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Janeway took a deep breath as she straightened her tunic, stepping into the Astrometrics lab to find Seven of Nine standing by the primary cartography console.

'You wanted to see me,' Janeway said and Seven turned towards her.

'Yes, Captain,' she said. 'I have been running a series of long-range scans and have detected an asteroid field that is not on your star charts...'

'And, how were our long-sensors able to detect this now, when they couldn't before...?'

'I have improved their efficiency by 18%...'

'How?' Janeway asked, slightly sharper than she meant to, although Seven didn't seem to notice.

'I have added several Borg nano-processors to your secondary relays...'

'And, who gave you authorisation to do that?' Janeway demanded, a brief look of incomprehension crossing Seven's face.

'When I discovered the inefficiency, I took steps to rectify the situation. According to my calculations, it would have necessitated a detour of at least seven solar rotations...'

'Alright,' Janeway said, holding up her hand. 'Transfer the updated course to Navigation. And, in the future, I expect you to clear any further modifications enhancements with myself or Commander Chakotay...'

'I will comply,' Seven said, just as Janeway's combadge beeped.

'Bridge to Janeway...'

'Go ahead, Commander...'

'Captain, we're being hailed by the Ocampa...'

'I'm on my way...'

####################

'Onscreen,' Janeway said, as she stepped out of the turbolift.

'Aye, Captain,' Kim said and Toscat appeared on the viewscreen.

'Captain Janeway. The Ocampan Council have agreed that an audience with you alone would not pose any undue risk to Ocampan society...'

'Thank you,' Janeway said. 'However, Starfleet regulations require that I am accompanied by a security officer...'

'...very well. Yourself and one officer may transport down. We are transmitting co-ordinates to you, now...'

####################

As the transporter effect faded, Janeway found herself standing in a hemi-spherical chamber, with a curved Dias above her. Seated on the Dias were seven Ocampa in black tunics, including Toscat.

'Captain Janeway,' He said, without preamble. 'I have informed the Council of your desire to visit Ocampa and there are those among us who are concerned for the stability of our society...'

'Of course,' Janeway said. 'As Starfleet Officers, our Prime Directive forbids us from interfering in the natural development of any culture...'

'So you say,' Toscat said. 'However, your very presence here risks disrupting the order that we have created...'

'I understand,' Janeway said. 'And I agree that there should be limits set. I would like to propose that myself and two of my officers are granted supervised access to three facilities or areas that you feel are appropriate, as a first step...'

'Thank you, Captain,' Toscat said. 'We will consider what you have said and will contact you when we have made a decision. Until then, we request that you return to your vessel...'

'Of course,' Janeway said, tapping her commbadge.

'Janeway to Voyager. Two to beam up...'

####################

'I wish I understood what their reticence is about,' Janeway said, as she sank onto the couch in her ready room. 'I guess we'll just have to wait for their decision...'

'Yes, Captain,' Chakotay said, holding out a PADD towards her. 'Captain, there was an... incident while you were down on the planet...'

'An incident?' Janeway repeated, opening up the report, her eyes narrowing as she read it. 'Commander...'

'I'm going to speak to her now, Captain. It won't happen again...'

####################

'If you have an explanation,' Chakotay said, as the door to his quarters hissed closed. 'I'd like to hear it...'

'He wasn't watching where he was going,' Torres said, folding her arms across her chest.

'Who wasn't...?'

'Lieutenant Caserni,' Torres said. 'He wasn't watching where he was going and he didn't apologise, so...'

'So, you hit him,' Chakotay said. 'Dammit, B'Ellana. I need you here, but I can't have you jeopardising everything we've worked so hard for. You need to keep your temper in check...'

'...alright,' Torres said. 'I'll try...'

'Try harder,' Chakotay said. 'Or I'll throw you in the brig myself...'

####################

'Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram,' Dr Fitzgerald said, the air shimmering as a tall, balding man in the uniform of the medical division appeared.

'Please state the nature of the medical emergency...'

'There is no emergency,' Fitzgerald said. 'Commence primary diagnostic and report...'

'Medical databases are integrated. Triage protocols and diagnostic subroutines are operational...'

'Good,' Fitzgerald said, just as the door to Sickbay opened, admitting Lieutenant Carey, supporting a bald man with one arm over his shoulder. Even from this distance, Fitzgerald recognised a small plasma burn on his arm.

'I need some help,' he said. 'There was an accident in the shuttlebay. Crewman Las is hurt...'

'Get him on the biobed,' Fitzgerald said, turning to the EMH. 'Doctor, assess the patient...'

'Hey, wait,' Las said. 'You're going to let a hologram treat me...?'

'If you were dying,' Fitzgerald asked, 'would you still be complaining? Now lie back and let the Doctor do his job...'

####################

'Captain,' Kim said. 'We're being hailed from the planet...'

'Onscreen,' Janeway said, standing up and straightening her tunic as Toscat appeared on the viewer.

'Captain Janeway,' he said. 'The Ocampan Council has agreed to your request. Yourself and two officers may beam down, provided they are accompanied by an Ocampan official...'

'Thank you,' Janeway said, tapping her combadge as Toscat closed down the link. 'Mr Kim, you're with me...'

'Aye, Captain,' Kim said, with a grin as he followed her to the turbolift.

'Dr Fitzgerald,' Janeway said, tapping her combadge. 'Report to Transporter Room 1...'

####################

'Captain Janeway,' Toscat said, gesturing to the two Ocampa on either side of him. 'These are Oco and Lithen. They will accompany your officers to visit our medical centre and long-range observatory. Meanwhile, I will show you our administrative centre...'

####################

'This is our long-range observatory,' Oco said, as he lead Harry into the small room that was dominated by a large monitor screen in the centre, being operated by two Ocampa. 'From here, we can monitor everything that occurs within the confines of our system...'

'Very impressive,' Harry said. 'I'm guessing that you use multiphasic sensors, enhanced by satellites or long-distance probes...'

'Yes,' Oco said. 'We have already begun conducting long-range surveys of the outer planets...'

'Why long-range?' Harry asked, with a frown. 'You have spacecraft. Why not go there yourselves?'

'We have built an ordered society here,' Oco said. 'We will not take any action that may jeopardise that...'

####################

'We have fourteen medical centres like this one in the city,' Lithen said. 'Through genetic manipulation, we control disease and illness, maintaining the health of the population.'

'How?' Dr Fitzgerald asked.

'Genetic anomalies are identified at birth,' Lithen said. 'Those carrying them are forbidden from reproducing, which maintains the purity of our DNA...'

'That seems...a little cold...'

'As a Doctor', Lithen said, 'do you not need to choose who will live and who will die...?'

'...sometimes...'

'Then you understand that, sometimes, hard choices need to be made for the greater good...'

####################

Janeway followed Toscat into the Administrative centre, which consisted of two concentric rings of consoles surrounding a central Dias where two black tunic Ocampa stood. Each of the consoles was operated by an Ocampa dressed in white, neither of whom met her eyes when she looked her way.

'This is our primary operations centre,' Toscat said. 'From here, we can monitor and control all aspects of life within the city, from power generation to environmental control and internal security. Nothing happens here without us being aware of it...'

'So I see...' Janeway said, forcing a smile.

####################

'This is one of our commiseries,' Toscat said. 'We grow the majority of our food in our hydroponics gardens...'

'I'd be interested in seeing them,' Janeway said.

'That might be possible,' Toscat said. 'If you will excuse me, I have a few matters to attend to. Please remain here. I will return shortly...'

####################

'You're late, Mr Paris,' Chakotay said, looking up from the Captain's chair as he stepped from the turbolift.

'Only ten minutes,' Paris said, as he strolled past him towards the conn.

'Nevertheless,' Chakotay said. 'You make it up at the end of your shift. Do I make myself clear...?'

'Yes, sir,' Paris said, taking his seat without looking round.

####################

Janeway had just finished eating when a young Ocampan girl came to take her tray. She had short blonde hair and was dressed in the same white tunic that she had seen in the Administration Centre.

'You are not from Ocampa,' she said and Janeway nodded.

'No. I'm not...'

'Where...?' she began, stopping as she glanced over Janeway's shoulder. Quickly, she grabbed her tray and hurried away, Janeway glancing round to see Toscat walking towards her.

'I apologise, Captain,' He said. 'If you have finished, I would be happy to show you the hydroponic gardens...'

####################

'This is one of six hydroponic gardens in the city,' Toscat said. 'We use nitrogenated soil and environmental irrigation to achieve crop yields higher than we could through traditional methods...'

'Very impressive,' Janeway said, just as another Ocampa arrived, stopping in front of Toscat.

'Please excuse me, Captain,' He said, following him towards the door and Janeway could hear them talking in low voices.

'Can you take me with you?' a soft voice and Janeway turned to see the female Ocampa from the commiserie standing next to her.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.