Chapter 12
AN: If you're picking up with the story from this chapter, I added a scene to Chapter 9. {Sorry if you've read this note already. I reuploaded the whole story after combining and rearranging some of the earlier chapters and forgot which chapter I had last uploaded previously.}
***The senior staff sat quietly in Janeway's ready room waiting for Harry and B'Elanna. Janeway stood with her back to the conference table, arms folder. There was no reason for her to fill anyone in on the situation. News traveled fast on Voyager. Too fast sometimes. As she stared at the stars whizzing by, she tried to reassure herself for the hundredth time that she was making the right decision. She usually tried to make decisions based on the crew as a whole rather than on one person. But, Harry was right' she told herself. If we knowingly left these people to die, we'd never forgive ourselves. I know my crew would suffer that guilt with me, and I can't let that happen.
"You made the right decision," Chakotay said coming up behind her and cupping his hands around her elbows. "Prime Directive or no Prime Directive, life is more important."
She turned to face him. "Deep down I know that."
Harry and B'Elanna entered and took their seats.
"Ok, let's get started," Janeway said in her command voice. "The Great Earthquake will hit in less than six hours."
***"These won't be enough," Kilando said.
"They will have to be," Shyla said. "There's not enough time to round up everyone in the mountain region then make a plan."
Blin stepped in front of the crowd squeezed into Clousse and Dalta's front room. "Can I have your attention please," he said even though the buzz of conversation had already stopped. "First of all, we'd like to thank all of you for believing us and coming to help. We need to plan several things. First, we'll need to know the location of all the guards and how to incapacitate them. Second, we need to find shelter. The epicenter of the Great Earthquake is in this region, and it will hit in less than six hours. Finally, we'll need everyone to help those not here get to the shelter."
"What about Shyla's alien friends?" someone asked. "Can't she ask them for help."
"I heard they're the ones who created the hole," someone else said.
Blin held up his hands for quiet and glanced over his shoulder at Shyla. "Shyla verified that the saboteur was a member of the Plon government. Unfortunately, the two aliens who were willing to help have been captured. We have no way of contacting them to find out if they have been rescued or are still willing to help."
"I'm sure if they can they will," Shyla said.
A murmur started, but Blin quickly refocused the meeting. "We don't have much time, so let's get started. Does anyone know of a suitable shelter?"
***"I don't know what we will be able to accomplish, sir," the PDO said. "The Great Earthquake will hit in less than six hours, and our weapons are at least sixty years old."
"I need plans not excuses," the Consolat said.
"I need time, sir."
"You have one hour."
***"Harry!" Shyla ran and threw her arms around him. "I heard you were captured."
"Almost executed. We were saved at the last second," he said hugging her back.
Everyone filed out of Clousse and Dalta's house and stood watching the pair.
"I've got good news," Harry said looking nervously at the crowd. "B'Elanna has figured out a way to compensate for the hole in the containment system."
"That's great!" Shyla pecked him on the cheek and turned to the crowd. Harry was glad she turned fast enough not to see him blush. "The aliens, my friends are going to help. Someone is on the way now to compensate for the hole in the containment system."
"She won't be able to compensate completely," Harry told them. "But, she predicts an 85- 90% compensation rate." To Shyla, he added, "We'll still need to find a shelter as far away from the mountains as possible. Since the containment system is underground, a device will have to be attached to link the system with our shuttle. Tom will need the coordinates of the hole so he can land the shuttle as close as possible."
"Ok, let's get to work," Blin announced. "Time is still critical."
***Tom completed the prelaunch sequences on the Delta Flyer as B'Elanna finished setting up her equipment. "We're ready to go as soon as Harry tells us where. Do you need any help?"
"Not yet," B'Elanna said. "But, I'll need you on the surface," she added quickly.
"You almost bruised my ego," Tom said.
"Your ego's too big to be bruised," she teased.
"Maybe I won't help you after all," he said sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Maybe I'll even leave you on the surface and save myself. At least I might actually get some sleep at night."
"You'd wake yourself up snoring," she said as she ran a tricorder over her array. "There, everything's ready. Any suggestions on what to do while we wait for Harry?" she asked smiling.
Tom's lips had just touched B'Elanna's when his commbadge chirped.
"Tom, Shyla says she can't give you the exact coordinates of the hole, but if you beam her nearby she can find her way to it. I'm transmitting the coordinates now."
Great timing, Harry, Tom thought. "We're on our way," he said. "We'll land about 3.2 kilometers from that position."
"We'll meet you there."
***"What was that noise?" one of the guards on the perimeter of the mountain region asked his partner.
"I don't know. It came from behind us I think."
They turned around, and two of the Plons from Clousse and Dalta's house hit them over the head with metal pipes. The guards collapsed, and the Plons tied their hands and feet and took their weapons and communicators.
"That was easy," one said to the other.
"I hope it was that easy for the others," the other said.
For the most part it was. All the guards along the perimeter of the mountain region were unconscious, tied and without weapons and communicators within fifteen minutes. The teams met back at HQ, and only four Plons had needed to fight a guard. Their injuries were minor: two burns, one broken leg and a black eye.
"Part One is complete," Blin said to cheers. "Now, comes the difficult part. A shelter has been located 12 kilometers to the west. We'll need every shuttle we can get. Two teams led by Silando and Kilando will go to the shelter. Five teams will gather as many shuttles as they can. The remaining teams will start rounding up Plons and bringing or directing them here so that we can get them into shuttles bound for the shelter. We have five hours and twenty minutes left. The Great Earthquake will hit within the three hours following that. Also, keep in mind, more guards will be sent to investigate when those we've incapacitated don't report in. When that happens, remain calm and do what you believe is necessary. I know this isn't a large region, but the population is rather dense. Shyla is working with the aliens now. Even with their predicted compensation rate, this region is vulnerable to damage. The more Plons we evacuate the better. I believe that everyone can reach the shelter safely if we work hard and try not to panic. Your service here will be remembered and someday rewarded. Are there any questions?"
Everyone looked a little nervous but ready to start.
"Ok. Let's start."
