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“Not transporters?” B’Elanna asked. “And why two?”

“One is to take you two down and the other is to pick up the Monorhans. The captain decided we might not want to tip our hand about the transporter just yet.”

“Ace up her sleeve, huh? Well, I can’t fault her for that.” B’Elanna sighed and sat down on the corner of the worktable, then picked up the microspanner again. “Did you talk to her about keeping our noses out of everyone else’s business?”

“I did.”

“And what did she say?”

“In a nutshell, she said she understands your position, but that we have responsibilities.”

B’Elanna rolled her eyes. “What responsibilities?” she asked irritably.

“As sentient beings, B’Elanna,” Chakotay said flatly. “As decent, moral individuals in a cold, indifferent universe.”

For several seconds, all B’Elanna could do was toy with her microspanner. “I hate that argument,” she said. “There’s no refuting it.”

“None that I’ve found so far.”

“Fine,” she said replacing the tool again. “I’m going to get shots and kiss my boyfriend.”

“A good plan. Go do it.”

Just as the door to the office was opening, Chakotay’s combadge chirped. “Commander?” it said. “Chief Clemens here.”

Chakotay tapped the badge. “Go ahead, Chief.”

“We have a bit of a problem down here on the hangar deck. I could use some clarification. I got one functioning shuttle down here right now. I’m figuring it’ll be a couple hours until I can get the other one together.”

“No problem, Chief. B’Elanna and Seven aren’t leaving for a couple hours.”

“But you want to send someone down to pick up the local dignitaries now? I figure we got a lot going on around here, so why wait?”

Chakotay pondered the request for all of two seconds. “Finish prepping the shuttle, Chief. I’ll be down in ten minutes. See if you can find me a copilot.”

“I’ll ask around, Commander. Thanks.”

“And, Chief?”

“Sir?”

“Why do we have only one shuttle that can fly right now?”

“Because you all keep breaking them.”

There weren’t many people on Voyager who were permitted to be quite so forthright, but Chief Clemens was one of them. Chakotay nodded. “Point taken, Chief. Thanks.”

“See you in ten, Commander.”

After Chakotay signed off, B’Elanna asked, “You’re going to go get the Monorhans?”

“I haven’t flown for a while,” he said.

“But you’re not leaving yourself enough time for injections and lectures from the Doctor.”

“The privileges of command. And, besides, I’ll only be down there for a few minutes.”

“Famous last words,” B’Elanna said, but let the topic drop. Chakotay was a cautious fellow.

“Commander Chakotay has departed to retrieve Shalla Kiiy’s experts,” Ziv reported. “And Lieutenant Torres and Seven of Nine will be leaving shortly.”

“Excellent,” Sem replied. “This has gone as well as could be expected. If anything should happen to you or the Voyagers, at least we have their engineers and the shuttle to examine.”

Ziv accepted the compliments, though he did not like knowing his rih-hara-tan had pondered what to do if his hosts left the system without returning. He was glad the rest of the hara had gone to the mess hall for a late dinner. They did not need to hear any of this. “Do you know who Shalla Kiiy asked to come to Voyager?”

The rih-hara-tan checked her notepad, but Ziv knew she was making a show of it. Finally, she said, “An astrophysicist named Morsa. Do you know him?”

“No.”

“And her historical specialist is…” The show continued as the rih-hara-tan twisted her face into an expression of mock surprise. “I hope this won’t present any problems, but Kiiy has sent someone named Professor Sem. I believe you know her?”

Ziv closed his eyes and involuntarily contracted his neck muscles. Of course. Because this day hasn’t been difficult enough. Aloud, he said, “Yes, my rih. I await your arrival.”

“Excellent, Ziv.”

“But Captain Janeway,” Ziv said, his mind racing. “Might she not wonder why such an important person would be risking herself in such an endeavor?”

“She might,” Sem said. “Or she may think I am a responsible leader,