Disclaimer: Star Trek
Voyager and its characters are the property of Paramount. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Author's note: another response to
Seema's "It's not always about you" challenge. Because when it comes to
writing fic, it's really all about Seema!
Many thanks to my number one Beta Babe.
Time frame: some time during the
sixth season
Back Up
By Rocky
"Commander, in my Ready Room," Janeway snapped. She didn't so much as
waste a glance in his direction. Chakotay obeyed with alacrity,
ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
The Captain sat down behind her desk, though Chakotay didn't expect her
to stay in one place for very long. He stood at attention, his hands
clasped loosely behind his back. She gazed at him for a long moment;
her expression was cold, her Death Glare set to maximum stun.
"Would you mind telling me what the hell that was all about?" she said
in a low voice.
"What was what all about?"
"Don't play games with me, Mister." Janeway shook her head, as if in
disbelief at his folly. "I'm talking about that stunt you pulled just
now during the mission briefing."
"I was only pointing out--"
"How dare you contradict me
like that, saying it would be a mistake for me to lead the away team!"
"I didn't say 'mistake', I just said it would not be a good idea--"
"I know what you said! Regardless of the way you phrased it, you meant
I was unfit for the job. That my presence would be a liability for the
other members of the team." She rose from her seat, began circling
around him slowly. He stared straight ahead, focusing on the stars
visible through the viewport. "The situation with the Tirkarians is a
delicate one. We need those supplies, Chakotay. B'Elanna's latest
report estimates we've got less than a month before the warp engines
begin to fail. You know as well as I do there isn't another viable
source of dilithium for another 200 light years. Even at maximum
warp--which we can't manage anyway in our present state--it would take
us six weeks to get there."
"I'm well aware--"
"And the Tirkarians aren't exactly eager to help us," Janeway went on,
as if there had been no interruption. "They're on the brink of war with
the neighboring Ganga Republic. Any trade agreement with us could lead
to the opening of hostilities if the Gangans think it's really a front
for a military pact. We need to reassure both sides we have no
interest whatsoever in interfering in their conflict." She took a deep
breath. "As I said, a delicate situation. Which is why I intend to
handle the negotiations personally." She paused, and looked him full in
the eye. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Keeping his expression neutral, Chakotay said quietly, "I don't think
you've considered all of the ramifications of your presence on the
planet, Captain."
"Excuse me?"
"The Tirkarians have a strong cultural taboo about dealing with
females, and from our other sources we've gathered that the Gangans
pretty much feel the same way. I think it would be a mistake for you
to--"
"A mistake?" There was a hint of danger in Janeway's tone.
"A big mistake." Throwing caution to the winds, Chakotay added, "In
fact, a potential disaster if you were to beam down."
Janeway looked at him as if she couldn't believe her ears. "May I
remind you I have already been in contact with the Tirkarian Premier--"
"Subspace contact. And even then, his manner was less than friendly.
But if you were to attempt to speak with him in person, to treat with
him as an equal--" Chakotay shook his head. "At best, they'd be
insulted. At worse, you'd be putting the lives of the landing
party--and yourself--at risk. Not to mention Voyager as a whole."
Her head reared back. "This is preposterous! I'm a Starfleet captain--"
"And as such have learned that when dealing with an alien race, you've
got to take their sensibilities under consideration. Especially in a
potentially dangerous situation."
She seized upon his last words. "That's exactly it, that's why I need
to be there!"
Chakotay bit back his frustration and tried another line of attack.
"Tuvok also expressed his reservations about your intention to lead the
mission."
"Yes, he did, but you were
the one who stated flatly I could not go!"
"I said 'should not', not 'could not'," he clarified.
"Because I shouldn't put myself in danger?" Janeway said angrily. "What
kind of a captain would I be if I avoided all risk, instead sent my
people into situations I wouldn't want to face myself?" Her face was
only inches from his own; her voice dropped in volume, yet didn't lose
any of its intensity. "This is my
ship, my crew, and as such it
is my responsibility to see
these negotiations through!"
His patience finally ran out. "Damn it, it's not always about you!"
Janeway's eyes narrowed and Chakotay had to stop himself from
instinctively reaching up and feeling if his eyebrows had been singed
off.
"Captain, no one doubts your dedication to the ship and crew--the
Spirits know, you've proved it many times-- but can't you see that by
your stubborn insistence, you're actually putting everyone else at much
greater risk?"
He braced himself for a harsh retort, but she was silent.
In a gentler tone, he added, "Kathryn, you can't always do it alone.
Sometimes you have to rely on someone else to get the job done. It
doesn't mean you're weak, it just means you're stronger as a team."
Her expression softened. "I suppose you're right."
Chakotay smiled. "That's a first."
Janeway gave him a sharp look. With a touch of steel in her voice, she
said, "I'd like to think I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm
wrong."
"Of course you are," he said soothingly. A sudden thought made him
grin. "Just like you can freely acknowledge I'm better at Velocity than
you are."
"You most certainly are not!"
"I did beat you the last time we played," he reminded her. "Granted it
was some time ago, but surely you haven't forgotten."
Janeway picked up the PADD with the mission parameters and began
scrolling through it. "That's only because you cheated."
Chakotay didn't answer.
"That last ball was clearly out."
He took the PADD from her and started heading toward the door.
"It really was out!"
"If you'll excuse me, Captain, I have a mission to prepare for."
She called after his retreating back, "Get to it then, and I'm
telling you right now, Commander, that not only do I expect you to be
successful, you'd better come back in one piece because the two of us
have some unfinished business to take care of!"
Chakotay grinned but didn't halt or turn around.
FINIS
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