Available light, p.8
Available Light, page 8
Taurik turned in abrupt fashion to his left, raising his phaser, and Chen followed suit. Both officers quickly brought down their weapons as they realized it was Worf moving toward them between two of the transports. He carried his own phaser at the ready, with its muzzle pointed toward the deck.
“Are you both all right?” he asked, eyeing the hasty repairs to Chen’s suit and helmet.
Nodding, Chen replied, “Yes, sir. Thanks to Taurik.”
“Glad to hear it.”
It was the voice of Dina Elfiki over their comm units just before the science officer and Rennan Konya stepped into view from around another of the small ships behind Worf. Elfiki was heading directly toward them while Konya was making a more deliberate advance, turning and checking everything around him for additional threats. The security officer stole several anxious glances at Chen, and she saw the barely contained relief in his features. She waved in his direction before patting herself on her suit’s chest to indicate she really was okay, and he offered a knowing nod in response.
“What are you two doing here?” she asked, looking to Elfiki.
The other woman’s smile all but beamed through her helmet. “Comms are still open, remember? We heard everything and came as fast as we could.”
Still studying Chen’s helmet and suit, Worf glanced to Taurik. “Commander, what is your assessment of what just happened?”
The Vulcan engineer replied, “It is obvious that some form of anti-intrusion system is active aboard this vessel. I am at a loss to explain how it functions, or why it did not activate before now.”
“Not just that,” said Chen, “but only after those guys tried to ambush us. We’ve been here almost an hour. It had all that time to react to us, but it waits until a firefight before it decides to wake up? And what’s with these other people, anyway? Why didn’t we detect them earlier? Cloaking device? Jamming field? Magic?”
“Some kind of dampening effect,” offered Elfiki. “Maybe something built into their suits. I didn’t get a chance to scan them before . . . well, before they were neutralized.”
Konya asked, “And why weren’t we neutralized, too?” The security chief spoke while continuing to study their surroundings. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be overlooked, but it doesn’t make much sense.”
“There will be plenty of time to analyze the entire situation,” said Worf before indicating Chen with a gesture. “For now, though, we have more pressing concerns.”
And a whole lot of questions, thought Chen as she looked around the landing bay. Her gaze paused on the odd spheres, which once more hung inert above them like silent sentinels.
What the hell is going on here?
9
“Requesting immediate retrieval.”
Before Picard could acknowledge Worf’s report about the away team’s odd encounter and the near loss of T’Ryssa Chen, alarm klaxons sounded across the bridge and alert lighting flashed harsh crimson.
“Proximity alert,” called out Aneta Šmrhová from the tactical station behind Picard’s chair. “Deflector shields just went up.”
“Stand by, Number One,” said the captain.
Sitting in the first officer’s chair and acting in Worf’s stead, Lieutenant Joanna Faur called out, “What are we dealing with?”
“Our sensors only just picked it up,” said Šmrhová. Picard heard the security chief curse under her breath before she added, “The derelict’s hull is still interfering with our scans, but the new arrival has active weapons.”
Picard turned back to the viewscreen even as its image shifted to reduce the size of the ship. The display now depicted an object just becoming visible around the vessel’s far side. Watching as the screen shifted its focus from the drifting hulk to the smaller, far more maneuverable new arrival, he stood rooted at the center of the bridge.
“Magnify the image,” said Picard. “Let’s have a better look at it.”
The image on the viewscreen zoomed forward, bringing the new arrival into sharp relief. Narrow and sleek, the vessel resembled some form of living creature more so than an actual spacecraft. Winglike projections extended from the ship’s green-gray main hull, angled aft and giving it the appearance of a flying predator. Even its bow section furthered that imagery, looking to Picard like a bird’s maw.
A maw with weapons turrets.
“Where did it come from?” he asked.
Šmrhová shook her head. “Unknown, sir. I’m picking up traces of a residual warp signature, but scans are muddled.”
“Place phasers and quantum torpedoes on standby,” ordered Faur. The flight controller pushed herself to her feet as she gave the order. “Conn, prepare for evasive maneuvers.”
From the ops station, Glinn Dygan said, “The new vessel isn’t moving to intercept us, sir. Its attention is focused on the alien ship.”
“Are you sure?” asked Picard.
Šmrhová replied, “Confirmed, Captain. They’re firing on the ship, and . . .” She looked up from her console. “Sir, sensors show the derelict is deploying its own defenses. I’m showing dozens of weapons emplacements protruding from all across the hull. However, power to those weapons is . . . well, it’s pretty low, sir.”
“What do you mean?” asked Picard. “Are you saying the ship doesn’t have enough power to defend itself?”
“Not for any real length of time, Captain.” The security chief tapped several controls on her console. “And from what I can tell, the ship’s weapons are designed for use against larger, slower-moving targets. The attacking vessel is fast enough that it can likely avoid most of them, if its pilot has any skill at all.”
Faur asked, “Is the away team in any immediate danger?”
“The vessel’s hull is doing a pretty good job against the attacks. They could probably stand to move toward an inner corridor or compartment.”
“Number One,” said Picard, his attention still on the screen, “the derelict is under attack by an unknown party. Get out of that landing bay and into a more protected area until the situation is secure. We’ll beam you off as soon as we can.” He tried not to think about Chen, knowing that she and the rest of the away team could deal with her compromised suit for a few more minutes.
“Acknowledged,” replied Worf before the connection was severed.
On the screen, the attacking ship was making a strafing run across the derelict’s hull. Picard watched streaks of yellow-green energy lance across space to impact against the massive ship’s surface. From this distance, he could not tell whether the strikes were inflicting any damage, but then a salvo slammed into one of the collectors and Picard saw it break apart.
“The hull is strong enough to protect the ship itself,” reported Šmrhová, “but the collector arrays and weapons placements are vulnerable.”
Picard had seen enough.
“Hail them, Lieutenant. Conn, lay in a course to intercept.” He waited a moment until Šmrhová indicated that a hailing frequency was established before continuing in a louder, more forceful voice. “Attention, attacking vessel, this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise, representing the United Federation of Planets. You are engaging in hostile action without provocation. Break off your attack, or we will be forced to intercede.” Glancing over his shoulder, he looked to Šmrhová. “Anything?”
“They’re receiving our hail,” replied the lieutenant.
Faur asked, “What’s their tactical capability?”
“Their ship is somewhat smaller and slightly more maneuverable. Sensors show a crew complement of nearly six hundred. Their shields and weapons are on par with ours, sir. We can stand toe to toe with them, at least for the short term.” A series of beeps from her console drew Šmrhová’s attention, and without looking up from her controls she said, “We’re receiving a response, Captain. I’m pushing it through the universal translator.” After a moment, she added, “Their reply instructs you to engage in unlikely anatomical acts with yourself, sir.”
Despite the current tension, Picard almost smiled. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone made such a suggestion.”
“They’re breaking off their attack,” said Šmrhová. “And I’m now receiving an incoming hail, including a visual signal. The translation protocol’s in place, sir.”
“Let’s have it.”
The image on the viewscreen shifted away from the derelict and its attacker to display what Picard took to be a humanoid male. Dark hair framed a narrow skull with a large forehead that continued up and back in almost Klingon-like fashion, though the lavender skin was smooth rather than possessing any sort of prominent cranial features. Pale yellow eyes regarded Picard from beneath a pronounced brow, flanking a long, thin nose beneath which was a wide mouth teeming with sharp, gleaming teeth. His physique was slender, dressed in garments that appeared worn as well as haphazardly selected and thrown together. Long arms terminated in oversized hands with three digits flanked by longer, multijointed flanges. Though the alien’s surroundings were cloaked in shadow, two other individuals were visible in the background, dressed as sloppily as their representative now standing before Picard.
“My name is Senthilmal, master of the Torrekmat civilian merchant vessel Zetoq.” When he spoke, it was in a tight, clipped tone delivered in a deep voice that belied his stature. “Yours is a vessel and species I do not recognize, but you intrude upon matters that are not your concern. I know that you have sent a boarding party to the ship, but my people were already there. I am unable to contact them.”
“They attacked my people,” replied Picard, keeping his voice measured. “Their present status is unknown.” It was a lie, but he suspected the truth might upset Senthilmal to the point the captain opted for even further provocative action.
“I offer you one warning to remove your party from the vessel, and your ship from the area, before I consider you a threat, and you force me to take appropriate action.”
Ignoring the posturing, Picard replied, “Torrekmat? Is that the name of your people?”
“My people, my planet. What we call ourselves is no concern of yours.”
“Why are you attacking that vessel?”
“It was adrift, abandoned. We claim salvage rights.”
“So this isn’t an enemy of yours?”
Senthilmal shrugged. “I have no idea who owns the ship. We are independent salvage contractors. We find and acquire whatever we can and sell it to interested clients. Our scans show the craft is uninhabited. By all rights, it is ours. Just the metal in the hull will make us rich enough to retire.”
“Why were you firing on it?” asked Faur. The lieutenant had moved to stand next to Picard. “As you say, the vessel is abandoned and unoccupied.”
“Its defenses presented a danger to my ship, but the risk is worth the reward.”
He paused, and Picard watched him study something outside the viewscreen’s frame. Then the Torrekmat’s expression seemed to warm, and he leered at the captain.
“That ship of yours is rather nice, as well. It would command quite a price from any of our clients.”
Picard offered no outward reaction. Keeping his voice measured, he replied, “Unlike your other prize, my ship is rather inhabited.”
Again, Senthilmal shrugged. “A minor inconvenience.” Then his features hardened. “Besides, you have not heeded my warning, Captain, and I am not in the habit of repeating myself.” The transmission ended and the alien’s face vanished, replaced by an image of his vessel.
“They’re moving to intercept us,” added Šmrhová. “And they’re diverting additional power to their weapons.”
Picard scowled at the new development. “Independent salvage contractors.” He made no attempt to hide the disdain in his voice. “They’re little more than marauders. Pirates.” Senthilmal’s obvious threat against the Enterprise and its crew was more than enough to convince Picard of the Torrekmat captain’s intentions. “Warn them off, Lieutenant. Lock phasers on target, and await my command to fire.”
Šmrhová said, “No response, sir.”
So that’s the way it’s going to be.
“Fire a warning shot across their bow, Lieutenant. Close enough to let them know we’re serious.”
Šmrhová replied, “Aye, sir.” A moment later, Picard saw the twin beams of orange energy streaking across space as the Enterprise unleashed a restrained example of its power. The phaser barrage cut across the Zetoq’s bow, but after a moment it was obvious the alien ship had no intention of breaking off.
Stepping backward between the conn and ops stations, Picard rested a hand on the shoulder of Lieutenant Gary Weinrib, the gamma shift officer who had replaced Faur at the conn station. “Evasive action, Lieutenant. Tactical, fire to stress their shields. I want them to rethink this idiocy.”
The security chief responded by loosing several phaser shots at the Zetoq in rapid succession. Energy clashed against the Torrekmat vessel’s shields, the effect obscuring the ship as it began banking to starboard.
Faur, who had moved back to the first officer’s seat, consulted the console positioned in front of her chair. “They’re moving to attack us from below.”
“Incoming fire!” reported Glinn Dygan.
No sooner did the Cardassian offer the warning than the ship trembled beneath the force of the Zetoq’s weapons. Picard had expected the Enterprise’s shields to better weather any initial strike. A second salvo struck the deflectors mere heartbeats later, and this time alert indicators flashed across the bridge.
Šmrhová said, “They’ve routed power from their primary drive and various secondary systems to their weapons.”
“Hit hard, and hit fast,” said Faur. “They’re gambling on being able to knock us out with a couple of quick strikes before we can react.”
Looking over Weinrib’s shoulder, Picard saw how the conn officer was maneuvering the Enterprise away from the attacking ship even as Šmrhová offered return fire to cover the starship’s evasive movements.
“They’re trying to cycle power between their weapons and shields,” reported the security chief. “It’s obvious they’ve done this before, but I think we can match them.”
On the viewscreen, Picard saw the effects of Šmrhová’s tactical plotting as a new round of phaser strikes slammed into the Zetoq’s shields. Instead of veering off in a bid to avoid further attacks, the Torrekmat ship instead turned toward the screen, banking up and over to its left as its forward weapons flared bright green.
“Evasive,” Picard snapped, and Weinrib responded by running his hands across his station, his fingers tapping controls almost too fast for the captain to follow. The indicators on his console showed his deft command of the ship’s maneuvering systems while providing Šmrhová ample opportunity to return fire.
Even his efforts were not enough.
“They’re targeting the ventral hull,” warned Šmrhová.
Weinrib, hunched over his console, snapped, “On it,” but it was too late.
The next instant, the entire ship shuddered around Picard and the rest of the bridge crew. Consoles and displays around the room scrambled their readouts, and several went dormant as the overhead lighting flickered. Picard felt his stomach heave as the artificial gravity fluctuated, and he gripped the back of Weinrib’s seat to steady himself. Instead of subsiding, the effect was magnified by a second salvo. The third caused Picard to lose his balance, and only Faur’s quick, strong grip on his arm saved him from being thrown to the deck.
Glinn Dygan said, “Secondary hull shields are down. Hull breach on decks twenty-two through twenty-four. Numerous warnings in the engineering section.”
“Return fire!” Faur called out, but Šmrhová was already doing so. Phaser beams crashed into the Zetoq’s shields as the marauder ship now moved to retreat, and this time Picard saw the impact of the strikes against the other vessel’s hull.
“Their shields are buckling,” reported Šmrhová.
“Quantum torpedo,” said Picard. “Target their propulsion section and fire for effect. I want that ship disabled.”
The single torpedo, guided by Šmrhová’s expert hand, found its mark near the Zetoq’s aft section even as the other vessel managed one final barrage from its own weapons. Faur had maneuvered the Enterprise so that its compromised ventral shields now faced away from the strike, which was still sufficient to once more rattle the deck beneath Picard’s feet.
“They’re moving off,” said Šmrhová. “I’m picking up damage to their warp engines, or whatever they call them. There’s a definite imbalance in the ship’s primary power plant. Their shields are down and their aft weapons ports are offline.”
“Any injuries?” asked Faur.
The security chief shook her head. “I can’t tell. Our proximity to the derelict is preventing that kind of detailed reading.”
Having moved back to the first officer’s station, Faur called out, “Damage reports coming in, Captain, but engineering hasn’t yet responded.”
“Bridge to engineering,” said Picard, raising his voice for the benefit of the intraship communications system. “Commander La Forge, report.”
All around him, the lighting chose that moment to fade, throwing the entire bridge into darkness.
10
To Geordi La Forge, it sounded as though every alarm indicator installed within the Enterprise’s main engineering section was being channeled directly into his skull.
“Warning,” said the voice of the ship’s computer. “Coolant leak. All personnel evacuate this section. Warning. Coolant leak. All personnel must evacuate this section immediately.” The calm, composed female voice was completely at odds with the chaos unfolding around La Forge and his team of engineers.
Along the oversized chamber’s far bulkhead, behind the massive warp core standing at the center of the room, he saw pale green smoke billowing from a ruptured conduit. His ocular implants allowed him to magnify what he was seeing, and he noted that the conduit had seven breaks just in that one section. There likely were others, he told himself, elsewhere in the room or even behind the bulkheads. The plasma coolant was escaping with enough force that it would flood this entire compartment within minutes, killing anyone who remained inside once he or the computer sealed the room. Worse, if left unchecked, the leak would eventually remove so much coolant that the warp core itself would be at risk of overload.
