Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [20]
"Agreed," Chakotay said.
Janeway felt a dull pang of exasperation, something that had haunted her since Voyager's nearly fatal encounter with the brown dwarf--a niggling feeling that things were only getting worse.
Being on the losing end of any situation was something Janeway could not abide, even in the best of circumstances, and these were anything but. She took a deep breath; she was determined not to let anything else go wrong.
"I have to know what's going on down there on Drenar Four," she said.
"Since our sensors can't tell me, and since the Televek don't seem interested in discussing it, I'm going to have a quiet look around for myself."
"I'll go with you," Chakotay offered immediately.
Janeway shook her head. "No. I need you here. Mr. Tuvok, you're with me."
"Captain," Chakotay said. "I--" "Don't worry," Janeway told him, "at least not any more than you have to." Her first officer nodded wordlessly. She bade the others good-bye, and then the Vulcan followed her out.
They walked in silence most of the way, until they had nearly reached their destination.
"What is it you expect to find?" Tuvok asked as they entered the shuttle bay. Harry Kim stood waiting beside the open hatch of one of Voyager's two main shuttlecraft.
"I don't know," she told Tuvok. "People. Volcanoes.
Earthquakes, perhaps. Other than that, nothing, I hope. Though I'm beginning to doubt it."
"Ready to launch, Captain," Kim reported as Janeway acknowledged him.
"Excellent, Mr. Kim." The three of them boarded the shuttle and secured the hatch, then waited for the bay door to open. At the sound of the all-clear, Kim increased the small craft's power levels while Janeway guided them through the opening, into space.
***
"Bring our visitors back in," Chakotay said, touching his comm badge.
He thought it would serve no purpose to keep the Drosary waiting around indefinitely, and in truth he felt eager to continue, to try. The two security officers reappeared once more in the briefing room, flanking the three envoys. Once everyone was seated again, Chakotay explained that the captain was conducting her reviews and hoped to rejoin them shortly. He tried to pick up where they had left off.
"I thought we might talk a little more about sensor technologies," he said. "I believe we have a slight advantage in that area."
The three advocates regarded one another with mildly enlightened expressions. "Perhaps," Tassay finally said, glancing admiringly at Chakotay.
"We would have to determine whether there is any real benefit for the Televek," Jonal said. "But I do see the sensors as a step in the right direction. We are not talking about the sale of empires here, only token exchanges. You needn't be afraid of us, or of the Televek, Commander. They know what they're doing. You must tell this to your captain, help me convince her."
Chakotay couldn't help grinning. "I'm afraid I won't be much help there."
"Commander to the bridge!" the voice of Lieutenant Rollins shouted over the intercom.
"Chakotay here. What is it?"
"Commander, the Televek have fired on the shuttle," Rollins answered.
Paris was already up and heading out the door as Chakotay sprang to his feet. "What's their status?"
"The shuttle has taken a direct hit. We've lost contact.
They're descending out of control."
"The three of you will remain here," the commander told the Drosary.
"See to it," he ordered the guards, who quickly raised their hand phasers and trained