Death of a Neutron Star - Eric Kotani [42]
"That will not be possible."
"Make it possible," Janeway said. Then she turned to B'Elanna. "You and Lieutenant Tyla continue getting the yacht ready. If we can find a solution to this, I want to be prepared."
"Understood," B'Elanna said.
"Captain," Ensign Kim said. "I have an idea that might work."
"Go ahead," Janeway said.
"Would it be possible to connect the shuttle and the yacht with a tractor beam and rupture both cores at the same instant?"
Janeway glanced at Torres.
"It's possible," the engineer replied.
"And maybe add in some extra explosives," Kim went on, "like storing the gravitational wave energy container in the shuttle, to add a little extra boost to the explosion?"
B'Elanna shrugged. "Again, that would be possible."
"Seven," Janeway said, "you and Dr. Maalot do the calculations for the scenario that Ensign Kim just outlined. See if that would be enough;"
"Yes, Captain," Seven said.
"Any of you," Janeway said. "If you have an idea here, don't hesitate to tell me. We're not going to solve this one by going by the book."
"The book went out the window a few light-years back," Chakotay said, smiling.
"That it did," Janeway said. "I want updates in one hour. Dismissed."
Six minutes after the next computer warning- "Three hours and twenty minutes remaining" Tuvok called for her.
"Captain to the bridge, please."
She was beside him in less than ten seconds.
"The thirty Qavok aboard the Invincible are moving, Captain," Tuvok said. "They seem to be boarding a vessel in a shuttlebay."
Janeway stared at the readings. It was clear they were moving, but how long would it be until they attacked? And exactly where would that attack be?
"One more thing, Captain," Tuvok said. "Four more Qavok warships have joined the seven standing off one astronomical unit away."
"How fast can they get here?"
"Two hours, ten seconds," Tuvok said.
Janeway nodded. "Then we'll probably have just that much warning."
"That would be logical," Tuvok said.
Janeway didn't want a fight, but it seemed the Qavok had other ideas. If it wasn't one damn thing, it was another.
She turned to Ensign Kim. "Hail the Xorm."
"Aye, Captain."
She stepped down beside her command chair as Captain Fedr's face filled the screen.
"The Qborne seem to be boarding some vessel," Janeway said.
Fedr's face paled, and he nodded. "Thank you for the warning."
"We think they will attack at approximately the same moment that their other warships arrive. That will give us about twenty-two minutes' warning."
"We see they've been gaining strength," Fedr said. "We've put in an emergency call to our homeworld, but there are no other ships close enough to help us in time."
"Well then," Janeway said, "it looks like it's just the two of us. They won't know what hit them."
"I hope you are right," Captain Fedr said, smiling.
But Janeway could tell he was only smiling on the surface.
"We'll continue monitoring their activity," Jane-way said, "and warn you the moment we see something."
"We will do the same," Captain Fedr said.
"Good," Janeway said. "And one more thing. You mind if I toss a little scare into our old friend Captain Qados? Maybe give him a little hint that we know what he's up to?"
Captain Fedr smiled. A real smile this time. "That would be wonderful. May we listen in?"
Janeway laughed. This Xorm captain had a good attitude. "I don't see why not. Stay tuned."
"Thank you, Captain," he said, and cut the connection.
"Ensign, can you make sure they get this coming discussion without making it seem too obvious?"
"Not a problem, Captain," Kim said.
"Fine," she said, turning to face the image of the swirling neutron star binary. "Hail the Invincible."
She dropped down into her chair and made herself appear completely relaxed.
After a moment Kim said, "On screen."
Captain Qados's reptilian face filled the screen. He was standing,