The Dash
Author: Riz
Summary: Voyager is in possession of technological knowledge that endangers a fragile truce.
Disclaimer: 'Star trek: Voyager' is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended. This fanfiction written by 'Riz' falls under the fair use clause of copyright law. No profit is made from its production or distribution.
(05: Rendezvous)
Raking a hand through her auburn hair the captain picked up a clay teapot. The Nibek really had gone above and beyond to perpetrate a little wrecking ball accomplishment. Her jolty leap to the other side of the frontier zone hadn't been much of a gentle push for the intrepid ship either. Chakotay's quarters had been turned upside down. Tapestries lied crumpled into heaps on the floor, slumped against the walls. Wooden idols had tumbled from his shelves, and a large dream catcher rested on the ground with sprawled out feathers. Chakotay himself had already swiped most of his room back in order, but stopped for a moment as he noticed the teapot.
"I was often told clay brews the best teas."
Kathryn closed her eyes for a moment and smiled to herself. She gracefully put the object back at its familiar place between couch and viewport. It wasn't until she had really observed all his art and knick-knacks today that she realized how much comfort he took in the ties with his ancestors. While according to his stories he had been as resistant to it as she had been to camping trips.
"You brew your tea traditionally?"
The sound of her voice was as much filled with entertainment as it was with bewilderment. Surely the 24th century must have caught up with some of those traditions. Though there was something to be said for the difference between replicated- and fresh coffee too. Chakotay shook his head.
"No."
His dark eyes fixed themselves on the pot as he drew closer, a soft laugh escaping him.
"I said I was told. I replicated the ancient teapot as well as I do my tea. Who would have the patience around here to boil water traditionally while their replicator is two footsteps away? I just like to keep it around as a memento of the one I had on the Val Jean."
His lack of perseverance was met by a chortle. Captain Janeway knew better than anyone how strong the appeal of technology was. 15th century potting wouldn't have spared her a trip to the replicator for coffee either. Even in her leisurely Da Vinci program she struggled to keep the evolution going. Rounding Chakotay's furniture she darted her eyes around to perceive that his quarters were nearly back to their full glory. Even so a feeling of remorse lingered for the hundreds of other quarters that had to be puzzled back together like this. She placed her hand on a chair and leaned against it.
"I don't know what's worse, the glass splinters my portrait frame has scattered about everywhere or my replicator that keeps surprising me with no specific liquids whenever it hears my door chime."
Chakotay snickered in response, but an intrusive chirp from Kathryn's combadge cut the moment short.
"Kim to Janeway."
The captain shifted her weight back on both feet and let go of the chair. If anything was up with the sluggish repairs it would be troubling. She already felt a small annoyance flicker up inside of her. The repairs had been agonizingly slow at best, while quite contrary all she wanted to do was to get up and go. Their dwindling provisions did not offer much of a comfort either.
"Yes, Janeway here."
"Captain we're being hailed from a nearby Irriac planet."
Of course. Part of the once proud Irriac civilization had actually moved into a new home. She mentally warned herself that if the Irriac planet had been under attack or was otherwise in need of supplies, Voyager wasn't in the wonderful state to give them much aid. Besides the lack of supplies, fuel and energy, she relied heavily on her crew to make repairs right now. They were as ravaged as a third-world country in crisis. Not to mention partially dead in the water. However, she did not totally want to close out the possibility that a useful trade could somehow be made, so the resourceful captain left with Chakotay in tow.
"Me and Mr. Chakotay are on our way. Janeway out."
After an uneventful turbo-lift ride the command team strode onto the bridge. The captain rapidly signaled over to Harry at his operations station to set up the communication with the planet's surface. Harry's hands moved across the console with a few beeps, and a dark-skinned woman with angular features appeared on the large view screen. Curious about the nature of the hail the captain moved closer, introducing herself briskly.
"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. We are responding to your hails."
The Irriac lady nodded in understanding of coming eye to eye with the ship's spokesperson. She smiled somewhat at the bridge crew. Her eyes were squinted in hospitable kindness and showed tiny wrinkles at the corners whilst she explained her reasons.
"Welcome to our sector, captain. I am chief communications officer Na'li from the planet Veodil. I speak for our leader when I say that we know Nibek space can be rather unforgiving and we have noticed your emerging from the border with damages. We would like to offer you help with your repairs. And perhaps your crew could use a reprieve on our surface."
This was a perfect opportunity as the civilization did not seem to be in need of anything. The message was very favorable as any help speeding up the repairs was an answer to the captain's silent prayers. The Irriac were technologically advanced and could probably cut the estimated repair-time in half. Kathryn shot an approving glance at Chakotay, who nodded in agreement. She would be absurd to let this chance slide, and already felt the hopeful stares of some of the bridge-crew nudging her to say yes. Tom Paris had flung his chair around and gazed up at his captain with an expression of sparkling puppy dog eyes. She pretended to ignore the distracting looks.
"Thank you, officer Na'li. We would be happy to accept. The Nibek have wracked the ship as well as my crew's energy and repairs have been tedious."
Bridge crew shoulders slumped back. Soft, long breaths left their respiration system. It was as if a small burden was lifted from everyone's shoulders. But although the offering meant great promise for mending, it wasn't until 1900 hours in the evening that all the arrangements were finally completed, and Voyager had been docked safely in the busy shipyard. The captain and her commander had been present on Voyager for as long as they could to oversee ship's business. Many of the crew, on the other hand, had jumped at the opportunity for off-time. With the consent of their higher ranking officers they had gradually left their posts after the docking to beam down to the surface for relaxation.
The sun had slowly set over the tall city buildings on the planet side, casting a shadow over the outskirts where the transport site was located at. But time did not matter as the Irriac were persistent that Voyager's captain should attend an evening reception at the embassy court-yard. It had been the custom ever since their history of first contact had started on their lost prime planet. Even though it might have been wiser to make it an early night Kathryn was in no position to refuse the warm welcome. Especially not one that was spurred by traditions so vulnerably kept in high regards. For all she knew, Voyager was the first alien ship to pass this new settlement, most probably inaugurating the new line of first contacts.
Various clear birdcalls rang in her ears the moment she materialized. Soon looking up towards the yellowish sky she spotted a few of the feathery singers. Grey bulkheads and consoles that made up the transporter room had been replaced by the surroundings of the picturesque transporter site. The large straight roads gave the area an open modern feel alike Starfleet Academy, but the nature of this planet was a little more abundant. Delicate glowing patterns coiled around the transporter platform they had appeared on, in a way that seemed more artsy than scientific. The road southwards to the plaza of the sterile-looking white city was surrounded by growings and lush green hedges that basked in a light breeze. Chakotay who had materialized next to Kathryn was the first to step off the platform. He took a moment to take in the serene view around them.
"Hm. This area reminds me somewhat of the time I once visited a botanic park on Earth. My father had me dragged past a hundred of flowers; of course each 'floral beauty' came with a distinct speech and description. I never remembered all of his words. These arrangements here look rather more artificial but it's beautiful none the less."
Blue and green flora had been ordered neatly into rows. It was arguably surprising that a planet so freshly populated had already thrived in infrastructure, architecture and nature. Chakotay turned to look at his superior, who had also left the transporter platform in commendatory admiration. Blue-grayish eyes scanning all the details to the area. Her pupils small from the emission of the bright sun.
"It's as if the war never took place... How they managed to facilitate themselves so quickly goes beyond my book. But if this is what they can do with a planet, imagine what they could do to help us. I won't be lying when I say I'd rather keep these people on my good side."
"Then we're in luck. All you have are good sides."
His dimpled smile and her honest tuneful laughter at his endearing comment took the both of them back to their habit of playful banter. The moment it ensued the road towards the city plaza had become brief. As they passed the working Irriac society in the streets they almost fit in perfectly. None of the occupied individuals seemed to really mind the two as they made their way up to a signpost in the plaza center. Kathryn Janeway took one hard look at it, suddenly feeling like a complete tourist.
"What ever happened to picture book style? I'm afraid my alien reading skills are a bit rusty."
Chakotay gazed upwards, his mind acknowledging the fact that the symbols on the signpost were nothing but scribbles to his brain. He turned on his heels, spotting all the different stalls and selected the busiest one. Calling out semi-loudly as he neared the stall.
"Excuse me, miss?"
Drawing one of the lady's attention to himself and away from the flock of women squeezing together to look at different sorts of beads, he grinned.
"I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to point a stranger to the embassy. Me and my friend are totally lost."
"-Not totally."
Kathryn cut in as soon as she saw the annoyance on the woman's face. A bargain was probably gone lost upon another. Those beads must have been quite something for the young females pushing themselves in line. Smiling apologetically drew an answer out of the lady, who pointed with a hiss to someone hurrying away.
"Naw, I was trying to bid on that reco-sphere! Oh. Anyway, the embassy you asked? It's in that direction. Just keep going up. You can't really miss it."
Chakotay frowned, feeling slightly blameworthy for her state of irritation. He didn't know what a reco-sphere was and he didn't have the guts to ask. Instead he followed Kathryn who had already thanked the lady and, with a sway in the other direction, was continuing on her way.
The road curved steeply uphill and the two passed a few flat terraces that offered the Irriac housing in blocky apartments with transparent tunnel entries. But they became scarcer as they climbed higher. They came to a halt as they reached a fountain square, the embassy laid straight across from it.
After stating their names at the desk, they were scanned thoroughly for weapons or other dangerous equipment. Revealing to carry none of the sorts they were ultimately led to the court-yard where all manners of officials, scientists and representatives were preoccupied with mingling. They hovered close to surfaces that were coated in food or manners of drinks.
Dozens of trees stood interwoven at the edges, in full-blossom. Water plants bobbed up and down in a small pond, each plant carrying a candle on its leaves. The candlelight from various directions lit up the vibrant enclosure in a cozy manner. A deep voice in front of the Starfleet team betrayed the presence of their intelligent host, and offered an explanation about their green surroundings.
"-What you see before you is science."
Captain Janeway and her first officer Chakotay rapidly shifted their gazes towards the source of the resolute statement. There was no doubt that this man that had arrived in front of them was the Irriac leader, along with the two of his security lieutenants in his wake. The man was clothed in the simple dark blue uniform of his people, much like the officers. But the distinguishing mark about him was that he wore a short white lab coat with a rank designation on it.
"You see, landscaping is the vulnerable expertise of our more specialized souls. We've only recently began making this continent a bit more hospitable, and some parts of Veodil are - well - still quite barren in comparison. But let me extend you my welcome. I am admiral Eglas, and these are my security officers."
Both the officers who had stepped to his side nodded their small welcomes. They appeared to have been screened just as well, and thus seemed more like an appropriate choice of arm-wrestlers rather than a pair not to be trifled with. The fair-skinned captain of Voyager smiled warmly.
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the USS Voyager. And this is my first officer Chakotay. It's an honor to have been granted your people's help."
As soon as the small diplomatic captain had finished her sentence the Irriac admiral shook his head amusedly.
"You needn't worry yourself about it. It's in the roots of our nature to help. When it all comes down to it we are two of a kind, captain. Scientists. Eager to take apart molecules, study formations of supernovae and curious as ever to meet travelers from a distant planet. It would be denying ourselves the knowledge of our colleagues if we had shut you out. Veodil means 'relic' in our tongue, a memento of the prime planet that once was our home. But the distant memory of denying ourselves contact with the outside world is one I want to erase due time."
Several nearby officials that had followed the conversation lifted their glass in a symbolic toast. Admiral Eglas' words had confirmed to them that bonds could be forged for the previously xenophobic race. Kathryn mused that it was not only a mere social improval, but also a military one would the need arise for allies. With the Nibek around, the future of this planet was still determined within a fragile manner. People shuffled around the indoor garden and carried on their conversations with a small achievement in mind. They had found new friends.
"-Tuvok to Janeway."
The Vulcan's timing was slightly odd. Captain Janeway wrinkled her forehead and cocked it a little to the side in wonder.
"Admiral, if you'll excuse us for just a small moment…"
Taking a tiny sidestep from the scene and beckoning for Chakotay to join in, Kathryn tapped her combadge with a concerned tight frown. Tuvok wasn't one to bother her had anything small tossed itself up into his path. She kept her voice down low in order to create a little privacy in-between conversations.
"Go ahead, Tuvok."
Oddly enough both of the redshirts could swear they heard the security officer panting somewhat harshly between breaths, as if he had been in chase. It did not prove a very fruitful wish that they might have been wrong.
"An intruder along with a team of armed people has downloaded unauthorized information from our database, containing the data of Alattis Prime's energy net. There was also an open communication line with Alattis Prime, an unfamiliar modulating algorithm has been send in an encoded message."