Death of a Neutron Star - Eric Kotani [23]
"The two warships have been destroyed, Captain," Tuvok said, clearly stating the obvious. No damage to Voyager.
"Mr. Paris, keep us ahead of those others."
"No problem," Paris said.
Behind her the door to the bridge whisked open. She turned to see Lieutenant Tyla standing in front of two security guards, glaring at the screen. The red-haired Lekk was certainly a presence. She had on her officer's red cape, and the energy surrounding her seemed as defiant as before. It was an attitude that Janeway admired, even though it had already caused her more problems than she cared for.
"Join me, please," Janeway said, indicating that Tyla should move down in front of the screen beside her chair. Janeway indicated that the guards should remain near the door.
She waited until Tyla was beside her, then pointed to the left side of the main screen. "The three red dots indicate Qavok Empire warships."
Tyla seemed to pale, her already fine skin suddenly seeming pasty. "Captain, you must get away from here. Take me to my homeworld. We might be able to get enough reinforcements to beat them there."
Janeway managed not to smile, but Tom wasn't as tactful.
"Why?" he asked, glancing around at Tyla.
"Those are Qavok warships," Tyla said. "They will destroy you and any hope my people have of stopping this coming disaster."
Tom again laughed. "Two minutes ago there were seven of them."
"Your panel, mister," Janeway said.
Tom snapped back around, his shoulders squared.
"Seven?" Tyla asked. "You've destroyed four Qavok warships?"
It was clear to Janeway that the Lekk didn't believe such a thing possible. "We did," Janeway said. "I'm afraid a Qavok warship is no match for Voyager."
Tyla's gaze turned from the main screen and held Janeway's. For the first time since Tyla had come aboard, Janeway could see the hatred in the Lekk's large green eyes turn off, replaced by respect.
And just a little bit of fear.
WHEN LIEUTENANT TYLA HAD STEPPED FORWARD ONTO the bridge of Voyager, she had been angry. The two guards had offered her no explanation beyond the fact that Captain Janeway wanted her on the bridge. Being held prisoner by the humans was almost as bad as being held by the Qavok. Only human food was better.
The Voyager bridge was as impressive the second time she stepped on it as it had been the first time hours before. It was clean, well lit. Lekk warship bridges were crowded, dark places, where the mood seemed to always feel heavy and the underlying smell was always of fear.
Lieutenant Paris, the man who had greeted her, occupied a chair at a panel in front of the captain.
Beside Janeway sat Commander Chakotay, studying a small panel to his left. Others were at stations around the room. The main screen was cut in half, showing an image of the binary neutron star on one side and a schematic of a system on the other.
The two guards had eased Tyla into the room and the door had closed behind them, making her feel almost trapped. Captain Janeway had turned and seemed to study her for a moment, then motioned that she should come down to stand beside her chair. Tyla had done just that. Then the captain had told her that they were being chased by three Qavok warships, and Paris said they had already destroyed four.
For an instant, Tyla wouldn't believe that such a thing was possible. But then her inner voice, the voice she had trusted her entire life to steer her in the right direction, said that the captain and Lieutenant Paris were telling the truth. Voyager was much more powerful than any Qavok warship.
"So why do they continue to pursue us?" Captain Janeway asked. "You mentioned that defeat wasn't an option for the Qavok, yet Captain Qavim retreated. What exactly did you mean?"
Tyla glanced at the screen, then faced the human captain squarely. "I'm sure Captain Qavim is not alive, or he found another to take the blame. It is the way of the Qavok."
"For retreating?" Janeway