Chereads / a shipload of fools (ST:V SI) / Chapter 10 - You can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink

Chapter 10 - You can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink

I'm feeling a bit annoyed as I walk towards the door of Commander Chakotay's 'office' to try and fend of the senior command staffs latest attempt of getting us all killed for no real reason.

Knocking at the door I wait before being called inside "Commander. May I have a moment of your time?"

He nod and put the PAD down "If you make it quick. I need to look over these reports before we reach Kazon space."

I nod and sit down in the chair infront of his desk "It wont take long, Commander. Its actually about that..."

He frown "You think it's to risky?" and I just look at him

"No Commander, it's not risky. Risky is fighting a Klingon in hand to hand combat or trying to coldstart a warpcore. Walking into the biggest, most obvious trap since the Trojans woke up one morning to find a giant wooden horse sitting outside their gates is not risky. Its suicide."

Sighing he sit back in his chair "We know it's a trap, we are preparing for it. If you know it's a trap, you can turn it onto your trapper."

"Commander, Please listen to me. Tell me if I have this right or wrong, ok?" I try as I successfully resist the urge to clobber him with a clue by four

"You receive a message from a conveniently placed communication relay in the middle of Voyagers path that your son Seska created by stealing your DNA is in danger.

The same Seska that not only lied several times to you, tried to take over the ship, infiltrated your cell of Maqui disguised as a Bajora and betrayed you on multiple occasions. This cause you to drop everything and instantly run of to save this so called child, risking not only yourself but the rest of the ship as well?"

He frown at me "I'm the first officer of this ship, Mr Hiver. The Captain have already approved the plan and I do not need to justify myself to you. If there is any chance we can save him, we have to take it."

I just sigh "The crew are behind you and the Captain, Commander. Both the Starfleet and the Maqui would follow you both into hell if you asked them to. But sometimes you need someone to tell you when you are being a idiot. I'm not in the chain of command, so this time the task fell onto me. Both Kes and Neelix are way to nice to."

Shaking his head he get up "This meeting is over, I need to get to the bridge." and I get up as well, stopping him before he exit

"What about Naomi Wildman? Are you willing to risk her life on the word of a proven traitor and liar? Nothing Seska have shown you couldn't have been faked back in my century, yet alone this one. The crew will follow you into hell, I will follow your orders, but what about her? She don't have a choice."

He hesitate in the doorway "I...will think about it."

23 hours later we are standing on a rocky and sandy planet, watching Voyager fly away under Kazon control, despite my other efforts to prevent it.

My plan on hiding failed, they found me rather fast and I couldn't remember how they took the ship in the first place so I couldn't stop it. At the very least I managed to hide my mechadendrites by wrapping them around my waist under a bulkier than normal uniform jacket.

I cant resist turning to Chakotay and commenting "Well, it was a trap. Who would have thunk it?"

He do not look happy.