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Dark Maquis: Thanks, and don't worry the doctor isn't completely out of the story yet, he's still going to make an appearance leter down the line

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Evolutions II: The Quest for Perfection

Chapter Four

"My calculations were based on our rate of speed. We had to stop while we used the sensor ghosts. They will arrive in less than one hour." Seven said gravely.

The D'Rama Star Command was a flurry of activity over the last couple of hours. They had detected D'Larma forces approaching their boarders.

That in itself was not the strangest part however. Preliminary reports were coming in saying that a D'Larma raiding party was defeated by an unknown species, and they had forced the retreat of another raiding party.

On top of that an Armada of ships had appeared out of nowhere, and then just as suddenly disappeared. The working theory was they were using some type of advanced cloaking device.

"Rakoo, have you discovered anything else about the armada or the D'Larma raiding party?" The High Commander asked as he entered Astrometrics.

"No Commander." Rakoo answered. "As I said, they must have some highly advanced cloaks. Even our most powerful scanning arrays can't detect them."

"Very well, get ready to go. We've detected two unknown ships heading towards us. One of them appears to be the same species as the armada that disappeared from our sensors." The Commander informed him.

"What will we do once we reach them?" Rakoo asked.

"We have to find out their intentions towards us. I have the full backing of the council to do what ever is necessary." The Commander said. He didn't want a fight with whoever these people were but he couldn't allow him or his people to appear weak.

"Commander, I'm also detecting a D'Larma raiding party converging on the two unknown vessels. They are equipped with heavy weapons and armour." Rakoo added.

"This is High Commander Laryx calling all available ships." Laryx said as opened a link. "There is a large armada of unknown ships converging on our boarders, as well as a D'Larma raiding party. Converge on the following coordinates." He said as he transmitted the coordinates.

Both Voyager and Legaia were affecting repairs as quickly as possible while they moved closer to D'Rama space. There only hope now seemed to be in hailing the D'Rama and asking for assistance.

"Captain, we're as ready as we're ever going to be." Harry said from Engineering. "We don't have enough time to do any more repairs, if I had to guess we're just over 65 battle ready."

"Thank you Mr. Kim." Janeway said as she closed the link and hailed Legaia.

"Legaia here," B'Elanna answered.

"Do you have any more information on the D'Larma ships?" Janeway asked.

"I'm transmitting what we have now." B'Elanna said. "Everything is going to come down to this battle, any mistake we make they will capitalize on, and we must do the same. We can't show any mercy this time. We have to go for the kill."

There was no other way out of this, it was kill or be killed.

"I don't know how comfortable I am with that." Janeway said sticking to the prime directive. "Perhaps we can just cripple them like the others."

"No." B'Elanna disagreed. "We did that once already, and they came back stronger, luck won't always be on our side a second time."

"They are here." Seven interrupted the argument. "Do what you must Captain, as we will." Seven said as the link closed.

"Captain, I am detecting five D'Larma ships, all of them heavily armed." Tuvok said from his console.

"Red Alert," The Captain ordered just as the enemy ships came into visual range.

"Captain, I'm detecting a large number of ships closing in on our location from all sides." Harry Kim said. "They're the D'Rama!"

"Are their weapons charged?" Tuvok asked.

"Confirmed, but they haven't locked on to any target yet." Harry answered.

"The D'Larma stopped." Tom said as he looked at the view screen.

"Hail Legaia." The Captain ordered. "Maybe they know what's going on."

The faces of Seven, B'Elanna, and Naomi filled the view screen.

"Seven, do you have any idea what's going on?" The Captain asked.

"The D'Rama have most likely detected our 'Armada'. They are most probably proceeding with caution, until they understand the situation fully." Seven theorized.

"What about the D'Larma?" The Captain asked. "Why aren't they attacking? I thought that this was personal for them."

"I am unsure, perhaps the idea that most of the D'Rama fleet are converging here have made them unsettled. In any case I believe we will know very soon." Seven said as the lead D'Rama ship entered communications range.

Galtia, the lead ship of the hunting party felt that its victory was almost assured. The enemy was now facing them at full power, and didn't even seem to affect any significant repairs since their last encounter. It would be a glorious day for them.

"Captain, I've detected D'Rama ships approaching from all directions. Besides the ships they've committed to the war I think it's the entire fleet!"

"How many?" The Captain growled. He would not have his vengeance and his prize taken from him if he could allow it.

"There are 14 ships in our sensor range, and I think that there's more on the way." He answered.

The captain said quietly fuming for a moment before finally responding. "All stop, we will negotiate with the D'Rama." He said feeling disgusted at having to use the word 'negotiate' especially with the D'Rama.

"Yes Captain." The helmsman answered as they stopped moving forward.

"Hail them!" The Captain growled at the communications officer.

As the view screen turned on the Galtia was greeted by High Commander Laryx. "I am High Commander Laryx." He introduced himself to those that didn't know him. "We have twenty-four ships converging on this location. You will leave immediately or there will be trouble."

"We will leave as soon as we have claimed our prize." The Captain bit back on his rage. He would not be ordered around by a D'Rama, even if it was their High Commander.

"We believe that there is a cloaked Armada waiting with your quarry. You will be battling both them and us if you do not fall back immediately." Laryx said, not giving an inch.

"D'Rama lies." The Captain sneered. "If they had an Armada we would seen them in our first confrontation.

"You have already battled once?" Laryx asked with some amusement. "You mean they defeated you." He laughed. "Do you really think you can beat an entire Armada of those ships? Our scans showed they were of the same technology as the smaller ship. You will be slaughtered."

"I will not allow this insult to pass, they will pay!" He threatened.

"If you must engage them you may try after they leave our protection and D'Rama space. I will not allow you to turn this area into a war zone." Laryx ordered sternly.

The Captain of the Galtia glared with open hostility. He knew that he would not be able to defeat the D'Rama fleet, as well as his prize, and if what the High Commander said about the Armada was true his task was even more daunting. What he needed was more ships, and this could give him just enough time to hire a few mercenaries to help do the job.

"Very well, but as soon as they leave your space we will be waiting." The Captain ordered as he broke off communication.

"Well that went pretty well." Laryx smiled to his crew. "Hail the two other ships." He ordered.

The view screen was split down the middle as two separate video feeds were displayed, one of Voyager's, and the other of Legaia's bridge.

"I am High Commander Laryx of D'Rama Star Command, please identify yourselves." Laryx introduced himself.

"I am Captain Janeway of the star ship Voyager under the command of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets." The Captain of the larger ship introduced herself formally.

"This is Legaia, I'm B'Elanna Torres, and this is Seven." B'Elanna said pointing to the blonde, "and this is Naomi Wildman." She said as she pointed to the child.

"A pleasure to meet all of you," Laryx said pleasantly. "What business do you have here?"

"We are on our way to the Alpha Quadrant." Captain Janeway said. "The D'Larma attacked us."

"You are a long way from home." Laryx stated.

"We request permission to enter D'Rama space to affect repairs, and possible trade for resources." Seven asked.

"We detected your Amada. They match the technology of your ship Legaia. Why would you need our help?" Laryx asked curiously.

"What you detected was a highly advanced bluff." B'Elanna said with a smile. "Our Armada was nothing more than a few sensor ghosts, false warp signatures, and a couple of redirected communications signals."

"Clever." Laryx smiled himself. "It even fooled our sensor arrays. We were working under the theory that you were some kind of strike force, but that would also mean that it was only your two ships that defeated those D'Larma raiding parties. In any case I ask that you meet with us aboard my ship to discuss the conditions of your stay in D'Rama space."

"I believe we will meet aboard Voyager instead." Captain Janeway insisted. If all her years in the Delta quadrant had taught her anything home field advantage was very important.

Laryx shot a look to Seven, B'Elanna, and Naomi, as if to ask 'who does she think she is?' They wanted to enter D'Rama space, and then control the place of negotiation even though they were outnumbered and outgunned. Even if it wasn't rude to refuse an offer of hospitality from a potential ally it certainly wasn't smart to dictate terms to a larger and more powerful fleet.

"We would be happy to meet with you aboard your ship." Seven said diplomatically, "If you would give us some time to speak with our ally privately." She asked as Janeway fumed silently in the background.

"Of course, take your time." Laryx said agreeably as he closed the link, leaving the two other ships to talk amongst themselves.

"Captain Janeway, are you aware that you tried to dictate terms to a superior military force with as many ships and resources as Starfleet?" Seven asked in a tone that was obviously not meant to be answered.

"As long as we've been in the Delta quadrant those tactics have worked." Janeway defended. She had to show that she was still in charge, even though she did make a tactical error. She had forgotten that for once, they weren't the biggest fish in the pond.

"The D'Rama are not as different from the D'Larma as you believe. They are still very prideful, and by dictating terms to them, as well as refusing their hospitality you have insulted them. They very well could have denied us permission to enter their space, and they still may depend on how our meeting goes. They have very little to gain by helping us, and they know it." Seven lectured.

"Why don't you let us worry about our negotiations with them, and you worry about your own." Chakotay said confidently. He was after all the cultural expert, and there was also the fact that he wanted to show them that they weren't dependant on them.

"Fine, have it your way, but I suggest you do what Seven says. She knows more about what's going on than all the rest of us combined." B'Elanna warned.

"We are not blind to what you are trying to accomplish." Seven said knowingly. "You believe that you are loosing control, that you have grown dependant on us to the point that we are a crutch. I do not believe that it would be wise to gamble with the lives of your crew just to prove a point." Seven finished. This attitude that Chakotay and to a lesser extent Janeway was getting out of hand.

"Your opinion is dully noted." Janeway responded. "Voyager out," she said as the link closed abruptly. She was not prepared for Seven to just lay everything out like that. She promised herself that once they had time to regroup they would address this problem fully.

"Captain are you sure that was wise?" Harry asked. Seven did seem to know a lot more about what was going on than them.

"Seven still has a long way to go in understanding how to deal with other species, and we have always done well with negotiations. This time will be no different." Janeway calmed the ensign.

"Yes Captain." Harry agreed. Sure they had some problems with a few species but they always came out on top right?

Voyager and Legaia had just docked with the D'Rama Ship Busa. Janeway was still very confident in her ability to negotiate with the D'Rama, and had largely ignored both B'Elanna, and Seven's warnings.

The quick tour of the D'Rama ship had just ended in the ready room of the star ship Busa.

"Well then, down to business." Laryx said as he took his seat. "I assume you wish to remain in our space to repair your ships?"

"Yes." Seven agreed.

"We were also hoping to visit your planet, maybe have a little shore leave." B'Elanna said hopefully.

"Perhaps you can show us how you created such convincing sensor ghost." Rakoo asked hopefully.

"Sounds like a fair trade to us." B'Elanna agreed.

"We would also like to trade for some dilithium crystals, as well as the use of one of your landing pads to fine tune some of Legaia's systems." Seven requested.

"The landing pad shouldn't be a problem." Laryx said thoughtfully. "The dilithium crystals though, they might be a little harder. What do you have to offer us?"

"A shielding system specifically designed to defeat any and all scanning algorithms, including the Borg." B'Elanna offered.

"You have developed shielding frequencies that can beat the Borg?" Rakoo and Chakotay asked at the same time. It had come as a shock to both groups.

"It's a little something that Seven and I have been working on in our free time." B'Elanna responded. In truth Legaia was also an important factor, it provided the advanced computer systems necessary for the creation of it.

"You have certainly caught my interest, can you tell us a little more about it?" Laryx asked. In this area of space the Borg weren't too much of a problem, but that could change at any time.

"Well the problem with shielding something from the Borg even with rotating shield harmonics is that in essence it's just an algorithm. No matter how random it is, there is always a pattern to it. The Borg know this, so they use their own algorithms to search for the similarities. Once they know that it's child's play to punch through the shields." B'Elanna explained.

"We have to use algorithms. Only a person can generate true random shield harmonics, and doing it manually takes too long." Chakotay offered his opinion.

"The use of algorithms is the entire problem, they're too predictable. We've developed a three dimensional multi-transic matrix. It calculates shield frequencies at a thousand times faster than an array. It enables each cubic foot of a shield to have its own distinct frequency. It also calculates the scanning algorithms that the enemy is using, and defeats it." B'Elanna gave a brief overview. It took her and Seven a while to even conceive the matrix, and then creating it was a headache all in itself.

The eyes of everyone in the room widened. They didn't think they would understand a technical explanation of what B'Elanna had just said, but the overview was in a word, revolutionary. The applications of this three dimensional multi-transic matrix were endless.

"Why wasn't I informed of this immediately?" Janeway asked, with an equally outraged expression on Chakotay's face and a simple raised eyebrow from Tuvok.

"We are not under your command Captain Janeway, simply your allies, and we haven't integrated the matrix into Legaia yet, that's why we need a landing pad." Seven explained.

"I don't think we can allow you to simply give away this technology." Janeway said. "It could change the balance of power in this part of the quadrant."

"I don't believe that's your decision to make." Laryx said. He was tired of this Voyager crew thrusting their beliefs on his people and continually interrupting Legaia's crew. He also really wanted this matrix that they had come up with.

"Laryx is correct," Seven agreed with a glare directed at Janeway. "However we would not be simply giving them a three dimensional multi-transic matrix either. It has the ability to manipulate shields in a way that was previously impossible. They would have the ability to function as a melee weapon in the form of sharp spikes or stabbing objects just to name one possible function."

"I don't mean to belittle you shield matrix, but what use do we have for a melee weapon? We have both phaser banks and photon torpedoes." Laryx asked respectfully.

"Melee weapons are pretty underrated. They have the ability to do a larger amount of damage than torpedoes. They can tear down the shields of anything they touch using nothing more than brute force, but most of all torpedoes and phasers are meant to be used at a distance, at close range they won't be able to get a lock." B'Elanna explained.

"Interesting," Rakoo said. "Given the design of most ships in this area of space, a smaller ship armed with these melee shields could do a considerable amount of damage."

"I am sorry to say however we will not trade for a fully functional three dimensional multi-transic matrix. This technology would be dangerous if it was readily available to everyone." Seven explained. "Critical power loss will disable the shield, and if it were recovered by the Borg they will eventually discover a way to circumvent it."

"Then how do you plan to give us this technology?" Rakoo asked curiously.

"We'll give you a hardwired matrix." B'Elanna explained. "It will give you the primary function of the matrix, a shield capable of defeating any and all scanning algorithms. The shield itself will create a bubble around your ship that will extend four meters above your hull. It will only work as an external shield, you'll have to use you own shielding technology for the rest of your ship."

"We must warn you." Seven said before anyone else could ask a question. "The matrix is coded as a collapsible chain. If any attempt is made to disassemble, scan, duplicate, or reverse engineer any part of the matrix it will be detected. The coding will then collapse leaving nothing behind."

"You mean we only get one?" Rakoo asked in disappointment. What made it worse was that any attempt to study the matrix could lead to its destruction.

"The point is for you to know that it exists, and that given time you will be able to create it on your own using your own ideas and technology." B'Elanna added with a smile.

"That seems hardly fair." Laryx pointed out. "From what you tell us it's basically a crippled matrix, only capable of one of its possible millions of functions."

"Well that's why we're only asking to use a landing pad, and for some spare dilithium crystals." B'Elanna pointed out.

"I guess you've got a point." Laryx conceded with a laugh. "And I would be honoured if visited my planet. Remora is a beautiful planet, especially at this time of year."

"Thank you." B'Elanna, Naomi, and Seven replied. Naomi had decided to stay out of most of the discussion for the most part. She just barely understood it as it was.

"Now then we should discuss your stay in D'Rama space Captain Janeway." Laryx said as he turned to face Janeway, Chakotay, and Harry Kim.

"What do you mean?" Janeway floundered. What were they talking about? The matrix that B'Elanna and Seven put together was what they were trading. They had already finished negotiating.

"Come now, you didn't think that we were negotiating with both of you at the same time, did you?" Laryx asked as he took in the looks on the faces of Voyager's crew. "Legaia's crew has offered us something very intriguing, you on the other hand have offered us nothing."

"We have a prime directive. It forbids us from trading our technology with other species. It could upset the balance of power in this area of space." Tuvok said.

"I refuse to believe that you survived this long, alone in the delta quadrant thinking like that." Laryx scoffed.

"Perhaps a star chart of all the places we've been." Chakotay offered. It usually was a pretty good bargaining chip, but by the look on Laryx's face it wasn't enough. Having an organization as large as the D'Rama had would mean they had fairly detailed star charts already.

Janeway was also having similar thoughts. She had to admit to herself, she had come into this negotiation unprepared. They couldn't trade technology, that was a given, but what else could they be interested in? She had seen how they had reacted to Seven and B'Elanna's shield matrix, and they were close enough to the federation to make it difficult to trade for anything else.

The D'Rama were not what they had been expecting. They assumed there would be a sharp contrast in comparison with the D'Larma. They reminded Chakotay of the Ferengi in a way. They apparently put a lot of value on making a deal, and for one of the few times that he could remember Voyager wasn't in the driver's seat and the D'Rama knew it.

Laryx sighed as he looked at the crew of Voyager. He wasn't a bad guy he just didn't believe in giving someone something for nothing. On the other hand he didn't want to cause any problems with the people that were willing to trade. He could see the tension between the two groups easily. Something had happened, and he didn't want to be the cause of even more tension between them. "We will accept your star charts, as well as a history of your federation and this prime directive of yours in exchange for remaining in our space." Laryx offered after he weighed his options for a few moments.

"Thank you." Janeway said, remembering one of the few things that Seven had told her about the D'Rama. It would be insulting to appear anything less than grateful.

"You may return to your ships now." Laryx said. "I am sure that you will need some time to prepare everything." Laryx said as they were escorted to the shuttle bay.

"Seven, B'Elanna." Janeway said calling them over. "We need to have a discussion about your shield matrix."

"It is called a three dimensional multi-transic matrix." Seven clarified.

"Yes, that, but is it compatible with Voyager?" Chakotay asked. If the shield could do everything that B'Elanna and Seven said it could do then it should be installed on Voyager as well.

"It can be adapted to Voyagers systems just as it can be adapted to the D'Rama's." Seven replied.

"How long before a fully operational one can be installed on Voyager?" Janeway asked expectantly. If she could get them to agree to this it could go a long way to restoring their fractured loyalties.

"Excuse me?" B'Elanna asked. "What makes you think that we'll give you a fully operational 3DMTM (three dimensional multi-transic matrix)?" Since when did Voyager automatically have the right to it?

"You may not be members of my crew." Janeway conceded, "But we're still allies, and that mean helping each other."

"Giving anyone a fully operational 3DMTM is not going to happen." B'Elanna said with finality. "I've discussed this with Seven, and Naomi and we all agree that we will give you one hardwired 3DMTM, the same as the one for the D'Rama in payment for the use of your shuttle bay to store Legaia."

Janeway and Chakotay both knew what that meant. It was a lot more than a simple trade. By accepting this offer it would make it plainly obvious that the hybrids were not dependant on Voyager in any way. It would no longer be an offer of good faith to let them use the shuttle bay, but more of a business transaction.

"We'll have to think about it." Janeway said finally. She couldn't make a decision like that until she spoke with the entire senior staff.

"Take all the time you need." B'Elanna said as she, Seven, and Naomi boarded Legaia followed by the Delta flyer, as they returned to Voyager.

It had taken a couple of hours but everything was ready. Voyager had compiled all of the data that the D'Rama had requested, and B'Elanna and Seven had put the finishing touches on the hardwired matrix.

Legaia had been cleared to land on landing pad e371 while Voyager maintained an orbit around the planet. Landing pad e371 was also the transport sight for Voyager so that Laryx and Rakoo could meet them all at once.

The landing party consisting of Janeway, Kim, and Tuvok transported to the planet at the same time that Legaia landed to meet an already waiting Laryx and Rakoo.

"It is good to see you again." Laryx said as he smiled warmly at all of them. "I have arranged for a tour of some of our museums, as well as the citadel of Ludvik. It contains most my people's history, a good amount of our worlds Relics, as well as the myths and legends that are still dominant in our culture to this day." He boasted.

"Lead the way." Janeway said curiously. Perhaps she could find out more about why the D'Rama and the D'Larma had decided to split their race in the first place.

The Citadel of Ludvik was the first stop on the tour. It was quite possibly the oldest building in D'Rama history. There were still people wondering how such a building was created so long ago without the aid of modern construction equipment.

Legaia and Voyager's crews couldn't help but be impressed by what they saw. There were tapestries covering almost every wall, artefacts in glass display cases, and some ancient looking armour in display cases.

"This is linked to one of our more popular legends." Laryx said as he stopped in front of a metallic sphere. "It is said that one day a champion will arise to claim the sphere, and from it they will create a weapon like no other. The stars themselves will cry to herald their arrival, and the kings of old will bow before them."

"Why is this legend so popular?" Seven asked curiously.

"It's been the childhood dream of pretty much every child for the past 800 years, myself included." Laryx smiled. "To ride of into the heavens finding adventure wherever we go, not to mention the princess of the stars."

"Princess of the stars?" Harry asked curiously. This story was getting more and more interesting by the second.

"Yes, the love of the champions life, she is said to be of indescribably beauty, after that the legend actually becomes a little sketchy. Some believe that they are both destined to die at the end of the quest, but others believe that death is only the beginning of the quest. Countless historians have tried and are still trying to figure out the true story." Laryx explained.

"How do you know the champion when you meet them?" B'Elanna asked curiously. "And who are the kings of old?"

"That is what makes it a legend." Laryx laughed. "No one knows how we will know, just that we will know, and we believe that the reference to the three kings goes back almost 2000 years. The entire planet of Remora in ancient times was ruled over by three kings that were at constant war with each other. They could not agree on anything, and our people nearly fought our way to extinction because of it. Then poof, out of nowhere all three of them just disappeared. To this day we have no idea what happened to them, where they went, or even how all of them could have just disappeared so close to the same time."

"Look outside," Naomi said excitedly. "It's a meteor shower!"

As everyone looked up the color drained from Laryx's face. There had never been a meteor shower over Remora, ever. "The stars themselves will cry to herald their arrival." He whispered, but it was so quite that everyone still heard it.

To Be Continued…

THOUGHTS/OPINIONS/QUESTION?

PLEASE REVIEW!