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                                              Star Trek Voyager: Cloaked Pride
                                                           by Edward Reilly

Captain's log: Stardate 52479.6

    During a routine search of class M planets, to replenish our dwindling food supplies,
Commander Tuvok has discovered selonite, the substance that forms the basis for a
cloaking device, on a planet approximately 2.4 light years away. Not having come in
contact with any such material since our departure from the alpha quadrant, these
readings have peaked my curiosity. We have changed course, and will study the planet
further.
                                                    ********************
    "Captain, sensors indicate a class M planet. Approximately two hundred million
humanoid life forms. Heavy amounts of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere." proclaimed
Tuvok.
    "Have you located the source of the selonite, Mr. Tuvok?" asked the Captain, unable
to hide the interest in her voice.
    Tuvok, concentrating on the information coming across his terminal, did not answer
her immediately. "No Captain, but sensors are picking up something," he paused again,
"fascinating." he said, as he picked his head up and eyed Janeway. "I am picking up ion
trails surrounding the entire planet."
    Very bluntly the Captain asked, "Is there a cloaked vessel orbiting this planet?"
    "I would say there is more than one, Captain." replied Tuvok.
    The Captain stood and eyed the screen. Feeling a little overwhelmed as she thought of
the impact this discovery could have on both the crew and herself. "Don't get ahead of
yourself." she thought. She then turned to her First Officer, who she always could count
on to put things in perspective. "Your thoughts, Commander?"
    Chakotay looked at her and smiled, "We haven't seen any technology like this, as of
yet, in the Delta quadrant. At least it's not the Romulans or the Klingons."
    The Captain grinned, secretly thinking to herself that Chakotay didn't quite know what
to make out of this either. "How long until we're in hailing range Mr. Kim?" Janeway
asked.
    "Thirty seconds. Captain."
    "Tom, put us in orbit around the planet just inside communications range. I want to
keep a safe distance from those cloaked ships." ordered Janeway, pleased that she was
about to possibly get some answers to her questions.
    "Yes Captain." replied the pilot.
    Before Janeway could request a hailing frequency opened, she heard Harry say, "We're
being hailed."
    "On screen." replied Janeway, and with that order the viewscreen filled with the image
of a tall thin Humanoid, light yellow complexion, dark green oval eyes, and black spots
dotting the hairless head of what appeared to be a female.
    "I am Zantial, Minister of the Rogalian Defense Authority. Please explain yourselves."
said the alien, in a low firm voice that, without doubt, belonged to a woman.
    Janeway eyed the screen and replied, "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the
Federation Starship Voyager. We are explorers lost in this part of space." While saying
this, she was debating in her own mind whether or not to disclose that they were aware of
the cloaked ships. Janeway opted for complete honesty. "We were drawn to your planet
by the selonite our sensors were picking up on your planet. We were not aware cloaking
technology existed in this region of space."
    Instantly a look of shock came across Zantial's face. She looked around her office.
Whispers of people off screen could be heard. "Captain, I must ask you to hold for a short
time." then the transmission ended.
    "That was odd." Janeway said as she turned towards Chakotay. Secretly she was glad,
this gave her a chance to confer with her crew.
    "They may not have ever come in contact with a species as advanced as their own. I
don't think they know what to do." proclaimed the First Officer.
    "Or maybe she's just arrogant." added Janeway.
    "Captain," Tuvok interjected, "We are being scanned from the planets surface."
    "That's not surprising." she responded.
    Before she could continue Ensign Kim spoke up, "Zantial is hailing us again."
    Janeway turned to the screen, and without having to hear her reply, Harry knew to put
the transmission on screen.
    Again Minister Zantial's large, thin figure filled the screen. "Captain Janeway, both
Quatrol, Our Prime Minister, and myself would like to come aboard your ship and discuss
some matters." she said, in a tone that Janeway found odd.
    "It would be an honor to have you both aboard." Janeway responded politely.
    "We will alert you when the Prime Minister's shuttle is ready to dock with your ship."
replied Zantial.
    Janeway thought it best not to overwhelm their new acquaintances by suggesting they
beam over. They had discovered cloaking technology, but obviously not transporter
technology. "We will be waiting." said the Captain, and with that the transmission ended.
                                                   ********************
    Quartrol's shuttle had arrived, uncloaked from the planets surface, much quicker than
expected, and docked in shuttlebay one. The small but impressive bullet shaped craft was
dark red in color. The crew in the shuttlebay noticed it was both warp capable and very
agile.
    Ambassador Neelix had met the Captain in the shuttlebay and was quickly briefed on
the situation. "I wish we had time to change into something formal." said Neelix
nervously. "I'm always apprehensive when meeting a new species."
    "Relax," said Janeway, "You look fine."
    As the door to the shuttle opened, out walked a pair of Rogalians. Janeway recognized
the alien in the blue jumpsuit as Zantial. The other, who Janeway had assumed was the
Prime Minister, was much older. Like Zantial she was yellow in complexion and appeared
to be female. She was dressed in a red jumpsuit, with large gold colored jewels hanging
from a necklace.
    "Captain Janeway, I present to you Quatrol, Prime Minister of the Rogalian Union."
said Zantial with smugness.
    Janeway smiled and said, "We are pleased to have you, and from the United Federation
of Planets, let me Welcome you aboard." she then turned to her right, "This is Ambassador
Neelix."
    "I am honored." proclaimed Neelix, "Both the Captain and I would like to take you on
a tour of Voyager. I think..."
    Before Neelix could finish Quatrol interrupted. "Thank you Captain, Ambassador, but
I'd like to do away with the pleasantries and get right to discussing some things, I think
we'll both find important."
    There it is again, Janeway thought. Earlier Zantial had put a strange accent on the
word 'matters'. Now Quatrol puts the same weird emphasis on 'things'. This made the
Captain, who was already suspicious, more so.
    At this point two more Rogalians, dressed in green, exited the shuttle. Looking
Janeway directly in the eyes Quatrol kept speaking, "Also the Defense Minister and myself
need our two security guards to accompany us. We never are without protectors."
    Janeway tried to keep an unsuspecting look off her face and replied, "Of course. I
would like my senior officers present during our meeting. They might be better prepared
to answer any questions you have." Honestly that was not the reason Janeway wanted
them there. She wanted them to hear for themselves what the Rogalians had to say so they
could give her their feedback when the meeting was over.
    Without even asking how many officers would accompany her Quatrol approved.
Janeway smiled and said. "Neelix, show our guests to the conference room. I will gather
my staff and meet you there." she nodded, to her guests, then left.
                                                  *********************
    During their trip from the shuttlebay to the conference room, Neelix and the Ministers
indulged in small talk and traded some cultural information. The Rogalians informed him
that they had discovered warp technology less than a generation ago, and are currently in
the testing stages of their new cloaking technology. In return Neelix told them of his
duties on the ship, how the crew was abducted by the Caretaker, and that Voyager did
not possess cloaking technology.
    "You are in charge of Voyager's food supply?" asked Zantial. 
    "Yes," stated Neelix. "That is my main duty. As a mater of fact, our reserves are
getting low and we were scanning the region for planets that might be able to provide us
with food when we discovered your planet."
    "Your ship is experiencing a food shortage?" asked Quatrol.
    "I wouldn't call it a shortage. Our reserves are running a little low." stated Neelix. "If
comes down to it we can we can always fall back on the replicator for a while, but I don't
want it to come to that."
    Quatrol shot Neelix a quizzical look. "What is a replicator?"
    Neelix struggled to find the right words. "Simply put, it's a machine that can make
things. Anything from a glass of water, to a pizza pie, to pair of boots. Usually the quality
isn't as good as something hand made, but isn't that always the case with machines?"
    Neelix giggled. Quatrol and Zantial traded strange looks at one another.
    "You have machines that can produce food and clothing out of the air, but no cloaking
technology?" asked Zantial suspiciously.
    "Oh, the Captain or Lt. Torres would be better equipped to answer that." said Neelix,
as they neared the conference room.
                                                   ********************
    Shortly after Neelix and his companions arrived in the conference room, Janeway
arrived followed by the rest of her senior staff. Once everyone was seated formal
introductions were conducted, and Janeway turned the floor over to the Prime Minister.
    Quatrol stood and started pacing around the table, her tall slender figure was rather
ominous. "My people are at a crossroads. For over a millennium we Rogalians have lived
timid, isolated lives. Hundreds of generations ago our elders thought it be best to separate
the genders. The males were sent to the southern continent of Wabiana. Where they were
told they would work the land and provide food for our planet. The females were moved
to Roprabla, our northern continent. We were told we would be in charge of the planets
industrial endeavors." Proclaimed Quatrol. She continued to circle the room. Her palms,
along with her four, long, thin, fingers on each hand, were pressed together in front of her
chest.
    "Excuse me Prime Minister, but why was it decided that your genders be separated?"
Asked Chakotay.
    "Our elders felt we lacked discipline. We were a people who enjoyed excess. whether it
was in our food, spirits, or pleasures of the flesh." she explained. "It always had been that
the men were the physical laborers, and women more technical. By separating us, the
Elders hoped to bring structure to our lives, and our society would continue to progress."
answered Quatrol. She stopped and looked out the window at her home planet, then
continued, "Of course there are times when the genders are allowed to interact. The
Representatives of all our cities and villages are permitted to assemble in our Hall of
Legislature, where the laws of our planet are made. Also each Rogalian, both male and
female, are assigned a time each year when they will interact with the other gender, at a
specially designated area of the planet. During this time procreation is not only
encouraged, but expected."
    Wow! Tom Paris thought to himself. "A Vacation where you're guaranteed to get
lucky." He was unable to keep the smile off his face.
    Privately Janeway wished Quatrol would get to the point, but then quickly she resigned
herself to the fact that to fully understand the Rogalian's situation they would have to
know some of their history. The Captain sat back and let Quatrol continue.
    "When we discovered warp technology, about one generation ago, mostly the males
were worried that people would forget the ideals our civilization were founded on." With
her voice now growing angry, Quatrol continued, "Ever since the genders were separated
equal funds, resources, and opportunities were given to each continent. Afraid they were
going to lose that, Wabianian Representatives lobbied and got a policy of isolationism, for
our planet, where space travel is concerned. No leaving our solar system, no initiating
contact with other species, and absolutely no trading at all with other species."
    "These restrictions our no longer in place?" questioned Tuvok.
    "Once we discovered how to make our vessels invisible, not even the males could
argue that we were not meant to move forward." replied Quatrol, with a defiant look on
her face.
    Before the older Rogalian could continue, Zantial quickly started speaking. "Which
brings us to why we are here. We have scanned your ship. It is impressive. Advanced
propulsion, shielding, and weapons. I ask you, Captain, with technology so exceptional,
and your ability to detect such a device, why no cloaking mechanism for Voyager?"
    "A treaty, signed with a species in the alpha quadrant, prevents the Federation from
pursuing such knowledge." responded Janeway.
    "Certainly that agreement does not apply when you are so far away from home?" asked
Zantial with a shady looking smile on her face.
    "What are you proposing?" asked The Captain, avoiding giving Zantial a direct answer.
    "Don't get me wrong. When it comes to weapons and shielding we are formidable.
More than once we have protected ourselves from unwanted visitors, but with your help
we can become stronger in those areas. Also we would like your assistance on making our
cloaked ships harder to detect." Zantial then paused, and in a bad attempt at dramatic
effect said, "Oh, also we would like information on something Ambassador Neelix told us
about. The replicator I believe it is called."
    In her strong voice, Seven asked, "and in return?"
    "We share our cloaking technology with you." replied Quatrol.
    Janeway's first reaction was to deny their request immediately. It would be a violation
of the Prime Directive to share such information, not to mention they would technically be
violating the Treaty of Algeron, which the Federation signed with the Romulans some
sixty five years earlier. Though the flip side to this is that Zantial was correct. One could
argue the treaty with the Romulans was certainly meaningless all the way out in the Delta
quadrant, and the Captain, at times, had played fast and loose with the Prime Directive
when the situations had presented themselves.
    All of this weighed heavily on Janeway's mind. "You've given us a lot to think about."
she said, "We will discuss you're offer and contact you shortly. Mr. Neelix will escort you
back to your ship."
    Both Rogalians stood. Quatrol turned to the Captain and said, "Please do. I think this
information exchange would be beneficial for both of our species." and with that both
Ministers gestured to their bodyguards, who had been standing behind their chairs the
whole time, to start walking.
    Once Neelix and the guests exited the room Janeway told her crew to take some time
and think about the offer. They would meet again in two hours. She was anxious to here
the crew's thoughts on the matter but wanted to organize the thoughts in her own head
first.
                                                   ********************
   Two hours and five minutes later all of the senior staff were back in the conference
room ready to discuss the Rogalian's proposition. That is all except Tom Paris.
    The sound of the conference room door opening, alerted them of Tom's arrival. "Sorry
everyone." said Paris as he sat down.
    "Actually we did not expect you for another five minutes." said the Doctor in his dry
manner, "Usually you are ten minutes late."
    "O.K. people lets get down to business. I want to hear your opinions on the Rogalian's
offer." proclaimed Janeway.
    Commander Tuvok spoke up, "During our break I monitored Rogalian communications.
Both Quatrol and Zantial were not completely honest with us."
    "That's not surprising. Both of them seemed about as sincere as a Ferengi." said
Torres.
    Tuvok continued, unaffected by B'Elanna's attempt at humor, "Rogalia is in a state of
civil war. Heavy damage and casualties are reported on the continent of Wabiana, while
minimal damage is reported on Roprobla."
    "I assume the female's advancing technology is the cause?" asked Janeway.
    "That would be the logical assumption." stated the Vulcan. "Quatrol would have us
believe the men eventually accepted the advancements of the females, but from the
evidence I have gathered it seems the women are suppressing the men by force, and using
all of the planet's resources for their own selfish purposes."
    "It doesn't make sense to kill the people that are feeding you." stated Harry.
    All of a sudden, the answer hit Neelix. "The replicators! They're after the replicators!"
he said excitedly, "They're running out of food!"
    "Without food it is unlikely they would win the war." said Seven.
    "Seven of Nine, master of the understatement." proclaimed the cynical doctor.
    "Regardless of what they want from us, B'Elanna, would it be possible to use a
cloaking device on Voyager?" Janeway asked.
    "We would have to divert power from other systems, but assuming we didn't overuse
it, yes, it would work." answered Torres.
    "As much as I would hate aiding a species that is killing their own kind, part of me
finds the offer attractive." Paris said with a guilty tone to his voice. Secretly everyone else
felt the same way but were to ashamed to admit it.
    "And then there is the little problem of the Prime Directive." said Janeway. "Sharing
any of our technology with them would be a direct violation. We can't do that. I don't
care how great the remuneration is."
    Chakotay then spoke up, "It would help us get out of a lot of hazardous situations, but
you're right Captain, we can't help the Rogalian females enslave their male counterparts."
    Janeway stood and said, "O.K. it's settled. We reject the offer. Harry, contact the
Prime Minister and put her through to my ready room. Tuvok, continue scanning the area
for food. Tom, prepare to break orbit on my mark. If nobody has anything else than you're
dismissed." With that order everyone got up and exited.
    Chakotay escorted the Captain across the bridge to her ready room. "Answer me
honestly Chakotay." she asked, "If you were still in the Maquis, and you were put in this
situation, what would you do?"
    As they entered the Captain's ready room, Chakotay thought about the question. After
a few seconds he looked Janeway directly in the eyes and said in a convincing tone, "I
would take it. Just the thought of the Maquis having cloaking technology, I wouldn't be
able to pass it up. Even though it would turn my stomach every time I thought about those
Rogalian women suppressing a whole continent full of men. Luckily, in the Maquis, you
spent so much time running and fighting that there wasn't a lot of time to feel guilty."
Silently he added, "When there still was a Maquis." Quickly he banished the thought from
his mind.
    Janeway walked over to her replicator, "I'm going to have some coffee. Want any?"
she asked.
    "No. Thank you." he replied.
    "Coffee, black." Janeway ordered the machine. Within a few seconds she had her cup
of lukewarm coffee. "I can't help but think of the situations we've been in, and the one's
were sure to be in, where a cloaking device would come in handy. What would you think
about having Seven de-"
    Before she could finish her thought, they both heard the voice of Ensign Kim.
"Captain, I have Quatrol on line." he said.
    "Put her through." replied Janeway as she put the coffee on her desk and sat down. On
the screen was the olden yellow face of Quatrol. "Prime Minister, we've come to a
decision. I'm afraid we can't take you up on your offer." Janeway saw the look on
Quatrol's face immediately turn to a look of disappointment.
    "Why?" asked the Rogalian simply.
    "I'm am governed by what we call the 'Prime Directive'. It is the rule we base all our
explorations by. Simply put, it states that we can not interfere in the evolution or
development of another culture. Your offer was tempting, but I'm afraid my hands are
tied." said Janeway, trying to be as diplomatic as possible.
    "Perhaps I can change your mind Captain." said Quatrol, in a voice Janeway found
troubling. "Instead of simply sharing information on our cloaking technology, I offer you
this." Quatrol then leaned forward and started to whisper, "We will give you one of our
cloaking devices, and help you install it. In return, all we ask is for is one of your
replicators."
    Janeway couldn't help but be angered at Quatrol's callousness. She then, mockingly,
leaned forward and whispered, "We know you are at war with the Rogalian males, and
also running out of food. The way to solve your problem is to settle your dispute with
Wabiana." Straightening herself up she continued, "Our answer remains the same. Good
luck to you."
    Quatrol's face turned angry. She ended the conversation with, "I'm sorry it had to be
this way, Captain."
    Janeway's screen went blank. She was glad to get rid of Quatrol and the problem's of
the Rogalians. She gave a wry grin to Chakotay and said, "Imagine what they would have
offered if they knew about our transporters, or the holodeck for that matter."
    Chakotay did not return her smile. "I say we put some distance between ourselves and
Rogalia."
    Janeway agreed.
                                           ****************************
    The door to Janeway's ready room opened, and out walked Chakotay and the Captain.
"Tom, break orbit and continue on our orig-"
    "Captain," Tuvok suddenly interrupted, "I'm reading numerous ion trails heading this
way."
    Before Janeway could respond the ship was jolted with a phaser blast, and everyone
was thrown about. As she picked herself off the floor, Janeway was glad she had the
shields raised once Quatrol's shuttle had left the ship. "Tom, get us out of here! Warp
eight!" she ordered.
    "Belay that order Ensign." said Tuvok, as he stood up and quickly began studying the
data coming across his terminal. "Captain, ion trails now surround the entire ship. If we
jump to warp we run the risk of colliding with a cloaked vessel." He didn't have to add
that a collision would destroy Voyager.
    Another phaser blast rocked the ship. Janeway was able to stay on her feet and make it
to her chair. "Tuvok, target where the last phaser blast originated from and fire." she
commanded. Almost instantly, Tuvok fired phasers, but he was not quick enough. The
viewscreen showed Voyager's phaser blast fail to connect with an enemy vessel.
    "Damage report!" shouted Chakotay.
    "Injured reported on decks three, four, and eight." responded Kim, as the ship's shields
absorbed more phaser fire. "Shields at 82%."
    "We're sitting ducks." proclaimed Janeway. She had taken the Rogalian females lightly.
When this predicament was over she would chastise herself, but there was no time for that
now. "Ensign Paris, evasive maneuvers, one half impulse. They don't want a collision
anymore than we do. That should give them plenty of time to get out of the way."
    "Aye Captain." responded Paris. His voice full of excitement. Tom thrived in these
pressure situations.
    Janeway continued, "Tuvok, fire phasers at will. Do the best you can." She then struck
her communicator, "Janeway to Torres."
    "Torres here Captain. What's going on?"
    "We are under attack by group of cloaked ships. We wont be going to warp anytime
soon, so reroute warp power to the shields." she did not have time to let B'Elanna
respond, "Janeway out."
    The phaser blasts kept coming. Her knuckles were now white from holding herself in
her chair. In a voice that would have bent durasteele, Janeway ordered, "Harry, hail
Quatrol." Kim had been expecting the order, and with great efficiency, contacted the
Prime Minister.
    Quatrol must have been waiting for the hail, because she responded immediately. On
the viewscreen was the smug face of the Rogalian leader. Janeway, not hiding her anger,
started the conversation, "What's the meaning of this?"
    "We gave you ample opportunity for a fair trade Captain. Now we will have to take
what we need by force." answered Quatrol. "Give it to us know and you have my word
you and your crew will not be destroyed."
    Janeway was not intimidated. There was no way she was going to let this obnoxious
oppressor bully her around. For Kathryn Janeway, this just became personal. "By no
means am I going to give you a tool that will allow you to enslave innocent people."
emphatically stated Janeway, "Your fire power is not impressive. It will take a long time
for your phasers to penetrate our shields. By that time we will have found a way out of
this." Secretly she hoped she was correct.
    "Captain, you have no idea of the situation on Rogalia." Quatrol started to reply.
"Your replicators will insure both the females and the males..."
    In a total show of disrespect, Janeway turned her back to Quatrol and said, "Ensign,
get rid of her." Harry cut the transmission. The Captain eyed her bridge crew, hands on
her hips, "We need to find a way out of this, and we need it now!" No one answered her.
                                                   ********************
Captain's log: supplemental

    We've been under attack by the Rogalians for a half hour. I've transferred weapons
control over to Ensign Kim. Commander Tuvok is needed to analyze the situation and
offer solutions.
    Even though they have to drop their cloak for nearly an entire second while they fire,
these fast and maneuverable Rogalian vessels have proven to be very difficult to
pinpoint. So far we have only been able to hit two ships, destroying both. It appears their
shields are no match for our weapons.
    Tuvok estimates we have forty seven minutes before the shields fail.
                                                   ********************
    "Captain, I have discovered something interesting." said Tuvok, "There are constant
paths of ion trails heading both toward and away from the planet."
    "Your hypothesis Tuvok." replied Janeway sharply.
    "I believe they are refueling." he answered.
    Chakotay turned in his seat and added, "It does take a lot of energy to power a
cloaking device. I take it they have not discovered dilithium?"
    "No, they have not. They appear to be using an equivalent to earth's fossil fuels."
Tuvok answered.
    "Of course, all that carbon monoxide in the atmosphere." said Janeway. "Tuvok are the
trails heading towards a number of different places on the planet, or just one?"
    "It appears only one Captain." responded Tuvok. Privately he was angry at himself for
not relating that piece of information to begin with. Of course this did not show on his
face.
    Rogalian phaser fire continued to strike Voyager's shields. By this point in time,
though, Janeway's mind was racing so much that she hardly noticed. She began to put
some pieces together in her mind. "Find a way to destroy the refueling station, then the
enemy ships will eventually fall out of cloak." she said to no one in particular.
    "Once the ships are decloaked they'll either disengage the battle, or we will simply pick
them off one by one." said Chakotay. At that same moment Ensign Kim yelled in
excitement as he destroyed another cloaked ship.
    Janeway put her hands on her hips and glared at the viewscreen. "Tom, set a course for
that refueling station. We are going down." She then struck her comm badge, "Attention
all hands. We will be flying into the planets atmosphere, prepare for descent."
    Not even one second later B'Elanna's voice came over the comm, "Captain, those
phaser blasts caused an E.P.S. discharge in one of the warp conduits. It's fused shut and
we can't vent the warp plasma." she said with a sense of both concern and urgency. "If we
don't vent that plasma the ship will explode as soon as we hit the ionosphere."
    Janeway closed her eyes and shook her head, "How long will it take you to get those
conduits open?"
    "No one can enter them with the plasma still in there, not even in space suits. The only
way would be for a shuttle to cut them open from the outside with phasers." replied the
lieutenant, "The problem with that is, if the shuttle is inside our shield bubble, it would be
destroyed by the plasma discharge."
    "Which means we would have to lower the shields?" asked Janeway.
    B'Elanna simply answered, "Yes."
    "That's not an option." said the Captain, "Janeway out." She then cursed under her
breath as she realized this also meant they would not be able to jump to warp, but first
things first.
    Kim, who was taking all this information in as he was firing the phasers, voiced an idea,
"Can we destroy the refueling station from orbit?"
    The Vulcan responded, "The station is in a heavily populated area. The pollution in the
atmosphere makes it impossible to get an exact location. Even if we were off by only a
small margin, we could kill thousands of civilians."
    Secretly, Janeway gave the idea some thought, but quickly came to her senses. "We're
not going to risk innocent lives." she ordered, in an attempt to crush even the mere
thought of it. She then turned to her first officer, "Chakotay, lead an away team. Do what
you have to do to disable that refueling depot." she then asked Tuvok, "Is there an area,
down there, where they can be beamed safely?"
    "Captain, beaming down an away team would again pose the problem of lowering the
shields." said Tuvok.
    Janeway rolled her eyes, "Yes, of course." In the excitement she had forgotten that
simple fact. Even a few seconds left unprotected by the shields would be enough for the
enemy to inflict great damage to Voyager.
    "If we launch a array of photon torpedoes in all directions, it will certainly stun the
Rogalians for a few seconds." said Harry from his Ops station. "That along with a burst of
phaser fire should do the trick."
    "That would both protect the ship and give us enough time to beam down the away
team." added Tuvok. "There is an empty area approximately one kilometer from the
fueling depot where they can be beamed safely."
    "Do it!" Janeway said to Chakotay harshly. "Assemble your away team. I want you
ready in five minutes. Tuvok, how long before the shields fail?"
    "Forty minutes, Captain."
                                                   ********************
    Five minutes later Chakotay marched into the transporter room. Both Neelix and Seven
were waiting for him. All three were dressed in black, skin tight, unitards. Each with a
dark hood over their heads. It was night time where the fueling depot was located. That
worked in there favor. As for equipment, each had a phaser and a tricorder strapped to
their side, and a black knapsack filled with grenades, an extra phaser, and a med kit.
    Chakotay nodded to the other members of his team. Both nodded back signaling they
were prepared. Chakotay hit the communicator on his chest, hidden underneath his outfit.
"Chakotay to the Captain. We're ready."
    "O.K." Janeway replied. "The pollution in the atmosphere will make communications
difficult. Try to keep in touch. You have thirty five minutes." and with that she turned
things over to Kim and Tuvok.
    "Ensign, on my mark fire the torpedo array." ordered Tuvok. "Once I've lowered the
shields I'll need four point eight seconds to safely beam down the away team."
    "Yes Commander." replied Kim.
    "Now Ensign." ordered the Vulcan. Almost immediately eight photon torpedoes left
Voyager in all different directions. Then almost simultaneously they exploded.
"Dropping shields," proclaimed Tuvok, "energizing," he continued. The crew held their
collective breath, hoping the torpedoes had their desired effect. During the very tense, four
point eight seconds, only Kim, who was frantically firing phasers, seemed to move. Then
as calmly as if he were announcing the time of day, Tuvok said, "Transport complete.
Raising shields." What sounded like one large exhale could be heard throughout the
bridge.
                                                   ********************
    The away team materialized on some form of duracrete, a few hundred meters away
from the depot. Immediately they were greeted by phaser fire, that was coming from the
refueling station, and another form of weapons fire, that was coming from a wooded area
located to the west. Before he could take stock of his surroundings, Neelix felt something
hot buzz by his ear. Temporarily frozen, he saw both Seven and Chakotay running for
cover between two transport vehicles that sat about fifty yards ahead, and decided to join
them.
    "What was that?" yelled Neelix.
    "They are using old fashion bullets." answered Chakotay.
    As they stay huddled between the two vehicles, they took a second to assess the
situation. The depot was a mass of duracrete surrounded by barbed-wire fencing. Inside
was a large multi-story building. On either side of that were two tall thin towers that were
supplying the phaser fire. Deeper inside the compound sat at least 100 huge fuel tanks.
The away team could see a ship decloak, then land. instantly, Rogalians in orange jump
suits drug hoses from the tanks to the ship.
    To the east of the depot were many small buildings, most likely a residential area. To
the west was the wooded area where the bullets were flying from. By the light, provided
by the lamps that were illuminating the 'parking lot', (That was the term Chakotay
thought best described the area.) they could see a ragtag army of tall green creatures
attacking the station.
    Seven was studying her tricorder, and found something interesting, "I believe the
creatures rushing the depot are Rogalian males." she said to Chakotay, who had suspected
as much. Before he could respond, Seven discovered something else, "Two of them are
head-" Suddenly two Rogalian males came around one of the vehicles with rifles raised
and ready to shoot.
    Acting on instinct, Neelix quickly raised his phaser and shot one of them in the chest.
As his friend hit the ground, the other man stood in shock, then took a phaser blast, that
came from the depot, in the shoulder. He immediately fell to his knees, but remained
conscious.
    Chakotay propped the awake Rogalian against one of the transports, as Seven crawled
out and pulled Neelix' stunned victim to safety.
    "We mean no harm to you. We're here to destroy this facility same as you." said
Chakotay to the injured man. "Tell that to Chazarb!" screamed the man, looking at his
stunned friend. He then lunged forward and sunk his teeth into Chakotay's left bicep. As
the human shrieked in pain, Seven grabbed the alien by the neck and slammed his head
into the door of one of the vehicles. He released his grip on Chakotay's arm.
    "Your comrade is only stunned, not dead. He will awake in a short time." said Seven,
very calm but stern. "Like yourself, we wish to free ourselves from these females. We will
assist you in destroying this station." With Seven's statement, the man relaxed. Neelix
moved in, with his med kit, and began to address his wounded shoulder.
    Chakotay was impressed by the way Seven had calmed the man. As he shook of the
injury to his arm he introduced himself. "I'm Chakotay, this is Neelix, that is Seven. Our
ship is in orbit around this planet. Cloaked Rogalian vessels will destroy it and everyone
aboard if we don't dest-" Before he could finish, a phaser blast struck a nearby vehicle.
Everyone froze temporarily.
    "My name is Varsash. He is Chazarb. We are soldiers in the Wabiana militia." As he
spoke Chakotay noticed how young the soldier seemed. Little more than an adolescent he
thought. "The women of Roprabla are using their technology to destroy our culture."
Varsash continued, "We are proud men who only wish to live off the soil. We do not want
their filthy progress!"
    Each member of the away team took Varsash's words to heart. All three could
sympathize with plight of these men in some way.
    "We have met the Prime Minister, Quatrol. She is attempting to force us into giving
her something that can produce food." said Neelix.
    Varsash's eyes filled with anger, "The wretched females do not have the knowledge to
get food from the soil. Their reserves are running low. They're desperate."
    "Why will they not listen to reason?" asked Neelix. "Even if they had food they would
still need males to procreate."
    The young man sat up as Neelix finished wrapping his wound. "With their spaceships,
they figure they can eventually get food from other planets. As for reproduction," a sad
expression came across Varsash's face, "All Rogalians are a neutral gender when born.
We have light blue skin at first, then at about six of our years we begin to display our
gender. Yellow for female, green for male. The children are kept in an area between the
two continents, where they are nursed by females, and attend school. Once they display
their gender they are placed with the appropriate parent."
    "The females have taken and hidden the children from you?" asked Seven.
    "Yes. Thousands of children. At least half will become males. At first, we thought they
were using them in the selonite mines. Harvesting that awful substance." Varsash paused,
"Once they annihilate us, they will use the young men for procreation." he said somberly.
"I have a child that I've never seen. I want to find my child. That is what motivates me the
most."
    Chakotay could feel anger rising inside of him, but then remembered why they were
there. "Why attack this depot? It is well guarded. Your rifles are primitive compared to
their phasers." he asked.
    "This is the only fueling station large enough to handle their space vessels. Destroying
it will set the females back years. Possibly then they will negotiate." answered Varsash.
"We've been planning an attack for days, but when we saw the women preoccupied with
whatever is happening, we decided to strike."
    "What was your plan?" Seven asked.
    "Their fuel is highly flammable. We hoped someone would get close enough to ignite
it. From what we have learned causing one fuel tank to blow will cause a chain reaction,
and they will all be destroyed." answered Varsash.
    Immediately Chakotay had a plan. "Neelix, stay here with our two friends. Seven and I
will get close enough to ignite the fuel." He picked up a grenade and continued, "When I
toss this grenade, Seven and I will head in the opposite direction. Hopefully the explosion
will distract the females. Every fifteen seconds I want you to toss a grenade. Do you
understand?"
    "Yes sir," Neelix replied, "but wont the explosion injury the males Commander?"
    Chakotay carefully popped his head up and looked around. "That won't be a problem."
he answered. "Almost all the men have retreated back into the woods." He then hit his
communicator. "Away team to Voyager. Can you hear me?"
    After a few seconds, they heard a barely audible reply from the Captain, "Yes we can
Commander, Report."
    "Captain, we have a plan. In a few minutes we hope to have the depot destroyed." said
Chakotay.
    "We hope so as well. The clock is ticking. Good luck." replied Janeway, and with that
the transmission ended.
                                                   ********************
    As Janeway finished speaking with Chakotay, she silently considered the possibility of
the away team's plan failing. If that were the case she only had one alternative, destroy the
depot from orbit and put thousands of innocent lives in danger. Just a few minutes earlier
the Captain had received another hail from Quatrol. The Prime Minister offered her one
final opportunity to take the offer or the Rogalians would take what they need, and then
destroy Voyager and her crew. Janeway promised it wouldn't come to that, and had
meant it. Even if she had to opt for the desperation plan.
                                                   ********************
    "Remember to keep low." Chakotay said to Seven. Then he removed the pin from a
grenade, and threw it as far as he could. A few seconds later there was a loud explosion as
the grenade went off. Immediately, Seven and Chakotay took off, phasers in hand,
towards the barbed-wire fence. As they ran they could hear phaser fire coming from the
guard towers. Gratefully, they realized the guards were firing towards the explosions, and
that their distraction had worked. As ordered, Neelix threw a grenade every fifteen
seconds. Within a couple of minutes they made it to the fence.
    The fence itself was thick with barbed-wire, but not thick enough that someone could
not see through, or aim a phaser threw. "We only get one shot at this. Then they'll know
we're here." said Chakotay. They peered threw the fence, and saw another ship decloak
and land. Quickly, the females attached large fuel hoses to the vessel. "You cut one of the
hoses, then I'll ignite the fuel."
    Seven nodded her head in agreement, "Then what?" she asked.
    "We run like hell!" proclaimed Chakotay, as each of them found an opening threw the
fence. "Fire when ready." he said, as he tried, unsuccessfully, to keep his pulse rate down.
He knew this was not only their best shot at destroying the depot, but most likely their
only shot.
    Seven took a deep breath and aimed carefully. She fired and struck the hose. As fuel
shot everywhere, the fuel crew began to run around frantically. After a couple of seconds,
Chakotay fired into a pool of fuel forming on the duracrete. Instantly the fuel went up in
flames!
    "Run!" yelled Seven, as she got up and headed back towards Neelix and the other two
men. Chakotay stood up and began to follow, but as he did, a phaser blast rushed by his
head. Startled, he put his head down and began to run. He knew the guard tower had
discovered them, but before the females could shoot again, a huge explosion rocked the
area. The vessel that was being refueled exploded in a ball of flames, quickly followed by
an erupting fuel tank.
    The ground shook like an earthquake. Every window on every building and vehicle
shattered. Chakotay and Seven fell to the ground, and covered their heads. About ten
seconds later another fuel tank detonated. Chakotay got to his feet, shook off the ringing
in his ears, and helped Seven off the ground. Together they stumbled back to their friends,
managing to stay on their feet as tanks erupted about every ten seconds.
    When they reached Neelix and the males, they saw Varsash flat on his belly, covering
his head with his arms. Neelix was on top of, the still unconscious Chazarb, providing
cover for the helpless man. Both Seven and Chakotay joined there comrades on the
ground, and absorbed ear splitting after ear splitting explosion.
                                                    ********************
    After what seemed like forever, the explosions stopped. The station was destroyed.
Every fuel tank gone, along with the guard towers, the building that housed the workers,
and one enemy vessel. Chakotay was the first to slowly get to his knees. He attempted to
speak, but couldn't hear himself. All he could hear was the painful ringing in his ears.
Before he could observe the destruction, he felt himself dematerializing, and saw the same
happening to both Seven and Neelix.
    About one minute later, Varsash finally summoned the courage to lift himself up. He
too could only hear the ringing in his ears, but once he saw the destroyed depot, he didn't
care. He then looked around for the three aliens, but they were gone. About this time
Chazarb started to awake. Quickly, Varsash knelt beside his friend and silently proclaimed,
"Victory my brother! Victory!"
                                                    ********************
Captain's log: supplemental

    After the 'gas station', as Tom Paris called it, was destroyed, The Rogalian ships
broke off their attack, and returned to the planets surface.
    As for the away team, they are safely back on Voyager. The Doctor says they will
regain full hearing in a few days, but the ringing, in their ears, will continue for some
time. I look forward to reading their reports.
    Using the Delta Flyer, Ensign Paris has successfully opened the warp conduits. We
are currently heading away from Rogalia, and continuing our search for food.
                                                   ********************
    "I'll speak up," said Janeway to the successful away team. "I know you still haven't
regained all of your hearing." It had been two days since they left Rogalia. Janeway read
their reports, but wanted to hear what they had to say in person, on one particular topic. "I
called you here because I want your opinions on something."
    "What's that, Captain?" asked Neelix loudly. Janeway cringed at the Talaxian's loud
voice, but considering his condition, thought it would be rude to ask him to lower it.
    "What do you think will happen on Rogalia? What will happen to the males, and the
children?" asked Janeway.
    "The men will continue to withhold food from the females, and also continue to fight."
replied Seven.
    Chakotay then added, "I know we only met one of the males, but if his feelings of
anger and resentment are indicative of the rest of the men on Wabiana," he then paused,
"They till fight to their deaths. Not only are they fighting for their way of life, they're also
fighting for their children."
    "How could an entire race of people let their technology turn them into such evil
creatures?" Neelix asked the group.
    Seven knew the answer, but decided to remain silent.




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