| Crossing Lines by Voyagetostars “You are hereby relieved of duty until further notice.” The words still rang in his ears. Why couldn’t she see she was crossing the line, that stopping the immoral did not require the sacrifice of her own morality. He stopped by his quarters to change out of uniform then went to the mess hall as the replicators were reserved for repair parts.
“Ah commander,” Neelix stopped, confused. The announcement had been terse, Commander Tuvok was now the first officer.
“Chakotay is fine.”
“Of course. What will you have? I’m afraid the choices are rather limited. We have plenty of emergency rations but most are opting for soup and sandwiches. The soup is from an old. . .”
“Soup and a sandwich sounds great, thank you Mr. Neelix.”
“Coming right up.” He ladled out a bowl of the soup and dropped a wrapped sandwich on the tray.
Chakotay escaped to a window table for two. He focused on the food, clearly sending out the message of do not disturb.
“Chakotay?” asked B’Elanna aggressively dropping her tray on the table as she took the seat across from him. “What’s this nonsense that Tuvok’s First Officer? You didn’t do something stupid and resign did you?”
He sighed. “No B’Elanna I didn’t resign. I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Don’t tell me the captain relieved you.” Chakotay remained silent, willing the conversation in another direction. “After all you’ve done for her? Damn it that’s all we need.” She started to get up.
“Sit down B’Elanna.”
“Well some one has to speak up for you,” she answered hotly.
“Sit down,” he ordered sharply. She did with some reluctance. “The captain is within her rights to select the best person as First Officer. If she feels Tuvok can do a better job than me, well she is taking the only prudent course open to her.”
“But Chakotay. . .”
“There are no buts about it. She needs support from every one of us, most especially her senior staff. I may no longer be part of that staff but I still give her my loyalty and I expect you to do the same.”
“Are you sure Chakotay?”
“More than anything in the universe.”
Her comm badge sounded. “Carey to Torres.”
“Go ahead Joe.”
“The warp core energy readings look real funny. Can you come down and take a look?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Torres out.” She gulped down her soup and grabbed her sandwich. “I’ll see you later.”
“I’m counting on it.”
With no duties pending and all non essential services curtailed Chakotay returned to his quarters.
“Computer, location of Captain Janeway.”
“Captain Janeway is on the bridge.”
“Notify me when she enters her quarters.”
“Acknowledged.”
She would not be pleased to see him but he had to try to reach her, to show her there was better way than this obsession. He longed to contact his spirit guide but didn’t dare, considering the ship’s status there was no telling when or for how long the captain would leave the bridge.
He accessed the forward sensor array which displayed the current bridge viewscreen image.
Chakotay nodded off at his desk only to be woke by the impersonal voice of the computer. “Captain Janeway is in her quarters.”
It was now or never. He left his quarters, went to hers and rang the chime.
“Come in,” she called. “I’ll be right out Tuvok.”
“It’s not Tuvok, Kathryn,” answered a familiar voice.
She felt her heart beat quicker, what was he doing here?
“Chakotay didn’t I make it clear you are relieved of duty?” she asked coming out of her bedroom as she fastened her jacket.
“Yes captain you did.” He stood quietly facing her.
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m not here as your First Officer or even a member of your crew but as your friend. I wanted t talk with you, to explain. . .” He reached out his right hand.
“I think you’ve made your position quite clear.” He dropped the hand at her icy tone.
“I don’t think so. Please Kathryn, can’t you see it? This obsession with stopping Ransom is not normal.”
“Nor is the murder of life forms simply to get home.”
“I didn’t say it was. But you must not stoop to his level to stop him. A man almost died today as a result of your deliberate action. If he had died it would have been murder.”
Her eyes flashed in anger. “That’s enough Chakotay. Please leave now.”
“Captain, there’s a chance to end this peaceful by enlisting the help of the aliens. For your own sake as well as the sake of the ship please do not do something you will regret later.”
“Commander Chakotay, do I need to call security to have you removed?”
“Do what you think is necessary, you always do,” his tone was bitter.
At that moment the door chimed.
“Come,” snapped a very hostile captain.
Tuvok entered and twitched an eyebrow at the presence of an obviously angry Chakotay. Still this wasn’t enough to deter him from his duty. “Captain, the Ankari captain reports he has arranged the meeting with the Spirits of Good Fortune. He is waiting for us in cargo bay 2.”
“Commander Tuvok, Commander Chakotay is hereby confined to quarters. Please have a security team posted immediately.”
He raised an elegant eyebrow. “Aye captain.” He tapped his comm badge, “Security detail to the captain’s quarters.”
“Captain, don’t cross . . .”
“Not another word commander or you will be escorted to the brig instead.”
The security team entered the captain’s quarters.
“Commander Chakotay is confined to quarters,” Tuvok stated flatly.
Lieutenant Billings, who was in charge of the team, nodded briskly. “Commander, come with me please.”
Chakotay led the way out and next door to his quarters. He stormed through the door scarcely noticing them following him. “I understand the captain’s orders and will obey them,” he snapped over his shoulder.
“Sir, I am required to confiscate your weapons.”
“That won’t be necessary lieutenant,” said Tuvok following the team. “Based on the level and type of emergency conditions I will authorize the commander access to a type one phaser which I note he already has.”
“Thank you Tuvok.”
He nodded. “Assume your posts,” he directed the team. He waited for them to leave. “I must report to the cargo bay.”
“Help her Tuvok.”
“My duty commander.” Chakotay did not miss the clear underlying message of support.
Seconds later Tuvok met up with the captain at the turbolift. Janeway blessed the fact Tuvok was not given to small talk. She had to get her emotions under control before talking with the two groups of aliens. The Ankari captain was standing silently in the middle of the cargo bay. His body language radiated cold disdain.
“The spirits have agreed to meet with you but be warned they know of your Starfleet treachery.”
“Not Starfleet but the Equinox’s treachery,” corrected Janeway, her voice hard. “Our most sacred laws have been violated and the penalties will be severe.”
“It’s not me you must convince but them.” He triggered the summoning device. In seconds a fissure opened. Three obviously angry spirits swirled into the cargo bay. Both Janeway and Tuvok kept their hands well away from their weapons. A spirit screeched a challenge.
“They say they want the Equinox to die.”
“A difficult place to start a negotiation,” answered Tuvok.
“Can they understand me?”
The other captain paused and listened to the spirits. “Yes.”
“We didn't do this to you. We're trying to stop the ones who did.”
The noise level raised exponentially and the spirits dived lower. Janeway worked not to flinch at the obvious threat.
“They don't believe you would harm your own kind.”
“We have rules for behavior. The Equinox has broken those rules by killing your species. It's our duty to stop them!”
One of the aliens came to a halt at eye level with Janeway and screamed a message before returning to its circling. “Give us the Equinox,” reported the Ankari. He repeated the demand shaking his head. He then offered a bit of explanation. “They insist on destroying the ones who were responsible for so many of their deaths.”
“We will punish them according to our own laws,” stated Tuvok. The reaction was immediate and violent. “They will be imprisoned, lose everything including their freedom, likely for the rest of their lives.”
The aliens again swirled closer screaming for vengeance.
Janeway took a deep breath. She had no viable alternative to save her ship. Never mind how others would view it. “All right!” she bellowed, silencing the aliens momentarily. “If you stop your attacks, I'll deliver the Equinox to you!”
Tuvok displayed undisguised shock. “Captain . . .”
“I’m aware of what I am doing Tuvok.”
“These beings would destroy Captain Ransom and his crew.”
+Don’t remind me+, her mind said but she made no answer to him. “What’s their answer?” she demanded.
Tuvok approached, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Your behavior is irrational. We could find another solution.”
She gave him The Look. Realizing it makes no impact on Vulcans she continued, “I've already confined one First Officer to quarters. Would you like to join him?” For an answer he stepped back. She turned back to the aliens "Well?!”
The Ankari sounded startled as he reported “They agree.”
“Good.” With a final screech, though much calmer than when they had arrived the trio left the cargo bay for their own homes. “Thank you for your assistance Captain. If you will follow Commander Tuvok he will take you to the transporter room so you can return to your ship.”
“Captains Log continued. The Spirits of Good Fortune are holding up their end of the bargain as attacks on Voyager stopped almost immediately. Because of this we have completed emergency repairs and are under way in search of Equinox.” The chime to her ready room sounded. “Come.”
Tuvok stopped in front of her desk with precision and handed her a data PADD. “The updates you requested captain.” She nodded for him to continue. “Main sensors will be back on line within the hour. Engineering reports we have warp eight available now. Shields have been fully restored.”
“Excellent. As soon as we can get sensors up I want a search pattern initiated.”
“Aye captain.”
“Was there something else?”
“Yes captain, I am concerned over your decision to hand over the Equinox over to the aliens.”
“I will note your protest.”
“Captain, you know they will kill them.”
“I know they will try to. Tuvok, this is a case where the Prime Directive applies.”
“Indeed?”
“The Spirits of Good Fortune are sentient, would you agree?”
“Undeniably.”
“The Equinox and her crew committed mass murder.” She waved away his protest. “I know that Ramson claimed the first was an accident, I even believe it was. However once they killed the second and the third and so on it was no longer an accident but deliberate premeditated murder. The Equinox was not under attack until they initiated hostilities.”
She stood and went to her replicator. “Coffee, black.” She took a sip of the beverage. “For many cultures the penalty for mass murder is death.”
“So you have judged them guilty and support their execution.”
“That is not what I said Tuvok. I am pointing out that there are those within the Equinox’s crew who are indeed guilty of mass murder, not to mention the sabotage of this ship. I want to stop them yes. I would prefer to take them back to the Alpha Quadrant to stand trial but I will not sacrifice this ship to do that.” She turned away, “I will however stop this killing.”
Chakotay sat in his darkened quarters and keyed his Akoona. “Akoocheemoya I am far from the bones of my fathers and the bones of my people.”
The world disappeared and he found himself in a violent storm ridden landscape. The wind howled across the hills driving cold rain into his face. He sheltered his eyes with his hand and looked for a sign of his spirit guide but she was no where to be seen. A flash of lightning lit the sky and ahead of him he saw what could be a cave entrance. He headed there as the winds rose almost as if to drive him away. After what seemed to be a long time he staggered into the entrance of what was an indeed a deep cave.
Ahead he saw a light coming from a side opening. He felt himself drawn to the yellow glow and the promise of warmth.
Coiled and blocking the entrance was his spirit guide, the great snake. She fixed her gaze on him, her eyes never seeming colder than they did now. Beyond her was a much smaller cave almost cozy in size. Its center contained a lit fire ring with a single inhabitant. Basking on a nearby rock was a gecko who stared into the fire, ignoring him completely.
Could it be? “My I enter sister?” He asked respectfully of his spirit guide while wiping away water still dripping in his eyes from his soaked hair.
She raised her head and hissed, “No.”
He squatted down before her, keeping a careful distance. “Why have I been brought to this place?”
“It isss not what you essspected.”
“No.”
“Nor ssshould it be.”
“I seek your wisdom and guidance.”
“Why?”
“There is a threat to our ship which is affecting Kathryn, I fear . . ."
“Foolisssh one. Of courssse it will affect her - ssshe isss her ssship.”
“She has shut me off. How can I help her, how can I keep my pledge to never leave her side?”
“It wasss a pledge you ssshould have known better than to make.”
“Perhaps.” The argument had been made repeatedly. “Honor though does not permit me to rescind that pledge.” Both knew he had no intention of ever breaking that vow, no matter what the reason.
“Thisss will be a tessst of your patienssse.”
“How can I tell her that I’m still there for her?”
The great serpent lifted her head slowly to its full extension and looked into the cave as the gecko looked to her. “What makesss you think ssshe doesssn’t know?”
On the bridge the captain paced between the tactical and operations stations.
“Confirmed it’s the Equinox captain,” reported Kim.
“Battle stations,” ordered Janeway returning to her chair. “Raise shields, arm weapons.”
Minutes later Tuvok reported all sections ready though some computer systems still were undergoing repair.
“Bring us into firing range and open hailing frequencies.”
“They are firing torpedoes,” stated Tuvok.
“So much for talking,” muttered Tom under his breath.
“Direct hit to our port shields,” Kim reported. “They're holding.”
“Return the favor,” Janeway ordered.
“Their shields are fluctuating,” stated Ayala at tactical.
“We've damaged their port nacelle. They're venting plasma!” Harry said excitedly.
“They're dropping out of warp,” Tom’s hands flew over his console expecting the next order. He was not disappointed and executed the course correction at the next command.
“Stay with them,” Janeway directed without emotion.
“They've slowed to one quarter impulse,” Torres said from her bridge station.
“Prepare a tractor beam,” Janeway rasped hiding her relief. It was almost over.
“They're launching another torpedo,” Tuvok stated.
“Full power to the forward shields.”
The ship rocked with the impact and the lights flickered warningly.
“Hull breach on deck four!” Harry shouted through the smoke.
“How'd they get through our shields?” Torres raged looking for answers from her own damaged console.
“Hard about! Get us out of range,” Janeway ordered Paris. “Remodulate the shields.” She wondered why she even needed to say it. Tuvok moved to his normal bridge position at tactical, Ayala scrambled out of the way in relief.
“They are pursuing, initiating evasive maneuvers,” called Paris.
The larger ship continued to rock with explosions. ”They took out the weapons array!” Harry reported fear sounding in his voice.
“Tuvok!” Janeway said sharply.
Tuvok didn’t look up from his station as he continued to input defensive changes. “I've been rotating the shield frequency every ten seconds.”
“We've lost impulse engines!” called Paris.
Kim responded to a chirp on his board.“Captain, we’ve being hailed by the Equinox. It’s Captain Ransom.”
Janeway glared at her console. If he expected her to surrender he had another thing coming. But maybe she could buy time some time. “Put him through.”
It was hard to tell who was most astonished as Ransom offered to surrender his ship and also revealed he was no longer in command. Janeway considered his offer. It could be a trap certainly but realistically considering the state of her ship she didn’t think that was likely.
“Proceed,” she answered with a calmness that she didn’t feel.
“Ma’am?” questioned Paris in disbelief.
“He's still a Starfleet Captain. He may have forgotten that for a while . . . but I believe him.”
The initial transports were unremarkable. Janeway was relieved at the news that Seven was back. For some reason she was only slightly surprised on discovering the Doctor who had been treating them had been a impostor. After another alien offensive only Ransom was left alive on his ship as the warp core began to breech. He steadfastly refused beam out. Both captains preserved the fiction that he had to remain on his ship to pilot it away from Voyager. Certainly it was true that Voyager couldn’t move away on her own but it was equally true that the Equinox could be put on autopilot and Ransom be safely beamed over. Janeway understood his desire not to face the crew of Voyager and later Starfleet Command now that he had regained his conscience. Silence reigned on Voyager’s bridge as the doomed ship exploded. She sighed. Repairs were underway. By some miracle no one had been killed during the last offensive. She had some repairs to make herself.
“Dismissed,” she ordered the team posted outside of Chakotay’s quarters.
“Aye captain,” Lieutenant Billings answered and both he and a junior security crewman left the area. Janeway touched the door chime and waited.
Inside the quarters Chakotay didn’t think anything of the chime. The security team had been very polite, always sounding the chime before allowing anyone to enter. He hadn’t missed their embarrassed looks as they preformed their duties. Now that his initial anger was spent he had decided to follow the advice of his spirit guide and practice patience. He had cleaned his quarters and rearranged the furniture in the outer living area. When the ship shook with the impact of weapons fire he longed to be on the bridge, more so after his computer terminal shut down. The ship had steadied some time before although they were still at rest. He could imagine the repair crews spreading out throughout the ship. He prayed silently that no more had died and that the captain had returned to her senses.The door chimed again. Why hadn’t the guards opened the door? “Come.”
The door slid open revealing the person of his captain. “Commander.”
“Captain.” He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and waited for her to say whatever she felt needed her direct presence.
“May I come in?”
He nodded and the door slid shut behind her. “How can I help you captain?” he asked having considered and rejected several less neutral questions.
“It’s over. The Equinox has been destroyed but not before returning Seven and the Doctor and giving us five new crew members.”
Chakotay stiffened but again kept the neutral voice as he saw something in Kathryn’s eyes that had been missing since the beginning of the incident. “What happened?”
She related the events succinctly and Chakotay made no attempt to hide his relief, first that the captain had not crossed the moral point of no return, that Ransom had himself led to his own destruction, that no further Voyager lives were lost, and that the threat to the aliens was indeed over.
“Chakotay, I know you disagreed with me on this issue but I do need you as First Officer. Would you return to your duties?”
“Are you sure captain? You know I will not hesitate to tell you when I believe you are wrong. Are you sure you are willing to accept that instead of Commander Tuvok?”
"What makes you so sure that he didn’t give me advice that I rejected?” She smiled ruefully. “Part of the job of a First Officer is to provide another perspective on events. Starfleet frowns on ones who are merely rubber stamps.” She walked over to the wall where he had hung his medicine wheel. “I know I hurt you Chakotay and I am truly sorry.” She turned and looked him in the eyes. “Are you willing to resume your duties?”
“Aye captain.”
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Then we need to meet with Tuvok and discuss the ramifications of our newest crew members and their duty assignments.”
“Your ready room in say a half hour?” He noted her surprise. “It’ll take me that long to get back up to speed.”
“I was thinking more of two hours.”
“Aye captain.”
She left his quarters still clearly uncomfortable. In turn he went into his bedroom to change back into uniform. He could accept the apology as a beginning. There were many issues which had to be answered but for now he would exercise patience as his spirit guide counseled and be there for her. Hopefully someday he would be accepted by her in a deeper and more meaningful way. | |
