Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [84]
“And the Romulans are deploying their ships to that sector?”
“That’s what Lieutenant Worf told me just a little while ago.”
McCoy looked surprised for a moment. “Damn,” he said at last. “So that’s what he was trying to talk to me about.”
Guinan nodded. “Apparently,” she said.
Her guest stroked his chin. “Wait a minute. The Stugg could never get together on anything, much less a military offensive. Why would the Romulans be concentrating so much of their firepower there?”
“That’s what Captain Picard was wondering,” Guinan explained. “And don’t even think of pushing your glass this way again. Two slugs of the green stuff is enough for a man your age. Hell, it’s enough for a man of any age.”
“That’s all right,” said the admiral. With an effort, he pushed himself back from the bar. “I appreciate the hospitality, Guinan. All of it.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” she reminded him. “I’ll see you around, Admiral McCoy.”
“Leonard,” he told her.
“Leonard,” she agreed.
With a last gentlemanly nod, he walked away, heading for the exit. But it was clear to her he was still pondering something she’d said.
Guinan went back to her duties, satisfied. When they left Ten-Forward with that look on their faces, she knew she’d done her job.
CHAPTER 21
Picard looked around the observation lounge table. With three of his officers at risk in Romulan space, the table appeared strangely undermanned.
Only Worf, Beverly Crusher, and Counselor Troi looked back at him from their customary places—and even they seemed somewhat diminished by their concern for their colleagues. Admiral McCoy had been alerted that this meeting would be taking place, but he was nowhere to be seen.
The captain frowned. Protocol or no protocol, he would give the admiral another minute and no longer. After all—
Abruptly, the door to the room slid aside and revealed McCoy, who seemed more frail than at any time since his arrival on the Enterprise. The admiral’s eyes flitted from one of them to the next, almost timidly, as if he were steeling himself for some terrific ordeal.
But no one chastised him. In fact, they could barely look at him. Making his way inside, McCoy quietly took the chair normally reserved for Commander Riker—on Picard’s right, halfway along the table’s length.
“Sorry I’m late,” he muttered to no one in particular. “I had some…” He drummed his fingertips on the table’s surface. “. .. some thinking to do.”
Choosing not to address that issue in public, the captain opted instead for the matter at hand. “We have received a subspace message from Commander Riker,” he said.
“He’s all right?” Troi responded.
“Apparently so,” the captain told her. “Geordi and Data as well. And they’ve found Captain Scott.”
“Alive?” asked Worf.
“Alive,” Picard confirmed.
“That’s wonderful,” murmured the admiral.
Doctor Crusher looked relieved as well. “Then Will was just reporting that they’re on their way back?”
The captain shook his head. “On the contrary. They are taking the Yorktown deeper into Romulan territory.”
“But why?” blurted Admiral McCoy.
Abruptly, he realized that all eyes were upon him. Sitting up straight in his chair, he cleared his throat and spoke in a more measured tone.
“They got what they came for,” he explained. “What are they up to now?”
Picard sympathized with McCoy’s confusion. “It seems Governor Tharrus is not the only one aware of Spock’s presence on Constanthus. Proconsul Eragian has learned of it as well—or so Captain Scott appears to believe.”
“Then that’s why Will and the others have agreed to head for Constanthus,” Troi observed. “They’re going to attempt to free Ambassador Spock.”
“That’s correct,” Picard confirmed.
Worf’s nostrils flared. “Their orders were to rescue Captain Scott.”
“So they were,” the captain agreed. “They have chosen to diverge from them, based on new information.”
“But they don’t know that Tharrus knows,” Dr. Crusher commented. “He’ll be guarding Spock a lot more closely now.”
“Also true,” Picard noted. “Which means our friends are reaching into a bigger hornet’s nest than they’re prepared