WARHEAD
Episode 119
Part E

 

Voyager shakes as something impacts. Red alert klaxons sound. Janeway, via comms: "Bridge, report." Paris, via comms: "The alien vessel has opened fire. We've lost weapons and shields."

In Sickbay, the Warhead/(Doctor) demands to know what the impact was. It taps the Doctor's combadge. combadge Via comms: "Sickbay to Captain, what's happening?" Janeway, via comms: "We're under attack." Warhead/(Doctor), via comms: "How many ships?" Janeway, via comms: "One, off the port bow." Warhead/(Doctor), via comms: "Return fire!” Janeway, via comms: "We can't. Check your sensors. Our weapons are offline."

Bridge. Chakotay: "The forcefields around Sickbay are destabilising. He's trying to get a transporter lock on the weapon." Janeway: "Remodulate the shields." Chakotay: "No effect."

In Sickbay, as the Warhead casing starts to dematerialise as Onquanii tries to transport it, Torres watches as the Warhead/(Doctor) presses a button on its casing. Torres: "What are you doing?"

Bridge. Chakotay: "The weapon's sending an antimatter surge back through the transporter beam."

Onquanii's ship explodes!

The end of Onquanii.

Chakotay: "They've been destroyed." Janeway: "That wasn't necessary." Warhead/(Doctor), via comms: "They were an enemy. Maintain course." In Sickbay, Torres and Kim can only look on, horrified, at the Warhead/(Doctor)'s action.

Bridge. Seven: "I've studied the weapon's schematics. My nanoprobes can be adapted to disable its bio-neural circuitry. However, I would need direct access to its primary control port." Janeway: "That means getting you into Sickbay without arousing suspicion." Chakotay: "We could access the holomatrix controls above Sickbay, disrupt the Doctor's program long enough for Seven to inject the nanoprobes."

Janeway: "How much time would you need?" Seven: "Approximately twenty seconds."

Janeway: "Run a long-range scan on that subspace minefield it warned us about. Calculate their explosive yield, what kind of damage they might do to the ship." Tuvok: "Aye, Captain." Chakotay: "What have you got in mind?" Janeway: "I have a feeling we're about to run into some unexpected trouble."

What no one on Voyager realises is that a host of Long-range Tactical Armour Units is flying through space in pursuit.

They have tracked the Warhead that is on Voyager. They obtain a visual of Voyager and associated data, and head toward the Federation Starship.

Briefing room. Seven: "We've analysed the alien minefield and calculated the effect it would have on Voyager." Paris: "I think I can simulated the explosions with a well-timed disruption to the inertial dampers. Of course, asking me to give you a bumpy ride is like asking a virtuoso to sing off-key." Chakotay: "I'm sure you'll manage. The weapon has access to our sensors. How do we make sure it won't catch on?" Seven: "We've reconfigured the sensor array to send it false telemetry. It will believe we're navigating a minefield." Paris: "At least long enough for us to get Seven to Sickbay." Chakotay: "How?"

Paris: "Medical emergency." Seven: "I intend to suffer third-degree plasma burns during our encounter with the mines." Neelix: "That's where I come in - chief cosmetics officer, at your service." Chakotay: "Another hidden talent, Neelix?" Neelix: "I know my way around a dermal regenerator. I should be able to simulate a convincing wound."

Chakotay: "OK, we get her inside. Then what?" Seven: "Commander Tuvok will be in position to disrupt the Doctor's program. Once that happens, I will inject the nanoprobes and disable the weapon." Chakotay: "I'll inform the Captain. Get started." As they leave, Paris claps a hand on Neelix's shoulder. Jocularly: "Do well on this mission, Neelix, and maybe the Captain will promote you to Senior Beautician."

In Sickbay, the Warhead/(Doctor) goes to the doorway of the office and orders Kim and Torres: Assist me." Kim: "With what?" Warhead/(Doctor): "I'm trying to identify the malfunction that caused me to crash, but several of my memory files are still damaged. Restore them." It leaves and returns to the computer console in the main area of Sickbay. Torres and Kim do not immediately follow.

Torres: "We tried helping it before. Look where that got us." Kim: "'When taken captive by a hostile force, seek out any opportunity to engage the assailant.' Didn't you ever read the officers' manual? Section one-twenty-six." Torres: "I don't think Starfleet diplomacy is going to work this time. If we co-operate, we'll be giving it the advantage."

Kim: "If there's even a chance that we can convince it to change its mind-" Torres: "It's a bomb, Harry." Kim: "A sentient bomb." Warhead/(Doctor), calling out impatiently: "I said, assist me!"

They leave the office and join it at the console. Kim: "Where do we start?" Warhead/(Doctor): "There are several disruptions in my memory index, including a 3 minute 37 second gap just prior to the crash."

Torres: "A recursive search algorithm might retrieve the missing data." She implements one.

The display produces more characters. "There. You received a subspace transmission - a command to alter course and head toward the planet surface." Kim: "Looks like your landing wasn't an accident."

Warhead/(Doctor): "It was an attempt by the enemy to divert me from my target." Torres: "No, your access codes are encrypted." Warhead/(Doctor): "They must've developed an infiltration code." Kim: "What if it wasn't the enemy?" Warhead/(Doctor): "Who else would try to divert me?"

Kim: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but these are the same duotronic algorithms that you use to communicate with." Warhead/(Doctor): "My own people wouldn't try to stop me." Kim: "Maybe they changed their mind." Warhead/(Doctor): "The enemy is ruthless. My target is a threat. Why would my people call off the assault?" Kim: "If we clear up some more of these memory files, maybe we'll find out."

Warhead/(Doctor): "Your assistance is no longer required." Torres: "What's wrong? You afraid you might find out you're not supposed to destroy that installation?" As the argument between the Warhead/(Doctor) and Torres heats up, Kim intervenes diplomatically, telling it: "Let us finish the job. Then you can decide what you want to do with the information." Warhead/(Doctor): "Proceed."

Later, more information is retrieved and displayed on the monitor. Kim asks the Warhead/(Doctor): "Does the name Strategic Command Matrix mean anything to you?" Warhead/(Doctor): "That's my control centre. They ordered my launch." Kim: "Well, it looks like your orders were rescinded. See for yourself."

Warhead/(Doctor), reading off the monitor: "'All Long-range Tactical Armour Units, terminate mission immediately.'" Kim: "Keep reading." Warhead/(Doctor): "It says the war is over. It ended nearly three years ago. My launch was a mistake. There was a malfunction in one of the command sensors. It activated a series of launch sequencers. My people managed to shut most of them down, but 34 weapons were fired, including me." Kim: "I guess this means you can disarm yourself now."

Warhead/(Doctor): "No. There's no confirmation code here. We avoided the enemy's minefield so they're trying to deceive us!" Torres: "The confirmation could be in one of your damaged memory files." Warhead/(Doctor): "Or maybe it was you - deceiving me to implement your pacifist philosophy!" Kim: "That's not true." Warhead/(Doctor): "You lied to me before. Why should I trust you now?" Torres: "You don't have to trust us. Just access those files!" Warhead/(Doctor), angrily: "No! I am programmed to destroy my target. I will complete my mission!"

Kim: "If the war is over, you could end up starting another one. How many of your people will die then?" Suddenly Voyager judders and status goes to red alert.

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