Gate of Tears - Act Five

FADE IN:

48  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   48

Alien fleet in foreground.  Three Klingon cruisers zoom toward camera, strafing alien fleet.  One of the smaller alien ships explodes when hit.  Voyager zooms in behind Klingons and fires.  One of the Klingons explodes, the other two bank and escape. 

49  INT. BRIDGE                                                      49

KIM
Got one!

SEVEN
The remaining two have altered course, Captain.  They are coming about.

CHAKOTAY
We've got their attention.

JANEWAY
Tom, take us away from the alien fleet.  Let's see if we can't draw the Klingons out to a safer distance.

PARIS
Aye, Captain. Coming about. (taps panel)

50  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   50

Alien fleet in background.  Voyager rushes toward camera, away from fleet.  Two Klingon cruisers pursuing. 

51  INT. BRIDGE                                                      51

Bridge shakes and muffled explosions heard.

TUVOK
Incoming fire.  Shields are holding.

KIM
They're right on us, Captain.

JANEWAY
I never liked tail-gaters.  Tom, those old Klingon ships aren't known for their handling, are they?

PARIS
No, Ma'am. Not one of their strong points.

JANEWAY
Good.  Why don't you see if you can throw them for a loop.

PARIS
One loop, coming up.  (taps panel) hold onto your stomachs, everyone.

52  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   52

Voyager banks hard.  Klingons cannot match turn and zoom past. 

53  INT. BRIDGE                                                      53

Main screen shows two Klingon cruisers from behind.

PARIS
Coming in behind them, Captain.  I think we made them a little dizzy.

TUVOK
Phasers are locked.

JANEWAY
Fire!

54  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   54

Klingon ships moving toward camera, Voyager behind.  Voyager fires and strikes one of the Klingon ships in the back.  It tumbles away, in flames and out of the control.  The other banks off quickly. 

55  INT. BRIDGE                                                      55

KIM
We got one.  Their shields are down..  Engines and weapons off-line.  They're adrift, Captain.  Out of commission.

JANEWAY
The other?

TUVOK
.is disengaging Captain. They are fleeing.

PARIS
Shall I lay in a pursuit course?

JANEWAY
No.  (dismissive wave) No, let them go.   Keep an eye on them, though.  Make sure they don't double back.  Harry, are there survivors on that ship we damaged?

KIM
Yes, Ma'am.  They're sending out a distress signal.

JANEWAY
(to Chakotay) This might be a good opportunity to unload our guests. Harry, give me an internal scan of that ship.  What's she like inside?

KIM
(checking panel) Their life support is  still fully functional.  The forward compartments are in good shape, but the aft sections were hit pretty bad.  The artificial gravity is out.  It looks like a septic line ruptured.  I'm detecting raw sewerage floating around in all the aft compartments.  (shakes head, repulsed look on face) It's gotta be real nasty in there, Captain.

Janeway and Chakotay exchange amused looks.

JANEWAY
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

CHAKOTAY
With all that sewerage floating around in there, what's a little bit more?

JANEWAY
Mister Kim,  Set transporter coordinates for that ship.  Beam the wounded Klingon in Sickbay to the forward compartments.  Gurok and his buddies in the Brig.  send them to the back.

KIM
(smiling) Yes, Ma'am! (taps panel)

JANEWAY
.and patch me through to the Brig while you're at it.

Gurok appears on main view screen.

GUROK (--ON SCREEN)
(terse, angry) Janeway!

JANEWAY
Good news, Gurok. We're sending you back to your people. Stand by for transport.

GUROK (--ON SCREEN)
We will meet again Captain, I assure you.

JANEWAY
In less than an hour, we'll be hell and gone from here, so don't hold your breath.  On second thought, maybe you should.  (gestures to Kim) Harry, energize.  (to Gurok) By the way Gurok, I've got three more words for you.

GUROK (--ON SCREEN)
(tersely) What?

JANEWAY
Hold.  your.  nose.

GUROK (--ON SCREEN)
(shouting, furious) JANEWA---!!!

Gurok dematerializes, cutting him off mid-word.

JANEWAY
(sighs) Ya know, I miss him already.

CHAKOTAY
(droll) Do you think we should feel guilty about doing that to them?

JANEWAY
Nah. They probably like the smell.

KIM
Captain, We're being hailed by the alien fleet.

JANEWAY
On screen, Mister Kim.

Humanoid alien appears on view screen.

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
Thank you!  Thank you, whoever you are!  I am President Q'tarus, of the Gregimal Union.  You have saved my people!

JANEWAY
This is the Federation Starship Voyager.  I'm Captain Janeway.  You're quite welcome, but I think you're being overly generous, Mister President.  We only saved your fleet.

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
This fleet is my people, Captain.  What's left of them, anyway.  We are all that remains after years of slaughter at the hands of the Klingons.  We are trying to find a safe haven, but we have run out of places to hide.  I fear the day is long for my people.

JANEWAY
I wish I could help you more, but we're only a single ship ourselves. You have no allies in this sector that can assist you?

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
We had the Yultramites. But the Klingons wiped them out long ago.  We are not a military people, Captain.  We are scholars and scientists.  This region was so peaceful once.  before those demons arrived.  Thank you for what you have done for us.  I wish I could say it will be remembered, but you have only delayed the inevitable. My people. my culture. everything.. will soon be destroyed. There is no stopping those jackals. They are too strong. Too numerous.

TUVOK
He may not be exaggerating, Captain.  Long range sensors have just detected a fleet of Klingon vessels closing on this vicinity.  There are at least thirty.  ETA in approximately forty minutes.

JANEWAY
President Q'tarus.  How many of your ships are warp capable?

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
I.  I'm not sure.. about half, I think.  Why?  There is nowhere to run, Captain.  Nowhere to hide.  We've been running for months now.  The Klingons are everywhere in this region.

JANEWAY
Then it's time you found a new region.  We're on our way right now to a wormhole that will take us to the other side of the galaxy.  It's about ten minutes away at high warp.  You can join us, but you'll have to keep pace.  Beam all your people onto your warp capable ships and abandon the rest.

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
Yes, Captain!  We will do that right away! How can we repay you for this?

JANEWAY
No need, Mister President.  I'm going home.  No offense, but I doubt there's anything you could do that would top that for me today. Tuvok, how much time do we have left on the access code?

TUVOK
Thirty-two minutes, seventeen seconds.

JANEWAY
We'll be leaving in ten minutes, Mister President.  I'm afraid that's all the time I can give you.  Sorry for the rush, but it's not my time-table.

Q'tarus (--ON SCREEN)
(gleeful) Ha ha!  Don't worry Captain, We'll be ready in five!  Q'tarus out.

Q'tarus vanishes from screen, replaced by image of Gregimal fleet.  Tuvok moves to Janeway.

TUVOK
Captain, your promise to the Gatekeeper.  No ships but Voyager shall pass.

JANEWAY
I know Tuvok, I know.  But what can I do?  I can't just abandon these people to be wiped out.  Even if I was willing to forgo our chance to get home so we could stay here and defend them, what good would it do?  Voyager can't fend off hundreds of Klingon ships.  Not for long, anyway.  We'd just die here along with the Gregimal.  Believe me, I don't like to go back on my word, but sometimes the hard reality of a situation overrides concerns of principle.  Hopefully I'll find a way to apologize to the Gatekeeper, and explain why I did what I did.

TUVOK
I understand. Your reasoning is logical.

JANEWAY
Thanks, Tuvok. Tom, set course for the Gate. I want to get moving as soon as we get word from Q'tarus that he's ready.

PARIS
Aye, Captain.  (taps panel)

56  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   56

Voyager dropping out of warp, with about 30 Gregimal ships behind it

JANEWAY (V.O.)
Captain's log, Stardate #####.  We are approaching the coordinates of the 2nd Gate with about 15 minutes to spare before the access code to open the wormhole expires.  With any luck, this will be my last log entry in the Delta Quadrant.

57  INT. BRIDGE                                                      57

KIM
We're here, Captain.  Sensors show nothing unusual.

JANEWAY
All stop.  Well, here goes nothing.  Tuvok, transmit the access code, please.

TUVOK
Aye, Captain. Transmitting now.

JANEWAY
Anything, Harry?

KIM
No, Ma'am.  No change.  Everything's still quiet as a.  Whoa!  never mind.

On the main view screen, wormhole gate flashes into view.  Crew squints and raises hands to block glare.

PARIS
I love it when a plan comes together.

TORRES
Now that is a beautiful sight.

JANEWAY
It'll be more beautiful when it's behind us.  Harry, get me Q'tarus on the line.

Q'tarus appears on screen.

JANEWAY
We're going in now, Mister President.  Keep your fleet tight and stick as close to us as you can.

Q'TARUS (--ON SCREEN)
Understood, Captain.  We will.  Again, thank you for saving my people.

JANEWAY
All in a day's work, Mister President.  See you on the other side.  Janeway out.

Q'tarus vanishes from screen, replaced by image of wormhole.

JANEWAY
Anyone have any last words to say in the Delta Quadrant?

KIM
(Jocular) Good-bye, and good riddance!

Crew chuckles.  Paris looks at Kim - smiles, winks and gives an OK sign with his hand.  Kim smiles and nods in response.

JANEWAY
Okay then.  Once more into the breach. Tom, take us in.  one quarter impulse.

PARIS
One quarter impulse.  Aye, Captain.

58  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   58

Voyager moves toward wormhole, Gregimal ships following close

59  INT. BRIDGE                                                      59

Gaping maw of wormhole filling main view screen.

KIM
Four seconds.  three.  two.  one.

PARIS
We're in!

Bridge starts to rumble and shake slightly.  Bright colors flash by on view screen for a few seconds, then normal stars appear.

PARIS
.and we're out again.

JANEWAY
Report, Mister Kim.

KIM
Long range sensors are off-line again, Captain. I should have them back faster this time. I know the effect the wormhole has now.

SEVEN
Captain, the Gregimal fleet.  It did not emerge with us. There is no sign of them.

JANEWAY
What?  Give me an aft view.

View screen changes to image of wormhole.  It closes and disappears.  No sign of Gregimal ships.

JANEWAY
My God.  the Gatekeeper didn't let them through.   those poor soles.

KIM
Captain, I have a sensor contact.  Coordinates two eleven mark zero.  I'll have more detail in minute or two when the long range sensors are back up.

CHAKOTAY
That must be Deep Space Six.  The coordinates sound about right.

JANEWAY
(quiet, glum) Try to hail them, Harry.  Tom, set a course for it.  Warp five.  It should only be moments away.

Paris nods, taps panel.  Hum of warp engines are heard.

CHAKOTAY
(quiet, to Janeway) I'm sorry Captain.  You did all you could.  At least we made it home. Maybe Star-Fleet will be able to send help back through the wormhole.

KIM
Approaching coordinates.  I have a visual.

JANEWAY
On screen, Harry.

Image of Gatekeeper's vessel appears on main screen.  Crew stares silently with dropped jaws. Computer chimes from Kim's control panel.

KIM
(dejected) Captain.  long range sensors are on-line again.

JANEWAY
We're back in the Delta Quadrant, aren't we?

KIM
(glum) Yes, Ma'am. We're back at our original coordinates, where we first started.

JANEWAY
Open a channel to the Gatekeeper vessel.  (tersely) Voyager to Gatekeeper.  (pause) Gatekeeper, this is Captain Janeway.  I need to talk to you.

On screen, Gatekeeper vessel slowly vanishes from view.

TUVOK
It has returned to sub-space, Captain.

JANEWAY
(clenches jaw, fights to remain stoic, then quietly-) Mister Paris.  Resume original course and speed.  If anyone needs me, I'll be in my Ready Room.

Janeway walks slowly and stiffly to Ready Room door. Pauses for moment, placing hand on door frame to steady herself, then enters.

60  EXT. SPACE - (OPTICAL)                                           60

Federation space station.  Gregimal ships all around it.

61  INT. ADMIRAL'S OFFICE                                            61

Admiral Kesset seated at desk, shouting at unseen party on monitor.

KESSET
Damn it, Commander, I don't care what it takes!  I've got over twelve hundred alien refugees on my hands that just popped out of nowhere.  I need extra food, medicine, beds. everything!  Don't make me come there and get it myself.  I expect the supplies I requisitioned to start arriving here within the hour.  You got that?  Deep Space Six out.

Kesset taps button hard, terminating call.  Starts to read from data-pad.  Door chimes.

KESSET
(terse) Enter!

Door opens. Star-Fleet Captain enters, escorting Q'tarus. Kesset stands.

CAPTAIN
Admiral Kesset, I'd like you to meet President Q'tarus.  He's the leader of our new friends out there. He has a very interesting story that I think you'll want to hear. (to Q'tarus) Now you be sure to tell the Admiral everything you told me, okay?

Q'TARUS
(nodding) I will, Captain.  Thank you for everything you've done for my people.

CAPTAIN
Not at all.  Just doing my job.  (to Kesset) Sir, with your permission, I'll return to processing the refugees.

KESSET
(calmer) Very good, Captain.  By the way, have you found any sign of that wormhole yet?

CAPTAIN
No sir.  We've scanned the whole region dozens of times.  There's still nothing unusual out there.  But we'll keep looking.  Now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen.

Captain exits.

KESSET
(sits.  disinterested tone- ) Please have a seat, Mister President.  I hear you have a story to tell me.

Q'TARUS
(sitting) Yes, Admiral, I do.  But first, let me thank you for all your people have done for mine.  Your species is truly a godsend.

KESSET
(disinterested, shuffling through data pads on desk) Yes, well. you know.  It's all in a day's work.

Q'TARUS
Interesting. Captain Janeway said the very same thing.

KESSET
(shocked) Janeway?!  Kathryn Janeway?  .of the USS Voyager?

Q'TARUS
The very same, I believe.  It was because of her that I sit before you now.

KESSET
(excited) Where is she?  Where's Voyager?  Are they all right?

Slow zoom in to a CU of Q'Tarus during next lines.

Q'TARUS
I cannot say where they are, Admiral.  They did not emerge from the wormhole with us.  As to whether she is all right or not, I am quite sure that she is.  We Gregimal have a sense for such things.  Yes.  Yes, they are fine, Admiral.  and they are on their way home.  They will get here, too.  It may take some time.  but they will get here.  They will get home. someday.

62  EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)                                   62

Aft view of Voyager, moving slowly away from camera.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT five