This story is rated NC-17 for sexual content. If you are under 18 years old - GO BACK NOW!!

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"Holo-Illusions - Part Seven"

written by K. Fryar

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Senior Staff Meeting:

"From the information shared with us by the Joviaro traders we encountered last week, the upcoming sector of space is controlled by a race known as "Radera". By all accounts, the Radera are very territorial and do not tolerate intruders to their space. However, for us to skirt the area would take 6.2 months whereas to travel cross the Radera Territory would only take 1.4 months." Tuvok 's dry, monotone voice still managed to convey his feelings on the matter quite clearly.

Janeway scowled at the news, "Why such a difference?"

One eyebrow raised archly as Tuvok called up the star chart for that sector and sent it to the main display. "As you can see, while being quite large, the Radera Territory is quite narrow at this point. Voyager can cross through their space in 1.4 months at Warp 6. While to go around at the same speed will take considerably longer."

Tuvok called up a navigational chart, intending to continue when he was interrupted by a sudden commotion from the opposite end of the table. "GET YOUR FOOT OUT OF MY RIBS!!!" Pushing back in her chair, Captain Janeway strongly slapped at her swollen belly, continuing to mutter darkly at the unborn child within her who had decided to use her rib cage for a foot rest. "Miserable little urchin...just like her father no doubt...." she growled menacingly.

Tom and Harry barely managed to contain the smiles that threatened at the sudden, extremely irritated outburst from the Captain. She was nearly 8 months pregnant now, and made no attempt whatsoever to disguise the fact that she was heartily sick of it. Unfortunately, Chakotay was not as lucky, a snort of mirth escaped him despite his efforts to control his laughter. The Captain's eyes flicked to him balefully. Leaning to her right slightly, she proceeded to whap him across the back of the head as well which had the effect of sending Chakotay into uncontrolled guffaws.

Completely disgusted with him now, Kathryn heaved herself up from her seat and moved in for the kill. "What are you laughing at?" she growled, smacking him on the shoulder half-playfully now. "You just wait....I don't know how...and I don't know when...but oh yes....you will pay for this...."

Chakotay could barely sit up straight, for some reason her comment and action of slapping her belly had left him unable to stop laughing. His mirth was contagious, soon the other members of Voyager's senior staff were all snickering, trying desperately to maintain control. With the exception of Tuvok of course, who still managed to look amused. Kathryn muttered a curse under her breath, turning to face the rest of her officers she snapped with annoyance, "Tuvok, we'll continue this discussion in my Ready Room. I can't think with these people snorting like this. Maybe we should contact the Doctor and have them checked to make certain that they aren't suffering from some Delta Quadrant - thingy..."

Chakotay made an odd wiffeling noise..."Thingy???" and promptly burst out into howling laughter. With one last truly evil glare at him, as tears of hysterical mirth rolled down his cheeks, Kathryn stormed off.

Later that evening, in the Mess Deck:

Chakotay walked through the doors, automatically looking around the crowded mess hall. Finding who he was looking for, he smiled to himself and then went up to the counter and collected a plate of whatever it was Neelix had concocted for dinner. Walking over, he sat down across from Captain Janeway and gawked at the amount of food piled on her plate. She looked up, eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't even try it..."

Chakotay blinked, "Who me? I already learned that lesson the hard way - Never EVER tease a pregnant woman about the amount of food she's eating..."

Kathryn ignored him.

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Captains Log...Stardate *****

We've been in the Radera Territory now for just over 2 weeks with no sign of the Radera on our scanners. So far, so good. I have no intention of adding several months to our trip home when there is another option, as we encountered no Radera vessels to request permission to cross this area of space, I made what I hope was the correct decision to go ahead and enter their territory.

 Janeway halted her log entry as Voyager rocked under her. The Red Alert klaxon sounded at the same instant Chakotay's voice called to her over the comm, "Bridge to Captain Janeway - I think we've just met the Radera."

"On my way," with that she somehow managed to get up from her chair and left the Ready Room stepping onto the Bridge.

"Have you been able to contact them?" she asked.

"We have been attempting to hail them ever since they appeared on the scanner. No response." came Tuvok's competent reply.

She nodded at him to open the channel once more, "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We are not hostile, only passing through this region of space on our way home. Please respond."

The only response they got was another volley of fire. Janeway looked to Lt. Paris, "Can we outrun them? Just leave them behind?"

Tom shook his head, "I don't think so, and there's 2 more Radera vessels on a heading for our position."

Kathryn frowned, moving to a nearby console to look at the scan of the area. "Tom, there's a small nebula at bearing oh-four-seven mark nine. Set course for it, we'll see if we can loose them that way. We're too close to the other side, there's no way I'm going to let them stop us now."

At that moment, Harry looked up "Captain, we're being scanned! Unknown energy signature, coming from the Radera vessel."

She turned to look at him, before she could speak the computer announced, "Intruder Alert - Intruder Alert!"

A dark blue shimmer appeared on the bridge, three armored Raderans appeared - weapons at the ready. Janeway headed for the emergency phaser by her seat, her motion caught the invaders attention. Before she reached the lower level of the bridge, one of them turned and fired. Kathryn cried out as the orange energy beam struck, falling to the deck. Chakotay shouted in rage, using his own phaser to return fire - to no effect, the phaser beam dissipated in a shimmer of sparks as it struck the protective armor the invaders wore.

Seeing the Captain fall, Tom jumped from his post and made it to her side. He was checking her pulse when the intruder's reached where he and the Captain were, Tom tried to stop the Raderan - hitting at the alien. One of the other Raderan's fired - Tom collapsed with a cry, his body half draped over the Captains.

The Raderans formed a circle around the fallen officers, one of them barked something into a comm unit and with a shimmer of blue energy - both the intruders and the fallen Starfleet Officers vanished.

"NO! DAMN IT!!" Chakotay spun around, "Harry - get a lock on the Captain and Tom - don't you lose them!"

Harry's hands flew over the console, "I've got them - they're on the larger of the three ships. The other two are making a break for it - The main vessel is heading into the nebula!"

Chakotay cursed, "We have to stop that ship before it enters that nebula or we might lose them! Harry, target the vessels propulsion systems and stop them!"

Ensign Kim nodded, working quickly. The Raderan vessel had reached the outer layers of the nebula and would soon be hidden within the rolling cloud of gas and dust. With a swift, punching motion, Harry fired. Twin arcs of energy leapt from Voyager's hull and struck the Raderan vessel, punching through its shields. The Raderan ship shuddered as its drive went off-line.

Chakotay leaned forward, "Get into transporter range and beam them back NOW!"

Before Harry had a chance to follow through with his orders, there was a sudden bright flash from the Raderan vessel. As Chakotay watched with horror, a brilliant flare of energy burst through the ship's buckling hull. In an instant, the gases of the nebula ignited with a blinding flash. The last thing the bridge crew saw was the Raderan vessel being engulfed in the explosion.

Voyager was pummeled by the shockwave, only Tom's quick action prevented the ship from being caught in the blast as well. As it was, the Warp Drive was damaged - Voyager shuddered as she was slammed out of Warp and dropped from subspace. The ship shuddered violently, power conduits burst in several locations throughout the ship from the harmonics of the vibrating structure.

Chakotay did not even hear the sirens blare their warnings across the bridge. He sat stunned in the Command chair, unwilling to believe what he had just seen. Unable to. A howl of rage and grief mingled with the wail of Voyager's alert klaxons, Chakotay slid from the seat to sit in a heap on the deck. He fell forward, head buried in his hands fighting the waves of grief and denial that threatened to rip him in two. His voice shook with emotion as he looked towards Harry, "Scan for survivors, do it!"

Harry nodded, scanning the blazing debrie of the nebula. "Sensors show that only the outer layers of gas ignited, the nebula itself is stable...picking up sections of the Radera vessels hull," he looked up - his eyes haunted. "No life signs."

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Majak D'ragnor turned to his Second Comtrol. "D'trag, any signs of the Federation vessel?"

The Second Comtrol shook his head, his eyes blazing with triumoph. "Negative my Commander. The ploy worked, they obviously believe we were destroyed in the explosion. The Outer Skin was jettisoned perfectly! No damage to the Primary Hull!"

Majak D'ragnor smiled, his fangs bared. "Excellent. We'll let them search for their Captain - give them time to believe her dead and then contact them with the Civilian Vessel, I'm quite certain that they will be more than willing to trade weapons technology for the safe return of their Captain and bridge officer alive."

In the prisoner holding cell aboard the Radera vessel:

The first thing he was aware of was a low, aching pain in his head - followed by a wave of nausea. Tom's eyes opened slowly, with a groan he pushed himself upright. Blinking to clear his vision, he saw Captain Janeway lying on the floor of the cell - still unconscious. Moving to her side, he gently checked her pulse, relieved to find it strong and steady beneath his fingers. His touch roused her, with a start her eyes opened and met his.

"Tom...what's happened? Where are we?"

Helping her up, he answered "I think we must be on the Radera ship. The last thing I remember is being on the bridge, seeing one of the intruders shoot you."

Kathryn grunted as she surveyed the cell they were in. "We've got to find someway to get out of here..." she started to say. Her words where interrupted by the arrival of Majak D'ragnor.

"I am relieved to see you are awake, welcome to the Raderan Warship T'rak!" he sneered at them.

Janeway moved to stand before him, her eyes blazing with anger. "What are we doing here? You can't hold us against our will, my ship will hunt you down."

Majak D'ragnor laughed at her words. "Your ship? Somehow I doubt that. You see foolish woman - Your ship was destroyed. They attempted to fire on us after we had entered the corona of the nebula. The energy beam triggered the outermost layers of gas to ignite, I'm afraid your ship simply was not up to the task. It was destroyed in the explosion, you and your crewman are my prisoners."

Janeway sagged back, she would have fallen if Tom had not caught her. "I don't believe you," she hissed. "You're lying!"

Majak D'ragnor shrugged, pointing to a display console nearby. One of the guards turned the console so that the two Starfleet officers could see it. "See for yourself...."

Kathryn and Tom watched, their hearts aching as they were shown an image of Voyager, coming up fast on the screen. A powerful arc of phaser energy leapt out from Voyager's hull, to the horror of both - the gases around the ship flared into a brilliant flash. The last image they saw was that of Voyager's hull - buckling from the force of the explosion around her. Kathryn cried out in anguish as her ship crumpled, the saucer separating from the main body section, plasma from the matter/antimatter core spilled out in a blazing corona of energy as Voyager broke apart.

Tom barely managed to catch her as her legs gave out, pulling her to him. Kathryn looked up into Tom's eyes, the agony in her expression tore at him even as his own pain at the sight of Voyager's destruction. She whispered one word, her voice filled with so much pain he felt it cut into his heart like a knife, "Chakotay...." and then her eyes rolled back, overcome by emotion - the combined stress of her pregnancy and the realization that the ship and crew were gone was too much. Her last thought as the darkness claimed her was, "my god...they're gone...all of them...."

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