Chakotay paced the Captain's ready-room, willing her to walk through the door. Two hours ago would not have been soon enough as far as he was concerned. He always worried about her on away missions, and hated that she insisted on going , especially without him.
He was greatly relieved to see her stride in, confident and beautiful as ever, making his heart beat faster for a few seconeds as he watched her walk to the replicator and order her usual dosage of caffeine stimulant. He could not help but smile at her predictability.
"I left B'Elanna at the power plant going over the schematics with the Tagorian Engineers. What was so urgent that you had Tuvok call me back for?"
Kathryn looked at Chakotay's face and knew that he had some grim news, it showed in his eyes, they flashed with emotion and he sat on the edge of his seat like a man ready for action.
Chakotay explained what he had heard as Kathryn paced the room, hand rubbing her forhead trying to ease the tension that was building up inside, annoyed by what she was hearing. When he had finished telling the odious news she stopped pacing and stood with arms akimbo in her defiant, tolerate no nonsense leadership pose. Glaring out to space with exasperation, she gave out a long deep sigh.
What now, how to go forward? Kathryn thought to herself. Voyager needed the Dilithium badly or they would grind to a halt long before they could track another source down, but this situation was screaming Prime Directive at her and by rights she should just up anchor and ship out, but that luxury was not available, unless she really wanted her crew stuck here in this part of space waiting for a miracle to happen.
This was the Delta Quadrant, and she had stranded her crew and those of the Maquis once already, far away from family, friends and the protection of the Federation. They were on their own many light years away from home. She would be damned before she would ever give up, she had made a promise to get her crew home, and that is what she was going to do, come hell or high water.
Could she make the decision all by herself? It was her duty as Captain after all. But the Prime Directive..., yes she may have bent it a little, but never broken it. If she traded with the Tagori, that would be like supporting a regime no better than the Kazon wanting to exploit the Ocampa. If she helped the Bagothans, that would be interfering with their culture and civilisation, possibly altering their natural development process.
Chakotay watched and waited, knowing Kathryn's thought process with every change of her body posture and features. He bided his time waiting for the right moment to speak. When she tossed her hands up in the air and sat down opposite him looking intently into his eyes, he knew that time had come. "You don't have to face this decision alone Kathryn, share it with me, I can help." he said supportivly with his soothing calm voice.
"I need to speak with the Regent Chakotay, can you arrange it?"
"Of course" He replied.
"Then lets go, I need answers before we can make solutions." Kathryn said firmly.
They beamed down directly outside the long house. It seemed a meeting was in progress as guards were posted at the door who barred their way.
"I have brought my Captain, we need to speak with the Regent, tell her Commander Chakotay is here, she is expecting me."
One of the guards went inside and returned with Raphiel who looked surprised to see them.
"So you came back after all, we did not think you would. "The Regent will see you in her private chambers" and he led the way to a smaller building next to the long house. It was far more ostentatious on the inside than out, but at the same time cosy, inviting and informal.
A round table, intricatly inlaid, surrounded by six comfortably padded armchairs, set on a thick resplendent plush carpet. Tapestries hung on the wall, depicting the rise of the Regent from birth to the present day.
"Please sit." Indicating the chairs. "The Regent will be here shortly, can I get you any refreshments?"
"No thank you." Kathryn and Chakotay responded almost in unison.
Raphiel smiled and left the room.
Kathryn looked around, taking in all the rich detail and thinking that primitive and backward would hardly be the words she would have used to describe the Bagothans.
A young female entered with Raphiel, just as Kathryn was examining the unfolding tale embroidered into each tapestry.
"I am Shantari, Princess and Regent of the Bagotha Tribe. Welcome Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay.
"Thank you for receiving us." Kathryn responded with a curt bow of her head.
Shantari nodded. "Sit please, let us talk, we have much to discuss."
Servants brought in a spicy aromatic hot beverage in a large samovar, kept at boiling point by a flame underneath, and an assortment of delicate bite sized sweet meats, decorativly laid out on golden trays. Large vermillion napkins were handed out to the guests and they were informed that it was customery to take extra sweet meats away from a meeting as a sign of friendship and good will.
Frosty opaqu quartz crystal goblets were placed before everyone, and the boiling liquid from the samovar poured into them, the cold reacting with heat created the image of a slowly rising red dragon winding its way around the goblet, blowing plumes of red smoke from its flaring nostrils.
The aromatic vapour wafting in puffs from each goblet, was a visible pink in colour. A couple of drops of a milky liquid into each vessel produced a rainbow affect as the steam rose and the dragon reached the rim. Kathryn and Chakotay were visibly impressed.
Shantari laughed, pleased by the expressions on the faces of her guests.
"Clever chemical reactions concocted by Raphiel, it never fails to impress and entertain visitors. Not that we get any since the Tagorians are in orbit over our home world.
We are not primitive or xenophobic as the Tagori would like others to believe, but we do need outside help. Can you give us that? Captain Janeway of the Federation Star Ship Voyager."
"If it falls within the guildlines of The Federation and is within my power yes." Kathryn replied ernestly.
"My land and people are being exploited, if anyone complains they are taken away. All forms of communication has been removed from us and if we wish to trade, we have to go through the Tagorian Proconsul who claims to represent us at the Interplanatery Trade Market.
Their ever expanding mining operations are affecting the echo system and our crop production is reduced in quality and quantity month by month.
It will get to the point where we will be unable to sustain ourselves let alone sell anything. If anyone from the Interplanetary Consortium come by for a visit, we are forced to lie about our co-existence with the Tagori. We are ordered to say that we live in a balanced and mutualy agreed beneficial symbiosis.
I am concerned for the safety and welfare of my people. Our way of life is in jepordy, we are held hostage by the Tagorians, who see us only as their slaves and a hindrence to progression, because we would rather cultivate the land instead of blow it up for its resources.
We are watched over by the Krühlen mercenaries working for the Tragorian Proconsul, they have taken my parents hostage, although the Tagori deny all knowledge of this. Our hands are tied, we don't know what to do any more, we have tried appealing, bargaining and fighting to no avail."
Kathryn looked at the girl, admiring her composure and courage. So much responsibility on her shoulders for one so young.
"What would you have me do?" Asked Kathryn, curious to hear what plans the girl had formulated, while her mind flooded with thoughts, the problems this would lead to if she got involved. She wanted no casualties.
There is always two sides to every story, she had to get the other half before she could even try to unravel the mess she had become embroiled in.
"Talk to the Proconsul, arrange a meeting, bring a representative from I.D.A (Interplanetary Draconis Alliance) and the Interplanetary Trade Consortium. They are responsible for overseeing everything that goes on in this sector amongst its members. Let them witness for themselves what is going on here. With your help the Tagorians will not be able to threaten us or cover up the exploitation and desecration of my people and planet.