Death of a Neutron Star - Eric Kotani [44]
"I'll check back in thirty minutes," Janeway said, and headed out of the landing bay.
"What do you want me to do next?" Tyla asked B'Elanna, breaking the woman's concentration.
"Actually," B'Elanna said, "the most important thing we've got left to do. I want you to download every ounce of information that's in that yacht's computers, no matter how deep it's buried."
Tyla could feel the excitement twist her stomach. She'd already had the chance to study a Qavok warship in close detail. Now she was going to get the chance to pore through the Qavok prince's computer. Her knowledge was going to be invaluable to the war effort when she got home.
"Gladly," Tyla said.
"Good," B'Elanna said, "You've got less than thirty minutes. Don't waste it."
"I won't," Tyla said. She turned and walked in running steps; she was then inside the swank interior of the yacht and back in the pilot's chair. But this time the feeling of being trapped didn't bother her.
This time she was getting what she wanted.
Janeway found Dr. Maalot and Seven in the lab. One screen to their left showed the containment as it pulled in more and more energy from the neutron star binary. It seemed clear that the experiment had worked wonderfully. Too bad it wasn't the only thing they had to think about at the moment.
Seven stood over a different panel, her fingers flying over the controls. Dr. Maalot stood slightly to one side, a frown on his face, clearly concentrating, working to keep up with Seven.
Janeway didn't want to interrupt an important calculation, so she paused, staying silent until Seven stopped and Dr. Maalot nodded.
"Have you calculated the results of the joined warp-core explosion?" Janeway asked, moving up to stand beside Seven.
"We have, Captain," Seven said. "Ensign Kim was correct. Simultaneous warp-core breaches, plus a set amount of gravitational energy stored in a containment unit on board the shuttle, would generate enough energy to suffice."
"Good," Janeway said. For the first time since all this started, her stomach undamped a little. "Have you double-checked your calculations?"
"We are doing that now, Captain," Dr. Maalot said. "But I must say, I think this will work."
"It needs to," Janeway said.
"It's ironic," he said, smiling. "A short time ago I was excited just to see this neutron star binary. Now I'm working to control it. This is a like a dream come true."
Janeway smiled at the Lekk physicist, then patted him on the shoulder. "Just make sure those calculations are right. We don't want this dream turning into a nightmare."
"I understand, Captain," he said. But the smile didn't dim from his face.
"Seven," Janeway said. "We've also got to double-check the shield calculations. We want to make sure the shuttle and yacht last long enough to get into position."
"I will, Captain," Seven said. "But the flight may require a pilot for all but the last few seconds."
The sentence startled Janeway. She had expected that they would be able to set the autopilot, then beam away at once. "Why?"
"I've calculated the fluctuating gravitational forces coming from the binary. It would not be possible to program an automatic pilot for handling such rapidly changing forces with accuracy."
"Remote control?" Janeway asked. "We could fly the shuttle from Voyager."
"Possible," Seven said. "If you are willing to accept the added elements of risk. This explosion, set off at the wrong time or position, could alter the neutron star's path into a more densely populated area of the galaxy."
Janeway nodded. She understood exactly what Seven was saying. If they were going to do this, they had to make sure it was done correctly. And the best choice for that was a pilot to fly it most of the way in, then beam out. Assuming, of course, that the transporter would work through all the gravitational forces at work. And if it didn't work, it would be far, far too late to stop.
"Understood," Janeway said. "Get the calculations