Tuvok's first order of business was to assemble leaders of the various security personnel in the briefing room. They discussed options and Tuvok decided to strategically place teams in and around the area in the event a rescue opportunity presented itself. He was about to encourage one.

"You're not going to wait them out, are you?" Ayala asked.

"Hardly," Tuvok said. "Since we have as yet been unable to detect or disarm the explosives, I will employ coercive methods to generate a peaceful solution."

"Such as?"

"Mr. Myers, adjust life support in the banquet room to thirty-eight degrees Celsius and cut power."

"Aye, sir," Myers responded. "Going to sweat them out, eh? You understand with the power cut to that area of the ship, the only way to open the doors will be…"

"…manually," Tuvok finished. "Take your teams to the holodeck. Prep them with forced entry drills. Rotate so there is area coverage at all times. I want to be certain every security person is aware of what needs to transpire as soon as we have our opportunity."

Ayala got to his feet. "If you don't mind some suggestions, Mr. Tuvok, I could also show them a few Maquis techniques that we used back in the day."

Tuvok cocked his head. "Were those Maquis techniques in accordance with Starfleet protocol, Mr. Ayala?"

Ayala shook his head. "No. That's why they worked." A few chuckles went through the group.

"May I remind you, Mr. Ayala, that you are not aboard a Maquis ship? And this is not a Maquis operation. You will relieve the current teams in thirty minutes and they will drill. Rotation is to be maintained at that interval until I command otherwise. Is that understood?"

Heads nodded among a chorus of "Aye, sir."

"Dismissed."

Chakotay sat down next to Belanna and Tom and wiped the blood off his hands and fingers. With the small regenerator and what little else they had in the med kit, he and the others had made due to assist Kes, Neelix, and the others in healing or at least alleviating most of the minor injuries. Chakotay truly welcomed the distraction from his thoughts which kept wandering to what may be happening in the back. The injuries he and the others could not attend to had been wrapped and prepped for the moment when he could get them to sick bay for proper medical treatment. They had managed to get everyone mobile again which was a good thing. Chakotay had a feeling they would all need their legs again before this was all over.

"What do you think he's doing to her in there?" Belanna said with a nod towards the kitchen.

Tom glanced at Chakotay's worried face and said, "I think maybe the question should be what is the Captain is doing to Ronan. She didn't look too pleased with him when she left."

Chakotay knew Tom was trying to lighten the mood and smiled. "Spoken from someone who's been in front of the Captain and his disciplinary report."

"Hey, what can I say? I try and keep life interesting for her," Tom said.

Belanna kicked her boot at the floor. "This is driving me insane sitting and doing nothing!"

"We're not doing nothing," Chakotay said. "We're strategizing. What do you think?"

Tom scanned the room and said, "It's more like what I don't see. Have either of you seen Harry or Seven?"

Belanna and Chakotay looked around.

"No," Belanna said.

"Maybe they got to the back with the Captain," Chakotay said.

Tom shook his head. "No. Seven would have flung Ronan out here by now if she was. Besides, Harry and Seven were by this door when everything went down. They were nowhere near that side of the room when everything started."

"Well, it's the only hidden space in here," Belanna said. "They have to be in this room."

Chakotay glanced at the door and said, "Do you think they got out before the shooting started? If they were by the door, they could have run out just in time."

"Not without blowing us all to bits if we believe Ronan," Tom said. He leaned forward. "If they have rigged Voyager, what kind of explosives do you think they could have used? Why didn't the bridge detect it?"

"The sensors may not be able to detect Vizian technology," Belanna said. "You heard Ronan. The whole Alliance is geared towards discreetness. It's not a big leap to think they have cloaking and other weapons that carry the same principle."

"They must have something that allows them to fly under our sensors," Tom said. "How else did they get on board without us knowing?"

"By distracting us with their ship," Chakotay said. "A little light show and then an explosion. They slip on board before we even have a chance to raise shields."

Tom sat back. "Old Maquis technique?"

Chakotay glanced at him. "Yes and I managed not to get caught executing it."

Tom grinned and shook his head. "Touche, Commander. But can they come on board and plant explosives in that short a period of time?"

"It can be done," Belanna said.

Tom bumped shoulders with Belanna. "I now regret that my time with the Maquis was cut short." I would have liked to have seen you in full on rebellion mode."

"You may get your chance, Starfleet." She glared at the men holding them until she caught sight of the panel that she had used to transport earlier. She nodded and said, "With that, I could find out what they've done and where."

Chakotay glanced at the man who was standing next to it. "We need to move over there and get rid of him."

"Well, let's go," Tom said. "Follow me." Standing up, he picked up the remnants of the med kit and helped Belanna up. They walked across the room towards the side panel. The man caught sight of their movement and clicked his rifle into position on them. Tom threw his hands up. "Whoa, just getting rid of a little biohazardous waste. I'm sure you don't want to be contaminated. There's no telling what you could pick up from the bodily fluids of unfamiliar species."

The tall blond man eyed him. "Where do you plan on putting that waste?"

Tom pointed to the panel. "Recycler. We can get rid of it in less than a nanosecond. Excuse us." Tom and Belanna started again but stopped as the man stepped in front of them.

He sneered and looked at Belanna. "It takes two people to throw out the trash on this vessel?"

"She's the engineer,' Tom said. "Not me. She operates the machinery. I just fly this thing."

"Then why do we need you over here at all?"

Tom gave the kit to Belanna and moved closer. "I guess you don't. I was just being chivalrous. That's a concept I bet you haven't heard about before."

The man smiled. "Sure I have." He flipped the gun up and caught Tom under the chin knocking him back.

Tom stumbled backwards and Belanna caught him with her arm. She steadied him as Tom cupped his chin, blood seeping through his fingers. She threw the med kit down and squared off with the man. "Why did you do that? He wasn't threatening you! He was trying to clean up the mess you and your friends have made."

"Pretty little spitfire, aren't you?" He raised the rifle again as Chakotay jumped up. The man faced Tom. "Nice. Your women are very different from Cadian woman."

"Cadia?" Tom said as he wiped the blood off his face. "Where's that?"

"Quiet, Kelvin!" One of the other men shook his head at Belanna's opponent and he stepped back from her. Kelvin pushed the rifle at her and said, "Go sit back down and take him with you."

Belanna smoldered. She tried to decide which move would take him down the fastest but, before she could execute it, she heard Chakotay's voice call her back. "Belanna, come here. That's an order."

Kelvin sneered at her and Belanna bared her teeth. It took every bit of her human side to keep her Klingon blood in check but she finally managed to relax her body. She bent down and picked up the med kit. Slamming it against the gun, she said, "Can I throw this away or not?"

Kelvin smiled. "No."

Belanna considered decking him and smashing him to the floor to the point where no med kit would help him but heard Chakotay call her back one more time.

Tom took the med kit out of her hand and said, "Never mind. I need it now. I guess we'll keep it after all since the bloodshed is continuing." He took Belanna by the elbow and pulled her away.

"Nice try," Chakotay said when they arrived back. "We'll think of another way."

"There are plenty of people in here who can operate that panel," Tom said.

Chakotay nodded. "I'll check on everyone again. Let them know, if they have the opportunity to get to it…."

A rifle blast echoed through the room and everyone jumped. Kelvin stood by the burned out panel grinning. "Am I correct in assuming this can do more than dispose of your trash?"

"Yes," Chakotay said. "It could have also gotten you off this ship. You just killed your best escape route."

"Did I?" Kelvin said. "Why don't I believe a word out of your filthy mouth?"

Ronan reappeared with Janeway beside him. Chakotay noticed her hair had been undone but her uniform was intact and he didn't see any visible signs of bruising or cuts. She looked over at him and gave him a slight shake of her head.

"What was that?" Ronan demanded.

"I was just relieving our guests of their fascination with this panel," Kelvin said.

Janeway put her head down and Ronan noticed. He pulled her to him and said, "Disappointed? It's time you and I had a meaningful discussion."

She lifted her chin and said, "I thought that's what you and I were doing before we were so rudely interrupted by his trigger finger."

Ronan scowled and pushed her back behind him. He looked at Kelvin and said, "The next time you shoot, make sure you kill one of them too. There are plenty of hostages here and I have a feeling the Captain is going to be difficult."

Kelvin nodded. "Yes, sir." He eyed Tom again and said, "It would be my pleasure."