Chapter 98.
Think Tank.
(Leah POV)
I was in my ready room trying to figure out this god damn puzzle Tom brought on board. As my door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
As 7 came in.
"Captain, Long range scans have detected," 7 said.
"Hold on, 7, I've wasted 2 hours on this thing and I'm not closer to solving it," I said.
"You can thank Lt Paris for introducing the artifact to the ship," 7 said.
"He was behind the last shipwide craze too. Yo yoos, Not it's sheer lunacy," I said. "Another hour and I'll go insane,"
"The solution is quite simple," 7 said.
"No, I'm figuring this out myself," I said. "Damn it. You said something about long range scans,"
"They've revealed a planetoid with high concentrations of Dilithium crystals," 7 said.
"Let's take a look," I said. "Screw you,"
"Leah," 7 said.
"That thing for now," I said. "Come on," As we headed out.
"Got it," Harry said. As he had one too. but didn't work. "False alarm,"
"Keep at it, Harry," Tom said.
"We're within visual range," 7 said.
"On screen," I said.
"Initial scans revealed substantial dilithium deposits beneath the planetoids crust," Tuvok said.
"Full sensor sweep," Chakotay said.
"The deposits are in the upper mantle, about 60 kilometers down," Harry said.
"We'll have to use Phasers to cut through," Tuvok said.
"Hold on," Harry said.
"What is it?" I said.
"Some kind of resonance wave emanating from the core, It's building fast, Captain," Harry said.
"Right after we ran our scans," I said. "That's not coincidence, Tom back us off,"
"The Planetoid is destabilizing," 7 said.
"Red Alert," I said. As the klaxon went red. As the shockwave hit. "Report,"
"We're trapped in a cloud of Metreon Gas," Chakotay said. "It's collapsed our warp field. And knocked engines off line,"
"A heavily armed vessel just dropped out of warp, off the port bow," Tuvok said.
"Captain, I recognize it, It's Hazari, Species 4228, Technologically advanced, extremely violent, they make excellent Tactical drones," 7 said.
"What do they want with us," Harry said.
"The Hazari are hired to capture and deliver alien vessels," 7 said.
"Great Bounty Hunters," I said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"So who hired them," Harry said.
"The Malon, the Devore, We've made our share of enemies here," Chakotay said.
"They're hailing," Harry said.
"Surrender. No one need be hurt," He said. "My client would prefer your vessel intact,"
"Who hired you," I said.
"That's not your concern," He said.
"I'm only asked because I'm curious hoe much they're paying. Maybe we can do better," I said.
"Doubtful," He said.
"We're far from defenseless, Why don't you save yourself some trouble," I said.
"It's no trouble," He said.
"Phasers to full power, Maximum yield," I said.
"Fire and you'll ignite the gas cloud," He said. "You'll be destroyed,"
"You've left me no choice, I suggest you back off if you want to save your own ship," I said. "End Transmission,"
"They are moving closer," Tuvok said. "They've locked on a tractor beam,"
"Looks like they're calling your bluff, Captain, It was a bluff wasn't it," Tom said.
"Nope, ZPMs Shields, Structural integrity, Engines," I said.
"Done," Harry said.
"7 do we still have warp power," I said.
"Yes, but it's useless while we remain in the gas cloud," 7 said.
"Maybe not," I said. "Tuvok get ready to fire,"
"Our target," Tuvok said.
"Gas cloud," I said.
"Do you believe the impact will throw us clear," 7 said.
"If our shields hold with the ZPM power," I said.
"That's a big if," Tom said.
"Go to warp 1 on my command," I said.
"Ready," Tom said.
"Fire," I said.
"Shields are holding, We're approaching the perimeter of the gas cloud," Tuvok said.
"We're out," Tom said.
"Tom go," I said.
"No sing of pursuit," Tuvok said.
"That was too easy. They weren't that heavily damaged, Why aren't they following us. No, Yes. 7 Astrometrics now, Scan for any other Hazari ships," I said.
XXX
I was in the Mess hall, trying to find us a way out.
"Should I have the Doctor prepare a hypospray," Neelix said.
"What," I said.
"So you can absorb the caffeine more directly," Neelix said.
"Nope, Make this my last cup," I said.
"How about trying a sound board," Neelix said.
"Oh you don't want that job," I said.
"Try me," Neelix said.
"These pissing Hazari. They're like Jackals, Circling , Feinting to draw us out while they cut off every route of escape," I said.
"You make them sound worse than the Borg," Neelix said.
"At least the Borg come straight at you, The Hazari wait, invite you to make mistakes, They've anticipated almost every move we can make. And the few things they seem to have missed, Traps, You still glad you volunteered," I said.
"We've faced though odds before," Neelix said. "You'll get us through,"
"The only other option is to use the cloak. But we don't know if they be able to pick us up," I said.
"Good night," Neelix said.
"Night," I said. As Neelix left. As I about to drink more coffee but put it back down.
As I went over to the window.
"There is nothing like a good problem to spark the synapses, is there," Someone said behind us. "To open the mind to new possibilities new ways of seeing things, Of course, one must always confront self doubt and fear, But that is a small price to pay for the exhilaration of finding the perfect solution,"
"Who are you and what do you want," I said.
"You have a problem, Captain, I'm the solution," He said.
"Security to the mess hall, Intruder alert," I said.
"I deactivated your communications device, Captain but do not worry, I am not an intruder, In fact I am not really here," he said.
"Hologram," I said.
"Nothing so crude, An isomorphic projection," He said. "You actually enjoy this," Drinking a bit of my coffee.
"It's an acquired taste," I said.
"It bears a resemblance to an Alkian confection We acquired several years ago," He said.
"We," I said.
"I am a member of a small group, Explorers like you, but we seek out challenges, problems to be solved Technological Biological, Social, Even artistic," he said.
"A think tank," I said.
"I like that, it's very apt, Our think tank is nearby, A modest vessel, I have come to offer you our help with your Hazari paradox," He said.
"Paradox," I said.
"That is right, Is it an escape route or is it a trap, Do they know, that you know that they know," he said. "It is the best kind of puzzle, Pure tactics, psychology,"
"Something tells me your help comes with a price tag," I said.
"Whatever your culture has to offer that is unique, Technology perhaps, or maybe something you would not even think to value, I would need a closer look at your database," He said.
"And how do I know you aren't an Hazari Trap," I said. "Maybe they're trying to lure us into an ambush like before,"
"You are wise to be suspicious, Captain, We have done preliminary analysis on their maneuvers, It does suggest some more likely ambushes. I've downloaded the data into your computer," He said.
"All right," I said. "You've got my attention, But I want to meet you face to face, and the rest of your crew,"
"Naturally, Our coordinates are in here too, but we have our own security concerns captain, Please bring only one crewman and no scanning equipment," he said.
"Fair enough," I said.
"Then I look forward to meeting you. In person," He said. Then he disappeared.
XXX
I was on the Bridge.
"We're approaching the coordinates," Tuvok said.
"Full stop, Shields up," I said.
"Looks like there's nothing here," Chakotay said.
"Maybe they're cloaked," Harry said.
"I'm reading a subspace flux," 7 said. "Something is coming out,"
"Red Alert," I said. As the Klaxons went Red.
"The vessel's hull is composed of a neutronium based alloy," Tuvok said.
"Starfleet's theorized about such materials, but we've never come close to producing them," I said.
"Neither have the Borg," 7 said. "The Think tanks technology is advanced,"
"Any sign of Hazari ships," I said.
"No, Not near by here," Harry said.
"Stand down Red Alert," I said. "Well you and I will have a chance to evaluate it first hand, Harry you have the Transport coordinates,"
XXX
Once we beamed in.
As something came near and started talking.
"The Universal translator must be inoperative," 7 said.
"Or his speech patterns are too complex to process," I said. "They must be studying it,"
"Actually, she is studying you," "Kurros said. "Our resident expert on temporal physics, Perhaps the most gifted member of our group, She finds you interesting,"
"How do you communicate," 7 said.
"One of my gifted crew. 7," I said.
"Bionetic implants Neural transceivers, A borg," Kurros said. "I've never seen one outside the collective,"
"I am an individual now, You may address your comments to me," 7 said.
"Forgive me," Kurros said. "I am Kurros and this is Fennim, In answer to your earlier question, this device allows the members of our group to communicate telepathically,"
"Impressive," 7 said.
As there was a Deep Reverberating moan.
"It sounds as if another member of our crew is anxious to meet you," Kurros said.
"A bioplasmic life form," 7 said.
"His name is Bevvox," Kurros said. "He prefers a variable gravity environment,"
"What is his specialty," I said.
"At the moment, Exo socialogy and quantum mechanics," Kurros said. "But his interests vary from time to time. Bevvox founded our group more than 100 years ago, after wandering the galaxy on his own for a few millennia,"
"How old is this creature," 7 said.
As the was a loud moan.
"If you please, that is a sensitive topic with him," Kurros said.
"Light way of putting it," I said.
"And there is one other individual who rounds out our group," Kurros aid.
"An artificial intelligence," 7 said.
"The mind of a mathematician and the soul of an artist, I'm afraid he'd much rather be modelling a fractal sculpture then analyzing the data of our lastest astronomical scan," Kurros said. "And now you have met us all, a small group of minds, but we have helped hundreds of clients, We turned the tide in the war between the Bara Plenum and the Motali Empire, Reignited the Red Giants of the Zai cluster, Just recently found a cure for the Vidiian Phage,"
"The Vidiians," I said.
"You would hardly recognize them now, Just last month we helped retrieve a Lyridian Childs runaway pet. A subspace mesomorph, I might add, We have to invent a whole now scanning technology just to find it," Kurros said.
"And what did you ask for as compensation," I said.
"One of their transgalactic star charts the best map of the known galaxy ever created," Kurros said. "When we helped the citizens of Rivo 5 resist the Borg, All we asked for was the recipe for their famous Zoth-nut soup, Care for a taste,"
"Another time, Perhaps," 7 said.
"Tell me is there any job you won't do," I said.
"What do you mean," Kurros said.
"Well we have a non-interference protocol, Our Prime Directive, I'm curious where you draw the line," I said.
"As you know there is no shortage of conflict in what you call the Delta Quadrant, Many of our clients are at war," Kurros said. "To be frank, we will assist in the neutralization of Fleets, Starbases, even planet but we will not participate in the decimation of an entire species, Nor will we design weapons f mass destruction, Hmm, My colleague here wishes to speak to 7 about her Bionetic technology, May he interface with you,"
"I am in direct telepathic communication with this individual It is requesting information about integrating organic components into it's technology," 7 said.
"Feel free to give him some pointers," I said.
"You're welcome," 7 said.
"To business, Captain," Kurros said. "I believe we can solve the Hazari Paradox without firing a single weapon,"
"That's just what I'm looking for," I said.
"Then there is only the matter of payment," Kurros said.
"Voyager's Schematics and an overview of it's database," I said. "Specify what you want and I'll see what I can do. But I'm afraid we can't give an weapons or some advanced technology. Protocol I'm afraid, But I'd Recommend the Replicators, They're very popular this year,"
"I'll contact you with our requests," Kurros said.
XXX
I was in back on the Bridge.
"Report," I said.
"I take it first contact was a success," Chakotay said.
"I have some qualms about their morality, But I believe they can help us," I said.
"It was in interesting experience," 7 said.
"Glad to hear hear it, Bad news," Chakotay said. "Every escape route we've considered is clearly a trap, and more Hazari ships keep joining the search,"
"Then we have no choice, we'll put our own plans on hold and see what the Think tank comes up with," I said.
XXX
I was in my Ready room. As my door bell rang.
"Come in," I said. As Tuvok came in.
"You have a visitor, Mr Kurros has returned in isomorphic form," Tuvok said.
"Send him in," I said. "Welcome back,"
"Captain, we have complied a short list of Items we would like, It was not easy, Voyager has a great deal to offer," Kurros said.
"Quantum slipstream technology. Heads up, We never got that to work reliably," I said.
"It is still intriguing, Theoretically," Kurros said.
"Neelix recipe for Chadre kab," I said.
"Yes," Kurros said.
"An Ancient Olmec figurine," I said. "I guess Commander Chakotay could be persuaded to part with it,"
"I'm pleased to hear that," Kurros said.
Then I saw something. 7. "You can't be serious," I said.
"I realize the next item may seem unorthodox, but I believe it can be beneficial to both of us," Kurros said.
"You never mentioned anything about Bartering my Crew members," I said.
"She will have an extraordinary opportunity to explore the galaxy as one of us," Kurros said.
"I'm afraid the answer is no," I said.
"I understand your feelings, Captain but, Have you thought to ask 7 herself," Kurros said.
XXX
"A curious proposition," 7 said.
"To say the least," I said.
"How do you wish to proceed," 7 said.
"I want your opinion," I said.
"They are offering us the assistance we require, I am the payment they require, The solution is obvious," 7 said.
"This isn't a puzzle 7, There's no solution, what's at issue here is your future," I said.
"The issue is Voyager's survival," 7 said.
"Sit," I said. "Please. "While I still question this Think Tank's way of doing things, There is genuine opportunity for exploration, it could be the chance of a lifetime,"
"You're saying I should go," 7 said.
"I don't want you to go, But it's not my right to tell you what to do," I said. "Until now, I've kept a close eye on your progress, helped you with decisions, But you've learned enough as an individual to make this decision yourself," I said. "Would you like to join them,"
"I am intrigued, They are an unusual collective with a compelling mission, but I require more data," 7 said.
"That's why I want you to talk to Kurros Yourself, See if he can answer your questions," I said.
"Leah, I appreciate your giving me this choice," 7 said.
"You've earned it, And remember if you do choose to go, make sure it's what you want. Don't worry about me or what is best for Voyager," I said. "We're getting out of this, with or without the Think Tank's help,"
XXX
Not too much longer I was called to the Bridge.
"Report," I said.
"We're picked up at least 2 Hazari ship headed right for us," Chakotay said.
"Red Alert," I said. As the Klaxons went red.
"7 of 9, report to the Bridge," Tuvok said.
"Do you have a problem, Captain," Kurros said.
"2 Hazari ships are approaching," I said.
"I have declined their offer," 7 said.
"Our first offer," Kurros said.
"Glad you're sticking around, Take your station," I said.
"They are dropping out of warp, Flanking our position," Tuvok said.
As we got hit.
"Which one fired," I said.
"The ship to starboard, Shields down to 60%," Tuvok said.
As we got hit again.
"Evasive maneuvers," Chakotay said. "Target their weapon system and return fire,"
"Their shields are holding," Tuvok said.
"I can't get away, They're right on top of us," Tom said.
As we got hit again.
"Hull integrity's been compromised on Deck 7 and 12," Harry said. "ZPM 1 and 2 to Shields and structural integrity's,"
"Captain when the Hazari strike in pairs," Kurros said.
"Wait don't tell me, One ship fires while the other one is supporting the firing ship," I said.
"Yes," Kurros said.
"How much in this tip going to cost me," I said.
"This one is free," Kurros said.
"I'll take it, Tuvok Target the support ship. Torpedoes, Full Spread," I said.
"Ready," Tuvok said.
"Fire," I said.
"They are disengaging," Tuvok said.
"Get us out of here, Maximum warp," I said. "Thanks for the help,"
"Consider it a friendly gesture of good will in the hopes that 7 will change her mind," Kurros said.
"I have not," 7 said.
"You are making a fatal mistake," Kurros said. "We have already analyzed hundreds of scenarios. Voyager will not survive without our help,"
"Your scenarios, Not mine," I said.
"Your confidence is unfounded, Captain," Kurros said. "Reconsider, Order 7 of 9 to join us,"
"We have an old expression, Kurros, Don't call us, we'll call you," I said. "Remodulate the shields to a Phase variant frequency,"
As Kurros was gone.
"His ship is vanishing from sensors," Tuvok said. "It's being absorbed into subspace,"
"I get the distinct feeling they won't take no for an answer," Chakotay said.
"Same here, Looks like we're facing 2 threats now, The Hazari and our would-be saviours," I said.
XXX
We set a trap for the Hazari. Now just waiting for a ship to take the bait.
"One Hazari ship are approaching the bait," Tuvok said.
"Cloak," I said.
"No sign that they saw us," Harry said.
"They've entered the debris field," Tuvok said.
"Detonate the spatial charges," I said. "Disengage the cloak,"
"Done," Harry said.
"Shields are up," Tuvok said. "Their vessel has taken heavy damage, Shields and weapons are offline,"
"Move us into position," I said. "Lock on a tractor beam and pull them into the shuttlebay,"
"We're in transporter range," Tom said.
"I've got a lock," Harry said. "2 Lifeforms,"
"Energize," I said.
"Got them," Harry said.
XXX
Chakotay and I was on the ship but not getting a damn thing.
"Any luck," I said.
"I'm still trying to access their primary database," Chakotay said.
As I knew Tuvok got here.
"Let me guess," I said. "They're the strong but silent types,"
"Very silent," Tuvok said.
"Did you try a mind meld," Chakotay said.
"Without success," Tuvok said. "They're unusually resistant,"
"Well hold of on the torture till we see what we can dig up here," I said.
"I found something," Chakotay said. "A series of encoded transmissions,"
"They've been discussing Voyager, Our coordinates, our defenses," I said.
"Whoever hired the Hazari know a lot about us," Tuvok said.
"Check their sensor logs, See if they had any visitors recently," I said.
"I've got some Bio readings, But they're pretty scrambled," Chakotay said.
"If they are bio readings, perhaps the Doctor can unscramble them," Tuvok said.
"Tell him to give it a try," I said.
XXX
Then I was down there.
"I've created a forensic reconstruction from the bio readings using the holo emitters, Brace yourselves," Doc said.
As an image of a Malon showed up.
"Malon," I said. "Huh, they must really hold a grudge, We haven't run into them for months, I'm sorry Doc, Something is wrong here,"
"The Malon are economically motivated," Tuvok said.
"And there's no profit in revenge," I said. "Take a look at this, Isomorphic signatures embedded in the bio readings, This is no Malon, It was only a projection,"
"You mean that's a hologram of a hologram," Doc said.
"In a manner of speaking," Tuvok said. "I believe I can restore the original bio signal parameters, Brace yourself,"
As it showed up.
"Motherfucker," I said. "Our Hazari paradox is more complex than we thought,"
XXX
"I believe we're both being manipulated by the same person," I said. "Recognize him,"
"No," he said.
"His name is Kurros," I said. "The Malon you met with was nothing more than a projection,"
"My sensors would have detected a hologram," He said.
"Not this one, Kurros is a member of a Think tank, They solve problems for a price, Oh you have heard of them," I said.
"They're notorious in this sector," he said. "They've made quite a few enemies,"
"Enemies who might be willing to pay a hell of a bounty," I said.
"Their technology is very advanced, Makes them difficult to track," He said.
"Not if we work together," I said. "You're the best hunters in the quadrant, And we have the perfect lure, All we have to do now is out think the think tank,"
XXX
"We have a problem and we are not leaving this room until we solve it, The Think Tank is out there somewhere hiding in subspace, How do we find them," I said. "And even if we can. Their ships hull in neutronium based alloy impervious to our weapons, How do we capture them,"
"What if we send out a multispatial probe," Harry said.
"It would take weeks of scanning to find them," B'Elanna said.
"Weeks," he said. "We're not willing to wait that long,"
"We could use subspatial charges to force them into the open," Tuvok said.
"Where do we target the charges," Chakotay said. "We've still got to find them first,"
"Maybe we're going about this the wrong way, A directly assault seems unlikely to succeed, Pure tactics, Psychology, that's how they solve problems, That's what we have to do, They've created this paradox to manipulate us into giving them 7. How do we manipulate them. Think," I said.
XXX
"Enough," He said. "3 hours, no progress, I should have contacted my ships by now,"
"Maybe we can't outthink them," I said.
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"We have to assume they've planned for every contingency, Including anything we could come up with to undermine their plan, This thing is driving me nuts, You said you knew the solution, Prove it," I said. Passing it to 7. As she got that. "7, how did you do that,"
"I scanned the device, It's mechanism operates on a simple fractal regression," 7 said.
"You scanned it," Tom said. "That's cheating,"
"Cheating is often more efficient," 7 said.
"If you can't solve a puzzle, Cheat. If you can't out think a think tank, Don't try," I said.
"Are you suggesting we give up," Neelix said.
"No, When you were in contact with the AI. You were linked through their internal communications array," I said.
"Yes for several seconds," 7 said.
"If you were to link with them again, We might be able to disrupt those systems, If they can't communicate, They can't function as a Think Tank. They'd be vulnerable," I said.
"Back to square one. How do we find them," Doc said.
"Simple we gave them what they want, You're going to join their group willingly," I said.
"They won't believe her," he said.
"We'll have to make them believe, Pull up a chair, We've got some more work to do," I said.
XXX
I was on the Bridge as we were at Red Alert. As our plan was working. Hazari ships were hitting us hard. Only hard enough. That.
"Let us be honest, Captain, Things do not seem to be going your way," Kurros said.
"Don't count us out just yet," I said.
"I admit you have been clever," Kurros said. "You uncovered our subterfuge, but you failed to factor in all the variables, the greed of the Hazari for example,"
"Photon Torpedoes," I said.
"Aft Launchers at still online," Tuvok said.
"Target a full spread at the lead Hazari ship," I said.
"A few torpedoes will not alter the outcome," Kurros said.
"Fire," I said.
"Direct hit it's been disabled," Tuvok said.
"Clinging to that .2 %, Hazari reinforcements should be here any minute," Kurros said.
"He's right, Sensors just picked up a half dozen ships on an intercept course," Tom said.
"Captain, I'm detecting an unauthorized shuttle launch. It's 7," Chakotay said.
"What the hell is she doing," I said.
"I believe she's saving you ship," Kurros said.
"She's not answering hails," Harry said. "Her shuttle's being pulled into subspace, She's gone,"
"Have a safe journey home, Captain," Kurros said. As he disappeared.
"Come on, 7, Come on," I said.
"Doctor to Bridge, 7's neural transceiver has been activated," Doc said.
"Acknowledged, Tuvok, Now," I said. "Harry Beam her back when you can,"
"I'm transmitting the carrier wave," Tuvok said.
"I'm ready," Harry said.
"Voyager to Hazari vessels, Their systems are down, Fire the Spatial charges," I said.
"They are being pulled out of subspace," Tuvok said.
"I've got a lock, Energizing," Harry said.
As 7 was beamed back to Voyager's bridge.
"The Hazari vessels are converging on the Think Tank," Tuvok said.
"Tom," I said.
"Setting a course," Tom said.
"I urge you to reconsider, Captain," Kurros said.
"A good guest knows when he's outstayed his welcome," I said.
"We can still negotiate a peaceful solution," Kurros said. "Do not destroy my faith in diplomacy,"
"You diplomacy could use some polishing," I said.
"You know you will never be satisfied here among these people Is this what you really want?" Kurros said.
"Acquiring knowledge is a worthy objective, but its pursuit has obviously not elevated you," 7 said.
"Oh, Having trouble, Looks like your ship's having difficulties," I said.
"A minor problem," Kurros said.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll find a solution, Just get it some thought," I said. As he vanished. "Tom, Get us out of here, maximum Warp,"
As we went to Warp.
That's all for this Chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!