Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [124]
Riker shook his head sadly, recognizing the mixture of bluster and frustration. Brisbayne was no doubt a fine officer, but his record did not indicate that he was at all equipped for commanding something of this nature. “Sir, with all due respect,” Riker continued, “were I willing to turn command over to someone, I would sooner give it to Desan or Grekor. You have shown a disrespect for the chain of command, while they both have the kind of strategic thinking this requires.” He leaned into the camera, his face set in a stern expression. “But I have no intention of stepping down. Captain Picard will be given a little more time and then I will make a decision. I think we’re done now.” With a finger gesture learned from Picard, he signaled to Data to cut the communication.
“Commander, how much longer will you give Captain Picard?” Data inquired.
Riker settled back in the command chair, not at all comfortable. “Just a little bit more. Without him and the solution, we might have to destroy all the gateways.”
“That would be a loss to the quadrant,” Data said.
“I see you have not lost your sense of understatement.”
Riker considered the chronometer and mentally decided on six more hours. Long enough to show Brisbayne who was in command, but short enough so he could act before too many more lives might be lost. From reports he read a little while earlier, two planets were already critically crippled by the Iconian technology adapting native energy to keep the gateways powered. A small war had broken out in an unaligned star system and raids by Cardassian pirates were reported along the Klingon border. It was painful to read, but Starfleet Command remained convinced that this delegation could solve the problem and he did not want to disappoint.
“Riker to La Forge.”
“Go ahead, Commander.”
“Just in case I need a Plan B, please begin estimating the minimal amount of explosive power required to take out each gateway.” He could hear the whistle as La Forge processed the command.
“We’ve seen different sizes, so it’ll take me a little time.”
“You have four hours. Out.”
As he had spoken with Geordi, Vale appeared on the bridge, bringing with her the Petraw saboteur. She smiled in triumph but had a fellow officer take charge of the prisoner, and she returned to her post, a finger trailing along the top displaying pride in ownership. “Trouble?”
“Not at all, sir,” she said.
Riker stood and moved closer to the prisoner, noting the panicked look in his eyes.
“We’ve ceased the hostilities with your people and are working to bring about an end to this madness. What makes you think you can ruin that with blowing up a ship?”
“To be free of you, to get back to our journey,” the Petraw said.
“Do you have any idea the number of lives you’ve taken?” Riker was trying to modulate his voice, contain his anger, but it was a struggle.
“We do what we must to fulfill our goal,” came the reply, and it sounded rote, as if it was something the Petraw were taught in school or church.
“And now you must pay. I’ll wait for the captain to return to determine what that is. Have him taken to the brig and keep him away from Doral.” Riker turned his back to the alien and resumed his place in the center seat. As he adjusted his position, he eyed his usual spot and wondered when things would return to normal.
“What do they do?”
Picard walked back to the console, hefting one of the Resonators, holding it above the control panels. He realized this would be tricky, explaining things to Chanik, but the boy deserved an answer.
“I believe this will give me control over the mechanism, something I lacked back home.”
“Does this mean your quest for granita is over? You can return home now?”
“I hope so, Chanik,” the captain said.
Gently, Picard lowered the device, trying to fit it over several of the control keys. After two failed attempts, the device fit snugly atop a cluster of amber and blue keys to the console’s right. Moments after he placed it, the entire Resonator began to glow, adding significant light