"Your ship is impressive," Janeway commented as Captain Jatelson led the grand tour around her ship, the Krisnolste.
There were parallels between the ship and Voyager; a section of personal quarters for the crew, a central mess hall to commingle and eat although due to the size of the ship and the location of different divisions as well as the shift system, there were separate and smaller mess halls assigned to officers of specific division where they could grab a quick break and bite. The plain walls were also familiar to Janeway, the lack of adornment apparently universal and she said so.
"Of course. Why would the government wish to waste resources on such a frivolous activity, when they can be put to better use supplementing the lives of the Legacy members?" Jatelson asked ironically. "The Legacy being the central agency in power in this sector."
"Politicians," Janeway offered in a mock contemptuous tone and they shared a smile. "Just as much a universal constant as lawyers."
Jatelson clutched her heart dramatically. "You have those too?" A burst of laughter at her theatrics. She sobered up as they approached a room at the end of a corridor. "This is my office," she said, waving Janeway in ahead of her.
"My, my," Janeway murmured, taking in the luxurious surroundings. "Seems you've been doing a little supplementing of your own."
"I do my poor best," Jatelson said modestly, pleased at the other woman's reaction at her decorating.
"This is gorgeous. I feel as though I should take notes. My own office is as bare as the ship's corridor compared to this."
"Please, sit."
Janeway sat, murmuring in delight at the comfort of the chair. "This really is a lovely ship, Captain."
"Thank you. By the way, call me ma'Dav, please."
"Then I'm Kathryn."
Jatelson smiled. "Very well, Kathryn. I wanted to speak with you here, alone, about the political situation, so that you may better understand. You see, it is difficult, because officially, there exists an Accord that neither we nor the Natamuri intrude on each other's territory. In reality…"
"It's a totally different story."
"Yes. It's become almost a rite of passage that the young make their way to the border and trespass, simply for the thrill of it all. We do not wish to cause deaths over mere children's antics," Jatelson said. "However, it is complicated as sometimes agents of the other side try to make their way over the Border and we cannot know which is which. One would think the size and capability of a vessel would help determine that, yet sometimes pleasure cruises enter our space for the purpose of encountering us, because the two of our races have not seen each other in years, and if the rumours and myths that abound here are even half as rampant there, they are only curious about us. Then size and capability do nothing for us. Yet sometimes enemy ships are disguised as pleasure ships and then abruptly open fire on our vessels. They do not kill either, but it becomes an issue of pride and honour…" Jatelson sighed.
"'Capture the flag'?" Janeway suggested. At Jatelson's questioning glance, she explained, "A war game, one side infiltrates the other side's territory with a specific agenda to capture an item as a trophy. It's one of our training activities at the Academy. Teaches tactics, quick thinking and it's fun as well…but I imagine when it's in real life, it takes on an embarrassing stake in dealings with each other."
Jatelson nodded. "Kathryn, we don't want to risk starting a war; our two races were once engaged in a very long and brutal one, many years ago, to which a cease-fire was called before my time and yet the repercussions were still felt long into my adult years. Both sides suffered greatly, and it was only for the cultural deprivation, the fact that many children were growing up in constant fear, prepared for entering in battle with the opposite side with no chance to experience a happy childhood, that an end was called, for their sake and the sake of the future of our culture and civilizations. But it is still uneasy between us."
"I can understand," Janeway said, when it was clear that Jatelson was finished. "It is a terribly complex situation, and I'm sure that those aren't the only problems. There'll be people clamouring for war, to ignore your Accord, to hell with honour and standing by your word and ethics. Am I right, ma'Dav?"
She nodded. "Again I must comment on how much in common our races have. Some people have no idea when to practice restraint, no idea of what is at stake."
"I admire the restraint the majority of your people practice," Janeway said, reaching over to pat ma'Dav's hand. "When it comes to war, it takes only one, but it takes two- and a much harder task it is- to make peace."
Jatelson nodded. "I just wanted to explain, in case you wondered why we didn't destroy those ships that attacked you so unjustly. Some people have complex codes of honour, you understand, not that I think you're a particularly bloodthirsty type, of course, Kathryn!"
"No, we prefer not to kill unnecessarily too." A thought of Tuvix- was he necessary - surfaced in her subconscious, causing her to draw her brows together for a moment, but then thankfully, it submerged and she focussed on ma'Dav.
"Oh, by the way, our local representatives for the Legacy wants to meet with you," Jatelson said. "You see, some take these confrontations more to heart that we do, who face it all the time. They see it as an affront if the Natamuri score in our sector, where we are meant to be the supreme entities," there was a mocking note on the last words. "You know how it gets, all the power play that then happens. Then diplomatic measures are taken, with the alien vessels attacked, or if it's more serious, in a subspace conference with the diplomats on the opposite side of the Border. And then the side which has captured the flag, as you put it, has an advantage over the other, which neither will openly acknowledge, but…" She rolled her eyes at the posturing that then took place, and Janeway smiled, echoing her sentiments. "Anyhow, the last few confrontations took place were in a totally different point along the Border, and we were led off track by those, not realizing they were intended as diversions from the point they intended to pursue. When we heard your broadcast to the Natamuri ships, we realized our error and hastened here at maximum speed," Jatelson grinned suddenly. "You should have heard the engineers grumbling about their poor babies being put under that much pressure, but I asked, what's the point about boasting about this superior speed they supposedly could produce if they couldn't live up to what they claimed, and they bristled at that. Suddenly, they were clamouring to show exactly what they could do."
Janeway nodded knowingly. "Either appeal to the ego or, depending on circumstances, assault it. Results are the same, but in one scenario they're still happy, in the other, they're royally pissed off. But," she shrugged. "You can't be diplomatic all the time, can you?"
"No," agreed Jatelson. With a quirky smile, she added, "Besides, they need a boot on the ass to remind them who's boss sometimes."
They chuckled.
A week later, restocked, repaired and space worthy, Voyager left for the homeworld of the Rian'chMuri for a diplomatic conference. Janeway wasn't thrilled at the prospect, especially as it would only be her and Chakotay attending, but needs must and she was resolved to slog through it smiling if she ended up with dulled teeth from grinding them together in a pained attempt to keep face. Even less appealing was the revelation that transporters weren't safe to use because of the interference from the atmosphere that technology had failed to correct, and so she would be spending an hour or so in close quarters with Chakotay. She was also determined not to admit the idea affected her, or the reason why.
They were flying over some spectacular scenery as they awaited the escort they'd been told to expect. Apparently these dignitaries really stood on ceremony. Janeway suppressed the longing for Voyager that she always felt when she was off it. On Voyager she had control over everything, she was in command. Once off…she wasn't. It was as simple as that.
"Sensors are picking up two vessels approaching, Captain," Chakotay said.
"Must be the escort," she remarked.
Suddenly they felt the Marie Curie shudder, jerking them sharply to one side.
"Then again," Janeway said. "Hail- what the hell?" She tapped a few controls on the panel but the shuttle wasn't obeying her.
An ominous wail sounded from the engines.
"I've lost navigation," she said. "And we've lost communications-"
"We've lost pretty much everything, actually. They must be casting some sort of dampening field," Chakotay reported.
"Great. So we can't contact anyone for help," Janeway rubbed her forehead, dismayed at the sudden emergency that had left them helpless. "I suppose that was part of the idea for the field. Disable our control, our communication-" she cut herself off. That wasn't getting them anywhere. "Can we do anything?"
"They haven't left us so much as an inch to breathe."
Janeway looked at him. "So, the million latinum bar question of the hour is, what do they want?"
"I think we're going to find out. Look."
Janeway saw that they had approached a tiny valley, situated between towering mountains. The fading daylight lent a gloomy air to their surroundings as they were set down. An encampment was visible not far off, though she couldn't make out much of it.
"How do we get into these situations?" she asked wearily.
Loud voices abruptly came to her as their kidnappers approached. Janeway and Chakotay took out their phasers, though that gesture was useless, given the dampening field. They never got the chance to at least put up a fight, as a blinding light whipped through the shuttle, piercing right through them and rendering them unconscious.
The kidnappers entered the shuttlecraft, one barking orders as subordinates were dispatched to convey the two humans to their cell. Janeway and Chakotay were bound and then left in the relative darkness of the room, both still out cold.