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.
On Voyager...
Harry had taken the watch on the bridge as the flotilla followed the Ocampan ship. Meanwhile, Janeway met with the other senior officers still aboard, and the captains of the other ships were on the wall screens. Little Mari was here as well, serving as the representative of the Ocampans-And looking very nervous.
Janeway didn't bother with niceties though.
"Shepherd? What's the tactical analysis of the Ocampan ship?"
Shepherd was already standing by the other wall panel. He tapped out the data, and showed a diagram of the Ocampan vessel.
"Well, we're all pretty well familiar with Nacene technology by now," he stated. Gul Bartatt snorted, so Shepherd continued.
"Looks like it's powered by the same tetryon reactor system the Caretaker's Array had."
"Tetryon reactor?" Mari asked. She blushed at everyone's focus on her. "Um, sorry-"
"No, it's all right," Janeway said, "Chell?"
The former Maquis engineer brightened.
"Essentially, the reactor taps right into subspace," Chell explained, "pulling power right from the transition of energy states by use of a tetryon reaction matrix that-"
"It's basically an unlimited power supply, let's move on please?"Ransom stated. Mari and Chell both shrunk back, but Shepherd gave them an encouraging smile before he continued.
"Anyway, it's built of unknown alloys, potentially created by advanced matter alchemy techniques-The samples of the stuff we have are pretty damn tough. At least 40 percent the strength of the strong nuclear force. As for weapons? Gravimetric disruptors: Looks like they compress the same energy from subspace, and then let it loose. If we have to fight these guys, we're not going to have a good time."
"Options?" Janeway asked. Tuvok volunteered.
"We still retain three tricobalt devices in our armory, Captain. However, the simulations I have run indicate a high probability that most of the ships of our flotilla would be destroyed in 80 percent of projected engagements."
"Even with all of us?" Vethren asked. Tuvok nodded.
"Unfortunately."
"The fact they're all telepaths is another major issue," Bartatt pointed out. Janeway nodded.
"I agree. Which is why I asked Mari here," she said, nodding to the skittish Ocampan, "can you block out any telepathic scans by the other Ocampans?"
"Well, maybe," Mari stammered, "I-I don't really know. I mean... I've been training with Miss Jurot and Mister Tuvok, but-but I'm not as good as Kes. Still, I can tell when they're scanning. They aren't now. They'd only pick up anything passively."
"More than likely though, they know we've got Ocampans aboard," Vethren said, looking in concern at Mari, "they won't target you, will they?"
"Will they?!" Mari squeaked. Shepherd reached out a hand to squeeze her shoulder, and she relaxed a bit.
"I have prepared a list of Ocampans I believe are skilled enough to defend us, for the time being," Tuvok stated, pulling up a PADD. "You are free to beam aboard to see them in person. Indeed, that would be preferable as they will need your trust."
"And we can talk more freely," Janeway added. She shook her head. "I'm not hoping for a fight here... But the last time we met a Nacene, we ended up lost on the other side of the galaxy and experimented on. I don't want a repeat performance."
"Agreed, Captain,"Bartatt stated, "I will beam over in a few minutes."
"Me too," Vethren added.
"Same,"Ransom finished, before their comm windows went off. Janeway looked around the room.
"Again, I'm emphasizing: We're not looking for a fight... But we're going to take every precaution possible. Dismissed."
The staff got up and headed out, though Janeway spared a look for Tuvok, Mari and Shepherd, and they stayed. Mari cringed.
"I'm sorry-I shouldn't have spoken out of turn-"
"Captain Ransom didn't mean anything personal by it," Janeway said gently, "but you're going to need to grow thicker skin."
"Sorry... Usually Kes would handle things here," Mari admitted, "but she's not here... And I have to look after all of us."
"We'll help you however we can, Mari, promise," Shepherd said, sliding into a chair, "and this isn't easy. I mean... Did you guys know anything about the Caretaker's mate?"
"No, nothing," Mari admitted, "and the Ocampans on that ship aren't giving anything up either... I mean, I know they aren't scanning us, but we can't scan them. So they're definitely disciplined..." She winced.
"We won't have to fight them, will we?"
"So far, there's no indication we have to fight anyone right now," Janeway said calmly, "but I don't intend to lose a fight if it starts. I'm not going to ask you to fight your own people, Mari... Not if there's any other choice. I promise."
"I know. I believe you, Captain," Mari said with a nod, "but even so... What do we do if the Caretaker's mate gets... Angry with us?"
"I have finished several modifications to our weapons, and the paralyzing agent," Tuvok spoke, "I believe we can use them to incapacitate a Nacene."
"Honestly though, I can't really put together a training sim for this," Shepherd admitted, "we just don't know enough."
"Still... Maybe she's nice?" Mari asked.
"I hope so," Janeway admitted, "but Tanis... Well..."
"Yeah, he doesn't exactly inspire confidence," Shepherd deadpanned. He clapped his hands together.
"Still! Who knows? Maybe Ocampans take that as not being a bad sign!"
Mari looked at a recording of Tanis on her PADD. She frowned more deeply.
"I take it, that is not a good sign," Tuvok deadpanned.
"Um... No, no it is not," Mari said.
"This day just keeps getting better and better," Shepherd sighed. "Oh well! On the bright side, Mari, you and your fellow Ocampans get to visit and maybe even live on other ships for a while! Isn't that exciting?"
"As long as I don't have to go on Captain Ransom's ship," Mari moaned.
"Of course not!" Shepherd said, laughing a bit too loudly, "that would just be awkward, ahahaha... Ha..."
Mari stared at him. Shepherd sighed, and typed something on a PADD.
"Fine. Zilda and her mom Galdra will go. You get to go on the Cardassian ship instead."
Mari wilted a little. But managed a tight smile.
"I'm sure that will be wonderful!"
"Good work, but you need to become a much better liar," Shepherd suggested.
"Take it from a professional," Janeway deadpanned, glancing at Shepherd. He shrugged.
"Well, you're not wrong, Captain..."
Another omake for another episode:
"Lifesigns"
Voyager has found a Vidiian vessel, and saved the pilot (as she was dying). She had a cybernetic neural link, which the Doctor uses to put her mind into a holographic body while he works to heal her actual body. Her name is Doctor Denara Pel, and she's deeply emotional when she sees herself... Unblemished by the Phage. She's practically crying.
Doctor: "It's just your natural form, based upon our reconstruction of your DNA and body structure-"
Pel: sobbing happily, she hugs the Doctor "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Doctor: "Ah... You are welcome?"
Kes: smiles
Later, Shepherd drops by with a smile.
Shepherd: "Howdy Doc! How goes it?"
Doctor: "Just fine, thank you. I may have found a means of allowing our patient to live. But it is delicate work, so I would prefer you not interfere?"
Shepherd: "Of course. I just wanted to ask Doctor Pel a few questions."
Doctor: "This isn't going to be an interrogation, is it Mister Shepherd? She is still my patient!"
Shepherds holds his hands up.
Shepherd: "Come on Doc, you know I'm not that kind of guy! Doctor Pel, I was actually hoping to learn more about the history of your people, and the Phage. The Federation has run into a lot of space plagues-Maybe by investigating together, we can help you help your people."
Pel: "I think that would be good. Thank you, Mister Shepherd? You are Voyager's... Security chief, yes?"
Shepherd: "Yes ma'am."
Doctor: "And resident spy."
Shepherd: "That too! But I'm a little out of practice on that end."
Shepherd and Pel sit in the Doctor's office. The EMH still monitors them, even as he works on Pel's actual body.
Shepherd: "The neural link technology is rather impressive. It has a few similarities to Borg technology, actually."
Pel: "Really? I had heard it was alien, but I didn't know it was Borg! Are there any risks of takeover-?"
Shepherd: "No, no. Not that I can see, and I'm kind of the Borg expert onboard. It just looks based on the tech, not the actual technology. May I ask why you were fitted with it?"
Pel: "As a doctor, I'm asked to go to other worlds to try and help with the Phage. In order to prolong my life, myself and other doctors are often put into stasis with the neural link engaged, so that our bodies can be preserved, but we're still conscious of what's going on outside."
Shepherd: "I see. May I ask why you haven't investigated cloning new bodies and downloading your consciousnesses into those?"
Pel: "We have considered that. The problem is, such an undertaking would be enormous in terms of resources. Resources we just don't have. We're desperately trying to keep our civilization alive. Our economy has basically collapsed, the only way to keep us going is organ harvesting or organ farming." sighs "I know, it's horrible and gruesome. Every race in this area of space hates us."
Shepherd: "Surely there are some untouched colonies of Vidiians? Ones that escaped the Phage?"
Pel: "There are. Unfortunately, one such colony was harvested for organs, down to the last man, woman and child after the military staged a coup of the government. So most other colonies have cut off all contact, or sought asylum from other races from their own government." bitterly "Not that I can blame them..."
Shepherd: "I'm sorry. Honestly, I'm no doctor but what I've seen of the Phage is nightmarish. This thing is unlike any natural disease I've ever seen."
Pel: sighs "Many in our society believe it is our punishment from the gods. We had become a great power, about 500 of your years ago. We had achieved spaceflight, built an empire of a hundred worlds. We ranged far and wide, often at odds with the Talaxian Empire but also at peace with them at times. Then... The Phage emerged on our homeworld. It ravaged our civilization. No quarantine could stop it, no medicine could cure it. We tried vaccines, antigens, everything... It just kept adapting, almost like it was sapient. The healthy ones among us do everything they can to isolate themselves."
Shepherd: "Geez... Well. Here's hoping we can help you out."
Pel: "You'd help us, even after the things members of my race have tried to do to you?"
Shepherd: "Of course. It's kind of what we do."
Shepherd and Pel talk some more about the Vidiians, their colonies, and a few other things. The Doctor had begun to hover around him, none too subtle.
Shepherd: "Well! I may as well get back to work. Thank you very much, Doctor Pel."
Pel: "Not as all, Mister Shepherd! It was nice to meet you!"
Shepherd: "Likewise!"
Shepherd got up and was ushered away by the Doctor.
Doctor: "Thank you, Mister Shepherd. If you're done with my patient?"
Shepherd: "Sorry, sorry. Eesh, so pushy."
Doctor: "My patient does need a lot of attention."
Shepherd: "Yes, yes, I know. So relax. I won't cut in on your time together."
Doctor: glare "What are you implying?"
Shepherd: "Nothing! Nothing..."