By Coral
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek.
This is in response to a challenge issued by ejspock: to write a story with te word ";akdjfudgiofduo" in it. I believe the semicolon was optional!
"We're receiving a hail from the ship, Captain."
"Put it on the viewscreen, Harry."
"Aye Captain." A moment later, a large alien appeared on the screen.
"Member 1029384756;akdjfudgiofduo," the alien said, then terminated his message. Captain Janeway went white as a sheet.
"Tom, how fast as we going?" she asked almost nervously.
"Warp 8, Ma'am. Why?"
"Increase to maximum warp!" she ordered, so agitated that she didn't even notice Tom's slip of the tongue. "Kim, scan for any of the ships matching the ID in the WHLR file in the computer."
"There's one in range, Captain. ID number 1029384759."
"Harry, open a secure channel on the frequency listed next to it."
"Opening… getting a response."
Another alien appeared on the viewscreen, and Kathryn quickly barked out. "Member 1029384759;akdjfudgiofduo."
"Understood," the alien said, nodding his head. His red nose grew redder as he turned off his transmission. Janeway collapsed, relieved, in her chair.
"Tom, we are to continue at maximum warp for three days. Do not stop at any planets. That is a general order, standing until I revoke it. Is that understood?"
There were nods from the senior staff who were present, and she relaxed a little.
"Captain," Chakotay asked, "May I speak to you?"
She nodded, and gestured to her Ready Room. As they walked towards it, she asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
Chakotay waited until they were inside to say, "Captain, I don't understand. What's all this ak-fudge-io stuff all about?"
Janeway looked at him seriously. "What I am about to say must not reach Neelix's ears. Is that understood, Commander?"
Chakotay nodded his acceptance.
"About a month after Neelix first introduced us to Leola Root, I joined the "We Hate Leola Root" group. It functions as a warning system. When a severe abundance of Leola Root is detected, a message chain is activated. ;akdjfudgiofduo is the password."
Chakotay's eyes lit up with understanding. "So we just avoided a close encounter of the Leola Root Kind?"
Janeway nodded seriously. "You could say that, Commander. You could say that."
END