Decisions
Chapter 2
=^=Janeway to Seven, Yes Captain? Seven can you low the shields on the ship that Harry and Tom are on and beam them back to voyager? No Captain I have been attempting to do that but with fail. Keep trying Seven, Janeway out.=^=
Janeway ran over to Harry's console to see if she could find any weaknesses in the alien ships.
"I am going to try haling them again. Damnit, still not responding."
Voyager shook.
"Tuvok if we landed on the planet could those ships follow us?"
"No Captain they can not. The shape of their ships alone would not allow them to make it though the outer atmosphere."
"Okay, Chakotay take the helm and land us on the surface nice and easy."
"Yes ma'am."
*******************
Tom and Harry awoke to find themselves in a small room much like a brig.
"Tom?"
Yes Harry I know we're not on Voyager anymore."
Tom walked over to the force field.
"I can't really tell what kind of field this is much less how to deactivate it."
"Well, looks like we're going to be here a while Tom."
"No, not if I know the Captain, and I do, then she has already come up with a plan to save us."
"I sure hope your right about that Tom."
Tom went to sit down and get comfortable when the door to the small room opened and in the doorway stood a creature that looked almost human but had the skin of a snake. Harry looked at Tom and wanted to speak but didn't really know what to say.
"I am the leader of this sector and the Captain of this vessel. You are my new prisoners."
As always Tom didn't take to kindly to being called a prisoner.
"Wait a minute what did we do wrong?"
"You entered our space with out first consulting me. That is punishable by death."
Harry looks at Tom very worried and puzzled.
"Hold on just a minute.... we're not from this part of space and we didn't know this was your space."
"I know where you're from and what species you are and that you go around destroying other ships."
Anger overcomes Tom with the accusations he just heard.
"NO! That's not true. We don't fight unless we're attacked."
"Well if your Captain will meet my short list of demands then you will be released and if not then with in 24 hours you will be executed. If after that she still does not comply I will be forced to destroy your ship and the entire crew."
********
The Captain was still trying to get the alien ship to respond to hales but with out luck.
"Chakotay are you sure our communications systems are not damaged?"
"Yes ma'am they are working perfectly."
"Tuvok are they still orbiting the planet?"
"Yes Captain, sensors show them just a few kilometers away from the outer atmosphere."
"Damn, why won't they answer? They have Tom and Harry and it looks like they plan to keep them."
The console beeped.
"Wait a minute, it looks as if they have finally decided to talk. I am opening a channel."
=^=Hello, I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Star Ship Voyager.
I know who you are. I know all about your kind. I am sending a list of my demands to your computer in your ready room. If you meet these demands then your crewmen will be released if not then they will die.=^=
Wait, Why have you attacked us and imprisoned my two crewmen?
It will all be explained in the file. This link is terminated.=^=
"Okay, I'll be in my ready room, Chakotay you have the Bridge."
***************************
She walked over to the replicator.
"Coffee, Black"
A cup of hot steaming black coffee appeared. She picks it up and sips the black substance. She then gets her computer and sits it on the table in front of her couch. She took a deep breath and began to read the note and list. The Door Beeps.
"Come in"
Looking up to see Chakotay waiting for her to say something. He knew something was wrong. He could see it in her eyes.
"What is it Captain?"
"Well, they have a very short list but....."
"But what?"
She looked out at the stars.
"Kathryn, what do they want? It can't be that bad."
"Yes it is."
"Well what is it?"
"First, they want our replication technology."
"Well that doesn't sound too bad."
"But that's not all." "
"What else do they want?"
Kathryn Gets up and starts walking back and forth across the room.
"Captain?"
"They want me to take Tom and Harry's place." "
"You're kidding right?"
"I wish I were."
"What are you going to do?"
"What else can I do other then meet their demands. If I don't then they will kill Tom and Harry. Chakotay are you ready to Captain Voyager if it comes down to it?"
"Captain I will not let you do this."
"Just answer me Chakotay.."
"Yes I am but just hear me out. I am sure if we think about this for a while then we can come up with some kind of a plan."
Janeway ignores his comments.
"Chakotay, get the senior staff together and meet me in the conference room."
"Kathryn I will not let you do this just listen to me!"
"You WILL do what I say Commander. You have your orders..Dismissed!"
"Yes ma'am."
******************
She walked into the room to see all of her senior crewmembers in their chairs. She notices that none of them seem to have any idea of what she was about to say.
"As you all know the aliens have sent me a list of demands. If we do not meet these demands they will execute Tom and Harry. I have decided that I have no other choice but the meet these demands."
B'Elanna interrupts the Captain.
"What exactly are their demands?"
"First, they want us to share out replication technology with them. Second, they want me to take their place."
A silence fell over the entire room. Once again B'Elanna speaks out.
"You're not actually thinking about doing that are you?"
"As I have already told Chakotay, I don't think I have any other choice Lieutenant."
"I believe you do Captain. I think I have come up with a plan that might work."
Janeway looked at B'Elanna who was eagerly holding out a computer pad.
"Okay lets see what you have."
Janeway took a few minutes to look over it.
"I think this just might work B'Elanna. Put it on display."
B'Elanna went over to the control panel and began to download it into the computer.
"Computer display download. Okay here's the plan. You ask them to allow you to see Tom and Harry so that you can explain everything to them. When they asks us to drop our shields and they beam the Captain over, we must try to keep a lock on her, Harry and Tom so when they give us the okay to beam them back we beam all three back to the Bridge. When we have them, Tuvok will raise our shields and begin firing. Tom will get us off the planet and then take us to warp 8.9. If everything go to plan, their ships should be taken by surprise and hopefully too damaged to follow us."
Chakotay look at the Captain with a worried looked.
"Are you sure you want to try this? There are a number of things that can go wrong."
"There is a risk in everything we do Commander, but does that ever stop us from doing them? No, and this time there is more then one life on the line. I'm not worried about my life I'm just worried about the two that are being held on that ship right now. Okay does everyone here agree with the plan Torres has come up with? Good, then get every thing ready; I want to be prepared for anything this time."
