Chapter 3

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While waiting for the doctor to perform his autopsy Tuvok continued to research Susan's actions. She had a son, Eugene. Eugene would be twelve by now, Susan never married his father. The father disagreed with Susan's decision to join the Maquis, but also refused to leave their home. Even in the early days of this "mission" there were no problems between Susan and the Federation crew. Her record had been good, but not outstanding. After the news of the Maquis defeat Susan did more work, volunteered for more away missions, which was normal amongst the former Maquis. Susan also liked the old Earth sport basketball, often used her holodeck priviledges in this manner. She even invited Tuvok to one of these games. In her final hours Susan used the holodeck to watch Michael Jordan play against Lebron James. She then had Neelix make her blueberry pancakes, and then had the conversation with T'Pol. Susan then went back to her quarters, and died, wither by her own hand or someone else's. Finally the doctor finished his autopsy, and reported his findings in a meeting with captain Janeway and other officers.

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Doctor: All the physical evidence shows that Susan put the phaser to her own head and took her own life.

B'Elanna: That doesn't make sense.

Doctor: Suicide usually doesn't.

B'Elanna: Do you believe that Tuvok?

Tuvok: Susan's behavior in her final hours could suggest she was celebrating life, or that she was having a "Final hurrah." I will let the physical evidence convince me.

B'Elanna: Could a vulcan mind meld force someone to do something like that?

Tuvok: In theory this is possible. However I fail to see why any vulcan would wish to murder Susan.

B'Elanna: T'Pol would, to keep her from revealing her plans.

Janeway: And what plans would those plans be?

B'Elanna: She and others are planning to desert.

Janeway: And you're just now telling me this? Who exactly is planning to desert.

B'Elanna: Approximately 30.

Chakotay: How long have you known this?

B'Elanna: Almost 2 years. When we were all stranded in the Delta Quadrant, it was logical to work together. Neither ship could get back to the Alpha Quadrant on it's own. W were hoping that by the time we got home, that the Federation would recognize our right to secceed. But when we learned of the Maquis' defeat, T'Pol convinced some of us that it was illogical to return home only to face prosecution, or execution.

Janeway: The Federation doesn't have the death penalty.

B'Elanna: But the cardasians do. And we've all heard the rumors about some of the Federation's actions during the war. Sisko released chemical weapons against a Maquis colony.

Janeway: That was the actions of a rogue captain, it was never Federation policy.

B'Elanna: Even if he didn;t alert the Federation beforehand, Sisko was never charged with war crimes, never relieved of command, never demoted in rank, and as far as I know there was never a formal reprimand on his record.

Janeway; So T'Pol was leading a mutiny. But if that was two years ago, why hasn't it happened yet?

B'Elanna: She didn't want to do it haphazardly. The plan was to find a nice little M class planet with laws we could abide by and a society that welcomed us. This one we've recently discovered, T'Pol seemed to think it was ideal for her purposes.

Janeway: This doesn't explain why T'Pol would murder Susan.

B'Elanna: Susan was one of us who wanted to stay. Susan because she wanted to see her son again, me because I want to return home regardless.

Chakotay: How many former Maquis are involved in this desertion?

B'Elanna: You're the only Maquis who didn't know, mainly because some question how "Close" you are with captain Janeway. About 12 of us, including Susan, knew of the plans but refused to participate.

Janeway: But you knew of this plan and didn't report it.

B'Elanna: Yes captain.

Janeway: I will have to decide how to deal with this mutiny later. For now I want to question T'Pol myself.