DRAGON'S TEETH
Episode 127
Part C

 

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. We've revived nearly two hundred of the Vaadwaur and we're moving forward with our unexpected alliance."

The Vaadwaur battalion commander, Gaul, with his second-in-command named Morin, are shown into Voyager's Astrometrics Lab, along with Gedrin. On the main viewscreen is displayed a schematic of the part of the subspace corridor network that Voyager's crew have charted from sensor data gathered while the starship was in it. Tuvok: "Voyager was pulled into the corridor two hundred light years from here." Gaul: "Pulled in?"

Morin: "There must have been a break along the radial wall." Gedrin: "The corridors occur naturally, but they're very unstable. They're damaged by use." Gaul: "Obviously the Turei don't have the wisdom to maintain them properly. They'll be very difficult to navigate after centuries of neglect."

Tuvok: "We've only been able to chart a few of the corridors. Can you provide us with a more complete map?" Morin: "We've never kept written records, for security reasons. Of course, we committed all the corridors to memory, every multifold, every spatial intersect." Gaul: "I'll be happy to plot a course for you, but first we'll need to get past the Turei. How many vessels are in orbit?" He and Janeway look towards Seven.

Seven: "Eleven."

Janeway: "Mr Gaul, Tuvok, start working on a tactical plan." Gedrin: "If we do manage to escape, we'll need to locate a habitable world."

Janeway: "Seven, scan the astrometric database. See what you can find. Some place out of the way." Seven: "Yes, Captain." Gedrin: "Morin, take charge of reviving the rest of our battalion." Morin: "Many of our bio-pods have been damaged. I could use some assistance." Janeway: "Our chief engineer will be glad to give you a hand." Morin: "Thank you." Janeway: "Well, let's get started. We've got a civilisation to rebuild."

That evening a weary Neelix makes his regular visit to the Wildmans' quarters. He goes into Naomi's bedroom.
Neelix: "No story tonight, Naomi. I had to cook for two hundred people today."
Naomi: "That's OK. I'm tired too."
Neelix: "Did you get a chance to meet any of the children?"
Naomi: "I don't like them."
Neelix: "Why not?"
Naomi: "I just don't."
Neelix: "Well, that's not good enough. I'm the ship's ambassador; you're the Captain's assistant. We have to make a, a good impression on our new friends."
Naomi: "They're not my friends."
Neelix: "Well, not yet. Listen first thing tomorrow, you and I will get together with a couple of the children-"
Naomi: "No."

Neelix: "Naomi, what's wrong?" Naomi: "Nothing. I don't like them and I don't want to play with them." Neelix: "That doesn't sound like you. Tell me what happened." Naomi: "They called you names." Neelix: "Names?" Naomi: "They said everybody from your planet was stupid. They said your ears were funny. They said just looking at you made them laugh. They said-" Neelix interrupts: "I, I, I get the idea. Children can be a little cruel sometimes but there's no need to take it personally. Besides, my ears are kind of funny." Naomi: "I don't want to play with them." Neelix: "No, and you don't have to." Naomi: "OK." She cheers up.

Neelix: "Come on. Good night." He tucks her up in bed and kisses her.

Neelix: "I'll tell you a story tomorrow, I promise." He dims the light. But her words set him thinking.

In the underground central chamber, Morin and Torres are supervising work. Torres: "I'm not happy with these fluctuations. We may be trying to reactivate too many ships at once." Morin: "I suggest we focus on the assault fighters." He adds a compliment in Klingonese.

Torres: "Thanks. When did you learn Klingon?" Morin: "Just a few phrases. I was studying your database. The Klingons are a noble race." Torres: "They have their moments."

Morin: "'Today is a good day to die.'"
Torres: "Pardon?"
Morin: "Kahless, your greatest warrior. That was his battle cry."
Torres: "You seem to have taken an interest in Klingon history."
Morin: "There are many parallels between our cultures. The Vaadwaur have also learned to embrace death without fear. As children, we're taught to fall asleep each night imagining a different way to die."
Torres: "I prefer curling up with a good book."
Morin makes a sound showing he is amused. "Hmm."

Neelix: "Computer," LCARS computer "access my personal database." Computer: "Access established." Neelix: "Go into the Talaxian linguistic files, Old Tongue dialect. Find and define the word vaadwaur." Computer: "Vaadwaur. Archaic adjective. Primary meaning: foolish. Additional meanings: weak-minded, reckless, blind." Neelix: "What's the first known usage?" Computer: "First written example appears in Eldaxon's Collected Folklore, second edition, year of publication 5012 new calendar." Neelix: "Computer, name the specific folktales that use the word vaadwaur."

Computer: "The Demon with the Golden Voice. The Tale of the Deadly Stranger. The Tale of the Boy who Lost his Head. The Tale of the Bloody Hand." As the computer lists the entries, Neelix returns to the Galley. Neelix: "Not exactly Mother Goose. Computer, transfer the text of those stories to my quarters." Computer: "Transfer complete."

Astrometrics Lab. Gedrin: "That star cluster in grid 1421 - nearly half the planets are inhabitable." Seven: "Unfortunately they are already occupied, by the Borg." Gedrin: "The Borg? In my century, they'd only assimilated a handful of systems. It looks like they've spread through the Quadrant like a plague." He suddenly remembers Seven is Borg. "No offence." Seven: "None taken." Gedrin: "We had a colony near the twin star in grid 315." Seven: "That is part of the Devore Imperium now."

Gedrin: "And who are they?" Seven: "An authoritarian regime. They claim eleven systems across three sectors." Gedrin: "I don't suppose they'd be willing to negotiate for a continent or two." Seven: "The Devore are intolerant of outsiders." Gedrin: "Er, doesn't matter. We have nothing to negotiate with. Our technology is nine hundred years out of date." Seven: "Your pessimism is irrelevant. We will find a home for you." Gedrin: "I hope you're right."

In the Briefing Room, Janeway, Tuvok and Gaul hold a strategy meeting. Tuvok: "Sixteen Turei vessels are now in orbit. Long range sensors indicate five more on the way."

Janeway: "I can understand that they want the odds in their favour but isn't that overkill?" Gaul: "They may have detected us. If they know their history, they'll come prepared." Janeway: "Nine hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge." Gaul: "The Turei would like nothing more than to find the rest of our subspace corridors. We can't allow that to happen."

Tuvok: "Then I suggest we use the element of surprise. At 0600, Voyager will leave the surface and engage the Turei ships in orbit. As we draw their fire, the more powerful Vaadwaur vessels will attack from multiple vectors. The rest of the Vaadwaur will break orbit from the opposite side of the planet and proceed to the subspace corridors. We'll rendezvous with them afterwards."

Gaul: "What if Voyager is disabled? We'll be defenceless. If we armed my ships with your photon torpedoes then-" Janeway: "I can't authorise that." Gaul: "Why not?" Janeway: "Starfleet protocols are very strict about the transfer of weapons." Gaul: "I'm not used to putting my life in someone else's hands." Janeway: "There are a lot of things you're going to have to get used to. We've faced enemies worse than the Turei. I'm confident we can handle them."

Gaul: "I need those weapons." Janeway: "I'm sorry, the answer's no." Gaul: "If you want access to our corridors-" Janeway: "We'll continue home through open space if we have to." Gaul: "Alright, our lives are in your hands."

Gaul meets wit Morin and Gedrin in the Vaadwaur central chambeer. Gedrin: "We found a planet in a nebula near the junction of corridors three nine and eight seven five. We'd be isolated and relatively safe." Gaul: "Relatively?" Gedrin: "I'm afraid the planet is somewhat harsh. There are no large bodies of water and the vegetation sparse." Gaul: "This is absurd!"

A Voyager crewman comes and stands on the gantry immediately above them and calls: "Ensign, we need a power coupling over here, on the double."

Realising they might be overheard, the Vaadwaur move away and reconvene a distance away, somewhere more discreet.
Gaul: "Our plan was to reoccupy one of our former colonies, gain allies, rebuild our forces take back what was ours."
Gedrin: "Our former colonies are destroyed or occupied by species that are far more advanced than we are."
Morin: "Then we'll find a way to take them back."
Gedrin: "With what? A battalion of obsolete ships and outdated weapons?"
Gaul: "No, with Voyager. I've been studying their technology, the control systems, propulsion, weaponry. We could learn to operate the vessel ourselves."
Gedrin: "What are you saying?"

Gaul: "After they engage the Turei they'll expect us to assist them. Instead, we'll attack! We'll put as many soldiers as we can onto Voyager and take it into the corridors." Gedrin: "This is a mistake If we fail, we'll lose everything." Gaul: "If you'd like, I can return you to your stasis pod." He issues the order: "Inform the others."

Astrometrics Lab. Seven: "This is an M-class planet in orbit of a type G star."

Seven: We've located a subcontinent with edible vegetation and an underground water supply. Unfortunately, the region is subject to windstorms." Gedrin: "Not exactly paradise." Seven: "You will adapt."

Gedrin: "Practical and to the point, just like my wife. She had a knack for cutting to the truth." Seven: "She must have been an efficient individual." Gedrin: "To say the least. You would have enjoyed her company. You are not at all like the Borg I knew."

Seven: "As a drone, I helped assimilate many civilisations. Now I have the opportunity to help reconstruct one. I find the experience," she searches for the right word, "gratifying." Gedrin: "So do I. I'm curious. Has your crew ever considered finding a planet of their own, a place to settle down?" Seven: "Captain Janeway is committed to getting Voyager back to Earth." Gedrin: "That could take decades, and there are many dangers ahead." Seven: "We will adapt." Gedrin: "I suppose you will."

The com. signal sounds. Via comms: "Neelix to Seven of Nine."
Seven taps her combadge. "Yes?"
Neelix, via comms: "Could I see you in Cargo Bay 2? It's important."
Seven: "Acknowledged."
Gedrin: "I'm due for a final briefing with your Mr Tuvok."
Seven: "I'll accompany you to the Bridge."
They leave.

Neelix is waiting in Cargo Bay 2 for Seven to arrive. She does so.

Neelix: "I'm sorry to bother you, but I've been doing some research on our new allies, and I have found something very interesting. In dozens of the ancient folktales of my people, there's a common theme. They describe a phantom army that appears out of thin air, destroys entire colonies, and vanishes in the blink of an eye. Sound familiar?" Seven: "The subspace corridors." Neelix: "Exactly. Gedrin claims they've been using them as trade routes but I'm starting to wonder."

Seven: "Your source material is folktales, Mr Neelix." Neelix: "But many fables have a basis in reality. You've got the collective knowledge of thousands of species. You could cross-reference my findings. It'll only take a few minutes."

Seven takes his PADD and goes over to a Borg interface panel and presses several controls.

Thoughtful, a Janeway is drinking a hot beverage in her Ready Room when the door signal sounds. Janeway: "Come in." Gedrin enters. "You wanted to see me, Captain?"

Janeway: "Yes. I need a little history lesson." Gedrin: "Can't it wait until after we've reached the corridors?" Janeway: "I'm afraid not. I've just had a conversation with Mr Neelix and Seven of Nine. They've been poring through various databases and have come up with some surprising findings." Gedrin: "Surprising?"

Janeway heads over to the window as she starts talking. "You told me the Vaadwaur were a culture of merchants and scientists who expanded their knowledge by using subspace corridors to travel to other worlds. You were the envy of hundreds of species, some of whom eventually wanted the corridors for themselves."
Gedrin: "Your point?"

Janeway: "Let me give you another version of events. The Vaadwaur were an aggressive culture, who expanded their territory by using the corridors to attack other worlds, until some of those worlds banded together to defend themselves and put an end to the Vaadwaur threat once and for all. Would you care to set the record straight?"

Gedrin: "That was nine hundred years ago." Janeway: "If we're going to be fighting side by side, I have to trust you. I need to be certain you don't have any ulterior motives." Gedrin: "Our only motive is survival."

Janeway: "If I were to take you at your word, the ancient Talaxians might call me vaadwaur, foolish. That's what they came to call anyone who allowed themselves to be deceived by an enemy. There are hundreds of other references just like it." Gedrin: "Both versions of our history are true. We did use the corridors to explore and on occasion expand our territory. But Captain, we have gone from a population of six billion to six hundred. Our weapons are archaic. Do you really think that we are prepared to declare war on the Delta Quadrant?" Janeway: "Not yet, but right now it's Voyager I'm worried about. The Turei are going to be firing everything they've got at my ship. You might try to take advantage of that."

Gedrin: "What are you going to do, put us all back into stasis?" Janeway: "We said we'd try to help you make a new start, and I want to keep that promise, but I can't ignore history, Mr Gedrin."

She goes to the door. She bows her head as the signal that Gedrin should precede her onto the Bridge - the meeting is over.
Janeway: "Make yourself comfortable, Mr Gedrin."

She leaves Gedrin and takes Chakotay aside. "Chakotay, I don't know whether to believe him or not. What I wouldn't give for a Betazoid about now." Chakotay: "If Mr Neelix is right, we should be ready for anything. Their technology may be outdated but it can still do a lot of damage." Janeway: "Agreed. Maintain a full security alert, and have Tuvok keep a weapons lock on their primary reactor." Chakotay: "Are we still proceeding at 0600 hours?" Janeway: "Yes, but with a few modifications. What's Mr Gaul's location?" Kim: "He's in the central chamber."

Chakotay moves across the Bridge to speak to Tuvok.
Janeway to Kim: "Hail him." referring to Gaul.

Gaul, on viewscreen: "Captain, we've reactivated 73 assault vessels. Our pilots are standing by." Janeway: "I need to inform you about a change of plan. I want you to deactivate the particle cannons on all but ten of your assault vessels. Then we'll proceed on schedule." Gaul, on viewscreen: "I don't understand." Janeway: "Only ten of your ships are going to engage the Turei. The others will head directly for the subspace corridors. I see no reason for those to be armed." Gaul, on viewscreen: "Something could go wrong. Why leave them defenceless?" Janeway: "Voyager will defend them." Gaul, on viewscreen: "What prompted this change?" Janeway: "You haven't been completely honest about your past, and that makes me a little uncertain about the present." Gaul, on viewscreen: "Gedrin." Gedrin: "I suggest you listen to her." Gaul, on viewscreen: "Request denied, Captain." Janeway: "It's not a request. You can call it an ultimatum if you like." Gaul, on viewscreen: "Unacceptable." Janeway: "I'm going to leave this planet in one hour with or without you." Gaul, on viewscreen: "We did not spend nine hundred years in stasis to take orders from you!" He ends contact.

Gaul orders Morin: "Contact the battalion. Tell them to prepare for the attack."