Uninspired Voyages
A Star Trek: Voyager fanfiction by Andrew J. Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation et al are the property of CBS Television, Para creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.
New arc continue!
Talax Prime was a beautiful M-class planet from orbit. Wide green continents, huge blue oceans, with brown savannahs and deserts, white ice caps, and shining silver urban centers. The latter was mostly concentrated around lakes and other large bodies of water, typical of humanoid civilizations. Glittering space stations filled the orbitals, with hundreds of ships docking and undocking. Above the planet was the moon Rinax, still a desolate world covered in gray ash and deadly clouds. Even that held a kind of somber beauty, an ever present reminder of the horrors of war in the night time sky of Talax.
Not that Shepherd had had much chance to appreciate the view. Or much of anything over the past few days of the journey.
"Okay," Shepherd began to his security team, as they met in the mess hall. It was at a good time between shifts that meant they'd have few people in, and it gave them all a change in scenery. "First off, glad to see Foster and Munroe handled things during my absence. You did a good job at not sucking."
"We're happy to continue to not suck, sir," Lieutenant Foster deadpanned, making most of the other security team members snicker. Shepherd nodded.
"Secondly... How did the Captain's visit go?"
Biessman grinned.
"It was awesome! Uh, sir," he said. "She thought my prank on the dean of Starfleet Academy was great!"
Elizabeth Laird, who had taken to sitting next to Biessman a lot lately, chuckled.
"To be fair, anyone who ever met that man would have been fine pranking him," she said. Murmurs of agreement went up from most of the security team. Shepherd winced.
"Yeah," he said, "I actually met him with Captain Picard once. Never have I ever been so glad I took the transfer to the Andorian branch of the Academy. Even Picard found the guy insufferable."
"Aw man, I could have gone to the Andorian Branch?" Biessman groaned. "Now they tell me!"
Much laughter ensued. Shepherd let it run its course before he got back onto topic.
"I checked your scores with the projectile weapons training," Shepherd resumed, "and I have seen a lot of improvement. Not as much as I would like, mind you, but still improvement."
"With all due respect sir," Crewman Kenn Lathrop began, "why are we training with slugthrowers? Grenades sure, but what good are bullets against most threats?"
Munroe winced, as did Biessman. Foster looked faintly amused, as did Murphy. Shepherd sighed.
"You're really gonna make me do this again, huh Lathrop?" Shepherd asked. The Bajoran Maquis looked confused.
"Sir?" He asked.
Shepherd tapped his tricorder, and a transporter beam shimmered into life on the table in front of him. Four different weapons appeared, and Biessman let out an almost not sarcastic "oooh". Shepherd picked up the rifle of the set and showed it off to his security team.
"This is the TR-116 projectile rifle," Shepherd began, "developed in 2369 by the Advanced Tactical Research Group. It fires a 10 millimeter tritanium round propelled by a simple chemical accelerant, activated by an equally simple electric hammer activated by pulling the trigger. It uses the same gyroscopic stabilization technology standard to all phasers and can use any existing targeting interface, but despite all this, it is built to be simple to use and easy to maintain and repair. You have an effective sniper rifle with this if you add on a scope and sound suppressors. You can replicate four of these for one phaser rifle. Now, can anyone tell me why it was developed?"
Telsia Murphy dutifully held up her hand.
"Sir," she said, "because Starfleet kept running into dampening fields and radiation, natural and unnatural, that would render a phaser useless."
"That's right," Shepherd said with a nod, "but one other crucial reason: Kinetic weapons work against the Borg more often than energy weapons. Their forcefields can't diffuse the energy of a kinetic projectile as easily as an energy beam."
Shepherd set the rifle down.
"Two other weapons based on this same technology were also developed," Shepherd continued, picking up a pistol, "the TRP-174 pistol. Fires a 9 millimeter caliber bullet. Being smaller means it's easier to conceal and use in tight corridors."
He set it down and held up a rifle that was in between the TR-116 and the TRP-74 in terms of size, but looked far more menacing,
"And our workhorse, the TRS-186. An automatic battle rifle. All the bells and whistles of a phaser for aiming, with semi-automatic, burst, or full auto fire mode. 40 round magazine here, tritanium rounds. Scope optional." He hit a button, and the barrel and stock of the weapon extended forward and back. "And of course, a sniper mode. It won't hit quite as hard as the TR-116, but it's a much better field weapon and gives you more options in combat."
Shepherd held the rifle out and looked seriously at all of his security officers.
"The fact of the matter is, we're out in the unknown. We have no idea what kind of threats we might face out in the Delta Quadrant. There's even a high probability we might run into the Borg, on their home turf."
That got everybody's attention. Lathrop looked uncomfortable. Shepherd nodded again, collapsing the TRS-186 down into its assault rifle mode.
"So, I want you all to be familiar with as many types of weapons as we have," he explained. "There are situations where a phaser is the right weapon, and situations where a slugthrower will do better. There are situations where high tech is the answer, and low tech is the answer. Bottom line: A lack of diversity and flexibility is a death sentence to people like us. So we need to be ready for anything. Got it?"
"Yes sir," Lathrop agreed, as did everyone else.
There was loud applause from the back, and everyone looked over to see Neelix approaching eagerly as he clapped his hands.
"Well put, Lieutenant Shepherd! Well put!" Neelix crowed. He gasped and then picked up a plate of steaming hot pastries. "Oh! Everyone, here! I baked these this morning: Hope you enjoy!"
"Thank you Neelix," Shepherd managed with a tight smile, as the Talaxian eagerly handed out the pastries to his troops. They didn't seem to mind: Even Chang, who was very picky about Neelix's food, took seconds almost eagerly. The Talaxian turned to Shepherd and smiled brightly.
"So!" He began, "ready to see the sights of Talax's central archives today, Lieutenant?"
"I thought you were going to do that with Madame President," Shepherd said with a smirk. Neelix coughed, and leaned in close. He lowered his voice as he spoke to Shepherd.
"Well, um, the thing is, we've spent so much time together these past two days I'd uh, I think I'd like to get to know the new Talax on my own, you know?" Neelix murmured. Shepherd gave Neelix a wry look.
"Uh huh," he said skeptically. Neelix rubbed the back of his head and mumbled.
"Look," Neelix said, "she is my childhood friend and all... And I'm glad she's not going to kill me... But uh... She is a bit... Ya know..."
"Clingy? Obsessed?" Shepherd asked. Neelix nodded stiffly.
"That, and I think Kes will murder me the longer I stay aboard," he admitted.
"That's what happens when you play Lothario," Shepherd said.
"Who?" Neelix asked. Shepherd shook his head.
"Nevermind..."
Shepherd arrived at the transporter room first, wearing Electric Nightmare on his belt. Captain Janeway and Harry Kim were both waiting, along with Tal Celes, a young Bajoran crewman. Janeway gave Shepherd a raised eyebrow as he walked up, and he shrugged.
"As an escort for Neelix, apparently I'm allowed to carry a 'ceremonial weapon'," he deadpanned. "So might as well take the one with the most bells and whistles. Thank you for that, by the way, Captain."
"You've made quite the impression on the Delta Quadrant," Janeway explained, keeping her face carefully neutral, "and you're getting better at keeping the crew out of trouble."
Shepherd sighed. Janeway chuckled.
"Besides," she said, "a Captain has the right to order her crew to perform extra duties if they've been giving her one too many gray hairs."
"I admire your courage in admitting you have them, Captain," Shepherd replied. Janeway snorted.
"I wear them better than you," she shot back. Shepherd grinned.
"Ouch! Direct hit to the starboard power coupling! Nice work, Captain!"
Harry and Tal were watching this exchange in intense awkwardness. Harry opened his mouth, but then closed it, a few times. Tal just blushed and looked down at her PADD. Janeway just chuckled and shook her head.
"Anyway, you're familiar with Harry," Janeway stated, nodding to him, "and this is Tal Celes. She's an archivist with a specialty in library research. She'll be helping us find the needed information to transmit back to the ship."
Shepherd smiled and nodded politely to the crewwoman, who nodded back.
"Cool," Shepherd said.
"It's actually kind of warm in here," Harry observed. Shepherd sighed. Kim looked at him curiously.
"Was that another weird SI turn of phrase?" He asked.
"Yeah," Shepherd replied, "it means-"
The doors to the transporter room opened, and Shepherd was saved from his explanation by the arrival of President Larxeena, General Roxas, and... Neelix, who had been done up in equally elaborate Talaxian formal dress. It had billowing sleeves and was colored like a couch and a quilt had suffered a horrible transporter accident together. The fact that Neelix didn't look comfortable in the vestments was the most shocking (and amusing) part of the situation. Larxeena sighed happily, and bowed to the Captain.
"Thank you so much for allowing us to stay aboard your vessel, Captain!" Larxeena expressed in true gratitude, "your ship is amazing!"
"Thank you very much," Janeway said with a smile and a return bow. "I'm looking forward to seeing Talax myself. And shore leave for our people."
"Easily done, easily done!" Larxeena said cheerfully, "the capital city of Xanax is a wonderful place for tourism! But! To business first, yes?"
"Yes," Janeway said with a nod. They made for the transporter pads... When the doors to the transporter room opened again. Kes ran in.
"Sorry I'm late!" She cried, "our medical supplies have been all over the place with the Lillehammer and Trager crewmembers still recovering!"
"Not a problem, Kes," Janeway said with a nod. Neelix made a choked squeaking sound, as Larxene studied Kes curiously.
"I don't believe we've met," she said.
"I'm Kes, an Ocampa," Kes explained. "I'm also a nurse and I'm here to keep an eye on Shepherd as he recovers."
"Oh?" Larxeena asked, looking at Neelix's cringe with some suspicion. "Ocampa is a rather... Primitive world. We know it better as 'Caretaker's Folly.'"
"Well, I did have some help getting off world," Kes said with a smile. She wrapped her arms around Shepherd's arm, and nuzzled into him. "And found my true love along the way~."
"What?!" Neelix and Shepherd both squawked, in roughly the same tone. Janeway struggled mightily not to roll her eyes.
"Energize!" She ordered the transporter technician, who complied as quickly as possible.
Well, Talax Prime was certainly beautiful. The city of Xanax was built like a stylized garden, with shiny bronze and silver towers with smooth, round organic lines rising out of carefully controlled and sculpted garden forests. The streets were wide and paved white, with lines of gold and silver that resembled the veins in leaves. The Talaxians themselves went about everywhere, in hover cars, lifts, hover trains, and by foot. The clear blue sky above was filled with aircars and other craft darting everywhere.
After spending so much time on a starship or on desolate worlds, it was nice to be on a world that reminded Shepherd of Earth. Clean, bustling, filled with happy beings going about their lives in relative tranquility. Sure, it was the capital city and usually those had the most resources-It was just how such distribution went.
Even so, given the remarkable diversity of Talaxians: In fine clothes and basic clothes, strolling without a care in the universe or furiously bargaining over goods in marketplaces, it seemed unlikely Xanax was a corrupt and aristocratic haven of oppression.
He saw a mechanic bump into Talaxians of means. Both parties apologized, and the mechanic went on his way while the rich Talaxian just carried on. The atmosphere of the city was very laid back. It was clear by Neelix's wide eyes and Larxeena's proud smile that this was how things should be, as they ascended the steps up to the Central Library.
"I never imagined Talax could look like this," Neelix breathed softly. Janeway also looked impressed, as Tal eagerly took photos with her tricorder and Harry gawked at everything he could. Kes was also looking around with an eager smile, clearly impressed.
"It took a lot of hard work," Larxeena admitted, as they walked through large double doors. Shepherd felt the tingle of a low level electro static field-Probably a weak forcefield to keep insects or other pests out. The inside walls were deep, brown-reds overlaid with rich navy blue stripes. Beyond this lobby, they entered into a circular rotunda. Janeway's eyes widened eagerly, and Shepherd himself was grinning a bit.
The circular rotunda held thousands upon thousands of books and data crystals, arranged in rich wooden shelves on five levels. Overhead, a dome covered in glowing flowers of multiple colors shone down upon them. In the center of the vast library grew an ancient looking tree, with leaves shaped like blocky spatulas. Around it were hundreds of computer terminals, where hundreds of Talaxians and other races did research, talked, or even ate their meals.
"The Central Archives just completed an extensive renovation," Larxeena said with pride in her eyes, "and was considerably expanded. We have the ancient archives of not just our old empire, but those of the Trabe, the Haakonians, even what the Vidiians had before they succumbed to the Phage. It was built upon an ancient alien ruin that our ancestors worshiped for thousands of years. Most of the technology in it was ruined, but we were eventually able to piece together a few things to work out antigravity and warp drive."
She nodded to the tree.
"The Tree of Life is, according to legend, where our race truly began," she said, "and we have tended and preserved it ever since."
"Remarkable," Janeway said in awe. Larxeena pulled out a small device that glowed blue, and handed it to Janeway.
"This is a Master Level Access Key," she said, "it will give you access to any archive of any security level."
"Madame President," Roxas said warningly, "they have not been fully cleared-"
"I'm clearing them now," Larxeena said firmly, and the general nodded. She turned back to Janeway, "We will have to trust you will not abuse this privilege."
"We would never dream of it," Janeway replied. She handed the key over to Harry, who took it as carefully as possible. "Harry, Tal? Let's get to work."
"Yes ma'am," Harry said, nodding slowly. He held the Master Key like it might shatter if he breathed too hard. Janeway turned back to the President and smiled.
"How can we repay your generosity?" Janeway asked. Larxeena smiled broadly.
"We can discuss that in more detail," she said. She nodded to Neelix, who was gawping at everything, "while Nee-Nee gets to know his homeworld again."
"Ah, well, I'd much rather, I mean," Neelix stuttered. He looked at Shepherd pleadingly. Shepherd looked down at Kes, who was pouting at him.
"Neelix, why don't you show me around the upper levels?" He suggested. "Kes, darling, why don't you work with Harry and Tal?"
Kes' eyes narrowed.
"But I would much rather spend more time with you, darling," she replied. Shepherd smiled, and slowly pulled his arm out from Kes' embrace.
"Let's save that for later," Shepherd said. He grabbed onto Neelix's shoulder and guided him away, Kes glaring after them both.
Shepherd took Neelix up to the second level. From here, behind jade handrails, they could watch the rest of their party working at the computer terminals below. Kes was actually helping Tal and Harry, though she shot them looks every so often. Larxeena, Roxas and the captain were engaged in discussion under a small tree that resembled a palm, shielding them from the light overhead. Neelix gripped the bar in front of him tightly, like he was on a tossing ship at sea and trying to hold on.
"... Larxeena wants me to marry her," Neelix admitted.
Shepherd hummed.
"I figured it was something like that," he said. He leaned on the railing next to Neelix, "so how do you know her anyway?"
"We were friends, really!" Neelix insisted, "we just went to the same schools on Rinax! She was... Well, kind of dumpy. Too few bristles, had to wear correction frames, but she was an actual princess from an ancient kingdom of Talax. So a lot of other guys tried to suck up to her." Neelix shrugged. "I just... Ya know, liked her! She was kind and awkward, like me. So we became good friends. Even went exploring on Rinax with my sister Alixia. Into the ancient ruins of Xemnas in the Northern Crater, hunting arctic spiders in the ice sheets: We did it all! Then I went to Talax to become a model, and she went off into politics."
Neelix shook his head.
"I hadn't thought of her for years. Thinking of her just... Just made me remember the war. Losing everyone I ever knew on Rinax," he admitted. He sucked in a deep breath.
"Her though... Her family was imprisoned and executed for treason, because they were part of the Peace Movement. She was in jail as a hostage to get cooperation from her kingdom. The only thing that kept her going was... Was me. A picture of me she kept on her, when we were kids!" Neelix shook his head frantically. "It's... It's too much!"
"Why?" Shepherd asked. Neelix grit his teeth.
"Because she thinks I'm some-some sort of hero!" Neelix hissed, "she thinks I'm her Noble Lost Prince, here to fulfill her life! I-I'm not a politician! I'm not a great warrior! I-I can't be consort to such an amazing woman!" Neelix swept his hand over the library, "Look at everything she's built and accomplished! I-I'm nobody next to her! But she thinks I'm her one true love!"
"Neelix," Shepherd began, "I get that you think you can't live up to her expectations. I really do... But have you told her that?"
Neelix winced. Shepherd sighed.
"Of course you haven't."
"I-I was trying to figure out a way to tell her," he insisted, "but she's just pushing it! I don't know what to do!" He looked at Shepherd pleadingly. "Isn't there something you can do?"
Shepherd shook his head.
"I can't fight every battle for you, Neelix," Shepherd pointed out, "and you're already in enough trouble as it is for failing to stand up for yourself. I mean, would it really be that bad? Becoming the consort to the President of your people? Being a hero?"
"I'm not good enough for that," Neelix said firmly, "I know that. You know that. Kes probably knows that, too." Neelix sighed heavily, "I'm proving it right now."
"Maybe," Shepherd allowed, "but I think you're better than you think. Given that you are actually wrestling with this decision." He looked at Neelix intently. "But, you are going to have to make a decision. It's not fair to Kes or Larxeena... Or anyone, for that matter, to keep dragging this out."
"No, no, you're right," Neelix grumbled. Shepherd shrugged.
"I mean, between being a cook and morale officer on a ship trying to make a hopeless journey back home, and being the boytoy of your people's leader? For most people that's a no brainer."
"Wealth was never something I really wanted, if I'm honest," Neelix admitted, "I just wanted... Something that was mine. Someone who could love me for me. Ya know... Simple stuff."
Shepherd nodded back, and patted Neelix on the shoulder.
"I know exactly what you mean," he said with a smile.
"You've helped me so much, Shepherd," Neelix said gratefully, "um... But... Could you do one more thing for me?"
Shepherd frowned.
"Depends on what it is," he said.
Shepherd made his way down to the ground floor of the library. Harry and Tal were talking back and forth excitedly between looks at their tricorders, while Kes helped out here and there. Shepherd walked up behind them, loudly enough for them to hear him coming.
"Sir! This is amazing!" Harry said cheerfully, "they've got stuff here that's from the Iconians! Even references to the T'kon Empire! Some of it might even be Andromedean!"
"That is really incredible," Shepherd said with a smile, and he meant it. Honestly, reading through ancient alien civilizations seemed a lot more fun than talking to Neelix's girlfriend, but...
"The starmaps are a little outdated," Tal admitted, "but our astrometrics can sort it out and compensate for stellar drift!" She shook her head, "though honestly, some of this stuff seems farfetched. Gigantic spaceborne telepathic pitcher plants? A void of utter darkness from theta radiation? They sound like the ancient legends my grandpa talked about, filled with space creatures that ate our solar sail ships."
"All legends have some basis in fact," Shepherd said with a shrug, "who knows what we'll find out there?"
"Yes, let's discuss that somewhere in private, Shepherd," Kes said, standing up and taking Shepherd by the hand. She led him away to another palm-like tree rest area, and sat with him on a squishy couch. She looked at him intently.
"Whatever excuse Neelix has, it's not good enough," she said firmly.
"I know, I know," Shepherd sighed, "but you two do need to talk to each other. I can't be a pawn in your game. I'm not paid enough as it is."
"You expect me to take him back?" Kes demanded. Shepherd shook his head.
"You don't have to. But you should at least talk and get this stuff into the open," he said, "without go betweens."
Kes sighed heavily. She squeezed her hands together into a fist.
"He was so kind. So generous. I thought that's all I needed," she said, "but I... I think maybe my horizons are expanding. You know?"
Shepherd nodded.
"I know," he said. "But I'm not the one to tell that to. Neelix is."
Kes let out a long sigh.
"... I'll talk to him," she said. She looked up at him. "I am really sorry about... You know... It was stupid."
"It was," Shepherd said with a nod, "but we all do stupid things out of love."
"Yes, we..." Kes froze, her eyes going wide. Shepherd frowned.
"Kes? What is it-?"
The dome above was shattered as something large smashed through it. Flowers and debris rained down onto the library goers, and they all fled and screamed as a spacecraft hovered on down. It landed right on the sacred tree, snapping it in half. Shepherd had reacted on instinct, running up to the stunned Harry and Tal, and yanking them out of the way of falling trunks and branches!
The craft was easy enough to identify, even through rusty red and desert tan paint: The shuttle Seska had stolen from Voyager.
Shepherd got the two technicians behind one of the couches, where Kes was already taking cover. Shepherd pulled his cricket phaser and leveled it at the craft as Kazon stormed out the back. He pressed his thumb down on the trigger... But nothing happened. The Kazon, when they pressed their triggers, began firing blue blasts into the screaming crowds of civilians. The large doors began to close, as many civilians got out. Those who didn't, were shot repeatedly.
Several Talaxian guards tried to fire on the intruders from above, but their weapons were also useless. The Kazon returned fire, blowing holes in the chests and heads of the guards.
Shepherd ran and dove behind some couches for cover, deadly blue blasts arcing over his head. He looked over and saw Janeway, Larxeena, and Roxas huddled behind another couch.
Janeway was tapping her commbadge furiously, speaking loudly over the phaser fire.
"Janeway to Voyager! Voyager, respond!" She looked over at Shepherd. He hit his commbadge.
"Voyager! Lillehammer! Trager! Anyone, respond!" Shepherd shouted.
"It's no good!" Harry cried, looking at the readings on his tricorder, "they've got some kind of dampening field up! Our weapons and communicators are useless!"
"There are better ways to react to having an overdue library book," Shepherd muttered.
The plot thickens!