Part 11 (2/2)

”Klingon s.p.a.ce?” Folan's eyes narrowed in perplexity then she turned to Medric, determined. ”I need warp capability repaired now. We must be able to match their speed. Then I need the cloak, and communications as well.”

Medric smiled. ”You will call the fleet?” Folan nodded slowly. ”I will call for help,” she said, almost in a whisper. ”And T'sart... and Picard, will die.”

Romulan s.p.a.ce Sector 72 Shuttle Bay awakening sequence complete at time code 4547.

Systems check: Internal scanners, nominal. External scanners, nominal. Active and pa.s.sive sensor grids, nominal. Tractor systems, energized. Force-field generators, energized. Ordnance subsystems, activated.

Verify directive: Undermine and inhibit subject's infrastructure.

Verify sub-directives: Avoid contact with biological forms. Avoid contact with sensor detection. Avoid disabling environments and events.

Scan for location ... Interior of shuttle.

Plotting course for exploration outside shuttle. Plotted. Antigravity propulsion initiated and engaged on heading toward shuttle's port bulkhead.

Scanning obstacle bulkhead: plastiform constructs, various metallic alloys, circuitry. Point of weakness determined. Calculating ... initiating disrupter burst. Vaporization complete.

Evacuation complete at time code 4549.

Scanning shuttlebay ... point of weakness determined Verify position ... acquiring ... Deck 12, section 9, subsection 2, internal Jefferies tube 5. Within range of conduit 31 A. Error: subject s.h.i.+elding interferes with attempt to reprogram. Formulating solution... Determination: physical manipulation necessary. Charging tractor nodes and force-field generators.

Charge complete. Initiating manipulation.

Alert triggered, bio form approaching. Disengage. Shutting down systems. Maneuvering against bulkhead for silent mode.

Postponing action until bio form exceeds scanner range... Sleep state established.

Self-waking initiated. All bio forms outside of set range. Resume previous directive... Klingan/Romulan border Sector S3 Three days ago ”WHAT IS IT, SPOCK?”

Picard leaned over the Vulcan's shoulder and looked intently at the science station computer monitor.

”Something Mr. Data and I have found of interest.” Spock swiveled his chair away from the console, and Picard stepped back as Data did the same. ”In the small amount of information that T'sart was able to smuggle from his research, and by remembering what I was allowed to see of T'sart's 'proof,” there is perhaps evidence that these dead zone occurrences are but one stage in a continuous phenomenon. I had glanced at a table of statistics on the current Romulan dead zones. More recent appearances of these zones have allowed tractor beams and even disrupter weapons to function. As these zones ... age, for lack of a better term, even those lower-level power usages become inactive.”

”Lower level?” Picard asked.

”In comparison to the warp and impulse power generations, sir,” Data replied.

The captain nodded. ”How ... far might this degenerate? Will chemical thrusters become useless? Atomic reactions? Need we replicate candles, Mr. Spock, in case we happen upon an older dead zone?”

Spock shook his head. ”There is no way, given our limited data, to answer those questions. We will need to study an older zone, perhaps testing it from within.”

”Let's hope we don't get that chance. I don't intend to replicate those candles.”

”They'd do you little good, Captain,” Spock said. ”Unless you intended to replicate matches as well.”

Picard smiled, and noticed a slight twinkle in the Vulcan's eye. ”See what we can do about reconfiguring a probe that will work in these older zones, should we come close to one. If we can learn how to scan for them, map them...”

”Aye, sir,” Data said.

Spock nodded and Picard stepped down toward the lower bridge.

Once both Data and Spock had turned back toward the science station, the android leaned toward Spock and spoke in a slightly hushed tone.

”You suggested the captain replicate matches,” Data said.

”Yes.”

”That was a joke, was it not?”

Spock paused in his work a moment, turning to look at Data. ”Without anything to light the candles, of what use would they be?”

”Hmm.” Data considered that. ”Indeed. I suppose it was not a joke. Or at least not a tunny one. I can often tell now. Remember, since we first met, I have gained emotions.”

Spock turned back to the console. ”I remember. I hope not on my account.”

”No, sir.” Data also turned back to the console, but then a slight smile pulled his lips up and he glanced back. ”That was a joke, was it not, sir?”

One brow raised in amus.e.m.e.nt, Spock was silent.

Romulan Warbird Makluan Romulan/Klingon border Sector 53 ”Did the message get through?” Folan thought her vocal intensity sounded perhaps too nervous, despite her attempt at a demanding tone.

Medric turned tiredly from his console. ”We have no way to know. Normally such a high-speed warp buoy would be destroyed entering enemy s.p.a.ce. We should not have used our last one on such a task, in any case.”

”I disagree. If this was our last chance for long-range communication, they are closer than our own forces.” Folan stepped down to the command chair. Her command chair now. ”Perhaps we could modify a warp probe?” So much to think about, so many possibilities. Command was new to her. And she had enemies to her command: T'sart, and Picard. And Medric.

”Subs.p.a.ce communication focusing coils can't be replicated, and we have no such inventory in storage,” the centurion said, his tone suggesting she should have known that. ”That, along with subs.p.a.ce travel being erratic at best the last two weeks ...”

”Well, it was a calculated risk,” Folan explained. That was another mistake, and she knew it the moment she'd heard it clatter to the floor. Medric had suddenly followed her down to the command deck.

”Had we used the buoy to send a message to the fleet-” he began.

She tried to shut him down quickly. ”We would not have accomplished our ends.” Folan turned away toward the main viewscreen.

”Your ends,” Medric said, turning her chair harshly back toward him.

Folan was stunned for a moment, then reminded herself she needed to play the military game of authoritarian bravado and bl.u.s.ter. She tried to narrow her eyes and stare him down. ”This is my command now, Medric. My ends are your ends, our ends.”

As he always was when she showed her backbone, Medric was silent. But his courage returned more quickly each time he confronted Folan, and this time he paused but a moment. ”There is a difference between being in command, and commanding respect. We have seventy-four comrades dead, and twice that injured. We have no communications with Command. One disruptor bank is offline and will take seven more hours to repair. We are leaking plasma from our starboard nacelle, rendering our cloak useless. We're limping. Just what is it you believe you command?”

Folan leaned toward him and whispered. ”Be careful, Medric. A sharp tongue can swing so fast it slits its master's throat.”

He considered that a moment, then stood straight, almost -but not quite-at attention. ”At this time, I'm only making... a recommendation. There is an imperial subs.p.a.ce relay station just fourteen hours from here at present speed. Once within its range, perhaps it will boost our signal enough to notify Command and await orders. We might even be able to borrow a replacement-”

She shook her head. ”We haven't the time. T'sart is almost in Klingon s.p.a.ce. And reports before we left were that the subs.p.a.ce radio relays were having the same problems as all vessels and bases. No ... we will a.s.sume our message was received and that our new allies will act properly.”

”A large and foolish a.s.sumption,” Medric said as he turned away. ”SubCommander,” he added finally.

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