Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [129]
“And now that we know he conspired with Meegan to make his escape, I’m willing to grant him even less,” Eden added.
“We’ll probably never know the circumstances of that illfated alliance,” Chakotay conceded. “But I’m inclined to believe that he might not have had much choice in the matter.”
“I’ll guess we’ll have to ask Meegan when we find her.”
“Most definitely,” Chakotay agreed.
“Willem played all of us against each other to cover his tracks, and succeeded in making me believe, at least for a little while, that you were the real threat. I should have known better.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Chakotay countered.
“I …”
“Captain, you knew him for years. You’ve known me almost no time at all. He’d already earned your trust. Though I’m assuming you no longer think the worst of me, I don’t blame you for taking your time. All you had to go on was my word.”
“And an outstanding Starfleet record and the faith of your former crew which they were quick to voice as often as doubts about your intentions were raised,” Eden said.
Chakotay smiled faintly.
“That record has seen better days,” Chakotay acknowledged. “And, my recent resignation probably didn’t make it any easier for you to determine exactly where my loyalties lay.”
Eden pulled herself forward. “Why did you resign?” she asked.
“Starfleet and I have always had a challenging relationship,” he said, smiling. “It was easy to forget that serving with Kathryn. She always represented what was best in the organization—its passionate ideals, its curiosity and determination. Once we returned and she was promoted, I started to see that those were her attributes and I suppose I took Command’s ability to settle time and again in the name of political expediency a little harder than I should have. When she died, I lost sight of those ideals completely until I remembered that being a leader was never about Starfleet for Kathryn; it was always about the people she led. I could accept Starfleet’s decision to take Voyager from me. It was predictable. But that didn’t mean I could abandon my people. Seven’s circumstances were unique. To have assumed command of another vessel and left her to fend for herself was not an option. I did the only thing I could do at the time.”
“Do you regret it?” Eden asked.
“Not a bit.”
Eden rose from her chair and moved behind her desk to retrieve a padd. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied enigmatically.
Chakotay stared at her, puzzled.
“We made contact with the Esquiline three days ago. Along with Achilles and Curie, they have successfully established our communications link to the Alpha quadrant. Using the relays they dropped, we are able to maintain contact with the Alpha quadrant and even in the deepest reaches of the Delta quadrant we should suffer nothing more than a seventy-two-hour delay.”
“That’s quite an accomplishment,” Chakotay said, though his consternation remained clear.
“I took the opportunity to make a full report of our first mission to Admiral Montgomery, including the loss of Admiral Batiste, and have just received our new orders.”
Chakotay nodded for her to continue.
“Before you left Earth to rendezvous with us, did you receive confirmation from Starfleet Command that your resignation had been accepted?”
Chakotay considered the question. “No,” he finally replied.
“Why not?”
“I guess I assumed it was a mere formality, and I was a little busy at the time.”
A slight smile teased Eden’s lips. “It wasn’t.”
“Well, surely by now …” Chakotay began.
“At this moment Starfleet is short capable officers in all areas,” Eden cut him off. Offering him the padd she continued, “I was asked to advise you that your resignation was not, in fact, accepted.”
A number of emotions tumbled across Chakotay’s bemused face as he scanned the padd’s contents.
“In Batiste’s absence, I have been given a field commission of fleet commander, though I still retain