Part 17 (1/2)
Mori and Mikken crouched back to back.
Virtually simultaneously, they fired-and two more hovercraft exploded. The last remaining hunter had become the prey in this deadly game, and the pilot knew he was outgunned. He rattled off a salvo of cannon bolts, then 173 heeled over so hard his hoverjet was tipped almost on its side. With a rapid att.i.tude correction, the pilot kicked his craft to full throttle and fled at top speed, leaving a streak of white exhaust smoke behind. The Thiopans broke into cheers. Riker wiped beads of sweat off his face, silently relieved. He still wasn't free, but he'd survived the encounter without a scratch. And it was better to be a live hostage than a liberated corpse.
On Timo neouThat not Pouvmm when it wasn't obscuring the sun, it made for gorgeous sunsets.
Today was one such sunset, and Sovereign Protector Stross took a break from his woodworking to watch the sky set aflame, a palette overflowing with golds and umbers near the horizon, ribbons of streaked clouds, purple and finally black on the far side of the sky. The door of the workroom swung open and Policy Minister Ootherai came in, heels clicking on the hardwood floor. He looked haggard, his face drained of color. He raked his fingers through his beard. ”Lord Stross?” ”What?” Stross didn't bother to turn.
”The Endrayan mission-it, uh, the squadron didn't accomplish what it set out to do.”
Now Stross faced his aide. ”You mean it failed. 175 Come right out and say things, Hydrin. How bad is it.
Ootherai swallowed, betraying uncharacteristic jitters. ”We, uhh, we lost three hoverjets.”
Stross's baggy eyes opened wide. ”Three out of four?”
”Yes, my lord.”
”d.a.m.n those Nuarans,” Stross hissed, his jaw clenching. ”That party in the desert must have Riker.
There is no other reason for anybody to be going from here to the Sa'drit.”
”Not likely.”
”They were going in that direction, weren't they?”
”Yes, my lord, they were.”
”Then we know where they'll be. It's about time we showed Lessandra and her terrorists they're not safe anywhere. When was the last time we attacked Sanctuary Canyon?”
”Five months ago. That's when we discovered the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds had Nuaran slashers. We lost ten hoverjets.”
”I remember. This time will be different. Get our best pilots together and plan an attack for dawn tomorrow.”
”On the canyon?”
”That's what I said.”
”What makes you think they won't shoot us down again?”
Before Stross could answer, his communication channel beeped for his attention. He reached for the wall intercom. ”Stross.”
”Captain Picard calling from the Enterprise, my lord,” said the communications control voice. ”Shall I tell him you're in a meeting?”
”No, I'll talk to him. Put visual through to this terminal.”
”Yes, my lord.”
A moment later, Picard's face appeared on the small wall viewer. ”Protector Stross, thank you for taking my call,” he said soberly.
”I had hoped to have a response from you regarding my conversation with Minister Ootherai.”
Stross nodded with a benign half-smile.
”Hmm. You made some threats.”
”They were not threats.” Picard was calm. ”I simply wanted your government to be aware of the consequences of a lack of cooperation.”
”I'm sorry if Ootherai gave you the wrong idea. I believe in speaking plainly, Captain.
I have a feeling you do, too.”
”Then let's speak plainly, Protector Stross.”
”Fine. We need the supplies you have brought us, and the Federation needs Thiopa. I'm personally very sorry that your first officer got caught up in our troubles. We are trying to get him back for you.”
”That's a step in the right direction. Have you made any pry?” ”Can you give us till morning? By then I think we'll have something definite to tell you.”
”Very well, until morning. But decisions will have to be made then.”
”Understood, Captain. We appreciate your patience.”
”Is it also understood that patience has its limits?”
Stross nodded. ”It is. We shall talk again in the morning. Stross out.”
The Thiopan leader's image blinked off the main viewscreen on the bridge and was replaced by the standard orbital view of the planet below. Picard crossed his legs and sat thoughtfully in his bridge seat.
”I don't trust him, sir,” Worf rumbled from over Picard's shoulder. The captain turned.
”Why is that, Lieutenant?”
”I don't trust sudden course changes.”
”Neither do I. Counselor?”
Deanna Troi regarded her commander with her usual directness. ”I think Stross was hiding something.
At the moment, I wouldn't cla.s.sify him as trustworthy.”
”Mmmm.” Picard was silent another moment.
”I think we'll see what the lord protector has to say in the morning, before we make our decision.”
He stood. ”I'll be in the ready room if you need me. Mr. Data, you have the bridge.”
The rest of the ride to Sanctuary Canyon was uneventful, and Riker's group had finally reached the towering ridges that stood like sentinels at the narrow mouth of the Sojourners' spiritual homeland. In single file, the animals picked their slow-footed way through the ravine until they reached the entrance to the canyon itself. Riker and the others dismounted, leaving the animals in Tritt's care. While he led them to join the herd grazing peacefully on the spa.r.s.e canyon gra.s.s, Durren took the rest of the group up the side trail.
To Riker, the canyon had a forbidding majesty.
And though he'd visited cliff dwellings before, he'd never seen anything quite like the elaborate-city perched on the far ledge, nestled beneath its soaring rock over-178 hang, a wall at least a half-mile high.