Star Trek Voyager: Their Human Errors

Chapter 14

Captain Kathryn Janeway breathed a sigh as she set another long winded report down on her desk and couldn't help but selfishly wish that she'd ordered Chakotay to do his usual, unenviable, task of sorting through the constant influx of reports, deeming what was worthy of her attention and passing it on, before he'd left with Seven but unfortunately she hadn't thought that far ahead when she'd given him permission to be Seven's chauffeur for three days. Oh well, she'd just have to remember that for next time, she thought resignedly as she reached for her habitual energy booster, a cup of black coffee. She couldn't complain really, she'd encouraged Seven to go to the conference and although she'd been mildly surprised by Chakotay's willingness to accompany her, as far as she knew the pair had never spent more than a few minutes alone and Seven wasn't about to win any prizes as a conversationalist, she'd been perfectly happy to allow it. Chakotay was very a tolerant man for someone who'd once waged a guerrilla war, often to the point where the trait irritated her more impetuous nature, but he'd always been wary of her ex-Borg protégé and Seven was exceptionally reserved around him, never showing, as far as she knew, the defiant streak herself and the Doctor saw a little too much of at times. However, she'd been detecting subtle changes in their relationship ever since she'd given Chakotay that ill-fated order to monitor Seven's holodeck use. The fact that Chakotay had then had the nerve to clam up about what Seven had been doing, she'd now come to suspect that he'd never heeded her request at all, still irked her, but if it led to two of the most complex characters on her crew being on friendly terms she could content herself.

She spluttered in disgust as she brought her anticipated coffee to her lips and was met only the dregs, a few ice cold, congealing replicated coffee granules staining her favourite mug. The Doctor might often lecture her over the extent of her caffeine addiction but even she wasn't that desperate, not tonight anyway. As she stood up slowly, dragging her cramped, complaining muscles out from behind her desk with the cup in hand, she debated whether to chance going down to the Mess Hall to try one of Neelix's homebrewed coffee substitutes or to use up a few precious replicator rations on a refill. One glance down at her overflowing desk told her she'd didn't have time for the Mess Hall, a conclusion her taste buds were grateful for, and she made her made over to the replicator, just dialling in the instructions as her comm. badge beeped. "Janeway here."

It was Ensign Simmonds of the Bridge's Delta shift who replied, "The Ledosian Ambassador is hailing us Captain. He's asking to speak to you."

Janeway sighed in exasperation as her coffee appeared in the replicator, hot and steaming. She supposed she'd have to wait just a little while longer for her peace and quiet. "Patch him through to my Ready Room Ensign." She ordered briskly as she strode back to her desk and positioned herself in front of her own personal comm. screen. Fixing a polite smile on her face as Weltin's own pudgy one appeared on the screen, she greeted him pleasantly, "Good Evening Ambassador, what can I do for you? I hope Tom Paris hasn't messed up the first of his flying lessons." Her lips quirked, thinking of Tom's mortification earlier that day when he found out he'd need to follow Ledosian law and complete remedial flying training after breaking an obscure flight regulation.

"As far as I know, he is doing all our legal system asks of him Captain." Ambassador Weltin replied before biting his plump lips apprehensively, something that immediately set the experienced Janeway on edge, "I was wondering if you've been in contact with your away team..."

The Captain's brows furrowed questioningly, "Commander Chakotay and Seven of Nine? No we haven't, I'd presumed they were busy at the conference. Is there something wrong?"