Dark Matters_ Ghost Dance (Book 2) - Christie Golden [81]
/ don't know what the extent of your powers are. Tialin, she thought, but I hope that somehow you can see just how damn good a job we're doing.
"Then play, Torres," she said, and let the smile grow on her lips.
They made their way through the system. The central star, fortunately, did not seem to be home to any pieces of mutated dark matter. It was all in the single planet, the Kwaisi homeworld. And there seemed to be a lot of it.
"Mr. Tuvok, report."
. "Our guest appears to be telling the truth about his seven ships being his planet's only defensive vessels," said Tuvok.
"Of course I-" Ulaahn began, but Janeway shut him up with a look.
"I detect no vessels other than small transport ships in orbit around the planet. It appears safe to continue our approach."
It was time to pour some oil on the water. "Captain," said Janeway, turning to Ulaahn, "you said your planet is infected with the dark matter, that people are behaving irrationally. Will they listen to us-to you?"
Ulaahn seemed about to make an angry retort, but with an effort he calmed himself. "I do not know, Captain. The dark matter appears to affect people differently. Some in my crew turned hostile. I, as you know, was suicidal." He said the last word in a deep, disapproving grumble. Though Janeway clearly remembered his depression, it was hard to imagine the alien before her ever doubting himself.
"In order to operate the sphere to purge the planet, we'll have to take our warp engines off-line and lower our shields," she reminded him. "We'll be very vulnerable. I've no intention of approaching your planet in such a fashion until I can speak to someone and be reassured that we won't be in any danger."
With evident reluctance, Ulaahn told her about the weapons on his homeworld. There weren't many. The Kwaisi did indeed seem to rely on the eight- seven, now-heavily armed vessels under Ulaahn's command to protect them.
Still, better safe than sorry. "Go to Yellow Alert. Shields up. Mr. Kim, please open a hailing frequency." At Kim's nod, she continued. 'This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager, to the Kwaisi Council. You will have noticed that we come escorted by seven of your defensive vessels. With me on my bridge is Captain Ulaahn, commander of that fleet. We come to help you. We wish to warn you about a danger to your planet and people of which you are more than likely unaware. It is directly responsible for any chaos that has occurred on your homeworld."
"No answer, Captain," said Kim.
"Captain Ulaahn, why don't you try?" asked Janeway.
Ulaahn straightened in Chakotay's chair and cleared his throat. "This is Captain Ulaahn, to the Council. What this Janeway says is the truth. They have technology that can save all of us." He paused. "Ensign, is that frequency open?"
"Yes, sir," replied Kim. "They are receiving. They just aren't responding."
Ulaahn nodded, then seemed to reach a decision. He rose, speaking as if to someone who was present. "Eriih, my old friend, you must listen to me. We have been infected with something that makes us mad and attacks our bodies. I personally was so distraught and affected by this that I opened fire on one of my own vessels." His voice caught. "I will of course stand trial for my crime."
Janeway stared. They would be able to show that Ulaahn had not been of sound mind when he ordered the destruction of one of his own ships, but why even bother? She was certain that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people had committed
comparable crimes. If every one of them had to undergo trial, this whole planet could be tied up in litigation for years.
"Please answer us. Let me help my people."
There was a long silence. It seemed that Ulaahn's moving plea had fallen on deaf ears. Then the screen came to life. An elderly man with haunted eyes locked gazes with Ulaahn.
"Flee, my