Chapter 104.
Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy.
(Leah POV)
"Where did that come from," Chakotay said.
"Good question didn't don't show up on sensors until a few minutes ago," I said.
"T class nebula, 1,000 kilometre diameter, Hydrogen, Helium, Argon," Chakotay said.
"Nothing too dramatic," I said.
"If you want some drama, take a look at this," Chakotay said.
"To Captain Leah McCall, starship Voyager From emergency medical hologram, starship Voyager. Topic Status of emergency Medical Hologram, Starship Voyager," I said.
"He's filing a formal grievance," Chakotay said.
"Regarding," I said.
"His treatment by the crew, there's also a paragraph about his future on Voyager and a proposal for his advancement," Chakotay said.
"failure to Acknowledge sentience, Rude Behaviour, What the heck. A request to be made Captain in the event of a catastrophic emergency," I said. "He's serious,"
"Dead serious and he wants a formal response for the record," Chakotay said.
"Protocol allows for Commander Chakotay or myself to address his demands, if the Captain would prefer," Tuvok said.
"No I'll take care of it, I don't want anybody to be uncomfortable on this ship. I guess we should all try to be a little more considerate of his feelings," I said.
"Captain, he does it to himself," Tom said. "He's Chief medical officer, Is it our fault that's not enough for him,"
"Resume course toward the planet, Chakotay you have the bridge. I've got a formal response to draft," I said.
XXX
"The layer of antonium runs right along the edge of the canyon," B'Elanna said.
"My scans show geological instability within 100 meters of the target location," 7 said.
"I could put the Flyer down just outside of that," Tom said.
"I don't know, Tom. That might be a little too far," Neelix said.
"What's the matter, Neelix, Afraid of a little exercise," Tom said.
"Well, I think we could handle a 100 meter stroll," B'Elanna said.
"I have to agree," Tom said.
"Maybe getting there, It's coming back, I'm worried about," Neelix said. "We'll be loaded down with ore, If the ground is unstable,"
"I suggest limiting the team member's to 20 kilograms, Preliminary scans indicate the crust is dense enough to support that weight," 7 said.
"You might try carrying a transport enhancer to the site," Tom said.
"That's not a bad idea, We'll beam the ore back to the Delta flyer, and we won't have to carry anything," Neelix said.
"You know, this mission is starting to look a little more dangerous than we thought, Maybe we do need the doctor to come along," B'Elanna said. If one of us fell through the crust there could be injuries,"
"We'll be able to get a transporter lock on you still won't we," I said.
"Yes," B'Elanna said.
"Then we beam any one who gets hurt straight to sickbay," I said. "That everything,"
"Yes," Tom said.
"Alright we have a plan, Let's do it, Dismissed," I said. "Doc, Doc,"
"Yes, Captain," Doc said.
"Let's talk about these demands of yours," I said.
As we went into my ready room.
"I've given you a great deal of freedom on this ship," I said.
"I'm not disputing that," Doc said.
"But you're not satisfied, either," I said.
"I should be allowed to participate and advance according to my abilities, Like any other member of this crew," Doc said.
"You should also know your limits," I said.
"My program can be expanded indefinitely, I don't have limits," Doc said.
"Maybe, but we all have primary responsibilities, Yours in Sickbay," I said.
"I'm a computer program, Multiply tasking is second nature to me," Doc said.
This proposal of your to be made a, What," I said. "What did you call it,"
"ECH, Emergency Command hologram," Doc said.
"In Principle, it's an interesting idea, A backup captain in case I'm incapacitated, and the command structure breaks down, But expanding your program would take months of work," I said.
"The lives of the crew may depend on it someday," Doc said.
"I'm afraid the answer is no, Doc, However, As part of my formal response, I have recommended that Starfleet assign a team of engineers to consider your proposal, When we get back to the Alpha Quadrant, I'll pass it along," I said.
"Thank you Captain," Doc said.
"Thanks Doc," I said.
"Captain, Is there something wrong," Doc said. "About the proposal,"
"Official, No, but unofficial, That thought does kind of worry me," I said.
"What do you mean," Doc said.
"Have you watched any movies lately," I said.
"Afraid not," Doc said. "But if I may ask what does that have to do with this,"
"Let me tell you about one. It's was about an AI. A program like yourself. It became Self aware But this one went overkill. It decided the entire of Humanity's fate in a millisecond," I said.
"Which was what," Doc said.
"Extermination," I said.
"Genocide," Doc said.
"Exactly," I said.
"It's part of you for a reason, Why," Doc said.
"It happened before in Starfleet's history," I said.
"When," Doc said.
"Remember when we Kat," I said. And the Doctor nodded. "That was the Battle against An AI known to Starfleet as control, It wanted to became self aware. Official it was respond able for destruction of Discovery. But After what Kat told me after we found her. It's out there somewhere. If Control is ever brought back. And it does it again. We could be looked and the same effect but the entire universe,"
"But as a Doctor, I'm programmed to do no harm," Doc said.
"But you will have command directives going through you too, Eventually, it was force you to do the same, No offense Doc, but if we ever do agree to make these changes someday, I want to make sure we have a few fail safes," I said.
"Indeed," Doc said. "Thank you Captain, One last question. What was this movie called?"
"Terminator," I said. As the Doctor nodded and left.
XXX
As the away team leaves Voyager in the Flyer and headed down to the planet.
As the Doctor and 7 was up here just in case.
"Voyager to Delta Flyer, report," Harry said.
"We're approaching the canyon Phew, what a view," Tom said.
"I'm sure it is," Doc said.
"Put us in a synchronous orbit about their landing coordinates," I said. "Doc how's the away team," But nothing. "Doc, the Away team,"
"Readings confirm, of course. The away team's physiologies are within acceptable parameters," Doc said. "All life sign stable,"
"You all clear to proceed Tom," Harry said.
"Understood," I said. "We'll contact you again when we reach the site,"
XXX
"You look lovely tonight 7, where shall we go, That sounds wonderful," Doc said.
"The hell," I said.
"The new algorithms have completely taken over his program," B'Elanna said.
"Ambassador," Doc said.
"So now he's daydreaming constantly, That would explain what happened on the Bridge," I said.
"It's a photonic Cannon, I designed it myself," Doc said.
"He seems to be randomly jumping from one to the next," B'Elanna said
As the Doc bumped into the forcefield.
"Oh pardon me, Miss," Doc said.
"I routed his subroutines to Holodeck 1, so Harry and 7 could monitor his fantasies," B'Elanna said.
"Do you think that's appropriate," I said. "They're his fantasies, And I promise him we'd show a little more consideration,"
"It'll give us a better idea of what's going on, help us fix him," B'Elanna said.
"Mr. Neelix how thoughtful You baked a cake," Doc said.
"Kim to Sickbay," Harry said.
"Harry please tell me you got something," I said.
"You might want to have a look at this," Harry said.
"We're on our way," I said.
As we got down there.
"He does the hands very well," I said.
"Apparently, he's had a great deal of practice, Look at these," 7 said.
Then It changed to the Bridge and at Red Alert.
"Computer, Activate the Emergency Command hologram," Doc said.
"This is the part I like," Harry said As 4 pits showed up.
"Nice touch, Don't get any ideas," I said.
"Bring the photonic Cannon online," Doc said.
"The photonic Cannon," I said.
"A weapon of mass destruction, Created by the Doctor," Harry said.
"Of course," I said.
"In many of his fantasies, he takes command and saves the ship," 7 said.
"I see," I said.
"Which means that particular algorithm is more easily accessible than the others," Harry said.
"So if we can isolate it, We might be able to stabilize his program," B'Elanna said.
Then It changed.
"Why do you torment me like this," B'Elanna said.
"The hell," I said.
"That was never my intention," Doc said.
"It wasn't," B'Elanna said.
"I want you to be happy, B'Elanna," Doc said.
"Without you," B'Elanna said.
"What," The Real one said.
"Shh," I said.
"I'll always be fond of you, that will never change," Doc said.
"You can't just leave me," B'Elanna said. "I couldn't bear to be alone,"
"Aren't you forgetting someone," Doc said. "He needs you B'Elanna now more than ever,"
"Forget him, he's not half the man you are," B'Elanna said.
"Okay we do not mention that to Tom," I said.
"Agreed," B'Elanna said. "I've seen enough of this,"
"All right let's go back to sickbay and try to isolate that algorithm," Harry said.
"Remember what I said not a word to Tom about that," I said
Then it changed.
"Congratulations," A version of me said.
"Think you for this opportunity, Captain, All I've ever wanted was to live up to my full potential to hone all my skills, expands my abilities, to help the people I love," Doc said.
XXX
"I came to check on your patient," I said.
"He's doing just fine, Captain," Doc said. "It took Lt Torres half the night to stabilize my matrix, but I haven't had a single flight of fancy since. I apologize for altering my program without permission,"
"Well at least there wasn't any permanent damage," I said.
"I'm afraid there was," Doc said. "I've been exposed, humiliated, Turned inside out for all the world to see, If I've lost your respect,"
"That will never happen, Certainly not because we've seen a few random fantasies, We all daydream, Doc, It helps us imagine other possibilities in life, Just hold off until we've fingered out a way for you to do it without damaging yourself, Alright," I said.
XXX
My door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
As Chakotay walked in.
"Ship status report," Chakotay said. "Federation law, Thinking about a career change,"
"In a way, Not for me, though, I've been going over the legal precedents for granting command positions to holograms," I said. "There aren't any,"
"Captain, this ship needs its Doctor, He should focus on what he was programmed for," Chakotay said. "Medical care,"
"I think we've underestimated him because of our own human limitations, His full potential's unknown, Chakotay," I said.
"Would you be comfortable handing over your ship to a computer program," Chakotay said.
"Well I don't know if I'd take it that far. As long as it doesn't become another Skynet or Control," I said.
"You might have to, he probably won't settle for less," Chakotay said heading out.
XXX
I was on the bridge.
"Captain we're about to be attacked alien vessels are approaching," Doc said.
"There's nothing on the sensors, Doc," Tom said.
"The vessels are cloaked," Doc said.
"How do you know this," Chakotay said.
"One of the aliens contacted me," Doc said.
"I've detected no transmissions," Tuvok said.
"He spoke to me in a day dream," Doc said.
"I don't want to hear it, However I would like to know why you've disobeyed my direct order," I said.
"I can prove it to you, the alien told me how to reconfigure our sensors to compensate for their cloaking field," Doc said.
"Do it," I said.
"He's right, I'm picking up 3 ships out there, Distance 600 million kilometers, headed right for us," Harry said.
"On screen," I said. "Maximum magnification,"
"the alien won't help us unless we help him," Doc said.
"What if this is all part of their attack, A ruse," Tom said.
"He's already helped us compensate for their cloak, I'm inclined to believe him," Chakotay said.
"So am I, But I'd just as soon set a course away from here at maximum warp," I said.
"That will only delay a confrontation, They have vessels hidden throughout the entire sector," Doc said.
"Did your friend have a plan," I said.
"He said they're running what's called a type 3 stealth assault, They won't decloak until they're right on top of us, at which point they'll fire a warning shot across our bow, then come the demands for supplies and technology, if we don't comply, they'll destroy us," Doc said. "Fortunately the alien promised to transmit the resonance frequencies of their phasers,"
"And in return," Tuvok said.
"In Return, he mistakenly informed his superiors that I was in command of Voyager, To keep himself from being demoted, he was us to maintain that fiction, When they open the channel I have to be sitting in the Captain's chair," Doc said. "I'm sorry captain by he insisted,"
"Well I guess it's time to turn fantasy into reality, Harry give him a hand," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
As they went.
"I'll be in Astrometrics with 7. But let's get ready for this, Red Alert," I said. As the Klaxons went red. "See you after this,"
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
XXX
I was down in Astrometrics with 7.
"Captain, we're ready to proceed," Chakotay said.
"Acknowledged, Commander," I said.
"The internal comlink is active," 7 said. "No one will be able to hear you but the Doctor,"
"Doc you ready," I said.
"No, but do I have a choice," Doc said.
"I'll be with you every step of the way," I said. "Just remember, I'm still the captain,"
"Understood," Doc said.
"I'm receiving a transmission on a secure channel, Audio only," Tuvok said.
"Must be the Doctor's friend, Let hear what he has to say," Chakotay said. "Doctor,"
"Hello, Voyager here, it's me," Doc said.
"Doctor something terrible has happened, They've ordered a Type 4 assault, Our phaser frequencies will be rotated continuously, I won't be able to help you," he said.
"Evasive maneuvers," Chakotay said.
"3 vessels are de cloaking off the port bow," Tuvok said.
As we got hit.
"That didn't feel like a warning shot," Tom said.
"Direct hit, Shields are holding," Tuvok said.
"They're hailing us," Harry said.
"This is it, Doctor," Chakotay said. "On screen,"
"The hierarchy controls this region of space, Your ship has supplies and technology that we require," He said.
"Doc, Tell him we'll defend ourselves, you won't get what your after," I said.
Which he does almost.
"Doc, Don't improvise," I said.
"Sorry," Doc whispered.
An exchange of fire would damage both our ships, but we have support nearby You are alone Take your weapons offline and prepare to be b," As it got cut off.
"Captain, I've found a potential weakness in their shields, But I'll need time to reconfigure our phasers," Tuvok said.
"Tuvok Do it, ready torpedoes also," I said.
"Keep him occupied Doctor, On screen," Chakotay said.
"This is my final warning," He said.
"Don't rush me," Doc said.
"Take your weapons offline immediately," He said. "I won't ask again,"
"You appear to be suffering from a physio-emotive disorder, You're impatient, quick to anger, Do you have any idea what that does to your vascular pressure," Doc said.
"Doc what did I say about improvising," I said.
"Firing Phasers," Tuvok said.
"Direct hit," Harry said.
"HA, How do you like that huh, a taste of your own medicine," Doc said.
"Tone it down, Doc," I said.
As we got hit.
"Our phasers are offline," Tuvok said.
"Prepare to be boarded," he said.
"It's time to negotiate, Doc," I said.
"Tuvok," Doc said. "Activate the photonic cannon. Lt, I give your an order,"
"Activating the photonic Cannon.. Sir," Tuvok said.
"I'd rather not give the order to fire," Doc said.
"my sensors are showing no activation sequence," He said.
"Of course not, The photonic cannon is impervious to sensors," Doc said.
"The Borg couldn't detect it either, that's why they were destroyed," Doc's friend said.
"The Borg, The Hierarchy, All the same to me, Just another bully who didn't know when to back off," Doc said.
"We'll be vaporized," Doc's friend said.
"They've cut the channel," Tom said.
"They're moving away at maximum impulse," Harry said.
"Tom get us out here," I said. As I cut the channel. "Okay that was a good improvise,"
XXX
"7 do it," I said.
"7 to the Doctor," 7 said.
"Go ahead," Doc said.
"I require your assistance in the mess hall," 7 said.
"I'll be right there," Doc said.
"Everyone get ready," I said.
Not long after the Doc shows up.
"Surprise," We all said.
"Don't worry, Doc, You're not dreaming," Harry said.
"Captain," Doc said.
"For your imaginative defense of this ship and her crew, I'm awarding you the Starfleet medal of Commendation, Congratulations," I said.
"Thank you," Doc said.
"I've also reconsidered your request, I'm going to authorize a research project to explore your command abilities, You're a natural," I said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!