Disclaimer: Paramount is now laying claim to Amelia Earheart AND Tackleberry. They still own the good stuff. . .I own the thoughts. . .RB owns the dimples...'nuff said.
Rust? In the airless vacuum of space? Who would have thought we'd be following a trail of rust? 'Join Starfleet. . .seek out new life forms, discover rust. . . .'
Harry began following the trail, discovering something Paris calls "gasoline". He told us it was a fuel source used on Earth centuries ago to run internal combustion engines. We finally picked it up on visual. Just what exactly was it?
While playing with this 'automobile', it was discovered that there was an ancient code of SOS being broadcast from a nearby star system. Apparently, we weren't the first humans in the Delta Quadrant. Harry found the co-ordinates and Kathryn ordered us to follow. And at warp six, no less!
The planet the signal was coming from was Class L. He couldn't pinpoint any life signs, so I asked him if he detected where the signal was coming from. And he could. The interference wouldn't allow us to beam down. I suggested a shuttle with an away team. Tuvok quickly pointed out that the shuttle craft could not safely go through the currents. As he said that, Kathryn got a look in her eye that said, 'we're going down'.
"We could land the ship," she said. Paris turned from the helm, his chin almost hitting his knees. Surely the lady jests.
"Are you sure that's necessary?" I said, half laughing.
"The that 'determined' look turned to me. "Someone on this planet's sending out a distress call."
"If that someone is as old as that truck in the cargo bay, they're long dead by now. This might be an automated distress call," I said.
"Possibly. But something brought that truck halfway across the galaxy. And that something may be down on that planet." I knew exactly what she was thinking.
"And if it brought the truck here, it may be able to send us home, too," I said, getting up and crossing the bridge to where she stood.
"I'd say it's worth a look,." Kathryn said. "Mr. Paris, prepare the ship for landing." His jaw hit the console this time.
"Captain, I think I should tell you. . .I've never actually landed a starship before."
"That's all right, Lieutenant, neither have I," she said, not disturbed at all by Paris' announcement. "Bridge to Engineering. We're going to land the ship, Ms. Torres. Take the warp core off line, vent all plasma from the nacelles and standby to engage atmospheric thrusters."
"Aye, Captain," came B'Elanna's voice from Engineering.
And so it begins. And down we went. What's that saying when man landed on the moon for the first time. . .oh, yeah.
The eagle has landed.
**
When it was daylight, we disembarked the ship. We split into teams. We found what appeared to be a mine shaft, leading to the power source I had detected earlier. I contacted Kathryn and told her what we'd found, and asked for another security detachment before going further. She said fine and told me she'd be joining us shortly.
Did we ever hit paydirt. Cryrostasis. Reminded me for a brief moment of Captain Kirk's finding of the Botany Bay. But only for a second. This was long before the Eugenics wars. Eight were still functioning.
Kathryn went to one and cleared the glass, revealing a human male from the same era as the truck we had in the cargo bay. B'Elanna cleared another, revealing another male. I took readings and discovered five more chambers, all empty. Kathryn went onto the next one and began clearing the glass. This one revealed a woman, with what Kathryn called a leather jacket and gold wings. And a name. Kathryn spelled it out, then realization came. One of the twentieth centuries most puzzling mysteries had finally been solved.
We'd found Amelia Earheart.
**
Back on Voyager, Kathryn gave us the lowdown about Ms. Earheart. About the theories of what happened to her, from crashing, being captured by the Japanese to taking romantic journey with her navigator or most ludicrous, yet obviously true, being captured by aliens.
All eight were from the 1930's. But why were they here? Who had brought them this far from Earth?
\Kathryn decided that the best way to deal with this and get answers was to wake the people up and find out what happened. If the technology exists to bring people here, maybe we can use it to get home. I'm not counting those chickens yet. We need proof. This may be another race that will leave us empty handed. But I backed her idea.
"I suggest only human crew members be there when we revive them." I said. I don't think I'd be very happy waking up from four hundred years and see Tuvok, B'Elanna or even, heaven forbid, Neelix.
"Agreed," she said. Kathryn wanted me to brief the doctor so Kes could go along for medical assistance. She wanted us to brush up on our earth history. And she left.
And I looked after her.
**
She took Paris, Harry, and Kes with her back to where our friends awaited us, leaving me in charge.
After a while and some interesting reading, I became worried and decided I'd better check up on them.
"Chakotay to away team."
"Janeway here."
"Captain, I'm picking up some energy displacements on the surface. I think it may be alien humanoids. It looks like their using some kind of deflection system to trick our sensors. I think you'd better get up here."
Then I heard another voice, not someone from our party.
"Who's that talking?"
"That's Commander Chakotay. On our ship," Kathryn said.
"Commander?" the voice said. "Okay, now hear this commander, there's a gun pointed at the lady's head right now. So you call Washington and you tell them we're holding your people prisoner and they're not going anywhere until I personally talk to J. Edgar Hoover. You've got one hour." Or the lady gets it, I said in the back of my head.
Not a very promising situation. "Captain?" I asked.
"It seems we're being held hostages, commander. I suggest you pay attention to what the gentleman says," Kathryn said.
"I understand. Chakotay out." And I turned to Tuvok.
"All security personal report to the cargo bay immediately." Tuvok said, following me into the turbo lift.
Man, was I worried.
**
We made our battle plan and disembarked, phaser rifles and all. On our way to our rescue, we were fired at. Then,
"Janeway to Chakotay."
"I'm here, captain. We're pinned down."
"I can see you from here. Lay down phaser fire, I'm going to circle around to your left. Try to come at them from the rear."
"Right," I replied. I contacted Voyager to see if we could get any additional help. Nothing yet, so I told B'Elanna to keep trying.
Kathryn managed to do it, stopping the attacks. A truce was agreed upon and we went back to Voyager.
**
While the doctor was treating Earheart's navigator, Kathryn and I were facing our enemy. Well, we found out what happened. A race named the Breori abducted 300 people from Earth in 1937, bringing them back to this planet to become slaves.
The slaves revolted, and destroyed the Breori. All hopes of getting home a little quicker died when we found out that the ship had been destroyed. Oh, the look on Kathryn's face as she turned to me. I think my own expression mirrored hers.
Disappointment.
Mr. Evansville offered to show us their cities. Maybe not such a bad idea.
**
After we returned, I brought Kathryn the damage report she'd asked for earlier. I rang the chime for her ready room.
"Come in," I heard her say. I walked in, catching her coming out of what I would guess to be a daydream, with her staring out to the sky, totally relaxed.
"Here's the damage report you asked for," I said, handing her the PADD.
She took it. "Thank you." And turned back to the clouds.
"Is something wrong, Captain?" I asked, a little disturbed by her lack of interest in the report. She turned and looked up at me. "You've seemed a little bit distracted since we came back from the cities. Weren't you impressed?" A small, sad smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"A little too impressed," she said.
"What do you mean?" I asked in return.
"There's a thriving, sophisticated culture on this planet of human beings. In some ways, walking around the cities was. . .almost like being back on Earth." I sat down beside her on the couch, without asking permission.
"It was eerie. It reminded me of home, too."
"Evansville has offered to let any of our crew stay."
"What will you do about that?" I asked, not wanting to think of the possible outcomes.
She got up. "Maybe this is one of the decisions the captain has to make for the entire ship."
"You may have a problem if a lot of people want to stay," I said.
"I know that. But I can't take a vote every time there's a major decision to be made. We're a long way from Starfleet. And a lot of the rules and regulations I've been taught to uphold seem. . .distant as well." She sat back down. "Am I the only one who's so intent on getting home? Is it just me? Am I leading the crew on a forlorn mission with. . .no real hope of success?" This was really bothering her. I could tell from her voice, her face.
"You're not alone. I want to get home, too. And there's not a day goes by that I don't hear someone mention Earth."
"The people here have built a new Earth. We could stay, help them build a human civilization in the Delta Quadrant. Isn't that an exciting prospect? Shouldn't we be grateful for the opportunity they're giving us?"
"It is a tempting prospect. But when I hold it up against the prospect of seeing the sun rise over the Arizona desert or swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on a summer's day, there's just no comparison. I want to go home," I told her.
"We have 152 men and women on this ship," she stood up again. "What happens if half of them decide to stay on the planet? Could we operate Voyager with 75 crew members?"
"I doubt it. In fact, I don't think we could operate this ship with fewer then a hundred. If too many of the crew choose to stay behind, we could all be stranded here." She took a deep breath. I stood up.
"Tell all hands to prepare for a message from the captain at 1400 hours. They deserve to make the choice for themselves."
"Aye, captain." And I left.
How the emotions run across her face.
**
After her announcements, she went for a walk. Maybe it will help. She can't do anything if they choose to stay.
But she's strong. If anyone can take it, Kathryn Janeway can.
And she came back, and I met her.
We walked through the corridors on the way to the cargo bay, comparing notes.
"I expect Jarvin will stay on the planet. In fact, I'd bet on it." I said.
"Why Jarvin?"
"He's been more uncomfortable being a Starfleet ship then most of the Maquis. And he's gotten involved with a young woman in quantum mechanics. I think they'd like to settle down, raise a family."
"The person I expect to see is Baxter," she said, matter of fact.
"Baxter? Walter Baxter?" I said.
"He's adventurous. . .a risk taker. I can see him taking on the challenge of building a new life on this planet."
"I'd hate to lose Baxter," I said. "He's a good man."
"I'd hate to lose Jarvin." A heavy sigh. " I don't want to lose anyone." And we came to a stop outside the cargo bay. "We've all been through so much together, it just wouldn't seem right. But I couldn't blame anyone," I looked at her. "Anyone, for staying behind." She looked at that door. I could see the tears forming in her eyes. "I'm not sure I want to go in there."
I put my hand on her shoulder, the first time I've ever allowed myself to touch her. "No matter what happens, we'll make it. Remember that." And she nodded.
Then we took the steps toward our future. Together.
**
And no one was there. It overwhelmed Kathryn. She almost cried. She looked over her shoulder to me and I smiled, then so did she.
**
We went back to the bridge together. Everyone there, stood. A silent affirmation to Kathryn that we were in this together, that we believed in the common goal.
To get home.
And that we believed in her. . .in Kathryn.
**
We're going home.
My faith in Kathryn is now absolute.
**End Log**