Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [33]
It could’ve been much worse. But still, he watched the ship very carefully on the science station viewer.
When he saw the Romulan slow down and then come to a stop, he thought it might have been a glitch in his sensor array. But when the vessel changed its heading, he had to at least concede the possibility that he had been spotted.
“The Romulan vessel is initiating an intercept course,” the computer informed him. “If you require any—”
“Computer,” Scotty interrupted, “initiate a new course perpendicular to the Romulan vessel’s. Warp factor eight.”
“Initiating now,” the computer answered. “Thank you for your request. And enjoy—”
“Status of Romulan vessel?” Scotty demanded before the computer could say anything else.
“Romulan vessel is altering course to match. Thank you for your inquiry and enjoy your starship adventure on board the U.S.S. Yorktown.”
And then Scotty understood—his luck had finally run out.
Standing up, he faced the main viewscreen. He would meet his end on his feet, he vowed. Having confronted the Romulans more than once in the past, he had learned at least one thing about them—they did not take prisoners.
Montgomery Scott was a Starfleet officer on a Federation starship, deep inside enemy space. As old as it was, the Yorktown was of no value to the Romulans. Scott didn’t imagine they would hesitate for a second before blowing the old girl to atoms.
Well, they wouldn’t take him without a fight. “Computer, drop cloak,” he commanded, knowing it was pointless now to direct any energy to it. “Full power to shields and weapons systems.”
He and the Yorktown might just give the Romulans a surprise or two.
“Shields and weapons at full power,” the computer replied. “Thank you for your request and enjoy your starship adventure aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown.”
“Aye,” was all the reply Scotty could muster.
“If this is a joke…” the Romulan commander said to his sensor operator.
The officer was nervous and completely earnest in his response. “No, sir. It is a Federation starship. And according to our computer models, it is at least one hundred years old.”
The commander walked forward to get a better look at the sensor screen. He wanted to confirm the information with his own eyes.
“Has it been upgraded?” he asked. “New weapons? Power systems?”
The sensor operator shook his head. “No, sir. Sensors indicate it meets the original specifications for that type of vessel. The only modification seems to be the presence of a cloaking device. One of Romulan design.
“Curious, the commander thought.
The officer continued. “It is a modified version of the device used during the same era as the vessel. The modifications are quite good, however. If I had not been monitoring the sensor input manually as we approached—”
“Yes,” yes, the commander said impatiently. “What I want to know is what it is doing in our space. Could that vessel be any threat to this ship?”
The reply came from his tactical officer, who was clearly unimpressed.
“Commander, that vessel would not be a threat to an underpowered scout ship. I am targeting it now. If you like, we can destroy it with a single burst.”
The commander thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, not yet. First, I want someone to tell me why an antique Federation starship with a crew of one has invaded the Romulan Empire. Anyone?”
The entire command crew was silent.
“As I thought,” the commander remarked. “Then what we have here is a mystery. And I have no particular fondness for mysteries. If there is an explanation, I will have it.”
He turned to his communications officer. “Report this to Central Command,” he instructed.
“As you wish,” the officer replied.
Next, he turned to his helm officer. “Take us to towing range. Maximum power to defensive shields. And keep weapons locked on target—just in case.”
The warbird had remained motionless for some time. Now it came closer, looming fearfully large on the main viewscreen.
Scotty didn’t understand. The Yorktown had been well within the warbird’s weapons range for more than five minutes. Yet in all that time, the