Disclaimer: Once upon a time, there was this big rock known as Paramount and an evil overlord known as Rick Berman. They owned the tortured souls of Janeway and Chakotay. One day, while the two were strolling through the woods. . .
By Mindy
Tuvok, Tom and Samantha had been sent on a survey mission in the Delta flyer. Keeping us updated as to their progress. I know Samantha talked to Naomi every night. They had run into an ion storm but they thought they could repair the damage and fly out of there. Just a routine mission. . .
Then the storms became worse. . .
**
They were in trouble. We were in the briefing room, listening to the last transmission we had received from them. Damaged systems, a myriad of problems.
"That was their last transmission," I said, turning off the playback and walking around the table. "We haven't been able to raise them since." They were trying to find a place to land to escape the storms. We knew about where they were. We had tracked a planetoid about 1.6 light years away. The only problem was the Level 5 ion storm between us and the planet.
Kathryn said we had been through worse and to 'batten down the hatches and strengthen the shields. "We're not going to let a little bad weather get in the way." She said as she got up from the table.
We were all about to leave when Neelix spoke up.
"What about Naomi?"
I guess someone's going to have to explain why her mother isn't back." I said. We sometimes tend to forget about our littlest crew member.
Neelix was being optimistic about the situation. Kathryn decided to leave Naomi in his hands since he was her God-father.
I just hope it wasn't going to end up being a permanent arrangement.
**
We found the planetoid. Now, it was just a matter of pinpointing the location of the shuttle.
The diagnosis, when it came in, was grim; plasma fires, hull fragments. As Harry said, "either they vaporized or were buried beneath the surface."
Kathryn ordered me to take a rescue team down to the crater we believed they landed at. If sensors weren't going to find them, we'd have to do it the hard way.
I took Harry with me.
**
As we searched, I contacted Seven, needing data. She said she would meet us at the beam in location.
**
Our search turned up clues, so it was now a matter of finding them.
"Chakotay to Voyager. We found what looks to be a piece of the Starboard nacelle."
"Any sign of the shuttle yet?" Kathryn's voice asked.
"Not yet." I replied. Talk about a needle in the haystack.
Kathryn listed down the standard list of items for this mission.
I was just hoping they'd still be alive.
**
"Commander," Seven said, coming over with her tricorder. "I am reading deranium alloys, which I believe to be the shuttle. Approximately 80 meters below this ruble."
"Life signs?" I asked.
"None," Was Seven's reply. "Commander, without life signs to lock onto, we cannot beam the crew out."
"Maybe we can transport the entire ship to the shuttle bay." I said.
"Through 50 kilotons of binomite?" She questioned.
I took a step away and contacted the ship. "Chakotay to Voyager."
"Janeway here."
"We think we found the shuttle but we need to dig it out. Have all teams rendezvous at my coordinates." I told her.
"Acknowledged." I heard her say. I began directing traffic.
"Beta drills here and here." I ordered, pointing where I wanted them set up. I hoped we wouldn't be too late.
**
"Voyager to Chakotay." I heard Kathryn's voice as we drilled through the rubble.
"Go ahead."
"We've got another ion storm approaching. When it hits the planetoid, your entire cavern is going to destabilize." She said.
"Just a few more meters and we'll be close enough to beam out the shuttle. How long before the storm hits?"
"Six minutes." Kathryn said. "Make the most of it. It's all you've got."
**
We managed to beam out in the nick of time (which is typical for us). They were worse for the wear, with Samantha suffering the most. But they all made it and we had the shuttle back so we could effect repairs on it.
They say family is the most important thing. That I believe. But from what I heard from Neelix and Kathryn, our littlest passenger (captain's assistant in training) held together very well. Especially for such a scary situation.
I think if this trip lasts as long as we think it will, then we're going to have one fine officer in Naomi Wildman.
**End Log**