Kathryn evaluated her staff again as they entered the next morning. Tuvok and Seven were impassive. Neelix was chattering about plans for a party. Chakotay was grim and restless as he sat next to her. B'Elanna was angry.
Tom, Harry, Gretchen, and the Doctor all entered together. Tom and Harry were joking casually, and the Doctor was discussing something with Gretchen.
"No, it's the peptide work that's the most important" said the Doctor, in professional mode, "I can show you in more detail later if you'd like."
"We went over the seriousness of this last night," said Janeway as soon as everyone had taken their seats, "And I trust you all gave it your highest consideration. So let's vote. Your datapads are in front of you."
Her crew tapped their datapads quickly, and Janeway starred down, taking in a quick breath though the results did not surprise her.
"It's unanimous," she said formally, "Nine votes for permanent exile."
"That's it then," continued Janeway, "We'll start looking for a planet."
Janeway stood on an M class planet in Ankari space, watching the Equinox's supplies be beamed down. She stood between six security officers, taking no chances this time. She had been expecting trouble for the last three days, as the Equinox crew was informed of their sentence and preparations had began for their dismissal from Voyager.
Of the 15 surviving Equinox crew members, only four had voluntarily surrendered during the mutiny, the three on the Bridge led by Noah Lessing, and Marla Gilmore, who had talked him down. The other eleven had been unconscious when they had been taken prisoner. Janeway wasn't sure if it was the deaths of both of their chief officers, or the fact that mutiny was extremely unlikely to be forgiven, but, although she would not let her guard down, Janeway could feel something had changed with the Equinox crew. They seemed resigned to the exile decision. They had even helped plan the lay-out of their new home with what Janeway thought might be interest.
The cool morning air blew against Janeway's loose chin-length hair as another security team and the 15 former Equinox crew members started to beam down. They were wearing newly replicated civilian clothing, as she had stripped them of all Starfleet symbols. Their gear was as basic as possible, no replicators, no phasers, but there were tents, a few medical supplies, and rations to get them started. The Ankari had already come through with a promise to send starter plants and trees for farming.
The Ankari had been surprisingly generous to the Equinox crew, despite their terrible misuse of Ankari religious instruments, and the murder of their "spirits of good fortune". The land that the Ankari had picked out for their new human refugees was understandably rural, but although Janeway would not call it attractive, it was not unpleasant. The land was mountainous with sparse trees and bush growth. In return for providing a refugee for the Equinox crew members, Janeway had promised that Voyager would alter their course to avoid Ankari space, and never return.
A few Voyager crew members had volunteered to come down and help set up tents and plant crops, a last touch of home for the exiles. Harry Kim, Tom Paris, and Gretchen Kincaid were among those who volunteered to assist.
Janeway stayed by her assigned personal security team, as she watched Harry, Tom, and the other volunteers and security team members slip off in different directions with the Equinox crew. She saw Gretchen, carrying a bulky gray case on her back, speak to the Equinox's blonde engineer, Marla Gilmore, put a tent under their arms, and carry it westward in the direction of the newly marked "residential district."
It took about five hours to oversee the transfer of supplies and creation of basic buildings. Janeway's second security team and the volunteers trickled back as their jobs were complete. Most of them beamed back immediately but Tom and Harry stayed and chatted with her, deciding eventually to help plant the last of the crops which were directly in front of Janeway and her security. She wondered if the Equinox crew had been too intimidated to come work in front of her.
"Where's Gretchen?" said Tom jokingly, grabbing a shovel, "She should be helping us. This planet doesn't have any rocks. She can get her hands in the soil."
"I'm sure it has some rocks, Tom," returned Harry, "But you're right, where is she?" he added, looking around, "Isn't this the last spot?"
"I'm sure she's just enjoying the fresh air," said Tom, glancing at Janeway and receiving a tight nod. Voyager was monitoring the crew closely and there had been no signs of a problem.
Of course Gretchen was completely capable of getting past Voyager's security before. Not to mention….For a moment she saw Captain Ransom's lifeless face in front of her.
"There are three crew members on the planet who aren't at this position," said her security team leader.
Janeway weighed her choices, and hit her combadge, "Janeway to Voyager crew members on the planet. Report to my position as soon as possible. We'll be beaming out shortly."
The two security team members appeared a few minutes later, from the residential district side of camp and checked in with their team leader to beam up.
"Did you see Ensign Kincaid?" asked Janeway, "Is she still working?"
"She left the work site hours ago," said one of the security team members, "We assumed she beamed back to Voyager."
Janeway tapped her combadge again but as she did, the wayward ensign appeared, mouth tight, eyes distant, and without her backpack.
"Hello stranger," drawled Tom to Gretchen from the ground where he was planting a small yellow bush, "I assume you were slacking off, but don't admit that in front of the Captain."
"Hey Gretchen," waved Harry with one hand, holding a leafy blue plant in the other. "I'd say come help us, but this is the last one."
Gretchen smiled back awkwardly and moments later, ten Voyager crew members transported back to Voyager. A quick data transfer, and they were leaving the planet, and the Equinox crew, behind for good.
End of The Mother and The Captain
Thanks for Reading!
The sequel, The Daughter and The Captain, will be available soon!