INNOCENCE
Episode 38
Part E

 

Tuvok: "There were no other lifeforms and no unusual energy readings within sensor range all night." Tressa: "It was the Morrok! Why don't you believe me?!" Tuvok: "Very well. I'll investigate. I'd like you to wait here while I look inside the cave." Tressa is afraid for him. "But if you go in there, you won't come out."

Tuvok: "I will take every possible precaution." He hesitates then hands her his phaser. "I believe you can be responsible with this." He shows her how to work it. "Aim like this and press here to fire. I'll seal the shuttle's door while I'm gone."

Tressa: "No, Tuvok, don't leave me all by myself, please!" Tuvok: "If there is anything in the cave, it may help us determine what has been happening here. It is very important to gather as much as information as possible." Tressa: "I'm scared." Tuvok: "We often fear what we do not understand. Our best defence is knowledge. You must trust me, Tressa. I'll return shortly." Tressa: "Promise." Tuvok: "I will not abandon you."

He goes out of the shuttlecraft and stands in her sight while the door closes.

Tressa is still unhappy that he has to go.

Tuvok enters the cave.

He finds the remains of children's clothes, but no sign of any children.

The shuttlecraft door starts to open. Determinedly, Tressa levels the phaser.

But then Tuvok appears and climbs in.

She is relieved and delighted to see him. She hugs him.

Tressa: "What did you see in there?" Tuvok: "I realise it may frighten you, but you must hear the truth. Suffice it to say, I did not find the other children, nor do I have any explanation of what happened to them." Tressa: "I'm going to be next, aren't I? There's nothing we can do about it." Tuvok: "The disappearances have occurred only at night. We will attempt to leave here before the sun sets." Tressa: "I will really be quiet this time. I won't touch anything." Tuvok: "That would make it difficult for you to assist me with repairs."

Janeway is delighted to see Tuvok

Voyager bridge. Paris: "The Drayans have just sent another shuttle down to the moon, Captain." Kim: "There must be at least twenty people on the surface. I can't tell if the two lifeforms we detected before are still there." Chakotay is sceptical about the Drayan search efforts. "How many search parties could it take to find two crash victims?" Kim: "Captain, there's a break in the turbulence. I'm picking up a comm. signal." Tuvok, via comms: "Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, do you read?" The signal is poor but audible. Janeway: "We read you, Tuvok. Are you alright?" Tuvok, on viewscreen: "Yes, Captain, but Ensign Bennet is dead." Janeway: "We know. We've been trying to get you off the surface, but we're having some trouble with the Drayans. They insist on sending their own search parties." Tuvok, on viewscreen: "Yes. I have been avoiding them." Janeway: "Why?" Tuvok, on viewscreen: "I have a young girl with me who claims they have come to kill her. I was reluctant to believe it at first but several other children have disappeared." The image and sound start to break up. Kim: "There's nothing I can do, Captain. The signal's breaking up." Janeway: "Tuvok, what happened to the other children?" Tuvok, on viewscreen: "They have disappeared. Something on this moon is responsible. We must leave here. I'm attempting to repair-" The signal is cut off. Janeway: "Scan Tuvok's shuttle for damage. Will he be able to get himself out of there?" Kim: "There's no structural damage; some power fluctuations. He should be able to take off." Chakotay: "What if they can't?" Janeway: "Hail the Drayan ship." Alcia appears on the viewscreen: Captain." Janeway: "First Prelate, it's come to my attention that you have a damaged ship on the surface as well, and there may be survivors. I'd like to offer our help in finding them, perhaps a joint rescue operation?" Alcia, on viewscreen: "That won't be necessary, Captain. You've been intrusive enough." Janeway: "Our sensor readings indicate the people on the surface may be in trouble. I'm sure you must be as concerned for their safety as we are." Alcia, on viewscreen: "There's no reason to fear for anyone's safety on the crysata. It's a blessed haven, sheltered and unspoiled, which is the very reason why I can't allow you to go there under any circumstances." Janeway: "Then I regret to inform you I'll be taking a shuttle to the surface without your permission." Alcia, on viewscreen: "That's completely unacceptable!" Janeway: "I believe it's necessary." Alcia, on viewscreen: "If you launch one of your shuttles I will be forced to send one of ours after you." Janeway: "First Prelate, it's not my intention to provoke a conflict." Alcia, on viewscreen: "Well, then leave at once!" Janeway: "I'll be glad to, as soon as every member of my crew is safely back on board this ship. Janeway out." Contact ends. "Lieutenant," to Paris, "you're with me. Mr Kim, I need your report." Kim: "I've been studying the energy signature of the Drayan shuttles. They're using some kind of di-electric field to protect them from the turbulence." Paris: "We could generate the same kind of field with our shuttle's warp coils." Kim: "You won't be very stable." Paris: "It might be a rough ride but we can make it." Chakotay: "Captain, maybe you should-" Janeway interrupts him: "I know the risks, Commander, but if there's any hope left for a diplomatic solution I'd better be down there to see it through."

Inside a type-9 shuttlecraft in Voyager's Shuttlebay: Paris: "Let's get through the pre-flight quickly: thrusters, impulse engines, warp drive." Janeway: "All propulsion systems are nominal." Paris: "Shields, phasers, inertial dampers, comm. system."

Janeway: "I think we've got all the basics. Computer, initial cold launch sequence." Paris: "Or we could just skip pre-flight altogether." Janeway: "Definitely not recommended, but sometimes necessary." Paris: "I'll remember that. I've taken the warp drive offline. Setting up a di-electric field. It's holding but we'll have to keep an eye on the stabiliser integrity." Janeway, via comms: "Janeway to bridge. Depressurise the shuttle bay and open the space doors." Chakotay, via comms: "Aye, Captain."

The shuttlecraft launches....

.....and heads for the Drayan moon.

Paris: "Captain, I'm picking up a Drayan shuttle. They're on an intercept course." Janeway: "Can we outrun them?"

Paris works the controls. "The di-electric field is weakening our structural integrity. If we go much faster, I'm afraid we'll break up. We're improvising here, the Drayans aren't." Janeway: "We're on their home turf, they have every advantage. That may be reason enough for them not to fire on us." Paris: "We'll be testing that theory in a few seconds. They're about to enter weapons range, Captain." Janeway: "Raise shields to maximum, and stand ready to power the weapons."

Tuvok: "Maneuvering thrusters and impulse engines are functional. We're ready to lift off." Tressa: "What about the electro...." she does not know the word, "the currents that made the ships crash?" Tuvok: "I have determined that a di-electric field should allow us to pass through them. However, you should still be prepared for some turbulence. Initiating pre-launch sequence." As he does so, there is an unwelcome sound from the engines. "Number 3 thruster is failing; attempting to stabilise."

Paris: "Drayan shuttle's closing fast, Captain. They'll overtake us before we can land." Janeway: "They haven't powered their weapons systems. Maybe they're still willing to talk." Paris: "Huh! Let's hope the ones on the surface feel the same way. We'll be through this ionosphere in a few more minutes."

Janeway: "Sensors are clearing up. I'm reading Tuvok's shuttle. He's trying to lift off but it looks like there's some trouble with the thrusters, and there's a large Drayan search party approaching his location."