Kathryn is now 5.5 months pregnant
Captain's Log Stardate 60613.2
The trade agreement with President Bora Bora is almost complete. I am hoping to be underway again soon.
"Captain, I'm sorry to disturb you but there is something that we need to discuss right away".
"What is it Chakotay?"
"It's regarding the trade agreement with us and President Bora Bora. He's cancelled it".
Kathryn stopped suddenly. "What do you mean he cancelled it? I'm supposed to be signing the final trade agreement in half an hour.
"I can't tell you anymore than that Captain. I just received a written message from the President's secretary that he no longer requires the items we have offered and that he has decided to continue on his journey. Janeway pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. Taking a couple deep breaths she opened her eyes again and took off at a fast pace straight to the turbolift. Once aboard she directed it to the bridge.
"Report Mr. Kim"
"Captain, their ship is leaving"
"Hail them"
"No response" the Ops officer reported a moment later.
"Hail them again"
"Still no response. They're gone Captain". Turning around she stood beside the officer to see for herself. She tried one last time to hail them but to no avail. Walking over to Chakotay she stood beside him and said, "I'd like to look at the message you received."
"Certainly Captain, it's right here". Taking the letter she disappeared into her ready room followed closely by Chakotay. After awhile she asked Tuvok to join her. Handing him a padd she asked him if he was aware of it. Taking a quick look he denied ever seeing it. Chakotay watched Janeway watch Tuvok. He noticed she was cringing slightly as if in pain and she was massaging her side. Catching her eye he gave her a look that asked what was wrong. She gave him a smile and shook her head stating he shouldn't worry, that she was fine. When she got up and went to her bathroom he followed her. Holding up a bottle she turned to him and uttered one word: heartburn. As she passed by him on her way back out she touched his arm lightly and lifted a corner of her mouth in a smile.
"Any suggestions?" she asked Tuvok
"I anticipate you will want to question Ms. Henderson on this matter. I have no other suggestions of my own.
"Thank you Tuvok. Would you relay the message to meet me here please"?
"Yes Captain" Tuvok acknowledged as he left. Janeway turned around to find Chakotay almost directly behind her. "Is there something else?" she asked.
"It looked to me like more than just heartburn is bothering you. I'm concerned about you".
"Honest Chakotay, it's just heartburn. The baby is really active and keeping me up at night but at this specific moment, it's the heartburn that's really bothering me."
"Captain, Lieutenant Shandra Henderson has arrived on the bridge".
"Noted, send her in. Chakotay, I'll see you later tonight for dinner?" Nodding his head he left, bumping into Shandra on his way out.
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My heart started to beat faster the moment Shandra entered my ready room. No matter how much I tried convincing myself I had to do this, it was still tough. Anytime I have to discipline a member of my crew it hurts me. "You called for me Captain?" Her voice has a bit of a bored sound to it, almost as if I am keeping her form an important task. I find my disappointment quickly turning to annoyance.
"What happened with Azam?" I ask pointedly.
"He talked"
"Why did he talk?"
"The assigned security team was better equipped…"
"Better equipped with what…electrodes? Tazers?" It has been quite awhile since I have allowed a crewmember's attitude to disturb me as quickly as Lieutenant Henderson's does today. I can only chalk it up to my fluctuating hormones. The silence from my questions confirms that something happened during the briefing and I won't like the answer. "Is he alive?" I know I sound accusatory but at this particular moment I don't care, I'm too upset with Shandra's demeanor.
"Yes, other than that I don't care or give a damn"
"I DO!" I shot back automatically. I am somewhat surprised that Ms. Henderson is standing up to me this way. Usually only members of my Senior Staff have the nerve to be this bold. "I said there was to be NO torture".
"You said no such thing. You said you didn't want to hear about torture. Starfleet Captains don't speak in metaphors. 'I don't want to hear' means 'I don't want to hear'. If I thought there was another way…"
"There's always another way. I'm not prepared to ever accept torture"
"Then perhaps you're not prepared to be a Starfleet Captain in the Delta Quadrant." I did not just hear her say that. It feels as if I have been kicked in the stomach. Correction I was just kicked in the stomach – from the inside. Shaking it off I walk towards her never breaking eye contact with her. I am no longer annoyed or irritated; I'm now down right ticked off. Going to the upper level I leaned heavily on the railing so I could take the weight off my feet.
"Do you really think that what happened was right?" I ask her in a low even voice.
"I'm not going to have much trouble sleeping tonight if that's what you mean."
"Why not do it right here in my ready room? Just strap him to my desk because that's what you did. Your actions cost us a very valuable trade agreement." I was having trouble controlling the volume of my voice and it starts to rise in anger.
"Principles mean little when we're the only ones playing by the rules."
"The rules are there to protect others; they're there to protect us. Other nations follow us and if we start torturing people, there is nothing to prevent them from doing the same thing to our people." Walking back down to face her, I pause to let what I just said sink in for a moment. "Lieutenant Henderson you are relieved of your duties and confined to quarters until further notice. And this time I'm not speaking in metaphors". Before I could get a chance to dismiss her, she left.