IRW Voyager, Delta Quadrant
Stardate 48135.6, alternate
"Subcommander Ergon, ready a tricobalt device," Janeway ordered the security officer.
"May I ask why, Subcommander?"
"That was an order, Ergon. Do it." Janeway turned to Kim. "Open a channel to the Kazon."
"Channel open."
The Kazon leader appeared on the viewscreen. "Be advised, Subcommander," he warned, "I have called for additional ships."
Janeway tried not to show the tumult of emotions she felt. "I'm calling to warn you to move your vessels to safe distance. I intend to destroy the Array."
Jabin's face was not nearly so stoic. "You can't do that."
Denial, Janrway thought. She could . . . and she would. "Move us four hundred kilometers away from the Array, Mr. Paris."
"What are you doing?" Torres, the recovered half-Klingon crewmember from the Maquis ship, screamed at her. Janeway knew she echoed the thoughts of several of her crewmembers. "That Array is our only way back home!"
"I'm not willing to trade the lives of the Ocampa for our covenience. We'll find another way home."
Torres spun towards Chakotay. "Who is she to be making these decisions for all of us?"
"She's the captain."
"I beg to differ," came a voice in the back of thebridge. Janeway spun to see Subcommander Ergon holding a disruptor. "Subcommander Janeway, your actions during this mission have been continually at odds with both the spirit and the letter of Romulan regulations. With this latest misdemeanor, I must assume you have either been influenced by these humans or incapable of assuming command. Therefore, you are relieved of duty."
Janeway sighed. "Not now, Ergon."
He tapped the Romulan insignia. "Sec—"
He didn't even get the first word out before a disruptor beam penetrated his chest, and he fell on his console, dead. Janeway turned to see Tuvok bearing a disruptor. "I believe that is more in line with the regulations?"
Janeway let loose a grim laugh. He was right--any crewmember even suspected of mutiny was to be executed on the spot.
"The tricobalt device is ready," Tuvok announced from Ergon's console.
"In position," Paris added.
It all came down to this moment. "Fire."