Nightingale : Episode 154 Part B :: EPISODE GUIDES :: Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site

NIGHTINGALE : Episode 154

Terek watches as Kim works to repair the Kraylor ship's engines.
Terek: "How did you do it?"
Kim: "Do what?"
Terek: "Disable the Annari warship so quickly?"
Kim: "Er basically, we used their own weapons against them."
Terek: "How?"
Kim: "We used a deflector pulse to overload their phaser banks." He completes part of the repair and some of the systems he has been working on come online.
Terek, impressed: "You know a lot about engineering."
Kim: "It's all part of my Starfleet training."
Terek: "Starfleet?"
Kim: "Yeah, the organisation I work for."
Terek: "And they teach you all these things?"
Kim: "We train at an Academy, and I guess I've picked up a few new tricks during my time on Voyager."
Terek: "How long have you been captain?"
Kim: "I'm just an Ensign."
Terek: "Ensign? What's that?"
Kim: "A junior officer. The lowest ranked officer, actually."

Terek: "This is my first deep space assignment. It hasn't gone very well."
Kim: "Could you hand me that?" Terek does so. "My first week on the job didn't go very well either. We ended up 70,000 light-years from home, lost over a dozen crewmembers, but I got through it. So will you."
Terek: "I hope so."
Kim: "If you're going to be a starship officer, you've got to accept that adversity comes with the job."

Back on Voyager....

Torres enters Cargo Bay 2 where Icheb is working at the computer workstation. He has a large dish containing a meal perched on the console and takes pieces from it to eat from time to time as he works.
Torres: "What's that?"
Icheb: "It's a diagnostic of the anti-matter injectors."
Torres: "No, I meant that stuff you're eating."
Icheb: "They're nutritional supplements, replicated to meet my metabolic requirements."
Torres: "Sounds delicious. You know, in the Messhall they actually have tables and chairs for that."
Icheb: "I prefer to work while I eat. It's a more efficient use of my time."
Torres: "You did a great job today. We're ahead of schedule, thanks to you. Here's what we're going to work on tomorrow. I'll see you at 0600." She goes to leave, but a thought strikes her and she turns back. "Icheb."
Icheb: "Yes?"
Torres: "What do you do for fun?"
Icheb: "Fun?"
Torres: "Recreation. How do you spend your time when you're off duty?"
Icheb: "Between my work and my studies I don't have much time for recreation."
Torres: "I've learned that you've got to take a break once in a while. I've been doing a lot of rock-climbing, on the Holodeck. Maybe when we're finished tightening all the nuts and bolts you'd like to join me?"
Icheb: "I do have an interest in geology."
Torres: "It's not about the rocks, Icheb. It's about the climbing." And she leaves.

On board the Kraylor vessel, Seven reports to Kim: "Main power's been restored. All stations responding."
Kim summarises the ship's operating status for Loken and Dayla. "The cloak's back online, impulse and warp drives are standing by, shields are at 96 per cent. I'd say you're ready to get back on course."
Loken: "We appreciate your help."
Kim: "I hope you have a safe journey."
Loken: "Mr Kim, I feel guilty asking even more of you, but no one on this ship knows how to fly it."
Kim: "None of you has ever piloted a starship?"
Loken: "I've trained in shuttles, but nothing like this."
Kim: "I'll enter a flight plan in the auto-navigation system and give you a quick course in helm operations. You shouldn't have any trouble."
Loken: "Couldn't you take us? This ship needs an experienced commanding officer."
Kim: "I'm sorry, but we've already gotten more involved than we should've, and they need us back on Voyager."
Loken: "It's not just my ship that concerns me. You've made an enemy of the Annari now, but if you dock your ship in our Shuttlebay our cloak will protect you."
Kim: "That's a generous offer but we'll be fine."
Loken: "Please, Mr Kim, we can't afford to fail. This ship-"
Dayla: "Loken, don't."
Loken to Dayla: "We can trust these people." To Kim, Neelix and Seven: "I'm a doctor. These people are my research team. We're carrying new vaccines to our homeland. They'll save thousands of lives."
Neelix to Kim: "Sir, I looked at their flight plan. It takes them pretty close to Voyager.
Kim: "I'll bring you as far as our ship. When we get there, you can discuss your situation with my captain."
Loken: "Thank you."
Seven to Kim: "What about Starfleet policy?"
Kim: "This is a humanitarian mission. Dock the Flyer in their Shuttlebay."

Accordingly the ship sets course and engages its cloak (right) as it gets under way. Once the cloak is activated, the ship then becomes invisible both visually and to Annari ship sensors.

Later Neelix reports: "We're approaching the planet."

Kim: "Take us out of warp. Disengage the cloak."
Seven: "Wait. I'm detecting three alien vessels in orbit."
Kim: "On screen."
Terek recognises the ships. He turns to Kim and says: "Those are Annari warships. Your people are in danger."

Janeway and Chakotay bring an Annari commander, Geral, onto Voyager's bridge. Maintenance and repair work is being carried out on parts of the Bridge.
Janeway: "I apologise for the state of my ship. We weren't expecting company."
Geral: "I hope we're not imposing."
Chakotay: "Not at all. Making contact with new cultures is a priority for us."
Geral: "For us too. This is a fine ship, Captain."
Janeway: "One of the best in the fleet, but it could use a new set of deuterium injectors."
Chakotay: "Any chance you could provide them?"
Geral: "I think we can arrange something. What are you offering in exchange?"
Janeway: "Zeolitic ore. We have several tons of it from an asteroid field. It's high grade, easy to refine."
Geral: "I'll speak to my supply officer."
Tuvok: "We're being hailed by Ensign Kim, audio only."
Janeway: "Hello, Harry."
Kim, via comms: "Is everything alright?"
Janeway: "Of course, why wouldn't it be?"
Kim, via comms: "Our long-range scans detected several alien ships orbiting the planet."
Janeway: "I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to worry about. We've made some new friends, that's all. When can we expect you back?"
Kim, via comms: "Er, we've run into a slight delay."
Janeway: "Nothing serious, I hope?"
Kim, via comms: "Er, no. Everything's under control."
Janeway: "Good. Any luck finding dilithium?"
Kim, via comms: "I'm afraid not."
Janeway: "I'll tell the other teams to keep looking. See you soon, Ensign."
Kim, via comms: "Yes, ma'am. Kim out."
Geral: "Dilithium? We can get that for you too."
Janeway: "Really?"

Loken: "She's formed an alliance with our enemy."
Kim: "Just because they're talking doesn't mean they've formed an alliance. It's probably just a friendly meeting."
Loken: "That's how the Annari operate. They come to you as friends, and when they've won your trust they declare you subjects of the Annari Empire."

Eventually Geral and his ships leave Voyager, meaning that it is now safe for Kim to bring the Kraylor ship close by and disengage the cloak.

Janeway is examining one of the system parts when Kim hails Voyager.
Kim, via comms: "Kim to Voyager."
Janeway: "We didn't expect you so soon."
Kim, via comms: "Actually, Captain, I'm closer than I let on and I've brought some new friends of my own."

In the Briefing Room on Voyager, Loken has been putting his case to Janeway. He concludes: "Our chances of our getting home without your help aren't very good. We appreciate any assistance you could offer."
Janeway: "I hope you understand I need to give this some thought."
Loken nods. He gets up and leaves, and is accompanied by the security guard, leaving Kim and Janeway alone in the Briefing Room.

Behind Janeway can be seen the planet surface rock formations as sunlight streams in through the windows.
Janeway: "You've put me in a difficult position, Ensign. We could use the help the Annari are offering, but if they find out we're aiding their enemy-"
Kim: "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Janeway: "That doesn't justify getting involved in somebody else's fight."
Kim: "What would you have done?"
Janeway: "Probably exactly what you did."
Kim: "I guess I learned from the best."
Janeway: "If this was simply an errand of mercy, but the fact is that these people are involved in an interplanetary war."
Kim: "Captain, I've gotten to know them over the last couple of days. You've met Loken. They're scientists, not soldiers."
Janeway: "You've only heard one side of the story."
Kim: "You've taken sides before: the Borg resistance, the Vaadwaur."
Janeway: "Those were different circumstances."
Kim: "You were trying to help people in need. How is this any different?"
Janeway: "Have you thought of applying to the Advocate General's Office? You'd make a good lawyer. I could spare Chakotay or Tuvok for a few days."
Kim: "That won't be necessary. The Kraylor know me. They trust me."
Janeway: "I'm sure they'd find Tuvok or Chakotay just as trustworthy."
Kim: "But they outrank me. If you send one of them, it won't be my mission any more."
Janeway: "Your mission?"
Kim: "My first real command."
Janeway: "You've been in command on Voyager before."
Kim: "On the night shift, for a few hours. It's not the same thing. You and Chakotay are always a couple of decks away, ready to take over if anything goes wrong. I've been on Voyager for almost seven years, and I'm still an Ensign."
Janeway: "If this is your way of bucking for promotion-"
Kim: "No. No, I understand there's a command structure and that our circumstances are unique, but the fact is: if we were back home, I'd be a Lieutenant by now, maybe even a Lieutenant Commander."
Janeway: "You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
Kim: "I know I can do this. The Kraylor have given me a chance to prove it."
Janeway: "I expect you back before we complete our repairs."
Kim: "Yes, ma'am."
Janeway: "And I'm not sending you alone."
Kim: "Captain-"
Janeway: "I want you to take Seven. Since she has no rank, you clearly outrank her."
Kim gives a broad smile and leaves, and Janeway too cannot help but smile as she watches him leave - the big-hearted and very capable Kim, keen to prove himself on full-time starship command.

Icheb enters Voyager's Sickbay and tells the Doctor: "Lieutenant Torres asked me to repair a malfunctioning holo-emitter."
Doctor: "It's about time. Whenever I move to the far corner of the surgical bay, my legs disappear."
Icheb holds aloft the engineering tool required to investigate and repair the holo-emitter.
Icheb: "Seven of Nine told me you gave her social lessons."
Doctor: "She wanted to get along better with the crew. Social skills are one thing the Borg never assimilated."
Icheb: "I was hoping you could instruct me as well."
Doctor: "I'd be delighted. Lesson One: Making A First Impression-"
Icheb: "Actually, I wanted to ask you about something specific."
Doctor: "Fire away."
Icheb: "How can you tell when someone has...romantic feelings for you?"
Doctor: "Icheb, this is a surprise. Have you caught someone's eye?"
Icheb, being discreet for the sake of himself and Torres, answers: "I'm speaking hypothetically."
Doctor, meaningfully: "Aaah! 'Hypothetically', there are various indications of romantic attraction: compliments for example, invitations to social activities, finding excuses to be in close proximity with someone."
Icheb: "Yes, but couldn't those things happen in a relationship that wasn't romantic?"
Doctor: "I suppose."
Icheb: "Is there a way to be absolutely certain?"
Doctor: "Well, short of an open declaration of affection, there are some fairly reliable physiological responses: elevated blood pressure, increased beta endorphin production-"
Icheb: "Thank you, Doctor. You've been very helpful."
As Icheb leaves, the Doctor calls after him: "With my guidance you'll master the nuances of social interaction in no time!"

Thanks to Feeble Minds for the animated star background (tweaked by me).

Thanks to Icon Bazaar for the animated letter titles.

	Eventually Geral and his ships leave Voyager, meaning that it is now safe for Kim to bring the Kraylor ship close by and disengage the cloak.
	Janeway is examining one of the system parts when Kim hails Voyager. Kim, via comms: "Kim to Voyager." Janeway: "We didn't expect you so soon." Kim, via comms: "Actually, Captain, I'm closer than I let on and I've brought some new friends of my own."