As the readyroom doors opened, Voyager sustained another direct hit. "Mr. Paris! Why wasn't I notified of any course change," she struggled to keep her balance as she was practically thrown forward towards the Piloting helm. Neelix lurched towards a back area of the bridge.
"There weren't any! Another ship surprised us off of our side, they were using a cloaking frequency our sensors couldn't pick up!"
"Mr. Tuvok," she turned to the Vulcan, "ready phasers."
"Phasers ready," he confirmed.
"Fire," Kathryn stated firmly.
"Our weaponry is unable to penetrate their shields," Tuvok punched in orders to his console.
"Captain!" Kathryn whirled around to face Ensign Kim. "Two more Raylexian ships have appeared and sensors are reading a Vidiian ship to intercept us in three minutes."
Behind Kathryn various consoles were exploding in electrical showers, as the bridge rocked and smoke clouded her vision.
"Janeway to Engineering," she hit her combadge.
"B'Elanna here," came a frazzled voice.
"Do we have warp drive?" Kathryn prayed against all odds they did - it was the only thing that could give them time and a means out of their own personal hell with the Raylexians.
"Working on it," the Klingon-Human shouted over a whine coming from some injured mechanical devise in the background.
"I need that warp drive, Torres . ." she turned towards the viewing screen and saw a ship positioning itself right in front of them, " . . . *now*."
"Got it!" B'Elanna exclaimed, her voice sounding surprised.
"Mr. Paris, get us the hell out of here," she stated, "Warp Six."
"Aye, Captain," he got the ship going a minute before another beam was fired.
Kathryn looked over at Chakotay who had let out a loud sigh. That had been a little too close for comfort this time. They needed to regroup. She looked at Neelix before addressing her Pilot, "Mr. Paris, adjust course."
Paris whirled around in his seat, "Uh, to where, Captain?"
She gave her half smile in Chakotay's direction and said simply, "'The hub.'"
"Captain's Log, Supplemental: Voyager has sustained heavy damage from the Raylexian attack. I have decided to take the ship and the crew to Neelix's Spacial hub. He guarantees me that they will be able to make the necessary repairs to the ship's infrastructure thus giving my crew a chance to sit back . . . and relax . . .for a change. Tuvok is busy drawing up specified shore-leave regulations for this particular . . . venture. No doubt, word of this down-time will spread like wildfire. I'm looking forward to the crews' impending excitement."
"Are you sure this is what you want to do," Chakotay asked her and she couldn't help but smile at his ever-lasting concern. "I read those PADDS Neelix gave you and this place doesn't hold up to your Protocols by 100%. In fact it seems like something the Maquis would have picked," he teased.
"Well, commander," Kathryn walked with him down through the corridors towards Engineering, "it was either give the crew some time off while someone else repairs the ship for a change, or let them repair it themselves and kill one another at the same time."
"And what about you," he asked.
"Me?" She seemed surprised.
"Will you be taking some time off?" He stopped leaning his arm across her path and making her stop as well. He noted how her cheeks were slowly getting redder and redder. *So, Captain Janeway does blush.*
"I . . . well, there is plenty for me to do here, while you all enjoy yourselves," Kathryn mumbled. She ducked under his arm and continued.
Chakotay gave a little chuckle and continued on with her, "I suppose the senior staff is going to have to get the Doctor to make this a 'medical' leave of absence," he threatened.
"You wouldn't!" She gasped.
"Try me," he smirked and winked and then took a left towards astrometrics.
"Sly bastard," she said under her breath before resuming her walk towards engineering.
CONTINUED IN PART 8!
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