Chapter 6
"Stage One"

"Now hear this! Now hear this. The decommissioning ceremony for the U.S.S. Voyager is to be held at seventeen hundred hours on the Observation Deck. All those who were invited to attend should make their way there now."

At this announcement , Chakotay and Tuvok rose from their table in Quark's Place. Making his way through the crowd , Chakotay tossed a latinum chip on the nearby counter. "Thanks for the drinks," he said, nodding to the Ferenghi bartender, then walking to the door.

Quark smiled openly and bowed. "My pleasure , sir." He picked up the chip and pocketed it with a happy sigh.

Once outside, Tuvok turned to Chakotay ."If you'll excuse me , sir , I must meet with Lieutenant-Commander Paris and Lieutenant Kim. I will see you after the ceremony?"

Chakotay laid a hand on the Vulcan's shoulder and grinned ." Sure, after the ceremony."

The two parted ways, Tuvok heading for the turbo-lift.He stepped into it and spoke clearly , "Observation Deck."

The computer beeped in acknowledgment and Tuvok stepped back , pondering his next course of action. The Captain had ordered him to meet up with B'Elanna and Harry, beam aboard the ship, and quietly turn everything back on. Hopefully , Tuvok surmised, all this could be done without attracting the attention of Deep Space Nine's sensors. He checked himself. If done logically , this stage of the mission could be completed without alerting DS9. The odds , however, were slim .

"Observation Deck reached."

Tuvok saw B'Elanna and Harry waiting for him outside the lift. He stepped out and greeted them with a nod.

B'Elanna took his arm with a smile, whispering as she led him down the corridor, "We'll transport over to Voyager when the Captain goes up to make her speech. I tied my comm in with hers before I came down here. She'll turn it on when the ceremony starts , so we'll know how much time we have to get to the nearest transporter room."

Tuvok glanced down at her ." Impressive , Lieutenant. I estimate that the nearest transporter room is approximately 1.43 minutes away from the ceremony."

Harry cracked a grin. "That's a pretty exact approximation , Tuvok."

"Thank you , Mr. Kim."