ALLIANCES
Episode 30

Part C

 

Neelix pilots a shuttlecraft to the planet Sobras.

Neelix enters a bar where there are several Kazon-Pommar men enjoying themselves. An erotic dancer entertains them with sensual moves made to strange music. Neelix is very cheerful and friendly to everyone as he approaches the bar: "Hello, my friends! Please don't let me interrupt."

Neelix: "I was hoping to find my good friend Jal Tersa here. Has he been in tonight?"
The barman grunts in Tersa's direction. "Thank you!"
Tersa is sitting alone at a table, with his back to everyone. He is bent over a puzzle which is laid out on the table. Neelix comes up behind him and makes him jump when he exclaims ebulliently: "Tersa, my friend!"
Tersa jumps. He is unamused, and not pleased to see Neelix. "Could be dangerous sneaking up on a man like that." Neelix: "I'd never dream of sneaking up on you, but you were so engrossed with....whatever it is you're doing." Tersa: "It's a puzzle. What brings you here, Talaxian?"
Neelix sits down. "I'm good at puzzles. Perhaps I can help." Tersa: "The dancer showed it to me. By moving only two rods this dodecahedron can become an icosahedron. She said she could spend the night with the man who could solve it." Neelix: "Splendid motivation, to be sure. I just might be able to make your night a memorable one." Tersa: "You know how to solve this?"
Neelix: "I might, if you'll hear me out first. My fortunes have changed since we last met, Tersa. I've become a person of some influence aboard a starship known as Voyager." Tersa: "You must think us very isolated. Everyone knows that. It's probably the only reason you were allowed in here, specially after last time." Neelix laughs it off: "A simple misunderstanding." Changing to the matter he has come about: "Tersa, I know you have the ear of your First Maje, as I do of our captain. We could be quite useful to both of them."
Tersa: "Go on." Neelix: "My captain is interested in talking to your Maje, to discuss a possible alliance. Do you think he'd have any interest in such a meeting?" Tersa: "An alliance? Between the Kazon-Pommar and the Federations?" Neelix: "An interesting thought, isn't it?"
Suddenly two Kazon-Pommar soldiers come up and seize Neelix. One tells him: "You're coming with us!" Neelix appeals to Tersa for help. "Tersa! Explain to them - we're friends!"
But Tersa tells the men: "I have no idea who this person is. Some lunatic sat down and started babbling." As Neelix is hauled away he mutters to Tersa: "I guess you'll be spending the night alone."

U.S.S. Voyager at the rendezvous co-ordinates transmitted by the Kazon-Nistrim. On board, in Voyager's Briefing Room, Culluh, with Seska in attendance, meets Janeway and Tuvok to discuss the details of the proposed alliance.
Culluh: "You've made a good choice. The Nistrim will be a potent ally." Janeway: "We want to make sure the Nistrim will also be an honourable ally, that you'll adhere to the conditions we establish. You can let all the Kazon factions know that Voyager has formed a coalition with you and will be an ally to any Nistrim ship or outpost that we encounter. In addition, we're prepared to provide emergency supplies when needed: food, medicine, clothing."
Tuvok: "What we will not provide is any of our technology or weaponry." Culluh: "Understood. Just one other detail: an exchange of crewmembers." Janeway is surprised. "An exchange?"
Culluh: "Yes. I'm sure you'll agree that our alliance should represent a genuine partnership." Tuvok: "Perhaps you should define that." Culluh: "It's obvious: Federation crew on my ship, Nistrim on yours."
Seska to Culluh: "Maje, I think that's a detail we could work out later." Janeway states firmly: "I can assure you that I would never agree to that." Culluh: "It seems a natural extension of your own proposal." Seska to Culluh: "We don't have to decide everything right now."
Culluh rounds on Seska and shouts at her: "I will determine what we decide and when!"
Seska knows when to act meek. "Yes, Maje."
Janeway does not like what she sees, and Culluh forgets that Janeway is a woman when he says: "I won't have a woman dictate terms to me." Janeway stands up, having made a decision. "Culluh, I found the idea of an alliance with you distasteful. I was willing to explore the possibility. But now I see that my instincts were dead on."
Culluh is disconcerted, seeing the alliance he wants vanish before it can even be born. He appeals to Tuvok, Janeway's officer and importantly a male: "Talk to her. Tell her to be reasonable." But Tuvok says and does nothing.

Janeway: "This meeting is over."

The two Kazon-Pommar soldiers take Neelix through some caves. Neelix is not going meekly, however. "As soon as your Maje learns I'm being imprisoned he'll be outraged!" A soldier pushes Neelix: "Hurry up!" Neelix: "He won't look kindly on anyone who's made such a-" They push him onward. "What are you charging me with!" At last they stop. Neelix is now panting after being hurried along so fast. "How long will I held-? I assume you'll at least let me confer with counsel. I have the ability to reward handsomely anyone who shows a bit of understanding-" The guards stop, and so does he. He peers into the gloom and sees the shadowy figures of other prisoners. He hears a baby crying. Neelix: "Is that a baby?" The soldiers leave him with the other prisoners." Neelix calls into gloom. "My name is Neelix. I'm Talaxian." One of the figures comes forward and becomes fully visible. "I'm Mabus. My friends and I are Trabe." Mabus notices the wound on Neelix's head. "They hurt you." Neelix: "I wasn't walking quickly enough for them." Mabus: "Let's get the bleeding stopped, then I'll clean it." Neelix: "Why are they holding you?" Mabus attends to Neelix's wound. "They seem to be detaining anyone who isn't Kazon. Some of our group have been taken for questioning but so far none of them have come back." Neelix: "How long have you been here?" Mabus: "Five days. They attacked us in space. Twenty of our crew died. We've lost nine more since they put us in prison, including most of the governing council. I'm the only left." Neelix: "The Kazon won't be satisfied until you've all been annihilated." Mabus: "If we've learned anything, it's how to survive. Did you notice how many guards they had posted at the entrance to the prison?" Neelix: "Only two. I guess they assume this place is so secure they don't need any more. Why do you ask?" Mabus: "We don't plan to sit here while they kill us one by one. We were able to get a message through to another Trabe vessel before we were boarded. Help is on the way. Can we count on you?"