Equinox - Diane Carey [72]
B'Elanna Torres, still stinging from her failure to stop Max Burke from using her own tricks against her, asked, "If there's an Ankari vessel less than two light-years from here, why haven't we detected it?"
"Apparently they use a unique form of propulsion that makes them hard to find."
Paris leaned on an elbow. "You think they'll be willing to help us?"
"It's worth a try," Chakotay hoped. "Mr. Lessing has kindly agreed to show us how to adjust the sensors. Once you find the Ankari ship, set a course."
"Aye, sir," Paris said, dubious.
The Doctor then asked, "Did our prisoner disclose any other information?"
"I'm afraid not," Chakotay said, irritated. "The rest of you continue repairs. Dismissed."
They all stood up. All, including Chakotay.
Janeway let them all get to the door, except Chakotay.
"Commander," she called, low-toned.
He stopped as if he'd expected that, and turned. They were alone now.
"All right," Janeway told him, "we're going to try it your way. But I want to make one thing clear-"
"Our priority is to get Ransom," he said. "If there's one thing you've made clear, it's that."
This was bad, very bad. Janeway didn't like it. She thought she might, the sense of power, the ultimate decision, the fact that by law they all had to do as she decided. Such things worked well enough with a crew, but for her and Chakotay, the arm's-length friction hurt more and more with every passing hour.
She softened, hoping her eyes communicated that "We've had our disagreements, Chakotay," she said, using his name as a branch between them. "But you've never openly opposed me."
His lips pressed flat. "You almost killed that man today."
"It was a calculated risk. I took it."
"It was a bad call."
"I'll note your objection in my log." She tried to make it sound like a joke, but when it clunked to the deck she knew she'd made a mistake.
Anger rose in Chakotay's distinctive eyes. His jaw suddenly set. "I don't give a damn about your log! This isn't about rules and regulations! It's about right and wrong, and I'm warning you ... I won't let you cross the line again!"
In that electrical moment Janeway came to her feet to meet his glare at the same level. By standing she made them equals, not a captain and an officer, but two com-
manders with different methods of handling the same situation.
Different methods ...
"Then you leave me no choice," she said. "You're hereby relieved of duty until further notice."
That shocked him.
In fact, it shocked her too. What had she just said? What was she protecting? Her right to use her judgment while pursuing another captain for using his? This was getting out of hand.
"What's happened to you, Kathryn?"
His voice was quilted with disappointment, worry, even fear. How could she explain anything more than already had been said between them? How could she make him understand that she had to hold the barrier high if they were to remain civilized?
She gazed at him. "I was about to ask you the same question."
"Captain, we have a contact," Tom Paris called from the bridge, saving them from yet another chance at maybe working this out. That was fast-of course, two light-years was practically in their weapons locker.
They left the ready room, but not exactly together.
The ship was tracking another vessel, an oddly shaped nugget running at high impulse, trying to avoid the starship-and there wasn't a chance of that anymore. So they'd been shadowed all this time by the perpetrators of this whole situation.
"They're not responding," Tuvok said immediately as Janeway came into her command chair.
'Tractor beam," Janeway ordered.
Tuvok looked up. "Captain, the Ankari ship has done nothing to warrant-"
"Do it!"
She was getting sick of this! Questions!
"We're being hailed," Kim said.
"On screen."
On the main viewer, a swollen-up excuse for a humanoid with a head like a pus-filled boil eyed-Were those eyes?-the Voyager bridge.
"Starfleet?"
"Yes," Janeway said instantly.
"Leave