Chapter Twelve--Gheta

The Next Day 1500

"First Officer's Log. It's been a day and we're approaching Gheta at impulse. We expect to be there within the hour. They promise us a landing permit and assistance with much needed repair.

"B'Elanna says there are major problems with the starboard nacelle. Although it is temporarily attached to the ship we could not exceed warp five point seven four. She says that we may never be able to get past warp seven point four again.

"This is going to add years to our journey. Not that it matters much to me anymore."

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Year: 2381

Briefing Room

A very young Tom sat in his chair in the Briefing Room.

Captain Janeway sat at the head of the table. "We know that the Aritleans have the dilithium we need and they aren't going to be very cooperative when we ask them for it. So we need a contingency plan."

"Captain, I don't think that we can afford any more enemies. We should be as nice as possible and try to get these supplies without a violent upset," Tom stated his concerns, as his daughter was young and he had to be careful.

Everyone stared at Tom in awe. They were surprised at the suggestion.

The Captain leaned back in her chair. "Why, Mr. Paris, you've mellowed out," she said slightly surprised and delighted.

"Don't ever say that to me again," he said blandly, not in disrespect.

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Year: 2418

Bridge-1548

"Captain to the Bridge." Tom stood from his chair and waited fort Tuvok to join him on the Bridge. Tom looked out onto the planet before him. It appeared similar to Earth, much greener, and with smaller oceans. There were several large spaces that you could see were massive metropolises.

"Report," Tuvok ordered as he walked to stand in front of his chair, next to Tom.

"Welcome to Gheta," Tom said dramatically with a random arm gesture to the view screen. "We're in a synchronous orbit and I was about to hail them."

"Proceed, Commander." Tuvok stood still and watched Tom step forward and take the lead.

"Opening a channel," Harry replied as he looked at the view screen.

A tall man with a pale face and blue tone hair appeared. He smiled widely. His red eyes beamed at Tuvok, attempting to read his face, seeing none he turned to Tom. "ComMANder PaRIS!" the man shouted at the screen.

"AmBASSaDOR CarMen!" Tom yelled back with similar emphasis.

"I AM OVERJOYED THAT YOU HAVE FINALLY PERFECTED THE GREETING, MY PEACHY FRIEND!" the Ambassador yelled.

Tom smiled to himself. "I thought I shouldn't sound like a total idiot in front of my crew," Tom replied in a normal speaking voice while motioning to Harry to turn down the volume to spare what little hearing the First Generation had left.

Ambassador Carmen roared with laughter. "WELL, ENOUGH CHATTING LIKE OLD WOMEN! WE HAVE WORK TO DO! I'M SENDING YOU CORRINATES! LET'S GET TO WORK!"

"We are grateful for your hospitality."

"NOT AS GRATEFUL AS WE! WITH SUCH A POWERFUL STARSHIP AS YOURS AND OUR LARGE FLEET! THE KarTech DON'T STAND A CHANCE! HAHAHA! CarMEN OUT!"

The COMM channel ended and the Bridge crew rubbed their ears. "That man is LOUD!" Harry exclaimed.

Tom chuckled. "I guess I should have told you that."

"Probably," Tuvok commented. "Tuvok to Engineering."

"Torres here."

"Is it safe to land?"

B'Elanna thought for a quick second. "We should be fine."

"Should?" Tom wondered aloud.

"Tuvok to all hands, Code Blue. Report to Code Blue stations."

"Vent all plasma from the nacelles," Tom instructed his son. Owen nodded.

"All decks report Code Blue status," Harry announced.

"Alright, Owen, take us down," Tom said.

Owen sighed heavily and pressed a few of the many buttons at his station. The lights around him were blue and the klaxons lightly sounded around him. He blinked intentionally to clear the fuzz from his vision. Owen started the ship down. He had never done this before, but he had landed shuttles and practiced on the Holo-Deck. He hoped that would be enough.

Owen blinked again to clear the increasing fuzz. 'Don't get nervous,' he told himself, 'you'll do just fine.' For a moment he believed himself.

That moment ended when he hit the ground shaking.

With no pilot, Voyager lost its heading and plunged towards the surface in a nose dive.

Tom dashed to the CONN and attempted to pull Voyager out of the dive.

"Twenty seconds to impact!" Harry warned from his station.

"I need thrusters!" As power increased Tom eased Voyager out of the dive. "Extending landing struts. Paris to all hands, brace for impact." The struts extended and Voyager landed with a light thud. Once she was secure Tom dropped to the ground, next to his son. "Owen," he said looking into his son's dazed eyes.

Owen looked up at his father, or rather the swirling blur that he thought was his father. He blinked a few times, but the image got worse. Owen could not find his sense of reality. He only saw swirling blue lights. He could not hear the klaxons and he felt sick to his stomach. He continued to shake and felt very cold.

Tom hit his chest. "Paris to Sickbay, Medical Emergency! Paris to Transporter Room One, two to beam directly to Sickbay!" Tom looked down at his son as he dematerialized and he looked up at the Doctor as they rematerialized.

"What happened?" The Doctor asked as he grabbed a tri-corder and scanned Owen as the medics lifted him onto a bio-bed.

"He just fell out of his chair, shaking, and he couldn't answer me. I don't know what happened."

"Hmm," the Doctor thought.

"You don't know what's wrong with him, do you?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No, I don't."

"Tom to Lu, report to Sickbay."

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