Voyager comes across various horrifying phenomena during their journey through the Delta Quadrant.
Star Trek: Voyager: Horrors of the Delta Quadrant
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Calydon Part 1
Star Trek: Voyager – Horrors of the Delta Quadrant
Refuge from Calydon Part 1
Voyager was stopped. On the bridge, Captain Kathryn Janeway looked at the viewscreen showing the nebula on their path to the Alpha Quadrant. She turned to Neelix, whom she had summoned when Voyager had dropped out of warp just short of its perimeter. "And you say this nebula is safe?"
"Yes. Relatively diffuse compared to those garden variety compact nebulae. If it was dangerous, I would have recommended a different path," Neelix answered.
"That sounds like a ringing endorsement," Ensign Harry Kim said.
"But we should be cautious," Janeway said. "Mr. Paris, take us in, Warp 3."
"Aye, Captain," Lieutenant Tom Paris responded. "Warp 3."
An hour later, Voyager received a distress call. "It's coming from deeper in the nebula," Harry reported.
"Prepare to change course," Janeway ordered.
"Aye Captain."
"A group of refugees aboard a previously abandoned station. There is a strange ion storm," Kim reported.
"Mr. Paris."
"Changing course," Paris reported.
As Voyager entered the outer reaches of the storm, Kes came onto the bridge. "Kes?" Janeway asked.
"This is no ordinary storm. Something bad is going to happen," Kes said. "I can't describe it, but it's some kind of feeling I have."
"Go on," Janeway prompted, as she saw Tuvok give a look of concern.
"That's all for the moment. But we do need to help those refugees," Kes added.
It seemed that Neelix had already told her, either that or her powers were more powerful than suspected, Janeway reflected. "How soon can we reach that station?" she asked.
"Fifteen minutes, Captain," Paris reported.
"We'll be there soon, Kes." Kathryn saw the look on the young Ocampa's face. "You don't need to worry."
"I'm afraid that there's going to be more suffering, Captain."
Kes' pronouncement of suffering was still on the Captain's mind as Voyager docked with the station. The ion storm made the use of transporters unadvisable.
Commander Chakotay, Tuvok and Paris entered the station from Voyager's forward airlock. Immediately they could hear voices over the comm system. "Sounds like they're having problems with the power system," Tom observed. "Should we bring Torres too?"
"Not yet," Tuvok decided.
"We'll meet them first," Chakotay said.
"Sure," Paris said. "But we might need Kes too."
Soon, they came to the Station's main concourse, where most of the refugees were. They were rather similar to humans of Eastern European origin., albeit with ridges extending downwards from their earlobes. Chakotay could see a woman running around nearby calling someone's name. "Oyoup!"
"Don't worry, Hana, I'll help you."
Another woman called out "Xelos! Stay away from her."
Hana continued to call out for Oyoup.
A man came running, and nearly crashed into Chakotay. "Woah there!"
"Who are you?"
"Commander Chakotay, of the Federation Starship Voyager. We answered your distress call." There was a shudder as the storm hit the station.
The same shudder rang through Voyager.
"Docking clamps are stable," Ensign Harry Kim reported.
"Good," Janeway said.
After Chakotay introduced himself, the man ran off. "We're here to help," Chakotay said.
"Oyoup, are you alright?"
"I can take care of myself, Hana."
"What were you doing?"
"Hiding. From the demons," Oyoup said.
"What demons?" Chakotay asked, wondering if the refugees were not alone.
"He's just seeing things," Hana said.
"Are you sure? You may not be alone on this station," Chakotay said.
"It's just us. And who are you?"
"Commander Chakotay, of the Federation Starship Voyager. As I was trying to say earlier, we answered your distress call."
Tuvok looked at his tricorder. "Commander, I am not picking up any life signs other than us and the refugees. They're all showing as the same species."
"So, why are you here?" Chakotay asked.
"I came here, because there was nowhere else to go," Hana said. "There are others who can explain more."
"Lead the way," Chakotay said.
Back on Voyager, Ensign Kim had scanned the station. "The storm is making the sensors unreliable, but some data has come through," he said.
"And?" Janeway asked.
"And the ships the refugees arrived in are on the other side of the station. It looks like they were barely able to get here. The warp cores have had it and they're very low on antimatter and have no spare dilithium."
"So, if they're to leave, we'll have to take them on Voyager."
"Yes."
"You answered our distress call?" One of the leaders asked.
"Yes," Chakotay answered. "Hana said you can explain why you are on the run."
"We can. Our colony was attacked by the Kazon Inomris. They began to take people as slaves. So, we had to flee."
"We travelled at low warp for weeks, trying to conserve our antimatter and dilithium before we found this station. But it seems that it's safe no longer."
"I take it you're referring not to the ion storm, but to the reports of demons?" Tuvok asked.
"You are correct," the first Elder answered.
"We haven't been able to detect any other life signs than yours," Tuvok said.
"But then a demon wouldn't show up on a scan, would it?" Tom asked.
"Nor would any number of subspace entities," Tuvok pointed out.
"In any case, demons or subspace entities, the station is no longer safe," the second Elder said.
"So, they do want Voyager to take them to a planet?" Janeway asked.
"Yes, any M class planet where there aren't any Kazon," Chakotay answered.
"Such planets should be easy to find."
"But there might be opposition to this plan?"
"That doesn't surprise me," the Captain sighed.
"We may need you to come aboard," Chakotay said.
"I trust you, Chakotay. Keep me informed," Janeway out. Voyager shuddered as the ion storm increased in intensity. She looked to Ensign Kim.
"Radiation levels are increasing above background levels. Rather slowly, but it's happening. As for the storm, we can stay here for two hours at the most."
"Understood," Janeway said as she sat back in her chair.
The station shook again. The elders looked around at each other. "We may need to leave soon."
"Then you better prepare your people. Our ship is ready," Tuvok said.
"There will be a meeting in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later the refugees met in the station's main concourse. "An ion storm has hit the station, and it seems it's structure is going to fail. But a starship has arrived that has offered to take us to safety."
However, there were some dissenters who were concerned that the Voyager crew had an ulterior motive. "How do we know that this Voyager is who they say they are, that they won't sell us out to the Kazon, or just leave us on a planet without the means to support ourselves."
Chakotay took that as his cue. "I realise that you were mistreated by the Kazon, which is why you fled your homes. A portion of our crew has a similar background. I lead them in a struggle against an occupying force from a race called the Cardassians. From what I have seen of the Kazon, so far, their oppression is similar."
Tuvok wasn't sure that bringing up the Maquis experience would be conducive to his argument. That it would have been better for Kes to come and talk to them about her experience with the Voyager crew rescuing her from the Kazon. However he could see that some in the crowd were swayed.
"Thanks, Commander Chakotay," one of the Elders said.
"We don't know who these Cardassians are."
The crowd began to argue.
Another shudder rang through Voyager as the ion storm intensified.
"Chakotay to Voyager."
"Report."
"Some in the crowd didn't take the news well. It looks like there might be a riot," Chakotay reported. "We may need Kes to talk to them about how we rescued her from the Kazon."
"Understood. I'll talk to her."
Ten minutes later, the crowd quieted down as Kes began to tell her story. Of how she had come to the surface and had been captured by the Kazon. How she had later been rescued by the Voyager crew.
"Thanks, Kes," one of the elders said after she had finished.
"You're welcome. But we will have to get moving before the storm gets too intense for Voyager to stay."
"Of course."
Even so, Kes knew trouble was ahead. The refugees had to vote on the matter first.
"The vote passed by 70%," Chakotay reported.
"That still leaves 30% who don't trust us," Janeway pointed out.
"That's true."
It took another half hour to organise the refugees to board Voyager, including the allocation of guest quarters. Ensign Kim and Crewman Oviedo found themselves quite busy in trying to sort out who went where.
Janeway met Chakotay at the airlock. "We're going to cut it rather close," she said.
"Most of the refugees are already on the move," Chakotay said.
"But this airlock is going to be a bottleneck."
"That's true, but Tuvok has already contacted his team to assist with crowd control."
"Thinking ahead, that what I like in an officer."
Kes and Hana approached the airlock. "So, you're Ocampa?" Hana asked.
Kes was surprised, even though they were less than 40 light years from her world. "You've heard of us?" she asked.
"Only in old stories, legends really."
"I'd like to hear them. It seems we will have the time."
"Sure, but give us time to settle first," Hana responded.
"Of course."
Despite Janeway's misgivings, the refugees streamed into Voyager from the station with hardly any commotion.
"Captain Janeway, these are elders Oltara and Peltran," Tuvok said by way of Introduction as he re-entered Voyager."
"Welcome aboard," the Captain said.
"Thank you again for the offer of passage aboard your ship."
"That's what we do. Offer help to those in need."
"We don't know if the station could withstand this storm. Our ships would not have gone far before we ran out of antimatter, or the Dilithium crystals cracked."
"We're already looking for suitable planets."
It took twenty minutes for all the refugees to board the ship. Chakotay walked through the airlock last. "Chakotay to Bridge. That's the last of them."
"Acknowledged," Tuvok said.
Voyager undocked from the station. Immediately, the ion storm threw the ship aside. "Sorry," Paris said as he tried to compensate for the turbulence. "It's getting rougher out there by the second."
"Set a course out of the storm and the nebula, Mr. Paris."
"Aye, Captain."
Down on Deck 8, some of the refugees were panicking due to the turbulence. "What's happening."
"Please remain calm," Chakotay pleaded as he tried to walk into the crowd. "We're still in the ion storm, but we should be clear shortly."
Kes spoke up. "Listen to him."
There was still discontent and worry. But they settled down. Chakotay wondered how Kes was having that calming effect.
"I've reversed course, Captain," Paris reported. "Ready to go to warp."
"Slow and Steady, Lieutenant. Warp 2."
"Warp 2, aye."
Voyager jumped to warp without difficulty. "The storm is still causing some turbulence," Paris reported. "But it's minor. It'll be an hour until we're out of the nebula."
"Understood," Janeway said.
"Right," Chakotay said. "You can't stay here. You need to move to either your assigned quarters, the Mess Hall, or one of the lounges."
"Do as he says," Kes said.
"I'll go to my quarters," Hana decided. "Where you can tell me more about the Ocampa."
"There's not much to say," Kes said.
"Maybe not, but I would like to know."
Even so, the refugees took a while to move, as Voyager still shuddered.
In Engineering, an alarm came up on the Master Systems Display. "What?" Torres asked herself as she responded to the alarm.
"It looks like an EPS conduit is malfunctioning," Ensign Vorik commented.
"I know that, Ensign!" Torres shot back. "You go and check it out."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"The storm seems to be affecting the warp field," Paris reported. "The output reads at Warp 2, but the actual velocity reads as Warp 1.98."
"Try to maintain the velocity," Janeway ordered.
"Aye, Captain."
Vorik arrived at the location of the malfunctioning EPS conduit. Something felt 'off' in the location. 'Illogical!' he chided himself. Vulcans didn't just act on instinct, or be superstitious. He brought his tricorder to bear. No other lifesigns. He changed it back to Engineering Mode, and got to work.
Chakotay saw that the refugees were moving off without too much trouble, so he decided to head back to the Bridge. "Notify the Bridge if there is further trouble," he said to Kes.
"Yes, Commander."
Vorik quickly repaired the EPS conduit, but that illogical off feeling was still there. "Computer, run a level 5 diagnostic on environmental control systems in this section."
"Diagnostic will take two minutes to complete."
"Diagnostic complete. Environmental control systems are working according to normal parameters."
And yet, there was something there he couldn't put his finger on. 'Illogical!' he thought again as he headed back to Engineering.
Hana and Kes entered the quarters that had been assigned to the former. "This will do" Hana said.
"Most quarters are like this," Kes said.
"Then you are lucky."
"I have talked with the Voyager crew about the Federation. Its core worlds are very highly developed."
Hana picked up on what Kes wasn't saying. "But the periphery? Chakotay said he and others fought a race called Cardassians?"
"Obviously not perfect. It seems the Federation had resolved a border dispute in the Cardassian Union's favour and the colonists on the wrong side of the border put up a fight rather than be displaced from their homes."
"That is definitely different to our experience with the Kazon."
"We've left the ion storm, Captain. We'll be out of the nebula in less than two minutes," Paris reported.
"Very good, Mr. Paris. Once we've cleared the nebula, we'll look for a planet that will be able to take them in," Janeway said.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked.
"To the Bridge. Something is about to happen," Kes answered.
"I'll come with you."
"No, stay here."
"Janeway to Neelix, please report to the Bridge."
"On my way, Captain."
Vorik returned to Engineering to the sound of the Chief Engineer cursing. He had got used to that over the last two weeks since Janeway had promoted her over Carey's protests. "Vorik!"
"Yes, Lieutenant," he responded as he walked over.
"Minor malfunctions are cropping up in the forward sections of the saucer."
Vorik looked at the MSD. The problem indicators were clustered in the forward sections of Decks 6 – 8. "I'll check the sections over."
"You may need help. Take some DOT15s."
"I shall, Lieutenant."
Neelix entered the Bridge. "Reporting as ordered, Captain."
"We're about to set course for a planet that may be able to take the refugees in," Janeway explained. "Do you have any recommendations?"
"There are many planets in this area. But most are close to where one Kazon sect or other is operating. I will need to look at my records."
"I would like a general heading," Janeway said.
"Continue along the course to the Alpha Quadrant, there are less Kazon settlements along there than otherwise."
"I see," Janeway commented. She turned to Paris. "Resume the course to the Alpha Quadrant, after bypassing the nebula."
"Aye, Captain," Paris responded.
The turbolift doors opened again, admitting Kes.
"Kes?" the Captain asked.
"Something is about to happen," Kes explained. "I'm not sure what."
"Ensign Kim, full scan."
"Aye Captain."
The scan results soon came back. "Nothing unusual," Kim said.
"Not yet." Kes said ominously.
"Should I keep scanning, Captain?" Kim asked.
"Kes hasn't been wrong so far," Janeway responded.
"Aye, Captain."
Meanwhile, Vorik arrived in one of the areas where the problems were cropping up. The lights were flickering, and he felt a similar uneasiness to what he had felt earlier. He pushed the feeling aside (or tried to), and used the PADD to tell the DOT15s to scan most of the systems. He approached the closest conduit and began to scan.
Vorik found that the conduit was out of alignment. But what had caused it to be so? There was nothing in the tricorder scan to indicate why. There it was again. That Illogical 'off' feeling. He supressed it, and got to work realigning the conduit.
Janeway looked at the report Lieutenant Carey had brought. Minor malfunctions starting to occur throughout sections 1 – 6 of the Saucer Section? "This seems to be under control," she stated.
"But those systems were not malfunctioning before we docked at that station," Carey pointed out.
"You're thinking that something on that station caused these malfunctions?" Janeway asked.
"It may be coincidental, but it's worth considering," Carey said.
"Of course," Janeway said.
"What do you want us to do?"
"Tell Torres to report to the Bridge."
"Aye, Captain."
Torres reported as ordered.
"Carey says that mysterious malfunctions are occurring?"
"Yes, Captain," Torres said. "Mysterious malfunctions are cropping up in the forward sections."
"Do you think that station had something to do with it?"
"That's Carey's hypothesis."
"It isn't yours?" the Captain asked.
"No, that was entirely Carey. It could be the ion storm."
"Focus on fixing the malfunctions for now."
"Aye, Captain," Torres said.
Once Torres had left, Janeway turned to Kes.
"I can't see any reason why the refugees would be sabotaging Voyager," she said.
"Nor do I, but we do need to investigate every possibility."
"I understand."
Kes thought on the matter. Had the refugees been alone on that station? Was there now something else aboard Voyager? But there was no way to tell. She decided to tell Janeway her suspicion.
Janeway thought about Kes' suspicion. But wouldn't whatever it was show up on the internal sensors? She didn't want to cause a panic amongst the refugees or her crew if she called for an intruder alert over nothing. First things first. "Full internal scan, Ensign Kim," she ordered.
"Aye, Captain."
Of course, such a scan would take time…
Vorik finished realigning the conduit. It was working perfectly. But the illogical feeling was still there. He looked at his PADD and saw that there were a lot more malfunctions to investigate. He located the closest.
Janeway looked at the latest report from Engineering. The situation was getting worse. So far, Kim's scans hadn't detected anything definite and Kes hadn't had any more premonitions. Was there something in the nebula that had latched onto Voyager? She couldn't dismiss the possibility. But all she could do was wait.
"I'm picking up something…" Kim said.
"What?" Janeway asked.
"I'm not certain, but it is associated with the ship. Not in the nearby space."
"It could be what Kes is picking up on," Janeway considered.
"Possibly."
"So, where on the ship?"
"That is the problem," Kim said. "It's proving difficult to localise. All I can tell is that it's in the Saucer Section, in the vicinity of the malfunctions."
"Continue to scan, and organise teams to scan the areas with tricorders."
"Aye, Ma'am."
Refuge from Calydon Part 1
Voyager was stopped. On the bridge, Captain Kathryn Janeway looked at the viewscreen showing the nebula on their path to the Alpha Quadrant. She turned to Neelix, whom she had summoned when Voyager had dropped out of warp just short of its perimeter. "And you say this nebula is safe?"
"Yes. Relatively diffuse compared to those garden variety compact nebulae. If it was dangerous, I would have recommended a different path," Neelix answered.
"That sounds like a ringing endorsement," Ensign Harry Kim said.
"But we should be cautious," Janeway said. "Mr. Paris, take us in, Warp 3."
"Aye, Captain," Lieutenant Tom Paris responded. "Warp 3."
An hour later, Voyager received a distress call. "It's coming from deeper in the nebula," Harry reported.
"Prepare to change course," Janeway ordered.
"Aye Captain."
"A group of refugees aboard a previously abandoned station. There is a strange ion storm," Kim reported.
"Mr. Paris."
"Changing course," Paris reported.
As Voyager entered the outer reaches of the storm, Kes came onto the bridge. "Kes?" Janeway asked.
"This is no ordinary storm. Something bad is going to happen," Kes said. "I can't describe it, but it's some kind of feeling I have."
"Go on," Janeway prompted, as she saw Tuvok give a look of concern.
"That's all for the moment. But we do need to help those refugees," Kes added.
It seemed that Neelix had already told her, either that or her powers were more powerful than suspected, Janeway reflected. "How soon can we reach that station?" she asked.
"Fifteen minutes, Captain," Paris reported.
"We'll be there soon, Kes." Kathryn saw the look on the young Ocampa's face. "You don't need to worry."
"I'm afraid that there's going to be more suffering, Captain."
Kes' pronouncement of suffering was still on the Captain's mind as Voyager docked with the station. The ion storm made the use of transporters unadvisable.
Commander Chakotay, Tuvok and Paris entered the station from Voyager's forward airlock. Immediately they could hear voices over the comm system. "Sounds like they're having problems with the power system," Tom observed. "Should we bring Torres too?"
"Not yet," Tuvok decided.
"We'll meet them first," Chakotay said.
"Sure," Paris said. "But we might need Kes too."
Soon, they came to the Station's main concourse, where most of the refugees were. They were rather similar to humans of Eastern European origin., albeit with ridges extending downwards from their earlobes. Chakotay could see a woman running around nearby calling someone's name. "Oyoup!"
"Don't worry, Hana, I'll help you."
Another woman called out "Xelos! Stay away from her."
Hana continued to call out for Oyoup.
A man came running, and nearly crashed into Chakotay. "Woah there!"
"Who are you?"
"Commander Chakotay, of the Federation Starship Voyager. We answered your distress call." There was a shudder as the storm hit the station.
The same shudder rang through Voyager.
"Docking clamps are stable," Ensign Harry Kim reported.
"Good," Janeway said.
After Chakotay introduced himself, the man ran off. "We're here to help," Chakotay said.
"Oyoup, are you alright?"
"I can take care of myself, Hana."
"What were you doing?"
"Hiding. From the demons," Oyoup said.
"What demons?" Chakotay asked, wondering if the refugees were not alone.
"He's just seeing things," Hana said.
"Are you sure? You may not be alone on this station," Chakotay said.
"It's just us. And who are you?"
"Commander Chakotay, of the Federation Starship Voyager. As I was trying to say earlier, we answered your distress call."
Tuvok looked at his tricorder. "Commander, I am not picking up any life signs other than us and the refugees. They're all showing as the same species."
"So, why are you here?" Chakotay asked.
"I came here, because there was nowhere else to go," Hana said. "There are others who can explain more."
"Lead the way," Chakotay said.
Back on Voyager, Ensign Kim had scanned the station. "The storm is making the sensors unreliable, but some data has come through," he said.
"And?" Janeway asked.
"And the ships the refugees arrived in are on the other side of the station. It looks like they were barely able to get here. The warp cores have had it and they're very low on antimatter and have no spare dilithium."
"So, if they're to leave, we'll have to take them on Voyager."
"Yes."
"You answered our distress call?" One of the leaders asked.
"Yes," Chakotay answered. "Hana said you can explain why you are on the run."
"We can. Our colony was attacked by the Kazon Inomris. They began to take people as slaves. So, we had to flee."
"We travelled at low warp for weeks, trying to conserve our antimatter and dilithium before we found this station. But it seems that it's safe no longer."
"I take it you're referring not to the ion storm, but to the reports of demons?" Tuvok asked.
"You are correct," the first Elder answered.
"We haven't been able to detect any other life signs than yours," Tuvok said.
"But then a demon wouldn't show up on a scan, would it?" Tom asked.
"Nor would any number of subspace entities," Tuvok pointed out.
"In any case, demons or subspace entities, the station is no longer safe," the second Elder said.
"So, they do want Voyager to take them to a planet?" Janeway asked.
"Yes, any M class planet where there aren't any Kazon," Chakotay answered.
"Such planets should be easy to find."
"But there might be opposition to this plan?"
"That doesn't surprise me," the Captain sighed.
"We may need you to come aboard," Chakotay said.
"I trust you, Chakotay. Keep me informed," Janeway out. Voyager shuddered as the ion storm increased in intensity. She looked to Ensign Kim.
"Radiation levels are increasing above background levels. Rather slowly, but it's happening. As for the storm, we can stay here for two hours at the most."
"Understood," Janeway said as she sat back in her chair.
The station shook again. The elders looked around at each other. "We may need to leave soon."
"Then you better prepare your people. Our ship is ready," Tuvok said.
"There will be a meeting in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later the refugees met in the station's main concourse. "An ion storm has hit the station, and it seems it's structure is going to fail. But a starship has arrived that has offered to take us to safety."
However, there were some dissenters who were concerned that the Voyager crew had an ulterior motive. "How do we know that this Voyager is who they say they are, that they won't sell us out to the Kazon, or just leave us on a planet without the means to support ourselves."
Chakotay took that as his cue. "I realise that you were mistreated by the Kazon, which is why you fled your homes. A portion of our crew has a similar background. I lead them in a struggle against an occupying force from a race called the Cardassians. From what I have seen of the Kazon, so far, their oppression is similar."
Tuvok wasn't sure that bringing up the Maquis experience would be conducive to his argument. That it would have been better for Kes to come and talk to them about her experience with the Voyager crew rescuing her from the Kazon. However he could see that some in the crowd were swayed.
"Thanks, Commander Chakotay," one of the Elders said.
"We don't know who these Cardassians are."
The crowd began to argue.
Another shudder rang through Voyager as the ion storm intensified.
"Chakotay to Voyager."
"Report."
"Some in the crowd didn't take the news well. It looks like there might be a riot," Chakotay reported. "We may need Kes to talk to them about how we rescued her from the Kazon."
"Understood. I'll talk to her."
Ten minutes later, the crowd quieted down as Kes began to tell her story. Of how she had come to the surface and had been captured by the Kazon. How she had later been rescued by the Voyager crew.
"Thanks, Kes," one of the elders said after she had finished.
"You're welcome. But we will have to get moving before the storm gets too intense for Voyager to stay."
"Of course."
Even so, Kes knew trouble was ahead. The refugees had to vote on the matter first.
"The vote passed by 70%," Chakotay reported.
"That still leaves 30% who don't trust us," Janeway pointed out.
"That's true."
It took another half hour to organise the refugees to board Voyager, including the allocation of guest quarters. Ensign Kim and Crewman Oviedo found themselves quite busy in trying to sort out who went where.
Janeway met Chakotay at the airlock. "We're going to cut it rather close," she said.
"Most of the refugees are already on the move," Chakotay said.
"But this airlock is going to be a bottleneck."
"That's true, but Tuvok has already contacted his team to assist with crowd control."
"Thinking ahead, that what I like in an officer."
Kes and Hana approached the airlock. "So, you're Ocampa?" Hana asked.
Kes was surprised, even though they were less than 40 light years from her world. "You've heard of us?" she asked.
"Only in old stories, legends really."
"I'd like to hear them. It seems we will have the time."
"Sure, but give us time to settle first," Hana responded.
"Of course."
Despite Janeway's misgivings, the refugees streamed into Voyager from the station with hardly any commotion.
"Captain Janeway, these are elders Oltara and Peltran," Tuvok said by way of Introduction as he re-entered Voyager."
"Welcome aboard," the Captain said.
"Thank you again for the offer of passage aboard your ship."
"That's what we do. Offer help to those in need."
"We don't know if the station could withstand this storm. Our ships would not have gone far before we ran out of antimatter, or the Dilithium crystals cracked."
"We're already looking for suitable planets."
It took twenty minutes for all the refugees to board the ship. Chakotay walked through the airlock last. "Chakotay to Bridge. That's the last of them."
"Acknowledged," Tuvok said.
Voyager undocked from the station. Immediately, the ion storm threw the ship aside. "Sorry," Paris said as he tried to compensate for the turbulence. "It's getting rougher out there by the second."
"Set a course out of the storm and the nebula, Mr. Paris."
"Aye, Captain."
Down on Deck 8, some of the refugees were panicking due to the turbulence. "What's happening."
"Please remain calm," Chakotay pleaded as he tried to walk into the crowd. "We're still in the ion storm, but we should be clear shortly."
Kes spoke up. "Listen to him."
There was still discontent and worry. But they settled down. Chakotay wondered how Kes was having that calming effect.
"I've reversed course, Captain," Paris reported. "Ready to go to warp."
"Slow and Steady, Lieutenant. Warp 2."
"Warp 2, aye."
Voyager jumped to warp without difficulty. "The storm is still causing some turbulence," Paris reported. "But it's minor. It'll be an hour until we're out of the nebula."
"Understood," Janeway said.
"Right," Chakotay said. "You can't stay here. You need to move to either your assigned quarters, the Mess Hall, or one of the lounges."
"Do as he says," Kes said.
"I'll go to my quarters," Hana decided. "Where you can tell me more about the Ocampa."
"There's not much to say," Kes said.
"Maybe not, but I would like to know."
Even so, the refugees took a while to move, as Voyager still shuddered.
In Engineering, an alarm came up on the Master Systems Display. "What?" Torres asked herself as she responded to the alarm.
"It looks like an EPS conduit is malfunctioning," Ensign Vorik commented.
"I know that, Ensign!" Torres shot back. "You go and check it out."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"The storm seems to be affecting the warp field," Paris reported. "The output reads at Warp 2, but the actual velocity reads as Warp 1.98."
"Try to maintain the velocity," Janeway ordered.
"Aye, Captain."
Vorik arrived at the location of the malfunctioning EPS conduit. Something felt 'off' in the location. 'Illogical!' he chided himself. Vulcans didn't just act on instinct, or be superstitious. He brought his tricorder to bear. No other lifesigns. He changed it back to Engineering Mode, and got to work.
Chakotay saw that the refugees were moving off without too much trouble, so he decided to head back to the Bridge. "Notify the Bridge if there is further trouble," he said to Kes.
"Yes, Commander."
Vorik quickly repaired the EPS conduit, but that illogical off feeling was still there. "Computer, run a level 5 diagnostic on environmental control systems in this section."
"Diagnostic will take two minutes to complete."
"Diagnostic complete. Environmental control systems are working according to normal parameters."
And yet, there was something there he couldn't put his finger on. 'Illogical!' he thought again as he headed back to Engineering.
Hana and Kes entered the quarters that had been assigned to the former. "This will do" Hana said.
"Most quarters are like this," Kes said.
"Then you are lucky."
"I have talked with the Voyager crew about the Federation. Its core worlds are very highly developed."
Hana picked up on what Kes wasn't saying. "But the periphery? Chakotay said he and others fought a race called Cardassians?"
"Obviously not perfect. It seems the Federation had resolved a border dispute in the Cardassian Union's favour and the colonists on the wrong side of the border put up a fight rather than be displaced from their homes."
"That is definitely different to our experience with the Kazon."
"We've left the ion storm, Captain. We'll be out of the nebula in less than two minutes," Paris reported.
"Very good, Mr. Paris. Once we've cleared the nebula, we'll look for a planet that will be able to take them in," Janeway said.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked.
"To the Bridge. Something is about to happen," Kes answered.
"I'll come with you."
"No, stay here."
"Janeway to Neelix, please report to the Bridge."
"On my way, Captain."
Vorik returned to Engineering to the sound of the Chief Engineer cursing. He had got used to that over the last two weeks since Janeway had promoted her over Carey's protests. "Vorik!"
"Yes, Lieutenant," he responded as he walked over.
"Minor malfunctions are cropping up in the forward sections of the saucer."
Vorik looked at the MSD. The problem indicators were clustered in the forward sections of Decks 6 – 8. "I'll check the sections over."
"You may need help. Take some DOT15s."
"I shall, Lieutenant."
Neelix entered the Bridge. "Reporting as ordered, Captain."
"We're about to set course for a planet that may be able to take the refugees in," Janeway explained. "Do you have any recommendations?"
"There are many planets in this area. But most are close to where one Kazon sect or other is operating. I will need to look at my records."
"I would like a general heading," Janeway said.
"Continue along the course to the Alpha Quadrant, there are less Kazon settlements along there than otherwise."
"I see," Janeway commented. She turned to Paris. "Resume the course to the Alpha Quadrant, after bypassing the nebula."
"Aye, Captain," Paris responded.
The turbolift doors opened again, admitting Kes.
"Kes?" the Captain asked.
"Something is about to happen," Kes explained. "I'm not sure what."
"Ensign Kim, full scan."
"Aye Captain."
The scan results soon came back. "Nothing unusual," Kim said.
"Not yet." Kes said ominously.
"Should I keep scanning, Captain?" Kim asked.
"Kes hasn't been wrong so far," Janeway responded.
"Aye, Captain."
Meanwhile, Vorik arrived in one of the areas where the problems were cropping up. The lights were flickering, and he felt a similar uneasiness to what he had felt earlier. He pushed the feeling aside (or tried to), and used the PADD to tell the DOT15s to scan most of the systems. He approached the closest conduit and began to scan.
Vorik found that the conduit was out of alignment. But what had caused it to be so? There was nothing in the tricorder scan to indicate why. There it was again. That Illogical 'off' feeling. He supressed it, and got to work realigning the conduit.
Janeway looked at the report Lieutenant Carey had brought. Minor malfunctions starting to occur throughout sections 1 – 6 of the Saucer Section? "This seems to be under control," she stated.
"But those systems were not malfunctioning before we docked at that station," Carey pointed out.
"You're thinking that something on that station caused these malfunctions?" Janeway asked.
"It may be coincidental, but it's worth considering," Carey said.
"Of course," Janeway said.
"What do you want us to do?"
"Tell Torres to report to the Bridge."
"Aye, Captain."
Torres reported as ordered.
"Carey says that mysterious malfunctions are occurring?"
"Yes, Captain," Torres said. "Mysterious malfunctions are cropping up in the forward sections."
"Do you think that station had something to do with it?"
"That's Carey's hypothesis."
"It isn't yours?" the Captain asked.
"No, that was entirely Carey. It could be the ion storm."
"Focus on fixing the malfunctions for now."
"Aye, Captain," Torres said.
Once Torres had left, Janeway turned to Kes.
"I can't see any reason why the refugees would be sabotaging Voyager," she said.
"Nor do I, but we do need to investigate every possibility."
"I understand."
Kes thought on the matter. Had the refugees been alone on that station? Was there now something else aboard Voyager? But there was no way to tell. She decided to tell Janeway her suspicion.
Janeway thought about Kes' suspicion. But wouldn't whatever it was show up on the internal sensors? She didn't want to cause a panic amongst the refugees or her crew if she called for an intruder alert over nothing. First things first. "Full internal scan, Ensign Kim," she ordered.
"Aye, Captain."
Of course, such a scan would take time…
Vorik finished realigning the conduit. It was working perfectly. But the illogical feeling was still there. He looked at his PADD and saw that there were a lot more malfunctions to investigate. He located the closest.
Janeway looked at the latest report from Engineering. The situation was getting worse. So far, Kim's scans hadn't detected anything definite and Kes hadn't had any more premonitions. Was there something in the nebula that had latched onto Voyager? She couldn't dismiss the possibility. But all she could do was wait.
"I'm picking up something…" Kim said.
"What?" Janeway asked.
"I'm not certain, but it is associated with the ship. Not in the nearby space."
"It could be what Kes is picking up on," Janeway considered.
"Possibly."
"So, where on the ship?"
"That is the problem," Kim said. "It's proving difficult to localise. All I can tell is that it's in the Saucer Section, in the vicinity of the malfunctions."
"Continue to scan, and organise teams to scan the areas with tricorders."
"Aye, Ma'am."
- Location
- Planet Earth
Not very scary...
Was expecting more Lovecraft, Dead Space, Halo Flood, Night of the Red Comet, Twilight Zone, etc...
Was expecting more Lovecraft, Dead Space, Halo Flood, Night of the Red Comet, Twilight Zone, etc...