Chapter 10.
Prime Factors.
(Scott POV)
I was in the Mess hall with Tuvok and watching Harry, Tom, B'Elanna and Seska.
"What?" B'Elanna said.
"I seen that look before, Ensign Murphy better watch out," Seska said.
"I happen to know that Murphy is seeing one of the Delaney sisters," B'Elanna said.
"Not since Harry and Tom Paris made their move," Seska said.
"Harry and the Delaney sisters?" B'Elanna said. "He would have told me,"
"I guess there are some things he keeps to himself," Seska said.
"Harry, Is it true about you and the Delaney sisters?" B'Elanna said.
"Is what true?" Harry said.
"Come on, Harry," Seska said. "There ain't any secrets on a ship this small,"
"What have you been telling people," Harry said.
"Well, we did take that trip to Venice with them," Tom said.
"The holodeck," Harry said. "You got to be kidding, That lasted all of 15 minutes,"
"Yeah, You know, I 've been meaning to ask you, what happened when you and Jenny Delaney disappeared in that gondola?" Tom said.
"Nothing," Harry said.
"Harry, We're your friends you can tell us," B'Elanna said.
"Nothing, we talked, and then. I fell over the side," Harry said. Making me laugh as well as Tom, B'Elanna and Seska.
"You fell out of the gondola?" Seska said.
"I think maybe Harry wasn't quite prepared for how voracious Jenny Delaney can be," Tom said.
"It's finally happening," I said. "Both crews getting along,"
"That kind of bonding should improve performance and maximize Efficiency," Tuvok said.
"I'm sure it will," I said.
"Bridge to Captain McCall," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"Captain, we're receiving a distress call in one of the lower subspace bands," Chakotay said.
"On my way," I said. "Tom, Harry, Bridge," Then we went for the Turbo lift and headed to the bridge.
"Report, Commander," I said.
"The subspace distress signal's coming from a vessel Bearing 125 mark 21," Chakotay said. "Distance 200,000 kilometers,"
"Captain," Kim said. "Sensor indicate 5 lifesign aboard,"
"The vessel is altering its course to intercept us," Tuvok said.
"Yellow alert, Drop to impulse," I said. "Hail them, Harry,"
"Aye, Captain," Harry said.
"This is Captain Scott McCall Of the Federation Starship Voyager," I said. "What is the nature of your emergency?"
"We have no emergency," He said.
"But you're sending out a distress call," I said.
"Yes we are," He said.
"Why?" I said.
"Because you are in distress," He said. "I am Gathorel Labin of the planet Sikaris, Please, let us welcome you to our system, show you the hospitality of our people,"
"That's very kind of you," I said.
"If I could come aboard you ship, I have gifts for you and a proposal I hope you will find irresistible," Gathorel said.
"Mr. Tuvok make the necessary arrangement to receive our guest," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
Then we closed the channel.
"Chakotay," I said heading for my ready room with him following.
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"There is something else going on. He isn't just trying to do something but something more than we could think of right now," I said.
"What do we do," Chakotay said.
"We go as planned but we keep an eye open in case there are really more than what they have intended to do," I said.
Then Chakotay nodded and went back to the Bridge as I went to meet up with Tuvok who was heading to the Mess hall.
"Mr. Labin it really isn't necessary to go to all of this trouble," I said.
"Please call me Gath," Gath said. "And I promise you I would like nothing better than to prepare a few of our newest delicacies for you,"
"Captain, I'm serving lunch in less than 2 hours," Neelix said.
"We won't be long, Neelix, "I said. "This is Gath, He's from Sikaris,"
"Ooh, Sikaris," Neelix said.
"Do you know the planet," I said.
"Only stories about their incredible hospitality," Neelix said.
"Tell me how do you know about us?" I said.
"Our people are very well travelled some of them have brought back stories about the ship of Aliens from another part of the galaxy people lost and alone struggling to find their way home again," Gath said. "And I decided to come and meet you and offer you respite,
"Respite?" Tuvok said.
"A vacation if you will," Gath said. "Get away from the confines of the ship, enjoy the beauty of our landscape, meet and talk with interesting learned people,"
"And the crew would certainly welcome a little shore leave, Captain," Kes said.
"And I hear the Sikarians have a huge variety of edible plants," Neelix said. "If we could collect some seeds, We'd expand our selection significantly,"
"Sound like all this would increase performance and Maximize efficiency, Do you think so, Mr. Tuvok," I said.
"Indeed," Tuvok said.
"Well, Gath look like you're getting visitors," I said. "We'll set a course and follow you in,"
"I could not be happier," Gath said.
"Tuvok, escort our guest back to Transporter room 3. I'll be on the bridge," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
Then I headed back to the bridge and set a course.
Then we Beamed down.
"If you see anything you like, just let me know," Gath said.
But didn't really see anything
"Well, I should be get back," I said.
"Tonight we are having a celebration here, I hope you and your officers will be my guests," Gath said.
"We'd be delighted," I said. Then I went and found my people we we beamed back to the ship.
Once we got back to the ship I told Chakotay about the Celebration we have been invited to. Then Headed down to my quarters.
"Captain's log Stardate 48642.5. The crew is enjoying an evening on Sikaris, They are discovering to their delight, that reports of this species' hospitality have not been exaggerated, However I am remaining aboard Voyager as the crew right now needs it more than me," I said finishing the log.
Then I was heading to the holodeck.
"You sure I can't talk you into going," Chakotay said.
"I know you can't. Chakotay," I said.
"Well, I tell you all about it when I get back," Chakotay said.
"Fair enough," I said.
Then Chakotay headed to the Turbo lift right next to the Holodeck.
Then I went and activated one of my programs I have finished. Which was The Last of Us. Which actually went right next to the game as close as I could make it. Good thing was I could grab as much ammo and materials as I could. Which I ended up there for the next 1 then the door open.
"Captain. excuse me for interrupting," Harry said.
"No problem. Computer Save and end program," I said. "What is it Harry?"
"I've just found out about something incredible," Harry said.
"Harry. Calm down, What is it?" I said.
"That platform we saw on the surface. It's a transportation device Extremely sophisticated, it operate on the principle of folding space," Harry said.
"That's something that's been theorized but no one ever has been able to develop the technology," I said.
"These people have, I've just been to Alastria and back, Alastria is 40,000 light years away," Harry said.
"We call it a spatial trajector," Gath said coming in behind him "We're able to travel to all the planet's in this quadrant,"
"How far can it take you?" I said.
"Alastria is at the outermost limits of it's range," Gath said.
"Apparently It's never been used to move anything as large as Voyager, But as I understand the principle of Space folding, the size of the object isn't relevant," Harry said.
"What do you think? Would it be possible to modify your technology so we could use it?" I said.
"We cannot share our technology, Once it's out of our control it might fall into the hands of those who would abuse it, and Our canon of laws strictly forbid that," Gath said.
"But we wouldn't abuse it, Don't you see what it would mean to us?" Harry said.
"Please, Don't make it more difficult for me, I don't enjoy denying you this, But our Canon of Laws has determined our entire system of values, to break one of its precepts would undermine everything we believe in," Gath said. "I'm sorry but there can be no exceptions to the law,"
"Excuse me, Harry can you," I said.
"Of Course, Captain," Harry said as I headed to my quarters. And turned in for the night.
Then next day when I woke up and Dressed, had something to eat. I headed to the Bridge and into the Conference room.
"I can't believe they're not going to help us," Harry said. "Some kind of hospitality,"
"40,000 light years, even if that's as far as we could go, It would still knock about 4 decades off our trip," B'Elanna said.
"And the possibility exists that we could reconfigure the matrix at that point to take us another 30,000 light years right into Federation space," Chakotay said.
"Since they've already said no, this kind of thinking is only going to make you feel worse," Tuvok said.
"It's the first time we've been on the other side of the fence," I said.
"What fence?" Paris said.
"The one that's made of binding principles, We have our own set of rules, which includes the Prime Directive, How many times have we been in the position of refusing to interfere when some kind of disaster threatened an alien culture?" I said. "it's all very well to say we do it on the basis of an enlightened principle, but how does that feel to the aliens? I'm sure many of them think the Prime Directive is a lousy idea, Even Me,"
"Even we think so sometimes," Tom said.
"I know of many times when Starfleet personnel have decided on strong ethical grounds to ignore it," Chakotay said.
"Still there's a reason why it Starfleet's General Order #1," Kim said. "on the whole it does a lot more good than harm,"
"Captain it occurs to me that we know little about the Sikarians," Tuvok said. "We cannot assume that their first refusal is unalterable, It may be that no is simply a prelude to negotiation,"
"He's right maybe they can be reasoned with," Torres said.
"Maybe they want something. Maybe they'll bargain," Chakotay said.
"But what do we have to offer?" Tom said. "They seem to have everything they need,"
"Stories," Harry said. "Stories are an important part of their culture, they seem to provide more than entertainment, They're kind of a measuring rod of values and beliefs,We have a huge library in our data banks, We could offer them the whole thing, All the great literature of dozens of cultures,"
"What do you think, Captain?" Chakotay said. "Would they be interested?"
"They just might be," I said. "From what we've seen of them, They're a remarkably pleasure-oriented people, They might appreciate a gift of literature, I'll arrange to meet wit Gath, As magistrate he has the authority to make this decision,"
"In the meantime, I'm going to take a look at that trajector platform. Maybe I can figure out how it works," Torres said.
"You'll do nothing of the sort, Lt," I said. "If I find this law is negotiable, I'll make every attempt to get the technology, but until then we won't do anything that might violate their canon of laws as we understand it, That's all," Then I left to arrange a meeting with Gath.
XXX
We were in my Quarter as Gath was trying a pie.
"Exquisite," Gath said. "And what did you say you all it?"
"Steak pie," I said.
"I must have the recipe," Gath said.
"I'd be happy to share it with you," I said. "Gath. I want you to know that I understand your reluctance to share your technology with us, We have similar restrictions, but I wondered, would it make any difference If I gave you my word that we would destroy the trajector matrix as soon as we'd used it?"
"I know this will upset you, but I can't," Gath said.
"I understand and frankly I suspected as much, But I have a proposal which might allow you to obey your laws and still give us what we want, Surely you could use the trajector to send us, 40,000 lightyears would mean a great deal to us, and in return, we're prepared to offer you something you might enjoy," I said.
"Oh," Gath said.
"A full library of the Federation's finest literature," I said.
"Literature," Gath said.
"Centuries of stories, New stories from diverse cultures, Stories that fire the imagination,"I said.
"You certainly know how to tempt me, Captain. It's certainly possible," Gath said. "I'll have to meet with the other magistrates to discuss it, No one has ever made a request like that, In the meantime I'd like to enjoy every bite of this how did you call it,"
"Steak Pie," I said. "One of my favourites,"
The next day when Gath was talking with the other magistrates. I was walking around til I was on the top level in Engineering and I saw B'Elanna and 2 others working on how to make it work for us if we can get it. Then I started to head out and all I could think of was hoping to get them home with that Trajector.
Then I was on the bridge. Then I heard from Tuvok that Harry wanted to talk to me.
"Let Ensign Kim know I can see him now," I said.
"Aye captain," Ops said as I went into the ready room.
Then the Door bell rang.
"Come on," I said.
Then Harry walked in with Tuvok.
"Captain, I was called down to the planet by Jaret and he was ready to do the deal," Harry said. "He also said Gath had no intention to help us,"
"Did Jaret explain what he meant when he said Gath had no intention of helping us leave?" I said.
"No, he just made it clear that our only choice was to get the Trajector technology from him," Harry said.
"He may simply want us to believe that so we would deal with him," Tuvok said.
"Possibly," I said. "But some how I know he's right, Thank you for coming to me with this, Ensign. It may muddy the situation somewhat, but it helps us force the issue. Tuvok in case what Jaret said is correct are want you ready to do the deal, Dismissed Ensign,"
"Good night, Captain. Lt," Harry said then walking out.
"Captain, The." Tuvok said.
"If you are going to state the Prime directive, Tuvok. Don't I meant what I said that day before we started heading home," I said.
"Very well, Captain," Tuvok said.
"You think I'm doing the right thing," I said.
"You would seem to have 2 options, Continue to negotiate with a man with a hidden agenda, Or deal with a man who is willing to defy his own laws," Tuvok said.
"No pretty choices," I said.
"At least if you deal with Jaret, it is his law that is being compromised, not ours," Tuvok said.
"So," I said.
"I believe you are making the right choice, To be honest with you. If you decided not to do the deal, I would for you," Tuvok said.
"But I still need to know whether Gath will do it or not," I said.
"Agreed," Tuvok said.
"Thank you Tuvok," I said.
Then Tuvok left and I headed down to the planet and beamed down to meet Gath.
"Have you spoken with the other magistrates about using the Trajector?" I said.
"Actually I haven't some of them are travelling now, but I assure you I will do it," Gath said But his heart was spiking. Lying little shit.
"It's becoming a matter of some urgency," I said.
"Oh, Why?" Gath said.
"We've imposed on you for long enough," I said.
"Not true," Gath said. "We welcome you for as long as you can stay, and I hope that's a very long time indeed,"
"My crew and Myself are eager to continue our journey," I said. "Once they realized the trajector might bring us 40,000 lightyears closer to home,"
"Why are you so consumed with this desire to get home?" Gath said. "I find it difficult to understand,"
"Home is home, It's where we belong, our friends, our families," I said. "Our pack,"
"Couldn't you create a new home here with us?" Gath said. "Can you Imagine a more delightful place to live where you could pass your time extracting pleasure from every moment? I promise you. You and I have many such moments to explore,"
"True but for how long?" I said. "I've seen how quickly you get tired of your pleasures, All that interests you is what's new and unexplored, After a day or 2 it becomes commonplace,"
"Yes," Gath said.
"We prefer permanence the rewards of relationships that endure and grow deeper with the passing of time," I said.
"You would lost those notions if you stayed with us," Gath said.
"You may be right, and that's why we have to leave," I said.
"We have offered you nothing but hospitality," Gath said. "Is this how you repay us with an attack on our beliefs,"
"I'm sorry, I was just trying to illustrate the differences between us," I said.
"I don't enjoy being judged like this," Gath said. "It's very upsetting not at all pleasurable,"
"That's all you really care about, isn't it, Your pleasure, all you hospitality, your graciousness it was never about giving us pleasure, It's all been to gratify yourselves, We're nothing more than the latest novelty," I said.
"You're hostile and vicious, you would infect the joyousness of our lives," Gath said. "You must leave immediately,"
"You never had any intention of helping us, did you?" I said.
"Of course, I did, I did everything in my power to persuade you to stay here," Gath said.
"Stay here, Our home is thousands of light years away and all you lot fucking care about is your own pleasure," I said. Then hitting my combadge. "McCall to Voyager, one to beam up," Then I headed to the Bridge.
"Chakotay, Cancel all shore leave and recall the away teams, We've been asked to leave," I said.
"Aye captain," Chakotay said.
"Tuvok," I said heading into my ready room.
"I assume that means Gath will not be assisting us," Tuvok said as the door closed.
"That fucker slung us for a ride, Had no intention of even helping us just to satisfy their own pleasure," I said.
"And?" Tuvok said.
"Go, You have my permission to do the deal with Jaret," I said.
"Aye captain," Tuvok said then we both got back to the Bridge.
"Captain," Chakotay said. "It'll take hours to get everyone up, we've got crew members scattered throughout both hemispheres,"
"Get them back as quickly as you can, Commander," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
"I'll be in my ready room, Have Lt Torres meet me in the ready room in 5 minutes," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
Then I headed back into the Ready room and waited for B'Elanna and the Door bell went.
"Come in," I said and B'Elanna walked in.
"You asked for me Captain," B'Elanna said.
"Yes, I take it you have an idea on how to use the Trajector," I said.
"Yes," B'Elanna said.
"Get everything ready, I going with Harry option with Jaret. Tuvok is going to do the deal. I want to ready to use it went you feel safe that it will work," I said.
"Aye Captain," B'Elanna said.
"Dismissed," I said. Then B'Elanna left.
Not too long later I was back on the Bridge.
"Tuvok is on the surface now," Chakotay said.
"I know, I asked him to get everyone informed about coming back to Voyager," I said.
"He says the remaining away teams should be on board within 15 minutes," Chakotay said.
"Are all the food supplies secured?" I said.
"Aye Captain, as soon as the last of the crew gets backs we'll be ready to leave," Chakotay said.
"Good," I said sitting down and bring up the command console. "Bridge to Engineering,"
"Torres here," Torres said.
"We'll be leaving orbit within minutes," I said. "Ready all propulsion system,"
"Aye Captain, We will be ready as soon as we clear orbit," Torres said.
"Just a test, B'Elanna we know," I said.
"Acknowledged," Torres said.
Then we were at Red alert.
"Engineering to Bridge. We have a problem," Torres said.
"What?" I said.
"The trajector is getting into the Warp core if that the plasma manifold is going unstable," B'Elanna said.
"Shut it down," I said.
"I can't, Anti neutrinos is bombarding the the manifolds," B'Elanna said. "Its not responding,"
"If we can't stop it that going to make a Warp core breach," I said.
"I know, But we can disconnect it," B'Elanna said.
"Destroy it," I said.
"Captain," Torres said.
"We have no choice do it," I said.
"Aye Captain," Torres said as she destroyed it.
"B'Elanna," I said.
"It worked captain, but we didn't anticipate anti neutrinos. the Trajector could never be compatible with Federation Technology," Torres said.
"Acknowledged, Get repairs on the way," I said.
"Aye captain," Torres said.
"Tom, resume course full impulse," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
Then the rest of the day was uneventful Then I went down to my quarters.
Just wished it worked.
But It didn't just going to have to see what comes next.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!