We received a distress call from a small ship, so I called the captain to the bridge. I found myself looking at her a little longer then necessary when I told her what the problem was. She broke contact when Harry indicated there were five life signs on board.
She hailed them, asked them what their distress was. They said they weren't in distress, but we were. Janeway turned and gave me that this is damned peculiar look.
What the hell did this guy mean? He didn't even know us. We weren't in distress.
Janeway invited Magistrate Gath and his crew aboard. Neelix and Kes indicated that shore leave would help with morale. So we followed them to their planet. At least we can do some restocking of supplies, if nothing else. We (being the crew) were invited to a celebration. I declined, finding them almost to sweet for my taste, but then that's just me. Of course, Janeway throws herself right in. Not that I blame her.
She and Harry beamed back with an incredible story. A story about a form of transport that could move us 40,000 light years closer to home. But they aren't allowed to give us this technology in fear that it would fall into the wrong hands. A reversal, you could say of our Prime Directive.
Janeway voiced it, about our being on the other side of the fence. I think that this may be the first time that we've had something like the Prime Directive thrown back at us.
Harry brought up stories, which these people seem to love. I asked her what she thought, about maybe trading our Federation library for the technology to get us closer to home. She liked it, I think.
She invited Gath aboard for dinner. He told Janeway that at least he was going to talk to the other magistrates.
Four decades closer to home is better then seven. Anything is better then a lifetime from home.
She went back down to the planet later the next day and came back pissed-- royally. She decided to recall the crew, cancel shore leave. I was curious as to why but didn't ask.
I told her it would be hours before all the crew were beamed back. She made a hasty retreat to her ready room, very obviously upset. I wanted to go home too, but at what cost? This whole situation disturbed her greatly. And I hadn't seen anything like that happen to her. That vulnerability reared its head for a moment and I felt for her. I would have talked to her, but I don't think it was my place to, at least now it wasn't.
She came back composed. I informed her of our status.
As we were leaving, we almost had a disaster.
Janeway later told me that B'Elanna had attempted the jump with the technology Tuvok had traded our stories for. She put him on report. That had to have hurt her. After all, he's been her friend for years. And he's Vulcan. That in itself must be the greatest deceit.
B'Elanna told me that Carey and Seska were in on it, too. Carey I understand, but Seska, from the way B'Elanna phrased it, was almost bordering on insubordination. I hope nothing comes of that.
I'm worried about Kathryn. She didn't take this situation well.
Betrayal is harsh and her hurt is great.
And I feel for her.
Did I just call her Kathryn?
**End Log**