THE CLOUD
Episode 6
Part C

 

On the Bridge, Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok and Torres are at the rear console of the security/tactical station looking at the monitor read-outs. The Doctor is visible on the main viewscreen. As the EMH he is of course restricted to Sickbay as that is where the holo-emitters are.
Doctor: "I'm curious, Captain. Exactly what are you looking for?"
Janeway: "I need to know if we did serious harm to this lifeform."
Doctor: "I see. You ran your ship through it, fired phasers at it and blew a hole in it with a photon torpedo. I'd say it's a pretty good chance that you did-"
Janeway interrupts, "Computer, mute audio."
The dignity of the Doctor suffers and he is left to pace round Sickbay. He can hear them but he cannot talk to them.

	Janeway: "Isolate that concentration of omicron particles we were trying to get to." Torres points to a place on the display. "That would be right here." Janeway: "Mr Tuvok." Tuvok: "I'm afraid the concentration of particles is far lower than I originally observed. Furthermore, it appears that many of the particles have now moved outside the energy barrier." Janeway: "It is possible that they're leaking out through the breach we made?" Tuvok: "That would be a logical conclusion."
	Janeway: "It's also a logical conclusion that all the phenomena we've encountered were actually this lifeform's natural defence systems." Chakotay: "The way the barrier was protecting the omicron particles almost suggests we were entering a vital organ." Janeway: "Well, it seems very clear, that we severely hurt an innocent lifeform. How do we repair the harm we've done?" Paris notices the Doctor waving his arms to attract attention. Paris calls: "Er, Captain!" They see the Doctor waving and Janeway orders: "Computer, resume audio."
	Doctor: "How kind of you. You may be interested to know that the analysis of the organic sample suggested this lifeform has the capacity to regenerate. The process may simply need a helping hand."
	Janeway: "Any ideas how we could stimulate regeneration?" Doctor: "Lieutenant Torres has the answer." Torres: "I do?" Doctor: "You were the one who first observed that this lifeform has a nucleogenic structure."
	Torres: "If the lifeform has a nucleogenic structure," as she talks the solution comes to her, "nucleogenic radiation ought to assist its healing process. A nucleonic beam along the edges of the breaches should theoretically promote regeneration." The Doctor clicks his fingers. "Bravo."

Janeway crisply issues orders. "Commander, take us to yellow alert and advise the crew that we're going to re-enter the lifeform."

Janeway: "Mr Kim, review all systems in light of our first experience and see if you can provide new safeguards.

Kim, listening to Janeway's order.

Janeway continues: "Tuvok, your job is find some modification of the shields that will hold off this lifeform's natural defence systems. We begin at 1300 hours. Dismissed."

In the Messhall Neelix serves lunch for two crewmembers.

Neelix tells the diners: "The bantan is a little on the spicy side. Kes grows them herself in the hydroponic garden. Don't eat any of the little pink things and you'll be fine."

Chakotay makes a shipwide comm. call. comms. signal "All personnel report to stations. Yellow alert." No one has bothered to inform Neelix and he is infuriated as the Messhall empties: "Now what?"

He clicks his combadge. combadge "Neelix to Chakotay." Chakotay, on the Bridge, via comms: "We're very busy up here, Neelix. What do you need?" Neelix: "This yellow alert business. I was just starting to-" Chakotay, via comms: "Sorry. We found out the nebula is actually a lifeform and we've got to go back in to repair some damage we did to it. Chakotay out." Chakotay ends contact. Neelix: "Go back in?! Hello?" He realises Chakotay has cut him off. "Well, that's it!" Kes tries to stop him. "Neelix." Neelix: "No, I've had it!" He takes off his hat and apron. "I'm going to the Captain about this."

Janeway is very busy working in her Ready Room. The door signal sounds. door signal "Come in." standard doors Neelix: "Captain, I understand that this nebula we've discovered is some kind of monster?" Janeway continues work as she talks to him. "Not a monster, Neelix, but it is a lifeform." Neelix: "Excuse me if I sound crazy because someone may have been playing a joke on me, but you aren't planning to take us back into the belly of this beast, are you?" Janeway: "No joke." Neelix: "What?" Janeway: "We hurt it and we have to help it recover." Neelix: "I did not come on board this ship to become a veterinarian, Captain." Janeway: "And I thought you were a man of unlimited talent." Neelix: "I just reached my limit. So if you don't mind, Captain, I and Kes will wait on board my little vessel 'til you return." Janeway puts down her PADD and gives him her full attention. She talks firmly. "All our crews are busy preparing for this mission. I'm not pulling them off their duties to prepare your ship for launch, and I'm not going to drop you off by the side of the road every time we hit a bump. When we've finished, if you want to leave, that's your business. But for the moment, find yourself with a good view because, just like Jonah and the whale, you're going in." Neelix: "Is that final?" Janeway: "Dismissed." She goes back to her work then notices that Neelix is still there. She looks at him. "That's a Starfleet expression for 'get out'." He goes and she resumes work.

As Neelix leaves, he pauses by Tuvok's station, wondering to himself: "'Jonah'? 'Whale'?" Not being human or knowing about that aspect of human culture, Neelix is non-plussed. Of course, Tuvok also does not understand, as he is a Vulcan.

Paris: "Approaching the perimeter." Janeway: "Disengage impulse engines." Paris: "Impulse engines offline." Janeway: "Engage thrusters. One third." Paris: "Thrusters engaged."

Janeway: "Red alert." Accordingly the klaxons sound and the lights dim. Tuvok: "Shields are up. Adapted harmonics are operational." Voyager re-enters the nebula.

	Paris: "Density is almost double what we encountered last time."
	Tuvok: "EM hull pressures approaching dangerous levels, Captain."
	Janeway: "Mr Kim." Kim: "If my research is right, releasing positive ions through the nacelles should repel some of the dust out there." Janeway: "Without causing further harm to the creature?" Kim: "I believe so, Captain." Janeway: "Very well." Kim: "Ion release confirmed." Paris: "Ambient density is dropping." Tuvok: "Hull pressure is decreasing also." Janeway: "Hold your course."

	Tuvok: "14,000 kilometres to the breach." Paris: "I can see it." Janeway: "Magnify." As before, the Bridge and engineering have an open comlink. "Engineering, ready your nucleonic beam." Torres: "Ready and awaiting your orders, Captain." Janeway: "Mr Paris, bring us into position." Paris: "Coming about 40 degrees."
	Suddenly a barrage of energy discharges from the lifeform hit them. The ship is thrown violent about. The crew fall over and have to hold onto things to prevent themselves fall further. Paris is knocked flying from his seat.
	Janeway loses her balance and falls on the floor. Janeway: "Report!" Everyone has to shout to make themselves heard above the din caused by the energy discharges. Kim: "We're being hit by some kind of multi-polar charges. They're not like anything we saw the first time." Tuvok: "Shields at 87%." Janeway: "Will they hold?" Tuvok: "The polarity of these charges is rotating so quickly the shields cannot compensate." Torres: "We've lost the rear driver coil assembly!" Paris: "Inertial dampers are offline! I'm losing control. Hold on!"

In engineering someone tumbles from the upper level to the lower level as.....
.....Voyager goes into freefall. USS Voyager in freefall. (pop-up window) [#6 The Cloud]

	Janeway: "Engineering, initiate emergency shut-down of all thrusters!"
	Torres struggles to where she can operate the controls, but the buffeting from the creature's defence systems means she is unable to stand up. "The only way we can shut down all thrusters is to vent the deuterium into space. We can't afford to lose all that fuel!" Janeway: "We have no choice. Do it!" Torres: "Acknowledged! Cutting thrusters."
	Paris: "Inertial dampers are still offline!" Janeway: "Reset IDF baseline at three-zero-zero and re-initialise!" Paris: "Field processors coming back online." The ship steadies at last. "Inertial damping restored."
	Janeway: "All stop." The creature's defence systems stop pounding them. "Damage report." Kim: "Electroplasma leaks reported on deck 14. Repair crews are being despatched. Otherwise we seem to be in one piece." Chakotay looks at the monitor he shares with the Captain. "I believe the optical data network is down, Ensign." Kim: "Yes, sir. I'll get right on it." Tuvok: "14 injuries reported, Captain, none serious."
	Janeway: "Do you have any ideas where we are, Mr Paris?" Paris: "Approximately 70,000 kilometres from our former position, deeper inside the creature than before." Janeway: "Let's hope it has a slow digestive process." Paris: "Yes, ma'am."

Janeway: "We need to get back to the wound without causing a response from its defence systems. Suggestions?" Chakotay: "It seems to be leaving us alone now that we've cut off all propulsion systems. Maybe that's what cues it to respond. If I'm right we might be able to get back without engaging any engines." Paris: "No engine?" Chakotay points to the monitor display at the helm. "We've been reading these swirling energy currents since we first got here. When we were thought it was a nebula we weren't looking for any pattern. We thought they were just random eddies but now I'm wondering if these currents might be some kind of circulatory system." Janeway to Kim: "Are you showing omicron particles in these currents?" Kim calls up the information on his screen at Ops: "Affirmative, Captain."

	Janeway: "If the currents are distributing omicron energy throughout the lifeform, the circulatory system might pass right by that wound." Paris, understanding her idea: "We could get in one of those currents and surf back." Janeway: "Use the reaction control thrusters in drift mode only, Mr Paris."
	Paris: "Aye, Captain." He works the controls. "We're on our way. Speed: all of 200 k.p.h."
	Neelix and Kes enter the Bridge from the turbolift. They are holding trays of canapés! Neelix announces: "Time for refreshment! Ailis paté, Felada onion crisps, stuffed cardaway leaves."
	Janeway: "I appreciate the thought, Neelix, but this is hardly the time."
	Neelix takes no notice as he walks around offering his tray of goodies to the Bridge officers. "As the morale officer on this ship, I insist that a break in the workload is both healthy and necessary."
	He proffers the tray to Tuvok who refuses to look and stares fixedly ahead, trying to ignore it. Neelix urges him: "Go on, Vulcan. It might even help you loosen up..." but Tuvok does not partake, "...or not." Tuvok: "May I ask when you became morale officer?" Neelix: "Oh, just a few minutes ago when I sensed crew morale might be especially low. Mine certainly was. We were in a freefall at the time."
	Kes: "Cooking always helps Neelix to unwind." Neelix: "Yes, and after we stabilised I certainly needed to unwind. So it seemed I either had a choice to either come up here and say 'I told you so', no, or to do something constructive to help out in my own humble manner." He offers the tray to Paris.
	Neelix then offers his tray to Janeway: "Try the stuffed cardaway leaves - they're irresistible." She does so and he is right. Neelix: "Now as your new morale officer, I thought it might be fun for us all to sing a few songs together." Janeway, with her mouth full: "Don't push it, Neelix."
	Paris draws Janeway's attention to the viewscreen. "Captain." They are back at the wound." Janeway: "Well done, Mr Paris. Take us gently out of the current. Stay in RCS drift mode." She puts the uneaten food back on the tray. Paris: "Aye, Captain." Janeway: "Miss Torres, prepare your nucleonic beam." Torres: "We're ready down here, Captain." Janeway: "Let's give the wound two doses to start. Five bursts at a two-second interval. Now."