=/\= Chapter Twelve =/\=


        Captain Janeway had called another meeting of the senior staff.  When they
had completely assembled, Captain Janeway said, "The reason I called this
meeting is because in about a month we will be in communications range of
Star Fleet Command.  Which also means that they will be able to pick up our
transwarp signature. In order to keep my promise to the Alocans, the
transwarp will have to de destroyed within the next week."
        "Can't we just beam it out into space and destroy it with phasers?"
B'Elanna asked.
        "I have considered that,"  Tuvok answered.  "The debris would still have a
transwarp signature be picked up on sensors."
        "So," the Captain said, "we're in a bit of a predicament.  I need
options, and I need them fast."

************************************************************************

        Captain Janeway sat in her ready room, considering ways to get rid of the
transwarp technology without being detected.   Whatever it took, she was
going to keep her promise to Patty.
        *Destroy Voyager?* She thought.  *No, Kathryn, you can't do that,* she
argued with herself.
        "Bonjour, Madame Captain," a voice said.
        Captain Janeway swiveled in her chair to come face to face with Q.
        "Q!" She said.  "What do you want?"
        "I've only come to help," Q said.
        "I don't have time for your games,"  Janeway said.  She pressed her
commbadge. "Janeway to security.  Intruder alert in my ready room."
        "But, Madame Captain, I only want to help,"  Q insisted.  "You said
yourself, you're in a predicament."
        "What do you mean?"  Janeway asked.
        "I can help you get rid of that pesky transwarp technology,"  Q said.
        Neelix entered the room, wearing his first official Star Fleet security
officer's uniform.  It was his first day on the job, and what a way to
start it off.  "What's wrong, Captain?"  He asked.
        "Everything's under control here, Neelix,"  The Captain said.  She was
intrigued by Q's offer.
        "Are you sure, Captain?"  Neelix asked.
        "Yes, thank you, Neelix,"  Janeway said.
        "Let me know if you need me," Neelix said leaving the Captain's ready room.
        "Promoting your cook, I see,"  Q commented.
        "Enough small talk, Q.  What do you want?"
        "What do you mean, what do I want?  Can't I do something for nothing?" Q
asked.
        "You expect me to believe that you just want to do us a favor?"
        "I can be a nice guy,"  Q said.  Q snapped his fingers and with a flash of
light he was gone, but not before he uttered the words, "Good bye, Madame
Captain, you owe me one."
        "Torres to Janeway,"  The Captain's commbadge sounded.
        "Captain, you're not going to believe this," the Chief Engineer said, "but
our transwarp just disappeared."
        "Oh, I believe it,"  Janeway said.  "I just had a visit from Q."