The Meeting
Rating: G-PG
Summary: The covert matchmaking operations of Voyager's senior staff...Part 1 of 3. I know, I know, this would never happen, but it's fan fiction remember!
Disclaimer: Voyager & its characters are owned by Paramount. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Once upon a time in the Delta Quadrant....
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To: Tuvok, Neelix, Harry, Seven of Nine, Doctor, Tom
From: B'Elanna
Re: Monthly meeting
Our monthly meeting has been scheduled for 1900 hours today in Holodeck 2. I have been working on the security systems to ensure that neither the Captain nor the Commander disturb us. Last month was too close for comfort! We barely shut down the holoprogram in time. I don't want to have to explain again why their entire senior staff was in an empty holodeck!
See you at the meeting....B'Elanna
ps. I expect reports from all of you!
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1905 hours... Holodeck 2
The senior staff assembled in a small grey-walled room. Several charts were pinned to the walls, and stacks of papers and PADDs lay on shelves about the room. The team sat around a table in the centre of the room. One empty chair remained.
B'Elanna: "Where in the name of *unintelligble Klingon* is Harry? We don't have all day!"
Just then, Harry raced into the holo-room and slammed the door.
Harry: "Quick! Security measures! He's right behind me!"
Immediately the team sprang into action. Tom and Neelix removed the charts from the wall and stowed them in a hidden cupboard in the wall. B'Elanna and Tuvok typed frantically into their computer consoles. Seven and Harry hid all the papers and PADDs from sight.
B'Elanna: "Computer, end program."
The holodeck went blank. They could hear Chakotay trying to override the door lock.
B'Elanna: "Computer, start program 'Pool', authorization Torres Beta 3"
Immediately the team was in a darkened room with several pool tables. They quickly scattered the balls about the tables to make it seem as if they had been playing for some time.
The door to the Holodeck opened, and in stepped Naomi Wildman.
B'Elanna: "26 seconds. Too slow. Naomi, close that door, and this time I'll really lock it."
She typed some more commands into the computer. Everyone looked bewildered.
B'Elanna: "Yes... after last month's near miss, Tuvok and I decided to have a security drill. I'm glad you all remembered to hide our papers before we left the holoprogram. If the Captain or Commander access the holoprogram, we wouldn't want them to find anything. Thank-you, Harry, for that realistic impression of being followed by Chakotay. Alright, it's time we brought this meeting to order."
They returned to the appropriate holoprogram, and sat down around the table.
B'Elanna: "As you can see, Naomi has asked to join our team. If the rest of you are willing, I thought she could join the Observations Team and work with Harry and Seven."
Tuvok: "Naomi, I hope you realize that this is a top-secret mission. If the Captain or Commander Chakotay were to learn of this, I'm sure there would be disciplinary action taken against all of us."
Naomi: "Er - yes sir," she said, a little frightened of the tall Vulcan.
Neelix: "Relax Tuvok, Naomi is very trustworthy!" She smiled.
B'Elanna: "Well, since we have a new member, Tom, will you please describe our mission?"
Tom: "Well, as you know, most people on board Voyager believe that Commander Chakotay is in love with Captain Janeway. He does little to hide it - believe me - I'm sure you noticed the way he looks at her, and flirts with her shamelessly, even on the bridge! However, he will not speak of these feelings to anyone, although he has never denied them. We also suspect that the Captain has feelings for Chakotay, but that she denies these feelings, even to herself. Our mission has been twofold. First, to ascertain whether the Captain really does love Commander Chakotay, and if so, to get them to somehow admit their feelings to one another."
Doctor: "We feel that it would benefit both of them to be honest with themselves and each other. The health of the command team is essential to the well-being of the ship. The captain is so busy taking care of Voyager that she refuses to attend to her own health! She never listens to me though." He sighed.
Harry: "Our greatest achievement so far has been stranding them for quite some time on 'New Earth', where we led them to believe that they had a deadly virus which would eventually kill the entire crew if they stayed on board. Things were going quite well until Mr. Tuvok here interfered."
Tuvok: "The logic of that experiment was flawed. Their actions on the planet could have been attributed to loneliness and isolation, rather than true feelings for each other. Besides, the ship's security was at risk with the two highest-ranking officers away for such an extended period of time."
B'Elanna: "Right as always, Tuvok. Well, we should get going with our reports. Tuvok, as Mission Security Officer, you can go first."
Tuvok: "There were two incidents which nearly resulted in breaches of security since our last meeting. The first occurred three weeks ago, when Lt. Torres was installing the communicator in the Captain's ready room. The Captain entered the ready room prior to completion of the installation."
B'Elanna: "Yes, I was supposed to install it under the table near the captain's chair, but when she walked in, I had to pretend I was fixing the replicator, and installed it there temporarily."
Seven: "The only words the communicator recorded were: 'Coffee-black' every day for two weeks until Lt. Torres could re-enter the ready room and install the communicator in its proper place."
B'Elanna: "It's not exactly like I have an excuse to go into the ready room every day. Tuvok, please continue."
Tuvok: "The second incident occurred one week ago when Ensign Kim and Lt. Paris were discussing their plans for the turbolift, unaware that the Commander was nearby."
Harry: "Yeah, he walked up behind us as I was saying, 'I can't wait to see the look on the Captain's face!' and then I heard his low voice behind me say, 'Would you care to elaborate on that Mr. Kim?'"
Tom: "Then Harry turned white as a ghost and started sweating. Luckily the Commander just walked away smiling."
B'Elanna: "Yes, I suggest that none of us talk about upcoming plans in public places. That especially means you, Mr. Paris." He winked mischieviously. "Now, let's have the report from the Communications Team - Neelix, Doctor..."
Neelix: "Well, as you know, our job is to gather reports of 'suspicious' command team activity from members of the crew. Our positions as Morale Officer and Emergency Medical Hologram give us access to most of the crew on a regular basis. Here are our incident reports for this month." He handed a stack of papers to B'Elanna. "The Captain and Commander were observed eating together in the mess hall a total of fourteen times this month, which is up from ten last month."
He pointed to a chart on the wall, while Tom and Harry cheered.
Doctor: "In addition, I conducted a survey of all those who came in for their checkups this month, and 31% said they are or have been involved in a romantic relationship with another crew member while on Voyager. Only 15% say they disapprove of fraternization between crew members in ordinary circumstances. Only 2% would disapprove in Voyager's current circumstances."
B'Elanna: "Very interesting numbers, Doctor. Thank-you. Please pass on the results of your 'research' to the Captain. Maybe it will finally convince her that the crew will not mutiny if she admits she is in love with Chakotay. Now, Harry and Seven, let's hear the report from the Observations Team."
Seven: "The communicator in the ready room, once installed in the correct location, has been functional. Ensign Kim and I have isolated all relavent communications, which are stored here." She handed a PADD to B'Elanna. "However, one conversation in particular was instructive."
She pressed several buttons on a nearby computer console, while the others began to listen.
Janeway: "Come in."
The sound of the door swishing open and closed was heard.
Chakotay: "Hello Captain."
Janeway: "Yes Commander, what can I do for you?"
Chakotay: "Well..."
Janeway: "Stop winking at me!"
Chakotay: "Is that an order, Captain?"
Janeway: "Just tell me why you came in here before I throw Tuvok's latest security report at you!"
Tuvok raised an eyebrow, and Tom chuckled.
Chakotay: "You wouldn't really do that, would you? I might have to send you to sickbay for some counselling from the Doctor!"
Doctor: "I wish he had!"
Chakotay: "But honestly... I need an excuse to avoid the mess hall tonight - I don't think I can take another joke about us being stuck in the turbolift together yesterday."
Janeway: "Oh... don't remind me! Tom Paris has been laughing at me ever since! I suppose I could order you to help me read the latest reports from Engineering."
Chakotay: "Please do. Why don't you bring them to my quarters at 1900 hours. I'll replicate you some dinner, since I know you've used nearly all your rations on coffee."
Janeway: "Well... alright... But it will be strictly business, understood? Wipe that smirk off your face or I'll order you to clean the plasma manifolds with a toothbrush!"
Chakotay: "Aye Captain!"
Chakotay's laugh was heard as the doors hissed open. There was a dull thud just after the doors closed, suggesting that the Captain had indeed used Tuvok's security report as a projectile aimed at the Commander, although moments too late.
Tom: "What I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall in Commander Chakotay's quarters that night!"
Seven: "I don't understand. There are no flies on board Voyager."
Harry: "It's just an expression, Seven. It means he would have liked to have seen what was going on that evening."
B'Elanna: "Unfortunately, I think they did stick to business, because all of the Engineering reports were reviewed by the next day."
Groans of dismay were heard amongst the group.
B'Elanna: "Well Tom, as our Tactical Coordinator, please give your report."
Tom: "Well, as you know, the turbolift incident was a great success. Seven asked the Captain and Chakotay to report to Astrometrics immediately. When they entered the turbolift, B'Elanna managed to strand it. Inexplicably--" he chuckled, "the doors and the roof hatch could not be opened manually. We had previously installed a communicator in the turbolift so their conversation could be monitored. At first the Captain was irate, but eventually she calmed down, and she and Chakotay began recalling other humorous incidents from their time together on Voyager. We could only keep up the charade for about half an hour. I mean, heck, B'Elanna's fixed imminent warp core breaches in less than 60 seconds, so surely a turbolift wouldn't be giving her this much trouble! Anyways, they were finally 'rescued' and they were both in much better moods than when they went in. However, the crew soon learned of the incident," he winked at Harry, "and have teased them mercilessly ever since."
B'Elanna: "Well, now is the time to plan our strategy for the next month. Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Doctor: "How about an opera concert? I have a large repertoire of romantic arias I'm sure would..."
Neelix: "Or we could throw a big party for the anniversary of the Maquis crew joining Voyager... that's coming up in a few weeks."
The discussion went on for quite some time, with many more suggestions. Most were ruled out for one reason or another. Finally, B'Elanna had an inspiration.
B'Elanna: "I've got it! We're getting low on supplies in engineering... We could have a scavenger hunt - a race with several teams - one being Chakotay and the Captain, of course."
Neelix: "I like it! What could be better... raising crew morale and collecting supplies at the same time. The mess hall could use a few more supplies too."
Tom: "We could include a shuttle race to get to and from the planet too... and an obstacle course... and we could have betting pools!" He rubbed his hands together, already anticipating his winnings.
Everyone began talking at once. They all loved this idea. Each one had suggestions to make, and soon they had a plan.
B'Elanna: "Alright, everyone. Your ideas are all fabulous and I think we've got a great plan here. Harry and Seven, you can prepare a proposal summarizing our plan. Neelix, you can request permission from the Captain - she has a soft spot for you. Well everyone, thanks for your reports and ideas. I'm sure we'll have lots of work to do in the next few weeks. Keep in touch."
The meeting was over and they chatted in groups about the race as they hid all the papers and charts. B'Elanna ended the program, and the nine of them stood in the empty holodeck.
B'Elanna: "Now, let's just make sure they aren't in the hallway when we all come out. Computer, locate Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay."
Computer: "Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay are on the bridge."
They stepped out of the holodeck, and went to the messhall for a late dinner.
Any comments on this story? Please email me at [email protected]
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