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!
The conference room was a cacophony of angry voices. President Larxeena was yelling at several of her advisors, and a group of gray skinned aliens: The Haakonians. Their head representative, named Orabel, was shouting at the president when he wasn't arguing with his own representatives. Gul Bartatt stood there in annoyance, as one of his subordinates shouted at the stoic Tuvok. Captain Vethren stood there, looking uncomfortable: Janeway couldn't blame the young captain. She'd been pushed into the position by default, the highest ranking officer left on the Lillehammer. But the simple truth was, they didn't have time for any of this.
Janeway walked up to the head of the conference table, and slapped it hard, several times. It got everyone's attention quickly.
"We're not going to solve any problems if we just shout at each other!" Janeway stated. She shook her head and looked at Larxeena. "Madame President? Your main issues?"
Larxeena glared at Orabel.
"The Kazon have killed many of our people, destroyed our sacred tree, and have access to a technology that could threaten the entire galaxy, but you're not saying whether or not you'll support us!" She growled.
Orabel sighed quietly.
"The revelation that General Roxas is in league with the Kazon is concerning," Orabel stated, standing tall and stiff, "but the Iconians? They're beings of legend. It seems a bit outlandish-"
"We gave you the recordings!" Larxeena insisted, "and all the sensor data Voyager's people took!"
Orabel nodded slowly.
"Yes, we saw," he said, "and the fact their shuttle evaded your planetary defenses is concerning-"
"Yours as well," Larxeena growled, "or did the nine ships your military has in our space pick it up?"
Orabel looked rather uncomfortable.
"We're just not sure how involved to be," Orabel explained, "given the complexity of the situation! We can't just barge in!"
"None of this is our problem," Bartatt's first officer stated, "we've completed our repairs and traded with them. We should leave, now."
Bartatt shot his second a scowl, and the younger Cardassian male grimaced but shut up.
"I assure you, Ambassador Orabel," Janeway began, "the situation is dire. Iconian technology is very real, and the Kazon seem to have gotten some of it to work. Even a little of that could endanger this entire galaxy... Including Cardassia."
Orabel sighed.
"We may have become lax in our security measures," he said, "and for that I am sorry. But the Iconians are... Well, it's a little hard to believe."
"Even with all the evidence we sent you?" Larxeena demanded. "The previous government didn't believe in the power of the Metreon Cascade, even with all the data you sent them! How are you not making the same mistake here?!"
Orabel looked even more uncomfortable.
"That was different," Orabel stated, "or has your General Roxas forgotten how the war ended?"
"We're not talking about the previous war," Janeway said, holding her hands up, "we're talking about now. We have a dangerous group of individuals with technology that could change the entire balance of power in this galaxy. We cannot lose sight of that!"
"One of your people being responsible for this, of course," Orabel pointed out. Bartatt's second growled.
"She's not one of-!"
"What we mean to say, Ambassador," Bartatt stated, squeezing his second in command's shoulder hard, "is that while Seska is one of our people, her agenda is her own. We have no interest in becoming a power in this region, only in returning home."
Orabel snorted.
"If it's such a huge threat, it seems more likely for you to handle it," Orabel pointed out, "given that it's your fault."
"If the Caretaker hadn't taken us to your stupid quadrant-!" Bartatt's second started, but Bartatt had had enough.
"Serven, get out now," Bartatt ordered. Serven stared at his Gul, but soon complied, getting up and walking out the door in as dignified a way as he could. He looked back to the other guests.
"Apologies," Bartatt stated. Janeway nodded.
"Not needed," she said. "Ambassador, we're not asking you to handle this on your own. But from what we know, the Kazon sects allying together into one cohesive force is a bad thing for you. The technology of the Iconians would allow them to do this, and be a threat to everyone. This is why we're asking you work with us, together."
Orabel snorted.
"We're going to need something a bit more substantial to accept this so readily-GAH!"
A tall Kazon in red clothing, lined in white fur, appeared over the conference table. He wore a furry cape, and gaudy golden and silver chains across his chest. He smirked out at his audience as he floated above them all, mildly translucent. Tuvok raised an eyebrow, and held up a tricorder.
"Hello," the Kazon stated, "I am Maje Cullah of the Kazon Nistrim. I now possess the power of the Ancient Iconians: It is what I am using to project this message to every starship and world within fifty lightyears."
Orabel got a call from a communications device, and his pale face grew paler as his assistants looked aghast. Larxeena was in disbelief.
"With the power of the Iconians, I will unite every Kazon Sect under me, and we will dominate this quadrant," Cullah stated, "but I am willing to be a gracious ruler. Your governments have one Kazon week to surrender and join our empire. Join willingly, and you will become equal partners in an empire that will rule the galaxy."
Cullah smirked.
"Resist... And you will be destroyed. I leave the choice up to you," he said. He nodded. "You have your time. Make your choices accordingly."
The hologram vanished. Orabel looked over at Janeway, suddenly looking far more alarmed.
"Ah... Captain, I have received a message from my government," he stated, "that they too received the message... As did all our ships and colonies."
"Did they?" Larxeena asked dryly. "I take it you're going to change your mind about aiding us?"
Orabel nodded quickly, wincing a bit.
"Yes, they are sending a fleet to Talax right now," he said. He looked to Janeway, "and given you have more experience with such technology, we were hoping you would help us, Captain Janeway?"
Janeway nodded, keeping her face neutral.
"Of course," she said. "If Gul Bartatt and Captain Vethren agree?"
Captain Vethren nodded.
"Aye ma'am," she said, her antenna standing up high.
Bartatt nodded.
"We are willing to cooperate," he said.
"That's good to hear," Janeway stated. Her commbadge beeped, and she tapped it. "Janeway here?"
"Captain," Harry Kim said, "there's a message for you in your Ready Room. Says its urgent."
"Who's calling?" Janeway asked. She could almost hear Harry's wince.
"They said they'd explain it to you when you got there," he said.
Janeway felt annoyed. She nodded to Tuvok.
"Tuvok can help with the organization," she said, "I will be right back."
The president and the ambassador agreed, and Janeway got up and headed out. She walked across the bridge, sharing a look with Chakotay. Her first officer looked composed, but concerned. It was helpful, she supposed. She made it to her ready room... And stopped short as the door slid shut behind her.
Seska stood there, her features a bit more Cardassian than Bajoran. She was sitting in Janeway's chair, behind her desk. She rose, and walked through the desk, the hologram becoming obvious.
"I had hoped to talk to you in private before all this," Seska said, "but Maje Cullah is... Impatient."
"That must be terrible for you," Janeway said sarcastically. Seska shook her head.
"It's worse for all of us," Seska stated.
"Is there a point to this conversation?" Janeway asked.
Seska stared intently at Janeway, her hands balling into fists once or twice.
"As you may have guessed," Seska stated, "the Iconian Gateway isn't fully functional."
Janeway maintained her poker face.
"Given you haven't transported hundreds of Kazon onto my ship, I guessed as much," Janeway stated. "Why tell me?"
"Because I want to offer you a deal," Seska said. "You join us, help us fix the Gateway... And we can all go home."
"Leaving you with a fully functional Iconian Gateway?" Janeway asked dryly, "do you really think we're that short sighted?"
Seska shrugged.
"I agree, leaving it functional in the hands of the Kazon is not an ideal situation," she stated, "but it's the best chance we have of getting home. Are you really willing to ignore that?"
Janeway snorted.
"So let me get this straight," she began, "you found out the Kazon Nistrim had an Iconian Gateway. You were willing to sell us all out to get access to it. Now though, you've learned you're not as smart as you thought you were, and you can't get it to work properly. Now you need our help to fix it. The people you tried to betray into slavery and death. While holding one of my crewmembers hostage. Is that the size of it?"
Seska smirked.
"Do you have a choice?" She asked nastily. "You can't leave it in our hands, and you can't take the chance I'll make the offer to someone else. And you won't leave Shepherd in our hands: I know you Captain."
Janeway was silent for a moment.
"Assuming I took this deal," Janeway stated, "and that's a big assumption, we would need to know where the Gateway was. You would also need to return Shepherd."
Seska snorted.
"You really think I'm that stupid, Captain?" Seska sneered. "Even if you find out where it is, you'll be facing an armada of Kazon ships. You have no chance in this situation. Agree to my terms, and not only will I return your crewmember, alive and unharmed, I'll even throw in something to appease your Starfleet sensibilities: We get home, and we'll leave the Iconian base to self destruct. As you've seen, Maje Cullah isn't exactly the brightest plasma torch in the tool box."
"The fact he trusts you at all speaks volumes," Janeway shot back. Seska shrugged.
"It is your decision," she stated, "and you're not going to get a better deal. I'll leave you to think on it, and I'll check back in 72 hours. But, to help your decision making: Cullah intends to execute Shepherd over the holocomm at the end of the Kazon week, which should be four days in your time keeping. I wouldn't take too long to make up my mind."
Seska vanished, leaving Janeway in silence. There was a ring at her ready room, and Janeway turned to the door.
"Enter!"
Gul Bartatt walked in, looking grave.
"Captain," he said, "I didn't have the chance to tell you at the meeting but... Seska contacted me-"
"And offered to send you home if you worked with her?" Janeway asked dryly. Bartatt was briefly surprised, but his eyes narrowed.
"I take it she made the same offer to you too?" Bartatt asked. Janeway smirked wryly.
"Yes," she said, "with the same deadline." She looked at Bartatt intently.
"Thank you for telling me," she said. Bartatt nodded back.
"I will admit, I was wondering if I should," Bartatt stated, "trust is not easy to come by... But you saved us. You deserve to know for that, at least."
"Much appreciated," Janeway said, "but it does still leave us with a problem: Where is the Gateway?"
"Actually, two problems," Bartatt stated gently, "can we use the Gateway?"
Janeway paused, and looked over at the windows for a moment. She cleared her mind, and gathered her thoughts. She looked back at the tall Cardassian officer.
"That isn't going to be easy," Janeway said, "even if we can take the Gateway... The Haakonians and Talaxians supporting us... They could overpower us and take it for themselves. I'm of the opinion that any power getting their hands on this technology is a danger to our galaxy."
Bartatt was silent, but managed a nod back.
"I agree," he said, "but it is a chance home."
"If the opportunity presents itself," Janeway said, "that would allow us all to get through, and leave the facility unsuable for anyone else? I'm willing to take it. And I'm willing to work with you on a means to accomplish that."
Bartatt nodded back, looking pleased.
"That is acceptable," he said.
Janeway smiled.
"Well then, let's get to work."
The Krowtonan Guard had been relentless. Pursuing the USS Equinox from the moment they had crossed their borders. It wasn't like Captain Ransom had had any better options. The Equinox's top speed was warp 8, and they were 70,000 lightyears from home. Any shortcut they could take was one worth taking.
At least he'd thought it was. A wrecked ship, and a starving crew was all he'd gotten out of a year of trying to cross their territory. They were now hidden in the depths of a nebula, trying to repair the damage and lick their wounds. Ransom himself was running a dermal regenerator over the burns of one of his engineers-A Jimmy Willis. Poor kid had tried to stabilize a plasma conduit. He'd kept the ship from exploding, at the cost of most of his skin. He was kept in a stasis field by their EMH, and Ransom was making himself useful healing the poor kid.
"Captain..." James tried through what remained of his lips, but Ransom shook his head.
"Don't speak son," he said quietly. Their EMH was flickering to and fro around the sickbay, tending everyone he could. It was all he could do to keep up with the injured. Ransom felt useless otherwise: His crew was suffering and his decisions had gotten them here.
All because he wanted a shortcut. He closed his eyes tightly, still keeping the dermal regenerator going over James' skin.
"Bridge to Captain," his commbadge chirped. Ransom tapped it to answer, keeping himself focused.
"Ransom here," he said.
"We're being hailed by the Krowtonans," his first officer Maxwell Burke informed him. Ransom hid his confusion and fear expertly.
"I'm on my way," he said. He set down the dermal regenerator on the side table and looked over at James. "I'll be back. Stay strong, kid."
"Yes sir," James mumbled.
He made it to the bridge in record time, sitting in his chair. He looked up at the viewscreen, trying to convey a sense of authority.
"Onscreen," he ordered.
The Krowtonan Guardsman on screen was a fearsome example of his race: A beastly visage, resembling a razor toothed ground sloth. The creature snarled, as they had often done during any communications.
"Starship Equinox," the Krowtonan Guardsman growled, "your species has knowledge of Iconians?"
Ransom kept his confusion off his face thanks to years of long practice.
"We do, yes," Ransom said carefully.
The Krowtonan nodded.
"Kazon have Iconian Gate. Other species assembling. Have Federation ship guiding them," the Kowtowan said, "we need Federation too."
Ransom narrowed his eyes. Behind his grim visage, the prospect of finding another Federation starship out here was a beacon of hope in an abyss. More Federation vessels? Where? How?
He couldn't let himself get carried away though. It was easy enough for this to be a trap.
"You've been attacking us relentlessly for over a year, killed or injured a quarter of my crew, and now you expect us to work with you?"
The Krowtonan looked vaguely insulted.
"You cross our space," he replied.
"That's worth killing us over?!" Ransom shot back.
"... We sorry?" The Guard said. Ransom stared back at the Guard. The Krowtonan snorted through his four nostrils.
"We let you cross our space. We give you supplies. We fix your ship. We give you help. I authorized... Give you anything you want."
Ransom narrowed his eyes. Their options were limited. He didn't know nearly as much about the Iconians as he was bluffing, but...
He thought of James sitting on the biobed, with a dozen others. He looked around his wrecked bridge, the anxious looks on the faces of his desperate officers. He looked back to the screen.
"You've got a deal," he stated.
Captain's Log, stardate 48848.9. We have two days left before Cullah's deadline. The Haakonian fleet has arrived, and the Talaxian Self Defense Force has contributed as many ships as they can. A local power named the Trabe has opened communications, and is coming here with their own fleet. According to the Talaxians, the Trabe once held the Kazon as a slave species, but when the Kazon rebelled the Trabe were sent into a nomadic lifestyle. I am meeting them on Voyager to learn their intentions, but I have a pretty good idea. President Larxeena has asked to accompany me, and I can't turn her down.
Janeway and Larxeena were standing in the conference room, waiting for Mabus to arrive. He had received an honor guard of sorts, since he was a head of state. But Janeway had to deal with a big issue.
Namely, Larxeena.
"I appreciate you wanting to be involved, Madame President," Janeway said, "but I do have experience with diplomacy-"
"And if I let you do everything, I will be seen as nothing more than a puppet," Larxeena stated firmly. She shook her head. "The Haakonians are involved, so are my people. But I can help here. Please?"
Janeway held down a sigh. She really couldn't deny the President anything, not without risking the alliance. But...
"You're trying to make up for Roxas deceiving you," Janeway pointed out bluntly. Larxeena stared at the captain as though she'd been slapped, but nodded.
"Yes," she said, "I am. But that will only motivate me further."
Janeway nodded back.
"All right,' she said, "but... Allow me to take the lead, please?"
Larxeena nodded, as the conference room doors opened. Mabus entered, two guards waiting outside.
Mabus was a tall, gangly, older humanoid. His nose was ridged, one that flowed back up his scalp into the thinning white hair atop his head. His clothing was simple and modest: Tans and browns. Perhaps most of the planets in the area were arid, which led to the locals holding onto desert-like fashions. He smiled warmly as he met Janeway in the conference room, and reached out to shake her hand.
"It is a customary greeting," he spoke, grasping her wrist and gently shaking her hand up and down, "to denote brotherhood."
"Yes, we have similar greetings in our culture," Janeway replied, returning the gesture.
Larxeena looked the tiniest bit insulted, but kept her smile up as Mabus moved to shake her hand as well.
"I meant no disrespect, Madame President," Mabus said kindly, "I am unsure of the protocol for your people."
"It's all right," Larxeena replied, growing a bit more relaxed, "Captain Janeway is acting at my behest, after all."
Janeway and Larxeena moved to the head of the conference room table and sat down, as Mabus waited
Larxeena smiled, "please, sit down."
He did so at their right side. He gave them both his warm smile.
"As you can imagine, Captain, Madame President, the Kazon Sects all being united is a nightmare for my people," he spoke, "and everyone else in the region, too. Having access to Iconian technology is even worse."
"I don't disagree, Mabus," Janeway said with a nod, "which is why we're working with the Haakonians and Talaxians to form a strike force. We believe that by depriving the Kazon of this technology before they can activate it, it will ensure their alliance fails."
Mabus nodded solemnly. He looked intently at Larxeena.
"In that case," he said, "I pledge my entire people's fleet to your cause."
"And in exchange?" Janeway asked. Mabus shrugged.
"We have been trying to get the Haakonian Order to grant us a new homeworld for decades," he explained, "but the hardliners in their government have declined to get involved. We did petition the Talaxians, but-"
"But we followed the Haakonians," Larxeena interrupted, nodding at Mabus apologetically, "I am sorry for that."
"Did they say why?" Janeway asked. Mabus shrugged, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Sadly, they do have some legitimate reasons," he snorted, "namely that we caused the Kazon situation in the first place. That they have their hands full dealing with the Vidiians, the Krowtonans, and rebuilding the Talaxians." He shook his head. "You'd think they'd remember we used to all be part of the same empire centuries ago!"
"I think that may be part of the problem, Mabus," Larxeena replied delicately, "you did enslave the Kazon in the first place. For us, yes, but still."
Mabus sighed heavily. His shoulders drooped a bit, looking tired.
"I know," he said, "we did it for you at first... But when your empire fell apart, we used them to secure our own interests. It was hubris, really: We had seized them from their homeworld, genetically altered them into superior warriors... Looked upon them as nothing but beasts." He looked back up into the eyes of the captain and the president.
"However, I did not enslave them," Mabus stated, "and should a people be forced to pay for the crimes of their ancestors? Crimes they had nothing to do with?"
"No," Janeway agreed, "the Federation holds that as one of our dearest principles and laws. And many species of the Federation did similarly terrible things in their own pasts. Things they atoned for by working on getting past the hatred, and focusing on building a better future for all."
"Exactly!" Mabus said urgently, "but I'm guessing incentive was needed to persuade others to do the right thing?"
Janeway smiled thinly.
"At first, yes," Janeway said, "it takes time to create a civilization where doing the right thing is the first choice. Time and effort."
"Which is why I'm willing to take the first step in that direction," Larxeena spoke. She slid over a holographic padd, and tapped it. A miniature solar system emerged, floating in the air before Mabus. "This is Trexis. Under the terms of the peace treaty, it is part of the Confederacy. The fourth and fifth planets are suitable for colonization."
"You have colonies there already, Madame President," Mabus pointed out, "how are they going to react to all of us coming in?"
"I don't disagree that it may be difficult," Larxeena said, "the local governor has his reservations. But the fact of the matter is, the fourth planet alone is a bit too arid for us. We've never been able to attract enough colonists there to make the mining operations profitable. But! Your people are from a desert world. And you'd be able to utilize those resources, and make an income in trade immediately."
"And the Haakonians?" Mabus asked. Larxeena smiled thinly.
"I am not making many friends in their government," she said, "but fighting alongside us against the Kazon can make them more amenable in the future. The plan has been approved by our parliament. The Haakonians will protest but... As long as we're not under the bootheel of the Kazon, we can work it out."
She nodded to Captain Janeway.
"And Captain Janeway could help in that regard as well," she said.
Janeway managed a nod.
"I'm willing to do what I can to give your people a homeworld again," she said carefully. "But I can't promise anything."
Mabus nodded, looking satisfied.
"Then it's agreed," Mabus said, "I will bring my entire fleet here, and we will join your strike on the Kazon. They'll arrive within the next twelve of your hours." He gave them a curious frown, "though, it would help to know where we are-?"
"I'm only going to reveal that information when we're actually beginning the operation," Janeway stated, "to prevent the Kazon from knowing we're on our way. I want to preserve the element of surprise as long as possible."
Mabus nodded.
"Sensible," Mabus said. "Thank you Madame President, Captain."
He rose, and headed out the doors. As soon as they shut, Larxeena let out a sigh. Janeway gave her a look.
"You're putting an awful lot on my people and I," she pointed out. Larxeena nodded.
"I know," she replied, "and when you're gone, I'll have to find ways to keep things together on my own." She looked at the captain. "I know it's a lot to ask."
"A good lesson in diplomacy? Don't assume anything," Janeway suggested. Larxeena looked down, and Janeway smiled, "but, you're doing well already. You had what the Trabe wanted, ready to go."
"For the most part," Larxeena said, "but even if-I mean, after we beat the Kazon, we'll still have a lot of work." She looked at Janeway hopefully. "Is there anything you can give me to grant us more leverage? Your transporter technology, perhaps?"
Janeway grimaced.
"We're not allowed to share technology-"
"I don't mean your state of the art technology," Larxeena said quickly, "but I've read your files. You've had transporters for two of your centuries. Surely handing over the basic knowledge of the technology wouldn't violate your Prime Directive?"
Janeway's frown deepened.
"It's still interference in your development," Janeway said.
"And what you're doing isn't?" Larxeena asked dryly. "I know I'm not as experienced as you, Captain, but I'm not stupid."
Janeway nodded slowly, the point made.
"Fair enough," she replied. She let out a soft breath. "It's something we'll have to work on afterwards. But you shouldn't get used to leaning on us."
"I understand," Larxeena said. She smiled, and let out a small, uncomfortable laugh. Janeway gave her a look, and she shook her head.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, "I just... I imagined Neelix's homecoming would have been... Far different. A Nest ending."
"Nest ending..." Janeway asked. Larxeena blushed slightly, and Janeway nodded stiffly, "ah."
"He really was amazing," Larxeena sighed, "but... Maybe it was just another fantasy. I've lived so many, after all."
Janeway reached out and squeezed the young president's hand. The Talaxian woman started, and looked up at Janeway.
"Everyone gets deceived," Janeway said firmly, "but at least you're working on not getting fooled again."
Larxeena nodded back. She cleared her throat.
"So... Do we have a location for the strike?"
Janeway smiled back.
"Like I said," she replied, "I'm keeping my cards close to my chest."
Larxeena frowned and stared at Janeway's chest.
"It seems impossible to hide anything in those tiny things!" Larxeena cried, "you're really good at it!"
"Ah... Yes," Janeway managed. "If you'll excuse me?"
Janeway stormed into astrometrics, keeping her desperation firmly in check. Harry and B'Elanna were working on the consoles, as was Rini, a Cardassian scientist from the Trager. A few other crewmen from Voyager and the Lillehammer were at work on other consoles, but the overall mood seemed grim.
"Any luck?" Janeway asked urgently.
Harry looked up from his console and sighed.
"Just bad," he admitted. He tapped a few buttons and brought up a local starmap. "We've been working with the Haakonians and the Talaxians through their subspace telescopes and ship reports. There are about twenty Kazon worlds within range that Seska could have gone to. And tracking where their fleets are isn't useful: They're masking their movements with local subspace disturbances."
"That said," B'Elanna spoke, "we have narrowed it down to about ten planets that could provide the power for an Iconian gateway. It would have to be geologically active, after all, as the Iconians did rely on geothermal power on Iconia itself."
"Assuming this gateway relies on that power source," Rini pointed out wryly, "which would leave us with twenty."
"Ten is better than twenty," B'Elanna groused. The Cardassian glared at her. Janeway stepped between them, checking over the data herself and defusing any potential arguments.
"That's still ten planets to sort between," Janeway pointed out. The doors opened, and Neelix barged in with a young crewman being dragged along. Janeway frowned.
"Neelix? What-?"
"Captain!" Neelix panted, "I found someone who can help!"
"Well I might, if you'd let me go!" The crewman growled, pulling himself away from the eager Talaxian. Neelix winced. He'd been holding vigil over Kes in sickbay since they'd gotten back to the ship. She would recover, but it would require a lot of rest-The stun blast had hit when she was using her telepathic powers to their utmost, and the feedback had nearly put her into a coma.
"I'm very sorry," Neelix babbled, "but, you-well-I heard him talking in sickbay while I was watching over Kes and so-!"
"Captain, I would like to file a formal complaint," the crewman groused, "Mister Neelix pulled me away from a standard inoculation update and-"
"Please?" Neelix begged. The crewman sighed, and looked to Janeway.
"Crewman Mortimer Harren, Captain," he introduced himself, "I have five advanced degrees in cosmology and theoretical subspace physics. I was applying for a position at the Orion I Institute of Cosmology, but I needed a year of practical experience and so, here I am."
"Please? The relevant part?" Neelix begged. Harren looked annoyed, but soldiered on.
"I heard about the Iconian Gateway, and one of my thesis papers dealt with a theoretical method of locating them through their subspace turbulence," he went on. Janeway's eyes widened.
"Why didn't you come forward sooner?!" Janeway demanded. Harren winced a bit, but shrugged.
"I uh, I don't socialize much," he said, "and I prefer theory than practical studies-"
"Let's get practical, right now," Janeway ordered. "How can we find an Iconian Gateway?"
"Ah, well," Harren began, a bit on the spot. He looked distinctly uncomfortable, and Janeway pulled back her intensity. She guided Harren to the main astrometrics console, Harry, B'Elanna and Rini parting for him. He stood at the console, and began to peck at the consoles.
Janeway knew his type. Purely academic, no interest in exploring, preferred the laboratory to the starship. She didn't agree with it, but she understood it. Right now, Harren didn't need an officer haranguing him. He needed a chance to shine.
"Take me through the basic summary," Janeway said gently. Mortimer shrugged.
"All right," he said, "in the late 20th century, Doctor Miguel Alcubierre put together humanity's first theories of warp drive. Much like Sitak of Vulcan, he drew from the theory of cosmological inflation from the Big Bang and special relativity to arrive at a theory for moving objects within a bubble of spacetime while expanding the spacetime behind, and contracting it ahead. His early theories for this drive would require more energy than in the entire universe to accomplish this feat."
"Right, right, go on," Janeway said encouragingly. This seemed to mollify Harren, as his typing became more confident and his tone louder. He brought up a display of Cochrane Lagranges.
"Later work by Doctor Alcubierre and other physicists found that such a drive could work with far less energy-mass, but only with the use of exotic matter-Gravity repelling exotic matter. Later, Zefram Cochrane realized that generating a subspace field from the primary subspace layer in our spacetime would suffice for this requirement, and the human warp drive was born. However, one of his graduate students, a Doctor Ernest Livingston, posed a fascinating thought exercise."
"Which was?" Janeway prodded. It was a shame Harren was antisocial, he had a way of drawing in an audience when he was on a roll. He brought up several diagrams and equations, very complex even for her.
"What if you had unlimited power for subspace field generators, and access to unlimited, deeper layers of subspace?" Harren posed, "to create an area of spacetime so warped that the distance between two points was essentially zero?"
"You mean the Livingston Warp Portal?" Harry asked, "I read about that."
"Yes, well, the basic concept is easy enough to understand even for a layman," Harren snorted, even as Harry scowled, "but my thesis was that the Iconians were probably the closest realization of the thought experiment in real life. Harnessing that much power with such powerful and precise subspace field generators would create, in short, a recognizable subspace signature."
"And you can find this signature?" Janeway asked. Harren flipped through several logs, looking through the data. He paused, and brought up a chart of local subspace. It was represented as glowing lines going everywhere, all curved and twisted from the local masses and warp fields of ships and subspace communication beacons.
"Let's look at subspace when the event occurred," Harren said. The chart looked slightly different, but there was nothing immediately obvious. Harren kept up his work though, and he zoomed in deeper. It was then that Janeway saw it-A subspace "spike" for lack of a better word, slicing underneath the "surface" layers like a shark underneath the ocean waves. Harren actually smiled, unusual on a face that seemed born to scowl in concentration.
"And with these algorithms here..." He traced the subpace spike to a world several lightyears distant, "eureka!"
B'Elanna checked her console against the readings, and looked up at Janeway in amazement.
"It's one of the ten planets we were considering," B'Elanna admitted, "only ten lightyears away. But it fits the timing of the Gateway appearance down to the nanosecond!"
"Of course it does," Harren said, almost a sneer... One he reconsidered at B'Elanna's deadly look, "er, I mean, yes!"
Janeway grinned brightly.
"We have our target," Janeway spoke. She nodded to Orra, and then to the Lillehammer crew members, "tell your captains-In person, and in private. We're not taking any chances."
"Yes Captain," Rini said, looking more respectful of the Starfleet crew than before. She gave Harren a very significant look as she left... One the crewman completely missed.
Oh well. Not Janeway's problem.
"Thank you!" Neelix cried, hugging Harren tightly. The crewman struggled furiously.
"Help! Captain, help-!"
"It's all right Neelix, I think he gets the idea," Janeway said gently, prying the Talaxian away. Neelix blushed.
"Ah, sorry," he said, "I just... Shepherd was taken defending us and... And I wanted to help him. In any way I could."
"Good work on that," Janeway said, "go tell Larxeena. She'll be happy to know."
Neelix grinned and headed off at high speed through the doors to Astrometrics. Janeway turned back to Harren, who was waving his arms as though to get feeling back into them.
"Mister Harren," Janeway said, still grinning, "excellent work."
Harren managed a shrug, looking a bit self conscious.
"You're welcome, ma'am... Uh, sir," he tried. Janeway smiled.
"What's your current job now?" She asked.
"I've been working in the plasma relay department?" He said.
"I think you'll agree your talents are wasted there," she said, "how would you like to head Astrometrics?"
"I thought only officers could head Astrometrics," Harren pointed out. Janeway's smiled widened. Harren's eyes went large. "Ah, I mean, I'd be fine under someone else-"
"Think of it as practice for when you're head of a department at the Institute," Janeway said, "there's a lot more to science than just the scientific work. Being good at managing people comes in handy, too."
Harren snorted.
"Do I have a choice?" He asked.
"Are you going to back down from a challenge?" Janeway asked. Harren grimaced.
"I guess that means I don't," he said.
"Welcome to Starfleet," Janeway said, "Ensign Harren."
The newly minted ensign groaned.
"I knew I should have kept my mouth shut for the Nobel Prize Committee," he grumbled.
"For 70 years?" Janeway asked. Harren shrugged.
"I'm patient."
Lots of exposition but I hope it was presented in an enjoyable fashion.