In a Single Heartbeat
Disclaimer – See Chapter One.
Chapter Fourteen – A Truce
Captain Janeway looked around the table in the conference room. Several of the Goroth leaders and two of the Helmar were reviewing the map that Seven had produced of the sixth planet.
"Please continue," the tall Goroth senator stated as he glanced at the former Borg. It had taken much persuasion for the Goroth to enter the room when they saw Seven. The Borg had wiped out large settlements on their world years ago and they didn't trust the captain, at first, when she told them that Seven had been disconnected from the collective.
"If we use several photon phaser blasts aimed at these strategically placed locations, we will open up several underground rivers," Seven replied, pointing out the areas on the map. "They will form large lakes in six to eight sites on the planet's surface. This would provide more than an adequate source of water for your people allowing them to plant crops."
The senator nodded and sat back in his chair. "We, in the senate, have always looked for a peaceful solution to the demise of our world. I am afraid that the military are quite impatient and have gone ahead with their own solution to the problem."
"You mean imprisoning the Helmar and using them for enforced laborers," Krey spoke, rising quickly from her seat. "Many of my people have been killed by your military or were injured in the mines."
"What they have done was without authorization from the senate and the leaders will be punished," the senator moved to her side. "Your government will have my formal request for forgiveness by weeks end." He turned to Janeway. "Now, Captain, if I may return to my planet, I have orders to issue. We will prepare a truce with the Helmar and call back the troops. I am most grateful to your crew for your generosity to help an unknown people."
"Certainly, Senator," Janeway said and motioned for the security detail. "Please escort the Goroth representatives to Transporter Room Two."
The Goroth moved out of the conference room and the rest of the occupants sank back in their chairs. Janeway smiled at Krey. "They certainly are intimidating. They remind me of the Kazon, a race we encountered when we first ended up here in the Delta Quadrant." She shook her head at the memory of the difficult first few months of Voyager's long journey toward home. "At least the Goroth seem reasonable when presented to a solution to their problem." She looked to Seven and Lieutenant Carey who had been called upon to present the engineering aspect of the solution to the Goroth when they resisted listening to Seven. "Lieutenant, Seven, please report to Astrometrics and begin plotting the photon blasts."
"Yes, Captain," the two replied and left the room.
"Now, we need to get my crewmembers and your people off the moon's surface," Janeway smiled at Krey as they headed for the bridge.
# # #
B'Elanna glanced up as the second shuttle passed overhead. It landed near the entrance to the mine and Lieutenant Rollins and Ensigns Ashmore, Lang, Molina, and Swinn moved toward them. Lang and Swinn carried explosive charges. Molina guided a small apparatus resembling a large mounted shovel toward the mine.
"Commander, we can plant these charges along the perimeter of the entrance to the tunnel," Rollins said as he approached Tuvok. "That will loosen enough rock, and then we can use the bobcat to remove it from the entrance. We don't want to blow the tunnel itself; that could cause a cave-in of the interior structure." He didn't notice B'Elanna turning away, a pained expression on her face.
"Very well, Lieutenant," Tuvok replied. "Please proceed." He moved to B'Elanna's side. "Lieutenant Rollins is quite experienced with explosives, he will surely move with great caution. We will have Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris out of the mine in due time."
B'Elanna gave Tuvok a slight smile. She realized that although he could not express his emotion, he too was worried about Chakotay and Tom and was trying to reassure her.
# # #
Chakotay glanced at Tom. The younger man's breathing was becoming more ragged as the air grew thinner. The Cadmilite dust was visible in the air as the Helmar slowly dragged rocks out of the collapsed tunnel. Tom's face was pale in the faint light with a dirty streak of blood across his left cheek. Chakotay wasn't sure if they would survive long enough for a rescue party to find them. He didn't think they would be able to dig through the debris in the tunnel before the air ran out. He shivered as the cold seeped into him. His leg throbbed and each breath was becoming more painful as his lungs fought for oxygen.
Lonten approached Chakotay and sank down next to him. "We are not making very good progress with the tunnel. The last tremor collapsed what little we had been able to dig out."
"We have to keep trying," Tom's voice, low and harsh startled both men.
Chakotay turned to see Tom struggling to stand. "Don't get up, Tom. You need to conserve your strength." He reached out to Tom's arm.
"No. I have to help dig us out," Tom answered as he rose unsteadily, reaching out to the wall to keep from falling. "We'll be out of oxygen soon." He stumbled toward the entrance and joined the Helmar who were passing rocks out of the tunnel.
Bromar came crawling out of the tunnel, covered in dust. The young man took several deep breaths and immediately began coughing violently.
Tom pulled him to his feet and led him away from the entrance, walked him to the wall, and helped him to sit next to Chakotay. "Your digging is over, Bromar," Tom said gently while grabbing one of the water bottles. "Here, have some water and rest. The Commander will look after you." He nodded at Chakotay and turned back to the tunnel.
"We are going to die in here," Bromar said as he shivered against the wall.
"If that is to be, my son, we will join those who have gone before us," Lonten stated quietly.
"I'm not ready to count us out just yet," Chakotay said. "I'm sure that Captain Janeway will locate us and use all of Voyager's means to get us out of here." He attempted to reassure the youngster and only hoped what he said was true.
# # #
"We've planted the charges, Sir," Rollins reported to Tuvok. The group moved away from the entrance to the mine.
"Go ahead, Lieutenant," Tuvok said.
"Commander, there's a transport heading this way," Ensign Lang ran up to Tuvok, tricorder in her hand. "They're about twenty kilometers from here, and I'm reading Goroth life signs in the immediate area."
"Very well, Ensign," he responded. Turning to Rollins, Tuvok gestured to the mine. "Then, I suggest we proceed with the charges at once."
"Aye, Sir," Rollins answered. He aimed his phaser at the entrance and fired at the detonator. A muffled boom followed by a cloud of dust erupted from the tunnel. The away team moved toward the entrance when suddenly the whine of projectile rifles was heard. Ensign Molina dropped to the ground clutching his left leg.
"Take cover," Tuvok ordered and indicated the few rock outcroppings to their rear.
"I'll get Molina," the doctor said as he ran over to the fallen man unaffected by the gun fire. He grabbed the officer and helped him back to the others.
Tuvok turned to the others. "Put your phasers on stun, but wait until they are closer. He then tapped his commbadge. "Tuvok to Voyager. Captain, we are under attack by the Goroth. They have projectile rifles and we have an injured crewman."
His call was met by static. They away team looked up as seven Goroth soldiers advanced on the mine entrance.
B'Elanna's face paled as she recalled her dream. It's happening just like my dream, except Tom is trapped in the mine. She drew her phaser with a trembling hand and took aim at the towering soldiers.
tbc…