Chapter 14
Voyager coalesced around her in a storm of colours and light, the familiar contours of the transporter room coming into firmer view as the transporter let go its grip. Tuvok stood several feet in front of her, phaser drawn and flanked by two similarly armed Lieutenants and the EMH. Harry Kim was at the transporter controls, and beside him stood B'Elanna Torres, the anxiety written clearly across the engineer's expressive face. Janeway wrenched herself out of her disoriented captors' grasp, leaving them to the mercies of the security detachment as she made directly for the transporter console.
"Harry, get a lock on Commander Chakotay. Now."
"I can't, Captain. We only just managed to locate you, and now-"
She waved a curt hand, indicating that he should give her space. Janeway took his place and searched for some indication of the man she'd left behind. There was nothing. The transporter scanners may as well have been searching a blank wall, which to all intents and purposes, they were.
"Dammit, Tuvok," she cursed without looking up as he came to stand in front of her. "One locator beacon between us?"
"I apologise, Captain. We had to do the best we could with the resources we had available. Our contact was only able-"
Janeway held up a hand, still using the other to operate the transporter controls. "B'Elanna, did you try enhancing the input protocols?"
"Yes, Captain. We boosted them by 80 per cent, but it made no difference. There's just no way we can penetrate the mines – there's too much mineral interference."
"What about using a proxy? There must be something down there that can relay a deflected signal."
"Nothing we've been able to find, Captain."
"Then look harder!" She became aware of the EMH standing at her side, medical tricorder in hand. "Not now, Doctor."
"With respect, Captain, you've been held in captivity for three weeks. In my opinion-"
"I assure you, I'm fine."
"I beg to disagree, Captain. Even a cursory scan has told me you're suffering from three broken ribs, multiple lacerations and, if I'm not mistaken, an early-stage infection of staphyloccocus aureus, which if untreated will lead to- "
"Computer, deactivate the EMH." The hologram's outraged face faded, the tricorder hitting the ground with a dull thump, bouncing once on the grey carpet before lying still. Janeway turned to Tuvok, her jaw set as tight as her shoulders. "What's our status?"
"We're in high orbit above the mining colony, Captain. The Vorbrath have attempted two attacks since they discovered your escape, but they are no match for Voyager's shields."
Janeway spared a glance at the two Vorbrath security personnel as she headed for the exit. "Take them to the brig. The rest of you, resume your posts. And get someone to replicate me a damn uniform before I get to the bridge."
She barely had time to acknowledge the bridge crew, who all got to their feet as their Captain, feared lost, stepped out the turbolift. "As you were," Janeway ordered. "Tom, wait five minutes then hail the Vorbrath Superintendent. Don't take no for an answer: breach their communication protocols if you need to."
Paris's "Aye, Captain" was said to her back as she strode to the ready room. On her desk was a fresh uniform, as ordered. Janeway locked the doors and then sloughed the cloak from her skin, wincing at the strain this placed on her damaged ribs. Whoever had requested the uniform had also thought to ask for a package of sterile wipes: hardly akin to the bath Janeway craved, but better than nothing, which was the alternative at this point. She took five seconds to scrub under her arms and another ten to clean her face. There was still dried blood caked across her stomach, but no time to deal with it. She pulled on the uniform. Twice she had to pause for breath, the agony of her broken ribs becoming ever more pronounced with each movement - pulling the unusually baggy turtleneck over her head was almost impossible.
Back in uniform, zipped into her boots, she felt somewhat more like herself. By Janeway's count it had taken her four minutes to change, which left 60 seconds before she needed to be back on the bridge. Crossing to the replicator, she called up the specs for a wide black hairband that would both secure and hide the worst of her filthy hair – not her usual choice, but the Vorbrath didn't know that. Once she'd pulled it into place, she glanced in the mirror, noting the harsh lines the sparse style lent to her face – cheekbones sharper than ever, eyes flashing ultra blue from her etiolated face. Yes, that would do. Anything to give her an edge, especially at this moment.
She turned, hesitated for a split second, and then added, "Computer. Coffee, black."
Janeway downed the liquid as she crossed to the door, dropping the empty mug on the table with an angry clunk as she passed. By the time the ready room door was unlocked and opening, the caffeine was hitting her bloodstream, an extra, artificial jolt sparking alongside the rush of adrenaline bursting in her veins. She could almost ignore her pain entirely as she stalked back onto the bridge, uniformed, full of rage – and, more importantly, back where she belonged.
"Tom?"
"They're responding, Captain."
"Tuvok," she barked. "Every order I give from here on in is to disable, not destroy. Understand?"
"Yes, Captain."
Janeway positioned herself in front of her command chair, but didn't sit. She lifted her chin. "On screen, Lieutenant."
The alien face that appeared before her was not unfamiliar. It belonged to the colony's commander, a Vorbrath named Riktat, whom Janeway had previously met during their failed negotiations. If he was surprised to see her back at her post, he hid it well.
"Captain Janeway," he began. How very nice to see you back in our region of -"
"I'm not interested in small talk, Riktat," Janeway cut him off. "Return my officer. Now."
The alien tipped his head to one side, the criss-cross of sharp ridges that marked his forehead rippling as he tightened his muscles into a frown. "I'm not sure I know what you mean, Captain."
"You know exactly what I mean, Superintendent. Commander Chakotay, second in command of Voyager, whom you imprisoned alongside me. You are still holding him. Release him immediately."
Riktat straightened and then stood. He took on a swagger that only served to increase the temperature of the rage boiling in Janeway's gut. "I'm still not certain to whom you are referring, Captain." The alien made a show of putting one hand up to his chin, as if deep in contemplation. "Although – come to think of it, we did detain an intruder. Quite recently, in fact. He was attempting to leave, having infiltrated our mining operations." Riktat shrugged. "Our officers are ordered to execute such criminals on sight. Industrial espionage is such a problem for us. I'm sure you understand."
There was such absolute silence on the Voyager bridge that Janeway could hear the blood rushing in her ears.
"For your sake, Riktat, I really do hope you're lying." Without breaking eye contact with the alien, she addressed Harry Kim. "Ensign Kim, how many Vorbrath ships are in the area?"
"Five, Captain."
"Lieutenant Commander Tuvok. Lock phasers on the closest Vorbrath ship."
"Phasers locked, Captain."
Riktat clenched his jaw. "You wouldn't dare, Captain."
"Wouldn't I? Tuvok – fire."
"Aye, Captain. Firing phasers."
Janeway saw the Vorbrath commander's attention deviate from her face for a split second. She glanced over Paris's shoulder to see the explosion light up his console in a colourful display of computer code. Tuvok had disabled their engines, lighting them up like a firecracker yet giving everyone aboard a chance to reach the escape pods.
"Direct hit, Captain."
"Excellent. Target the next ship. Give me Commander Chakotay, Riktat."
Riktat licked his lips nervously, but otherwise he didn't react. "This is pointless, Captain. I can't return your officer to you – he's already dead."
"Wrong answer. Ready, Tuvok. Fire."
This time she saw the Vorbrath flinch as another of his ships' engines lit up the sky.
"I can do this all day, Riktat. Give him to me."
"I told you, Captain, it's out of my hands-"
"And I told you, Superintendent, that I don't believe you. Tuvok, lock phasers on the third ship."
"Phasers locked, Captain."
"Fire."
Janeway placed one hand on her hip. "Three down. Two to go. How are you going to explain the loss of your entire fleet to your superiors?"
"This is absurd. I can't give you what I no longer have!"
"A race that relies on slaves executing a potential free worker? I don't think so. How much is this one man's life worth to you, Riktat? Because somehow I think it's worth more to me. Lock phasers, Tuvok."
"Phasers locked, Captain."
"Fire."
"All of this could have been avoided!" Riktat shouted, flinging up his hands as another of his ships took heavy damage. "All we wanted was two of your photon torpedoes. That was all! You wouldn't even have missed them!"
Disgust rolled over her, coupled with an intense desire to just have this done. "You want torpedoes, Riktat? Fine. I'll give you a torpedo. Tuvok, load torpedo bay one. Lock on to the colony's command centre. Disregard my previous order. Make it a dead centre hit."
There was a brief pause, and then, "Captain…"
She didn't even turn. Tuvok must have known she was bluffing, but she couldn't allow the Vorbrath to see any hint of it. "Do it."
"Aye, Captain."
"Prepare to fire. On my mark. Three. Two. One…"
"Wait!" Riktat shouted. "Just wait. He's not dead. Fire and you'll kill your officer along with the rest of us. Don't fire. Just don't fire."
The pulse of relief that sped through Janeway's heart barely even registered. "Hold fire, Tuvok. Riktat, you will bring Commander Chakotay to the surface and transmit his exact coordinates to us immediately. Understand?"
"Yes. Yes, I understand."
"Tuvok, maintain torpedo lock," she ordered, still staring at Riktat.
"There's no need, Captain," Riktat insisted. "We are bringing your officer up now."
"Better," Janeway grated. "Now. Let's discuss the Dorai."
[TBC]
A/N: I have MissyHissy3 to thank for introducing me to the word 'etiolated'. She used it in an unrelated conversation a few months ago and it's so awesome that I've been waiting to use it ever since!