Free Atonement by Kirsten Beyer Page A

what was about to devolve into a highly unstable situation, Chakotay said, “Presider, I already know the story Admiral Janeway is about to tell. It is my belief that once she’s done, your interest in maintaining the cease-fire will have vanished, and if you do intend to attempt to rescue the admiral, you’re going to have to move quickly.”
    â€œCaptain Chakotay, I sincerely apologize for the actions of my first consul that led to the admiral’s capture. I have ordered General Mattings to marshal every resource at our disposal to make this right. Over the past ten hours, a hundred CIF vessels have entered the area under cloak of our protectors. Thirty are in position to move immediately on the Scion. Another ten have surrounded your Federation vessels and will defend them to the death. The others stand ready to destroy the remaining nine Kinara vessels. The Third Calvert, now under the general’s command, will take point in the operation intended to board the Manticle and retrieve your admiral and her security officers.”
    Chakotay released a deep sigh of relief.
    â€œThat should work,” he conceded.
    MANTICLE
    â€œI don’t give a fij who hears the rest of her story, Inspector,” Meeml said, “but I intend to listen to every word of it.”
    Kashyk looked to Odala, and only when she nodded slightly did Janeway continue.
    â€œAt the time of our encounter, the Indign possessed eight of these canisters: eight separate individuals. It is our understanding from the Neyser, who later provided us all of the intelligence we have on ‘The Eight,’ that these individuals had, long ago, attempted to secure immortality for themselves. They were capable of transferring their consciousness from one person to another, and once a transfer was complete, they effectively controlled that individual. They could not be killed. The threat they posed to ancient Neyser society was so great that they were captured and incarcerated for what was meant to be eternity.
    â€œThe entity that was sent to Voyager was unintentionally released and took control of a hologram, a medic in our sickbay. Her name was Meegan McDonnell. Because she is a hologram, she has the ability to change her appearance at will. Initially, the entity that possessed Meegan pretended to offer Voyager ’s crew assistance. She claimed that her only purpose was to facilitate communication between the crew and the Indign. She then proceeded to steal one of our shuttles, retrieve the other seven canisters that the Neyser held, and depart the area.
    â€œWe were unable to follow her, but for the last several months, we have searched for any clue that might guide us to her. I believe we have finally found her.”
    â€œWhere?” Meeml asked.
    â€œHere,” Janeway said, casting her eyes over the rest of the panel. Kashyk’s face had paled. Dhina’s and Veelo’s eyes darted between one another and Kashyk’s. Odala, on the other hand,seemed completely composed, amused even. Her eyes held Janeway’s, almost daring her to continue.
    â€œCan you prove this?”
    â€œFor now, my only evidence is circumstantial. But there are other simple scans my people and probably yours can perform that would confirm my suspicions. The foundation for these suspicions is quite solid and based largely upon the presence of the Vaadwaur, Turei, Devore, and Voth among your Kinara .”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI was surprised to learn that the Vaadwaur and the Turei had become allies,” Janeway went on. “The enmity that existed between them was so old and so deep, there was nothing I or my people could do to mend it when we first encountered them. Indeed, as the record shows, I intentionally exploited it to ensure my ship’s survival. Both species displayed unwarranted hostility toward us, but their hatred for one another was the only thing that could surpass their desire to take my