Chapter 47.
Fair trade.
(Scott POV)
I woke up as I found Clara and Chloe there against me. As Gently got out so I didn't wake them up and went and got ready and headed for the Bridge.
"Captain we're picking up some sort of interstellar dust Cloud," Chakotay said.
"McCall to Neelix, Please report to the Bridge," I said.
"On my way, Captain," Neelix said.
A few minutes later he got here.
"Neelix, we seem to be approaching some kind of interstellar dust cloud," I said. "Can you tell us anything about them, They look rather ominous to me,"
"I believe this is a region of space known as the Nekrit Expanse," Neelix said.
"What can you tell us about this Expanse, Neelix," I said.
"It's a vast Territory," Neelix said. "No one knows much about it,"
"Those plasma storms might be a problem for navigation, Full sensor scan Tuvok," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Can we plot a course around it," Chakotay said.
"That might be advisable," Neelix said.
"I don't believe so, It's thousands of Lightyears wide," Tuvok said.
"Then We'll going through it," I said. "Looks like we'll be counting on your knowledge of the Delta Quadrant even more than usual Neelix,"
"Yes Sir, I'm at your command as always," Neelix said.
"Will there be any planets where we can take on supplies," I said.
"There is a station near the border, A kind of supply depot for mining and trading ships, I suggest we stop there for provisions before we go into the Nekrit Expanse," Neelix said.
"What are the coordinates," I said.
"Let's see it actually been a while," Neelix said.
"I have the station on sensors, Captains, 3.4 lightyears away, Heading 071 mark 17," Chakotay said.
"Tom, you heard him," I said.
"On our way," Tom said.
XXX
"We're being hailed, Captain," Tuvok said.
"On screen," I said. "I'm Captain Scott McCall of the Federation Starship Voyager,"
"Bahrat, Manager of this station," Bahrat said. "What can I do for you,"
"Your station is a trading outpost, Isn't it," I said. "I'd like permission to come aboard to negotiate for Supplies,"
"Granted," Bahrat said. "But understand that any transaction you negotiate on this station is subject to my approval. I receive 20% commission on all trade, Your whereabouts will be closely monitored, Communications with your ship may also be monitored at my discretion, Do you agree to these Conditions,"
"Evidently, I have no choice," I said.
"Excellent," Bahrat said. "Meet me in my office in one hour and we'll discuss your needs,"
Then cut the channel.
"Pleasant fellow," Tom said.
"Neelix, Chakotay, Tom You're with me, Kat you got the bridge," I said.
As we went and beamed over as I took what we needed to see the manager.
As I got there and headed in.
"Mr. Bahrat," I said.
What is it?" Bahrat said.
"I'm Scott McCall, I've brought a list of the supplies we'll need," I said.
"Forgive me, But it's demanding work watching over this station," Bahrat said. "We get all kinds of troublemakers here,"
"I understand I knew I guy back where we are from. A Station Known as Deep Space 9. He was always straight into work as well," I said.
"All right Let's see it," Bahrat said. "Mmm, Mm-hmm, Hmm Pergium?"
"To regenerate the filters in our environmental control system," I said.
"That might be a little difficult, It's a rare commodity, Give me a few moments and I'll put together a list of potential suppliers, But I'll warn you, they won't strike easy bargains," Bahrat said.
"I'm prepared to deal fairly," I said.
"Here is the List Captain," Bahrat said.
"Thanks, I best to get back to my ship, Excuse me," I said. As I lefted and got the list to Neelix, Chakotay and Tom and passed them it as I headed back to a beam in point. As Beamed back to Voyager.
That was when I headed for the bridge to get to work on the modifications for Voyager. I got the MAC Cannon online but I need to sort out the feedback from it. I should get B'Elanna to have a look at that. As for the Phaser Cannons It will take a bit to build them and get them fitted somewhere they would be handy but the point was there was a lot of places for it. But we can't make enough of them to fit all the points. Maybe if I put them near the Forward torpedo launchers. Give us a bit more firepower. One thing I do know about the Delta Quadrant. Is that we will be encountering the Borg sooner or later. And I need Voyager to be ready for them.
But by time I was finished. It was late so I when to my Quarters for the night. Where I had dinner with Clara and Chloe. Then As Clara put Chloe to bed I was on the PS again for a bit. When Clara came back and Sat down next to me.
"Chloe asleep," Clara said.
"Good, Let her sleep," I said.
"Do we know how long we will be going through that," Clara said.
"No, Harry is still running the scans to plot a course through for us," I said.
"Guess I'm going have to keep an eye on Chloe and Naomi then," Clara said.
"You like Naomi then," I said.
"She is the same as the way how I think of Chloe," Clara said.
XXX
"Captain's log, Supplemental, I called a meeting of the senior staff to inform them of very disturbing news, I have just received, 5 minutes ago, End log," I said.
As I headed in and everyone was there as B'Elanna and Neelix came in.
"There's been a murder aboard the station," I said.
"A Murder," Chakotay said.
"I've been told that's not an uncommon occurrence here, The man who died has been suspected of criminal activity, Mr. Bahrat However discovered something at the scene of the killing that greatly concerns me," I said.
"During my investigation," Bahrat said. "I discovered some energy readings I couldn't identify, So I ran a spectral analysis,"
"He showed me this analysis just 9 minutes ago, It's a Federation Phaser signature, Tuvok will be assisting Mr. Bahrat in his investigation, I want to know how a weapon from Voyager could have been involved in this incident," I said.
"The Shooting took place in an abandoned section of the station," Bahrat said. "Security scanners where disabled, I'm reviewing other surveillance records, Looking for anything that might help me apprehend whoever did this,"
"I've Promised Mr. Bahrat the full cooperation of every Member of this crew during this investigation, Dismissed," I said.
XXX
It's been a some time and still no word on the investigation. But it wasn't good, there is still no explanation of how a Type 2 Phaser got off this ship.
Then 5 minutes later as I was almost finished.
"Kim to the Captain," Harry said.
"Go ahead Harry," I said.
"Captain, Tuvok is on the line for you," Harry said.
"Patch him through," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
"Go ahead Tuvok," I said.
"Captain, Mr. Bahrat has just arrested Commander Chakotay and Lt Paris," Tuvok said.
"Meet me at the Beam in site. I'm on my way," I said.
As I headed out to the Bridge.
"Kat Voyagers you till I get back," I said going into the Turbolift and got the Transporter Room 1 and Beamed over. As Tuvok was there waiting for Me. "Let's go,"
Once we got there. I demand to know why 2 of my Crew were being held.
"This is the Criminal who was killed, And there are the 2 men we arrested," Bahrat said.
"You can't seriously regard this as viable Evidence," I said.
"I realize it's circumstantial, But it is compelling," Bahrat said.
"It proves Gorram Nothing," I said.
"It proves your 2 men had a conversation with a narcotics dealer only hours before he was killed," Bahrat said.
"As the Captain Said that proves nothing," Tuvok said.
"I'm holding them for questioning," Bahrat said. "They are Prime suspects,"
"I want my security officer present during all interrogations," I said.
"I'll take that unto consideration," Bahrat said. "But make no mistake about this, Someone will serve 50 years of cryostatic suspension for that murder, If I were to let this go unpunished, there would be anarchy on this station within days,"
"No, You will do that Because if I find out any of them have been mistreated, You the one who will be answering to me and you make no mistake about that or allow member of my crew to be Condemned for a crime they didn't commit," I said. "Lt," As we left. "I want everyone else who is on this station back on Voyager till this is sorted out,"
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said as we got there and we beamed back to Voyager.
XXX
After a while.
Then I was Called down to Sickbay After Bahrat told me about the plan of Neelix and his friend who did kill that man. Commander Chakotay and Tom were Released and back aboard Voyager.
I was heading down to Sickbay and went in.
"He sent you his thanks before making a hasty departure," Tuvok said.
"Would all of you excuse us please," I said. "I'd like to talk to Neelix alone,"
As they left.
"Well, do you have anything to say for yourself," I said.
"Only that I'm terribly sorry," Neelix said.
"You're sorry," I said. "Is that supposed to make everything better, I don't really care, whether you're sorry or not, Neelix, At this point it doesn't matter, I can't imagine what could have made you behave the way you did, Lying to us, Sneaking around behind our backs, Covering up criminal activity Did you have some misguided reason to think that this was acceptable behaviour,,"
"No sir," Neelix said.
"You've been one of my most trusted advisors since we began this journey, How can I ever trust you again," I said. "How can I ever listen to you without wondering whether you're telling the truth or not,"
"I've never been dishonest to you before, I swear, Captain, I just took one step, A step that seemed perfectly reasonable, and that step lad to another and another and before I knew it, I was involved in something I didn't know how to handle," Neelix said.
"What was it? What was so important that you were willing to throw away your principles?" I said.
"I needed a map," Neelix said.
"A Map," I said.
"Captain, my usefulness to you was at an end, I don't know anything about space beyond this point, I couldn't let you go into the Nekrit Expanse without knowing what you faced," Neelix said.
"You've been on this ship for 2 years, I'd think by now you'd have learned that the first duty of any starfleet officer is the truth, You violated that Duty, Neelix, and there will be consequences," I said.
"I'm prepared to leave the ship, Captain," Neelix said.
"Oh no, It's not that easy, You can't just walk away from your responsibilities because you made a mistake, You're part of a family now, and you have obligations," I said.
"But I can't guide you," Neelix said. "I Can't advise you, I don't know what's coming,"
"That's not the point, Is it, Not of us knows what's coming, That's what Starfleet is all about, we are all in this together Neelix, and we have to be able to count on each other no matter how hard it gets, Do you understand," I said.
"Yes, I do," Neelix said.
"Well, That's good, report to deuterium maintenance at 0400 tomorrow morning, You're going to spend the next 2 weeks scrubbing the exhaust manifolds, That should give you tome to think about what I've said, Dismissed," I said.
That's all for this Chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!