Fatal Error - Keith R. A. DeCandido [8]
Kieran grinned for a moment, then got serious again as he went on. “Like I said, Ganitriul hasn’t failed them—until now. Nothing is working right on the planet anymore—climate controls, entertainment, communications, food distribution, planetary defense, everything. It’s complete and total chaos.”
Bart Faulwell shook his head. “That doesn’t really answer the question. What do they need us for? Surely, they can fix their own computer.”
Fabian smiled. “Not if they can’t get to it. Commander, you said that Gani . . . Gani . . .”
“Ganitriul,” Kieran completed.
“Right—that it runs everything. That includes transporters and ships, right?”
Nodding, Kieran said, “That’s it exactly. And also communications. The only reason we know there’s a problem at all is because Ganitriul itself contacted the Federation Council, asking for help. Eerlik is cut off from any useful communications, and from what Ganitriul said in its message, none of their modes of travel are functioning.”
“So it’s up to us,” Pattie said.
“Why should today be different from any other day?” Captain Gold said with a small smile. He looked at Sonya. “Commander?”
“I think we can keep this down to a two-person team, plus”—she added with a look at Domenica Corsi— “a security detail.” The security chief nodded her blonde head.
Kieran fixed her with a look, but said nothing. Pattie and Carol were less reticent.
“Only two?” the Nasat asked, at the same time that Carol said, “We’re talking about the collapse of a culture here.”
Patiently, Sonya said, “The results of the problem are large, but the problem itself is pretty straightforward: fix the computer. If we send a big team down there to do, in essence, one thing, we’ll be stepping all over each other. Two of us should be able to handle it just fine—if we need more, we’ll call.”
“Who’ll be on the team?” the captain said before anyone else could say anything—and he spoke in a tone that implied that the discussion was at an end.
“I’ll lead it, and I’d like to take 110 with me.”
110 sat up straighter in his chair. “Me?”
“You’re still our computer expert.”
“111 and I were the S.C.E.’s computer experts. By myself—”
“By yourself,” Sonya interrupted, “you’ve still got a computer efficiency rating of ten. That’s your rating, not yours and 111’s. She also had a ten, but the point is, the best person in Starfleet has an eight.”
“I do not believe that—you will be satisfied with my—diminished performance. You should select someone else.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Sonya said. “You’re the right person for this job, 110. Unless you’re refusing a direct order, you’re on the team.”
Sonya’s strategy was risky. After all, 110 was a civilian. But he and 111 had agreed to be under Starfleet orders for the duration of their time on the da Vinci, and until they actually reported to Starbase 505, that agreement was still, technically, in place.
The Bynar took a look at Bart for some reason, then seemed to relax. “I would not presume to go against the commander’s judgment. I will accompany you on the mission.”
“Good,” the captain said. “Meantime, I want the rest of you to read up on the Eerlikka. It’s possible they’ll need more help from us beyond fixing Ganitriul, and I want us to be ready.”
Sonya looked at the security chief. “Commander Corsi, I’ll leave the size and personnel of the security detail to your discretion.”
“Yes, sir,” Corsi said.
“Good,” the captain said again. “Oh, and I have one other bit of news.”
Sonya leaned forward.
“I’m gonna be a great-grandfather again!”
Several congratulatory noises went around the table. Shaking her head, Sonya got up, finished off her tea, and put the mug back in the replicator to be recycled. Some of the crew stuck around to hear the captain tell of his granddaughter’s pregnancy, but Sonya wanted to get started on the day’s work. She and Geordi walked out together.
“Nice job, “ Geordi said.
“I’m sorry that this’ll delay you getting back to the Enterprise,” Gomez said.
Geordi shrugged. “I’ll live. Danilova should be able to muddle through without