Voyager-B
Part IV

Four days later

I never had the chance to speak with Counselor as we'd planned. The constant Yellow Alert status was getting to everyone aboard the ship. She had her hands full just meeting with the crew and dealing with their stress. And I was busy as well. When my bridge shift ended, I found myself helping out B'Elanna in Engineering, or assisting my crewmembers with their new shuttle assignments.

I barely had any time for Seven. We hadn't made love once since the night Counselor Darris had dropped by. I was starting my duty shift at 0600 hours, sometimes earlier. She would usually go the bridge when I did, starting her day as soon as I did. And it was late when I returned to my quarters each night. Seven was spending more time in her quarters. I suspected she was trying to regenerate as often as she could, taking advantage whenever she had the chance. Having her alcove in her quarters was best for her, and everyone else aboard the ship.

It was no trouble for me to admit that I rather liked having her quarters next to mine. I no longer had to go to the Cargo Bay if I wanted to check on her while she was regenerating. How many times had I watched her regenerate while we were in the Delta Quadrant? Fifty times? One hundred? Five hundred? And how many times had I been watching her, telling myself that I what I felt couldn't possibly be love?

I entered my quarters, unfastening my collar the moment I was inside.

"Computer, locate Lt. Seven."

"Lt. Seven is in her quarters on Deck 3."

I tapped my commbadge. "Captain Janeway to Lt. Seven."

"Yes, Captain?"

"Are you done for the evening, Lieutenant?" I asked, pouring myself a glass of wine.

"Yes. Are you as well?"

"Yes. Would you join me in my quarters?"

"I will be there momentarily, Captain. Seven out."

I sighed. I sensed that she was a little irritated or hurt at my inattention. Carrying my glass, I headed for the ensuite in hopes of catching a hot bath before retiring.

Despite all the dangers and crises we'd faced in the Delta Quadrant, we'd always found some time to be together, or at least knew we'd find time for one another. Here, we had to answer to Starfleet. It wasn't just 'us' against the unknown foes anymore. I sighed. Sometimes, being back in the Alpha Quadrant was overrated. Severely overrated.

As the tub filled with water, I wondered what was keeping Seven. I was beginning to get a little irritated myself. I was just about to tap my commbadge when I heard the door chime. I pulled my robe tight before answering.

"Yes?"

"Captain?"

"Come in, Seven."

I saw her glance at the security guards as she entered my quarters.

"Why didn't you just come in?" I asked. "You don't have to check first."

"I am uncomfortable entering your quarters without informing you of my presence while the security guards are posted."

"Seven, they know you're here every night. It shouldn't make a difference." I held out my hand for her. "Were you regenerating?"

"No, I was reviewing the data downloads from security," she replied, taking my hand.

"You can do that in here, you know." I led her through the bedroom and to the ensuite.

"You were not present."

"So?"

"Kathyrn, these are not my quarters."

"Seven, since we've been been together, I've always given you access to my quarters whenever you wanted, whether I'm here or not. That hasn't changed."

"The situation has changed. We are no longer in the Delta Quadrant. The entire crew is not aware of our relationship."

"Don't be to sure about that," I said, taking off my robe. "Will you join me?"

I saw the way she was looking at me, a face full of love and frank lust, and I blushed from head to toe.

"Kathryn..." Her voice was hoarse.

"Seven, you don't know how happy it makes me to know that this old girl's still got it," I laughed, stepping into the tub.

"Kathryn, explain. You are not old and you are not a girl."

"I will, later. Right now, I think you're a little overdressed for the bathtub."

She shed her clothes and climbed into the tub, facing me. I took the cloth and began to wash her neck and shoulders. So beautiful. So much power under that soft skin.

"How are the shuttle simulations progressing?" I asked.

"They are quite realistic. Lt. Paris and I have each been killed in action thirteen times. Lt. Ro has been killed ten."

"I don't like the sound of that," I commented, running the cloth across her breasts. Her nipples perked up involuntarily.

"I am concerned with the military strategy Commander Beragun is using."

"What about it?" My head snapped up.

"While Lt. Paris, Lt. Ro and I are flying support and rescue missions, the other three shuttles are not."

"What do you mean, Seven?"

"Commander Beragun has them flying in an attack pattern. Their attack is not designed to provide cover for ground troops. The strategy appears to destroy everything on the ground, regardless of who it is."

"Does anyone else share your concerns?"

"Lt. Paris had not indicated anything out of the ordinary. He is primarily concerned with flying his shuttle craft. Lt. Ro is a trained Tactical Officer. She and I have both reached the same conclusion."

"And were either of you planning on sharing it with me?" I asked, my voice cold.

"Yes. We discussed when the appropriate time would be."

"I think now would be the appropriate time."

I was angry. I didn't like it when any of my crew kept anything from me, but it really galled me when Seven did. I threw the washcloth down into the water, and got out of the tub.

"Get dressed," I ordered Seven. "You and I are going to have a little meeting with Lt. Ro."

"Kathryn, it is 2300 hours."

"I don't care."

I grabbed a towel and returned to the bedroom. I picked up my commbadge and tapped it.

"Captain Janeway to Lt. Ro."

I repeated myself just once before I heard a sleepy voice. "Yes, Captain?"

"I need to see you in my quarters in fifteen minutes."

"Aye, Captain."

I put my uniform back on, leaving the annoyingly high collar unfastened. Seven had silently followed my orders and had also dressed in her uniform. I marched over to the replicator.

"Coffee. Black."

"Kathryn."

"Seven, don't push it," I said cutting her off, knowing she was going to make some comment about the coffee. "You're on thin ice right now."

She looked down at her feet. "I am not. I am standing on the floor in your quarters." She looked back at me. "You are angry."

"Yes, I am. You and Lt. Ro should have come to me immediately with your suspicions."

Before I could finish, the door chimed. Lt. Ro was early. I had to give her credit. I was sure she'd been asleep when I summoned her. Now she was dressed in her uniform, alert and standing at attention next to Seven. I paced for a few moments. They were adults, experienced officers. There was no need to give them a full dressing down, despite my desire to do so.

"Lt. Ro, Seven has just informed me of your concerns about Commander Beragun's shuttle strategy."

Her eyes flickered briefly. "Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

"Granted."

"The commander's actions are not what Starfleet ordered. While I know that there is some leeway when planning strategy, Commander Beragun has shown no purpose, no link to the original orders. He is preparing for a full assault on the ground troops. In every simulation, he's had the other shuttles firing at the enemy and our troops, with empahsis on the Romulans."

"Do you agree with Lt. Ro?" I asked Seven.

"I concur. Her assessment is accurate."

"Captain, during three simulations when I attempted to rescue Romulan ground personnel, Commander Beragun ordered one of his shuttles to attack. I, and my shuttle crew, were killed each time, along with the ground personnel. I also observed him attacking Lt. Paris and Lt. Seven in the same manner. More than half of our fatalities were caused by his 'friendly' fire."

"Did you ask him about his actions?"

"When I confronted the commander, he informed me to mind my own business, that I didn't know anything about strategy." Lt. Ro face tightened. "Captain, I have been in many battles against the Cardassians over the past three years. What Commander Beragun was doing was not proper strategy. It was not in the orders we received from Starfleet."

I thought carefully about Lt. Ro's remarks.

"There has also been increased activity to the weapons storage," Seven added.

"What?" I couldn't hide my shock.

"Lt. Ro and I reviewed the data from my programs this evening. We both noticed a pattern."

"And that is?

"One of the commander's divisions has been checking weapons in and out of weapons storage several times a day."

"What about the the other divisions?"

"Those divisions have either been been flying aboard our shuttles or participating in the gound assault."

"We believe that they may be modifying the weapons, Captain," Lt. Ro commented.

"For what purpose?" I asked, fiddling with my commbadge.

"We do not have enough information to ascertain his reason or purpose," Seven said.

"Seven, I want you to lock down all weapons in storage. Use a Borg encryption code."

"Understood, Captain."

"Can you do it from my quarters?"

"Yes."

"Make it so," I said, quoting a Starfleet legend.

I saw Ro's eyes flash, and I favored her with a small smile. "Do you want something to drink, Lt. Ro?"

"No, thank you."

Seven seated herself at my console, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

"It is done, Captain. I have also added a program to trace if anyone tries to break the code. It will notify the three of us, as well as Commander Tuvok."

"Good. I think we need to take a little trip to the Bridge. Tuvok and Chakotay are both on duty right now."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Captain on the bridge."

Chakotay looked up from my chair when my arrival was announced. Tuvok barely glanced at me from his station.

"Pulling an all-nighter, Captain?" he asked. When he saw Seven and Ro, and his smile quickly faded.

"Chakotay, Tuvok, my Ready Room."

I strode into the room, Seven and Ro at my heels. The security guards positioned themselves outside the door to my Ready Room. I sat behind my desk and waited for my commanders to join us. I knew it would take a moment for them to arrange for bridge replacements.

"Coffee, Captain?" Seven asked.

"Yes, thanks."

I gave Seven a warm smile when she handed me a mug of hot coffee. Lt. Ro waited stiffly by the couch. "Lt. Ro, at ease. Have a seat. You're making me tired just looking at you."

"Thank you, Captain."

She sat down, still stiff and at attention. She didn't know it, but she was doing a pretty fair imitation of a Borg, one in particular.

The chime sounded, announcing the presence of Tuvok and Chakotay. I dispensed with the niceties, and had Seven and Ro immediately repeat what they'd told me. I remained silent during their recitation, watching Tuvok and Chakotay.

"What do any of you know about Commander Beragun?" I asked.

"I served with him aboard the Excelsior in a battle last year," Lt. Ro said, which made her earlier comments about Beragun all that more surprising. "He was always by the book in his strategy."

I wanted to know why Lt. Ro hadn't told me this earlier, but I held my tongue. Now wasn't the time.

"He is highly decorated, battle-tested many times," Tuvok added.

"Do you think it's possible that he could be running a covert operation for Starfleet that we were not informed of?" Chakotay asked.

"Highly unlikely. His actions would countermand everything that Starfleet has planned with the Klingons and the Romulans," Tuvok replied.

"Tuvok, do you remember Commander Donnells?"

"You believe Commander Beragun is suffering from deep space psychosis?" he ventured.

"Yes, and first thing in the morning, I want the Counselor and the Doctor to examine him."

"That'll be difficult, Captain, if he is suffering from DSP," Chakotay said.

"Ro," I said, "you said Beragun was firing on the other divisions in the simulations."

"Yes. Lt. Commander Endicott's division and Lt. Commander Foley's division."

"Maybe we should approach Endicott or Foley. Surely they must be concerned about their commanding officer ordering an attack on their troops."

"Captain, I attended Starfleet Academy with Commander Endicott," Ro said quietly. "I could speak to her under the pretense of swapping old Academy stories."

"Good idea. Do it in your quarters, not someplace public. Once you've spoken to her, we can all meet in my quarters."

"Understood, Captain," she said, an odd, almost uncomfortable look on her face.

"Tuvok, I want you and Seven to put together a small team of your most trusted crewmembers. I want all of the weapons in storage manually checked. I had Seven lock them down with a Borg encryption code."

"When would you like to us to begin?"

"As soon as you can. And Tuvok, the smaller the group the better. I want to keep this quiet until we've got the facts." I turned to Chakotay. "I want you to monitor the movements of the Special Forces. I want to know when they're on any decks other than their own or when they're running battle simulations in the holodecks."

I rubbed my temples. "And one more thing. You're to use secured communications only when speaking of this matter. Tuvok, Seven, I want you to develop the codes we'll be using, as well as override the communications department."

"A wise decision, Captain."

"As before, I want one of us on the Bridge at all times." I leaned back in my chair. "I'll take your shift tonight, Tuvok, while you assemble your team."

"I will begin at once. Lieutenant?" he said, turning to Seven.

She followed him out the door. I looked up at Ro. "You'd better get some sleep, Lieutenant. I'll need you on the Bridge tomorrow morning. There may be times when I need to be in my Ready Room, and I want you to take the Conn when I do."

If she was surprised at the trust I was placing in her, she didn't show it. She nodded at my dismissal, then left.

"This is serious, Kathryn," Chakotay said when we were alone.

"I know. It's bad enough being on Military Alert. Now we've got the possibility of a highly trained, highly armed commander running around the ship paranoid."

"I think we should have Tuvok double your guards."

"I'm not the target, Commander," I said sharply.

"But you could be. You could very well end up the biggest obstacle to whatever he's scheming."

"I'll be fine." My voice softened. "I've got the finest crew in Starfleet looking after me, Chakotay." I smiled. "And one very over-protective ex-Borg."