Chapter 7 – Finding a Way Forward

Voyager's conference room was full. At the head of the table was Captain Janeway. Commander Chakotay sat on one side and the recently revived and recovered Lieutenant Commander Tuvok sat on the other. Seven of Nine was next to Chakotay with Ensign Ayala and Crewman Jor near her. Also present were Lieutenants Rollins, Paris and Torres, with Crewmen T'Vora, and Neelix. The Doctor was finished with the status pods, but still tending to a half dozen crew in sick bay who needed longer to recover. Most of the rest of the crew were recovering in quarters.

B'Elanna was shaking her head. "Ten light years is the limit," she said. "We need to find a source for new dilithium to replace what we have and then generate the requisite anti-matter for the engines. Unless we do that, that's as far as we go. After that, we'll just have enough power to sustain ourselves for a week or two."

"And if we stay right here?" Lieutenant Rollins asked. "Perhaps we can send out a distress call and ask for assistance."

"We've been burning through a lot of energy these past several months with the holodecks and associated systems. Inefficiently, I might add, since the Hirogen didn't seem to care about energy use or the condition of the systems." B'Elanna shrugged. "Two months, perhaps," she finally replied to the original question, and then looked over to Neelix.

"We could maybe stretch that to three months," Neelix added, "if the current hydroponics crop yields are good."

Janeway frowned and shook her head. "No distress call," she said. "We're in hostile space. For all we know, another Hirogen vessel might answer the call and we're in no condition for battle." She then turned to face Seven of Nine. "What star systems are within ten light years of our current location?" she asked.

Seven typed something into the PADD on the desk in front of her and then motioned to the conference room viewscreen which displayed a map of the space surrounding Voyager. "Preliminary scans by the Astrometrics sensors reveal three star systems within the requisite ten light year radius," she said. She touched her PADD and the view zoomed into the first system. "Fortunately for us, the closest system, only one point nine light years away, has four terrestrial planets surrounding a K8-type star. The second planet from the star appears to be late-L or early-M class."

"That sounds promising," Chakotay commented. "We could reach it in a matter of hours and even land on the surface."

Seven nodded. "Astrometrics is currently trying to ascertain a more detailed analysis of this planet for habitability. No dilithium, however, has been detected in system. At this range, it indicates probably only small deposits would be available, if that. There are no gas giants in the system or apparent asteroid belts either. There is a second M5-type star in a distant orbit about the primary."

Janeway's frown deepened. "What about the other two systems?"

Seven tapped on her PADD and the second system came into view. "The second closest system is a contact binary composed of two identical F3-type stars and is five point seven light year's away. There appears to be a single gas giant planet outside the habitability zone. Again, no significant sources of dilithum have been detected in system." Seven moved on to the last system without waiting for comment. "The final system is near the edge of our range at nine point four light year's away. The central star is a large B6-type star exhibiting some luminosity instabilities. There are no planets detected, but rather a fairly dense proto-planetary disk. Scans indicate dilithium present within this disk, but at this distance, we are unable to determine its quality or accessibility.

Janeway slapped her palm against the table and finally smiled. "That's it then," she said. "We have a source of dilithium within reach."

Now it was Seven's turn to frown. She glanced at Chakotay and he shifted in his seat. "Seven and I were discussing this just before the meeting," he began. "If the quality of dilithium in this third system turns out to be insufficient or difficult to extract, we would be stuck there with nowhere to go and only two weeks of power."

"If there is dilithium of any grade," Tuvok countered, "we would be able to extend that timeframe even if the source proved insufficient for the warp engines."

Chakotay nodded. "That is true," he said. "Although it would stress our systems greatly and put the entire crew at risk. An alternative, however, would be to land and establish ourselves on the M-class planet around the first system. From there, we could send the Delta Flyer to the third system to assess the dilithium source and do the required extraction and refinement."

Tuvok nodded. "Agreed. It is less risky proposition," he conceded.

"How far is the third system from the first system?" Rollins asked.

"Eleven point three light years," Seven replied.

"Going to the first system would delay us by months," Janeway cut in. She gestured back to the screen. "There's dilithum in that third system. In all likelihood, we could get what we need in a few days and be on our way back to the Alpha Quadrant by the end of the week."

"Some of us, perhaps, are not as obsessed as you are in getting back to the Alpha Quadrant," Seven stated.

There was a stunned silence for a short time and Janeway leaned forward a bit. "I beg your pardon?" she asked icily.

T'Vora then cleared her throat. "Perhaps a combination of these two plans would be the most logical course forward," she stated. Her interruption successfully defused the sudden tension and everyone turned to hear what she had to say. "Voyager's shuttlecraft could be used to move a portion of the crew to the M-class planet in the first system. It is close enough that it could be reached in a little over thirty hours travel. Voyager, along with the Delta Flyer, could then travel to the third system to search for the dilithium. The smaller crew complement on Voyager could nearly double the available time after arriving in system and improve the chances of success. If warp grade dilithium is found, Voyager could return back to the first system to pick up the crew there. If not found, Voyager could return, albeit at a much reduced speed, and the M-class planet group would have an established base of operations waiting."

Janeway rubbed her chin.

"How would you propose choosing who would go to the planet and who would remain on Voyager?" Tuvok asked.

"Strictly voluntary," T'Vora replied.

"Chakotay and I volunteer for the M-class planet mission in the shuttlecraft," Seven said immediately.

"I too would like to volunteer for the planet mission," T'Vora added.

Janeway held up her hand. "Before anyone else chimes in, let us wait for the more detailed Astrometrics study concerning habitability of this planet." She turned to Chakotay, "Commander, since it appears you and Seven might be leading this group to the planet, start querying the crew and get a list of volunteers, mindful that we'll need to retain expertise for mining and refining the dilithium on Voyager to make this work."

"Yes Captain."

She then turned to face Seven and narrowed her eyes. "I am not obsessed," she said forcefully, "but I am driven to return this crew to the Alpha Quadrant. I can appreciate caution, however, and so if this planet does indeed show promise, we'll proceed as T'Vora suggests."

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Activities were progressing at a rapid pace. Astrometrics quickly confirmed the planet in the nearby system was indeed habitable with an extensive biosphere. If all went as planned, the shuttlecraft were due to depart Voyager within the next three hours and Voyager start making its way to the more distant system right after that. Chakotay and Seven met up in their quarters to pick up a few personal items. Chakotay chuckled to himself as the doors shut behind them.

"What is it?" Seven inquired.

Chakotay smiled despite himself. "Some of us, perhaps, are not as obsessed as you are," he repeated.

Seven smiled back and then shook her head. "It was out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about it," she said. She paused as she considered something else. "I've been thinking a lot about our experience in the Santa Lucia simulation. In all candor, it is more meaningful to me than anything in my life before. Sure, getting back to the Alpha Quadrant would be nice, but seriously Chakotay, there's more to our lives than that. Isn't there?"

Chakotay nodded. "I think so."

"Although what I said was entirely true, I realize I could have been more tactful. Particularly since she's the Captain. I'll have to thank T'Vora next time I see her, and I did apologize to the Captain after the meeting."

"What did she say?" Chakotay asked.

Seven shrugged. "I think she was a bit taken aback by the way I said it but appreciates my candor." Seven was anxious to change the subject and gestured to the PADD in Chakotay's hand. "Do we have a final list?"

Chakotay lifted the PADD back up. "I think so," he said. "They have all been notified and will be meeting in the shuttle bay within the hour. We had more volunteers than can fit in the four shuttles, but a few of them are going to have to stay aboard Voyager to help with the dilithium refining and anti-matter generation anyway."

"What about Lieutenant Torres?" Seven inquired.

Chakotay nodded. "Both she and Tom volunteered, but both also acknowledged it might be better for them to stay with Voyager. I think enough of us have some engineering background that we can use to start up a settlement. There will be forty of us total going to the planet. Ten per shuttlecraft."

Seven cringed. "Thirty hours in a crowded shuttlecraft. I'm not looking forward to that."

"We'll manage." Chakotay moved over to a dresser and opened it, taking out a few clothing items. He placed them into a standard Star Fleet container and looked about the room. "By necessity, we'll need to pack lite and rely a bit on the shuttlecraft replicators. What do you think, do we need to take anything from here besides a change of clothes?"

Seven's eyes scanned the room and then settled on the nightstand by Chakotay's bed. "Perhaps your medicine bundle and mother's religious icon," she said matter-of-factly.

Chakotay nodded and went over to scoop them up. He placed them carefully into the container and then sealed it up, putting the single strap over his shoulder. "How about you?" he asked.

"I have a second outfit and can put it into your container," she replied motioning to the container.

"Are you set with your regeneration needs?"

"I have consulted with the Doctor and we're outfitting the Tereshkova with a rudimentary device that will allow me to regenerate most of my Borg components," Seven responded. "I will be fine for a few months. Perhaps longer given our experience in the recent holodeck simulations."

Chakotay gave one last look about the quarters and then moved off towards the exit. "Let's swing by the cargo bay to pick up your things and then go to the shuttlebay and see about the supplies. Captain Janeway has requisitioned us a weeks' worth of rations, the compact hydroelectric turbine, and some raw materials so we don't have to tax the replicators too much."

"What about the emergency shelters?"

"Those as well. It will be cramped inside the shuttles, but manageable."

Seven paused and also looked about the quarters.

"What is it?" Chakotay asked, sensing something on her mind.

"It was only two days ago when our memories were restored," Seven started. "At the time, it was overwhelming and I feared my past would jeopardize our relationship. We said we had a lot to talk about to sort things out, but it's been nonstop since then and we haven't found the time. And yet…" She shrugged. "I'm not sure there is anything we need to talk about. I feel as close to you as I did in Santa Lucia."

Chakotay nodded and then stepped up to be closer. "I know what you mean. There's plenty I'd like to talk with you about, just not whether we have a future together or not. We already know the answer to that."

The two of them embraced, letting it linger for a time as if drawing strength from the other.

They left the quarters and headed to the cargo bay. Preparations proceeded as expected and soon enough it was time for the shuttles to depart. Everyone going to the planet were loaded into the shuttles. Ten each in the Tereshkova, the Ride, the Cochrane, and the Liu Yang. Only Chakotay remained outside the Tereshkova ready to enter to assume the piloting position.

"We'll be in communication range for the first eighteen hours," Captain Janeway said, "but after that, you're on your own. We'll either see you a few days after that." She then frowned and added, "or a few months after that."

"We'll be waiting for you either way," Chakotay replied.

Janeway shook her head. "I'm still not fully comfortable us splitting the crew up like this," she said. "But I do recognize the logic of it. You be safe."

"We will."

Janeway sighed. "Let's get this over with." She began to reach out to shake Chakotay's hand, but then thought about it and went and hugged her First Officer instead. They had been through a lot together here in the Delta Quadrant, and a handshake didn't seem enough.

"We'll see you all soon," Chakotay choked out.

Janeway retreated to the shuttlebay doors and Chakotay turned and entered the shuttlecraft. He weaved his way to the front and took the pilot's seat up front. Seven sat next to him. There were four other seats occupied, and four others sitting on the floor or standing. The Star Fleet emergency shelters were stacked in the back near the exit. Chakotay touched the comm channel on the front panel. "Voyager, we're ready to proceed. Evacuate atmosphere and open shuttle bay doors."

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"You are simply wrong," Seven said bluntly. "There is ample scientific evidence concerning the existence of a Great Spirit".

Dalby looked aghast. He was standing in a small aisle with just a few steps about him to pace. He was making good use of what space he had. "I would think you'd be more scientifically minded than that," he said.

"Apparently, I am," she retorted.

Dalby folded his arms. "What possible scientific evidence is there?" he challenged.

"Not this again," Ayala said shaking his head. He was sitting behind Seven's copilot seat. "I know I'm not really a preacher, and I know for sure I don't have all the answers, but for some of us, knowing there's a Creator gives the universe meaning and purpose. A little bit of order in the chaos."

"That's not good enough for me," Dalby replied. "I'm not looking for some panacea and believe in something with blind faith."

"Are we there yet Chakotay?" Marina Jor moaned. She was sitting on the floor beside Ayala in the cramped shuttlecraft. Most of the others had their eyes closed, choosing to ignore the current back and forth, a continuation of a discussion from hours before.

Seven was non-pulsed. "The most convincing evidence is the fine-tuning of the universe," she said.

"Right," Dalby replied. "You've said that. But I'm not convinced. Explain to me again why the anthropic principle and idea of a multiverse doesn't account for this naturally. There could be Big Bangs creating pocket universes all the time naturally. No creator required. It's just the way the universe works."

"There is nothing in the physical laws of the universe that sets the fundamental constants," Seven replied. "The gravitational constant, the electromagnetic force constant, the strong and weak nuclear force constants, and the cosmological constant. Yet, these constants are finely tuned to enable the existence of galaxies and stars and life. This points directly to a driving force behind the universe in the form of a Great Spirit that pre-existed before the universe's creation in the Big Bang and directed its creation."

"Yes, yes, but I've heard an infinite multiverse would…" Dalby began but was silenced by Seven's shaking head and raised hand.

"I'm not finished. You already asked about the anthropic principle and multiverse. I'm getting to that. As you point out, an infinite fractal multiverse has been proposed as a way of accounting for this fine tuning as well as precluding the need for a creation event in the Big Bang. For this to be viable, it would indeed need to be essentially infinite such that a sufficient number of pocket universes be present to statistically allow for at least one universe where the force and cosmological constants all acquire the desired values. By the anthropic principle, we would by design reside in that one universe that was tuned just right since that is the only universe, or one of the only ones, where we could even exist."

"Case closed in my mind," Dalby said. "A natural cause and no need for a Great Spirit. With an infinite number of universes, there would be in fact an infinite number of these special cases."

Seven smiled. "Indeed, if an infinite fractal multiverse were possible."

Dalby's smile faltered, but he pressed on. "We can't prove it is impossible," he said. "How can we observe these other universes if they are outside our own? How could we possibly prove it is impossible."

"In fact, we can," Seven countered. "The laws of physics are clear on the matter, particularly the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In our last discussion on this topic I alluded to that but you must have ignored me. It has been proven scientifically that such an infinite fractal multiverse is not possible. Indeed, if a multiverse does exist, it must be finite and consist of other universes much like our own, and the multiverse itself must have a beginning much like the Big Bang. It would be as finely tuned as our single universe."

"I've never heard…"

"Most sentient species who have studied physics to any degree have come to this same conclusion," Seven continued. "For example, humans have known this fact since the early 21st century, although it is true much of this knowledge was lost for a time after the Third World War. It was first discussed, however, in a posthumous paper by one of the better known cosmologists of the time, Stephen Hawking, who held the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge I believe."

Dalby appeared confused. "Why is the infinite fractal universe still talked about then?" he countered. "I remember debating about it in school."

"I think for some, the idea of a Great Spirit is so unpalatable, they simply ignore the established science and continue to believe what they want. It is that way for many such beliefs where scientific results are cherry-picked to only bolster and accommodate one's personal beliefs. As it turns out, atheism takes a great deal of blind faith and ignoring scientific results from cosmology to make it practical."

Dalby didn't have a reply, and despite having enjoyed hearing the back and forth between Seven and Dalby, Chakotay took the opportunity to redirect the conversation. "To answer Marina's question from a few minutes ago, we are almost there."

"Thank the Great Spirit," Marina said with a wink towards Ayala. Others, who had appeared to be asleep moments before, now sat up straighter and leaned forward to listen.

"We're close enough to start planning a landing site," Chakotay continued. "Sensors have completed their scans and augmented what we already know from our original Astrometric scans. There's a range of possibilities. The planet has everything from hot deserts to cold actric tundra."

"I vote we don't go to a hot desert or arctic tundra," Ayala chimed in.

"Somewhere in between it is," Chakotay replied with a smile.

"I remind you, as we discussed earlier in our voyage, we should select a template latitude of the planet," T'Vora said more seriously. She was standing in the back of the shuttle. "In the hemisphere where it is either spring or summer. We also need a source of water, preferably a moderate sized river, to install the hydroelectric turbine."

Chakotay consulted the composite map. "It appears to be late spring in the southern hemisphere," he said. "I believe there's a viable spot along the west coast of that large island." He was pointing to a spot and Seven leaned over to take a look and then nodded her head.

"It's our base of operations," Dalby commented. "We can always scout out other locations if necessary." He was leaning forward over Seven and Chakotay's shoulders. He then straightened back up and wrinkled his nose. "I for one just want to get out of this shuttlecraft. It's getting a bit ripe in here."

The three other shuttlecraft formed up with the Tereshkova in the lead and descended through the planet's atmosphere to the surface. Beyond the coastline of the selected island was a forest with large patches of grassland interspersed throughout. Chakotay selected a landing spot relatively close to the coast next to a river from the island's interior and brought the shuttle down into the center of one of the grass clearings. The three other shuttles settled down on either side and behind.

As the engines powered down, Seven scanned external sensors. "Atmosphere checks out," she said.

Chakotay nodded and activated the outer hatch.

"Freedom!" Dalby exclaimed and was the first out the door and onto the planet's surface. The others filed out behind him and started looking around. Ayala and Marina had picked up one of the Star Fleet emergency shelters on their way out, apparently ready to choose an appropriate spot to set up. Soon enough, only Chakotay and Seven remained.

"I've been thinking we should perhaps give a name to our settlement," Chakotay mused. "Although it might be just a short stay, it's possible we'll be here for several months."

Seven nodded. She was moving the final switches to secure the shuttlecraft. "I suppose that makes sense," she finally replied. "Do you have something in mind?"

"I do," Chakotay said. He looked out over the field. Ayala and Marina were already unpacking the Star Fleet emergency shelter about thirty meters away. Others were stretching, finally free from the confines of the shuttles. It was late morning and white clouds like wispy brush strokes graced the cobalt sky. "I was thinking perhaps Santa Lucia."

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Author's note: final push to complete this story. One more chapter to go.