Chapter 18.
Initiations.
(Scott POV)
Chakotay was away on a shuttle for him the perform the Pakra. A solitary ritual commemorating the anniversary of his fathers death.
I was in my ready room.
When the door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
Then Tuvok came in.
"Morning Captain," Tuvok said.
"Morning Tuvok," I said.
"I have gone over everything we picked up back on. What did we call it?" Tuvok said.
"New Earth," I said.
"With all the equipment and Supplies we acquired. We have enough to start making not only another refinery. But also the Torpedo armoury as well. However we will need more resources to start making those Torpedoes," Tuvok said.
"Start making the rooms at least. And start looking for people to Making the Torpedoes also when we do have enough supplies," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Good. Is that all," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Dismissed," I said.
Then Tuvok left.
XXX
Not too much later. Neelix was in talking with me.
"It's not that I feel that I'm not making contributions as chef and Morale officer, " Neelix said.
"You're making significant contributions, Neelix," I said.
"Well, If you insist, but," Neelix said.
"I can't imagine how Lt. Ayala would be handing the separation from his children without you," I said.
"He misses his boys terribly, I wish I could do more for him," Neelix said.
"And your meals are getting to be," I said.
"Yes," Neelix said.
"Almost certainly a highlight of everyday," I said.
"Captain, Thank you," Neelix said. "when I signed on I promised you that I would stand by your side through every danger this Quadrant has to offer, As guide, As strategist, As explorer, As Adventurer,"
"Yes," I said.
"I feel under utilized," Neelix said. "I can swashbuckle with the best of them,"
"You weren't invited to the holodeck defence simulations, were you?" I said.
"No," Neelix said.
"Captain, you are needed on the bridge," Tuvok said.
"On my way. I'll see to it you're invited next time, now Neelix please join me on the bridge," I said.
"Yes Captain," Neelix said.
"We are ready to depart," Tuvok said.
"But Chakotay has still not returned," Kat said.
"Have you hailed him," I said.
"On all frequencies, no response," Kim said.
"When was the last time we heard from him," I said.
"More than 6 hours ago," Tuvok said.
"According to his flight plan he's not far," I said. "We'll just go and get him, I want all away teams back onboard now, Paris lay in a course for Chakotay's last known coordinates,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
XXX
"We're approaching Chakotay's last known Coordinates, Captain," Tom said.
"All Stop, Full sensor scan," I said.
"I'm picking up floating debris composed of Duranium, Magnesite and Electroceramics, Also Heavy Traces of Carbon residue," Kim said.
"Bridge to Engineering, Prepare to receive debris samples for analysis," I said.
"Aye Captain," Torres said.
"Transport Complete," Kim said.
"Captain, I am detecting an ion trail leading away from this location," Tuvok said.
"Chakotay's Shuttle?" Kat said.
"The signature of the radiation is not consistent with Federation propulsion systems," Tuvok said.
"So what are we saying here? That someone blew up Chakotay's shuttle and then took off," Tom said.
"That's speculation, But that trail's the only clue we have to Chakotay's whereabouts," I said.
"Laying in a course," Tom said.
"Engage when ready," I said.
"Engineering to Bridge," Torres said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"Captain, I need to see you down here," Torres said.
"On my way, Kat the Bridge is yours," I said
"Got it," Kat said.
Then I went to the Turbolift and down to engineering. Once there.
"Well?" I said.
"Most of the debris we've examined is composed of a polyduranide alloy, Which isn't used in the construction of Federation spacecraft," Torres said
"So it wasn't Chakotay's shuttle that was destroyed," I said.
"No. This ship was Kazon," Torres said.
"McCall to Bridge," I said.
"Go ahead," Kat said.
"Scan for any Kazon ships," I said. "I'm on my way back to the bridge,"
Once there.
"Captain, The ion trails is beginning to dissipate," Tuvok said.
"All stop," I said.
"I'm picking up debris again," Kim said.
"Bridge to engineering prepare to receive a debris sample," I said.
"Acknowledged," Torres said.
"Transport underway. Transport Complete," Kim said.
"Torres to bridge, Sample received," Torres said.
"Let me know when you've got something, B'Elanna," I said.
"I've already got something, It's a piece of Chakotay's shuttle," B'Elanna said.
"Kim Beam all of the debris to sickbay have the Doc look for any Human remains," I said.
"Aye captain," Kim said.
XXX
We were in the Conference room.
"I've completely finished anaylzing the shuttle debris and I found no evidence of human remains," Doc said.
"Then Chakotay wasn't killed in the explosion," I said.
"That is correct," Doc said.
"That's the first good news I've heard all day, thanks," I said.
"My pleasure now would you mind having someone transport this junk to the cargo bay," Doc said. "It's cluttering up my lab,"
"Of course, Doc," I said. "All right, If Chakotay wasn't in the shuttle where is he?" I said.
"From the dispersal pattern of the debris we've able to extrapolate Chakotay's course, prior to the explosion," Tuvok said. "It appears he was heading for a M Class moon in this system,"
"And we found a resual energy displacement within the debris field, Not consistent with the explosion itself," Kim said.
"So he transported to that moon," I said.
"We tried to scan the surface but there is intense Radiothermic interference," Tuvok said.
"Radiothermic," I said.
"It appears to be coming from the subterranean energy sources several carefully hidden weapons systems, Phaser banks, Force field, Proton Dischargers," Torres said.
"Kazon," Kes said. "When they captured me I saw how they concealed their weaponry,"
"I believe you call them Booby traps," Neelix said.
"Then the moon is a Kazon fortification or Training ground," I said.
"Second one," Kes said.
"For the Kazon live Ammunition is a very effective teaching tool," Neelix said.
"In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I choose to believe Chakotay made it to that moon," I said. "Kim see if you can determine the most probable location he would've beamed to, Tuvok, You and I will lead the away team,"
"As you wish, But I must point out that due to the Radiothermic interference, we willn't be able to communicate with the ship," Tuvok said.
"I'm already working on a dampening field to cut through the interference But it'll take several hours at least," Torres said.
"I'm not waiting that long, But keep trying, Neelix Kes, You are our 2 Kazon experts, Kes you will come with me, Neelix, you said you wanted more to do, Well you got it, I want you on the bridge with Cornwell and Paris," I said. "In case we run into any Kazon ships,"
"You can count on me captain, to keep those nefarious Kazon at bay," Neelix said.
"Dismissed," I said.
Then we went to the armoury and then the Transporter room and Beamed down.
XXX
"Captain, I am reading 4 lifesign, coming this way, They appear to be Kazon, 40 meters," Tuvok said.
"There, Phasers Ready," I said. As they come out from the Mountain.
"Please put you weapons away we have come to help you," Maje said.
"Help us, with what?" I said.
"We made contact with your ship and learned of the plight of your missing crewman, We've come to offer out assistance in finding him," Maje said.
"That's nice of you," I said.
"You're walking on dangerous ground, There are concealed weapons everywhere, Come we ill lead you through them," Maje said.
"Very well," I said.
XXX
"The signal seems to be coming from some caves approximately 40 meters ahead," Tuvok said.
"Your technology continues to amaze us, it would have taken us weeks to track them, after this is over, WE have to discuss an alliance," Maje said.
"I would welcome your friendship Maje," I said.
"Captain, I'm reading elevated radiothermic levels here," Kes said.
"The Ocampa female is correct, This is a particularly dangerous place, We lose many trainees here, perhaps you would prefer if we preeded alone," Maje said.
"Thanks, but I think we'll stick together," I said.
"Voyager to Away team," Kat said.
"Go ahead, Kat," I said.
"We finally broke through the interference, Captain, Are you all right," Tom said.
"We had a run in," Kat said.
"Everything is fine, We have the assistance of the Ogla," I said.
"That's what I was going to tell you to expect," Kat said.
"Can you lock on to Commander Chakotay," I said.
"Standby," Kat said.
XXX
"Chakotay to Away team," Chakotay said.
"Is it good to hear your Voice Chakotay," I said.
"Captain, proceed with caution, I have been taken prisoner by a young Kazon, he's treating to kill me," Chakotay said.
"This way it's safer," Kazon said.
"I beg to differ that way would seem the logical choice," Tuvok said.
"I must apologize for my comrade, I believe he's trying to mislead you," Maje said.
Then we keep on going than a forcefield showed up around us.
"So your technology is not always an ally, Sometimes it betrays you, Pity, I'm afraid you wouldn't score well," Maje said then left.
"Tuvok find the generator," I said.
"Aye captain," Tuvok said. "We could try remodulating the phasers to a higher frequency output,"
"Make it fast," I said.
XXX
"Ready," Tuvok said.
"On 3," I said. " 1, 2, 3," Then we fired destroying the generator. "Let's go," Then we went tot he caves and got there just in time.
"But you are not my energy, He is," The kid said the shot the Maje. "My name is Jal Karden, Kazon Ogla, You are first Maje now, Haliz, My life is yours,"
"Jal Karden, Kazon Ogla," He said.
"The Federation doesn't belong here, If we meet again I will not hesitate to kill you," Jal said.
"I understand," Chakotay said.
"McCall to Voyager, 5 to beam up," I said.
Then we were beamed up.
"McCall to bridge get us back on course Warp 8," I said.
"Aye Captain, Engaging warp engines," Tom said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!