The Garden - Melissa Scott [21]
"Very well," she said aloud. "I assume you've all seen the doctor's report?" There were murmurs of agreement around the table, and she went on, "The gist of it is that we have to replenish at least some of our supplies here-we have no choice in the matter."
"Based on the estimates Lieutenant Torres gave me," the hologram said, "and the observed frequency of M-class planets in this sector, there will not be enough healthy crew members left to collect the food once we find a suitable planet if we don't resupply here."
"Exactly." Janeway gave a rueful smile. "So I intend to take an away team down to the planet-to
the citadel, for a start-and see if we can find the Kirse. Mr. Paris, Mr. Kim, Lieutenant Torres, you'll accompany me."
"Captain," Tuvok said. "May I suggest that I be part of the team as well?"
Janeway shook her head. "I want you on the ship, Tuvok, where you can keep an eye on the defense platforms."
The Vulcan nodded, his face as impassive as ever, but Janeway thought she caught a hint of disapproval in his eyes. "Then may I suggest you take a larger security contingent?"
"I will take two more people," Janeway said. "But I don't want to suggest that our presence is hostile." She looked around the table. "Any further comments? Then let's go find what's happened to the Kirse."
CHAPTER
3
THE GROUP THAT GATHERED IN THE TRANSPORTER ROOM
was quiet. Even Paris seemed subdued, and that, Kim thought, was hard to imagine until you saw it. He shrugged his shoulders, hoping to ease the aching joints, and grimaced as the pain redoubled. Across the compartment, Renehan did the same thing, and managed a rueful smile when she saw him watching.
"Lovely day for a landing party, don't you think?" Her voice was far more cheerful than her pale face.
"Lovely," he echoed, and Paris tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"Oh, come on, Harry, what more could you ask for? An alien planet, a mysterious invisible race, the ship in desperate need-isn't that what you joined Star-fleet for?"
"No." Kim smiled in spite of himself, and Renehan laughed aloud, drawing a curious look from the other security man.
"Well, I did join to see the galaxy, but I have to say this is more than I bargained for."
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Paris began, and broke off as the door slid back, revealing the captain and Chakotay. Kim looked hastily at his tricorder, triggering a final calibration run, but he could still feel the captain's sharp stare as she looked around the compartment.
Chakotay took his position behind the transporter technician, glancing over the woman's shoulder at the settings displayed on her board. "All ready here, Captain."
"And here," Janeway answered. "You have the conn, Mr. Chakotay. We'll check in every thirty minutes. If we miss a check, beam us up."
"Absolutely, Captain," Chakotay answered.
Janeway nodded, and stepped up onto the transporter platform. Kim took his place with the others, bracing himself for transport. It wasn't that the process was unpleasant, precisely, or even frightening, but more that the instant drop from one place to another could be disorienting-
"Energize," Janeway said, and the transporter room disappeared.
Kim blinked hard, and opened his eyes to brilliant sunlight and the deep green of a perfectly manicured lawn. In the distance, perhaps ten meters away, a row of trees no taller than his shoulder hung heavy with pale