With Captain Janeway away saving the Universe from the Borg, Chakotay is left with the problem of saving Voyager and finds how much Voyager and her crew means to him.
Voyager and characters (except the Colonel) in this story are copyright of Paramount. No resemblance is intended to any person alive or dead.
The Colonel is my own. Story line by Matt Weed and myself.
Constructive criticism and comments are welcome on e-mail story@rgower.plus.com.
If like me you like to know why things occur like they do, I would heartily recommend you start with the Colonel
This story is rated PG13
Chakotay was in a relaxed mood when he stepped upon the Bridge to take the Conn while they waited for the Captains return from Komos.
"Anything to report?" He asked of the duty Officer cheerfully. "Anything from the Captain and the ball?"
It was a rare event that the Captain left the ship, even then she never seemed to let it slip far away, there was inevitably some communication to remind him of something she had forgotten to tell him before she left. It was not something that worried either of them. He had learnt that Voyager meant everything to the Captain and found it very difficult to let go.
"Nothing, but a report for the Captain from Seven of Nine, Commander," Ensign Abbott reported dutifully.
"I wasn't expecting anything from them for a couple of days," Chakotay remarked, unconcerned. Messages from Seven to the Captain were not in themselves unusual, if she wanted advice, though it was uncommon now. "What did she say?"
"I didn't decode it. But it was unusual. It was a burst transmission," the ensign admitted.
That was more alarming. Sub-Space communications were normally considered secure enough without resorting to data compression as well.
"Decode it quickly. There could be trouble," Chakotay commanded in trepidation and getting to his feet to pace in impatience until the ensign could supply the details.
"Seven advises that there are three Borg cubes enroute for Komos. Arrival estimated 21:00," she finally deciphered.
Now alarmed Chakotay checked the chronometer. "Less than three hours. Contact the Captain. Bring her back now!"
He thumbed his own communicator. "All stations Red Alert. Ensign Kim to the Bridge!" He paused for a moment then added "Dog Watch to the Bridge." He suspected he was going to need their inventiveness and he was down more than half of the prime Bridge crew.
"I can't raise the Captain, Sir!"
Chakotay could hear the alarm in her voice, it was mirroring his own concerns.
"Contact Seven of Nine and keep trying for the Captain," he demanded, as much to keep the ensign busy than real hope. The reason for Seven's use of a burst transmission was obvious now, she was trying to avoid her own detection. A reply from their transmission may well not be forthcoming.
Kim appeared from the Turbo lift, looking flushed. He was almost immediately followed by the Dog Watch. It allowed Chakotay something else to concentrate on.
"Harry, long range scans. Look for a transwarp conduit or Borg Vessels. Kala assist him and find the Captain," Chakotay ordered quickly. "Winston, take the Conn. Carver, take Tactical. I want the Captain and Seven of Nine."
Finished with issuing orders he collapsed into his chair to wait.
I've got the Colonel, Sir!" Carver reported. "Still trying to raise the Captain."
"Status report, Colonel?" Chakotay demanded quickly.
"We and our hosts will be over Komos in about two hours, Sir. I intend to switch hosts when they have finished. You can come and collect us then."
"Where are you?" Chakotay asked in surprise.
"Attached to the lead cube."
Chakotay could almost see the Colonel's ghoulish grin.
"Can we keep this short. They haven't found us yet. I want it to stay that way," the Colonel prompted.
"We can't get hold of the Captain!" Chakotay blurted. "We can't even detect her!"
The Colonel was silent for a few minutes, then came back. "It figures. Your hosts aren't all they claim. Get out of there, Captain. And watch your backs. Seven of Nine and I will find Captain Janeway," he declared. "Ensign Carver, you play that tune again. I will break your neck! Out!"
"Get him back!" Chakotay shouted.
"Sorry, Sir. The Colonel has terminated the communication," Carver responded after a moment.
"I've found the conduit, Sir. Details passed to Conn. Still no trace of the Captain," Ensign Kala reported.
"Evasion course plotted and laid in," Ensign Winston reported immediately. "We will require 65 minutes to avoid detection."
"Gives us twenty-five minutes before we need to break orbit, Sir!" Carver reported. "Increasing scan rates to compensate."
Chakotay was not sure if the Dog Watches fabled predictive responses were helpful or not. He was grateful that they were predicting the correct responses and waiting for the go ahead to execute them. But it meant that he was left with little to do, except worry about Kathryn's fate.
"Keep scanning until the last minute," he demanded.
He knew it was an unnecessary command, even as he said it. But he felt slightly better forgiving it, he decided, settling in his seat again.
"What was the tune you played to get the Colonel's attention?" He asked suddenly of Carver.
The ensign smiled broadly. "The British Grenadier, Sir. It irritates the Colonel immensely. Guaranteed to get a response."
He looked as if was going to say more and Chakotay waved him down. There was something else in what the Colonel had said that troubled him. What was it? 'Watch your back'. Surely he didn't mean the Borg, he was not likely to forget them now he knew of their presence.
"Have you found the Captain yet?" He demanded, putting his thoughts to one side for a moment to deal with the more pressing matter at hand.
"There is a self modulating dampening field around the Visitor Reception building," Kim complained. "Every time we find a way through it changes frequency! I can't keep up with it! But I'm almost certain the Captain is there. There appears to be a build up of Koman military in the area."
"Keep trying! See if they know where they are on Komos," Chakotay growled.
"We could trust the Colonel, Sir?" Carver commented.
"If we can't find her, what chance has he?" Chakotay exploded.
Chastised the Ensign fell quiet.
"I could take an away team and drag her back, Sir?" Ensign Kala volunteered.
Chakotay shot her a grateful look, but a sense of reality struck him. "How many away teams have you taken, Ensign?" He asked.
"One, Sir!" The ensign admitted.
"Not this time then. I may need you here," Chakotay decided.
"Chakotay to B'Elanna," he demanded of the intercom.
Her reply was instant. "B'Elanna."
"Prepare an Away Team from Security. Heavy weapons," he declared. "We are going to find the Captain."
"There are twenty vessels approaching," Carver warned. "They appear to be Kommodan vessels. They are powering weapons."
"Should that worry me, after their fighter attack?" Chakotay asked sourly.
The ensign nodded. "I think so, Sir. These mean business. They are packing heavy plasma weapons."
"Perhaps they know about the Borg approach?" He added hopefully.
"Could they take on a cube?" Chakotay asked in surprise, with the evidence of Vesa to go by and what he had seen of Komos it seemed unlikely.
With a critical eye Carver examined the readings from his panel and weighed up the probabilities. "If they have somebody who knew what they are doing. Yes, Sir!" He was also sceptical about the military abilities of the Komons.
"I am receiving a message from Komos, Sir," he added a few moments later.
"Put it on," Chakotay agreed.
"Voyager, this is General Hallock!" The small frame of the General appeared upon the view screen, looking somewhat smarter than he had before
"This is Commander Chakotay. There are three Borg cubes approaching. We would like our crew back, General," Chakotay demanded quickly.
"I am aware of that fact," General Hallock informed him. "We have been expecting them for several days. If you surrender your vessel, the Borg may permit some of your crew to live. They have only expressed an interest in your Captain, the Borg female and the one you refer to as the Colonel. We will find them shortly."
Chakotay's mind raced at the statement, as its meaning sank in. "You mean you signalled the Borg?" He asked in desperation.
The General nodded. "We need to protect our race. We do not have the technology to take the Borg on directly. So we trade with them. We capture technologies they want and they leave us alone. You were particularly easy to trap," he sneered.
With a deft signal Chakotay waved the link shut. "Our chances against the Kommodan ships?" He demanded.
"We can't stand and fight, Sir!" Carver opined quickly.
Chakotay accepted the statement. "Winston,. Keep us out of range."
A new thought came to him. "What was the discrepancy between those arriving from Komos and those leaving?" He asked quickly.
"Fifty fewer left than boarded, Sir!" Carver declared after a check.
"Any reason for the discrepancy?"
"Commander Tuvok never found one," the ensign answered. "Every calibration check worked out. He put it down to another glitch in the new computer system and has marked it for Corporal Millers attention."
"Kim, establish a comms blackout over the whole ship. Carver, execute a full security sweep and head count. B'Elanna, take your security team to Engineering," Chakotay ordered quickly. "I think this may be what the Colonel was warning us about."
"The lead Kommodan ships are spreading into attack pattern," Carver warned.
"Move us out of orbit, Winston. Avoidance pattern Gamma-Delta," Chakotay announced. "Weapons up."
"What about the Captain?" Kim demanded quickly.
"We are going to have to rely upon the Colonel to get the Captain," Chakotay accepted. "We have to deal with our current problems."
"Him and Seven will hack their way through the whole of Komos, if they have to," Carver commented with relish. "Serve them right too!"
Chakotay turned on him angrily. "How is the security scan and head count, ensign?"
"Two crewmen reported missing," he reported. "I'm having a deck by deck search for them. Security are taking position on all decks."
"The Komos vessels have opened fire," he added. "But the range is too long for their weapons to do serious damage."
"Deploying defensive pattern Alpha-Delta 3," Winston responded before Carver finished. "They are closing, Sir!"
For a few seconds they watched as the first Plasma salvo shot past the rapidly turning ship.
"Warp 3. Put some distance between us, but not so much that they stop following," Chakotay decided. "We'll pull their fleet away, it might give the Colonel slightly better odds. Keep track of those Borg ships. We might have to follow them."
Behind him three security guards came out of the lift and silently took station.
"The Kommodans are following, Sir. And the Borg cubes have arrived," Carver advised.
"Any sign of the Colonel?" Chakotay asked in concern.
"I can't tell, Commander. But the Valorian ship is always difficult to spot," Kim reported. Then in more alarm. "One of the cubes has just jumped to Transwarp, a second is following the Komos fleet."
"Track the direction of the one leaving!" Chakotay almost screamed. "They must have the Captain. Winston, find a way to follow their course, then maximum warp!"
In Engineering, Lieutenant B'Elanna Paris, chased two security guards out of her way as she raced around trying to keep her engines running at peak efficiency. A sixth sense was telling her that there were going to be major calls upon Voyagers power system.
The repeaters in Engineering were showing what Chakotay was trying to do, carefully work his way around the Komos Fleet so that the ship could follow the now disappeared cube. She suspected that things were not going to be as simple as that.
Above her a ventilation grill was silently removed and a small face appeared in the aperture. Apparently satisfied that it had not been noticed, the face withdrew to be replaced by a hand aiming a hand weapon. Carefully the weapon was aimed at the frenetic engineer and fired.
B'Elanna turned to pass on an order to one of her engineering team as she came up behind her. She opened her mouth to speak, in time for it to become a shriek of horror as the young engineering technician slumped in front of her. A few milliseconds later she was diving behind a console as more weapons fired.
"Engineering to Bridge!" She screamed, tearing for her phasor. "We are under attack!"
Peering over the console she saw one of the security team drop as he fired at the ceiling. She looked up and saw a small figure duck out of sight from the vent aperture. She fired at it, but another bolt struck the console beside her causing it to spark brightly, making her duck down again. Rolling to spot where she could identify where that shot came from she saw another open grill.
She kept rolling until she could tuck herself under a console and clear of the cross fire from the two open apertures. She heard several more small explosions as shots hit more consoles. She was not certain what they were shooting at, so she risked another peek over the top of her cover.
They weren't random shots just to keep heads down, she realised. They were being deliberately aimed at consoles, attempting to disable them. She dived back again as she was spotted and tried to think.
B'Elanna's desperate call to the Bridge for help, held Chakotay stunned for a whole five seconds, before Winston's equally desperate cry. "Warp drive is down.!" Brought him to his senses.
"Carver, you were one of those that tried the Colonel's security training, take more security to Engineering. We need warp power back. How long before the Kommodan ships get here?" He demanded.
"Not more than twenty minutes," Kim responded quickly.
Carver leapt for the lift. In time for it to open to reveal three dwarves. Their first two shots took Carver and the security guard by the door. The three remaining security guards opened fire upon them, swinging around from their posts guarding the alternative entries. The three dwarves fell.
Kim braved the risk and dived across the Bridge to reach the tactical station. "Security reports that there are small groups of dwarves appearing all over the ship, Commander."
"Armoury?"
"Okay so far. But a party of dwarves are on that deck, Commander." The hatch for the Jefferies tube started to move. Immediately Kala fired at it with her phasor and it slammed shut again.
"They're in the Jefferies tube!" she shouted. "They can do real damage in there!"
Chakotay nodded and approached the hatch with caution. "Harry and Winston, do what you can to keep us out of their weapons. If we lose shields we are dead."
He crouched by the hatch and signalled Kala and a security guard to do the same.
"When I say, open the hatch as quickly as you can, but keep behind the door, it will protect you," he whispered to Kala.
She nodded her understanding and grasped the handles securely.
"Now!" Chakotay hissed.
She pulled the door open with a giant heave.
The first thing Chakotay saw was a dwarf immediately behind the door. He was shot by the guard. Around the edge of the door Kala saw a second dwarf fiddling with a junction box, she fired her phasor at him. She missed but it was enough to have him tumbling away from it.
Chakotay dived through the entrance, saw the Dwarf get to his feet and start to run. He fired and the Dwarf was running no more.
He pulled out again and gave the two young officers an encouraging smile, before giving instructions. "Follow the tube to the junction and take station. Fry anything that moves," he ordered the guard. "Kala, check the junctions. Make sure they haven't done any damage. Kim, lock the Turbo Lift. I don't want anymore of them getting here!"
He stalked back to his seat and collapsed into it, trying to decide upon the next move. He noticed that the duty ensign was examining Carver and the fallen guard, he had almost forgotten she was still there. "How are they?" he asked, quietly.
"Alive, Commander," she responded nervously.
"Beam them to sickbay," he instructed then added. "This is your first Bridge duty and close quarters combat isn't it?"
She nodded unhappily at him, a pleading look in her eyes.
For once he really wished he had the Colonel's knack of calming and encouraging people into amazing feats, the ensign was terrified and with good reason. Ensign Abott was a mouse. She never appeared anywhere, took her meals alone, rarely used the holodecks, was never involved in disciplinary reports. B'Elanna had described her as being afraid of her own shadow'. Chakotay felt a wave of compassion for the young woman. Her first bridge shift was proving to be a baptism of fire Ensign Llinos Abott, Airponics, isn't it?
She nodded weakly.
"Well it isn't always like this. I'm going to need your help," was all he could find to say.
She nodded and smiled weakly at him, staggering up to resume her station at ops.
Chakotay sank back in his chair, the Colonel's ability with people was not the only thing he needed, he realised. Not even in the Maqui had he been forced into such a close corner, with enemies running loose on his ship and a battle fleet bearing down on him.
Idly he thumbed the communicator. "B'Elanna, I'm trying to get relief to you, but there are dwarves all over the ship, getting there is difficult. I need warp power within the next ten minutes. Can you do it?" He demanded quietly.
"We're pinned down, and they are trying to disable the controls," B'Elanna's voice echoed up to him, in the background he could hear several small explosions confirming her declaration.
"Who else is here. Count off?" B'Elanna yelled from here hiding place. "Caerey?"
"Lieutenant." Joe Caerey's voice sounded from beside the Distribution Board. One by one the rest of the engineering team announced themselves, there were six left and one of the Security team she had brought down from the aborted rescue mission.
"How many points are they using?" She asked.
"The three vents, Lieutenant. I think there are four of them," Caerey called.
She thought for a moment. She had to regain warp drive, flush out their attackers and prevent them getting in again. Ground offensives were not her field of expertise and had only basic levels of training. She had however listened to the Colonels' stories with some interest.
"Saturate the vents with phasor fire," she shouted. "I've got to get warp power online."
Immediately she crawled from her hiding place and dived for another console as two laser bolts hit the deck beside her. More gratifying were the six pale phasor beams that lanced out from the deck at the source of fire. Taking courage from her teams rapid response she ran for the warp control console. A yellow beam chased her as she dived headlong under the console. She was stopped with a crash as she hit the console mounting head first and lay there stunned.
Lieutenant Caerey shouted in alarm, springing up and racing towards the fallen B'Elanna Paris, firing blindly at where the shot that had forced her down had come from.
A small figure rose from behind the warp core and fired at the fast moving lieutenant, from less than ten feet. Only the violent shudder from the ship that forced them both to stagger saved Caerey from being vaporised. He missed. Caerey still with impetuous leapt at him, knocking him to the ground and started to pound at him with his fists until the dwarf fell silent. He staggered up again and dived for B'Elanna's recumbent position.
She was just coming around as he arrived. "He's got a phasor rifle!" She declared groggily.
Dealt with, Caerey promised in a whisper. Now lay still. I'll get the Warp drive working.
Carefully he stood and tried to ignore the flash of laser and phasor fire as he started work.
Again the ship rocked violently and a terminal behind him exploded in a shower of sparks, forcing him to duck. A crewman screamed as a terminal was dislodged onto her as she cowered beneath it. There was another scream, followed by a sickening thud as a dwarf slipped from his hiding place and fell the twenty feet to the deck.
With an effort Caerey reached to the far end of the console and thumped a pad. Then sharply withdrew his hand again with a scream of pain as a laser beam singed past his arm, causing the fabric to wither and melt to the skin. He sank to the ground dizzy from the excruciating burning sensation from the smouldering uniform.
With his teeth clenched, he hit the communicator. Engineering to Bridge. You have warp. Then he passed out, collapsing onto B'Elanna as she struggled to sit up.
B'Elanna screamed at him, shaking him hard. There was no response.
Roughly she pushed Caerey's body off from on top of her and crawled to where the fallen dwarf lay, snatched up the dropped phasor rifle, reset it to maximum fire power and aimed carefully at the vent above her.
A tentative hand appeared aiming at the control console that Caerey had been working at and she fired. The resultant explosion ripped a gaping hole in the vent system and brought the unfortunate attacker down with a large amount of metal panelling. B'Elanna sprang at him, screaming in white hot rage and brought the but of the rifle down hard on the feebly struggling dwarf.
Without stopping, she span, aimed at a second vent and fired again, there were no screams this time, but she was showered with shrapnel as another gaping rent was torn in the metal work.
She whirled again as the door to Engineering opened and a security guard appeared fleetingly. Catching sight of the enraged Klingon Engineer, he threw himself to the ground as another bolt leapt from the prow of the gun.
Seeing the Klingon Engineer descend into a fighting rage, Samantha Wildman bravely crept closer. Seeing B'Elanna aim at the security guard she stepped out from her hiding place. she called softly. They have all gone! You are shooting at friends. Please stop!
B'Elanna span around and fired at the Ensign before she could dive for cover.
A feeble beam appeared and made Samantha stagger for a moment, but she managed to remain standing.
Please, B'Elanna, stop! She pleaded again, ignoring the pain in her stomach.
B'Elanna stared unseeingly at her and tried the trigger again. This time nothing happened, even after repeated resetting. The rifle had been totally drained of energy.
Taking it as her chance Samantha Wildman came closer again and gripped the weapon and twisted it out of B'Elanna's hands. She whispered, placing an arm around B'Elanna's shoulders.
They shot Joe! B'Elanna whispered sullenly, in shock. They can't shoot Joe!
And you punished them, Samantha assured her. Now we need to do the repairs. I don't know what Joe Caerey did, but I'm sure it wasn't an approved fix and it can't hold for long. We need you!
Patiently Samantha held B'Elanna until the Klingon Rage subsided.
We are in range of their weapons, Commander, Kim called nervously. They are firing.
Chakotay called. He had been waiting for this. There had been no response from Engineering since he had pressed his need for warp power upon B'Elanna 15 minutes ago. He was also gambling upon the Kommodan vessels not wanting to cause excessive damage to Voyager, relying upon the saboteurs to disable the ship. Their long range bombardment was simply to keep them busy. He wanted them a lot closer before he revealed his own hand, to this end he had instructed Kim to take phasors offline to suggest they had been disarmed from the inside.
Working on it, Sir! Winston's voice was a model of calmness. He had picked up the weapons discharge on his sensors moments after Kim and was already rolling Voyager and hauling the ship around in a new direction.
They are firing again. Multiple discharges, Kim almost shouted this time, an almost complete opposite to the pilots.
Can't miss them all, Sir! Winston intoned, his hands still working the ships controls.
They are well in range, Commander? Kim suggested his nerves making his voice quiver.
When you can't miss with manual targeting, we will fire. Not before, Chakotay hissed as the ship rocked to the one salvo Winston had not been able to avoid.
Shields down 5%, called ensign Abott from ops, trying hard to emulate the seeming calmness of Chakotay and Winston.
She knew her voice was shaking though. She had never thought her flippant volunteering to take her first bridge watch was going to turn out like this. She felt guilty for everything that was happening. If she had decoded Seven of Nine's message they might not have been in this position.
Chakotay also heard the quiver of fear in her voice and spared the time to offer what he hoped was a reassuring smile. You should have volunteered for the Dog Watch, he suggested, trying to be light-hearted. This is a picnic compared to what the Colonel puts them through, isn't it Ensign Winston?
Aye, Sir! Winston responded, slapping another pad to send Voyager skidding across space again as another plasma bolt sailed past a nacelle. A picnic where the jam has been spilt for the wasps.
Manual lock on lead ship, range 5000 kilometres! Kim cried in jubilation.
Chakotay sighed in relief. At that range the torpedoes would be devastating. He was about to give the command to fire when Lieutenant Caerey's voice broke in from Engineering. Warp Power!
It changed the situation totally.
Harry, reload the stern tubes with cluster torpedoes and a starburst probe. Bring Phasors up, lock onto as many ships as we can. When we are through fire the starburst and the cluster torpedoes, Chakotay demanded rapidly. Winston, spin us around to face the enemy as soon as Ensign Kim is ready. Take us into warp.
Kim reported twenty seconds later.
Winston announced immediately, ignoring the explosion of sparks emanating from the consoles behind as Voyager was struck by two more plasma bursts.
Shields down to 40%! Abott screamed over the noise, reminding them how close they were.
Fire as we bear! Chakotay relished the command as four torpedoes leapt from Voyagers forward tubes and swung for their targets. From the top array a beam lanced out and held the nearest ship for what seemed to be an eternity. As it subsided a second beam lanced from the lower array and held a second vessel. Four flashes showed the torpedoes had found their targets. Then the view slurred as the ship leapt into warp.
Starburst and clusters fired commander, Kim announced almost immediately.
Course laid, Winston responded immediately.
Three vessels have been disabled, Commander, Kim reported the details of their quick firing. The fourth has suffered severe damage to shields and drive.
Chakotay slumped in his seat in satisfaction.
Ensign Abott cleared her throat politely, trying to stop herself panting from excitement. Excuse me, Commander. What is a Starburst?
Kim spared the Commander having to explain. It's a probe the Captain had Tuvok develop, from an idea of the Colonel's. When it is detonated it throws out so much clutter it blinds sensors for at least fifteen seconds. If we change direction when it explodes we can be a long way away before people can see again. This was its first test.
The cluster torpedoes will act as a mini minefield, Chakotay added reflectively. They might not do a lot of damage to the larger ships, but it might slow them down a little. Now we only have the Borg to deal with. Where is it?
They haven't changed direction. I don't think they have a lock on us yet, Commander, Kim declared.
Winston set course after that cube that left! Chakotay ordered in relief. I want a full damage, casualty and progress report on capturing the dwarves!
Five dead, twenty-three wounded. It is proving difficult to get to some of the wounded, Kim answered. The ship seems largely intact, a couple of relays have blown out. Reports suggest that there could be as many as two hundred dwarves aboard.
Impossible! They are counting twice. There is no-way they could hide that many! Chakotay snapped.
Excuse me, Sir! Winston said politely. The Colonel has often said he could hide a full company on Voyager. And the Komons are only half his size.
Chakotay turned to slap down the ensign, then remembered the arguments that he, Tuvok and the Captain had had with the Colonel over the poor sensor coverage in parts of the ship. He was proving correct. And he would make it look as though we were being attacked by a regiment, he sighed at last, relaxing in his seat.
The shields have just failed, Abott spoke up. I'm trying to reroute power, but they won't come up again! I think long range scans have been affected as well! There was panic in her voice again.
Engineering. Report? Chakotay demanded quickly.
Samantha Wildman answered him. We have three dead, Commander. Eight injured, including Lieutenant Paris, two seriously, including Lieutenant Caerey. He cross linked the Warp controls like a christmas tree before he was hurt. We're struggling to get that under control. The ventilation system down here is shot and we are rigging forcefields across every access into Engineering.
How badly hurt is B'Elanna? Chakotay asked in sudden concern. He needed the gifted engineer to be working.
Nothing serious, I think, Wildman replied. She is unconscious though. She went berserk, then passed out after blowing the Kommodan's out of the vents.
We are going to need her, Chakotay pointed out, rather sharper than he had intended.
I know, Commander!
Shields are down, can you fix them?
I don't know, Commander. Just a moment, I'll run a trace on the circuitry.
Thirty seconds of impatient waiting later Samantha Wildman responded. I think there is a major distribution, node out of action Section 4 Deck 8, Commander. But we can't get to it! There are several Kommodans roaming the corridors outside Engineering. It is only the forcefields stopping them getting in.
Chakotay slapped the arms of his chair in frustration. Without shields and sensors Voyager was almost defenceless and blind. The Dwarf situation was going to have to be dealt with urgently, sensors would have to be dealt with immediately. Only he was not sure how he was going to get somebody from the severely depleted engineering out of engineering to fix the problems.
Winston, can you find your way to that magnetic anomaly the Colonel and Seven went to investigate? he asked thoughtfully. We'll hide in that until we've dealt with our problems.
Aye, Sir. Course plotted and laid in, Winston responded immediately.
You had it already plotted? Chakotay accused, almost amused.
It seemed like a likely destination, Sir. I've kept track of it.
The Colonel's training! Chakotay muttered under his breath.
I suppose you are going to give me an obvious solution to getting the sensors and shields on-line? Chakotay challenged.
Winston did not answer. Instead he looked over his shoulder at Ensign Abbott.
Chakotay followed his gaze and saw the ensign blush deeply.
he asked quietly.
I think I can fix the distribution node, Sir! She stammered in embarrassment.
Are you sure? Chakotay asked, keeping his voice quiet. He distinctly remembered B'Elanna wanting her out of Engineering. Your reports from engineering were never encouraging, he almost kicked himself at that comment, it was a low blow and he saw her blanch.
I'm a Mineralogist not an Engineer, Sir. I'm not as fast as the others, Sir, she protested plaintively. It wasn't because I couldn't do it, Sir!
I'm sorry ensign, Chakotay apologised. We'll do it. Together.
He turned, all action again. Kim, get somebody from security to meet us at the turbo lift on Deck 8. If you secure the Jefferies Tube with a forcefield you will have Kala back.
Chakotay had the phasor rifle he had picked up from a fallen guard levelled and ready when the lift door opened on deck 8. He only just managed to prevent himself shooting the security officer that was crouched waiting for them when the door opened.
Where are they? Chakotay demanded quickly.
Carys and Dennard are trying to track two of them near section 13, Commander. But they can disappear into the ducts so easily. They could be anywhere, the guard admitted.
Let's get on with it, Chakotay decreed, leading the way with ensign Abbott keeping close behind him.
Reaching the damaged distribution node proved uneventful and ensign Abbott opened the hatch to the panel. The damage, I don't think it is too bad, Commander, she reported. Most of the links can be repaired. But a few will have to be replaced with something.
Do what you can, Chakotay tried to be encouraging as he in his turn glanced around nervously. He didn't like the ventilation grill almost opposite where he was squatting. Given the enemies seeming frequent use of the airducts, it seemed uncomfortably dangerous. Unconsciously he stepped up the power on the rifle.
Abott began carefully pulling links from the distribution node and painstakingly running a regenerator across each one, rebuilding the circuitry. She was desperately trying to concentrate upon her task. She admonished herself for volunteering for the task. Even for volunteering to take a comms watch after listening to and finally believing the Colonel about how easy it would be. Never again was she going to believe him, she decided, as she slipped a link into place.
She fumbled the next one and dropped it and ducked to pick it up. At the same time a bright beam lanced out from the vent that had been causing Chakotay concern. She screamed in terror as the laser struck the wall just infront of where she had stood.
Chakotay responded instinctively, spinning and firing at the same time. The vent cover disappeared, but there was no attending scream and there was nothing behind it.
Cautiously he approached the new opening and peered in.
Abott screamed, desperately ripping her phasor from her belt. She fired down the corridor, then screamed again as a laser beam struck her.
Desperately Chakotay spun out of the vent, saw a movement and fired. He turned again to look the other way, nothing moved.
He called for the security guard that had been supposedly guarding the corridor.
There was no reply.
Carefully he crept towards Ensign Abbott. He called softly. She was deathly white from the shock, and the shoulder of her uniform was still offering a wisp of smoke.
She groaned, and he cradled her gently until she started to recover.
Are you alright? Can you finish? he asked gently.
My shoulder! It hurts so much! She squealed in pain, her brown eyes looking large under the tears. I killed somebody! I'm so sorry!
He was trying to kill you! Chakotay pointed out, at a loss for more comforting words. But we have to get the node working. Can you do it?
She did not look at him, but tried to stand. Chakotay ended up almost picking her up and leant her against the wall, so she could reach. She completed repairs to the last two links and would have collapsed again if Chakotay had not caught her.
Quickly he scooped her up in his arms and staggered for the lift, almost tripping over the body of Gurnard the Security Guard.
Chakotay did not need to look to tell what condition he was in. The blackened face said everything.
Computer. Emergency site to site transport. Two to Sick Bay! He demanded, hoping that the dwarves had not managed to hit the transport systems.
Thankfully he found himself rematerialising in Sick Bay, with the Doctor glaring at him.
Put her down there! The Doctor demanded, indicating a spot on the floor. I'm running out of space, he continued examining the ensigns shoulder carefully.
Second degree burns. I'll give her a cortesone injection until I can finish treatment, he declared.
Can't you do more? Chakotay pleaded. She saved my life and probably the ship as well!
The Doctor glared at him imperiously. I have twenty others in worse condition than Ensign Abott, he declared. I can give you a growth stimulator. If you would care to treat her yourself?
Give it here! Chakotay accepted heavily, almost snatching the device from the Doctors hand as it was offered. How about Carver?
the Doctor responded. But he will live.
Bridge to Commander! Kim's voice floated down to Chakotay.
We've picked up a second squadron of Komos ships, Commander. They are on an intercept course.
Will they intercept us before we reach the anomaly?
On the Bridge Kim looked questioningly at Winston at the con. He winked at him, already making amendments to their course and speed.
We have reworked our course to avoid them, Kim relayed quickly.
And the Borg?
No sign of them coming after us yet, Commander.
Keep track of them, Chakotay commanded. And send what security are available to Sick Bay. We need to deal with our dwarf problem.
Killing his link Chakotay leaned back to think, until security arrived.
The problem is that they keep disappearing into the ventilation system, Security Ensign Gardner complained, twenty minutes later when the security team arrived. It gives them almost total access to the ship with any number of routes to get there. We even tried erecting force fields across the ducts but they found a way around them! There are too many corners for us to go after them.
That's it, Ensign T'Pau agreed. If they are in the open, then they aren't a real threat.
Well there has to be some way of getting to them? Chakotay prompted.
When the Colonel ran those simulated hostage routines, he used tear gas grenades. We couldn't get out the room quick enough, and couldn't see for more than an hour afterwards, T'Pau offered. It would work in the ducts.
Do you have any? Chakotay asked quickly.
T'Pau shrugged. I dunno, Commander Tuvok, confiscated any he found afterwards. They are against Star Fleet regulations. But the Colonel may have hidden a few in the container he uses in Cargo Bay 2?
Go and get them, then take them to environmental. Gather up everybody who can carry a weapon, Chakotay decided. Call me on the Bridge when ready. We can introduce it from there. Find as many breather masks as you can find. We will need them.
You aren't proposing to gas them? The Doctor protested as the guards left. Chemical weapons are illegal!
Our people are dying Doctor, because we can't get at them! In a few hours we may have to fight some of their friends and I don't want to do that without our weapons on line, Chakotay snapped out impatiently, his voice becoming harsh. Have you a better way of getting them out?
The Doctor fell back into sulky silence.
Doctor what have you got that we can use to put them to sleep after they have come out of the vents? Chakotay asked a few minutes later.
I have anaesthetic gases, the Doctor admitted. But it will put the crew to sleep for several hours as well.
I'll take the risk. Take some canisters to Environmental as well. You can go around with security to treat anybody that is injured.
With that Chakotay returned to the Bridge.
Kala, prepare to seal ventilation to the Bridge, Chakotay demanded as soon as he emerged from the lift.
How soon before we reach the anomaly? He continued, slumping in his chair.
Three hours, Sir! Winston reported.
That was going to be close, he decided. And the others?
We should be about twelve hours ahead of the Komos vessels. The Borg cube is underway, Captain. Estimated arrival about the same time, Ensign Kala reported.
He turned to look at her. I'm not the Captain, he said mildly.
Senior Officer aboard a Star Ship is the Captain, Captain, she refuted adamantly.
You've been with the Colonel too long, he grinned. Remember this is Star Fleet, not the Royal Navy!
She maintained the distinction carefully in her response.
Chakotay shook his head in disbelief and hit his communicator.
Chakotay to Engineering?
It was with some relief he heard B'Elanna's strident response.
We are about to smoke the dwarves out of the vents with tear gas then put them to sleep, he advised. Can you seal the ventilation systems down there until the gases dissipate. Sam Wildman claimed they had been badly damaged.
How long have I got before you start? B'Elanna Paris asked, thinking hard.
Not sure, Chakotay admitted. But the problem is at the other end. We have a few hours to prepare for what comes next. We could runaway from the Kommodans easily enough, but not the Borg. How are you? Sam said you were hurt?
I forgot I was in Star Fleet! B'Elanna breezed. I lost my head. I'll try and set portable shields around what is left of the ducts. Engineering out.
In Engineering B'Elanna looked around her in some confusion. She had not long regained consciousness and was still trying to work out what Sam Wildman had been doing whilst she had been inactive. The force fields across the doors were obvious enough, that she had made some sense of the rapid bypassing of the warp controls by Lieutenant Caerey, was also easily identified. Eventually she gave up and asked. Sam, how secure are the forcefields across the vents? She called.
Samantha Wildman looked up from a panel she was trying to repair. Level 5, Lieutenant. Enough to stop people getting in.
Get them upto level 10. We might have to withstand a gas attack and some pretty serious dwarves. Find breathers and make sure everybody has phasors, in case they try and break through.
B'Elanna turned and checked Caerey. They had been unable to transport him out of engineering because of the forcefields. Instead they had wrapped his burns as well as they could and applied what anti burn salves were in the Engineering first aid kit. He was as white as a sheet, unconscious but generally comfortable, B'Elanna decided hopefully. She turned to continue working on the panel left by Sam Wildman as she arranged for the required increase in shields.
We are ready, Commander, T'Pau informed Chakoaty fifteen minutes later.
Chakotay tensed before issuing the command. It was going to prove a dramatic cure for the situation. He felt for the crew that were unprotected from what was to come and prayed that the Doctor would be able to treat the resultant injuries. Set off the gas, he commanded. Give it forty-five minutes to work its way through the ventilation system, then activate the anaesthetic.
Kala, close Bridge vents. We will have to survive on emergency air supplies for the couple of hours.
Vents closed. Emergency air system active, Captain, Ensign Kala informed him sombrely.
Time to anomaly, ensign?
Two hours, Sir!
B'Elanna, I need some more speed. Can you get it? Chakotay demanded.
There was nothing to do but wait.
"It is working Commander!" Ensign Kala reported fifteen minutes later. "Security are reporting numerous dwarves have appeared coughing. They are dealing with them as they catch them."
"Remind them there is a second phase," Chakotay agreed.
"Engineering to Bridge. There are some half dozen dwarves trying to get in from the ventilation ducts," B'Elanna reported a few minutes later. "I can let them in?"
"Let them choke!" Chakotay snapped. "They chose the route."
More waiting.
"Security to Captain. The tear gas is dissipating, Sir," Ensign T'Pau reported from Environmental Control. "I think all but a couple of dwarves have been forced out. The captives report a total of 94. We have accounted for 83 and think there may be a few trapped. Do you wish to continue with the anaethestine gas?"
For a few moments Chakotay thought about the question. Using the anaesthetic would be a close call with what was destined to come next and he would need the crew in good order if they were to fight other ships. "Ensure there is security in all strategic points. Gather a team together to find the trapped dwarves. If you are right and the effects last for a while then you have an hour to drag them out," he decided.
"Aye, Sir!"
95 minutes later Winston slewed Voyager around the back of the anomaly, pitched Voyager up and dived straight among the ships that surrounded it, before bringing her to a dead halt beside a hulk.
Where did you learn to fly like that? Chakotay asked, impressed at the level of skill displayed.
I was a taxi driver in New York before I joined Star Fleet, Sir, Winston admitted.
Still bemused by the Ensigns actions, Chakotay turned on Ensign Kala. What else is there here that we can use?
Kala bent to her sensors, then stood up sharply. There is another Federation vessel, Captain! I've picked up the beacon. It appears undamaged.
Incredulously Chakotay span on her. Where? What is it?
I'm trying to identify it, Captain, she admitted. Bearing 50.23 range 1500 kilometres.
It is an Excelsior Class, the ensign reported in surprise some forty seconds later as the computer finally tracked the signal. USS Argonaut, lost 56 years ago. That would make her an early model, Sir!
I remember those, Sir, Winston commented reminiscently. Good shields and phasors, handled like a sack of potatoes.
Chakotay looked at him quizzically.
I served on one as a Conn Officer, Winston admitted.
Could you still fly one? Chakotay asked quickly. A germ of an idea forming.
I will remember, Sir! Winston responded after a moments hesitation.
More of the Colonel's training, Chakotay reflected with a grin. He did not like terms like I think' and No', they did not exist. He reached for his communicator. Chakotay to B'Elanna. Report to the Bridge.
Kala put the Argonaut on screen, he added quickly.
Behind him the lift door opened and two figures stepped out. Ensigns Carver and Abbott, requesting permission to return to duty, Sir!
What are you two doing here? Chakotay exploded in surprise spinning on the two junior officers. he pointed at the still pale Carver. Were at deaths door a few hours ago! Get back to sickbay!
The two of them stood firm at Chakotay's seeming fury. Most of Beta and Gamma shifts are in sickbay, Sir! Those that aren't are hunting dwarves, Carver protested. Ensign Abbott's injuries are not severe and mine only restrict movement! We wish to return to active duty.
Behind them B'Elanna appeared and stared in surprise at the two walking injuries. The Doctor is looking for you and he isn't in a good mood. You ran out on him, she commented wryly. Still you did a good job on the distribution node, Ensign.
With that she turned on Chakotay. I have engineering crews crawling over the whole of Engineering. I'm needed there. This had better be good? B'Elanna snapped.
Distracted Chakotay waved at the view screen. How quickly could you get that up and working? He asked.
B'Elanna examined the Argonaut critically for a few minutes. With a full engineering crew, three days, she decided.
I need it in ten hours.
Can't be done. We would have to examine the injectors and coil before we let anti-matter near them. Then there is the computer to restart and the cross linking, B'Elanna opined.
What if we were to take Corporal Miller with us, Sir? Carver suggested. He could handle the computer and reworking of the control linkings!
I can burnish the injectors clean of corrosion, Abbott volunteered, surprising herself and everybody else on the bridge. They all turned to look at her.
The coatings on the injectors on older ships were a lot thicker than now, she explained, blushing furiously. And Colonel Samuels made me some tools for polishing specimens. They can be used there.
Chakotay turned a quizzical eye to B'Elanna, I think you have a crew, he said simply. Winston, Abbott and Corporal Miller. Get the Doctors emitter off of him.
Did you hear that Corporal? Chakotay asked loudly. That is satisfactory?
Captain Janeway is not present, Sir! Miller responded. I need permission from the Senior British Officer?
He isn't here either, and he won't have the opportunity unless you help, Chakotay snapped.
There was silence.
If you're gonna clear it with the Colonel afterwards, Sir? Miller asked uncertainly.
Chakotay had never heard of a nervous computer before. I'll take anything he throws at you, he promised, keeping a straight face.
With a sigh of relief Chakotay turned back to B'Elanna. How quickly can you get ready?
Twenty minutes, she declared. She turned and headed for the lift again, rapidly joined by Ensigns Abbott and Winston.
Kala, take Ops. Carver, take tactical, Chakotay sighed in defeat and resuming his seat.
Twenty-five minutes later the small party, fortified by Ensign Samantha Wildman beamed to the Argonaut. Miller still trying to come to terms with his new found movement. The Doctor had been less than impressed at the idea of giving his mobile emitter to his resident holographic rival. In the end B'Elanna had simply snatched the device away from him and forcibly downloaded the doctor back to the computer, vacating the small device for the Corporal. She had some sympathy for the doctor. His movement was going to be severely limited, but he could become severely non-existent if Voyager was badly damaged. She would need the Corporal to get the Argonaut operating.
I'll get the Bridge operating, Winston volunteered quickly.
B'Elanna nodded and turned for Engineering. I'll join you as soon as possible, she called over her shoulder.
Winston's first thought on reaching Argonaut's bridge was surprise at the lack of damage.
Whatever had happened here, it was quick.
The chamber was only dimly lit, its emergency lighting turning everything it touched a blood-soaked red.
In spite of the dim, somewhat intimidating atmosphere, it didn't take him long to realise that there were far too few of the shadowy shapes that were all that remained after someone was hit by a disrupter set to full power.
He could only see five such shadows, meaning that at least half of the crew usually assigned to an Excelsior class ship's bridge hadn't been killed when their shipmates could have lost their lives.
It took him only a moment to find the data port on the captain's chair and connect the holo-emitter that contained Corporal Miller's programs to it. Networking technology had improved greatly over the last half century and it would take a few minutes for the corporal to download himself into Argonaut's mainframe.
A process that could only begin when B'Elanna Paris brought the ship to full power.
For the moment, there was nothing to do but hack the ship's logs to see how many of the wrecks that surrounded Argonaut had been there when she had been shut down.
"Ms. Abbott," he said softly, taking the centre seat as he did so.
"Sir?" she inquired, stepping quickly to his side.
"I want you to have a look at the ship's computers. Try to find out what ships were here when they shut Argonaut down and compare that list with Voyager's current scan. After that, we can figure out how to use what we've got to our best advantage."
"Can't Voyager's sensors do a better job of cataloguing what's here with us?" Abbott asked, fear in her voice.
"Normally, yes," Winston said. "But with the effects of the magnetic flux, its not certain that her sensors will be any more effective at all ranges. Lieutenant Paris said something about distortion, which is why The Captain moved us so close to Argonaut before we beamed over. Since we're inside the effect, we can take scans without being as badly affected by the anomaly's magnetic flux."
"That makes sense, " Abbott admitted. "But I don't have much experience with breaking into a computer that doesn't want me there," she whispered, obviously afraid of failing to complete what Winston thought of as a fairly simple task.
"It shouldn't be that hard," he encouraged. "Captain Chakotay should be able to give you this ship's prefix codes. The computers should be open to you once you've got them."
"I'll get on it right away," she said, obviously glad that she wouldn't have to do anything that would tax training that she obviously didn't have the confidence to use.
Winston wondered how she had ever managed to pass the academy's psychology profile. It was intended to weed out applicants who didn't have a good deal of self confidence. After all, if you weren't sure of yourself and your decisions, you might hesitate at a critical moment.
A hesitation that could kill.
It was up to the academy to teach you when to think and when simply to react. Only those who learned how to react, gained their own commands. The Colonel had riveted the two together with the force of a super nova. Forcing him to think and react faster and in unison with and for others, silently and predictively carrying out the orders that would come as circumstances changed.
He had been close to becoming the captain of a starship once, and he was honoured that Captain Chakotay had trusted him enough to give him command of Argonaut now. Now it was time to see how those ideas worked.
His musings were interrupted by Paris' obviously pleased voice.
"Paris to bridge,"
"Bridge, Winston here."
"The mains are ready to go, Captain," the engineer told him.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Winston demanded.
"Your permission to light her up," Paris snapped, her Klingon temper flaring.
"After all, there's about a twenty percent chance that when I start this old bird up, her warp core will breach. Needless to say, I thought that you might want to be prepared."
"I see," Winston replied, barely noticing Abbott's sudden pallor.
"Well, let's have at it, then."
"OK," Paris rejoined.
"Mains on line in five, four, three, two, one...."
Moments later, the ship's main lights snapped on, bathing everything in the off-white glow that Winston associated with Starfleet ships.
The artificial gravity, which had been at only a third of standard quickly ramped up and he found himself settling into the captain's chair, his apparent weight now what he was used to.
Though he had not been overly uncomfortable in the ship's low-powered environment, he immediately saw that the brighter light and stronger gravity had done much to comfort the mousy woman with whom he shared Argonaut's bridge.
"Winston to Voyager," he barked, the pleasure of an increasingly functional command filtering through in every word and action.
"Voyager, Chakotay,"
"Lieutenant Paris has re-established main power Captain, and we're now moving to have a look at weapons and other systems. I'm going to have Ms. Abbott scan the ships out here for raw materials and such. We may be able to pick up some things that we can use here, or on Voyager. In any case, it'll help to know what materials these ships are made of should we need to blow any of them up."
"Argonaut, can you repeat that last?"
"You heard me right, sir." Winston confirmed.
"Since those Kommodan ships use contained plasma weapons as their main offensive armament, we would be best to have a field of rubble here as they can't shoot through it without wasting their shots on the debris field.
Our phasers will just shrug off anything that's in their way, if we chop up what's in here enough."
"I see," Chakotay said after a moment.
"So if we destroy some of these old wrecks we'll have a tactical advantage against the Kommodans. What about the Borg?"
"The rubble should also make it harder for the Borg to hook on to our ships with their tractor beams, Captain. Those cutting beams will be a problem because Argonaut's shields won't hold against them. Ultimately, it may be best to have Voyager in the rubble field, but I'd ask that we hold off on talking about that until I'm a bit clearer on what we'll be able to do with this ship."
"Sounds reasonable, though I would like it if you could tell me why you think Argonaut's shields won't hold well against the Borg's weapons," Chakotay said dryly.
"After All, I'd hoped not to be sending you on a near-suicide mission."
"Argonaut was launched before the particular shield-to-computer interface that we use now was invented. Hopefully Corporal Miller can help us figure out a way to modulate her shields enough to be useful, but if not, I've got a couple of ideas. I'll need to talk them over with Ms. Paris before I bring them to you."
"Very good," Chakotay acceded. "Just make sure that they work."
"That's my goal, sir." Winston rejoined lightly. "After all, it'd be rather unpleasant to be over here if we don't. For the moment, I'd better get back to work on figuring out the differences between this ship and the Excelsior Class ships I served on."
"Differences?"
"Yes, Sir! Differences. This ship is old and was shut down more than fifty years ago. The technology's out of date and a lot of it'll never work because of lack of maintenance, Sir!" Winston replied. "But the important systems shouldn't be too hard to fix, or at least that's what Ms. Paris tells me."
"Right," Chakotay murmured, obviously displeased that Winston and Paris had understated Argonaut's possible problems when they had suggested trying to revive the old starship.
"Don't worry about it too much, Sir." Winston encouraged. "After all, I've had instruction from the master of invention. Now's time to see if the Colonel's lessons have actually stuck."
"From what I've seen over here, they have." Chakotay replied. "If they hadn't, I'd have sent someone else over to command that old rust-bucket."
"Don't you call my ship and old rust-bucket, sir." Winston said, righteously offended. "After all, she might hear you and decide to act like one. For now I should get to work so that this ship will act like the Federation starship she was built to be."
"Very well, Captain. I'll look forward to hearing how things are going in an hour."
"An hour, sir." Winston confirmed before the channel closed.
A tremendous clang reverberated around Argonaut's vast engine room.
Even though the ship had been fairly easy to restart, fifty years of inaction had caused parts of the structure to deteriorate. With gravity fully restored, pieces of conduit and other parts of the ship's structure had begun falling to the decks. Needless to say, the rain of old structural members had done nothing to maintain B'Elanna Paris' formerly sunny disposition.
"Wildman!" she screamed, wishing fervently that she had been able to send Caerey on this damnable landing party.
"Yes, Lieutenant!" Samantha Wildman's voice rang out from somewhere behind the main energiser.
"Go see about that conduit, and then get Miller to tell you if there are any other parts of the ship that need repairs before you're beamed back to Voyager."
"Yes Ma'am," Wildman chimed, barely able to conceal the relief that she felt at the reprieve from dealing with her commander's increasingly short temper.
As she worked, Samantha Wildman thought long and hard about their situation.
They were incredibly lucky to find a Federation ship that was well supplied with spare parts.
Argonaut's limited self-repairing capability was going a long way toward ensuring its battle-worthiness. Even if they won the upcoming battle against the Kommodans. and The Borg, there was no way to crew it over the long term. It would have to be left behind, no matter the fact that a second ship would go a long way toward ensuring their ultimate return to The Alpha Quadrant. A return that seemed in doubt now that the Captain and Colonel were missing.
The Captain had led them through nearly six years of the hardest space faring that any Federation crew had endured. She had found ways to overcome every problem they faced, and had come out of each situation with an increased measure of respect from everyone aboard Voyager.
Then, suddenly, two years ago, a strange man with stranger values had come aboard and turned the ship upside down.
Now both of the people that Samantha Wildman trusted to get them home were missing, and probably assimilated by the Borg.
Unbelievable stroke of luck though Argonaut might be, Wildman wondered whether it would be enough to see them through the battle that would soon break upon them all.
With ten hours before the Kommodans. and Borg were to arrive, Chakotay could only sit, board and increasingly frustrated, on Voyager's bridge. Winston and Paris had felt that their commander should not board the old ship, and had made their unwillingness to let him inspect it more than clear in their last conference call.
Chakotay's frown deepened at the memory of the conversation.
"I'm sorry Captain, but I have to advise against your coming aboard at this time," Winston said, his image dominating Voyager's bridge.
"We've only barely gotten the ship running, and even though the main viewer's working now, there are still a lot of secondary systems that we need to put together. Not only that, but as we generate more power, the anomaly seems to be increasing its own activity as well."
"I see," Chakotay sighed, frustrated.
"B'Elanna, do you have any idea why the anomaly's status has changed?"
"Nothing for sure," her angry voice snapped from wherever she was working. "After all, I've been a bit busy trying to put together this fifty year old ship. She'll be ready for you when you need her, but there's way too much for me to deal with in her guts to worry about what's going inside that anomaly."
"Understood," Chakotay barked, borrowing from Janeway's bag of tricks where dealing with B'Elanna was concerned.
"I'll look forward to hearing that Argonaut is in top shape," he said, knowing fully well that she wouldn't be able to get it there.
He was equally sure that B'Elanna would focus on the challenge that he had just given her to the exclusion of her frustration over the older ship's decay.
A focus that would also allow her to get more done rather than worrying over the things, such as her missing husband's fate, that she couldn't control.
"Aye Sir," came her reply, nearly drowned out by the sound of the phaser torch that she was using.
"I'll leave you to her tender mercies Captain," Chakotay said, small grin creasing his features.
"Very good, sir." Winston said straight-faced, not daring to look at Abbott who had been able to overhear the entire exchange.
"I'll report in as soon as we have anything for you."
"Very well," Chakotay acceded, knowing that there was still far too much to be done to bring Argonaut back to anything approaching full functionality.
The problem was, Chakotay reflected darkly, that the conversation had occurred nearly three hours previously and so far no further word from Argonaut.
If Winston didn't call in soon, he'd have to call himself.
If for no other reason than to remind Argonaut's captain to get some sleep.
"Ens- I mean, Captain Winston, I have a scan of the ships surrounding us." Abbott finally reported.
"What can you tell me," he asked, moving from the centre seat to stand beside her at the science console.
"There is a diverse set of ships, running from small star fighter or shuttle class vessels up to enormous container ships far larger than anything we have had contact with. The materials used in their construction are equally varied." She reported, voice barely above a whisper.
Though her report had been delivered somewhat tentatively, Winston could see that working in a field that she was familiar with was a source of comfort to her.
The fact that she had not flinched away from him when he took station at her side was strong evidence of this.
He made a mental note to tell Captain Janeway of Abbott's obvious pleasure at working in familiar territory in hopes that she would get more chances to work in the Astrometrics and metallurgy laboratories. Seven might object, but if the young woman could make a stronger contribution to the ship, he would do everything in his power to see that she got the chance.
Of course, before any of this could happen, they had to find a way to beat the Borg and Kommodan forces that were only a few hours away.
After that, they would have to find and possibly rescue their missing crew.
Of course, with any luck, the Colonel would have taken care of this by the time Voyager caught up with him.
For now, all he could do was get a report on the composition of those wrecks. Hopefully some of them would be useful for the strategy that he had worked out with Chakotay.
"Are any of the larger vessels located near the outer edge of the anomaly?"
"No, sir." she replied after a few moments' work with the sensors.
"As with any gravitational source, massive objects are drawn toward the centre of this anomaly more quickly than smaller ships like Argonaut. Ships have to either produce power or have a lot of inertial momentum to keep themselves from falling in, and since these ships are drifting and have little power, all are moving toward the centre at various speeds. Many of the ships have collected around the object that seems to be responsible for the effect. In fact, if it weren't for the shield that seems to protect it, a fairly large number of ships would have crashed into it directly."
Winston nodded, not surprised by what he had heard, but frustrated by it all the same.
"Do you think that a torpedo strike against one of those ships would be enough to break it up and spread its remains throughout the region?"
"No, Sir! The strength of the gravitational forces in the area seem to be growing, possibly as a response to the power generated by Argonaut and Voyager. At this point, the field is too strong for a torpedo explosion to overcome."
"Blast!" Winston exploded, unconsciously using one of The Colonel's signatory ways of expressing frustration.
Abbott jumped, obviously frightened by his vehemence.
"Sorry, Ensign," Winston muttered, stamping back toward the centre seat. He had to find a way to get around this problem, for without it, their strategy for blunting the Kommodans' numerical advantage might be in serious danger.
Fortunately, he'd had an excellent teacher and it didn't take long for the lessons on creativity that the Colonel had drilled into his shipmates on the Dog Watch to take hold. Within moments he had an idea. A dangerous one to be sure, but one that he thought would probably work. All he needed do now was to check it with 'his' chief engineer.
"Winston to Paris," he snapped, tapping his com-badge as he spoke.
"Paris here," her sleep-thickened voice responded some moments later.
"Sorry Ms. Paris," he apologised, only now realising that she was probably getting the first sleep that she had seen since the Kommodans' attack nearly two days earlier.
"Too late for that," she mumbled, voice barely audible on Argonaut's bridge. Now that you've got me up, you might as well tell me what you wanted," she prompted.
"Oh, Right." Winston replied, trying to recollect his thoughts.
"Ensign Abbott has just finished a scan of the ships that have been trapped here, and tells me that the really big ones are too close to the centre of the anomaly to be chopped into rubble and easily spread around the region. I'm wondering if you can have a look at her data and tell me if we could beam some photon torpedoes into their main energisers?
Voyager would have a better chance if we can get an explosion big enough to either destroy the anomaly or at least give us the rubble field that we'll need to hide her in while she fights any Kommodans. that get past us," he explained.
"Sure, no problem." Paris said, voice sharpening with interest as she spoke. "I'm on duty in about an hour, and will get on it right away. How are the other repairs going?"
"Just fine." Winston told her. "Lt. Caerey has taken over for Ms. Wildman and we've got the main energisers, weapons and shields back to full capability. I'll get him on the transporters now that they'll be necessary, and we'll get the replicators up just in case."
"In case of what?" Paris demanded.
"In case we need them should Argonaut be the only ship to survive."
"Oh," she replied, obviously chastened by the thought of losing the ship that had become her home. "Well, in that case, I suppose that I should let you go so you can get him started."
"Probably so," Winston concurred.
"Have Voyager beam you to the phaser control room when you're ready, we'll need to test-fire the weapons to make sure that everything is working, and you're the best-qualified person to supervise. The weapons scanners should be more than enough to let you check into any ships that you think we can blow up."
"OK, out," she said, cutting the connection with some of the gruffness that she had lost since her marriage to Tom Paris.
With only a few hours before they would be thrown into the thick of battle, Chakotay was pleased by the reports coming from Argonaut.
The old Excelsior class ship was coming back to life and he knew that B'Elanna Paris was taking pleasure in her work. She had handled the possibility that her husband had been captured by the Borg far better than he had hoped. Possibly the fit of rage during the battle against the Kommodan boarders in Engineering was what she had needed to avoid sinking into depression.
Winston was pushing the small engineering crew that he had been given very hard. All knew that they would have to give their best if the Voyagers would live to see another day.
They had far too little time until the Kommodan fleet arrived. There would be only a few minutes to dispatch it before the Borg came. Happily, the crew was working harder than ever before, and both ships would be ready.
Chakotay knew that he needed sleep in order to be prepared for what would come, and had ordered that all crew get at least four hours' rest before they went into battle. He needed to get a report from Argonaut as to its latest progress before he could rest himself. As soon as this was done, he would take his four hours' rest and see that Winston did too.
While they rested, B'Elanna would be in charge of both ships.
Almost as if called by his spirit guide, Winston's voice interrupted his musings before they could turn to the horrid possibilities that awaited them if, for any number of reasons, they lost.
"Argonaut to Chakotay," Winston's voice rang clear and strong from his quarters' speakers.
"Chakotay here." he said warily, only now realising just how tired he was.
"All is well here, Captain." Winston reported, voice obviously pleased with the tremendous progress that his small crew was making.
"All weapons test as ready to fire, and we've got a few candidates for operation trash box."
"Good." Chakotay said. "When will you blow them up?"
"About twenty minutes before the Kommodans arrive. That should give the rubble field enough time to spread without letting it get too thin. As soon as the anomaly is disrupted by the blast, we'll head out to take on the Kommodans, while you wait here and nail any that get through, sir."
"Fine," Chakotay agreed, knowing that Voyager's smaller and more manoeuvrable form was best for working the tight spaces that would be created by the destruction of the old wrecks.
There was one thing about the forthcoming operation that he didn't like, however. "What will you do if the Borg arrive before you're done with the Kommodans?"
"Ms. Paris and I talked about this after you mentioned it earlier, Captain. She's pretty sure that the Borg'll ignore us in favour of getting at Voyager. This should allow us to deal with the Kommodans. and keep the Borg off of our backs.
Miller hasn't been able to help us figure out a way to modulate the shields effectively, and even though ours are more powerful than Voyager's, it still looks like The Borg will cut through us like a knife through butter. On the other hand, our stronger conventional shielding and heavier phasers will give us a better chance against the Kommodans. We should be able to keep them busy enough to let you stay in the rubble field until the Borg get here. After that, we'll just have to 'praise god and pass the ammunition', I suppose?"
"Well, Its not a great plan," Chakotay opined, "but its the best one that we've got. Make sure that your people get some rest before you begin things."
"Be sure to rest as well, Captain. After all, You've ultimately got the harder job. You have to explain all this to Captain Janeway, when we finish!"
"Understood," Chakotay concurred with a grin, "I'm off for about five hours' sleep now. Hopefully that'll be enough to see us through whatever comes next."
"It'd better be, Sir, Winston agreed. "Argonaut out."
"Voyager out," Chakotay confirmed.
The moment the connection was broken, he kicked his boots off and fell into bed. Exhausted though he was, it took some time for sleep to find him.
There were simply too many scenarios moving through his mind and far too many of them ended in the destruction of one or both of the ships and the assimilation or death of the crew that Kathryn had left in his hands.
"How long until the Kommodans get here?" Chakotay demanded from his position behind ensign Carver.
"About twenty-seven minutes, sir!" Kala reported from her place at the ops console.
It was, Chakotay knew, time to get things started. If only Kathryn and The Colonel were here, he'd feel a lot better. For now, he'd have to do with a patched together group of ensigns from two utterly different watches.
Each trained under totally different standards.
He knew well that the crew was as unsure of their ability to work together as he was, and only hoped that something would break the rising tension on Voyager's bridge.
Needless to say, he was not sure that he could find the words to overcome it himself.
Hopefully, the heat of battle would melt their fears...and his own.
"Hail Mr. Winston aboard Argonaut and tell him to get things moving," he said as he took Kathryn's chair, hoping that Winston's report would divert him from worrying about the state of Voyager's crew.
"Captain Winston on the main viewer," Carver reported as Argonaut's image was replaced by Winston's purposeful frown.
Chakotay wasted no time in coming to the point.
"We're about twenty-six minutes from direct contact with the Kommodans. Are you ready over there?"
"Yes Sir, or at least as ready as we'll ever be." Winston reported.
"Ms. Paris tells me that the last of her engineers has beamed back to Voyager. She told me to tell you that Mr. Caerey will be in charge down in engineering if you need to talk with someone there. All weapons are ready to fire, and Corporal Miller has just installed himself on the helm. He's got the ship's major systems fairly well automated and tells me that he's ready to take the Starfleet navigator's examination if we've got the time."
"Unfortunately, he'll have to wait until we can transfer him back here for that," Chakotay said with a smile. "Tell him that we'll be happy to make him an officer if he sees you through the battle."
At this, the screen shifted slightly, showing Miller's horrified face.
"I didn't say nuffin' about becommin' a bleedin' officer, Cap'n," the scruffy-looking hologram snapped, "I just told 'im that I'd be 'appy to take the exam if you wanted me to, Guv'. Honest!."
"Not necessary," Chakotay laughed. "I trust that you'd do quite well on it after all of the time that you've spent in the computers of some of Starfleet's best ships."
Winston retook the screen at this point, obviously trying to suppress laughter at the now invisible corporal's antics.
"I'd not offer him the chance, Sir!" He said straight faced. After all, he's seen every Starfleet exam on the subject for at least the last century. There's no question but that he could cheat his way to a perfect score."
"True enough," Chakotay agreed over Miller's loud protestations. "Hopefully he'll do as well as we expect," Voyager's captain continued, refocusing them on the job at hand.
"Are you ready for operation Trash Box?" he queried, not sure that he truly wanted to hear a "yes" in answer to his question.
Necessary though it might be, starting the operation would irrevocably commit him to fighting the Kommodans. and The Borg as well.
Much as Chakotay might want to use Voyager's superior speed to run away from Kommos, he would have to fight both in order to assure himself of the ability to return there. A return that would have to be carried out in order to assure himself and Voyager's crew that The Captain hadn't been trapped on a planet whose people were far too adept at treachery.
"Yes, Sir!" Winston replied.
"Ms. Abbott has targeted four large vessels whose antimatter load is high enough to assure us a sufficiently large explosion. She's also found a few other ships that you might be able to use as heavy explosives if you need to. She is sending transporter co-ordinates to your tactical board."
Carver nodded when the transmission came in and Chakotay repeated the gesture for Winston.
"OK, then," Winston sighed.
"We'll be in position in about thirty seconds. After that, Captain, I'm not sure if we'll be able to receive you until after the battle. Interference from antimatter explosions like the ones that we're setting off will probably be fairly heavy."
"Understood," Chakotay said as the main viewer shifted to show Argonaut moving toward the centre of the anomaly.
Winston continued to describe what Argonaut's sensors were telling him as his ship closed on its targets.
"We're about twenty seconds from energising the transporters. Ms. Paris reports that the warp drive is at full power and Corporal Miller has a high warp course laid in. We'll be able to intercept the Kommodan fleet in three minutes, Mark." Kim tapped on his board and a countdown clock appeared on Voyager's main viewer.
"Ten seconds to transport," Winston reported, voice quiet with tension.
"Good luck, Captain," Chakotay said, offering a brief prayer that his shipmates would survive the forthcoming battle.
"Thank you, Voyager," Winston replied. "Argonaut wishes you luck as well, and reports that transport will commence in five, four, three, two, one......."
Time seemed to stand still for just a moment.
Then, with virtually no warning, Voyager was shaking violently.
The ship had been caught by the tremendous gravimetric waves caused by the explosion and its interaction with the anomaly's still-functioning machinery. Its structure screamed under the unimaginable stress and then blessed silence returned.
A silence mirrored by Voyager's bridge crew, all of whom were staring in amazement at the massive confusion that had broken loose throughout the region. Huge chunks of metal span lazily across the view screen in a growing plume of debris, several striking each other, sometimes breaking into smaller parts, others simply spinning off in new directions.
It worked! Chakotay breathed. Harry, take us into the middle of it. Just don't hit anything!
Winston's fingers were clutched tightly around the arm rests of Argonaut's command chair. Miller had redirected the Argonaut as soon as the torpedoes had been beamed off. Now the ship was hurtling through space at a bit less than warp 9, her engines straining mightily to bring her into contact with the Kommodan fleet.
"Two minutes from intercept with Kommodans," Miller said, fingers working the helm/navigation console far faster than any corporeal being could have hoped to. Though he would have preferred to simply control the ship's functions from inside the computer, too many systems had been separated by either failure or design. Therefore, he was forced to use the physical controls in order to bridge the gaps.
"Very well," Winston acknowledged. "Bridge to photon control room, Ms. Abbott, are you ready?"
"Yes, Captain." she replied, unnerved by the responsibility that she had been asked to bear. "All torpedo systems show green."
"Good." Winston said, knowing that more words would only increase her nervousness. "You know what to do after we've fired the first broadside?"
"Yes, Captain." Abbott's voice replied. "Ms. Torres told me that the ship will reload the torpedoes automatically, I only need to arm them before you fire."
"That's right," Winston concurred. "There shouldn't be any problems so long as you remember to hit the arming controls as soon as the torpedoes are in the tubes. I'm hoping that we won't need to use the photons after the first broadside, so things should be fairly quiet down there. We're a minute away, so buckle in and just hold on."
"I will, sir." Abbott replied, voice shaking. Winston sighed, frustrated that he had been forced to take her aboard. The work with Argonaut's scanners had been good for her but she was now in a position that would require her to act and react quickly if called on. He doubted that she would be able to do what was needed and only hoped that Argonaut's phasers would be enough. It was now time to make sure that everything else was in its place.
"Bridge to Engineering. Ms. Torres, your status?"
"All's fine down here," The Klingon's voice replied. "Warp engines are running fine and all phasers are ready to fire from engineering control. All extraneous life support is shut down, which should give us a bit of extra power for weapons and shields."
"How much extra?" Winston asked, pleased that she had been able to divert the power.
"Oh, enough for 130 percent of standard on phasers and full shields," Torres said smugly.
"Excellent!" Winston enthused. "We're twenty seconds out, lock down and get ready for anything."
"As always, sir." Torres replied, confidently.
Winston smiled, closing the link.
"Mr. Miller, tactical on the main viewer please."
"Tactical, Aye."
Winston glanced at the viewer's representation of the tactical situation. Voyager had relayed its scan of the Commodans' formation as it closed on the anomoly. As a result, he had he had been able to plan for what was to come, knowing that he had a number of advantages over his numerically superior foe. Argonaut would enter the Commodan sensor range in about three seconds, and would be on them in fifteen. There were benefits, Winston reflected grimly, to advanced technology--even if it was half a century behind the Federation's best.
The three Commodan ships that had been sent to chase Voyager down were in the classic sloped triangle formation, the lead ship a few thousand kilometers ahead of, and below, its companions. These were spaced a few thousand kilometers apart, flying in a horizontal line from which their forward firing arcs would not interfere with each other.
"Mr. Miller, you have the helm, take her in as we planned it," Winston said, fingers tightening on the arms of the captain's chair.
"Aye, Guv'nor," Miller said.
Even the hologram's voice seemed to tighten as the Federation ship closed on its unsuspecting targets.
"Commodan sensors have us," Winston said, looking at the centre seat's tactical repeater.
"Commencing starboard evasive," Miller shouted as the ship bucked hard, swinging to the right and decelerating at the same time. Engines screaming, the big ship slid down and to the right, shooting past the Commodans at a bit less than warp five. Winston fired its phasers, clipping the right-most Commodan ship but doing no damage.
"Coming around," Miller reported, as the ship spun to the left, inertial stabilisers struggling to hold against the crushing forces exerted by the manoeuver.
"Moving up between the after-most ships, Cap'n," Miller shouted a few seconds later. "Coming into position for attack on forward ship."
Winston watched the main viewer, eyes flicking down to his tactical repeater as Argonaut slid between the ships at the rear of the Commodan triangle. If Miller could hold things just right, the Commodan ships at the base of the triangle wouldn't be able to fire at Argonaut as they would risk hitting each other if they missed. It wouldn't take more than a few seconds for them to adjust, but he would get enough time to shoot at the painfully unprotected lead ship. Hitting it with a full broadside from behind. Before Miller could tell him that they had found their position, his finger stabbed down on the phaser and photon controls.
Argonaut's awesome weapons unleashed a withering storm of fire into the Commodan battleship.
The Federation vessel's torpedoes crashed into the Commodan's shields, doing notable damage. Argonaut's phasers, which were being fired at far above maximum power levels tore into the weakened shielding, blasting it into flaring submission. Moments later, the unprotected Commodan ship had lost its starboard warp nacelle. While rebalancing the warp field of such a ship might be possible, Winston knew that it would take many hours to complete the task, nor would they be taking a great part in the battle. For now, he could ignore it and move onto the other ships, one of which had twisted out of position and was now firing its powerful plasma weapons.....
"Hold on," Winston cried, trying to retarget the phasers in hopes of shooting down the plasma bolt before it struck. His shot went wide, spearing out into open space. Fortunately, Miller had also noticed the threat and his incredibly fast reflexes brought Argonaut through a sharp evasive. He succeeded in evading the first bolt, but his inexperience led the great ship directly into the path of the next.
Fired at such close range no shields in the galaxy could completely contain the crushing blow. The plasma bolt struck the underside of the saucer section, sending Winston flying. At the helm Miller flickered for a moment as the power dipped.
Starboard shields are down, Sir! Miller reported to a still dazed Winston as he staggered back to the tactical console. Major breaches decks 9 to 15. Think it exploded on deck 12, Sir.
B'Elanna, I need starboard shields! Winston demanded, working feverishly at his panel, much of the targeting array had failed as well.
In engineering, B'Elanna Paris struggled past the console that had shifted in the explosion to examine the readouts. Not a chance, she responded to Winstons curt demand. Every power relay on that side of the ship has gone. I'm redirecting power to give you phasors.
Abbott, are the torpedoes still operational? Winston tried, slamming the panel in frustration.
The tubes are loaded, Ensign Abbotts shaky voice reported. But the loaders have got stuck.
Free them, Winston demanded. Miller don't show a starboard side to them again. Bring us around for a second shot.
Miller had already anticipated the first command, but was taken by surprise by the second. He had thought that the Ensign had been the Colonels prodigy until now. He glanced over his shoulder. Can't do both, Sir.
We need to regain momentum, or we'll be sitting ducks, he explained quickly to the outraged look. No sense in being the coconuts in the shy.
As if to prove the point another plasma bolt struck, this time glancing off the port shields.
Get me a shot! Winston roared.
Applying full power, Miller pushed the Argonaut forward, rolling as he did so to avoid the plasma bolts directed at the ship as she staggered away. Barely sixty seconds later he was reefing her around again to point at the enemy.
Coming bow on to nearest Kommode ship, Sir, he declared. No deflection, so manual targeting will work.
Winston glared at him as he worked course corrections to find the little corporal correct. The Kommodes were still turning to intercept, without the Argonauts advantage of momentum they were slower to respond. They could still fire though and the glowing orbs of plasma were already sailing towards them.
Winston tried to ignore them. Manual targeting was more likely to succeed at shorter ranges and he needed his weapons to do serious damage. He counted to ten, then stabbed at the fire controls.
As soon as the torpedoes left their launcher Miller was again hauling the Argonaut away, desperately trying to avoid the rapidly approaching bolts.
He almost made it, most passing harmlessly behind the Argonaut as he hauled her upwards. One wandered off course and slid past the damaged shields and struck the engineering section.
As it exploded sending the ship reeling, Miller sensed the drive failing.
Loosing impulse, he managed to splutter. His image flickered and died.
About the same instant Argonauts torpedoes struck the Kommodan battleship. On his own, transfixed by the spectacle, Winston could only watch as plumes of fire and smoke gushed towards him. The shields must have been dropped for another salvo for the torpedoes to do that much damage, he reasoned.
Two minutes later Miller flickered back into life at his seat. Sorry, Sir. A few relays blew in the last strike. I've diverted power. Lieutenant Paris is bringing impulse on line, but its hell down there he reported circumspectly.
But the Colonel is an officer and he always knows where he is, she pointed out.
Miller retorted. He's not a proper officer. The Colonel is a sergeant, Duck. Once a sergeant, always a sergeant. Why d'you think he always wants to be with the action? He's just gone soft with age.
Despite herself and their precarious position, Llinos Abbott laughed at Millers solemn opinion. Just the thought of the sometimes ferocious Colonel being soft' was preposterous.
Chakotay sat on Voyager's bridge, stunned by the sheer destructive forces that had been unleashed in the anomaly when Argonauts carefully placed torpedoes detonated. As Winston had predicted, all subspace communications were out, and Voyager's sensors were temporarily blinded as well. The main view screen's representation of events, however, seemed to show that things weren't quite going as they had hoped. The tremendous explosion had thrown massive amounts of debris into the near-by space. Debris that increased as other ships exploded in response to the original event or the impact of debris that it had generated. However, the debris wasn't going nearly as far or fast as it should have, and it almost seemed that space itself was twisting near the centre of the anomaly. Without sensors, all that Kala could tell him was that things were, indeed, not going as they had hoped.
"Bridge to engineering," Chakotay snapped, hoping that Caerey could do something to straighten out this mess.
"Engineering, Caerey here."
"Mr. Caerey, our plan isn't going as well as I'd hoped, and our sensors seem to have been knocked out temporarily. I need them fixed--yesterday."
"We're on it Bridge." Caerey replied. Engineering was running smoothly and though he was sure it wouldn't remain so, Caerey was enjoying his temporary command. Fortunately, the sensors had suffered nothing more than a minor overload as a result of the explosion and their diagnostics would bring them back on line within moments.
The return of the long range sensors almost had Chakotay wishing that they had not. The first thing noted was that there was a Kommadan ship drifting without power, then Kala was frantically redirecting them again to pick up the second warship.
It's venting plasma, it's gonna blow! Carver whispered in alarm.
Argonaut is in their way, Sir! Kala commented. They won't get out of the way in time!
In silence they watched the Argonaut roll in a desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable collision. She did not make it, quite. They continued to watch and imagine the great tearing metal sounds, as the Kommodan ship smashed into the underside of the saucer, then swing, taking a side swipe at the engineering section. It continued to swing until it disengaged and span away before exploding in a inferno that had them shielding their eyes from the glare.
Chakotay whispered.
All mains power is down, Sir. Comms are out, Kala responded in a subdued voice and a brief hesitation. Can't get any life readings, but that is no guarantee.
I can get closer to pick up survivors? Kim offered from the helm.
Chakotay resisted the temptation. There is at least one Kommodan ship out there and a Borg cube, he said with a suddenly war weary shake of his head. If we go now we'll lose even more.
Not what the Captain would do, Kim muttered.
Chakotay pointedly ignored the comment and continued to watch as Argonaut continued to tumble, now out of control, hoping for some sign.
Voyager rocked violently.
Light damage, there was no power in the shot.
It's almost as if they aren't sure what they want to do! Kim voiced everybody's thoughts for them.
How is Lieutenant Paris? She asked hopefully.
Still out cold, Ma'am, he answered apologetically. I will need physical help to bring impulse on line, Ma'am. There are a number of manifolds in Engineering that need to be replaced.
Abbott nodded slowly in understanding, the corporal was going to push her again. Can you find Voyager? She asked.
She's having a bit of a blowup with a couple of cubes, Miller described a moment later. She's lost shields and warp but otherwise ain't too badly hurt. There is a Kommodan ship out there as well, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am.
She smiled weakly at the apology, they had failed to protect Voyager from the Kommodan fleet in its entirety. She wondered if the Corporal took it as great a personal failure as his Commanding Officer would.
She was quickly appraised of his opinion by his next words. If you would go to engineering, we can make amends and take those little buggers out, Miss?
Ensign Abbott would have found the relays Miller wanted replaced without his guidance. The access cover had been blown clean across engineering by the blast from the overload.
This is going to take time, she sighed, looking carefully at the blackened remains.
We can short the terminals, declared Miller. I can control the power good enough without
she asked cautiously. If we get hit then there will be no safety cut outs.
I won't need no safety cut outs, Miller snapped, irritation showing in the voice.
Abbott looked up with real alarm. You're going to ram them. Aren't you?
Gotta go sometime, Miss. There is a shuttle in a serviceable condition for you and the others.
There must be another way! Abbott appealed.
Miller said nothing, if his holo-emitter had been working he would have shrugged the question off.
She sat and thought for a moment. Argonaut was too badly damaged to do more in battle, it was now nothing more than a lifeboat for two seriously injured crew, one of whom would not recover in their current state, herself and a holographic corporal. It would be a lonely place. She did not think she could stand that again, not after the last time.
Grimly she set about the rewiring Miller demanded.
As she worked a germ of an idea came to her. Corporal Miller, can you identify the power source for the anomaly? She asked.
There was an interminable silence before he replied. Aye, Ma'am. Dunno what is powering it though. Tain't normal anti-matter.
Could we get close enough to use the self-destruct and blow it up?
I don't have access to the self-destruct system, Miss. It requires manual over-ride. I think Captain Bennett, the ships original Captain, modified the system.
I can probably handle that, Abbott volunteered. Get us in contact with Voyager.
Aye, Ma'am!
There was silence for ten minutes then Miller suddenly exploded, Gordon, bleedin' Bennett! Would you Adam and Eve it!
Abbott looked up sharply, she did not have a clue what the hologram actually meant, but the tone was enough to portray a certain level of shock.
Sorry, Ma'am, he responded recovering from his own surprise. The Borg have taken out one of their own. Used the Kommodan ship like one of them bolass things the spicks use!
Have you got comms back with Voyager? Abbott asked nervously, blanching at the image of the two ships colliding in her mind.
As soon as you're ready, Miss, he agreed.
I'm ready now. Can you transport B'Elanna to the shuttle? Then there is another little mod' I would like help with.
Ensign Abbott wriggled, trying to make herself comfortable in the Argonaut's command chair, it felt much too large for her slight frame, or was her tiny body too small for the post? She wondered. Either way, appearances would be important, if she were to persuade Commander Chakotay she could do what she was going to propose. He would have to think she was confident and she knew she would not be able to do that dancing foot to foot with nerves. That only left her hands. She gripped the arms tightly.
You can join Lieutenant Paris in the shuttle, Ma'am? Miller offered quietly. I'm pretty sure I can get there and I'm less than certain Voyager will find the modified torpedoes?
If you can't then we will be dead anyhow! Abbott snapped with the last of her courage. Put Voyager on before I lose what courage I've got.
Chakotay's worried features appeared upon the screen. Behind him Llinos Abbott could see several terminals billowing smoke and fire. The Borg had obviously found them again as they played chase through the rotting carcasses of dead ships.
It's good to see you are alive and well, Ensign, Chakotay opened. We are having a spot of trouble, he waved his arm expansively. I suggest you try and get out, make what repairs you can and follow the direction of the Captain.
Can't do that, Abbott breathed. I'm on my own with Corporal Miller. We put Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Winston in a shuttle. Miller has programmed it to head out of the anomaly. We launched it ten minutes ago. Winston will die if you can't catch them.
Chakotay made to interrupt her, but Abbott lumbered on, her lip quivering with the control. Please Sir. We think we can take out the Borg. But we need help.
There was a pause as Chakotay glanced at Tactical for confirmation. What weapons do you have, Ensign? Chakotay reasoned gently. You have more torpedoes than we do. But yours won't dent the cube, even in its damaged condition. You haven't the power to fire your phasors, there is no Warp power or shields.
I have Argonaut and Corporal Miller, Abbott responded petulantly. We are going to blow the anomaly up!
Chakotay's face puckered in horror at the implication of Abbott's suggestion, "You can't.." He started to be immediately interrupted.
"Please, Sir!" Abbott was now imploring. "I don't want to be the only survivor if Voyager is lost and I can't repair this ship on my own!"
On Voyager's bridge Chakotay looked around desperately for any form of help from the others. There was none, all were engrossing themselves in their displays, all too aware of what the outcome was likely to be, which ever solution was taken. Finally he looked back at Abbott and took in the dishevelled and pale figure sat in the Captains chair. He could even see how white her knuckles were as they gripped the arms. How small she looked, he decided, not only to occupy the chair, but to carry out the action she was proposing.
"What do you need us to do?" He sighed.
"You have to lure the cube near enough to the centre to be affected by the explosion," Abbott explained, her voice now so quiet he had to strain to hear. "Corporal Miller reckons he can manage half impulse, but it won't be enough to outrun them and we can barely manoeuvre. We should have a fully charged phasor bank and a couple of torpedoes to keep them interested, if you can get them within 100 kilometres?"
"Do your plans include something for escape?" Chakotay asked, his voice now very gentle.
Ensign Abbott nodded. "I've put a life support set in a torpedo. If there is time, I'll use that as a warp powered escape pod. Corporal Miller has arranged the launch so that the acceleration doesn't kill me."
"And Miller?"
"Gotta remain until the ship explodes, Sir," Millers voice cut in. "Can't get out the Doctors emitter is broke."
"Give me a few minutes to think?" Chakotay found it was his turn to allow a note of pleading to enter his voice.
"We'll set course for the centre," Abbott announced. "It will take us thirty minutes anyhow."
He face cut out. For an instant they were left with the distressing sight of the mortally injured Argonaut slowly turning about, setting course, before Carver snapped the view screen back to the Borg cube with a curt, "We've been spotted again, Sir."
"They've fixed their targeting," he added un-necessarily as a beam slammed into Voyager and he was showered by more sparks. "Hull breach deck four."
Chakotay came to a decision. It was not an easy decision, but the only one available. The Borg cube in its damaged state was still a match for Voyager and she was slowly being taken apart.
"Take us on a course that will bring us within range of Argonaut," he announced heavily.
"Chakotay to Argonaut."
Llinos Abbott's face appeared upon the view screen as she looked up apologetically. "I'm trying to repair the holo-emitter," she gabbled apologetically. "I'm hoping to see somebody human once more."
"Keep your comms open and we can talk?" Chakotay offered immediately, swallowing hard on something that had got caught in his throat. "I'm bringing Voyager in as you asked. Just make sure you reach that escape pod."
"I'll try Commander!" She promised. A brave little smile lit her face. She would be an attractive woman if she smiled more often, Chakotay decided in passing as she bent again, seemingly determined to keep working on the small mobile emitter.
"Engineering I am going to want warp at a moments notice. When will it be ready?"
"Ten minutes, Sir. Provided we don't get hit again," Joe Caerey hissed. He was not enjoying himself as much now. A full third of his engineering team were now in sickbay, from injuries sustained as they battled with the incessant jury repairs to keep power flowing. Another quarter were linked with the damage control teams as they struggled with the evermore threatening damage to the ship. Now desperately short staffed he was scurrying between consoles screaming at individuals to get them working on the next priority.
Kim tried his best to navigate between the activities of their Borg foe and the rubble, though it was not enough, the ship shuddered under repeated blows. Three blows in quick succession rendered the ship immobile and defenceless.
"Engineering, I need power!" Chakotay hissed
"I'm working on it," Caerey's voice snapped back. "I need more crew! I've only got four left on their feet!"
Chakotay grimaced, Caerey had reason to snap. "I'll find you some more," he promised quickly.
"Harry, go down to Sickbay and the Mess, pick up anybody in the category of walking wounded. Take them to Engineering. No matter what the Doctor says."
"We haven't time. They are closing in!" Kim screamed, waving at the image of the Borg cube on the view screen.
"Do It!"
With a glare at the Commander, Kim rose slowly and strode to the lift.
"I think I can recharge two of the phasor banks, Ma'am?" Corporal Miller offered softly to Ensign Abbott as she watched in horrified silence as Voyager was systematically struck by Borg weapons.
"We can take the heat off Voyager?"
"But if we do we might not reach our detonation point," Abbott pleaded.
"Nor will Voyager, Ma'am," Miller observed politely.
She nodded absently in agreement. "Then we had better go then," she added, remembering that the hologram could not see her. "I'll take the conn if you can handle weapons and power?"
Miller coughed nervously. "Power is not a problem," Miller admitted carefully. "We haven't got any control over it. It is either there or not."
"But you said.." Abbott protested.
"I said I could handle it," Miller admitted. "I didn't say there was no control because, well, it didn't seem important to you at the time," he added hurriedly.
"So all we have is directional control?" Abbott asked carefully, wishing fervently she had got a better report from the Corporal in the first place.
"Ma'am."
She sighed deeply and took her seat at the pilots console. Where she discovered that the Corporal had been less than honest there as well. The ship could turn left, go down or forward.
She sighed again. Corporal Miller had done an excellent job on giving her hope and courage. But to do it he had left her not knowing half of their real situation.
She prodded the controls again, rolling Argonaut onto course.
The Borg cube seemed to have lost interest in Voyager. From the bridge of Voyager they had watched the giant cube spin gently infront of them in mystification. For nearly twenty minutes it had sat there neither firing at them or beaming drones aboard.
"I don't think they have control, Sir?" Ensign Kala ventured. For the entire time she had been bombarding the cube with every sensor system that still worked, trying to find a chink or a reason for its sudden reticence. Now she was scanning sub-space trying to pick up the tell-tale signs of Borg transmissions. "In fact, I don't think anybody is controlling it. I can't find any long range Borg signals."
"You mean they've just died?" Chakotay demanded incredulously, looking over his shoulder.
"No, Sir!" She responded guardedly. "The drones seem to be perfectly healthy and they are scanning us periodically. It's just that they aren't talking to the Collective. It's as if they know they are supposed to be after us, but don't know what to do with us, now we are there for the taking?"
"Engineering to Bridge. Impulse is back on line," Caerey's voice interrupted the conversation. "Working on shields."
"Back us away," Chakotay issued the order quickly. "We'll try and sneak away while they are wondering."
"They are targeting," Carver warned as Kim applied power.
"All stop!" Chakotay demanded as quickly bringing things to a halt again.
There was now a situation of impasse. If Voyager moved, or, he guessed, showed a build up of weapons the Borg would undoubtedly fire on Voyager again. If she lay 'dead' then they would be ignored.
"Perhaps the Colonel has gotten to the Unimatrix?" Carver offered hopefully.
In a galaxy of possible solutions, it was extreme. But just possibly the only one with any grain of sense to it Chakotay had to agree. "It doesn't help us though," he pointed out.
"Argonaut is approaching," Kala prompted. "Direct intercept course with the cube."
"Tactical!" Chakotay snapped.
"Llinoss what are you doing?" He demanded as the crippled ship appeared upon the view screen, showing her smashed broadside to Voyager.
There was no reply.
"She will pass between us and the cube, Sir," Carver observed. "We may be able to back away when she does?"
"She will also be blown to pieces!" Chakotay snapped. "Get a transport lock on Abbott."
"Can't, Sir," Ensign Kala responded. "Transporters are non-functional."
They were left as helpless bystanders as the Argonaut sailed closer. The Borg cube seemed to ignore the ship. Until..
At almost point blank range, two of Argonauts phaser banks fired, straight through the hole that marked the side of the giant cube. At the same time four torpedoes lanced out of her stern tubes, heading for the same target. Slowly she turned and headed for the centre of the anomaly again as explosions ripped through the cube. Finally a second phaser beam lanced out. It struck an undamaged side and had little power, but it obviously had the effect that the crew aboard Argonaut expected. The cube started to follow and fire at them. Two beams lanced out, both missed by a narrow margin.
"Argonaut brought down their targeting," Carver blurted. "Severe power fluctuations. Secondary explosions on multiple decks."
"But it is still not dead," Chakotay hissed as another weak beam shot out.
Weak beam or not, it was more than Argonauts weakened defences could stand. Upon the bridge Abbott was showered by sparks as she wrestled with her rapidly diminishing controls.
"New breaches decks 14 to 18," Miller reported dispassionately. "I've lost phasers and we are venting plasma."
"I think it is time you left, Ma'am," he added. "There is nothing left for you to do."
"Not without you, Corporal," she refuted. "I couldn't have done this without your help. The emitter is repaired, so we go together!"
The ship rocked again. "Lost a pylon, the one venting plasma," Miller reported with a little satisfaction, Argonaut was slightly less likely to explode. "Three hundred klicks to target. I think we can abandon ship now, Ma'am. I can't do anything either."
"Come on then," Abbott sighed, getting up and staggering for the lift as the ship was again rocked.
It was a desperate race as she staggered down corridors, heading for the torpedo room and her makeshift escape pod. Every few minutes the ship was rocked as it was time and again targeted by the cube that was chasing. Twice her way was blocked as massive girders from the ships structure crashed through the ceiling in front of her, making her scream in terror. Numbed with terror, she barely noticed when she arrived, simply accepting the Corporals commands as he prepared her for launch.
Despite the Corporals changes in the launch sequence for her torpedo life pod, the launch was still horrific. Her feet felt as if they would be driven through her brain as it accelerated hard from the tube and she screamed again, uncontrollably until blackness descended upon her.
"Get after that torpedo!" Chakotay fairly screamed as they saw the small ball of light appear from the back of Argonaut and swerve away. "Where are the transporters?"
Behind them Argonaut detonated as tonnes of antimatter met matter in an uncontrolled confluence. It was silent and dark explosion that bloomed further and brighter as nearby derelicts were caught in the influence and exploded in a fabulous display of pyrotechnics. The Borg cube following the Argonaut so closely was the first. The bloom extended towards the centre, finally catching the small planetoid that formed the centre.
It blew with the finality of the end of existence, the shockwaves travelling at the speed of light, not just in the physical universe, but through sub-space. Voyager travelling on the thresh hold of both was struck by both.
"Don't lose that torpedo!" Chakotay demanded again as Voyager bucked, twisted and span in the gravitational influences.
For thirty seconds she was tossed and turned like a leaf, then all was silent again.
"I've got the torpedo, Sir!" Carver shook of his own alarm, then assured the commander. "Engine has died. I can tractor it into the shuttle bay. Damage reports coming in."
Chakotay allowed himself a grateful smile at the outwardly calm ensign. "Do it!" He said simply, "then get after the shuttle Argonaut launched."
Chakotay hotfooted it to the shuttle bay as soon as Carver announced the torpedo was entering, fearful of what he would find. The shocks that had hit Voyager had done damage to the structure of the ship. The effects on the torpedo survival pod could well have been catastrophic.
"She is alive, Commander," Lieutenant Caerey informed him. "Just about. She had this in her hand."
Silently he handed Chakotay the doctors holo-emitter. "Looks as though it is working. The Doc 'll be pleased. I'll get her moved upto sickbay."
Chakotay turned the emitter over, examining it carefully. "Are you in there Corporal?" he asked, putting it onto a console.
"Nah! Not anymore!," Corporal Millers voice almost crowed over the ships comms. "To bloody cramped in there. Where to now, Sir?"
Chakotay found his depression lift at the cheerful cockney banter. "I don't know where Starfleet regulations go in giving medals to holograms," he muttered. "But you and Abbott deserve one."
"Perhaps the Colonel will give me me laurels?" Miller suggested hopefully. "Ain't never done nothing to qualify before."
"Okay, perhaps he will. Now tell me why the anomaly went with such a bang?"
"Dunno, Sir. Miss Abbott, she's a bright lady, Sir, she thought that it might be powered by a black hole of somesort, Sir," Miller babbled. "We sort of gave it indigestion, Sir! Fed it more than it could cope with, Sir!"
"I'll bounce that at astro-physics see if that makes sense," Chakotay promised. "Now do something useful and find the Argonauts shuttle?"
"Sir!"
B'Elanna and Winston were found, with Millers help, in their wrecked shuttle, some forty minutes later. They were beamed quickly into sickbay and rapidly treated by the doctor.
"B'Elanna had come around and was laying quietly beside Llinoss Abbott as the ensign tried to explain her actions to her slightly cynical boss.
"And you thought it all up on your own, Ensign?" She enquired with a little incredulation.
"Not all of it," Abbott admitted. "Corporal Miller offered some and he made me do things I would never thought I was capable of."
"And a good job he did of it," Chakotay commented brightly as he sat between the two of them. "Nearly as good as the Ensign in charge of the landing party. I've just finished his debriefing."
"He has some very choice words to say about you, Ensign," he added. "I am going to leave them in the log for the Captain to decide upon."
"How about Tom and the Captain?" B'Elanna asked quickly.
"We picked up a signal from the Valoria ten minutes ago," Chakotay agreed. "Tom and Vorik are safe. Seems the Colonel decided to go to war and Kathryn and Tuvok went with him. It adds a little more credence to Carvers suggestion that the Colonel may have done them some damage. We'll pick them up, when we have dropped off our prisoners. Komos was hit badly by the shocks from the anomaly. We don't know what is left for them, but we will have to take them back. Just as soon as the ship is repaired enough to get there."
"I'm on it," B'Elanna muttered struggling up.
"You will wait at least six hours," the Doctor announced, bustling up. "Winston is out of danger and will be up and about in a week. Ensign Abbott is fit and ready for action, though there may be a few after effects after being a hero, like an inflated head?"
"I don't want to be a hero," Abbott flustered, going bright red. "I was terrified I was going to lose everything again. It didn't seem to matter then!"
"I know the feeling," Chakotay agreed, getting up and offering a hand to the young ensign, then wrapping a protective arm around her as she staggered. "I will need to debrief you so we will do that later. Until then take it easy?"
Sat 14/Jul 01