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"Brace for impact," said Janeway in a flat tone of voice, betraying nothing of the fear that was always present in moments like this.

"They are firing," said Tuvok, his voice as expressionless as his captain's.

Janeway curled her ringers around the arms of her chair, bracing as she had told her crew to do. But the expected attack did not come. Instead she watched as, to her shock and bafflement, the lead enemy vessel proceeded to destroy one of its own ships.

"The shields on the seven remaining vessels are down," said Tuvok.

"What the-" began Harry, who shut up immediately.

"Tin with you, Harry," said Janeway. "Send this message: We do not wish to fight There is no need for a suicide mission here. You have nothing we need. We only want to help." A sudden blinding insight flashed across her mind. "We are coming closer to offer aid."

"Captain," said Tuvok, "if we approach the fleet, we are likely to incur damage from the exploding vessels if they continue to destroy themselves."

"I'm counting on them to realize that too, Tuvok." She threw him a quick glance. 'Trust me on this. Good old-fashioned human intuition."

"Captain, we're being hailed," said Kim.

"On screen."

An angular, mottled face filled the screen. Despite the deep, sunken eyes, beaklike mouth, and lack of a nose, the face was humanoid enough that Janeway could recognize the signs of deep grief and despair etched on his features.

"Captain Janeway, please leave this area of space. We've done enough. We have no desire to harm innocent species any further. Let us destroy ourselves hi peace."

"I've no intention of letting you destroy yourselves," said Janeway, rising and walking down to the screen. She made no attempt to hide her emotions now. "What is it you think you have done that warrants such extreme measures?"

The being looked down, then up again at Janeway.

"Several months ago, we killed the populace of an entire solar system. The Katian system. All gone, all dead."

"Harry," said Janeway, "I think we passed through that system not too long ago. We've certainly been there since they have, and I don't recall it being devastated. Find it and report the minute you can confirm or deny that statement." She turned again to the screen. Keep him talking, she thought.

"Were you at war with the inhabitants of the Katian system?"

"We are not a warlike race," said the alien. "We fight only as a last resort. War is not orderly, and we prize order above all things. These vessels are defensive only, built merely for protection against aggressors. They usually remain in our home system."

"Then how is it you managed to wipe out an entire solar system?" Janeway pressed.

The alien did not answer. He looked confused. "I-I don't remember. But they're dead, all dead!"

"Captain," said Kim, "You were right. We passed through the Katian system less than two weeks ago. At that time, the six planets of the Katian system were inhabited by billions of sentient life forms. There was no residual evidence of any battles fought there, no trace of pandemics, nothing. Those people were fine when we saw them, and I bet they're fine now."

Janeway nodded, her eyes on the alien. "You are filled with despair, aren't you? Hopelessness, a sense of futility. You see wrongs that you have done and you feel that the only way to... to atone is to kill yourselves. Am I right?"

He blinked solemn eyes that had no whites. In a voice harsh with self-loathing, the alien replied, "You know us well, Captain. Is it so obvious that we are-" He choked for a moment, then continued in a thick voice, "We are abominations, that even an alien can see our obscenity?"

"No," said Janeway softly, her own voice thick with compassionate pain. "What I see is that your crew and your ships are filled with something called dark matter, and it's affecting your judgment. The inhabitants of the Katian system exhibit no damage. Your recollection of destroying them all is a false memory.