Day of Honor - Michael Jan Friedman [54]
"There's no indication of a subspace field," Seven of Nine observed. "I'd recommend switching to a higher energy band."
The lieutenant hated the idea of taking advice from the Borg. Still, Seven of Nine was the expert in this field.
B'Elanna nodded to Vorik. "Do it."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
He switched to the higher band. B'Elanna checked her monitor again. She could see a subspace response.
"That did something," Tom sang out, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.
"The subspace field is forming," said Seven of Nine.
"Continuing to emit tachyon pulses," B'Elanna noted.
"The field is enlarging," said Seven of Nine.
By then, even the engineer was beginning to enjoy their success. For the moment, all thoughts of the Borg were submerged.
We're going to do it, B'Elanna cheered inwardly.
We're going to open that conduit, damn it.
Suddenly, a siren sounded, freezing everyone in engineering. B'Elanna cursed beneath her breath. "What's that?" asked Seven of Nine.
"An overload alarm," said Vorik.
A moment later, the computer initiated a red alert.
The entire section was bathed in a lurid red light.
B'Elanna switched consoles, then keyed the controls. Immediately, she saw what the problem was. She described it for the others.
"There's a power surge in the emitter matrix. Tachyon particles are leaking into the propulsion system."
Tom shouted at Vorik. "Shut down the deflector!"
The Vulcan complied with the order. "Done," he said. His brow creased. "But the leak is continuing unabated."
B'Elanna heard an explosion behind her. Whirling, she saw one of the consoles erupt in a shower of sparks. Her engineers rushed about, attempting to contain the damage.
But it was too late. B'Elanna knew that in a flash, even before Voyager began to shudder. This wasn't a broken coolant conduit or something else confined to engineering. This had the makings of a shipwide disaster.
Vorik looked up from his console. "Impulse engines are out."
"Tachyons are flooding the warp core," B'Elanna groaned. "Emissions are increasing exponentially."
Suddenly, faneway's voice cut through the turmoil.
"Bridge to engineering. What's going on down there?"
B'Elanna took a breath. "We've got a power surge in the emitter matrix. Tachyons are flooding the warp core."
"What are the radiometric levels?" asked the captain.
"Fifty rems and climbing," B'Elanna told her.
She imagined Janeway rifling through her options-and rejecting all but one. When the captain spoke, she sounded calm, but there was an undeniable undercurrent of urgency in her voice.
"Listen to me, Lieutenant. If you can't get the core stabilized immediately, evacuate engineering."
B'Elanna didn't like the idea. Unfortunately, she had little choice in the matter. "Aye, Captain. I'll get back to you."
Vorik appeared at her side. "I've cut all power relays, but tachyon levels are still rising."
B'Elanna turned to the other engineers. "Everybody out. Now!"
Her colleagues headed for the door. Vorik went as well. But Tom and Seven of Nine hadn't moved.
"That means you two as well," she told them. "But I could be of help to you," the Borg noted. "Get out!" B'Elanna snapped. "That's an order!"
Seven of Nine hesitated a moment, then backed away and left engineering. But Tom stayed where he was, working feverishly at a console.
"You can't order me," he reminded her. "I outrank you, remember?"
B'Elanna didn't argue with him. It wouldn't have gotten her anywhere anyway. "We've got to neutralize the core," she said.
He nodded. "I'll try decoupling the dilithium matrix."
But an ominous whine was beginning to build.
Plasma coolant began escaping, just as it had before.
"No effect," B'Elanna growled. "Try it again."
Tom did as she asked. A few seconds later, he shook his head. "It's not working, B'Elanna. The core's, going to breach."
She bit her lip. "Let me try one more thing."
Tom grabbed her arm. "B'Elanna, there's no time.
We have to get out of here. Now."
The engineer hesitated-but only for a fraction of a second. After all, she