Redemption
Written - 8/20/02
Summary - It's the anniversary of the encounter with the Equinox and Noah Lessing has something special in mind to mark the occasion.
Rating - PG
Chapter 6
Captain Kathryn Janeway was doing her level best to steel herself for this last round. She knew without a doubt that Chakotay was Lessing's last, and most important, witness. By now she was suffering from an incredible headache on top of everything else she was dealing with. The refreshment afforded her during B'Elanna's visit had helped some, but not nearly enough. What she needed was to get the hell out of here, but wishful thinking alone would definitely not be enough.
The entrance of her first officer drew her attention. His first act was to make eye contact with her. His gaze was warm and sympathetic, just what she would have expected, reminding her just how lucky she was to have him around. He looked at her for a long moment until his expression changed and he slowly moved his attention to Lessing.
Lessing took one look at the intensity in Chakotay's eyes and had just the briefest flicker of fear. He had been on Voyager long enough to know that the man before him was normally mild mannered and thoughtful, but could turn into a ferocious fighter when provoked. After all, he had been a Maquis captain. A man with a mission and a just cause could be quite an adversary, and Lessing was well aware that this would be his most challenging witness, infinitely more challenging than Tuvok.
Suddenly, Noah Lessing leaned back against the desk for support, a searing pain shooting through his temples. He struggled to keep his eyes focused and in particular focused on Voyager's First Officer. Any lapse now could very well spell disaster for his plan. He rolled his head from side to side in obvious discomfort. The two officers in the room with him noticed, and watched intently, Chakotay in particular. He was watching for any weakness, any opportunity to change to odds in their favor. But as quickly as it began, Lessing seemed to regain his composure and deciding it was probably best to be in control of this from the outset, he spoke before anyone else could, "Welcome Commander, please take a seat."
Chakotay noticed that Lessing still seemed shaky, but he followed Lessing's hand motion and took the appointed seat. From his position, he had a clear view of both Lessing and the Captain and he was glad for that. At least he would be able to communicate with her through his expressions and eye contact even if the words became difficult to hear. The two of them had always been able to communicate on a wavelength all their own. He wasn't sure exactly how or why, but it had always been there, from their very first meeting. Now it would be more important than ever.
The Commander also had a plan for his turn in the witness chair. He would do everything in his power to bring the issues out in the open without Lessing feeling the need to play log entries over the comm system. Everything that could be revealed would be, but it would keep the control of how it was done squarely within his own hands. He would let Lessing get started and then he would slowly turn the tables on him, or at least he hoped he would.
Janeway had been watching her first officer intently since he came in, and he seemed preoccupied with something. He had a far away look in his eyes, but one that could never be confused as daydreaming. She could tell there was a great deal going on in his mind even if he wasn't saying a word. Chakotay was highly intelligent and a more than capable tactical officer. She had no doubt whatsoever that he was weighing the situation and refining a plan of action based on the variables he encountered.
Before either of them could ponder further, Lessing began the interrogation. "Now that you're comfortable, let's begin, shall we?" He closed his eyes and shook his head again, but the distraction only lasted a few seconds and he was again looking squarely at the Commander.
Chakotay only nodded in response.
"As the officer closest to the Captain, I suspect you have a wealth of information to provide. I hope you will cooperate. I would hate to be forced into something drastic." As he said this, he lifted the knife and brandished it behind the Captain's head.
"Continued threats will not help your cause crewman, what do you say we get on with it and see where it takes us, hmm?" It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
Lessing was bright enough to move on. "Very well then, let's start at the very beginning, at least the beginning of the conflict between the Equinox and Voyager. Is it true that both you and the Captain were injured by the aliens during the attack that ensued when Captain Ransom and the Equinox made their first escape?"
Chakotay wasn't sure what this line of questioning could lead to, but he played along knowing that every question was an opportunity to provide the officers and crew to deactivate Lessing's device and bring ship's systems back on line. "Yes, that is true."
"And your injuries were serious enough to warrant emergency treatment in sickbay, correct?"
"Yes."
"Is it also true that upon arriving in sickbay after the ship had been secured, Captain Janeway was so preoccupied with taking after the Equinox that the two of you quarreled, temporarily interrupting the doctor's treatment of your injuries?"
Chakotay now understood where this was going. "I wouldn't say we quarreled. We had a tactical difference of opinion, complicated by the stress of our injuries and the circumstances. What's your point?"
Lessing became agitated. "My point is that your captain was so preoccupied with revenge that she showed little or no compassion toward her dead and injured officers and crew."
"Her main concern at that time was the overall safety of the ship. We were still in a dangerous situation Crewman, she had created only a temporary shield against the aliens, I'd say she was preoccupied, but not inappropriately so at that time. We differed on the priority of our next course of action, that is all." He didn't entirely believe that statement himself, but Kathryn's actions could have been interpreted this way. He let the statement stand.
"According to the Doctor, the Captain waited several more hours before having her own injury attended to, against medical advice. Would you interpret that as the act of a command officer who is thinking clearly?"
Chakotay laughed aloud and then smiled at Kathryn and she returned it. "Crewman, you have obviously not been on this ship long enough to know Captain Janeway very well. Her avoidance of the EMH, even for routine checkups, is legendary. She also has a history of seeking treatment far later than the Doctor or I would prefer when she is injured or ill in any way. In answer to your question, while most people would agree that what you are suggesting is a lapse in judgement, for Captain Janeway it is normal and expected behavior. In her mind, her duty to her ship and crew, and the well-being of both, take precedence over her own needs."
Lessing appeared somewhat disappointed. He had intended to make a point about the Captain's state of mind, but had become very aware that he wasn't going to get there this way. Chakotay was much too adept at diffusing this line of questioning. Apparently, he would have to move on to events that could not be so easily side-stepped. "Very well Commander, let's move on to something a little less open to interpretation. Soon after you were released from sickbay and rejoined the Captain on the bridge, you gave an order concerning whether or not to be armed during a first contact opportunity with the aliens. It is my understanding that the Captain countermanded your order and questioned your judgement in front of the bridge crew. Is this correct?"
This was an obscure detail, but one that could have an important impact if used properly. "The Captain is entitled to countermand any order by a subordinate as long as she is in command of the ship."
"Yes Commander, I understand that she is entitled, but in your experience, is it normal for Captain Janeway to do behave in such a manner, in particular in front of other members of the crew?"
Chakotay hesitated. He knew that he couldn't explain this away. It was completely abnormal behavior for Kathryn Janeway. She knew how important it was for the senior command officers to display a united front to the other officers and crew and she had never behaved that way before the incident with the Equinox. He again looked in Kathryn's eyes and responded. "No."
Before Chakotay could think of a follow-up, Lessing provided one, but not the one Chakotay would have preferred. "This happened again in a public manner when Voyager had made contact with the Equinox and was chasing us into the planet's atmosphere did it not?"
"Captain Janeway did not countermand any of my orders at that time Crewman." He said, his voice dropping steadily toward the end of the sentence.
"Oh excuse me Commander, you are correct, she didn't countermand any orders in this case, she simply ignored your advice until given no choice. And don't try to deny it, we already have Lieutenant Torres' testimony as precedent."
Chakotay sat up straight and squared his shoulders. "It is true that Captain Janeway continued the pursuit until the last possible moment. It is also true that she did so against the indications of the status reports and vocal recommendations of several of the bridge officers present at that time. Nevertheless, as I have stated before, the responsibility is hers to determine a course of action."
"Then I ask you again Commander, in your experience, is this normal behavior for Captain Janeway?"
"No, but these were not normal circumstances, you must understand."
Lessing cut him off in mid-sentence. "I understand your interest in protecting your captain, Commander. The truth is that the evidence points toward the Captain behaving in a highly irrational manner compared to her normal behavior. I maintain that she was so obsessed with capturing Captain Ransom and those of us on the Equinox that she would stop at nothing to achieve her goal."
Chakotay said nothing in response, trying to find a way to argue the point, but to no avail. Before he could pursue this line of thinking further, Lessing continued.
"Is it true that you recorded this very same thought into your official and personal logs? That you used that very same word, obsessed?"
Now he felt truly trapped for the first time in the interview. Chakotay could not allow his personal logs to enter into the discussion. It would introduce much more information than either he or the captain needed the world to hear about not only his professional disagreement with the Captain but their personal relationship. While there was nothing scandalous in any of it, he respected and cared for her too much to have all of that made public. He had no choice for the moment than to go along. "Yes, that is true."
"So, in your opinion, the Captain was exhibiting obsessive and abnormal behavior with relationship to the Equinox, so much so that it caused you to disagree on more than one occasion and in front of the crew. Tell me, why would you record your tactical and first contact recommendations in written form? Was it in the faint hope that the Captain would find them harder to ignore?"
'By all the God's, did he know everything?' Chakotay thought. Lessing had certainly done his research. He'd managed to piece together an extremely damaging perspective of the events. Of course, the events were damaging enough on their own. All that Lessing was really doing was bringing them out in the open for everyone to hear and pass judgement for themselves.
The problem was that none of them, or maybe only a very few of them, knew what he knew. Kathryn Janeway had not let herself get close to too many people on this journey. She had an extremely close relationship to Tuvok before they were thrown to the opposite side of the galaxy, and by necessity as much as an instant chemistry, she had also gotten very close to Chakotay. Oddly enough, the person who knew her best after her two most senior officers was Seven of Nine. Beyond that, there was her senior staff and of course Neelix, but those relationships weren't nearly as close. Therein was the root of the problem. Those who knew her best would be able to put her actions in perspective, they would be able to rationalize her actions with her motives all overlaid with their understanding of what made Kathryn Janeway tick. But since most of the crew, and in particular those from the Equinox, could not possibly know her on that intimate a level, there was every chance that Lessing would achieve his goal. That he would be able to plant a seed of doubt and mistrust that could undermine the command structure on Voyager and perhaps even justify his desire for revenge.
"We're waiting for your answer Commander."
Chakotay looked at his shoes, unable to make eye contact with the Captain this time. "Yes."
"Yet she ignored them anyway." Lessing glared at the Captain this time and she felt it, as if he were boring a hole straight through the back of her head with his eyes.
In the silence that ensued, Chakotay appeared to be looking for something, anything, to say to make all this sound less damaging.
"I think we've gotten all we need to out of that line of questioning Commander. I think it's time we put the icing on the cake don't you?"
Kathryn had been in the process of pressing her feet on the floor for what seemed the thousandth time when Lessing spoke and it stopped her in her tracks. She had a feeling what he would reveal next and lifted her gaze to that of her first officer. The look in his eyes revealed his understanding as well. This would be the moment of truth. The final nail in the coffin.
"I see by the look on your face that you know where this line of questioning is about to go. I hope you're up to the challenge."
Lessing let his statement hang in the air for several minutes while he collected his thoughts. At the same time, the majority of Voyager's crew began to speculate what he could possibly be referring to. To Noah's credit, he had told very few people about his experience in the cargo bay with the Captain and the Commander. He had never known what to say or who would believe him so he had largely kept it to himself. Now it was time for all the cards to be on the table.
While Lessing gathered his thoughts, Chakotay and the Captain stared intently at each other, their expressions unreadable to the larger audience, but clearly understandable to each of them. She was deeply sorry that she had put all of her officers in this position. In a position to have to discredit her in front of the entire crew. They were loyal and faithful to the core, and would have kept their secrets about the Equinox and her actions to their dying day. She felt guilty for betraying their trust and forcing them to be witnesses against her in such a public forum. It not only put her command in question, it put their judgement in following her in question as well.
As for Chakotay, he was apologizing with his eyes for what he would have to reveal in the next few minutes and frantically running through scenarios in his mind on how to make it less painful for all of them.
"Commander, I draw your attention to the incident in the cargo bay after I was captured on the planet. Do you remember it?" he said, with more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"You know very well that I do crewman, what's your point?"
Lessing rose from his seat and began to pace, obviously somewhat nervous. "If you insist, I'll get straight to it." He moved closer to Janeway, again standing directly behind her and raising the knife. "You were present when I was interrogated by Captain Janeway. During that interrogation, when I refused to answer her questions concerning Captain Ransom, did she or did she not order the shields around the cargo bay dropped, leaving me to the mercy of the aliens, unless I agreed to cooperate?"
Chakotay had chosen to answer simply and to the point in the hope that it would leave Noah nowhere else to go. "She did."
"Do Starfleet regulations protect prisoners, especially other Starfleet officers and crew, from this type of interrogation procedure?"
"Under normal circumstances, Yes. But."
"Just answer the question Commander, I'm sure no one is interested in your editorializing." He said mockingly.
Now Chakotay was truly infuriated. "You take too many liberties crewman, apparently you have forgotten to whom you are speaking. It's my understanding from reviewing your service record that the Equinox was your first deep space posting, correct?"
Lessing was truly surprised and answered the question in spite of himself. "Yes, that's true."
"Your record also indicated that you had only been out of the academy for nine months before that posting, is that also correct?"
"Well yes, but."
Chakotay continued commandingly, "My point is crewman, that you stand in judgement over circumstances that you have little to no experience with which to put in perspective. The regulations you state are not always easy to interpret or abide by in every situation. I faced many such dilemmas in my early days with Starfleet and again under the service of Captain Janeway and this ship. While I am in no way trying to downplay your experience. I'm simply suggesting that you should examine all the facts and the issues in this case and try to place yourself in Captain Janeway's shoes before you can assume her guilt or innocence."
"Nice try Commander, but I didn't think diversionary tactics were your style. The fact is that Janeway put me through an illegal interrogation and threatened my life, a life that I have you to thank for saving. It was you who went against her orders and pulled me out of the cargo bay just in time to prevent my being attacked. I was then, and still am, convinced that she would have left me to those creatures."
"Did it ever occur to you that's precisely what she wanted you to think in order to get you to talk?"
Lessing smiled evilly, "Then why did you feel the need to save me from her? You must have felt she was capable of it as well, or you wouldn't have interfered."
He had a point. That was indeed exactly what Chakotay had thought.
"I'll take your lack of a response as confirmation Commander."
=/\=
The crew was stunned by this revelation. Most of them had no knowledge of this before now, even those that had been told had found it hard to believe. They saw it as so out of character for Kathryn Janeway. But Chakotay had confirmed it. Now they weren't sure what to believe. Even so, the revelation from the ready room was a shock. What could possibly have caused the Captain to take such a chance? Hopefully everything would become clear in time. With luck they would have the opportunity.
=/\=
TBC
Written - 8/20/02
Summary - It's the anniversary of the encounter with the Equinox and Noah Lessing has something special in mind to mark the occasion.
Rating - PG
Chapter 6
Captain Kathryn Janeway was doing her level best to steel herself for this last round. She knew without a doubt that Chakotay was Lessing's last, and most important, witness. By now she was suffering from an incredible headache on top of everything else she was dealing with. The refreshment afforded her during B'Elanna's visit had helped some, but not nearly enough. What she needed was to get the hell out of here, but wishful thinking alone would definitely not be enough.
The entrance of her first officer drew her attention. His first act was to make eye contact with her. His gaze was warm and sympathetic, just what she would have expected, reminding her just how lucky she was to have him around. He looked at her for a long moment until his expression changed and he slowly moved his attention to Lessing.
Lessing took one look at the intensity in Chakotay's eyes and had just the briefest flicker of fear. He had been on Voyager long enough to know that the man before him was normally mild mannered and thoughtful, but could turn into a ferocious fighter when provoked. After all, he had been a Maquis captain. A man with a mission and a just cause could be quite an adversary, and Lessing was well aware that this would be his most challenging witness, infinitely more challenging than Tuvok.
Suddenly, Noah Lessing leaned back against the desk for support, a searing pain shooting through his temples. He struggled to keep his eyes focused and in particular focused on Voyager's First Officer. Any lapse now could very well spell disaster for his plan. He rolled his head from side to side in obvious discomfort. The two officers in the room with him noticed, and watched intently, Chakotay in particular. He was watching for any weakness, any opportunity to change to odds in their favor. But as quickly as it began, Lessing seemed to regain his composure and deciding it was probably best to be in control of this from the outset, he spoke before anyone else could, "Welcome Commander, please take a seat."
Chakotay noticed that Lessing still seemed shaky, but he followed Lessing's hand motion and took the appointed seat. From his position, he had a clear view of both Lessing and the Captain and he was glad for that. At least he would be able to communicate with her through his expressions and eye contact even if the words became difficult to hear. The two of them had always been able to communicate on a wavelength all their own. He wasn't sure exactly how or why, but it had always been there, from their very first meeting. Now it would be more important than ever.
The Commander also had a plan for his turn in the witness chair. He would do everything in his power to bring the issues out in the open without Lessing feeling the need to play log entries over the comm system. Everything that could be revealed would be, but it would keep the control of how it was done squarely within his own hands. He would let Lessing get started and then he would slowly turn the tables on him, or at least he hoped he would.
Janeway had been watching her first officer intently since he came in, and he seemed preoccupied with something. He had a far away look in his eyes, but one that could never be confused as daydreaming. She could tell there was a great deal going on in his mind even if he wasn't saying a word. Chakotay was highly intelligent and a more than capable tactical officer. She had no doubt whatsoever that he was weighing the situation and refining a plan of action based on the variables he encountered.
Before either of them could ponder further, Lessing began the interrogation. "Now that you're comfortable, let's begin, shall we?" He closed his eyes and shook his head again, but the distraction only lasted a few seconds and he was again looking squarely at the Commander.
Chakotay only nodded in response.
"As the officer closest to the Captain, I suspect you have a wealth of information to provide. I hope you will cooperate. I would hate to be forced into something drastic." As he said this, he lifted the knife and brandished it behind the Captain's head.
"Continued threats will not help your cause crewman, what do you say we get on with it and see where it takes us, hmm?" It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
Lessing was bright enough to move on. "Very well then, let's start at the very beginning, at least the beginning of the conflict between the Equinox and Voyager. Is it true that both you and the Captain were injured by the aliens during the attack that ensued when Captain Ransom and the Equinox made their first escape?"
Chakotay wasn't sure what this line of questioning could lead to, but he played along knowing that every question was an opportunity to provide the officers and crew to deactivate Lessing's device and bring ship's systems back on line. "Yes, that is true."
"And your injuries were serious enough to warrant emergency treatment in sickbay, correct?"
"Yes."
"Is it also true that upon arriving in sickbay after the ship had been secured, Captain Janeway was so preoccupied with taking after the Equinox that the two of you quarreled, temporarily interrupting the doctor's treatment of your injuries?"
Chakotay now understood where this was going. "I wouldn't say we quarreled. We had a tactical difference of opinion, complicated by the stress of our injuries and the circumstances. What's your point?"
Lessing became agitated. "My point is that your captain was so preoccupied with revenge that she showed little or no compassion toward her dead and injured officers and crew."
"Her main concern at that time was the overall safety of the ship. We were still in a dangerous situation Crewman, she had created only a temporary shield against the aliens, I'd say she was preoccupied, but not inappropriately so at that time. We differed on the priority of our next course of action, that is all." He didn't entirely believe that statement himself, but Kathryn's actions could have been interpreted this way. He let the statement stand.
"According to the Doctor, the Captain waited several more hours before having her own injury attended to, against medical advice. Would you interpret that as the act of a command officer who is thinking clearly?"
Chakotay laughed aloud and then smiled at Kathryn and she returned it. "Crewman, you have obviously not been on this ship long enough to know Captain Janeway very well. Her avoidance of the EMH, even for routine checkups, is legendary. She also has a history of seeking treatment far later than the Doctor or I would prefer when she is injured or ill in any way. In answer to your question, while most people would agree that what you are suggesting is a lapse in judgement, for Captain Janeway it is normal and expected behavior. In her mind, her duty to her ship and crew, and the well-being of both, take precedence over her own needs."
Lessing appeared somewhat disappointed. He had intended to make a point about the Captain's state of mind, but had become very aware that he wasn't going to get there this way. Chakotay was much too adept at diffusing this line of questioning. Apparently, he would have to move on to events that could not be so easily side-stepped. "Very well Commander, let's move on to something a little less open to interpretation. Soon after you were released from sickbay and rejoined the Captain on the bridge, you gave an order concerning whether or not to be armed during a first contact opportunity with the aliens. It is my understanding that the Captain countermanded your order and questioned your judgement in front of the bridge crew. Is this correct?"
This was an obscure detail, but one that could have an important impact if used properly. "The Captain is entitled to countermand any order by a subordinate as long as she is in command of the ship."
"Yes Commander, I understand that she is entitled, but in your experience, is it normal for Captain Janeway to do behave in such a manner, in particular in front of other members of the crew?"
Chakotay hesitated. He knew that he couldn't explain this away. It was completely abnormal behavior for Kathryn Janeway. She knew how important it was for the senior command officers to display a united front to the other officers and crew and she had never behaved that way before the incident with the Equinox. He again looked in Kathryn's eyes and responded. "No."
Before Chakotay could think of a follow-up, Lessing provided one, but not the one Chakotay would have preferred. "This happened again in a public manner when Voyager had made contact with the Equinox and was chasing us into the planet's atmosphere did it not?"
"Captain Janeway did not countermand any of my orders at that time Crewman." He said, his voice dropping steadily toward the end of the sentence.
"Oh excuse me Commander, you are correct, she didn't countermand any orders in this case, she simply ignored your advice until given no choice. And don't try to deny it, we already have Lieutenant Torres' testimony as precedent."
Chakotay sat up straight and squared his shoulders. "It is true that Captain Janeway continued the pursuit until the last possible moment. It is also true that she did so against the indications of the status reports and vocal recommendations of several of the bridge officers present at that time. Nevertheless, as I have stated before, the responsibility is hers to determine a course of action."
"Then I ask you again Commander, in your experience, is this normal behavior for Captain Janeway?"
"No, but these were not normal circumstances, you must understand."
Lessing cut him off in mid-sentence. "I understand your interest in protecting your captain, Commander. The truth is that the evidence points toward the Captain behaving in a highly irrational manner compared to her normal behavior. I maintain that she was so obsessed with capturing Captain Ransom and those of us on the Equinox that she would stop at nothing to achieve her goal."
Chakotay said nothing in response, trying to find a way to argue the point, but to no avail. Before he could pursue this line of thinking further, Lessing continued.
"Is it true that you recorded this very same thought into your official and personal logs? That you used that very same word, obsessed?"
Now he felt truly trapped for the first time in the interview. Chakotay could not allow his personal logs to enter into the discussion. It would introduce much more information than either he or the captain needed the world to hear about not only his professional disagreement with the Captain but their personal relationship. While there was nothing scandalous in any of it, he respected and cared for her too much to have all of that made public. He had no choice for the moment than to go along. "Yes, that is true."
"So, in your opinion, the Captain was exhibiting obsessive and abnormal behavior with relationship to the Equinox, so much so that it caused you to disagree on more than one occasion and in front of the crew. Tell me, why would you record your tactical and first contact recommendations in written form? Was it in the faint hope that the Captain would find them harder to ignore?"
'By all the God's, did he know everything?' Chakotay thought. Lessing had certainly done his research. He'd managed to piece together an extremely damaging perspective of the events. Of course, the events were damaging enough on their own. All that Lessing was really doing was bringing them out in the open for everyone to hear and pass judgement for themselves.
The problem was that none of them, or maybe only a very few of them, knew what he knew. Kathryn Janeway had not let herself get close to too many people on this journey. She had an extremely close relationship to Tuvok before they were thrown to the opposite side of the galaxy, and by necessity as much as an instant chemistry, she had also gotten very close to Chakotay. Oddly enough, the person who knew her best after her two most senior officers was Seven of Nine. Beyond that, there was her senior staff and of course Neelix, but those relationships weren't nearly as close. Therein was the root of the problem. Those who knew her best would be able to put her actions in perspective, they would be able to rationalize her actions with her motives all overlaid with their understanding of what made Kathryn Janeway tick. But since most of the crew, and in particular those from the Equinox, could not possibly know her on that intimate a level, there was every chance that Lessing would achieve his goal. That he would be able to plant a seed of doubt and mistrust that could undermine the command structure on Voyager and perhaps even justify his desire for revenge.
"We're waiting for your answer Commander."
Chakotay looked at his shoes, unable to make eye contact with the Captain this time. "Yes."
"Yet she ignored them anyway." Lessing glared at the Captain this time and she felt it, as if he were boring a hole straight through the back of her head with his eyes.
In the silence that ensued, Chakotay appeared to be looking for something, anything, to say to make all this sound less damaging.
"I think we've gotten all we need to out of that line of questioning Commander. I think it's time we put the icing on the cake don't you?"
Kathryn had been in the process of pressing her feet on the floor for what seemed the thousandth time when Lessing spoke and it stopped her in her tracks. She had a feeling what he would reveal next and lifted her gaze to that of her first officer. The look in his eyes revealed his understanding as well. This would be the moment of truth. The final nail in the coffin.
"I see by the look on your face that you know where this line of questioning is about to go. I hope you're up to the challenge."
Lessing let his statement hang in the air for several minutes while he collected his thoughts. At the same time, the majority of Voyager's crew began to speculate what he could possibly be referring to. To Noah's credit, he had told very few people about his experience in the cargo bay with the Captain and the Commander. He had never known what to say or who would believe him so he had largely kept it to himself. Now it was time for all the cards to be on the table.
While Lessing gathered his thoughts, Chakotay and the Captain stared intently at each other, their expressions unreadable to the larger audience, but clearly understandable to each of them. She was deeply sorry that she had put all of her officers in this position. In a position to have to discredit her in front of the entire crew. They were loyal and faithful to the core, and would have kept their secrets about the Equinox and her actions to their dying day. She felt guilty for betraying their trust and forcing them to be witnesses against her in such a public forum. It not only put her command in question, it put their judgement in following her in question as well.
As for Chakotay, he was apologizing with his eyes for what he would have to reveal in the next few minutes and frantically running through scenarios in his mind on how to make it less painful for all of them.
"Commander, I draw your attention to the incident in the cargo bay after I was captured on the planet. Do you remember it?" he said, with more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"You know very well that I do crewman, what's your point?"
Lessing rose from his seat and began to pace, obviously somewhat nervous. "If you insist, I'll get straight to it." He moved closer to Janeway, again standing directly behind her and raising the knife. "You were present when I was interrogated by Captain Janeway. During that interrogation, when I refused to answer her questions concerning Captain Ransom, did she or did she not order the shields around the cargo bay dropped, leaving me to the mercy of the aliens, unless I agreed to cooperate?"
Chakotay had chosen to answer simply and to the point in the hope that it would leave Noah nowhere else to go. "She did."
"Do Starfleet regulations protect prisoners, especially other Starfleet officers and crew, from this type of interrogation procedure?"
"Under normal circumstances, Yes. But."
"Just answer the question Commander, I'm sure no one is interested in your editorializing." He said mockingly.
Now Chakotay was truly infuriated. "You take too many liberties crewman, apparently you have forgotten to whom you are speaking. It's my understanding from reviewing your service record that the Equinox was your first deep space posting, correct?"
Lessing was truly surprised and answered the question in spite of himself. "Yes, that's true."
"Your record also indicated that you had only been out of the academy for nine months before that posting, is that also correct?"
"Well yes, but."
Chakotay continued commandingly, "My point is crewman, that you stand in judgement over circumstances that you have little to no experience with which to put in perspective. The regulations you state are not always easy to interpret or abide by in every situation. I faced many such dilemmas in my early days with Starfleet and again under the service of Captain Janeway and this ship. While I am in no way trying to downplay your experience. I'm simply suggesting that you should examine all the facts and the issues in this case and try to place yourself in Captain Janeway's shoes before you can assume her guilt or innocence."
"Nice try Commander, but I didn't think diversionary tactics were your style. The fact is that Janeway put me through an illegal interrogation and threatened my life, a life that I have you to thank for saving. It was you who went against her orders and pulled me out of the cargo bay just in time to prevent my being attacked. I was then, and still am, convinced that she would have left me to those creatures."
"Did it ever occur to you that's precisely what she wanted you to think in order to get you to talk?"
Lessing smiled evilly, "Then why did you feel the need to save me from her? You must have felt she was capable of it as well, or you wouldn't have interfered."
He had a point. That was indeed exactly what Chakotay had thought.
"I'll take your lack of a response as confirmation Commander."
=/\=
The crew was stunned by this revelation. Most of them had no knowledge of this before now, even those that had been told had found it hard to believe. They saw it as so out of character for Kathryn Janeway. But Chakotay had confirmed it. Now they weren't sure what to believe. Even so, the revelation from the ready room was a shock. What could possibly have caused the Captain to take such a chance? Hopefully everything would become clear in time. With luck they would have the opportunity.
=/\=
TBC