Dark Matters_ Ghost Dance (Book 2) - Christie Golden [66]
His eyes blazed, but she continued. She lifted her chin and narrowed her blue eyes. "You are a guest aboard my ship. Your people are guests. We are doing everything we can, as quickly as we can, to help you and your people survive. I suggest you behave accordingly."
She heard the soft movement behind her as Tuvok moved a few feet away from his station. It was not an overtly menacing move, just a subtle reminder of Tuvok's position as chief of security. Ulaahn glanced from one to the other and growled low in his throat He threw himself down into Chakotay's chair and sat, sullen and silent.
It was not exactly what Janeway had wanted, but it would do.
"Engineering to Janeway."
"Go ahead, Torres." It was a welcome and timely interruption.
"The warp core is now off-line. We're ready to proceed with the test on your order."
Janeway glanced over at her Kwaisi counterpart. "Commander? May we begin the test?"
He frowned. "Of course, test your unknown device out on my vessel, not your own."
"Well," said Janeway, as if she were talking to a child, "actually, both vessels will be affected. The radiation sphere will have to be larger than Voyager if it's to be large enough to engulf your vessel."
"Yes, yes, I understand, go ahead."
Janeway smothered a smile. "You may proceed, Lieutenant." Her voice was calm, but inside she was tense. What if something went wrong? Not only with Ulaahn's ship, but with their own? Tuvok had been right. Bringing the warp core off-line and having to lower their shields made them incredibly vulnerable. But there seemed to be no other choice.
The shields were already down; she did not have to issue the order. The bridge was utterly silent as everyone stared at the screen. In the center was a vacant vessel, oblong and pale cream-gray. If all went well, it would look identical after this test, except it would be infinitely safer for living things to inhabit. And they would be that much closer to accomplishing a Herculean task.
"On your order, Captain," said Torres.
"Do it," said Janeway.
Torres swallowed, and pressed the control.
The horrible sound screeched forth and Torres
closed her eyes against the accompanying brightness. "Seven, report."
Seven had to shout to be heard over the noise. "The radiation sphere is increasing by six percent... thirty-six... one thousand two hundred ninety-six... it is now engulfing the entire ship. The dark matter within the affected area has been contained within the orb."
"So far, so good," yelled Torres.
"The sphere is expanding. It has crossed the distance to the Kwaisi vessel. It is presently engulfing the vessel."
How Torres wished she could see it, but even the experimental goggles the Doctor had constructed didn't help. She'd just have to experience it vicariously through Seven. Her heart was racing, and she realized her palms were wet.
Please let this work.
The light began to fade, and the awful sound ceased. Torres blinked.
"Did it work?" asked Khala anxiously.
Seven did not reply at once. "The amount of dark matter contained within the warp-core bubble has increased eighteen point seven percent There is no trace of dark matter within the targeted Kwaisi vessel." She looked up, fixed Khala with her cool gaze, and said, "The attempt appears to have been successful."
There were some very unprofessional sounds of whooping from engineering, and Torres thought even Seven seemed to smile a little.
Harry Kim captured a piece of broccoli with his chopsticks. "So then the captain says, 'Well, Commander, it seems as though within a few hours we'll have your crew and vessels back in perfect