Part 19 (1/2)

”What the h.e.l.l ... !” Gruzinov said. ”That wasn't us!”

A s.h.i.+p came swooping in at a steep angle, raking the other Warbird with phaser fire as it pa.s.sed so close to it that they almost brushed. Picard recognized the familiar lines of a Const.i.tution-cla.s.s vessel.

”I'll be d.a.m.ned,” he said. ”It's the Glory!”

”Starboard helm, bearing one-point-three mark four!” said Blaze.

”Cutting it a little close there, weren't you?” Riker said, looking up and wincing with pain as the s.h.i.+p banked sharply enough to make him grab the weapons console for support.

”She's still not responding very well,” said Blaze. ”Blame your friend, La Forge.”

”He got this bucket running, didn't he?”

”Yes, if she doesn't shake herself apart,” said Blaze. ”Full about! Let's see if you can't shoot a little better this time, gunner. Engineering, I need more power on starboard engines!”

”I'm giving you all I've got?' La Forge replied, over the intercom. ”One more maneuver like that and the entire nacelle's liable to give from the stress!”

The s.h.i.+p rocked as it was grazed by disruptor fire.

”Damage to Decks 4 and 5!” Communications Mate T'gahl shouted. ”Hull integrity breached!”

”Seal off Decks 4 and 5! d.a.m.n you, La Forge, I need more power to the s.h.i.+elds!” Blaze shouted.

”What s.h.i.+elds?” La Forge replied.

”We don't have s.h.i.+elds?” Riker said.

”La Forge!” Blaze shouted.

”What the h.e.l.l do you expect?” Geordie replied. ”It was all I could do to get these d.a.m.ned Romulan drives operative! You want miracles?”

”Right now, it wouldn't hurt,” said Blaze. ”Engage cloaking device!”

”Cloaking device engaged,” said Helmsman D'karr.

”Port helm, bearing three-point-five mark two! Stand by phasers!”

”Phasers standing by,” said Riker.

”She's cloaked!” Gruzinov said.

”Full about, Mr. Data!” Picard said. ”Stand by photon torpedoes!”

”Sir, if we fire now, we could hit the Glory,” Worf said.

”Not if Blaze does what I think he's going to do,” Picard replied. ”Fire!”

Worf fired as they lined up on the s.h.i.+p Blaze had just attacked. It was coming about to meet the new threat, but instead wound up exposing its flank to the Enterprise. The torpedo slammed into its aft section and exploded.

”Direct hit!” Gruzinov said.

”Enemy is withdrawing, Captain,” Worf said.

”Let them go, Mr. Worf,” Picard said. ”Let's see to our friend, Kronak. Stand by phasers!”

”The Warbird is coming about to fire, Captain,” Data said.

”Maintain heading,” said Picard. ”Stand by ...”

As the Warbird's forward disruptors came to bear, the Glory suddenly uncloaked, directly behind Kronak's s.h.i.+p.

”Fire!” said Picard.

Both the Enterprise and the Glory fired simultaneously. Caught in the deadly crossfire, the Warbird's s.h.i.+elds gave way and the s.h.i.+p exploded into a giant fireball.

”We got him!” Gruzinov shouted.

”Secure from battle stations,” said Picard, exhaling heavily. ”Maintain yellow alert. I want a full report from Damage Control as soon as possible.”

”Message coming in from the Glory, Captain,” said Gruzinov.

”Onscreen,” Picard said.

Blaze appeared on the screen, sitting casually kicked back in his captain's chair, as if he were merely taking his ease instead of just having fought a pitched battle. ”Nicely done, Captain,” he said. ”We got that b.a.s.t.a.r.d trapped between the hammer and the anvil. But tell me, how did you manage to antic.i.p.ate my move? Or was it merely luck?”

Picard smiled. ”I seemed to recall that you had a tendency for putting other s.h.i.+ps between us.”

Blaze grinned. ”Touche, Captain.” He gave Picard a cavalier salute. ”I shall remember that in the future. But for the present, I was pleased to be of a.s.sistance.”

”I must admit to being curious,” Picard said, with a puzzled frown. ”You had no stake in this, and you stood to lose everything. Why take the risk?”

Blaze shrugged elaborately. ”Life without risk is merely existence, Captain. I never trusted Kronak, anyway. I knew that he considered me expendable, and that I would be expended, so to speak, as soon as he had no further use for me. Besides, the odds against you were three to one, hardly a fair fight. And I always did have a weakness for the underdog.”

”Well, my compliments to your weapons officer,” Picard said, ignoring the dig. ”I owe the survival of my s.h.i.+p to his superb gunnery skills.”

Blaze smiled. ”I am sure he would be delighted to hear that, Captain. Why don't you thank him yourself?”

”I would be happy to,” Picard said. ”Where is he?”

”Right here,” said Riker, stepping out of the turbolift.

Picard turned around, an expression of astonishment and delight on his features. ”Will!” he said.

The others on the bridge looked equally delighted and relieved to see him, but were concerned at his appearance. His face was badly bruised and cut, and his uniform s.h.i.+rt had been cut away, revealing his taped ribs.

”It's good to be back, sir,” Riker said. ”I sent Geordi to his quarters to get some badly needed sleep. He was absolutely exhausted. He was working round the clock trying to get the Glory operational in time for us to get here. We just barely made it.”

”You were aboard the Glory all this time?” Picard said, with astonishment.

”You mean you didn't get my message?” Riker asked, with a frown.