Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [75]
"Yes. And the transporter, as you know. And all thanks to B'Elanna.
I was getting to that." The commander's smile rather resembled that of a father relating his daughter's latest achievement. Janeway almost envied him that status. The young, often volatile lieutenant had been forced upon Janeway by her new first officer when the Maquis and Federation crews had been thrown together, but B'Elanna was turning out to be every bit the prodigy Chakotay had insisted she was. And she was certainly earning her keep this day.
"I'll have to thank her personally for that last one," Janeway said with a slight shudder. "Truth is, we were in a pretty bad way down there."
"I estimate we had a five percent chance for survival," Tuvok added.
"You are a comfort," Janeway quipped.
"Thank you, Captain," Tuvok said, "but I fail to see how you could find such a statement comforting."
"There's just something about you, Tuvok," Chakotay murmured.
"Lieutenant Torres has mentioned that to me on several occasions," Tuvok said. "I do not understand it, but I am pleased by it."
They slipped into a turbolift as the door opened. "Bridge," Janeway commanded. She slapped at her comm badge. "Captain to Sickbay. How is Ensign Kim?"
"He is doing very well at the moment," the holographic doctor replied, sounding almost cheerful. The doctor seemed to enjoy clear-cut emergency medical procedures, as opposed to day-to-day minor aches and pains he ordinarily had to deal with. He had, after all, been programmed for the former, not the latter.
Overall, though, Janeway had few complaints. For a hologram, the doctor had a remarkable variety of abilities, and together he and Kes, his talented protegee, seemed to meet Voyager's every medical need.
"Is he in pain?" Janeway asked.
"No, Captain. I've begun healing most of the damage, and I'll give him something to make him rest. He'll be as good as new in a couple of days. Should I expect to see more wounded?" The doctor sounded almost too cheerful now.
"That is a very good question. I'll let you know when I have an answer. Janeway out."
"Our three visitors were all Televek, of course," Chakotay continued.
"We believe nearly everything they said was a lie. A little while ago they attempted to take over the ship. They failed thanks to B'Elanna Torres."
"Where are they now?" Tuvok asked.
"In the brig."
"Good," Janeway said. "I'd like to have a talk with them."
"We have another problem," Chakotay went on. "Long-range sensors have confirmed a fleet of Televek ships headed toward this system at near warp eight. We were led to believe they were rescue and support ships, but we now suspect they are battle cruisers. The Televek seem interested only in acquiring this planet's defensive system, which primarily consists of that underground power source we've been monitoring."
"Our information would seem to agree," Tuvok said.
"They have a ship down there, too," Janeway said. "Another cruiser, just like the one in orbit."
The door opened, and the three of them rushed onto the bridge, Chakotay in the lead.
"Commander," Rollins yelped from the tactical station.
"What is it?" Janeway said, right behind him.
"Captain, we've got problems. The Televek have raised their shields again and aimed their weapons. They've been trying to hail us, but we've been stalling. It doesn't seem to be working.
Gantel saw his people vanish from our bridge."
"Vanish?" Janeway asked, one eyebrow raised.
Chakotay nodded grimly.
"Welcome back, Captain," Paris said, obviously pleased to see her in one piece again.
"Thank you, Mr. Paris. Continue red alert. What is our weapons status?"
"Photons armed and ready," Paris replied. "Phasers are still inoperative."
"Captain," Stephens said from behind the consoles at the operations station, "the Televek are still hailing us. They are demanding--" "Very well." Janeway trained her eyes on the