| Heaven Is Where The Coffee Is - Part 2 By Voyagetostars Oops - I missed Part 1 Click HERE to go back.
After duty shift a trio of officers met in the mess hall to sample the evening’s meal.
“Wow, I didn’t know Neelix had it in him,” commented Tom as he cautiously tasted the food then eagerly dug in.
“Just goes to show you he’s not that bad a cook, it’s the ingredients that make the difference,” answered Harry.
“Yeah, no leola root means good food,” replied B’Elanna, an expression of bliss appearing on her face.
“No kidding,” said Tom. “And the food on the planet was almost heaven.”
“What, it wasn’t just another stuffy dinner with rubber food?” asked Harry remembering Tom’s comments prior to beaming down. Harry and Tuvok had manned the bridge while the rest of the senior staff and a selection of other crew members filled the invitation to the feast.
“I know what I said but it was nothing like that. Picture the resort program at night crossed with half the pillars of Stonehenge with everyone in formal dress. Then add the best food you ever had or had ever imagined on buffet tables throughout the area. Then top it off with friendly hosts who made great conversation at all the tables.”
“You sure it wasn’t just in comparison to the emergency rations?” asked Harry with open skepticism.
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But what was really interesting were our dining companions - there were an equal number of the Suzit to us at each table. I was with B’Elanna, no surprise there,” he said with a grin. B’Elanna pushed his shoulder and he gave her an affectionate kiss. “Well Jakatan, who is one of the First Minister’s advisors, and his mate Aboni ate with us. He immediately called B’Elanna and me bond mates.”
He saw Harry’s disbelief. “No we didn’t tell him nor did anyone else as far as I know. As we beamed down our hosts were waiting and guided us to the gathering area. How could they have know about B’Elanna and me? That’s not the normal topic of conversation on a trade mission.”
“How about know your subject?” offered Harry.
“Well I guess but that seems a little excessive since the trade was all but complete.” He smiled wickedly at another memory. “And you’ll never guess who else we heard called bond mates.”
“Tom,” warned B’Elanna.
“Be its not like everyone hasn’t said the same thing - you know the action in the betting pools.”
“Don’t call me Be,” she answered reflexively at the use of his pet nickname for her in public.
“And the Suzit were right about us.”
“Who Tom?” asked Harry ignoring B’Elanna’s death glare.
“Well First Minister Devert thought a certain senior pair were bond mates and told them so.”
“A senior pair - oh no you don’t mean the captain and the commander.” Tom nodded with a smug grin. “How
did . . .” his voice trailed off as he saw the captain entering the mess. Tom didn’t as his back was to the door.
“She denied it of course but Devert said she could tell. You should have seen Chakotay’s face.” Tom chuckled but finally noted Harry’s stricken expression and glanced over his shoulder at a seriously annoyed captain.
Her attention shifted to B’Elanna as Tom tried to make himself invisible. “Lieutenant Torres, Commander Tuvok told me that you were able to recrystallize one of our damaged dilithium crystals.”
“Uh yes captain, it looks promising. The last diagnostic is running now in the testing matrix. Worse case it’ll give us a crystal which can be used for a hundred hours.”
“Excellent work.” She started to turn from the table. “Ensign Paris, I hope I didn’t hear you discussing gossip about senior staff. Such could be considered violation of any number of regulations.”
“Permission to speak freely.”
“Denied. And if I hear any indication you have continued this discussion you’ll be spending the rest of the our trip in waste extraction. Do I make myself clear?”
Tom considered a flip remark then registered her expression which was bordering on incendiary. “Yes ma’am.”
“Good.” She left.
“You don’t think she really meant . . .” asked Harry.
“I don’t know Harry but she definitely was not happy,” answered B’Elanna.
“I know, she meant every word,” said Tom with weak but absolute certainty.
A week later Voyager entered the designated system, en route to the third of six planets.
“Hold our position Mr. Paris,” ordered Janeway as they crossed the orbit of the outermost planet.
“Aye ma’am.”
In the staff meeting a short time later.
“What do the scans show Mr. Kim?”
“Demon class captain, no question.” The captain nodded to Chakotay to resume the reports.
“Any sign of bio-mimic substances?” asked Chakotay, mindful of their last encounter with a Class Y planet.
“Negative sir.”
“Any evidence of mining operations?”
“No indication of any other vessels nor planetary colonies in the system.”
“Mr. Tuvok?”
“Confirmed, warp signatures are over six months old and are consistent with the Suzit Confederacy vessels.”
“Lieutenant Torres, are your teams ready?”
“Yes.” She activated the briefing table holographic projector. A model of the world appeared and rotated. “I recommend sending two teams to the surface to mine polyferrinite at sites 1 and 2 in the northern hemisphere.” Two points of light appeared on the model. “Once we have initial supplies I’d like to send one team to the south pole where we’ve found traces of gallicite and deuterium.” A light lit in the appropriate spot.
“Dilithium?”
Seven spoke up. “As of yet there is no evidence of dilithium nor trilithium on the planet nor in the system.”
“Safety precautions?”
“We cannot use the transporters due to the themionic radiation so I recommend the use of two shuttles, one at each site,” responded Torres.
“I disagree. The plan is inefficient,” stated Seven flatly.
“Your opinion,” snapped B’Elanna.
“You’ll have your opportunity for input Seven. B’Elanna please continue.”
“The two shuttles will remain on the surface for emergency evacuation. All work will be carried out in full environmental suits including work in the shuttles. Due to the high risk factors I want no more than eight hours on the surface before return to Voyager. I also would like the Delta Flyer on standby for emergency recovery.”
“Seven you disagreed.”
“The plan is inefficient. There are five sites in relatively close proximity, three in the northern hemisphere and two in the southern, which show strong indications of polyferrinite.” Three additional points of light appeared on the model. B’Elanna gritted her teeth. “By placing a team at each site plus one at the south pole we could mine a much greater quantity. For safety a shuttle will remain in both the north and south hemispheres while two additional shuttles transfer material to Voyager.”
“What a load of targ manure. If something goes wrong on a Class Y planet it is more than a mild inconvenience, the results will be permanent and fatal.”
“Four shuttles, that means all shuttles off the ship,” commented the captain.
“Yes but by using all of them we can bring a continuous stream of material back in the least time. Based on the sensor readings we should be able to collect a complete resupply in just three days, assuming 10 hours on planet which is well within the environmental suit rating.”
“Your recommendations then?” Unseen to the others Tom kicked B’Elanna under the table as she prepared to shout an objection. She glared briefly at him.
“As I already stated a total of six separate sites with continuous shuttle of material back to Voyager.”
“The risk is unacceptable,” bellowed B’Elanna leaping to her feet. “We are not in such desperate condition that all safety procedures should be abandoned.”
“At ease lieutenant,” ordered Chakotay.
“Don’t tell me you agree with that that . . .”
“I said at ease.” She slowly sat down while giving the former Borg a death glare worthy of Janeway herself.
“Lieutenant Torres, what is your estimate for us to obtain the materials we need following your plan?” asked Janeway.
“Working round the clock and assuming the sensor readings are accurate, six point five days.”
“What if we increased to four sites, each with its own dedicated shuttle?”
“Four days.” She noted her captain’s raised eyebrow. “In my original estimate I assumed that one or more of the shuttles would need repair between trips and had intended to rotate off with the other shuttles. I allowed for adequate repair time between flights.”
Janeway nodded to Chakotay to continue the meeting.
“Tom.”
“We need to keep Voyager in high orbit due to the inherent instability of the planet’s rotation coupled with its radiation signature. Other than that you’ll need your most experienced pilots on shuttle duty.”
“Do I hear a volunteer?”
“I am the best pilot,” he answered smugly.
“Doctor?”
“I strongly advise that only the minimum personnel needed be used on this mission. Y Class planets have been called demon class with good reason. I fully concur with Lieutenant Torres of no more than eight hours on the surface. Additionally all personnel must under a full medical exam on return.”
“Neelix.”
“Well crew morale is certainly up captain, due mainly to the wonderful foods we got from the Suzit Confederacy. I have detected some concern regarding the mining operations. A number of people have mentioned our previous encounter with a demon class planet with unease.” As he paused for breath Chakotay spoke.
“That conclude the staff reports captain,” stated Chakotay cutting off what promised to be an extensive retelling of the Demon story. Neelix looked puzzled but shrugged.
“Thank you. B’Elanna we will go with four teams each with its dedicated shuttle. Select the three sites you feel will have the best supply of polyferrinite. I also want you to send one team to the south pole for the gallicite and deuterium.”
“Aye captain.”
“Provide a list of your engineering teams to Commander Chakotay by end of shift. I also want you to submit an inspection plan for the shuttles each time they return to Voyager.”
“I’m already on it captain.” Janeway nodded in acknowledgement.
“Ensign Kim, Seven, I want you to redouble your efforts in locating dilithium or trilithium in this system. First Minister Devert assured me it was present.”
“Aye captain.”
“ I will comply.”
“We will enter high orbit at 0700 under yellow alert conditions. Flights to the planet will begin at 0800 hours. Commander Chakotay, you, and Ensigns Paris, Baytart, and Culhane will be the primary shuttle pilots. This will be a highly hazardous mission. Make sure your sections are fully prepared and rested.” She looked around the table. “Any questions? Dismissed.”
The chime to the captain’s ready room sounded. “Come. Yes Chakotay.”
“Captain, I have the changes to the duty roster as well as the engineering rotations to Demon II.” He passed the PADD and took the indicated chair.
“Stellar Cartography has named it?”
“Well it’s better than the other suggestion - Three of Six.”
She winced. “Now that would have been popular. Has B’Elanna calmed down?”
“She was right,” he chided gently.
“I know she was, at least as far as the safety factors are concerned.” She pinched the bridge of her nose as she thought back to the meeting. “Her tact needs some work though - targ manure?”
“I know but it was better than a broken nose.”
Her face broke out into a genuine grin then she changed the subject. “I’m going to take a quick tour around the ship. Care to join me?”
“Yes captain thank you.” He flashed her one of his devastating smiles.
“You have the bridge,” she told Tuvok as she passed him in route to the turbolift.
“Aye captain.”
“Engineering,” she ordered.
They entered a hive of controlled chaos, B’Elanna orchestrating from the center at the main warp core console. Engineers darted here and there carrying tools and relays as they worked to complete the remaining repairs possible with existing supplies.
“Captain, commander,” she greeted. “I didn’t expect. . . “
“I just wanted to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow. You are planning on sending your teams for some rest?” The word “Soon” was unspoken but plainly conveyed by Janeway’s expression.
“Mid watch captain, then we’ll go to reduced staff so everyone will be ready for tomorrow.”
“You are planning to do the same, right B’Elanna?” asked Chakotay, his eyes narrowing when she didn’t immediately answer.
B’Elanna wondered how she could divert the question then realized it was too late, he had already seen through her without her saying a word. “Of course Chakotay.”
“Right, see that you do.”
“I have a better idea,” said the captain. “Dismiss everyone but those on beta shift and that includes you.” She saw B’Elanna trying to come up with an argument to stay on duty. “Don’t even bother, there’s not that much more you can accomplish tonight.”
“Aye captain, just give me ten minutes.”
“Very well, but no more.”
The pair left and went down to the shuttle bay. “Good evening captain, commander,” said Tom Paris coming out of the Delta Flyer. “I just finished checking the four shuttles including the Flyer. Engineering has done a good job on the shield enhancements.”
“Isn’t a little early to be doing a preflight Tom?” asked the captain.
“It’s just a pre preflight. Engineering just finished going over them with a fine toothed comb and I wanted to make sure they put my lucky cup holder back in its place.”
“And you are going to go off duty now?”
“Yes ma’am. Baytart and Culhane will be meeting me in Sandrine’s to go over the mission brief one more time before we turn in, you’re invited Chakotay, you too captain.”
“Thank you Mr. Paris but I’ll pass this time. Just make sure you all get some rest.” She emphasized the last word carefully. He responded with his best grin.
“We will captain.”
The captain turned to her first officer. “Commander, why don’t you go to Sandrine’s? I’m going to take some of my own advice and get some sleep.”
“I think I will, if only to make sure the other pilots don’t party all night.”
The two men walked the corridor to holodeck one. “You’re worried,” commented Chakotay seeing through the pilot’s cock-sure attitude.
“I’m concerned,” he corrected without rancor. “Like B’Elanna says there isn’t any margin for error on a Class Y. Surface winds range from dead calm to over 300 kilometers per hour. Visibility is marginal and with all the radiation I’m not really happy with the sensors either.”
They entered the popular program and immediately spotted the other two pilots at a corner table, both sipping synthol beers. Sandrine herself came over as they joined the pair.
“What will you have Tommy?”
“A beer thanks Sandrine.”
“And you Chakotay?”
“The same thanks.”
Tom opened the informal meeting. “Have you reviewed the data on your respective sites?”
“Yes Tom. I have site one, northern hemisphere. It’s relatively flat and the approach should be straightforward. The major problem will be the wind as there is no real shelter,” said Baytart briskly. “You’re right but remember resolution is not good so there may be significant irregularities.” “Yes. I’m going for a windward approach from the east.” He passed a PADD to Tom who looked at it and passed it on to Chakotay. “Looks good. What about you Chuck?” Culhane passed his PADD as Sandrine came with the drinks. “I have site 2 northern hemisphere. It’s at the base of a cliff which should act as a significant wind break. The major danger will be crust instability and wind shear on take off. I’ll be approaching from the south.”
“Be careful not to over compensate on your approach.” He turned to Chakotay. “I know you don’t have your flight plan with you but would you care to go over it with us?"
“Certainly. I’ve got the south pole mission. The major hazard will be the lack of sensors. Wind currents in the upper atmosphere will be a factor on both take off and landing.” Chakotay sipped his beer as Tom nodded.
“I’ll be going to site 1 southern hemisphere. It appears to be the richest vein of all but it’s in between two mountain ranges that make the Rockies on Earth look flat. I’ll be using the Flyer which is our most maneuverable shuttle but I’m not sure I’ll be able to make the insert.” The two junior pilots looked at each other in shock. The great Tom Paris unsure? “If I can’t land there the alternate site is 250 kilometers due west.”
They discussed safety precautions and emergency procedures over another round of beers then called it a night.
“All hands, go to yellow alert. Take us in Tom.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Voyager entered the designated high orbit with minimal vibration. Once they were secure the captain ordered, “Away teams report to the main shuttle bay.”
Ensign Jenkins took over from Tom at the helm. Janeway leaned over the console to speak privately to her first officer. “Keep our people safe down there.”
“We’ll be careful captain,” he answered with complete professionalism, sparing only a brief flash of his dimples, fully aware of their effect on his commanding officer.
It seemed to be only minutes later when Tom’s cheerful voice filled the bridge. “Permission for the resupply teams to depart?”
“Granted Mr. Paris. Be careful and bring us back plenty of supplies.”
“Yes ma’am, I have the chief engineer’s shopping list.”
“Shuttles away,” reported Tuvok, frown slightly at the extraneous banter.
“Acknowledged. Mr. Kim, anything on our hunt for dilithium?”
“Nothing yet captain.”
“Captain, as expected, we are losing contact with the away teams,” reported Tuvok.
“Maintain scans.” Janeway settled back into her seat. She was never good on waiting for news, this would not be easy for her as she had sixteen crew members in acute danger. Each shuttle was equipped with transporter enhancement pylons but it was to only be used in the most dire emergency due to the danger of beaming through the radiation layers.
On the shuttles each pilot was going through his own version of hell as they fought with their controls and tried to find the best site within the designated areas. On board the Flyer Tom had his hands particularly full as he fought the intense winds coupled with the rugged terrain, swirling gases and limited sensor data. More often than not the ride resembled a never ending roller coaster as the tiny ship flew in the deep canyon network. He could hear someone being violently ill and winced in a small corner of his mind. Someone was going to have to deal with a nasty environmental suit for another nine and a half hours. Finally he located a satisfactory landing place and gently landed the ship.
“Everyone okay?” he asked as he shut down the active flight controls.
“Fine,” answered Carey weakly. Tom turned and looked at the engineer’s pale face behind the helmet. The other team members had solemn expressions.
Tom waved a medical tricorder in his direction and studied the results. “Everyone sure? Once I depressurize we won’t be able to crack our suits until we decontaminate back on Voyager.”
“We’re wasting time,” said Carey a bit more strongly.
“Let’s go,” added Dalby.
“Depressurizing now.” He watched the readings carefully. “Opening hatch.”
“Lets go and find that polyferrinite,” said Carey leading the way.
“I’ll be with you as soon as I get the ship secured and the emergency pylons set up.”
“Maintain an open channel,” instructed Carey as they rounded the nose of the shuttle.
It only took Tom a short time to set up the e emergency system in the shuttle and transmit a brief signal to the other three shuttles and Voyager.
“Receiving landing confirmation from the Delta Flyer,” announced Tuvok.
+Where are you Chakotay?+ thought Kathryn since the other two shuttles had already checked in. After thirty minutes she went to the Tactical station. “Query all shuttles if they have had any word from Commander Chakotay’s shuttle.”
“Aye captain but it should be noted that all personnel will be on the surface.”
“Understood but I want the information request waiting for them when they do their check ins.”
As each shuttle reached one hour on the surface they sent the required contact signal with situation updates. Site one, northern hemisphere was first. Baytart reported no contact with Chakotay’s shuttle though he had heard heard from the other two. Mining was proceeding as planned. The second site relayed similar to the first with the added news of finding a tiny deposit of dilithium which they had already secured.
“Excellent Mr. Culhane,” praised the captain. “Lieutenant Torres will be pleased.”
Tom’s report came minutes later. “This site is incredibly rich captain. Lieutenant Carey expects to have the hold filled with high grade polyferrinite within three hours. As to the commander’s shuttle, I got a brief burst confirming landing but nothing since. I’ll work on establishing communication with them.”
“That’s good news on the polyferrinite. Since you can confirm landing continue your mission. When you complete gathering the ore work on establishing communication with the Cochrane before returning to Voyager.”
“Captain, believe me they won’t notice I’m gone. Besides if they are having problems waiting the extra time could be dangerous.”
”Captain, Tom is right, we can secure the materials easily without him,” offered Lieutenant Carey.
“All right, keep us posted.”
“Aye ma’am,” came a static filled reply.
“We are losing the signal,” stated Tuvok.
“Continue sensor sweeps. Let me know if we hear from the fourth shuttle.”
“Aye captain.”
“I’ll be in my ready room, Commander Tuvok you have the conn.”
“Aye captain.”
She strode into her office. As soon as the door closed she allowed her shoulders to slump. She forced herself to focus. There were four on that shuttle, not just her first officer. Had she shown any indication that he was, however briefly, her primary concern? No she decided, she had displayed nothing but the proper concern for her people. She cursed inwardly. It was so easy to forget her responsibilities, the rules proved themselves time and again. A captain must never, ever become involved with her subordinates. She wondered briefly how Devert and Lotrin had managed their obvious love on their ship but then decided such thoughts were pointless. She was not them and was bound by a far different system of rules for proper behavior. How she would have loved to discuss the possibilities she would not speculate, even in her mind. Devert’s comments had taken her by surprise and of course Chakotay’s reaction had not helped matters nor had the fact the comment was made in public and certainly in the hearing of the biggest gossip next to the Delaney sisters on board her ship. She hoped she had nipped that rumor in the bud.
Tom leaned back from under the console and pressed a few buttons on the communications array. He frowned absently as he read the results.
“Any luck?” asked Carey as he stopped inside the control cabin. Tom looked up at the senior. He could see him sipping water from the suit’s internal supply.
“I wish I knew. I just keep sending a standard message but they may not be even listening.”
Carey nodded, this was part of the mission brief. No contact was not a cause for concern for the surface teams. The conditions were such that communications were expected to be impaired. Only if there was a major problem was communication to take priority.
“Have you tried locating the shuttle’s transponder signal? That way you might be able to focus the comm signal more tightly and get better range.”
“I’ve been trying to bounce a signal off of the atmosphere. That area has a lot of magnetic interference. You’re right though, if I get the transponder signal then the accuracy should increase.”
“Of course the reason they may not be answering is that they are all out gathering ore.”
“I think that’s what we have to assume since there's been no further contact. Sue Nicholetti is their senior engineer and there's not much she can’t fix.”
Left unsaid was the thought that some catastrophe had taken the entire shuttle after touch down.
“We’ll be done here in a couple of hours. If necessary we can go to the other site.”
“Actually I was going to recommend we off load on Voyager first and go down empty. I’d rather not try to land in these conditions with a full load.”
“We’ll see if we can cut some of that time Tom.”
Two hours later Carey announced the shuttle was fully loaded. Tom took a few minutes to make sure the cargo was properly secured. “Okay everyone, strap in, next stop Voyager.” Paris operated the controls confidently, the engineers enduring the similar series of maneuvers which had accompanied landing.
“Voyager to Delta Flyer, prepare for docking.”
“Voyager, we are ready. Engines are on stand by.”
Minutes later the shuttle docked. A team of engineers swarmed over the hull decontaminating it while a second team entered the Flyer and began off loading the cargo containers. Paris joined the engineers on inspecting the hull as soon as he shed his environmental suit.
“Mr. Paris.”
“Captain.” He straightened and faced her. There was something only barely hidden in her expression but what? Could it be?
“Have you checked in with sickbay yet?”
“No ma’am, but I was only on the surface for a few hours. I’m getting ready to go back down to find the Cochrane.”
“Not before the Doctor checks you Mr. Paris.” She held up her hand to forestall his protest. “The protocols were specific - all personnel were to check in with sickbay for radiation screen immediately after decon.”
Seeing absolutely no leeway in her expression he answered brightly. “Yes ma’am, I’m going now.”
“You did a good job Tom.”
“Thank you captain. May I report to sickbay?”
“Dismissed.”
Paris chaffed as he waited for the Doctor to complete his exam. “I’m fine Doc.”
“When you complete your studies I might, repeat might agree with you. However I must balance your protestations with the fact that you also said the the same thing when you had two broken ribs after an over enthusiastic session with the chief engineer.”
He had the grace to look embarrassed at the reminder. “Doc, I need to go back to the planet. Chakotay’s shuttle may be in deadly danger.”
“All the more reason to be fit. No matter,” he administered a hypo. “You are cleared for return to the planet’s surface. I’ll notify the captain.”
“No need for that,” rasped a familiar voice. “Are you ready Tom?”
“Yes ma’am,” he answered jumping down from the biobed.
“Good, I’ll be sending Harry and Neelix with you, they’re waiting for you in the shuttle bay.”
He didn’t know what provoked him to ask, “Any special instructions captain?”
“Bring them all home safe.”
“Aye ma’am, I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will, go on now.”
The flight to the southern pole was nearly as challenging as the one to his original site. While the terrain here was relatively flat, the winds were far more intense. Visibility was marginally better but the area to be covered was nearly twice the size of Antarctica back on earth.
“I think I’m getting a transponder signal from the Cochrane,” reported Harry.
“Any comm?”
“Not yet. Damn, I lost it.”
“Could you get a fix?”
“No, but adjust heading to 125 degrees true.”
“Adjusting heading. Neelix, keep an eye on our shields.”
“They’re at 70 percent and holding.”
After a few minutes of listening to muttering coming from the rear console, “Talk to me Harry.”
“Nothing, it’s as if they dropped off the face of the planet.”
“Well I don’t think that happened. I’m changing course to 245 degrees true.”
“Shields at 60 percent. Tom, maybe we’re going about this all wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well we should have been able to get a transponder signal no matter what the conditions right?”
“This close, sure.”
“Unless it wasn’t sending,” commented Harry.
“Exactly. What if it was damaged?”
“Then we’d get intermittent signals. Okay, I can buy that but how does that help us?”
“Think about it. If you were trying to land the shuttle wouldn’t you pick the site closest to the largest concentration of gallicite and deuterium.”
“Sure, if I was able to,” agreed Paris.
“Well I’m getting high levels of both gallicite and deuterium not twenty kilometers from where Harry got the transponder signal.”
“It’s worth a look.”
Minutes later they were over the center of the indicated area.
“I’ve got a signal, 20 degrees to port,” said Harry with excitement.
“I think I see them,” said Neelix.
“Shields,” snapped Paris as the craft heeled over in a sudden gust.
“Er down to 47 percent, no 48 and holding.”
“I see them. Looks like they have damage. Harry, try communications again.”
“Delta Flyer to Cochrane,”
“Go ahead Flyer.” It was Chakotay’s voice.
“Commander, do you need assistance? “
“Where are you?”
”We’re about 200 meters above you and within five kilometers,” answered Tom.
“Tom, what kind of a load are you carrying?”
“We’re empty commander, it’s just Neelix , Harry and me.”
“Good, because we’re going to need a hand here. We lost the starboard thruster unit on landing, Sue doesn’t have the parts to repair it. We’re space worthy, just can’t lift off in these winds without it.”
“Not a problem. Any injuries?”
“Bumps and bruises only, nothing that can’t wait.”
“Were you able to mine any of the gallicite and deuterium?”
“The cargo hold is full but we can dump it if necessary.”
“I think we can lift you even loaded. Give me a minute.” He brought up the specs of both craft while bringing the shuttle to a point only a few hundred feet from the crippled ship. “Yeah, we can do it.”
“Good. Give us five minutes to button everything up.”
“Take your time, it’ll be a rough trip.” He turned his head to Harry. “Try to get a signal through to Voyager that all are safe but the shuttle is damaged.”
“Already working on it.
“We’re ready Tom.”
“What condition are your shields in?”
“Over eighty percent.” “Okay, I want you to match you shields with ours. I’m activating tractor beams now. Beginning lift sequence.” The shuttle shuttered as it began to lift neatly attached to the powerful Delta Flyer.
“Our shields are down to 23 percent.”
“I heard that Flyer. I’m expanding our shields to encompass both ships.”
“Thank you Cochrane.”
The trip seemed to take hours but really only took forty five minutes before reaching clear space and Voyager. This time the tractor took the Cochrane first as Paris piloted his craft in manually. As before crews of engineers rushed to decontaminate the ships. As soon as all clear was given the captain was in the shuttle bay.
“Commander, report.” She was worried by the obvious fatigue in his eyes as well as his drooping shoulders.
He straightened though at her words. “We had some problems with landing but have a full load of both gallicite and deuterium, more than we hoped for. No serious injuries,” he added as the captain noted Sue limping with a frown.
“Good job all of you,” she said including the Flyer’s team in her remarks. “All of you report to sickbay for exam then I’d like a full report on your missions.”
Four hours later all shuttles were safely back on Voyager, the missions ended for the day. To say that B’Elanna was overjoyed with the quality of materials was an understatement. She revised her estimates to time needed to mine the critical minerals. The captain directed the mining continue at the two richest veins of polyferrinite along with a further search for dilithium crystals.
At the end of four days B’Elanna was dashing frantically between the cargo bays like a child at Christmas as she totaled up the minerals gathered.
At the briefing she was pleased to report that not only the critical needs would be met but sufficient extra had been gathered to allow a full refit of several key systems, most notably the internal power grid. It was during this briefing that the ship rocked with weapons fire.
“Report,” demanded the captain as the senior staff took their positions on the bridge.
“A small vessel is attacking us, reported Tuvok. “It is not any design we have seen previously. Shields are at 33 percent and dropping.”
“Open a channel Mr. Kim. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager. Cease your attack or we will be forced to retaliate.” She turned towards Tuvok. “Arm weapons, target a blast in front of that ship.”
The small ship attacked more furiously through the covering fire.
“No response captain.”
“I believe they are targeting the upper pylons with the intent of disabling us.”
“Not if I can help it. Open fire, all weapons.”
The fire fight continued as Voyager was hard pressed to dodge the tiny vessel. Finally after a spectacular hit to the port nacelle the attacking ship retreated.
“Mr. Tuvok, did our last volley harm the other ship?”
“Not that I could detect. My analysis indicates they have retreated to gather reinforcements.”
ON TO PART 3 | |
