Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [129]
“All hands have returned,” Jessie Davison told Captain Troi.
She smiled and turned to face the screen before her. Already, the hulking Jerok was moving off, heading out at sublight speed and clearing distance until it could go into warp. The Enterprise was to move off next and then it would be their turn. The flight plan had already been entered, thanks to Data’s inhuman speed. Mia Chan, her conn officer, grumbled good-naturedly about having nothing to do during the flight. Troi reassured her that they had stops to make along the way and her skills would be required.
The turbolift doors snapped open, admitting a trio onto the bridge. Johnny Rosario, the tactical officer, strode out first, looking a bit tired after his “baby-sitting” duties on one of the Petraw ships. No sooner did he enter the bridge than Chan jumped from her seat and ran to him.
She gave him a fierce bear hug that startled him and he wasn’t sure where to place his hands. A look of panic was in his eyes when it became clear everyone was watching. After a few moments, when it became apparent Chan wasn’t letting go, he tentatively placed his arms around her and returned the unbridled affection.
“I think I have feelings for you,” she said giddily.
“I see, I see,” he said slowly. The others around the bridge chuckled at that understatement.
“Affectionate crew,” rumbled a voice from behind the couple. Troi knew it in an instant and stood at attention.
“Welcome aboard, Ambassador,” she said, a wide grin showing her pleasure. She and Worf had been lovers once but now they were friends and she was genuinely glad to see him. Despite the length of the mission, not once did they have a chance to speak.
When the others realized the Klingon was in their midst, most returned their attention to padds or consoles. The couple blocking his entrance to the bridge started disentangling themselves, making excuses and apologies but accomplishing it with little grace.
“I try to run a comfortable ship,” Troi said, finally walking around her embarrassed officers and giving Worf a much briefer hug of her own. Worf, like Rosario, was at first discomfited with the display, but gave her the briefest of hugs in return.
“The Resonators are still in the transporter room,” he said, returning to business.
“Enterprise is beginning to move out,” Science Officer Kal Sur Hol said. The look of distaste on his face made Troi want to laugh. The Tiburonian seemed disdainful of anything not by the book, and interpersonal relationships seemed a bit beyond him. She had hoped to work on him, but hadn’t come close.
“Do you think Geordi’s plan will work?”
“As I understand it,” Worf said, “he is using the escape patterns already programmed by the Petraw ships and is sending along polaron bursts to prevent them from beaming or using their engines. The Nyrians were most helpful in setting this up.”
“Seems we made new friends,” Troi said.
“They still want to return home,” the ambassador noted.
“With luck, the captain will get them on their way. Okay, time to go to work.” She shifted in her seat, leaning slightly forward.
“Helm, prepare to execute. Engineering, when we go to warp, we need to maintain maximum speed so keep an eye on the readings. Everyone, stand by to move out,” Troi commanded. The staff snapped to work, a chorus of “aye’s” filling the air. Worf stood by her side and seemed impassive.
Within a minute, they were clear to leave and the Marco Polo executed a clean arc, angling itself in a direction that would bring them to the first of two rendezvous locations. At sublight, they would need several minutes before they could enter warp space and the time was filled with status reports, relay checks, and the quiet hustle of any starship in Starfleet.
“Ready for warp,” Chan announced, her hand tugging at her ear, her only display of nervousness.
“Warp seven, engage,” Troi said.
The ship surged forward and the screen showed the shift into warp space and then another round of status checks filtered the air. Finally, the Klingon leaned down and whispered, so only Troi