Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [127]
Somehow, an android and a Vulcan would be comfortable with such precision. To Riker, fifteen hours from now would suffice. By then, the decision would have been made and it would be out of Riker’s hands. What remained to be decided, though, was what to do with the Petraw. They had remained silent since the sabotage effort so the jamming signal was doing its job, but they couldn’t maintain that in perpetuity.
Riker stood with the padd and studied the engineer’s recommendations as he strolled toward the ready room. He would contact the other captains from there and announce the decision. The commander was so absorbed with the information he did not notice the crewman coming his way and they collided. Both men tumbled to the deck. Once on the carpeted floor, Riker looked up and saw Picard’s face.
“Sir!”
“At ease, Will,” Picard said with a smile. Both men scrambled to their feet and were the center of attention as everyone else on the bridge stood and came close to their commanding officer.
“Is everything all right? Did you find the answer?”
“I believe so,” Picard said, patting the bag that remained at his side.
Quickly, Riker updated the captain on what had transpired, and in turn Picard explained his planet-jumping and search for the Resonators. He handed the tricorder to Data and asked him to begin the required analysis.
“We can swap details later,” Picard said. “Let me notify the others that I am back and that we will need to act shortly. And then, I think, I need a shower and hot meal.”
Riker broke into a grin. “I think I can watch things a little while longer.”
“Very well.” The captain began toward his ready room, paused, then turned around. “It’s good to see you again, Number One. I’ve missed the ship.”
Riker nodded, still smiling, and once more settled into the command chair. It didn’t feel so uncomfortable for a change.
A few hours later, a refreshed Picard sat at the conference table with Riker, La Forge, Crusher, and Data. He had asked Captain Troi to patch in from her post on the Marco Polo to get her input. The others would be notified after the briefing. Data was standing by the monitor screen that showed a stellar map with the thirteen purple sites still highlighted.
“The pattern of dispersal does not, as yet, make sense,” the android began. “All are located on planets and fortunately, all thirteen planets still exist. All are within Klingon, Romulan, Ferengi, or Federation space, aside from two that are within the former Thallonian Empire in Sector 221G.”
“Data,” Picard said, “does overlaying this pattern with the pattern of migration from Iconia tell us anything?”
“No immediate pattern is discernible. However, I will give the matter further study. “Picard frowned briefly but nodded. “How do we get the thirteen Resonators into position?”
“I have endeavored to work out a travel plan. It will require relaying the Resonators to fast ships from here. My initial plan indicates it will take some twenty-eight point five hours if every ship makes its scheduled rendezvous. This will require the Enterprise, Marco Polo, Chargh, and Jerok to leave the area, spreading the Resonators to others.”
Nodding, Picard said, “Obviously, we should use the Excalibur and the Trident for the two Thallonian gateways.”
“Captain,” Riker said hesitatingly, “Admiral Ross suspects both Captains Calhoun and Shelby entered a gateway.”
“I see,” the captain said slowly. Then he smiled. “I am not at all surprised, Number One. No doubt he’ll have his own story to tell and it’s one I’m looking forward to.”
Riker let out an exasperated sigh and said, “I’ll talk to Mueller and Burgoyne and make a plan.” He shook his head, clearly thinking about the crew of the ill-fated starships.
Data went on, detailing how the ships should move out with recommended warp speeds and courses. Working at his superhuman speed, he managed to work out thirteen different itineraries that would cover a vast swatch of the galaxy in the minimum amount of time. Picard was impressed all over again with how