Chapter 121.
Lifeline.
(Leah POV)
I was on the Bridge. As we still heading for home at impulse for a bit.
"7 to the Bridge," 7 said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"We're receiving a transmission from Starfleet," 7 said.
"Route it here," I said.
"It's not a comlink, Captain It appears to be a compressed data stream badly degraded," 7 said.
"On my way," I said.
XXX
As we were in the Conference room.
"They say good things come in small packages, This is all the data they could send us, until next month," I said.
"Next Month," B'Elanna said.
"They're using a cyclic pulsar, to amplify signals from the MIDAS Array, But the cycle only peaks every 32 days," Chakotay said.
"So once a month we'll be able to receive a short burst of information, and we'll have about 17 hours to respond," I said.
"So far we've gotten, tactical updates, letters from home, and news about the Alpha Quadrant," Chakotay said.
"I don't suppose they found us a shortcut home," Harry said.
"It doesn't look that way," Chakotay said.
"We don't have much time to prepare a response, and we'll have to keep it short, But I want to give everyone an opportunity to send something, Even if it's only a brief note, Inform the Crew," I said.
"Yes Ma'am." Tom said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
"Lt Barclay, the Pathfinder Project, They didn't give up on us, So when you write those letters you might want to thank them," I said.
XXX
"I believe I can help him Captain," Doc said.
"How," I said.
"You remember the Vidiians, The early stages of the phage are very similar to Dr. Zimmerman's Disease," Doc said. "I believe I can adapt a variety of Borg Regeneration techniques to arrest the cell damage, maybe even reverse it,"
"Make sure to pass along your findings, Thank you Doc," I said.
"Actually I was hoping to administer the treatment myself," Doc said.
"What are you suggesting," I said.
"I'd like you to send my program back to the Alpha Quadrant," Doc said. "None of the Doctors at Starfleet are familiar with these techniques, It would take them months to fully understand them much less put them to use,"
"Even if you could send you, You're needed here," I said.
"Mr. Paris can take over Sickbay, He's more than capable, We've done this once before there weren't any problems," Doc said.
"3 Years ago, And we used alien technology," I said.
"I've spoken to 7, She believes we can compress my program," Doc said.
"There's limited space in the data stream, If we send you there won't be room for anything else," I said.
"I realize I'd be asking the crew to make a sacrifice on my behalf, but they can wait another month, Dr. Zimmerman might not have that time," Doc said.
"I'm Sorry, He's not doing well. Unusual man. I met him once at a conference, Managed to offend just about everyone there, But he was certainly brilliant, I'm sure Starfleet is consulting their best physicians, Doc," I said.
"They are but no one been able to develop a cure, I have, But I can't treat a patient who's 30,000 lightyears away," Doc said.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Captain," Doc said.
"This is the first time we're attempting to send a response, We don't know if it'll even get through," I said.
"I'm willing to take that risk," Doc said.
"I'm not, "I said.
"He programmed me, Every algorithm, every subroutine, if it weren't for his years of work, I wouldn't be standing here, I owe him something, And frankly so does this crew," Doc said. "In a way, he's responsible for every life I've saved,"
"Lewis Zimmerman designed the template for Starfleet's EMH, You're one of thousands based on that technology, It's not as though he's your father," I said.
"From your perspective, from Mine, he's the closest thing I've got," Doc said. "If I don't try to help him now, I may never get the chance,"
"You'll have to find a way to convince Tom to take those duty shifts, I'm not," I said.
"He's already agreed," Doc said.
"Tell him Captain Scotty said hello," I said. "That's what he kept calling me at the Conference, I think he did it just to get on my nerves,"
"I've heard he can be difficult," Doc said.
"I certainly hope you get a chance to find out," I said.
"Thank you Captain," Doc said.
As he left.
XXX
We were in Astrometrics.
"Bon Voyage," I said.
"See you in a month," Doc said.
"No later, Harry," I said.
"Don't get lost," Harry said.
"Transmitting now," 7 said. "Done,"
"Guess we keep going until next month," I said. "McCall to Bridge, Resume Course Warp 9,"
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
XXX
I was in my Ready Room. As my door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
"Good morning," Chakotay said.
"Yeah," I said.
"Problem," Chakotay said.
"I haven't decided, I've just listened to a communique from Admiral Hayes," I said.
"Nice to have friends in high places," Chakotay said.
As I played it.
"Hello Captain," Hayes said. "I hope this message finds you well, from what I understand it has not be easy, But I want you to know that a lot of people her are very proud of what you've accomplished, I also want to assure you that we have not given up finding a way to get you home, We've redirected 2 deep space vessels towards your position, if all goes well, they could rendezvous with you in the next 5 to 6 years," As I paused it.
"Computer Advance to time index, 121.4," I said.
"As we get closer and our conversations become more frequent," Hayes said. "When you respond to this message, Please let us know of any casualties. I'm sure you've had more than your share, I'm anxious to know that status of your crew, The Maquis, First contacts that you've made, Interactions with the Borg, But there'll be time for everything, Our thought are with you, Talk to you soon,"
"What?" Chakotay said.
"Status of the Maquis," I said.
"Do you find that surprising," Chakotay said.
"I don't think of you or B'Elanna or the others as Maquis," I said. "I think of you as part of my crew,"
"You may have forgotten but we haven't, You heard the Admiral, It'll be years, before we have to deal with those issues," Chakotay said. "Let's worry about it then. But what's the plan when we get the Doctor back,"
"We use the hyperdrive get a bit more closer to home. Hopefully we find a Stargate nearby get Starfleet to send us more supplies," I said.
"That's a plan I can get behind," Chakotay said. "Lunch,"
"Sorry, With my Girl's," I said. "See you later," As Chakotay left.
XXX
It's been another 2 weeks. As we came across something that 7 has called me and Chakotay down to Astrometrics.
"What you got 7?" I said.
"I picked up a planet on long range sensors," 7 said.
"What special about it," Chakotay said.
"How a look at the energy reading," 7 said.
"Another Ancient outpost," I said. "How far away,"
"A Week away on our current course," 7 said.
"Any Species claimed it," I said.
"None," 7 said.
"Chakotay get us on course for the planet maximum warp," I said. As Chakotay left.
"Keep scanning the planet. See if we can find anything new, Apart if it is just an outpost," I said.
"Already doing so," 7 said.
"Starfleets next Data stream should be in 2 days, Keep an eye out for the Doc," I said.
"Already am," 7 said.
"See you later," I said.
XXX
The Last 6 Days were uneventfully to say the least but we also received Starfleet Data Stream and we have the Doctor back. And we are still on course for the planet. I hoping this one will be the one with a Stargate on. We are still a day away. I was in my ready room.
"Captain to the Bridge," Chakotay said.
"Report," I said. As I got out there.
"We're approaching the system," Chakotay said.
"Bit early," I said.
"That was my doing captain, Kept us at Warp 8.5 just to do that," Harry said.
"Nice, Time to the Planet, Tom," I said.
"5 minutes," Tom said.
"Harry what about the planet," I said.
"Nothing on sensors," Harry said. "Looks like it's just another outpost,"
"Another one, Makes what," Tom said.
"3," I said. "Bridge to Astrometrics,"
"Go ahead," 7 said.
"Anything new on Astrometric Sensors?" I said.
"There is a strange reading coming at least 10 kilometres away from the outpost," 7 said.
"Chakotay, You have a team check out the outpost and see what B'Elanna can get us," I said. "7, Meet me at the shuttlebay, We're take the Flyer down,"
"Acknowledged," 7 said.
As I left and headed for the shuttlebay where I meet up with 7 and we headed in and on the Delta Flyer and fired her up.
"Everything is ready for launch," 7 said.
"Good, McCall to Bridge, Decompress the shuttlebay and open the doors," I said.
As the Doors opened
"Decompression cycle complete," 7 said.
"Firing thrusters," I said as I got us up and left the bay. Then Headed down to the planet. How far is the reading,"
"Starboard 69 degree angle," 7 said.
As I turned us that way.
"Any new on the sensors," I said.
"No, It is still the same," 7 said.
"This is weird, if it was a Stargate there would be an massive energy reading," I said.
"The Reading has no energy on sensors," 7 said.
"We should be coming up on it now," I said. As we came into visual range. That wasn't a Stargate but there was a building. "What the, It's a building,"
"There isn't any lifesigns inside the structure," 7 said.
"Delta Flyer to Voyager," I said.
"Kim here, Captain," Harry said.
"Harry, We found a structure 10 kilometers away from the outpost, We heading in, If you have heard from us in 20 minutes, Come in with a fully armed Security team," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
As I went to put us down. "Grab a phaser, 7, We're going in," I said.
As I landed the Delta Flyer and shut down the engines. Then grabbed a phaser myself. Then We headed into the Aft section and grabbed a backpack. And headed out. This building was something familiar about it.
"Leah," 7 said.
"Yeah," I said.
"You okay?" 7 said.
"Something about this building that is familiar," I said. "Just can't place it,"
As we kept going and found a way in. We made it to a room which looked like a control room of sorts, but there wasn't any power.
"I'm not picking up a power source," 7 said.
"It's looks to be a control room of some sort," I said.
"Over here," 7 said. "Looks to be an access panel,"
"Let's see if I can fire it up," I said as I moved my hand over it. But nothing. "Damn, What ever is the power source for this place must be fully offline,"
"I don't recognize the technology," 7 said.
"I do. This used to be one of another Ancient outpost. This building I would say housed those drones, But the Wraith were never this far out. Must of been for the Gou'ald or the Ori," I said.
"I've never heard on them," 7 said.
"Doubt you would from what I've read in the SGC database. They got beaten ages ago. At least a good nearly 400 years," I said.
"The Borg never pushed out this far by then," 7 said.
"Not until the Borg came across Enterprise D. No thanks to Q," I said. "Come on Let's get back before Harry does send in that armed team,"
As we headed out and back to the Flyer. As we powered her up and then took off heading back to Voyager.
"Delta Flyer to Voyager," I said.
"Go ahead, Captain," Harry said.
"7 and I are on the way back. Once B'Elanna is finished organizing the teams for the outpost. Tell her to get a team for her and go to the structure. It should contain a lot more drones," I said.
"Understood," Harry said. "I'll have the Shuttlebay ready for you to dock in 5 minutes,"
"Acknowledged," I said.
XXX
We have been in Orbit for the pass 2 days and found out that the structure we found was actually an outpost there for defend against Goa'uld attacks. And It had a hand full of drones left and 1 working ZPM. Which we brought on board. Including the full database from the outpost also. More components, Even replaced 3 ZPM which was almost out. Which from what we found out that the outpost recharges them. And we were getting ready to get on the way. Resume a course for home.
I just got to the bridge.
"Report," I said.
"We are ready to get on the way. Captain, Just give the word," Chakotay said.
"Tom, break orbit. And set a course for home, Warp 8," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said. "Course plotted and layed in,"
"Engage, Let's go home," I said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!