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By Root 495 0

felt a familiar knot form in her gut--something she had learned to live with in times past, something no good captain could afford to be without. The best remedy was to take positive action, though there were times, like this one, when no path seemed to present itself. "Mr. Paris, evasive maneuvers, but let's try not to provoke them. Kim, keep trying to hail them.

Tuvok, arm the photon torpedoes... if we can do that."

"The photon firing systems appear to be inoperative at this time," Tuvok replied, much too calmly.

"Engineering, I need some options," Janeway snapped.

"They're still not responding," Kim said.

"Alien vessel opening fire," Tuvok said.

On the screen a brilliant yellow-tinged energy beam instantly crossed the distance between the two ships, narrowly missing Voyager as Paris frantically reacted. The image on the main viewscreen reeled as he continued to move the ship in anticipation of the alien's next shot.

"Phaser-type weapons, Captain," Tuvok reported, analyzing.

"However, sensors indicate enemy beam strength at less than five hundred megawatts." He paused, waiting. "Four hundred forty-four point seven-two-three megawatts, to be precise."

"That's only half of Voyager's upper phaser array's strength," Chakotay said. "Do you think they're holding back?"

"Approximately forty-three point six percent," Tuvok corrected.

"And it is possible."

"Even at that strength, without our shields, they can still do a lot of damage," Ensign Kim said, a twinge of anxiety in his voice. Despite the tone, Janeway knew his remark was largely an observation. And an accurate one.

The turbolift door hissed open and Lieutenant Torres rushed out onto the bridge. She went immediately to the engineering bay, where she tapped frantically at panels as they came quickly to life.

"Captain," she said, still working, talking half over her shoulder.

"We have two photon torpedoes ready to launch; we'll just have to do it manually. And I think the phasers are back on-line, but--" She finished working with her hands, then looked straight at Janeway. "But I haven't tested anything yet. I'm just getting the plasma-distribution manifolds aligned now."

"Good work!" Janeway exclaimed, allowing herself a brief lapse in composure. She glanced up in time to see another beam strike out through space just as Tuvok announced the fact. This time the beam struck a glancing blow, shaking the ship, though most of it seemed to miss Voyager.

"Minor damage to the outer hull," Tuvok reported. "Three casualties, apparently none serious."

The turbolift deposited Neelix on the bridge. He went immediately to Janeway's right side, opposite Chakotay.

"Everything all right?" he said, his tone a combination of sarcasm and fright.

"That shot was too close," Janeway remarked.

"I predict the next one will be a direct hit," Tuvok informed her.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Paris said.

"I simply meant," Tuvok began, "that--" "I know," Paris said, grinning momentarily.

"Ready phasers," Janeway said. "I want to discourage them from trying that again."

"Was there something in particular you needed me for?" Neelix asked, obviously nervous. "You seem quite busy at the moment, and I really would like to be with my beloved--" "There," Janeway said, pointing at the screen. The alien vessel was visible in some detail now, a great gray wedge shape with several long appendages. "Do you recognize them?"

"Ready, Captain," Torres said, her head snapping around.

Janeway narrowed her gaze as if sighting down the barrel of a phaser rifle, something she simply couldn't help. "Upper forward array, full burst. Fire."

Voyager's return fire was noticeably brighter than that of the alien vessel, and more precise, the captain was pleased to note, as Lieutenant Kim announced a direct hit. The words had barely left his lips when Voyager's lights suddenly dimmed, followed by a bright flash that erupted from the engineering station.

Janeway saw Torres draw