String Theory_ Cohesion (Book 1) - Jeffrey Lang [40]
“Of course,” Kiiy said, raising her arms in a gesture Seven interpreted as a sign of gratitude. “We would welcome any help you can offer, Captain. How may we aid you in your investigations?”
“Tell us where to have our shuttle land,” Janeway replied. “The sooner we get started, the sooner we’ll know where we stand.”
Very diplomatic, Captain, Seven thought approvingly. Very efficient.
Shalla Kiiy seemed just as capable of moving events along. “We will send coordinates as soon as possible, Captain. How many people will be landing?”
“That depends,” Captain Janeway said. “On whether Captain Ziv and his associates would like to come home or go with Voyager to visit the Blue Eye.”
Ziv was visibly surprised by the idea, but responded quickly, “My hara and I would like to accompany you, Captain. We wish to know more about the radiation.”
“And may I suggest, Captain,” Kiiy inserted, “that we request the assistance of some Monorhan experts? An astrophysicist, perhaps, and another who has knowledge of the history of our system and the Blue Eye in particular?”
Captain Janeway looked at both Chakotay and Tuvok for a brief instant. Each must have, after his fashion, offered his assent in a manner Seven could not detect, because the captain agreed to Kiiy’s suggestion. “We accept,” she said. “We’ll send my team down in one shuttle and pick up yours with a second.”
Kiiy nodded politely. “May I know the names of the individuals who will be aiding us, Captain?”
Obviously, the captain had been thinking about this, because she replied without hesitation, “I’ll be sending down my chief engineer, Lieutenant B’Elanna Torres.” Seven approved of the decision. As difficult as Torres could be, she had an astonishingly good grasp of deflector and shield technology. “And to assist her, I’ll be sending along Voyager’s resident expert in all manner of esoteric technology….”
“She’s sending Seven?!” B’Elanna roared, and threw her microspanner against the office wall. It bounced off, then landed point-side down in a slap of temper-foam packing.
“Nice throw,” Chakotay said. “If that’s broken, I’m taking it out of your pay.”
B’Elanna hastily retrieved the tool and carefully inspected the tool. “We don’t get paid,” she said absently.
“Then I’ll bust you down to ensign.”
“Good, then I won’t be chief engineer anymore and the captain will have to send someone else.”
“Then I’ll bust Tom down to ensign.”
“Don’t do that,” B’Elanna said, and set the tool back on the worktable. “He’d pout.”
“Fine. Then just get used to the idea that you’ve got to work with Seven sometimes.”
B’Elanna sighed hugely. She had half-expected this when the captain had consulted with her about the Monorhans’ shield generators. Even in orbit, it was difficult to determine much about them except that they weren’t doing the job, and as much as it pained B’Elanna to admit it, Seven was probably the best person to send along. She had a flair for analyzing these kinds of problems. “Fine. But I’m in charge, right?”
“You have the rank,” Chakotay said. “Unless you want to be an ensign again.”
“Not that she’ll listen,” B’Elanna said grumpily.
“She will,” Chakotay said. “In her own way, she respects you.”
“Oh, someone engrave those words on my tombstone.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose, then said, “I’ve been in here for more than twelve hours. I’m starting to get fuzzy.”
“I told you to visit Tom in sickbay and take it easy hours ago, but you couldn’t do it.”
B’Elanna stopped massaging her nose and said, “Sickbay—that reminds me—what do we do about protection from the radiation?”
“The Doctor will want to see you before you go. More injections. He’ll give you scanners, too, so you can monitor your exposure. He says he’ll be able to reverse any damage you take when you get back.”
“All right. How much time do I have to get ready?”
“The captain wants us to get moving on this, but I say take a couple hours; make sure you’ve got the right supplies with you.