FLASHBACK
Episode 44
Part E

 

USS Voyager at the nebula.

In Sickbay, Tuvok explains to Janeway: "Several hours after we entered the nebula we were ambushed by Klingons. A battle ensued and we were forced to abort our rescue mission." Janeway: "Do any of those events seem related to the girl in any way?" Tuvok: "No. If there is a connection I am not aware of it. I suggest we attempt another mind-meld and try again to access my memory of the girl." Janeway: "Agreed." Indicating to the Doctor that they are ready for the mind-meld, she says: "Doctor."

Kes places a neurocortical monitor on Janeway's parietal bone. Then Tuvok places his hands and fingers in the proper meld positions on Janeway's faces. She closes her eyes as Tuvok speaks the words: "Your mind to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. I am taking us back to the boy I was, the boy lying on the precipice."

They find themselves back on the Bridge of USS Excelsior! Red alert lights flash, and the klaxon sounds. There is smoke, and the ship is rocked by weapons fire. They are crouching over the body of the dead lieutenant, immediately after a plasma conduit ruptured behind his console and he was caught in the explosion. The dead lieutenant is Dmitri Valtane. In the background, Rand's voice can be heard reporting: "Hull breach on deck 12 section 47. We've lost power on decks 5, 6 and 10. Casualty reports coming in: 19 wounded." Janeway surmises: "Tuvok, we're back in the battle with the Klingons again, 80 years ago."

Tuvok to Janeway: "I am at a loss to explain, Captain. But it's hard to accept this as a coincidence."
Janeway: "I want to go back to the moment you first saw the nebula. What happened?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "Captain Sulu estimated it would take approximately five hours to traverse the nebula and enter Klingon space. He decided my shift needed some rest, so we returned to the crew quarters."
They are 'transported' to crew quarters.
Tuvok explains to Janeway: "I attempted to get some sleep. However, my bunkmate, Dmitri Valtane, felt the need to discuss our situation."

Valtane: "Hey, Tuvok, are you asleep?" Tuvok: "No." Valtane: "Me neither. I can't believe we're going to do this! I didn't think the Captain had it in him." Tuvok: "Had what in him?" Valtane: "You know - the guts to defy an order and run off on a rescue mission to save old friends." Tuvok: "I take it from the tone of your voice that you admire this trait." Valtane: "Well, yeah! It's courageous!" Tuvok: "It's illogical and reckless, which I attempted to point out to him on the Bridge." Valtane: "Oh, come on, Tuvok. Isn't this more fun than charting gaseous anomalies?" Tuvok: "The human fascination with 'fun' has led to many tragedies in your short but violent history. One wonders how your race has survived having so much 'fun'." Valtane: "Whew, Vulcans! You guys need to relax!" Tuvok: "No, I will not 'relax'. Ever since I entered the Academy, I've had to endure the egocentric nature of humanity. You believe that everyone in the galaxy should be like you, that we should all share your sense of humour and your human values." Valtane: "Well, if you hated it here so much, why did you join Starfleet in the first place?" Tuvok: "I joined under pressure from my parents. But I have already decided to resign my commission once this assignment is complete." Valtane: "Well, your loss." With that, Valtane ends the conversation.

Janeway: "Tuvok, did you really mean that?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "At this point in my life, yes. My experiences at the Academy and on board the Excelsior were not pleasant."
Janeway: "I knew you left Starfleet for over 50 years, but I never knew why. I didn't realise it was because of a conflict with humans."
Tuvok to Janeway: "My perceptions of humanity and Starfleet were undoubtedly coloured by the fact that I did not want to be here in the first place."
Janeway: "Your parents really forced you to go to the Academy?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "It was their wish, and I felt an obligation to fulfill it."
Janeway: "What did you do during those 50 years?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "I returned to Vulcan, where I spent several years in seclusion, immersing myself in the Kohlinar, a rigorous discipline intended to purge all emotions. I wanted to attain a state of pure and total logic."
Janeway: "What happened?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "Unfortunately, six years into my studies, I began the pon farr. I took a mate."
Janeway: "T'Pel?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "Yes. We decided to raise a family together so I chose to postpone my studies."
Janeway: "And what brought you back to Starfleet?"
Tuvok to Janeway: "Raising children of my own made me appreciate what my parents experienced raising me. And I came to realise that the decisions I made as a young man were not always in my best interest. I understood their decision to send me to the Academy, and that there were many things I could learn from humans and other species, so I decided to expand my knowledge of the galaxy. Starfleet provided that opportunity."
Janeway: "Well, I'm glad you had a change of heart."
Tuvok to Janeway: "As am I, Captain, although 'heart' had very little to do with it. It was a logical decision."
Janeway: "I'm sure it was."

Suddenly there is the sound of something impacting the ship and over the comm. Sulu announces: "Red alert! All hands to battle stations!" Valtane gets down from his bunk. "Oh, what's going on," he complains. "I thought we were still 5 hours off Klingon space." He rushes out.

Tuvok explains to Janeway as he makes sure his uniform is properly adjusted: "A Klingon cruiser decloaked inside the nebula. At this moment they were firing concussive charges across our bow." He hurries out to take up his station.

A Klingon bird-of-prey faces USS Excelsior.

Janeway comes on to the Bridge. As before, no one can see her, for she is only an observer of Tuvok's memory. She observes that she has seen this bridge situation before: the Bridge before the battle with the Klingons, Sulu in the captain's chair, Valtane at his post, Tuvok at his and Rand at hers.

Janeway has not, however, seen this precise moment before. She stands next to Sulu. Rand: "We're being hailed, Captain." Sulu: "On screen."

Klingon captain: "Mr Sulu, I see they have finally given you the captaincy you deserve." Sulu: "Thank you, Kang." Kang, via comms: "Do not let it end prematurely." Sulu is calm, unflappable, and affable. "Kang, we've been on a survey mission studying this nebula. Our navigation system malfunctioned and," giving a little laugh, "I'm afraid we got lost. As soon as we've completed repairs, we'll be on our way." Both men know that Sulu was lying. Kang would know why Sulu is really there - Kang knows his adversaries Captain Kirk, and Sulu, of old. Kang, via comms: "We'd be happy to escort you back to Federation space." It was an order. Sulu: "Very generous of you, but we can manage." Kang growls firmly, via comms: "I insist." Sulu realises that he must give in. "Actually, an escort would be welcome. We'd hate to lose our way again." Kang, via comms: "Bring your ship about, bearing 181 mark 2." Sulu, via comms: "Nice to see you again, Kang." Contact ends.

Without realising it, Janeway takes up a stance similar in appearance to that of the bird-of-prey.

Valtane: "Captain Sulu?" Sulu: "Man your station, Lieutenant. We're not giving up just yet. Helm, come about."

USS Excelsior turns and heads back toward to Federation with the bird-of-prey following them.

Sulu: "Tactical status?" Valtane: "They have their forward disruptors trained on us, sir." Sulu gets up and moves across to Tuvok's station. Sulu: "Ensign Tuvok, what is the composition of this nebula?" Tuvok: "Primarily oxygen and argon with traces of theta-xenon, fluorine and sirillium gas."

Sulu: "Sirillium? That's a high combustible substance, isn't it?" Tuvok: "Affirmative." Sulu: "Is there any way we could ignite the sirillium?" Tuvok: "If we modulated a positron beam to a subspace frequency, it would trigger a thermochemical reaction in the sirillium." Sulu likes the sound of that. "Like tossing a match into a pool of gasoline. Would their shields withstand the blast?"

Tuvok: "Yes, but their sensors and tactical systems would be disrupted for several seconds." Sulu: "That's all the time we need. Tuvok, modulate the positron beam and stand by. We'll ignite the sirillium the instant we clear the nebula."

He goes to resume his seat. "Helm, prepare to engage maximum warp on my command." Helmsman: "Aye, sir." Sulu, via shipwide comms: "All hands, this is the Captain. Secure stations and batten down the hatches."

Tuvok: "The positron beam is charged and ready." Sulu: "On my mark, Ensign." Valtane: "We're clearing the nebula." Sulu: "Mr Tuvok, light the match!"

The positron energy beams burst from Excelsior's stern into the nebula, a short distance from where the Klingon bird-of-prey is about to emerge.

The nebula lights up with a powerful explosive flash, catching the Klingon ship and throwing it off course.

Valtane: "The Klingon ship's been disabled. They're not pursuing, sir."

Sulu: "Helm, set a course for Qo'Nos. Engage." Excelsior resumes its original course. "Commander Rand, I want you to-" Valtane interrupts: "Sir! Long-range sensors are detecting three Klingon battle cruises on an intercept course! They're arming torpedoes!" Helmsman: "Heading, sir?" Sulu: "Maintain course."

The Klingons open fire.

Excelsior lurches and the Bridge crew are thrown off-balance. Sulu: "Return fire!" Valtane: "Sir, they've knocked out our targetting scanners." Janeway, who is with Tuvok at his station, recalls that this is when she first 'entered' Tuvok's memory. Those previous words had been the first she had heard. Sulu: "Switch to manual."