Chapter 10

AN:  If you're picking up with the story from this chapter, I added a scene to the last chapter.  It involves Loyden, who I had forgotten about.

***"Escort our 'guests' to the nearest transporter room," Janeway told the security guards as everyone filed out of the ready room. 

***As soon as he was back on Plona, Consolat Trag contacted Klorban.  "Their Captain has unwisely refused my compromise.  Bring the prisoners to the steps of the judging building for their execution." 

The Consolat then contacted the planetary defense operator. 

"Consolat, Sir," he said.  "Our weapons haven't been used in fifty years. They haven't been updated in sixty years.  We won't even scratch a ship like Voyager."

"Create interference so their sensors will have trouble detecting anything and their transporters won't be able to retrieve their people.  I know you have no excuses to prevent you from obeying that order."

"No, sir.  Funding has been sufficient to update interference capabilities.  Even still, it won't take them long to compensate."

"Hold them off long enough for their people to be disintegrated."

"Yes, sir."  After the connection was terminated, he added bitterly, "I'll try, but funding hasn't been that sufficient."

***As they entered the bridge, Chakotay walked to Ops, and Janeway marched to her chair.

"As soon as the Plons are off the ship, lock onto Harry and B'Elanna and beam them aboard.  Mr. Paris, resume our course for home."

"Captain, they have activated their planetary defenses and are locked onto the warp core," Tuvok said. 

"Janeway to engineering.  Prepare to break orbit as soon as-"

Chakotay started laughing.

More startled than annoyed, Janeway whirled around.

"I'm sorry, Captain.  But, their weapons, they,…" Chakotay glanced at the controls, "will barely scratch Voyager."

"Then what are you waiting for?  Lock onto our people and-"

"Unfortunately, the Plons are better at creating interference than updating their weapons.  It'll take me a few minutes to compensate."

***"How much further?" Tamil asked.

"Two more trails," Kilando answered.  Two less trails than the last time you asked, he added inwardly.

"You guys must have done some rigorous training with those cadets," Blin said as he crawled over a tree trunk behind Kilando. "I've been all over these woods mining, but never knew these trails existed."  He turned to help Tamil..

"These trails aren't on the training routes," Kilando said.  "I was leading a squadron of six cadets once, and we got lost when a storm blew in.  It got so dark in here we couldn't see our instruments.  I set my compass down to retrieve something from my pack, and was unable to find it. I was still a relatively young trainer and temporarily forgot that one of the cardinal survival rules is never let anything out of your sight or grasp.  Because this was a survival training exercise, we had no flares to light our way.  I issued the order that no one move until we could see again. But lightening struck a tree, and we were forced to move as it fell and stay together as best we could in the dark.  That was the fiercest storm I have ever witnessed.  Four more times we had to move away from falling trees.  When the storm finally ended, I had no idea where we were or where my compass was.  At that time, it was the custom for the necessary gear to be divided among the members of the team; therefore, I was the only one with a compass.  Upon our return, the custom was changed to state that every member of a team be equipped with all necessary supplies in the event of separation from the group.  We were forced to explore to find our way out.  As a result, we came across these back trails into the mountain region."

"You must have an incredible memory," Blin remarked.

"For these woods, yes."

"Let's hope no one else knows about them," Tamil said.

"As I said, they are not on any training routes.  I made a thorough report including the location of these trails.  But, the First in command of security at the time was reputed not to read reports.  His successors seem to have followed suit.  Besides, Silando and I have been the only training instructors allowed in the woods for the past ten years."

"What about the instructors that took your place?" Blin asked.

"We were ordered to leave before we had a chance to pass on any of our knowledge.  No training teams have gone into the woods since."

***"I've got it!" B'Elanna started to stand in eagerness to carry out her plan, momentarily forgetting the pain.

"What?"

"I know how to cover the hole in the containment system.  We'll need-"

The metal door squeaked open, and Klorban entered followed by the same two armed guards.  "Bring them to the steps of the judging building."

"What?" B'Elanna struggled against the guard trying to push her to the door.  "There's no way Janeway went along with that insane request."

"Oh, but she did," Klorban said. "The Oonsolat is very adept at making others see the wisdom of his ways."

"He hasn't met Janeway," B'Elanna growled as she and Harry were pushed down the hall. 

***"Chakotay?"

"I'm trying.  Every time I compensate for a pocket of interference, another one pops up at a random point.  And, now their signals are moving."

"Moving?"

"In the direction of the judging building," Tuvok stated.

"He's going to execute them.  Chakotay."

"I'm working as fast as I can.  Just another minute.  The pattern of the pockets of interference isn't random after all."

***The midmorning suns made Harry and B'Elanna squint.  The guards tied each human to a pole on the left side of the top step of the judging building.  Klorban signaled to a man holding a worn scroll.

The man walked to the center of the top step and unrolled the scroll.

The huge crowd gathered at the bottom of the steps became quiet.

The man with the scroll began to speak dramatically.  "The prisoners have been charged and found guilty of treason."

"Exactly how were we 'found' guilty?" B'Elanna shouted. 

The man with the scroll spoke louder to cover her outcry.  "Plon law states that the penalty for treason is death.  Let this day mark the death of treason," he finished with a flourish. 

The crowd responded with exultant cheers.

"The Plons certainly have a flair for the dramatic," B'Elanna spat.

 "Jawneway didn't agree to their terms, so they went with their backup plan, or original plan, to execute us," Harry said.

The man with scroll bowed and stepped aside.

Klorban signaled, and two guards strolled into position in front of Harry and B'Elanna on the fourth step.  Slowly, they raised their weapons.  And fired.