Chapter 106.
Riddles.
(Leah POV)
We got a Distress call from Neelix and Tuvok on the Delta Flyer. We managed to get them back but we had to beam both Neelix and Tuvok to Sickbay. As I headed down there.
"Report," I said.
"He's in neuroleptic shock, I'll need another 20 milligrams of synaptizine," Doc said.
"I'll get it," Neelix said.
"It's not working, I'll need to try direct cortical stimulation, initiate a neurostatic pulse on my mark," Doc said.
"Right," I said got to the console.
"Now!" Doc said. "Again,"
As I hit him again.
"Doc," I said.
"His vital signs have stabilized for the moment anyway," Doc said. "But he suffered severe neurological trauma,"
"Do you know what caused it," I said.
"Some kind of alien weapon," Doc said.
"By the time, I reached Tuvok, whoever had attacked him was gone," Neelix said.
"What about the surrounding space, Any sign of cloaked ships," I said.
"Between trying to tend to the commander and piloting the Flyer. I had my hands full. I didn't think to scan for cloaked ships, I'm sorry," Neelix said.
"You saved Tuvok's life Neelix, You have nothing to be sorry about," I said. "How do you plan to treat him,"
"I won't know until I've run a series of neurological scans, But it would certainly help to know something about the weapon," Doc said.
"Neelix, these Kesat you were negotiating with, any reason to believe they might know something about this," I said.
"It couldn't hurt to ask," Neelix said.
"Time to reopen diplomatic channels," I said.
XXX
"Deputy Investigator Naroq. Kesat security," Naroq said. "Captain McCall. Commander Chakotay, Ambassador Neelix,"
"You certainly done your homework," I said.
"I familiarized myself with the facts on the way here," Naroq said.
"We're hoping you can help us shed some light on what happened to our crewman," Chakotay said.
"I believe I can, Based on the information you provided, It is my opinion that he was a victim of the Ba'Neth," Naroq said.
"I've never heard of them," I said.
"I'm not surprised, In my language, their name means Shadow people, They're a species obsessed with concealing their identity, Extremely paranoid and xenophobic," Naroq said.
"That's explains their cloaking technology," I said.
"It's my belief they've been responsible for several unexplained attacks similar to this one," Naroq said.
"Why wasn't I warned about them during my negotiating with your government," Neelix said.
"Because my government's official position is that the Ba'Neth don't exist," Naroq said. "Most people think they're myth,"
"There's nothing mythical about what happened to Mr. Tuvok," Chakotay said. "Why is your government so skeptical,"
"Because there have been so few encounters with the Ba'Neth. And well, no one's ever actually seen one," Naroq said.
"How many encounters are we talking about exactly," I said.
"Before this, 12," Naroq said.
"We're lucky 13," Chakotay said.
"You're lucky, I gave my supervisor 2 bottles of Kesatian ale to get this assignment," Naroq said. "Any other inspector would have simply attributed Commander Tuvok's injuries to unexplained phenomena,"
"No offense, Mr. Naroq," I said. "But what makes you so sure the Ba'Neth aren't just a Myth,"
"This incident fits the pattern, Captain, All of the alleged encounters have occurred aboard vessels foreign to this sector, I believe they've been attempts by the Ba'Neth to assess the technology of new arrivals," Naroq said.
"They were trying to download Tactical data on the Delta Flyer," Neelix said.
"And Commander Tuvok suffered severe neural damage, that's also consistent with previous attacks," Naroq said. "the Ba'Neth were making sure he would not tell anyone what he saw,"
"Maybe that's why Tuvok's Tricorder was destroyed, They didn't want us to see the cloaking frequency he'd found," I said.
"He found a cloaking frequency," Naroq said.
"Apparently," I said.
"Captain, I don't blame you for finding my theories a bit eccentric, I'm used to it, It's why I'm still a deputy investigator, But I've brought equipment to help your investigation," Naroq said. "Let me examine Commander Tuvok and run scans on the vessel where he was attacked. I may finally be able to prove my theories,"
"With all due respect. We're more interested in saving Tuvok's life," I said.
"If we work together maybe we can do both," Naroq said.
XXX
"His cognitive, memory and logic centers have all been severely damaged," Doc said.
"But he still has brain activity, which is more than I can say for any of the previous victims," Naroq said.
"Vulcan neural tissue is extremely resilient," Doc said. "I have no doubt that a brain from a lesser species would not have survived,"
"If you could only tell us what you saw. Mr. Tuvok," Naroq said.
"I don't think we'll be hearing from him anytime soon," Doc said.
"Keep working. I'll let you know if we find anything that might help, I'll take you to see where the attack occurred," I said.
XXX
We were in the Delta Flyer with 7.
"Commander Chakotay says you've found something," I said.
"That, Captain is an understatement," Naroq said. "Listen,"
"What is it," I said.
"The sound of history being made," Naroq said.
"Less poetry, Naroq, more facts," I said.
"The sound you're hearing indicates the presence of veridium isotopes," Naroq said.
"Residual particles from the Ba'Neth's cloaking field," 7 said.
"You've detected these isotopes before," I said.
"Yes but only after they've decayed, you see, Veridium has a very brief half life, Less than 70 hours," Naroq said. "the previous sites, I've studied have been months, sometimes years old,"
"But these isotopes are still active," I said.
"We can use Mr. Naroq photolitic converter to illuminate them," 7 said.
"So you see Captain why this is an historic moment, We may finally learn what the Ba'Neth look like," Naroq said.
"Well let's see what we've got," I said.
"You don't know how long I've waited to meet you," Naroq said.
"So, the Ba'Neth aren't a myth after all," I said.
"This is the clearest image ever captured," Naroq said.
"Perhaps, I believe can adjust our internal sensors to improve it," 7 said.
"What are you doing, What are you You might disrupt the image entirely," Naroq said.
"Tentacles, I always suspected they were multipedes, " Naroq said.
"Doctor to the captain, Please report to sickbay," Doc said.
"On my way," I said. "7 if we can integrate Naroq's photolitic technology into the deflector array, we might be able to de cloak a Ba'Neth ship,"
"The technology only works at close range, We have to find the ship before we can expose it," Naroq said. "We still need that cloaking frequency,"
"One step at a time," I said.
XXX
"The Vulcan brain, A puzzle wrapped inside an enigma, housed inside a cranium, Tuvok's neural Pathways have began to bypass the damaged tissue, they're forming new synaptic connections," Doc said. "In effect his brain is rewiring itself, Whether this is due to my neurostatic therapy or Neelix's rehabilitation regimen or some combination of the 2, I can't be certain,"
"Is there any chance he'll make a full recovery," I said.
"It's much too soon to say, But he's alert and he's already regained his basic motor skills," Doc said.
"But still no speech," I said.
"It's only a matter of time, captain, Look how far he's come already," Neelix said.
"I hope you're right Neelix. But if he could talk, he might be able to tell us something about that cloaking frequency," I said.
"We're not sure how much he recalls, for that matter, we're not certain he recognizes any of us, or even knows who he is," Doc said.
"I'm going to take him on a tour of the ship, the Doctor thinks that familiar sights and sounds might get the old synaptic juices flowing," Neelix said. "Don't worry, Captain, Tuvok will be back to his old self before you can say Live long and prosper,"
XXX
I was on the Bridge.
"Astrometrics to the Bridge. Mr. Naroq and I have completed our deflector modifications," 7 said. "We're ready to test the array,"
"Stand by. Reduce speed to one quarter impulse, Clara, Full power to the Deflector array," I said.
"Ready," Clara said.
"All right, 7 light it up," I said.
"Activating the deflector," 7 said.
"I'd call that a pretty successful test, " Tom said. as it showed a ship.
"They've been watching us all along," Chakotay said.
"Hail them," I said.
"Which one," Clara said. "There's practically a fleet out there, Dad,"
"All of them," I said.
"Channel open," Clara said.
"This is Captain Leah McCall of the Federation Starship Voyager, We intend you no harm," I said.
"They're charging weapons," Clara said.
"Shields up," I said.
As we got hit As we went to Red Alert as the Klaxons went red.
"They're scrambling, Captain, In all directions," Tom said.
"Follow the lead vessel," I said.
As we got hit again.
"Shields are holding, Dad but I have no idea for how long with that firepower," Clara said.
As we got hit again.
"Still no response to our hails," Harry said.
As we got hit again.
"I hate to ruin a good chase, But the Ba'Neth ship is moving out of the deflector range," Tom said.
"7, Can you get their cloaking frequency," I said.
"They've blocking our scans," 7 said.
"We've lost them," Chakotay said.
XXX
"We need Tuvok to tell us anything he can remember about the attack," Naroq said.
"Captain, He may be talking again, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be interrogated," Neelix said. "He's beginning to experience emotions volatile ones, During this last encounter with the Ba'Neth he was terrified,"
"We'll tread lightly, I promise," I said.
"All right Tuvok you can come in now," Neelix said.
"It's nice to see you," I said.
"Captain McCall," Tuvok said.
"That's right," I said. "This is Mr. Naroq, Please sit down. "2 days ago, you were aboard the Delta Flyer with Mr. Neelix, You detected a cloaked intruder,"
"He attacked you," Naroq said.
"Yes, that's why I am having difficulty now," Tuvok said.
"Yes and in order to help you, We have to find the people who hurt you," I said.
"Before the intruder injured you, You managed to scan him with this, You recorded his cloaking frequency," Naroq said. "But the tricorder was damaged and the information was lost, can you tell us anything about that frequency,"
"Try to remember," I said.
"I was scanning," Tuvok said.
"That's right, What did you see," I said.
"I I don't remember," Tuvok said dropping the destroyed tricorder.
"Try," Naroq said.
"All right, That's enough," I said. "We're down for now,"
"But Captain," Naroq said.
"Join 7 in astrometrics, See if she's made any progress with the Ba'Neth," I said.
"Well, we should be going too," Neelix said. "A few of the crew have offered to help with Tuvok's Rehabilitation,"
"I thought we might have lunch later, just the 2 of us," I said.
"I prefer to stay with Neelix," Tuvok said.
"Oh Tuvok, I'm sure that you would," Neelix said.
"It's all right, you 2 go ahead," I said. "I have a lot of work to do anyway,"
XXX
I just got to the Mess hall. As I saw Tom and Harry trying something.
"From your mouth to the Captain's Ears," Tom said.
As Harry saw me.
"She must of heard me," Harry said.
"What's all this," I said.
"We're having fun," Tuvok said.
"Uh turns out Tuvok is quit the pastry chef," Tom said.
"Would you like some Terra nut soufflé, Captain," Tuvok said.
"I'd love some, Thank you," I said. "Wow. That is delicious,"
"I'm pleased that you like it," Tuvok said.
"Neelix better watch out. Or he is out of the job. At least for deserts," I said. As Harry and Tom laughed. As I headed over. "What are you making now?"
"Pistachio cake with Parra cream Sauce," Tuvok said.
"Oh Parra Cream's came one of my favourites," I said.
"Then you'll have the first place," Tuvok said.
"Tuvok, Have you remembered anything more about what happened on the Delta Flyer," I said.
"I detected a cloaking frequency," Tuvok said.
"Yes, that's right," I said. "Can you describe it?"
"I don't know," Tuvok said.
"Easy Tuvok, don't try to force them, Let them in," I said. "Did it have a symmetric modulation, Was the Amplitude constant,"
"I don't understand," Tuvok said.
"It's all right, Tuvok, I'm don't mean to push you, But maybe if we could," I said.
"It's difficult for him, captain," Neelix said.
"I know, But if we can ease Tuvok into them, It may come back to him," I said.
"This, This is what I saw," Tuvok said.
"What is it?" Neelix said.
"The Cloaking Frequency," I said. "You let them in didn't you,"
"Yes," Tuvok said.
"It's an old trick, Don't try and force them in. Just let them in," I said.
XXX
"Captain's Log Supplemental, the Computer has analyzed Tuvok's Diagram and Identified the Ba'Neth Cloaking frequency, We've narrowed the search to a handful of systems, End Log," I said.
"Captain, We got a 9 million terawatt cloaking field in Grid 216," Harry said.
"Red Alert, Shields up, charge weapons," I said. As the Klaxons went red.
"9 million terawatts," Chakotay said.
"D. Mum whatever they're hiding is huge. Some these readings. I'd say we are looking at a Starbase," Clara said.
"Alter Course, Tom," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
"Bridge to Astrometrics Status," I said.
"The Deflector array is ready, Captain," 7 said.
"We're within range," Tom said.
"7, Light them up," I said.
"D. Mum, I was right, It's a starbase and It's armed. Lifesign 3,000, 22 ships," Clara said.
"Hail them," I said.
"No response, Captain," Harry said.
"They're charging weapons," Chakotay said.
"Harry ZPM 1 to Shields," I said.
"Done," Harry said.
"Open a channel all subspace bands," I said.
"They're firing," Chakotay said.
As we got hit.
"Cease fire immediately," I said as we got hit again. "Or I'll transmit the coordinates of this outpost to the Kesat Homeworld. Fire on us again and I'll send it and return fire,"
"That got their attention," Tom said.
"Several Days ago, A member of your species attacked one of my crewmen, He was badly injured in order to treat him, I need to know more about the weapon that was used," I said.
"They're responding Mum. Audio Only," Clara said.
"We do not share technology," They said.
"But you take it from others," I said. "the Attacker was downloading our tactical database when the incident occurred,"
"We must assess potential threats," They said.
"Paranoid, Just as I predicted," Naroq said.
"In exchange for information about your weapon, We'll provide you with Tactical data on several species we've encountered. You can assess their potential threats all you want," I said.
"The Kesat investigator aboard your vessel cannot be trusted," They said.
"You know about me," Naroq said.
"You have been attempting to expose us for years," They said. "You are a threat. You must be stopped,"
"They're charging weapons again," Chakotay said.
"Wait," Naroq said. "It was my photolitic converter that allowed Voyager to de cloak you, If you give Captain McCall what she wants, I'll give you the converter, You can use it to adapt your technology so ours can no longer expose you,"
"I doubt you'll get as enticing an offer from the Kesat Homeworld, It would be a shame of you forced me to hail them. Or we can do the Deal and We will erase your from our database as well," I said.
"We have an agreement," They said.
XXX
It was done and the change was made and done. The Doctor has completed his analyze and he's made a procedure to treat Tuvok. We have returned Naroq back to him homeworld and resumed a course for home.
That's all for this Chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!