Dragon's Honor - Kij Johnson [84]
“The G’kkau don’t seem to be having any problem,” Melilli pointed out.
“They must be using a low-frequency EM emitter as a buffer,” La Forge said. “Yeah, that would do it, as long as they managed to modulate the EM so that it stifled the beta emissions, which are what react to the nebular material.”
“Interesting,” Data said. He rose from the captain’s chair and walked over to where La Forge was standing. “Geordi, would it be possible to render their neutrino drive vulnerable to the influence of the nebula?”
La Forge scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I suppose so. It wouldn’t be too hard to adapt the photon mines so that they neutralized the buffer effect. Then their own beta emissions might trigger a chain reaction which could shut down their engines entirely.” He considered the possibilities. “They’d have to be pretty close to the mines, though.”
“That can be arranged,” Data said. La Forge admired Data’s confidence; his positronic brain seldom seemed bothered by indecision, maybe because he could run through all his options more quickly than could La Forge or anyone else. “How soon can the mines be readied?”
La Forge sighed. What he wanted to do was get back to his fireworks problem; once he tackled a challenge, he liked to see it through to the end without any distractions. Still, stopping the G’kkau obviously took priority. “An hour. Maybe ninety minutes tops.”
“Sir,” Lieutenant Melilli said. “I’m obliged to point out that even this passive approach might be seen as a violation of the Dragon Empire’s autonomy.”
“That is correct, Lieutenant,” Data acknowledged. “Therefore, we will be planting the mines well away from Imperial space.”
“But, sir—” She paused as if realizing she was about to overstep her authority. At Data’s nod, however, she continued. “But then we’ll be far from the G’kkau’s approach to Pai!” Melilli objected. “Why do you suppose they will go out of their way, delaying the certain annihilation of the Dragon Empire, just to chase a Federation starship around a minefield?”
I was kind of wondering that myself, La Forge thought.
“We must give them an incentive, Lieutenant.” Data turned to face the conn. “Lieutenant Tor, please set a course for the epsilon sector. Computer, access what is known of G’kkau vocabulary and usage.”
La Forge couldn’t wait to see what Data had in mind. This is going to be good, he thought.
Two muscular Pai warriors stood between Worf and the entrance to the harem of Lord Lu Tung. Each man brandished a scimitar and a surly expression. They were also armed with hand weapons, Worf observed, although they hadn’t drawn them yet. He wondered briefly if he could draw his own phaser before the guards could fire their weapons; it would be intriguing to match Klingon reflexes against the Pai variety. If the Green Pearl was truly missing, however, there was no time to fight another duel, no matter how appealing the prospect.
What a shame, Worf thought. Two against one … honorable odds indeed.
“Stand clear,” he barked to the guards. “My captain requires my presence.”
“Neither man nor beast,” one of the guards replied, as if uncertain as to which category Worf fell into, “may enter the Forbidden Sanctum of Lord Lu Tung.”
The Pai warrior sneered at the Klingon in a manner Worf found most insulting. Worf was tempted to make the Pai eat his own scimitar, but concluded that a phaser blast would be quicker. On stun, of course, with a wide-angle dispersal. His hand drifted toward his weapon… .
His comm badge chirped. “Lieutenant Worf?” said the captain’s voice.
“Yes, Captain,” Worf said, giving Picard his full attention. Stunning the guards would have to wait for a minute or two.
“Where are you now?” Picard asked.
“Outside the