aboard," Arridor said.
"Beam them back now Harry," I said.
"I'm trying but the Trying scanners are out of phase," Harry said.
"Try setting the scanners to a narrowband subspace frequency," Chakotay said.
"Captain the Ferengi are emitting a graviton pulse, It's throwing the targeting scanners off again," Harry said. "Not only that it's destabilizing the wormhole,"
Then we got hit.
"Captain, a Gravitational eddy from the wormhole, is attracting the Ferengi Shuttle," Tuvok said. "They're being pulled in,"
"Then Let's go, Tom," I said.
"Aye Captain, Resetting coordinates," Tom said.
"Captain, The Entrance to the wormhole is moving," Harry said. "The Ferengi Graviton pulse must have increased it rotational momentum,"
"Adjusting course to follow," Tom said. "It's too fast for us captain, I need more speed,"
"ZPM 1 to Engines Harry," I said. "Harry Reinitiate the Verteron Field, Maybe we can attract the wormhole back,"
"The Ferengi Graviton pulse knocked the wormhole completely off it subspace axis, It's jumping erratically now at both ends," Harry said.
"Options?" I said.
"There are none," Harry said.
"Paris reset a course for the Alpha Quadrant, Warp 6," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!