“You were asking why the Board hasn’t requested the Cartel’s help. I see now that the Board could sit there and starve in their Council Chamber before they agree to our terms.” His eyes were burning. “But they fear the Cartel. If I threaten to bring Enforcers into this… that may supply the pressure we need.”
“And if it doesn’t work,” Janeway countered, “according to everything I’ve heard, your people will be even worse off.”
“It’s a risk I’ll have to take.”
“You’ll take!” Torres repeated indignantly.
Appalled, Janeway stared at Andross. “Are you really prepared to take that responsibility?”
He met her gaze. “This entire situation is my responsibility.
And, now, it’s time to put an end to it.”
“Andross…” Prog said as if she wasn’t sure about this.
“This is the man you trust?” Torres asked her.
“I know exactly what to do,” Andross assured his compatriot.
“This is working out perfectly.”
“But I thought we wanted to avoid Cartel interference,” Prog protested.
“We do,” Andross agreed, hurrying over to the communications terminal.
“But Hamilt wants to avoid it even more.”
The Council Chamber must have been receiving reports from the other provinces, because Hamilt came on-line almost instantly.
“Return control to us immediately,” Hamilt demanded, “so we can defend our House against this attack!”
“It is no attack,” Andross said, seeming quite proud of himself.
“I’ve invited the Cartel to witness your endorsement of Administer Fee for the post of Supreme Arbitrator. If you refuse, I will turn over control of the Seat to the Cartel.”
Hamilt sputtered in astonishment, as Janeway kept an eye on her ship’s approach. Their flight pattern had stabilized, but the Cartel patrols were closing fast.
“You’d betray your own people?” Hamilt finally managed to spit out.
“I intend to save them.” Andross checked the monitor. “Fee’s appointment prevents the Cartel from gaining more power, and it will guarantee a vast new reservoir of information from the people who have been untapped by our House.”
“Who are you to decide these things?” Hamilt demanded, echoing Janeway’s private opinion about the matter.
“I’m aware I have no authority to do this, but I must insure the security of our House. The Enforcer patrols will arrive at any moment.
If you don’t agree to support Fee, then you’re handing the House over to the Cartel.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“I would.”
Their eyes locked through the monitor.
Hamilt’s lips drew back in a sneer. “Never!”
As Min-Tutopa neared on the viewscreen, Kim knew they would never have made it so far without the Enforcers’ cooperation.
“Keep out of their line of fire,” Chakotay ordered as Voyager entered orbit. “Just in case they decide to start shooting again.”
“Plenty of satellites to dodge,” Paris agreed, sounding much better than he looked.
“Ensign, can you lock on to their communicators?” the commander asked.
“Negative, sir.” Kim felt the familiar rise of frustration.
“Communications are on-line—I don’t understand it. Maybe their comm badges have been tampered with.”
“Attempting a sensor scan,” Tuvok informed him.
The turbolift hissed open behind him, as Kes and Neelix maneuvered a large containment tube between them.
“This isn’t time for visitors,” Chakotay warned.
“I’m delivering the new medication for the subprocessors,” Kes explained.
Kim looked up in surprise. “There’s nothing wrong with the subprocessors.”
“That’s true,” Kes agreed. “But Dr. Zimmerman has discovered that the addition of a stimulant to the subprocessors excites the synapses, drawing the data impulse patterns toward them instead of the gel packs in the core.” She glanced at Kim. “It worked when we added stimulants to the medical subprocessor. The doctor is doing much better.”
Chakotay turned. “Ensign Kim, did you authorize this procedure?”
Kim wanted to deny all responsibility, ready to blame it on the doctor’s recent psychotic episodes. But Kes’s gaze didn’t waver, reminding him of the determination in Zimmerman’s face. Harry knew he must have looked the same way when he had asked Chakotay to let him go see Paris. Maybe being in command didn’t mean he had to solve every problem—maybe he just had to know when to trust his fellow officers.
“We should do what the doctor ordered,” Kim said evenly.
“Then do it,” Chakotay told him. “Fast.”
Kim hurried ahead of Kes and Neelix to open the bionutrient shunt, hoping he wasn’t making another mistake. But this time, his decision felt right.
Paris turned from the conn. “Tutopans are fairly xenophobic. I bet the captain and Torres are practically the only two aliens down there.”
“Tuvok?” Chakotay asked.
Tuvok nodded shortly. “Narrowing scanning range to isolate non-Tutopan readings.”
Janeway could tell from Hamilt’s expression that he would never give into Andross’s threats. She could certainly sympathize with that feeling, but it wasn’t much help right now.
Stepping up to the communications terminal, she attempted to mediate the dispute. “There must be some way to solve this—” Andross cut her off, jerking his head toward his guards. They moved forward to take her, as Torres started struggling with them.
“Don’t make me sedate you again,” Andross warned, keeping a wary eye on Hamilt.
Torres managed to shake off the guard, giving Prog a pointed glare.
“Don’t even try—”
“Sensors have detected two non-Tutopans in the main metropolitan area,” Tuvok announced. “Locking on.”
“Transporter room, beam them directly to the bridge,” Chakotay ordered.
He turned expectantly toward the upper deck, wondering if his gamble was going to pay off.
Janeway and Torres materialized on the upper deck, as Torres took a step forward, her hands clenched. Obviously she’d been caught in the middle of an attack. “Chakotay!” she exclaimed, breaking off.
Chakotay simply said, “Welcome home.”
“How sweet it is,” Captain Janeway agreed.
Before Chakotay could say anything more, they were jolted forward, rocking under the impact of a laser. The starfield swerved as Paris maneuvered.
Janeway didn’t go through the formality of retaking the bridge.
“Report!”
“Shields holding,” Tuvok said. He almost sounded surprised.
“Sensors are back on-line.” Kim had no compunction about showing his amazement. “Response is increasing in almost every system—tactical, utilities, EPS, deflector shields… it must be the effect of the stimulant.”
“Our power remains near reserve levels,” Tuvok interjected.
“It’s something, anyway,” Janeway said, striding down the ramp as Chakotay moved away from her seat. “In the center of that city, there’s a complex with transport lines radiating in eight different directions.”
“I have it,” Kim said.
“Inside that complex, within in a large open space, there’s a room with heavy computer feeds and direct-access terminals.”
“I am reading high electrical activity,” Tuvok confirmed. “There are five Tutopans within the room.”
“Good.” Janeway seemed to ignore the shaking of the ship. “Next time Paris ducks around that moon, drop the shields and beam those people directly to the bridge.”
“Aye, Captain,” Tuvok acknowledged.
Janeway nodded shortly, giving Chakotay a conspiratorial grin.
He couldn’t tell her how glad he was to have her back.
“Let’s end this situation once and for all,” the captain said.
“Execute evasive maneuvers, Mr. Paris.”
Five Tutopans materialized on the upper level of the bridge.
Their shock ranged from Hamilt’s appalled recognition of Janeway and Torres, to the pleased wonder on the face of the oldest Tutopan that she’d ever seen.
“I’m Captain Janeway,” she introduced herself—to the man who was apparently the Eldern, as well to as Hobbs and Sprecenspire, the Cartel supporters. Calvert was edging in closer to Hamilt. “I’m sorry to have to pull you away so abruptly, but you’ve involved us in a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.”
“I protest this indignity!” Hamilt exclaimed. “How did you bring us here?”
Hobbs stepped forward. “Yes, how did you bring us here?”
“This isn’t a simulation?” Calvert whispered to Hamilt.
Janeway held up her hands at the questions, figuring she should have known they’d want to quiz her first. Only the Eldern was silent, hobbling slowly toward the orbital view of Min-Tutopa.
He was smiling with tremulous delight.
Hobbs pointed past the Eldern. “Those are Enforcer patrols.”
Janeway braced herself as the ship rocked under another laser impact.
“We’re under attack!” Hamilt exclaimed, stumbling into Calvert.
“Shields down thirty-four percent,” Tuvok informed her.
“As you can see, we have little time for discussion,” Janeway told them. “Your people stole our computer, and now we can’t run and we can barely defend ourselves.” She let that sink in, as another jolt shook the ship.
“Return us immediately!” Hamilt demanded, with Calvert chiming in.
The Cartel supporters were starting to look concerned.
The woman, Hobbs, appealed directly to Janeway. “Let me speak to the lead patrol. I’ll tell them to cease their attack.”
“I believe that is a job for the Supreme Arbitrator,” Janeway told the Board. “I suggest you chose one immediately.”
“What?” Hamilt exclaimed. “This is coercion! You hold us on the brink of death and expect us to make a decision?”
“I refused to lend aid to any side in this dispute,” Janeway told them.
“But I won’t allow you to manipulate us any longer. We didn’t want to become involved in your domestic crisis, but now that we are, you’ll suffer the same fate as my ship unless you resolve the situation.”
“You could help us disable this coup—” Hamilt started.
“No.”
“Attempting evasive maneuvers,” Paris announced, his voice tense with effort.
Hamilt was looking at her in disbelief and outrage. Janeway determined that this was a moment in which silence said far more than words.
The Eldern moved closer to the viewscreen. “I’ve always loved the sight of my House from space. I could certainly die in this place, satisfied that I’ve done my best for my people. My choice for arbitrator stands—Administer Fee is our only hope.”
“You stubborn old man,” Hobbs spat in his direction, distorting her delicate face.
Hamilt turned on Janeway. “Do you see what comes of playing with the Cartel? The danger you put us in?”
“We are on the brink of success,” Hobbs told Hamilt, attempting to recover her composure. “Either by your decision to back my nomination as Supreme Arbitrator, or by default when the Cartel destroys this ship and subdues the rebels. I would be satisfied that my job was done, even if I could not be present to guide the integration of the House.”
Sprecenspire seemed ready to challenge her decision, but Hobbs stared him down. “I agree,” he reluctantly accepted.
“Fools!” Hamilt exclaimed, his face reddening with anger. “You would die for these fanatical beliefs? Why can’t you accept the way things are? Our House is strong as it is, we can survive—” “The House is crumbling,” the Eldern interrupted, his calm voice undercutting Hamilt’s hysteria. “You know it as well as I. It’s time that you chose the direction we shall go.”
Hamilt looked from him to Hobbs, as the Cartel woman smirked.
Calvert nervously licked his lips, A obviously unwilling to take a stand until Hamilt did. But his eyes pleaded with Janeway, even as another laser bolt struck the ship.
Janeway stood unflinching, as Tuvok announced, “Shields down to twenty-one percent, Captain.”
“We can’t take much more of this,” Kim added.
Janeway was proud of her crew—their terse reports merely showed their loyalty. After one brief glance around the bridge, Hamilt didn’t even try to convince any of her officers to betray her.
He was smoldering, and Janeway knew he was a man accustomed to absolute control—she wasn’t sure his pride would allow him to capitulate.
“You people are barbarians,” Hamilt sneered, sweeping his hand from Janeway to her crew. “I for one will not die in this absurd endeavor.
Eldern, take my support for Fee’s nomination. I only hope you live to regret it.”
Calvert quickly added, “You have mine, too.”
“Then it is done,” Eldern said, dipping his head. “Fee is the Supreme Arbitrator of House Min-Tutopa.”
Hobbs was practically spitting with rage, and Janeway was glad when Tuvok stepped into her line of sight, holding a phaser.
Sprecenspire had his arms crossed tightly, staring anxiously at the viewscreen where the Cartel patrols weaved into sight.
Calvert asked Janeway, “Now can we get out of here?”
Janeway suppressed a smile. “Open a channel to the planet, Mr. Kim.
Who would like to make the announcement? Hamilt?”
“Never,” he snapped, trying to hold on to his dignity.
The Eldern moved with difficulty. “I will make the announcement.”
“Do it fast,” Janeway urged. “So we can let the Cartel patrols know they’re attacking a ship carrying the entire Board of House Min-Tutopa.”
Paris wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but when the Cartel broke off their attack, he figured that was a good sign. He kept fighting the paranoid thought that this was just another simulation—and he wondered if he’d ever get over that sneaking suspicion. But real or not, it wasn’t his place to do anything except what the captain ordered.
He settled the ship into a more stable orbit, as Tuvok escorted the five Board Members into the conference room.
“We’re being hailed by the lead Enforcer patrol,” Kim announced.
“On screen.”
“Audio only,” Kim said apologetically.
“Of course,” the captain sighed. “Very well.”
Paris felt a sense of deja vu when a flat Tutopan voice came over the line. “Voyager, your departure from the Hub was unauthorized. You are ordered to return immediately.”
“There are matters we need to clear up with House Min-Tutopa,” Janeway explained. “Didn’t you speak to Supreme Arbitrator Fee?”