Chapter 88.
Thirty Days.
(Scott POV)
I was already up and dressed, This time though my girls were up with me. As We had some breakfast. Then.
"Senior Officers, Report to the Bridge," Chakotay said.
"See you 2 later," I said.
"Bye, Dad," Clara and Chloe said.
As I got up to the Bridge.
"Report," I said.
"We're approaching a extremely strange Planet, you need to see it to believe it," Chakotay said.
As Tom and Harry got here.
"Sorry to interrupt your fun, You 2, But long range sensors have picked up something interesting," I said.
"A concentrated mass of Oxygen and hydrogen, Lost of animal and plant life," Chakotay said.
"A M Class Planet," Harry said.
"No, That's the interesting part," I said.
"We're entering Visual range," Tuvok said.
"On Screen," I said.
"What is it?" Harry said.
"Is that just me or is that an ocean," I said.
"I'd say Ocean," Tom said.
"According to these readings, It's bigger than the Atlantic and Pacific Combined," Chakotay said.
"What's holding it together," Tom said.
"Looks like there's some sort of a containment field keeping it from dissipating," Harry said.
"Take us in closer Tom, gently," I said.
"Are those starships or submarines," Tom said.
"Open a Channel," I said. "This Captain McCall of Starship Voyager, Please Identify yourselves,"
"They are powering Weapons," Tuvok said.
"Shields up, Red Alert," I said. As the Klaxons went Red.
"Shields holding no damage," Tuvok said. "Should I return fire,"
"Not yet, Voyager to Approaching vessels, We have no hostile intentions," I said.
"They're maintaining Course," Tom said.
"Target the lead ship, Take their weapons out only," I said.
"Phasers targeted," Tuvok said.
"Fire," I said.
"Direct hit," Tuvok said.
"They're hailing," Harry said.
"I guess we got their attention, On screen," I said.
"I'm a deputy Consul Burkus of the monean maritime sovereignty, You violated our space, Withdraw or we'll resume firing," Burkus said.
"Consul we could have destroyed your ships, But we didn't, We have no interest in a fight," I said.
"Then why are you here?" Burkus said.
"Because we're explorers and we're fascinated by your ocean, and we'd like to learn more about it and your people if you'd be willing," I said.
"And if we are not," Burkus said.
"We'll be disappointed but we'll leave you alone," I said.
"Your ship's impressive," Burkus said.
"Well, I'd be happy to give you a tour," I said.
XXX
"Forgive our vigilance, Captain, Over the years my government has had to protect our ocean from more than one hostile species," Burkus said.
"I understand, We're also very protective of our own natural resources," I said as we got to the Bridge.
"And this is Voyager's Command center, Feel free to have a look around," I said.
"I'm curious Consul, Have your people always lived here?" Neelix said.
"Our ancestors were nomadic, they only discovered the waters 300 years ago," Burkus said.
"I'll bet they were as stunned as we were to find this huge ball of water floating in space," Tom said.
"Yes mister," Burkus said.
"Paris, Tom Paris," Tom said.
"My First officer, Command Chakotay," I said.
"They realized they could farm sea vegetation, extract Oxygen from the ocean for their ships, Create a permanent home," Burkus said.
"What's your population?" Tom said.
"More than 80,000," Burkus said.
"And you all live underwater," Tom said.
"Lt, we do have other business to attend to," Tuvok said.
"Tuvok, Escort our guest to the briefing room," I said. "Care to join us Tom,"
"How could you tell," Tom said.
"Your joking right, I could see it in your eyes you want to get all you can about this planet," I said.
"Alright you got me," Tom said.
As we got there.
"Do you still live aboard your ships," Neelix said.
"We've built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings, But yes, most of our people still choose to live as our ancestor did," Burkus said.
"Don't blame them, One hole in your infrastructure and it could flood," I said.
"Actually we already have force field emitter in place to contain an hull breach," Burkus said.
"Nice, Any idea how the ocean came into existence, In my experience, it's a unique phenomenon," I said.
"Riga," Burkus said.
"There are several theories," Riga said. "Our Clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators, to protect and sustain us, but in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally much the same way that a gas giant does,"
"Makes sense," I said.
"Unfortunately, Our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems," Riga said.
"What do you mean," I said.
"I'm not sure this is an appropriate topic," Burkus said.
"But they might be able to help us," Riga said.
"We'll do anything we can," I said.
"The ocean's losing containment, Hydro- volume has decreased more than 7% in the last year alone," Riga said.
"Any idea what's causing it," I said.
"No to make a thorough study, we'd need to explore the oceans center where I believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating," Riga said.
"That's more than 600 kilometers deep," Tom said.
"Our best research vessel can only go 100 kilometers," Riga said. "Beyond that, The pressure's too great,"
"The Jumper could only go so far also, I don't remember their range," I said.
"Well, we could take you there, Captain," Tom said.
"What are you thinking," I said.
"We maybe be able to Modify the Delta Flyer to do that, but it will take some time," Tom said.
XXX
As Tom and I was in the ready room.
"I had no idea you were such an old salt," I said.
"Ha, When I saw that ocean today, It reminded me of the first time I read Jules Verne," Tom said.
"20,000 leagues under the sea," I said.
"Mmm, I must have read it 20,000 times," Tom said. "I was obsessed with stories about the ocean, All my friends were busy with their holo programs, I had my head buried in Captain's courageous, Mody dick,"
"So your interest in history includes the 19th Century as well," I said.
"Ancient sailing ships were always my first love," Tom said. "I had it all planned, Finish High school, Join the Federation Naval patrol, But my father had other ideas,"
"You'd think Admiral Paris might have understood his son's passion," I said.
"Hmm, As far as he was concerned, the Only ship I was going to serve on had to have a Starfleet insignia on it," Tom said.
"First time I saw that Ocean, It Reminded my of Atlantis," I said.
"No way," Tom said.
"Yeah, Trust me I would love to see that old girl sitting on the Ocean on a nice descend right on the viewscreen," I said.
"Too bad it far away," Tom said.
"In the Opposite Direction," I said.
"What we have to go backwards to get there," Tom said.
"We might as well have turned that way instead of heading this way back home," I said.
"You think we could have found it," Tom said.
"If we didn't get passed Borg Space, I would have turned us around, heading there," I said.
"Shame I would have loved to see it," Tom said.
"So now you have an opportunity to make up for lost time," I said.
"Captain, With a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, She will be seaworthy in no time," Tom said.
"Good, It'd take at least a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager," I said.
"Then It's my mission," Tom said.
"Bon voyage," I said. "Get started on that,"
"Yes sir," Tom said.
As he left.
XXX
I was on the Bridge.
"The Delta Flyer is away," Tuvok said.
"They in the water," Chakotay said.
"Good, I'll be in my ready room," I said as I got in.
Not only 10 minutes later the Door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
As Chakotay came in with Consul Burkus.
"I'm afraid we have some disturbing news," I said.
"Oh?" Burkus said.
"We've run a computer simulation to determine the rate of dissipation, It's worse than Riga Thought," I said.
"According to our estimates, The ocean could experience a complete loss of Containment in less than 5 years," Chakotay said.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Your calculations could be wrong," Burkus said.
"I know it sounds grim, But there maybe some way to stop the process," I said.
"And if there isn't," Burkus said.
"You might have to consider evacuating," I said.
"I'm supposed to go back and explain this to 47 regional sovereigns, They'll pass their first unanimous resolution Calling for my head," Burkus said.
"I can imagine how difficult this must be for you, But you will have to tell them," I said.
"Perhaps, But I'll wait until your Delta Flyer returns," Burkus said. "Maybe they'll find something tangible,"
"Here's hoping," I said. "I would hate to see this just disappear,"
XXX
We were on the Bridge.
"I'm detecting a breach in the containment field," Tuvok said.
"Any way we can seal it," Chakotay said.
"We might try reinforcing the field with a deflector beam," Tuvok said.
"Do it, Try hailing the Delta Flyer again," I said.
"Nothing," Chakotay said.
"What do you think's happened?" Burkus said.
"They may be too deep to receive a transmission," I said.
"They may have had an accident," Burkus said.
"It's possible," I said.
"Possible," Burkus said. "Captain I'll need a better explanation than that, What am I supposed to tell the council,"
"Clarify something for me, Are you more concerned about the lives of the people on that shuttle or your political career," I said. "The Delta Flyer has 3 People who built her, Including the one who designed her,"
"Captain full containment has just been re-established," Tuvok said.
"The Deflector beam," I said.
"Negative, The Ocean appears to have been stabilized from within," Tuvok said.
"It looks like our team has succeeded," Burkus said.
"I'm picking up an object on a slow ascent," Chakotay said. "It's the Flyer,"
"As soon as they in range, Tractor beam them," I said.
XXX
"The council's very grateful for you help captain," Burkus said. "They've asked me to request the shield and thruster schematics for your Delta Flyer, We're hoping to design a probe that'll allow us to monitor the containment generator,"
"Lt Torres will give you everything you need," I said.
"I've also drawn up some designs for an oxygen replication system, It'll allow you to create free Oxygen without extricating it from the water, It won't solve your problem over night, But it's a start," B'Elanna said.
"I'm sure it'll be very helpful," Burkus said.
"Our oxygen extraction levels are still dangerously high, I'm going to recommend shutting down refineries 4,5 and 6," Riga said.
"We'll take it under advisement, Well, Captain, I wish you a safe journey," Burkus said.
"Well we have a few more suggestions, If you'd like to hear them," I said.
"Please Pass them along to Mr. Riga," Burkus said. "He'll include them in his report,"
"I'm curious, Who's going to read that report," Tom said.
"It will be given to the subcommittees on life support and agriculture," Burkus said.
"Excuse me, Consul, I'm not sure you understand the magnitude of the crisis, What you're suggesting could take months," Riga said.
"Thank you, Mr. Riga," Burkus said.
"You should listen to him," Tom said. "If you don't make some serious changes around here soon, That ocean won't be here much longer,"
"As I said, We understand his concerns," Burkus said.
"Do you? It seems to me like you're just trying to side step the issue and send us on our way," Tom said.
"With all due respect, who are you to tell us what to do with our ocean," Burkus said.
"With all due respect, It's not your ocean," Tom said.
"Lt," I said.
"It's all right Captain," Burkus said. "I'd like to respond but not as a diplomat, As a Monean, You came here claiming, you wanted to learn about our way of life, And now having spent 3 days here, you're suggesting we abandon it, We have an expression Brine in the veins, Tell him what it means,"
"It's used to describe someone who has a special connection to the waters," Riga said.
"My Family has lived here for 10 generations," Burkus said. "We protected this ocean, cultivated it, lived in harmony with the animals that inhabit it, Can you say the same, I didn't think so, Good day, Captain,"
As he left.
"We can't just let this go," Tom said.
"What do you want me to do," I said.
"Of course the Almighty Prime Directive," Tom said.
"Would you please excuse us Lt," I said.
"See you later," As B'Elanna left.
"I know you're upset Tom, But when you're in the room with me, you check that attitude at the door, Clear," I said.
"Captain," Tom said.
"We can't expect an entire society to change because we think they should," I said.
"They you agree with me," Tom said.
"Yes," I said. "And we gave them the help they asked for, We told them what we know, Now it's up to them to do what they think is appropriate,"
"You heard them consul, They're not going to do a damn thing," Tom said.
"Maybe not but that's their prerogative" I said.
"Captain," Tom said.
"End of discussion Tom, At 1400 hours, we'll resume a course for home," I said. "Unless you have a better idea,"
"I'll get Riga to ask for our help then we can do something," Tom said.
"What," I said.
"What if he asked us to take the refineries offline, Then they have to do it," Tom said.
"What we shot at them," I said.
"If asked," Tom said.
"You know what you are asking me to do," I said.
"Yes I do, Captain we can't just do nothing," Tom said.
"Like what, You fire a torpedo at the damn thing forcing us to shoot," I said.
"Tuvok can easily get it to explode the second it hits the water," Tom said.
"And what am I meant to say to the Consul, That I ordered you to destroy it," I said.
"No," Tom said.
"Then What," I said.
"I can make it look like I'm doing this without authorization, I get Riga to ask and take the Flyer and do just that," Tom said.
"Tom do you know what you are saying," I said. "This could risk your career,"
"I know, But I can't just let me destroy this ocean," Tom said. "Captain please,"
"Do it," I said.
"Captain," Tom said.
"Do it," I said.
XXX
I have already got Chakotay and Tuvok in my Ready room and told them what is going on. Tuvok of course, Prime Directive. But I made it an order.
We were on the Bridge.
"Captain there has just been an unauthorized launch from Shuttle bay 1, The Delta Flyer," Tuvok said.
"Tom," I said. "Voyager to Delta Flyer,"
"No response," Tuvok said.
"Try a tractor beam," Chakotay said.
"We're out of range," Tuvok said.
"We're being hailed, Captain It's Consul Burkus," Harry said.
"Your shuttlecraft has violated our borders, I demand an explanation," Burkus said.
"Mr. Paris is acting without Authorization," I said.
"To what end?" Burkus said.
"According to our scan, Mr. Riga is with him," I said. "I have to assume they intend to take some sort of radical action to protect the ocean,"
"Then I presume you intend to take radical action to stop them," Burkus said.
"Voyager to Delta Flyer," I said. "Return to Voyager immediately,"
"I'm sorry, Captain, I can't do that," Tom said.
"Lt, You are disobeying a direct order," I said.
"I know," Tom said.
"He cut us off," Chakotay said.
"What the hell are they up to," I said.
"Looks like they're heading directly beneath the industrial complex," Harry said.
"Can we reach them with phasers," I said.
"Unadvisable, It would create a hydro-dynamic shock wave," Tuvok said.
"What about an old fashioned depth charge," Chakotay said.
"It should be possible to modify a photon torpedo," Tuvok said.
"We could program it to detonate once it's in proximity to the Delta Flyer," Chakotay said.
"Do it," I said.
"The Torpedo is ready, Captain," Tuvok said. "However the Delta Flyer has submerged below our targeting range,"
"Consul Burkus hailing again," Harry said.
"On screen," I said.
"Our refinery workers have been given 5 minutes to clear the structure, Was this the kind of evacuation you had in mind, Captain," Burkus said.
"Can you get them out in time," I said.
"Yes But," Burkus said.
"Do it, I'll find a way to protect your refinery," I said. "End transmission,"
"Captain," Burkus said.
"He descended to avoid attack, if my calculations are correct, he will have to come back up to a depth of 2,00 meters to strike his target," Tuvok said.
"Giving us a window of opportunity," I said.
"Precisely," Tuvok said.
"Captain this is Tom we're talking about," Harry said. "We're not going to open fire are we."
"As far as they know Tom is doing this without authorization," I said.
"Captain," Harry said.
"This is Classified, That's an Order," I said.
"Understood," Harry said. "This was planned,"
"Yes," I said.
"He's started his ascent," Chakotay said.
"Hail him," I said.
"Go ahead," Harry said.
"Tom this is your final warning, Return to Voyager immediately," I said.
"He's not responding," Harry said.
"All part of the Plan, Arm the Torpedo," I said.
"20 seconds to weapons range," Harry said.
"Stand down, Tom, Or I will open fire," I said.
"Still no answer," Harry said.
"Time," I said.
"10 seconds, 9, 8, ,7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," Tuvok said.
"Fire," I said.
"Captain the Torpedo was destroyed as soon as it hit the water," Tuvok said.
"What about his torpedo," I said.
"It's on course," Tuvok said. "Direct hit, the Refinery are offline, The Delta Flyer is coming back,"
"As soon as Tom is back on board Chakotay get us out of here Warp 9," I said.
"Yes sir," Chakotay said.
XXX
"Captain's log Stardate 52179.4, After the Delta Flyer returned to Voyager, we high tailed it as soon as we can, And resume our course for home, I now and talking with Lt Paris, End Log," I said.
"Well," I said.
"Riga asked for my help," Tom said.
"In doing so you disobeyed my direct orders," I said.
"Yes sir," Tom said.
"You violated the protocols that govern this crew," I said.
"Yes sir," Tom said,
"You nearly caused an armed conflict with the Moneans, Lucky they agreed about the Torpedo was mis calibrated," I said. "You're lucky I managed to get them to believe that you did this all on your own,"
"Captain, Riga's people weren't going to listen, They were going to ignore our warnings," Tom said.
"We don't know that," I said.
"Riga knew, And I was the only one who could help them, Yes, this was planned," Tom said.
"4 years ago, Kathryn released you from prison and gave you a fresh start, Until this you've been a fine officer, Your service on this ship had been exemplary, I thought you were passed this kind of conduct," I said.
"I've never been very good at playing by the rules," Tom said. "That doesn't mean that serving under your command hasn't changed me for the better, At least this time, I broke the rules for a reason, for something I believed in,"
"I admire your principles, Tom, But This time is the last time and I want you word you will not do something like this again," I said.
"You have it, Captain," Tom said.
"Don't think you are getting off easy, You are on Night shift watch for the next 2 weeks," I said.
"Understood," Tom said.
"Dismissed," I said.
As Tom left.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!