Dark Matters_ Ghost Dance (Book 2) - Christie Golden [9]
"The captain was correct," said Seven. "Commander Chakotay obviously chose to enter the portal, and to take Ensign Paris with him."
"Cold comfort," said B'Elanna, almost too softly to hear. Seven said nothing.
Telek stepped forward and turned off the recording. "There is nothing further about the dark matter. Lieutenant, I believe it is obvious. Tialin thought to teach us by example. The amount of dark matter that was in this ship and its crew, which is now contained within the sphere, is infinitesimal compared to the amount that is still out there. Since I was not under the impression that she planned to drop by now and then to empty the orb for us, I suggest we begin working on how to create something similar of our own."
Seven narrowed her eyes. It was the first time she had seen Telek display humor.
"Oh," said Torres. "Well, when you put it that
way, it sounds so simple. Let's get on it and we'll be done in time for lunch."
Seven was about to reply when she realized that Torres was utilizing a form of speech called sarcasm. She kept her mouth closed and regarded the floating orb, which still kept its secrets. For the first time, Seven of Nine understood why Voyager's chief engineer insisted on referring to it as That Damned Ball.
CHAPTER
3
JEKRI KALEH, THE "LITTLE DAGGER," CHAIRMAN OF the Romulan intelligence service the Tal Shiar, stood rigidly at attention on the left side of her Empress. All eyes were fixed on the viewscreen that occupied a full wall of the Senate Chamber.
No one spoke, though Jekri knew that on this black day hearts were breaking and careers were crumbling. There, on the screen, was the only remaining warbird to have survived the encounter with the Federation Starship Voyager in the Delta Quadrant.
It was difficult for even Jekri, who held few ideals, to believe their project had come to this. It had been years in the planning. When Telek R'Mor had returned from his trip to the Delta Quadrant
after having actually stepped aboard Voyager, Jekri had been waiting for him. He had been pressed into service, his fine mind and keen intellect put to the task of working for the Tal Shiar, along with the stranger, Ambassador Lhiau.
Lhiau. It was a struggle to keep the hated name from blazing in her brain. Even as Jekri dragged her thoughts back to the viewscreen, she saw Lhiau turn and look at her briefly.
He had come with an offer that had seemed too good to be true. He would give the Romulans cloaks made of dark matter which would render them utterly undetectable. In exchange, he wanted Romulan aid against some vaguely described "enemies."
It had seemed so simple, so straightforward so... Romulan. They would place Lhiau's cloaks on thirteen warbirds and use Telek R'Mor's wormhole technology to accomplish their goal: enter the Delta Quadrant, capture Voyager, and bring her back to be the new Romulan flagship in a total, crushing war against the Federation.
But that wasn't what had happened.
What had happened was that either R'Mor had deserted or the Federation had kidnapped him. What had happened was that when they finally again located Voyager and sent their so-wonderfully-cloaked warbirds after her, the Federation vessel had destroyed all but one. What had happened was that one remaining warbird was left practically disintegrating before their eyes.
And now, with a single word, the Empress was about to complete that process.
Jekri began to fidget, just a little. When would the Empress give her command? All the crew aboard the ill-fated vessel had already succumbed to some strange sickness that ravaged their bodies and minds. This empty hull was all that was left. It was past time to consign it to its fate.
The Empress licked