Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [38]
"That would be unacceptable under any circumstances, as I am sure you can imagine," Mila added.
"So you can't supply us with the phaser flow regulator," Paris said grimly, though as he glanced toward Mila, he smiled, affected by her look of concern. She had been clinging to Paris, just as Tassay seemed committed to following Chakotay around, as much as either man could allow. Neither of the women had been anything less than polite about it. In fact, the only ones aboard Voyager who weren't being thoroughly polite were Neelix and, to a lesser extent, B'Elanna Torres.
Chakotay fixed his eyes on Jonal. "But how can we help you if you can't help us?"
"Oh, I'm sure they have something in mind," Neelix said. "I just wonder if anyone around here is going to like it."
Chakotay found himself disposed to apologize for the short alien's behavior, but he fought the urge. Neelix, after all, was an authority on this sector and its people, if an eccentric one.
All sensibilities aside, he could not be so easily dismissed, or censured.
"I think what Neelix means is that the Televek are a very resourceful people," Kes offered, not above smoothing feathers where her mate was concerned, and used to it.
"Then he knows them well enough," Tassay suggested.
Jonal smiled. "In fact, I am pleased to tell you that all will soon be well. The Televek have sent word to one of their merchant fleets, which was already bound for an area near this sector on quite another matter. The fleet contains several of the largest transports in the quadrant, and they are even now making their best speed toward our location. I am told your EPS regulator will be instantly obtained as soon as they arrive."
"Also, the transports and the other ships will be on hand in the event that at least some of the population of Drenar Four can be evacuated, assuming that becomes necessary," Mila said. "And of course to assist in any salvage operation we may be fortunate enough to undertake."
"They should arrive sometime tomorrow," Tassay assured the commander.
"That sounds reasonable to me," Paris said.
The door hissed open, and B'Elanna Torres entered the room. She immediately sat at the end of the table nearest the door, opposite Chakotay, visually acknowledging everyone, her expression serious.
"Meanwhile, we might discuss the details of our joint mission to disarm the planet's defensive system once everything is in place," Jonal continued, "so that salvage will be possible."
"In the interim, the Televek are still interested in your offer to share sensor specifications," Tassay said. "It may help in our combined efforts to assess the situation on the planet."
"I can see to that," B'Elanna said. "If that's what you want, Commander." She fixed Chakotay with a pensive look that made him feel even more uneasy. Apparently her brief willingness to give the Drosary the benefit of the doubt had abated somewhat.
"It is," the commander told her. "But I will approve all transmissions, and I would like to review the data we have received from the Televek cruiser."
"Wonderful," Jonal said.
"Yes, especially for the Televek," Neelix remarked, rolling his eyes.
Kes squeezed his arm. "Neelix, please," she said.
"I'm sorry," he told her, "but if you ask me, these people have done nothing at all to earn our trust. Why should we give it to them just because they ask for it?"
"We are attempting to earn trust as we go," Jonal said, "for both sides."
"We have to try to work together," Chakotay said. "There are many lives at stake."
"Agreed, but the Televek themselves haven't even shown us their faces," Neelix pointed out. "And they seem conveniently unable to give us anything more substantial than rhetoric and sensor data."
"That is a fair observation,"