Disclaimer: I still don't own Voyager, nor do I own "Don't Say a Word."
Seven eyed the List critically. At times she wondered how individuals capable of such acts as the List described had managed to survive the last six and a half years. It was one of those times.
39. Memos on the cultures of alien species are not optional reading material for anyone who will be in contact with the species.
She had learned of this from Lieutenant Torres. It seemed that two gamma shift engineers had not read the recent memo on the Tanar and inadvertently offended them in the mess hall. When they had asked how they were supposed to know the Tanar took pointing with forks to be a grave insult, the engineers were informed that it was in the memo.
Lieutenant Torres, at the captain's request, found menial tasks for the offenders, which proved satisfactory for the Tanar.
Seven was aware of thirty-nine cultures where an insult that grievous would have resulted in summary execution and an additional race inclined to punish such an insult by cutting all the fingers off of the offender's hands.
40. Starfleet officers are not to judge other cultures.
It light of the backlash against the Tanar, which had started when the two engineers complained that the Tanar expected Voyager's crew to change on their own ship, she was reasonably certain the reminder had been added by Captain Janeway.
41. Even if said other cultures are absolutely crazy.
Seven did not envy Captain Janeway's job. However, the Tanar had disembarked without further incident.
It was no secret that the next entry was B'Elanna's; even Captain Janeway knew, and she was often the last person to know such things.
42. "I'll never tell" is not how you answer a superior officer's question!
According to Tom, he was not in any way responsible for this. B'Elanna held him at least partially accountable because he started the "Don't Say a Word" craze. The offending line had come directly from the old movie, and was stuck in everyone's head. Well, almost everyone. Seven had been cajoled into watching "Don't Say a Word" but tunes didn't stick in her head unless she had reason to recall them. Tuvok and Vorik, unsurprisingly, had declined to watch the movie.
In retrospect, Janeway thought, they had been pretty smart. The frustrating sing-song seemed to be etched in her brain. She would only be mildly surprised if someone told her it was imprinted on the bioneural gel packs.
43. Don't parade around with chocolate in front of a person who gave it up for Lent!
Crewman Charez should never have given up chocolate. According to Sam Wildman, everyone else in sciences had made a pact to prevent the tragedy from recurring next year. Science personnel this year knew exactly how many days remained in Lent.
44. It doesn't matter how boring numbers are – we can't rename the decks.
That was just as well, because the chances of finding names everyone agreed on were terrible, and she didn't need that kind of stress.
Harry meandered into the mess hall and yawned. "Morning Neelix."
The Talaxian was exuberantly stirring something thick that produced an unappealing green steam. "Good morning, Ensign! I have some Moscani coffee you really should try. Captain Janeway liked it!"
If Captain Janeway liked the coffee, it was a promising sign. He took the cup Neelix offered and sipped carefully.
"So, what do you think?"
"It needs sugar." He added a spoonful, stirred it, and tasted again. "Pretty good, Neelix. It almost tastes like there's orange in it."
"That's what the captain said too."
Harry smiled. The day was off to a good start. He took his coffee over to the List, which had two new additions.
"Aren't you going to have pancakes?"
"As soon as I read the List." If pancakes were for breakfast, the green steaming substance was probably for lunch. A big breakfast was definitely in order.
45. The decisions of superior officers are not to be debated in front of other species.
"Who did that?" he muttered to himself. Moreover, he wondered how anyone had made it almost seven years without learning that lesson already.
46. Don't even mention a certain confection in front of Charez.
Harry shook his head and went over to claim his pancakes. "Neelix, do you know how many days are left until Lent is over?"