Free Ghost of a Chance by Charles G. McGraw, Mark Garland

exchanged a quick look, which Chakotay was inclined to read as a grimace.
    “Sounds a lot like a family dispute,” the commander remarked quietly, leaning toward his fellow crew members. The bridge officers exchanged glances, none of them terribly encouraging, Chakotay thought. “I’m beginning to wonder whether the Televek know what they’re doing,” he said, deciding a bit of cheerleading was in order.
    “They know, Commander,” Neelix said from between the command chairs, displaying his talent for never missing a word of any conversation he was within a parsec of. “Believe me, they do.”
    Thanks, Chakotay thought.
    “I just hope we do,” B’Elanna said broodingly.
    “So do I,” Paris confided.
    Chakotay could only nod.
    “Commander,” Jonal said, after an exchange that seemed to have something to do with contingencies, followed by a brief farewell.
    “On behalf of our patrons we would like to renew our efforts to find avenues of cooperation and to allay our differences. We have additional information to share, which could benefit all concerned. We will begin by assuring you that if proper communications are maintained—something the three of us will see to directly, with your cooperation, of course—no further misfortunes need occur. The Televek were trying to prevent trouble, not start it, whether you believe that or not.”
    “That is true, Chakotay,” Tassay said, moving closer to him now, looking at him with remarkably soulful eyes. “We must take one step back, I think, before we can move forward.”
    “First, the Televek are willing to be more flexible with regard to terms,” Jonal said. This statement was accompanied by enthusiastic nods from the other two Drosary. “Second, they are prepared to coordinate efforts to locate your shuttlecraft on the planet’s surface and, if possible, to communicate with any survivors. Ultimately it may even be possible to rescue the crew, but that is more complicated, as we will explain.”
    “Go right ahead,” B’Elanna said coldly, barely beating Chakotay to it.
    “Please,” the commander said instead.
    “We do not believe our warning phaser beam could have destroyed the shuttle, even though it made contact, as it was not of sufficient strength,” Jonal said.
    “The facts would tend to contradict you,” Chakotay countered.
    “The planet itself may be responsible for what happened,” said Tassay.
    “Why the planet?” Paris asked.
    “That is key to what we must talk about,” Mila answered. “You don’t know what you are dealing with here. The Televek themselves have only begun to figure it out.”
    “In the meantime, they will power down their weapons once more, provided you will do the same,” Jonal said soothingly, as though the idea was nothing more than a detail. “It is difficult to talk when the prospect of obliteration is only seconds away.”
    Chakotay stood considering, noticing how at ease these Drosary seemed to be once more, and then how Tassay was looking at him, concentrating on him, as if hungry for inspiration. Or, Chakotay mused, perhaps there was even more to it than that.
    “Understood,” he said. “But you’ll keep in mind that we tried this once before.”
    “Again, communication—” “I know,” Chakotay answered Jonal.
    Tassay moved still closer to him, smiling now, which somehow seemed to make her entire presence warmer by a few degrees. Some part of him recognized the effect on another level, one he was trying to ignore.
    She was not an unattractive woman, but he simply had no time for personal relations at the moment, and he didn’t see where she did, either. But the Drosary were aliens, complete with alien customs and ideals, something one couldn’t lose sight of. It was possible they did not share his own aversion to mixing business with pleasure. Perhaps these Drosary were not only affable but capricious as well.
    “We’ll adjourn to the captain’s ready room,” he said, thinking it best.
    “I