Disclaimer: Paramount owns the ship, the humans...But Charlie and friends are all mine. Though why I would want to admit that, I don't know...
The idea for number 13 came from a top 10 list posted in the AOL J/C message board (of rejected story ideas). The holo-novel, well I accidentally borrowed it once before.
Technobabble: The running joke...
Harry looked up in surprise when Neelix spoke. "Huh?"
"The holo-novel you recommended," Neelix repeated. "It was fascinating. Of course I made some modifications..."
"Yes, of course." Harry smiled. The program had been put together by Tom several months ago, soon after Seska's mutiny program had finally been deleted.
"What I found fascinating was it was about an ordinary, but very intelligent, person..." Here Neelix looked smug, "who found himself in a very exciting situation. It was most enjoyable."
"Glad you enjoyed it," Harry said as he continued to eat his breakfast.
Neelix was happy at finding an audience this early in the morning. He continued speaking, "Of course I would have tried it earlier, except that we were busy with the Rarians..." Harry just nodded and looked around desperately. "I was thinking we should celebrate leaving their space, maybe on...that ship in that program...I forget what it was called..."
"A submarine," Harry said controlling his urge to tell Neelix to jump in his soup..."Where is everybody this morning?"
"You're early. I was just delighted to get a chance to tell you how fascinating..." Neelix stopped speaking as several of the crew entered. "I'll chat with you later, I should finish making breakfast."
Harry sighed with relief. He noticed Neelix's Tavian was sitting on the counter shaking her head. He nodded and quickly left--his new Tavian tailing after him.
#
#
"Welcome to Chi'Nilk," a very attractive brown-haired female humanoid said. "I am President Ne'Lonar." Her bright turquoise eyes flashed in excitement.
Kathryn Janeway smiled at the viewscreen. "We are delighted to meet you and look forward to negotiating with you."
The President smiled. "As is the Chi'Nilk government. We will receive your negotiating team in one hour. Ne'Lonar out."
Janeway smiled at Chakotay. "Commander, are you ready?"
He nodded. "Are you sure you don't want to come along..."
She shook her head. "No, I'm going to take advantage of your absence and get caught up..." She glared at Tom who was laughing quietly.
"Very well Captain," he winked at her. "Lieutenant Paris meet me in the shuttle bay in 15 minutes."
"Yes sir." The helmsman stood and left.
Chakotay leaned over and brought his head close to the Captain's--for a second she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead he whispered, "Anything you'd like me to bring back?"
"Coffee." She grinned. "Now get going before..."
He stood, "Yes Ma'am."
#
#
B'Elanna was sitting on Tom's sofa and frowning. "Typical. You've known for fourteen hours you were going on this mission..."
"Let it be Bel...Have you seen my pajamas..."
"Since when did you start wearing pajamas?" She pushed her black Tavian off her lap and stood. "Really Tom are you always so disorganized." She dumped the contents of his duffle-bag on his bed. "Let's see, two spare uniforms, razor, underwear..." She laughed as he moved to stand behind her. "Tom this is a three day mission...Cassandra get out of there..." She grabbed his Tavian and dropped her on the floor. "Look for your pajamas!" She ordered as she shoved him away. She then started to repack.
"Found them..." Tom tossed her a light blue pair of cotton pajamas.
"Cassandra..." The Tavian had again curled up in his duffle bag. Again she tossed the creature on the floor. "This should do it...Unless you expect to be there eight days..."
Her comm-badge chirped. "Engineering to Lieutenant Torres..."
B'Elanna groaned as she watched Tom look through his duffle bag. Tapping her comm-badge she replied. "Torres here."
"Lieutenant," Vorik said. "We're ready to run the photon-torpedo test simulations."
"I'll be right there." She quickly kissed Tom good-bye and left.
Tom watched her go, then stuffed a few other items in his bag. Zipping it up he looked around. "Cassandra?" Not having any extra time he bolted out of his room practically plowing over Megan Delaney on his way to the turbo-lift.
#
#
"Captain, the shuttle is ready for departure," Harry announced.
"Very good." Janeway said. "Bridge to shuttle Cochrane. Cleared for departure. And Commander..."
She smiled as his voice responded. "Coffee, I remember."
"Of course, but if nothing else get us permission to mine for dilithium."
She heard him laugh. "Yes Captain. Departing now."
She stroked Charlie's head as she watched the shuttle depart. "Ensign, continuous scans." She stood, still holding Charlie and looked at Tuvok. "Mr. Tuvok, you have the bridge, I'll be in my ready-room."
#
#
Harry tapped his console. For forty minutes he had been he had been monitoring the shuttle and traffic around the capital city. It was a very active trading port. There was a slight blip. "Idiot," he muttered.
"Is there a problem ensign?" Tuvok asked.
"No sir, just the Chi'Nilks have strange traffic patterns. The ships are traveling too close." He looked at his console when it beeped. "Sir, there is an incoming message from the shuttle."
"On screen." Tuvok looked up at the viewscreen. "Lieutenant Paris?"
"Sir. We've been cleared for final approach. I'm sending the coordinates for where we are landing."
"Have them. Sir," Harry called out.
"I'll notify the Captain, Voyager out," Tuvok closed the communication and sent the message to the Captain.
Barely ten seconds passed before Harry exclaimed, "I've lost contact with the shuttle!" Tuvok looked quickly at the terminal by the Captain's chair, then tapped his comm-badge. "Bridge to Captain Janeway..."
#
#
B'Elanna was feeling agitated and wanted to get up and pace about the briefing room--throw a chair at the wall or something. Instead she angrily sipped her tea as she watched the data from just before and after the shuttle's disappearance. "There," she said. "Where the shuttle was--that distortion looks similar to what we saw with cloaked Rarian ships."
"We left their space a day ago," Harry said, but he did note it was remarkably similar. "The amount of traffic in the area makes it hard to follow and detect..."
Tuvok nodded. "It is a logical assumption that the Rarians still want Voyager."
Janeway stood there a second before she responded. "Somehow they cloaked the shuttle? It would explain the disappearance, but how did they do it?" She looked at Harry and B'Elanna, "Go over the sensor logs, you're looking for anything and everything. And I want continuous scans of the area--especially any larger ships leaving the area--or signs of cloaked ships." She looked at Tuvok as she dismissed the others. "Lieutenant I'd like you and Neelix to beam down to the planet and covertly investigate the disappearance. I don't want the Chi'Nilk government to know you are there."
#
#
"What the Hell happened?" Chakotay asked, his head still groggy. He was lying on the floor.
"About time you woke up," Tom said. "We were boarded--I don't remember much...We were on final approach and then suddenly we weren't. Don't bother," Chakotay had started to try to pull some data up on the computer. "The computer isn't working. Nothing is working, except life support."
"Any idea how long ago?" Chakotay asked, rubbing his head.
"No sir." Tom started to crawl back under the console. "I haven't even figured out why nothing is working--but I think it is some sort of out-side interference."
"The Chi'Nilk government?" Chakotay shook his head--that didn't make much sense.
"Rarians?"
"Possible. Cloaked--otherwise Voyager would have found us by...What's that noise?" They both listened to a furious scratching sound.
Tom shrugged his shoulders, "It's coming from the storage..." He pulled his phaser and walked over to the door. Carefully he pulled it open..."Cassandra?" She leapt into his arms, chirping excitedly.
#
#
Neelix was looking at the Doctor, nervously twisting his hands together.
"This procedure would be much faster if you would calm down," the Doctor said. Despite Neelix's excitement, the Doctor continued placing the communication implant on Neelix's left temporal lobe just above the ear. "There that should do it. Try it."
"This thing can pick up everything I say?" Neelix said, then giggled as he heard his voice through the computer.
"Yes, everything. You would be advised to not chatter so much..."
"This is fascinating, isn't it Mr. Vulcan."
Tuvok raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Neelix--the Doctor is correct--you would be wise to control your natural proclivity to speak excessively. Remember we are traders..."
"I remember, Mr. Vulcan. We are traders investigating the markets of Chi'Nilk. I think I can play the part of a trader." Neelix grinned, "I recommend that we be traders in scrap metals..." He leapt of the bio-bed. "No one asks detailed questions. Especially like where you found it..." He winked at the Vulcan as they walked out of sick-bay.
Tuvok quirked an eyebrow. Neelix would not have been his first choice as a comrade on this mission.
There was agitated twittering from by the turbo-lift. "Hello Satryl," Neelix said to his gray-with-black spots Tavian. "Think you can manage the kitchen..." She chirped angrily. Neelix looked at Tuvok.
"T'Psu has proven herself to be useful in this kind of situation. A second Tavian could be a wise addition to the mission."
Neelix smiled, "Hear that. You're coming with us." Satryl climbed up the Talaxian's leg into his arms.
"They too must be covert," Tuvok remarked. Satryl chirped. "They must not draw attention to us or themselves."
#
#
Chakotay looked up from the computer panel, "Any luck with the tricorders?" He asked his companion.
"Some. Whatever they've done it is creating a lot of interference. I've been able to modify it to work within the cabin. Inside there are three lifeforms. Outside...Can't tell a thing." Tom was getting frustrated.
The Commander grumbled something under his breath. "I'm working on bypassing the negative..." Cassandra leapt on top of the uncovered panel. He moved Cassandra from where he was working. "It'll create noise...I need to somehow control the length of the noise..."
"Morse code sir." Tom said excitedly. "Remember my truck and the signal? I think I can do something with that and...hmm." Cassandra twittered: and he laughed as he looked at her. She was sitting on a tissue regenerator. "Well, I wonder if we can do it with this..." She pushed the device away when he reached for it, then gently nudged it toward his hand. "My own personal elf...Sweetheart, you don't think you can figure out where we are, do you?" She just twittered.
#
#
"Captain's log stardate 512...Charlie, now what?" When he just chirped she continued. "I discussed the situation with the Chi'Nilk Chief of Security. He was very suspicious and not very forthcoming with information. I have sent Ensign Jack McKenzie and a security detail to assist with the investigation. So far there has not been much information. Tuvok and Neelix have beamed down, with their Tavians. We have not told Chi'Nilk security about this second mission. Unless I learn something to dispel my suspicions about Chi'Nilk involvement, I have no intention of doing so.
"B'Elanna and Harry have been going over all the data records since our arrival here. The amount of ship activity makes it very difficult to account for all the ships: or determine if the anomalous readings are truly cloaked Rarian ships or something else. B'Elanna reported that Cassandra is missing. She suspects the Tavian is on the shuttle." Here Janeway smiled as she thought about her own rescue just 4 days earlier.
Charlie chirped, "Yes, of course," Janeway replied.
#
#
Neelix looked at Tuvok then the market place. "Mr. Vulcan this place is incredible." He started to walk toward a spice shop.
Tuvok put a hand on his shoulder. "We should not draw attention to ourselves. The shuttle disappeared near the space port, I suggest we start over there."
"Mr. Vulcan, we will draw more attention to ourselves if we do not stop at a number of shops...I need to replenish my spice cabinet. There is a metal merchant two booths down, I suggest you look at his wares." Neelix looked around, neither Tavian was in view.
Neelix entered the small cramped shop, ignoring the short brunette woman who exited just before him. "Good day," he called to the spice merchant.
"Yea I suppose, what can I do for you?"
"I need to replenish my spices--I'm looking for a specific spice--Trabart Rhumk?"
"Never heard of it, you must be new."
Neelix grunted an affirmative. "My partner and I are looking to expand our metal market."
"Metal, huh," the alien dealer said, his large ears twitched forward, but otherwise he continued examining a new shipment of spices. "Looking for something exotic?" He handed Neelix a small sample of the bright yellow spice he was inspecting.
Neelix sniffed then tasted the sample. "Hmm. I'll think about it. This one, Qmar...And that one, the Chirth."
The merchant grudgingly offered a sample of the two requested spices.
"The Qmar, how much? Did you catch the excitement this morning?"
"Excitement...Nope. Something happened?"
"Ship disappeared or something--how much for the Qmar?"
"I don't hear much. Ship disappearing won't do much for trade relations. Last time that happened, the Soraphans placed an embargo on the system. That hurt, most of my spices come through Soraphas. The Qmar, hmm three latiram for a Trilp." The merchant held up a container.
Neelix did some quick calculations. "I'll give you four for two Trilps."
"Five. What do you know about this ship?" The merchant asked as he started to measure the spice.
"Not much, rumor on the street says a neighboring alien is involved." Neelix took the first bag and inspected it carefully, nodding as he did.
The merchant spat. "The Rarians. Strange bunch. Avoid them, they're thieves." He handed Neelix the second bag and glanced at the local coinage Neelix had given him.
Neelix nodded, thankful that the local government had sent material on the local monetary systems with the preliminary information. They'd replicated some for this mission.
"Thank you," the Talaxian called out as he left the shop. The merchant ignored him. He stuffed the spices into his backpack.
He looked around. Tuvok wasn't difficult to spot in his deep blue robes. "Hello Mr. Vulcan, anything?"
"The merchant was very uninformative. You?"
"Well, the spice merchant thinks the Rarians are thieves, and ships has disappeared before."
"Interesting." Tuvok quirked an eyebrow. "We should continue."
#
#
Janeway looked at the PADD Ensign Ayala had handed her. She looked up. "Relay this to McKenzie. Ships have disappeared before--have him ask about that and the Rarians."
"Yes, Captain," Ayala said as he left her ready room.
#
#
Harry yawned, the blips on the screen starting to blend into each other. B'Elanna looked up. "Go get some coffee, it'll take me a few minutes to get the program loaded. She continued to sit there as she reconfigured the program's parameters. "Qu'vatlh," she looked down at her Tavian. "You startled me." She reached down and scratched his head. "You miss Cassandra." He chirped. "Well. Let's see if this will work." She initiated the program. "Why this couldn't happen at a less busy port. Computer, freeze screen. Highlight ship 17, rerun from two point three." The computer beeped in acknowledgment. A Klingon expletive escaped her lips. "Computer stop. Run at fifty-percent of normal speed." She watched the picture several times, frustrated by the number of ships moving in and out of the view.
"Must be interesting," Harry said as he placed a cup by B'Elanna.
"Hard to say. Computer, delete ship 18 and run with previous standards." She pointed to the screen. "This is the shuttle...At the moment of last communication..."
"When Tom sent me the co-ordinates, hmm. This ship." He pointed to a large ship. "It passes over the shuttle twice..." Harry looked at B'Elanna. "First just seconds before the last transmission, then about twenty seconds after the shuttle disappeared."
B'Elanna nodded as she tapped her comm-badge. "Torres to Captain Janeway..."
#
#
Tuvok nodded at the small brunette he had bumped into. "Excuse me," he said, then walked away. Neelix had disappeared into yet another shop. The Vulcan stopped to examine some electronics.
"The finest electronics in the system, quality work is all we sell," the woman wore a huge hat, effectively hiding her eyes. "I can supply you wholesale..."
"I'm not looking to purchase anything right now." He looked at another piece.
"That's too bad," she said. "We're running a special--I can let you have four for the price of three..."
Tuvok quirked an eyebrow. "Not today."
With that, he turned and walked away. He walked over to the bench where he saw Neelix sitting.
"Hungry, Mr. Vulcan?"
"Our mission is to find the shuttle, not feed ourselves."
"Look around, everybody is eating--we need to blend in. Try this." He handed the Vulcan a green sandwich of some sort. "This isn't too bad. Several ships have disappeared over the past two years. Considering the importance of trade here, and that the loss of the ships has caused some bad feelings...I don't think the locals are involved."
"A logical conclusion. I recommend we head toward the space port where they were to have landed. It's only half a kilometer away."
#
#
Jack McKenzie looked at the transmission he'd just received from Voyager and frowned. The Chi'Nilk security were deeply suspicious of the whole incident. He and his three man team were sitting in a briefing room where the Chi'Nilks had left them there ten minutes ago.
Something rubbed against his ankle. He looked down. "Satryl?" He smiled. "They found something?" He was whispering. She chirped quietly. "Well, we are not doing any good here.," he said a little louder. His team nodded in agreement.
The Chi'Nilk security watched them leave, several slipped out the building after their departure.
"Sir?" Crewman Dalby said. "What are we doing?"
McKenzie laughed, "Following that Tavian. Keep an eye out, we're probably being followed."
#
#
Neelix stood by the lamppost as he kept watch. A quick glance at Tuvok standing by the fence, then back looking at the crowd. He noticed Satryl was back. Without looking down, he asked, "Did you find Jack?" She twittered excitedly. Neelix looked around. He could see the security team in the distance.
"Scans detect nothing...but I'm getting an unusual reading from one of the hangars," Tuvok said as he walked past Neelix. "I would like to look around the hangars."
"Security is pretty tight, armed guards: everybody's identification is checked." Neelix nodded toward the gate. "I was watching."
Tuvok nodded and slipped away as Voyager's security team approached. Neelix ignored them until McKenzie spoke, "You, with the dots..." Neelix winced slightly.
"Yes?"
"We're investigating the disappearance of one of our ships."
"Oh dear, that isn't good for trade." Neelix inclined his head ever so slightly--hoping someone would notice that the team was being followed, then whispered. "We'll meet you later, Tuvok wants to get inside one of the hangars--the area is pretty heavily guarded." He awkwardly passed a data-PADD to the security ensign.
"Thank-you." McKenzie turned to his crew, "He doesn't know anything either." Then again quietly to Neelix, "I can arrange transport for this evening."
"Good luck," Neelix called out as he watched the team leave. He trotted off to look at a cooking wares stand. He noticed Satryl and T'Psu slip past the guards.
#
#
Tom crawled out from the console, "Ready to try again." Chakotay pushed a couple of buttons...there was a spark and a hiss. "Damn," the Lieutenant muttered. In the several hours since whatever had happened, they'd been trying to jury rig a signaling device--unsuccessfully. Tom glared at Cassandra who was sitting on the console, silently swishing her tail. "Cassie..." He looked at the console and shook his head.
#
#
Janeway looked at McKenzie's report and nodded to the ensign. Charlie sat on her shoulder. "This ties in very nicely with what B'Elanna and Harry found. You're meeting Mr. Tuvok and Neelix in an hour..."
"Yes Captain, the three of us will examine the hangar area," Ensign McKenzie stood at parade rest as he spoke. He noticed three listless Tavians lying on the couch. The Commander's threesome he figured.
#
#
The night sky was lit by thousands of stars and the glow from the city lights. Neelix anxiously looked around. There was no one about. They had deliberately picked the side of the space port away from the city activity. There was a twinkling of the transporter lights and McKenzie appeared. Beside him were 3 compression-phaser rifles and personal transport devices.
"Neelix, Lieutenant."
Tuvok had removed his robes and was again in his uniform, disguise no longer important. "We've been watching that green hangar. Several Rarians exited an hour ago. But tricorders show it is empty. It is logical that there..." Satryl ran up twittering excitedly. T'Psu followed her at a more dignified pace.
#
#
Kathryn sat on the bridge, waiting. The ship was at yellow alert as they waited for information from the planet. She had requested a meeting with President Ne'Lonar, but was now sure she was being snubbed. That request had been sent an hour ago. She looked down at her console, they were monitoring the raiding team, but would be maintaining radio silence. Charlie sat in Chakotay's chair, his tail twitching in anticipation. He looked around the bridge, sitting on his haunches, leaning against the inner armrest--looking for all the world like he was following the raid on his console. He chirped at Janeway. She nodded and turned to rear of the bridge, "Mr. Kim any sign of the Tavians?"
"Yes Captain, they have just rejoined the away-team. They are ready to begin."
"Good." Both she and Charlie glued their eyes to their console as they followed the progress of the team.
"Captain!" Harry called out. "Damn, it's gone." He fussed with his console. "There was a brief signal--but it lasted less than a second."
"And..."
"It was Federation--too short to determine anything else."
"Location?"
Harry shook his head, "All the computer can do is place the location in spaceport area."
"Well at least we are looking in the right area. Scan the area for other activity."
#
#
Tom looked down at the Commander, then at Cassandra. "Well I think we're ready to try again." Everybody backed away from the console as Tom again activated their signaling device. There was a high pitched whine, a hiss, then silence. Cautiously Tom looked at their device. "Every wire has fused." The smell of burnt wire and plastic filled the cabin. Cassandra chirped excitedly. Tom looked at her, "What?" She continued to chirp as she climbed up on the console. "What, Cassie. What?"
#
#
Neelix looked down at his Tavian, she was twittering madly. "Satryl?" He looked at his companions, "We have company. Behind that building."
Tuvok quickly scanned the area and frowned. "He is correct, Rarians." The away team was standing outside the door of their target. There was clicking sound and the door opened. "Good job, T'Psu," McKenzie said as they slipped into the hangar. Tuvok reached down and picked up the Tavian. Inside was a ship about one third the size of Voyager. Tuvok and McKenzie quickly made their way to the rear and ducked behind some crates. Neelix kept watch at the door. The Talaxian signaled and watched the two officers disappear.
The ship was empty, both security officers wondered where the crew was, then made their way to the ship's hold. "Sh," Tuvok said. There was a faint metal pinging sound. "It's coming from in here." The automatic doors opened revealing Voyager's shuttle. McKenzie tapped his comm-badge. "McKenzie to Neelix, we found the shuttle."
"Good, better hurry it looks like we are going to have company," Neelix's voice responded.
#
#
Janeway and the entire bridge were listening. She noticed that B'Elanna had smiled slightly when they'd heard over the implanted communication devices that the shuttle had been found. Upon hearing Neelix's response, the Captain ordered, "Scan the area."
"Rarians, Captain. They are approaching the hangar," B'Elanna responded.
*Damn,* Janeway thought. She tapped her comm-badge, "Voyager to Tuvok. Any sign of the Commander and Paris?"
"Negative Captain, there is a dampening field around the shuttle, we're attempting to locate the power source now."
#
#
Tuvok looked at T'Psu who was wandering around the shuttle craft. Suddenly she chirped excitedly. She trotted to the far side, her tail high in the air.
#
#
Tom was bent over the console, removing the last of the burnt wires, when Cassandra leapt on his back and gave several high pitched chirps. "Sh, girl. What is it?" She twittered excitedly and leapt onto the console.
Chakotay watched with interest.
#
#
Neelix slipped into a dark corner as the group of five aliens approached. "Neelix to McKenzie, we definitely have company." The door was slammed open. He grabbed Satryl and transported himself to the holding bay on the ship.
"I think that crew have returned," Neelix announced as he appeared. "They just entered the hangar."
"Lieutenant Tuvok is working on deactivating the field," Ensign McKenzie said. The tricorder chirped. "Company coming," he called out. He motioned to Neelix to follow him. They ran over to where Tuvok was and positioned themselves.
"I have accessed the command codes..." There was a clicking sound.
#
#
"Sir," Tom called out, "sensors are back on line."
"Good job," Chakotay called out, he immediately began checking the rest of the ship.
"Wasn't me." At that moment, there were three transporter beams. Tom pointed his phaser at them, then smiled. "I never thought I'd be glad to see you..."
"Save the pleasantries for later, Lieutenant. We need to get out of here," Tuvok said as he looked about the shuttle.
Cassandra chirped excitedly as she greeted T'Psu and Satryl.
"Where is here?" Tom asked as he started the preflight check list.
"Inside a cargo ship. I've programmed the outside doors to open on my command, we will probably have to..." Tuvok was cut off by a beep. "The cargo ship is powering up." Tom nodded as he completed pre-flight.
Chakotay quickly scanned the shuttle. "No damage." He started to reactivate other systems. "The ship is moving." He looked at Tuvok. "Voyager?"
Janeway's voice interrupted, "We've contacted Chi'Nilk security and have plotted an intercept course. Don't make a break until we are in position."
#
#
Kathryn Janeway watched the ship on the screen. Charlie still sat in the Commander's chair, his tail thumping wildly against the back.
"Mr. Hargrove," she said to the pilot, "take us in...But do it casually. Mr. Kim, any response from the Chi'Nilk security?"
"No Captain..." He paused for a split second. "Five ships are on an intercept course with the Rarian vessel."
"I'll consider that a response. Battle Stations. Mr. Hargrove be prepared to move the ship to protect the shuttle." She glanced at Harry. "Voyager to shuttle Cochrane. Now!"
#
#
Tom powered the engines and raised the shields as Tuvok sent the signal to open the cargo bay doors. "Free of the ship. Plotting a course back..." He was cut off by a phaser beam hitting the ship. "Evasive maneuvers."
Chakotay contacted Voyager, "Captain, we're under fire."
"Plot a new course zero four five, full impulse. We have you covered," Janeway answered.
Tom entered the new data and the shuttle swerved avoiding a second beam. "Captain, there are five approaching ships." He rolled the shuttle to avoid another blast, then everybody watched as the cargo ship jumped to warp.
#
#
Kathryn Janeway had just ordered Voyager to fire, when the cargo ship bolted. She frowned, *Damn.* She wanted answers. "Hail the approaching vessels. And set a course to meet the shuttle."
"Channel open," Harry said.
She stood and faced the screen. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager, we no longer require your assistance."
A Chi'Nilk officer appeared on the screen, "Starship Voyager you have violated thirty-three Chi'Nilk airspace codes."
Janeway smiled, "We wish to offer our regards for your assistance in flushing the Rarian vessel and in recovering our shuttle." She watched with a wicked grin as the Chi'Nilk officer looked confused...then pleased. "Of course I will let your president know of your cooperation and assistance. Voyager out." She turned and looked at Harry again. "Contact President Ne'Lonar." She looked up at the screen as she watched the shuttle approach. "Stand down from yellow-alert. And bring our shuttle back on board."
#
#
Charlie was waiting when the shuttle doors opened, the three disembarking Tavians greeted him with a lot of chirping and head rubbing. Chakotay watched for a second and looked around. His three Tavians sat nearby with B'Elanna's just watching. After the meeting with Charlie was complete they joined in, for a mad tangle of Tavians.
Tom laughed..."I am ready for a shower and bath...then dinner."
Chakotay nodded in agreement. "But first we'd better check in."
Tom grinned, "Is that what it is called..." He fled very quickly, Cassandra and B'Elanna's black Tavian hard on his heals.
Chakotay smiled as he considered how he would give the report to the Captain. (He considered where too.) He looked down as his trio wound their way around his feet. "Hello girls...At least somebody came to say hi." He decided to swing by the bridge and make his report there...
#
#
"Commander's log, stardate 512..." Tikki and Rikki ran across his console causing it to bleep in angry protest. "Continuing. The Chi'Nilk government was not happy that Voyager proceeded on their own, Kat...The Captain placated them by releasing a press announcement about the invaluable assistance the Chi'Nilk government in the rescue of the shuttle. She said it with a straight face too. Just as well she doesn't like poker...
"As to what happened...Tavi, what are you doing." She had stretched out across the terminal. He picked her up and she crawled up on his shoulder.
"We will be returning tomorrow morning to complete negotiations. The Chi'Nilks have agreed to allow us to send a team to the markets...Neelix enthusiastically volunteered. He seems to feel that he can do wonders replenishing his spice cabinets.
"As for the Tavians...They are remarkable..."
He didn't get to finish as his three and Charlie jumped up and clambered into his lap. He turned when he heard Kathryn laughing in the doorway as the four Tavians decided to run off and attack some invisible being.