Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [4]
“Warp six,” Data said. “Heading one four seven mark four. Still no evidence of a warp engine. But the ship continues to broadcast its signal.”
“Warp six, Mr. Crusher,” Riker said. “Take your heading from Mr. Data.”
“Aye, sir.”
The stars flew to the edges of the viewscreen, always fed by more at the center. The Enterprise seemed to be flinging itself down an infinitely long tunnel that had sparks embedded in its obsidian walls.
“Heading two seven six mark eight.”
Wesley made the proper adjustment.
The alien ship went to warp eight, dropped back to warp five, and changed its direction three more times.
Counselor Troi yelped. A second later Data said, “The ship is gone.”
“Explain,” said Picard.
“Just gone, sir. It was there and then it was not.” Troi composed herself and smiled shyly. “I felt it leaving, sir.”
“Felt it?” Riker said.
Troi nodded. “A pressure I didn’t even know was there was suddenly gone.” She thought for a moment. “It tickled when it slipped away.”
Picard frowned and glanced at Riker, who gave a tiny shrug.
Data said, “The feelings that Counselor Troi describes closely approximate the event as seen by the sensors. The ship slipped away. But in a direction the sensors are not equipped to recognize and with which I am not familiar.”
“Subspace?” Picard said. “Hyperspace?”
“Unknown at this time, Captain.”
“Can you make sense of this, Lieutenant Shubunkin?” Picard said.
Shubunkin said, “No, sir. But I’m sure a few hours with the sensor log will—”
Picard said, “All the facilities of the ship are open to you.”
“Perhaps you would like Mr. Data to assist?” Riker said.
“No, no. I just need a few hours alone with the raw data.” He smiled. “Small d.”
Shubunkin left the bridge, and Captain Picard invited Data and Troi to join him in his ready room. They could tell him no more than what was already obvious: the signal was sent by aliens who could travel at warp speed without a warp drive; the aliens were human or they were not.
“It is all very odd,” Picard said.
Data and Troi could only agree.
Shubunkin did not emerge from his stateroom for the rest of the day. And when he did appear at last, he still had no answers for Picard.
The Enterprise patrolled the Omega Triangulae region for another week. Everyone was disappointed that no more inexplicable events occurred, though as Wesley commented, “The mystery we already have is a doozy.”
Chapter One
CAPTAIN WESLEY CRUSHER of the starship Enterprise brooded as he watched the Romulan captain on the main screen. Negotiations had not been going well and the diplomatic language had worn a little thin. Next to Crusher, Commander Riker was sweating heavily.
Captain Arvak shook his head and said, “I am not convinced, Crusher, that the Federation is negotiating in good faith.”
Crusher opened his hands in the universal gesture of friendship, and smiled. He said, “I assure you, Captain Arvak, that given a chance the Federation would be pleased to share the riches of Regan Three.”
“Your assurances mean nothing,” Arvak said. “We have nothing more to discuss.” The screen went blank, and a moment later Mr. Worf sang out, “Three Romulan ships closing fast.”
“Tactical, Mr. Worf,” Captain Crusher said calmly.
On the main screen, Enterprise was a blue dot at the center of a three-dimensional grid. The Romulan vessels were red sparks closing fast.
“Mr. Worf, sound red alert. Mr. Winston-Smyth, ahead full impulse.”
The Klaxon sounded. Lights flashed. All decks reported in. Captain Crusher felt a hot adrenaline rush as he gripped the arms of his command chair. The Romulans were making it difficult for the Enterprise to escape without killing or being killed, but Crusher would do his best. He did not want three weeks of careful negotiations to go to waste.
“We’re dead men,” Riker grumbled.
Data called, “Five hundred thousand klicks and closing.”
“Visual,” Captain Crusher said.
The tactical display on the main screen dissolved into the view forward. The Romulan ships seemed to be right off Enterprise