Chapter Two

The Briefing Room was cast in shadow, lit only by emergency lighting, as were most areas of the ship. Running on Grey Mode, Voyager seemed to be an externalisation of Captain Janeway's state of mind over the past few days. She silently watched as her senior officers filed in one by one. Inactivity was anathema to her and she was at her most vulnerable to the dark thoughts that sometimes troubled her during these periods of quiet in the Federation ship's long voyage home. It was at times like these, when there was little to do but let her crew carry out their tasks, that she mulled over past decisions, past mistakes. If she made an error now, it could cost the lives of everyone onboard. She might have sentenced them all to death the very moment she gave the order to destroy the Caretaker's array and stranded them here in the Delta Quadrant some six years ago.

"Captain," Commander Chakotay prompted gently, his eyes concerned, knowing the bleakness she'd been battling within herself over the past week.

She took a deep breath and looked round the dimly lit room, reminding herself not to loose her objectivity and grasp rashly at the hope the planet seemed to offer. Now, more than ever, she must retain control of her command capabilities, weigh each option carefully, consider all the information available and make the right decision on how to proceed. She could not allow the darkness within or the ray of light that the planet offered without to influence her judgement.

Her senior officers, now all seated at the table, watched her expectantly and she took a moment to look at each of them. They seemed strained and tired. Tom Paris' hair was in disarray, his mouth turned down slightly; Neelix was doing his best to maintain his usual good cheer but the signs of stress were clear; B'Elanna was sallow-skinned, her eyes dark from her ceaseless work to conserve power. Even Seven was showing signs of tension, the lines of her face tight, her lips pursed. Of all those present, only Tuvok showed no obvious indications of the toll the past week had taken, but she knew better, that underneath that cool Vulcan exterior he was beginning to feel the desperation of their situation. Above all though, they looked determined, and she was moved by their courage. They were fine officers... and they were her friends.

She took another deep breath and turned her gaze back to her Astrometrics Officer, noting absently that the woman was sitting next to B'Elanna--an unusual occurrence. "Okay, Seven, what exactly are we dealing with here?"

"The enhanced sensors are still having trouble scanning the planet but it is definitely Class-M and inhabited by an apparently technologically advanced species..."

"Apparently?" interrupted Paris, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "They managed to cloak a whole planet didn't they?"

"The effect might be natural in origin," Tuvok pointed out.

Seven suppressed her irritation at the interruption. "Possibly, but I have been unable to determine the cause of the displacement."

"Displacement?" asked Neelix curiously before she could continue.

"Yes. The planet is out of phase."

Expressions of surprise greeted this statement. "A world out of time," mused Chakotay thoughtfully.

"Poetic but imprecise, Commander. The planet has merely been pushed out of phase slightly into the past--three seconds approximately."

"Maybe it is a natural phenomena," said Kim, his voice betraying his weariness. "It doesn't seem possible that an entire planet could be displaced three seconds into the past by technological means."

"As I said, I am unable to determine that." Seven continued, a note of worry entering her voice. "Captain, I cannot be certain that the dilithium I detected is really there. It is possible that the changes made to the sensors and the unusual state of the planet are causing false readings."

Janeway massaged her temples, trying not to let this news affect her decision-making process. "Is there any way of being sure these aren't false readings?"

"I'm afraid not," B'Elanna admitted ruefully. "We simply don't have the kind of power reserves necessary to make any further adjustments to the sensors."

A gloomy silence greeted this pronouncement. "What is the power situation, Lieutenant?" Janeway asked finally.

"We can keep the ship running on minimal systems for another week... if we maintain our current position."

"And you've detected no other possible sources of dilithium in range, Seven?"

"No, Captain."

Chakotay spoke up, trying to give his commanding officer and friend some strength and support. "Then we have no choice. We have to assume that there's dilithium on that planet."

Janeway hesitated. Was this the moment that she might doom her crew? She massaged her temples again, unwilling to commit to a course of action from which there would be no turning back. But Chakotay was right. What other choice was there? "Very well, we'll proceed on that assumption. Doctor, have you made any progress?" The EMH's glum expression told her all she needed to know.

"Very little." He spoke reluctantly, a hint of embarrassment evident at his failure to produce a solution to their problems. "This bacteria is unlike anything Starfleet has encountered before. I'm confident that in time I will be able to neutralise it, but... a week may not be enough."

"You have attempted to utilise Seven's nanoprobes?" Tuvok questioned.

"Of course!" The Doctor frowned indignantly. "It was one of the first things I tried. I could give you the long explanation, but suffice it to say, nanoprobes are not an option at the moment, though I may be able to..."

"Thank you," the Captain interrupted. "I'm sure you're doing your best. Keep me informed of your progress." She ignored his disgruntled expression and turned to Neelix. "How are our supplies holding up?"

"No worries there, Captain," he chimed in, doing his utmost to sound positive. "We shouldn't need to touch the replicators for at least two weeks."

"Wonderful," Paris muttered. "Whoever salvages the ship will be able to throw a great party."

Janeway shot him a stern glance and he looked away sheepishly. She stood up and turned her back on them for a moment, staring out at the stars as she mustered up her resolve. It was time to take action. When she turned back she caught Chakotay's worried look and softened her grim expression, letting him know that she was all right. "It seems that our first course of action is to establish communications with the inhabitants."

"Captain," interposed Kim, "what if they won't give us the dilithium?"

Silence greeted his anxious words and doubtful looks were exchanged around the table. Finally Chakotay spoke softly. "That's a risk we'll have to take."

"No." Janeway paused a moment after this short, unequivocal pronouncement. Seeing her Security Chief's eyebrow rising, she continued. "Save it, Tuvok. I know what you're going to say. I won't gamble with the lives of this crew. We have to take the dilithium. We can deal with the diplomatic consequences when we're in a position to do so."

"Take?" questioned Chakotay angrily. "Don't you mean steal?"

"Objection noted, Commander." She moved on swiftly, letting everyone know that this point was not up for debate. "Seven, can you locate a likely source in a remote area?"

"I have already done so," the former Borg replied, a little smug at having anticipated the Captain's probable course of action. She rose from her seat and moved to the computer console on the wall, calling up a map of one of the larger continents. "This mountain range appears to have extensive deposits of dilithium." Rapidly entering commands, she caused the map to zoom in on a region at the southern end of the range. "This location is approximately one-hundred kilometres from the nearest significant habitation. I believe it would be the most suitable area for acquiring the needed dilithium, assuming that the sensor readings are correct."

Janeway smiled a little, amused at her protégé's characteristic efficiency, and aware of the rising spirits of her officers at the prospect of positive action after days of defensive reaction. She put Tuvok's Vulcan disapproval and Chakotay's moral resentment from her mind, channelling the meeting towards a solid plan for achieving their goal.

**********

The meeting over, they began to file out of the Briefing Room. Seven was caught for a moment in indecision as she watched the retreating figure of Lieutenant Torres. She wanted to ask the engineer to accompany her to the Mess Hall before beginning the preparations for their mission, knowing that the woman would neglect her nutritional requirements. However, she was uncertain how such an invitation would be received. Before she could resolve her dilemma, she heard a voice hailing the Lieutenant from behind.

"B'Elanna, wait up!"

Paris hurried past her and caught up with the engineer, leaning close and talking earnestly as they disappeared from view round a bend in the corridor. Seven came to a halt, feeling strangely perturbed by this occurrence. The image of the pilot's hand on Torres' arm lingered and she felt a vague fear of what might be transpiring between them.

"Seven, is something wrong?"

She turned to see Tuvok studying her dispassionately.

"No."

"Then you should attend to your duties... after you have attended to your midday meal," he added, the subtlest hint of wry humour visible in his eyes.

Again she was caught between two impulses: the desire to forget this small incident and the need to know what was occurring between Torres and Paris. As Tuvok passed her, she spoke up before she was even aware that she was going to. "Commander." He turned back to her and waited patiently while she fought with her sudden and unexpected embarrassment. "Do you know what the current status of Lieutenants Torres and Paris' relationship is?" she managed at last.

He quirked his eyebrow at this unusual question. "To my knowledge, it has not changed."

She took a deep breath, trying to quell the emotional turmoil she was beginning to feel. "I thought they might have resumed their romantic relationship." She realised there was an audible note of appeal in her voice and was grateful for the Vulcan's unemotional response.

"And this possibility disturbs you?"

"No, of course not." Again she was grateful for his restraint: he knew she was lying but made no comment.

"Perhaps you should discuss the matter with Lieutenant Torres."

She broke eye contact, suddenly feeling exposed by his penetrating gaze. "Perhaps," she murmured and made as if to leave.

"Seven."

She waited reluctantly, wanting to escape from this awkward conversation.

"As far as I'm aware, Lieutenant Torres has no intention of resuming a romantic relationship with Lieutenant Paris."

She looked at him, surprised by the gentle way he'd spoken, but his face betrayed nothing. "Thank you, Commander," she said before turning away, feeling confused and anxious, with no clear idea why.

end of chapter two