Chapter 48.
Alter Ego.
(Scott POV)
"Captain's Log Stardate 50460.3, We've been investigating an inversion nebula for several days, This phenomenon has never been seen in the Alpha Quadrant, and is proving something of a mystery to us here, End log," I said as I was heading out to the Bridge.
"According to Federation astro-theorists, Inversion nebulae are so unstable, They're supposed to burn out within a few years, but this one appears to be centuries old," I said.
"Maybe the theorists were wrong, They never bad a chance to look at the real thing," Tom said.
"Not entirely wrong," Chakotay said. "These plasma strands we're approaching look read yo ignite,"
"Tom Back us off 2,000 kilometers," I said. "That will give us a safety margin,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
"Harry, set the sensors for full spectrum scans, Continuous sweep," I said. "If that nebula does flare up I don't want to miss a beat, Oi Harry Attention on your sensors,"
"Sorry captain," Harry said. "Full spectrum scans, I'm on it,"
"Astro theory never predicted this would be so lovely, It has a beauty and mystery vibe to it. A Tantalizing combination," I said.
"No argument here, Right Tuvok," Tom said.
"I am fully capable of appreciating this phenomenon without the extraneous sentimentality humans find so necessary," Tuvok said.
"Being moved by an emotion isn't always extraneous, Sometimes it's the whole point," Chakotay said.
XXX
It was the next day.
"The Temperature's 5,000 degrees kelvin and rising," Chakotay said.
"Captain," Tuvok said.
"We've located a plasma strand that looks like it's seconds from igniting," I said.
"There is some king of unknown process that been Keeping this Nebula from going up like a torch we're going to see it in action," Chakotay said.
"And if there isn't." Tuvok said.
"I've got my hand on the controls," Tom said. "We'll be out of here before it even touches our shields,"
"Captain, the temperature is 9,000 degrees kelvin, I'm picking up a subatomic cascade reaction," Harry said.
"There she goes," Tom said.
"The Plasma strand completely burned itself out," Harry said.
"Without causing a chain reaction in the nebula," Chakotay said.
"Harry what put out the flames," I said.
"Sensors show some kind of dampening effect between the strands but I can't Isolate it," Harry said.
"Like a firebreak in space," I said.
"If we understood how this happened we might be able to find a new way to contain a warp core breach," Chakotay said.
"Or Any plasma Reaction," I said. "It's an investigation worth perusing. Tom it seems safe enough, Take us in for short range sensor scans, Let's find out all we can about this phenomenon,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
"I'll see all of you at Neelix's Luau, I'm sure everyone will be attending," I said as I went into my ready room.
XXX
I was in Holodeck 1 and I was there with Clara, While Chloe was with Naomi and Sam back in my quarters.
"Neelix really has done his research," Clara said.
"That is too true," I said.
"There you are, I was looking for you," Kes said.
"We just got here, Sam wasn't coming so she watching Naomi and Chloe," I said.
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"Hey, Chakotay," I said.
"That Tuvok," Chakotay said.
"Yeap," I said. "Tuvok, I'm glad to see you here,"
"I would never disobey an order, Captain," Tuvok said. "No matter how burdensome,"
"Tuvok There is a difference between an order and a suggestion," I said.
"The Evening's young Lt, Let's mingle," Chakotay said.
"Vulcans do not," Tuvok said. "Curious"
"What's that," Chakotay said.
"If you will excuse me," Tuvok said. Walking off.
"What got into him," Clara said.
"No idea, Come on," I said.
"Captain," B'Elanna said.
"B'Elanna," I said.
"I wanted you to know, I'm still going over that problem with your new MAC Cannon was it," B'Elanna said.
"Yeah," I said.
"Nothing yet, But I'll keep working on it tomorrow," B'Elanna said.
"Got it what about the Phaser Cannons," I said.
"I'm just making sure it safe first then I will let you know when it getting constructed," B'Elanna said.
"Thanks," I said. Then Notice her outfit. "New outfit,"
"Thanks," B'Elanna said.
XXX
After a while Clara and I headed home as Sam was already asleep so we just let her sleep as Clara and I went to Bed. When we got up Sam was already up and was gone as Naomi was up with Chloe and Clara. As I was heading up for the Bridge.
"Captain's log Supplemental, We've completed sensor scans and confirmed our discovery of an unusual dampening field Responsible for keeping this unstable nebula from going up in flames, the Field origin is still a mystery, End log," I said.
As I headed onto the Bridge.
"The Dampening field only seems to appear when one of the plasma strands ignites, as if the fire itself initiates the field," Chakotay said.
"Which puts out the fire a feedback loop," I said.
"One that's preserved this nebula for hundreds of years," Chakotay said.
"Harry do we have enough data on this dampening field to produce a field artificially using the deflector dish," I said "Harry, Do we have the data,"
"Yes Captain, but it'll take a while, We'll have to simulate the process in the computer and then try to recreate it with the deflector dish," Harry said. "Probably a few weeks,"
"The Projects is yours, Ensign," I said. "Tom resume course for the Alpha Quadrant Warp 6,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said. "Captain, Propulsion is not responding,"
"Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna what's going on?" I said.
"I'm not sure Captain, We're trying to track the problem now," B'Elanna said.
"Acknowledged, Harry Give B'Elanna a hand" I said.
"The Nebula could be having an effect on the ships systems," Chakotay said.
"That's a possibility we can't discount," I said.
XXX
"Let's try it again Tom Warp 6," I said.
"Course laid in," Tom said.
"Engage," I said. "It would appear that we're not moving, Tom,"
"I don't understand it, Captain," Tom said.
"Any idea's B'Elanna," I said.
"Warp drive is still online, and helm control appears to be working, but the engines aren't responding," B'Elanna said. "It's possible we've got a computer malfunction, But I can't seem to localize it,"
"Run a level 4 computer diagnostic, all systems, This is getting stupid," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
"Captain I just got aft thruster to respond," B'Elanna said. "It's not much,
"I'll take it B'Elanna," I said. "Tom let's get moving,"
"At this speed we be completely clear of the Nebula by tomorrow," Chakotay said.
"Good enough," I said
After a 2 hours.
"Tuvok to Bridge Intruder alert, Security to my quarters," Tuvok said.
As the Klaxon went red.
XXX
"Where is this individual now," I said.
"When security got to Tuvok's quarters she downloaded herself back into the computer and onto the holodeck," B'Elanna said.
"More to the point what is she?" Tom said.
"most likely a sentient computer program, I checked the Starfleet database," Chakotay said.
"The Enterprise had a problem with one before," I said.
"Yes," Chakotay said.
"We studied that case at the academy, It gained control of the ship from inside the holodeck," Harry said.
"Marayna may well have done the same," Tuvok said.
"If that's her real name," I said.
"Indeed she was able to silence the Intruder Alert by an apparent act of will," Tuvok said.
"Does she have the run of out entire computer system?" I said.
"She may," Tuvok said.
"Then she is the source for malfunctions," I said.
"It's certainly possible If Marayna's able to manipulate the ships computer pathways, she could have disrupted propulsion," B'Elanna said. "Then Covered her tracks so we couldn't trace the cause,"
"But why what's her motivation," I said.
"I believe it has something to do with her feelings toward me," Tuvok said. "In my quarters she made reference to her loneliness and expressed her desire to continue our relationship,"
"But what does that have to do with knocking propulsion off line," Tom said.
"Unless, no, yes, no, Yes. That's it, She must be somewhere in this nebula and she is keeping us in it to keep us in range of whatever she is using to get on Voyager," I said.
"That's Captain is right, This all started when we got here with me, Maybe this nebula is somehow affecting the holodeck," Harry said.
"Giving rise to an intelligence that doesn't belong there," I said.
"It's possible," B'Elanna said.
"In any case I can't allow her to gain any further control over my ship, Tuvok, Paris, Torres get down to holodeck one, I want this situation resolved one way or another," I said "Dismissed,"
XXX
Then we got hit by something.
"What was that," I said.
"It's the Stranded's they are starting to fire up," Harry said.
"Red Alert," I said as the Klaxon went. As we got hit again. "Shields?"
"Still holding Captain But the inertial dampeners are offline," Harry said.
"Starboard Shields are down to 80%," Chakotay said.
"What happened down there?" I said as Tuvok, Tom and B'Elanna came back.
"Marayna attacked us and attempted to restrain me," Tuvok said. "She has control over the holodeck characters,"
"B'Elanna you alright," I said.
"Yeah, but she's not actually on the holodeck like you thought, I found an uplink and tracked it to the nebula, She's on a hidden ship or a space station," B'Elanna said. As we got hit again. "She's manipulating the holodeck from there,"
"She's been using the Marayna character like a puppet," Chakotay said.
"As an interface," I said. "A way to move around Voyager to interact with us,"
"Tuvok come back to me, I'm waiting for you," Marayna said.
"Harry try to trace the uplink, find her," I said.
As we got hit again.
"Don't make this more difficult than it already is, Captain," Marayna said.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get you off my ship and I know you the one responsible for the Plasma fires," I said.
"You're giving me no other choice," Marayna said. "But to force the issue,"
"What you want," I said.
"Tuvok, I want Tuvok," Marayna said. "Let him come to the holodeck alone, Or I'll destroy your ship,"
"Harry all 3 ZPM's Now," I said. "Try it and I'll track you down and destroy whatever you are on,"
"Captain," Tuvok said.
"Go," I said.
"Harry take 2 of the ZPM's out. Leave one in to shields," I said.
"I've isolated the source of the uplink," B'Elanna said.
"Standby to transport," I said.
"Energize," Tuvok said.
"Transporting to the source of the uplink," Harry said. "Transport complete,"
As we got hit again.
"Shield are down to 96%, That's ZPM is helping but I don't know how much longer it can take," Chakotay said.
As we got hit again.
"Shields down to 90%," Chakotay said.
"Try to hail Tuvok," I said.
"I can't Captain something's blocking the signal," Harry said.
"Keep trying," I said.
As we got hit again.
"Shield down to 84%," Chakotay said.
"Tuvok to Voyager," Tuvok said.
"Go ahead, Tuvok," I said.
"I am ready to return, Stand by to beam me aboard," Tuvok said.
"Captain, Ship's system are coming back online," Harry said.
"Acknowledged, Tuvok," I said. "Standing by,"
After a minute.
"Tuvok to Voyager, Ready for transport," Tuvok said.
"Harry," I said.
"Locking on, Energizing," Harry said. "Got him,"
"Tom Take us home, 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!