Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [138]
“I will bring you and your acolyte back to your ship but will suggest to the others that we pool our resources and come up with a purpose for your people.”
Doral looked up with a questioning expression, the first sign of life since the captain had entered.
“You are explorers by nature and there is much of the galaxy left to visit. Many of us used tricorders to study the mechanism that activates the gateways. I believe Mr. Data can collect and analyze the information and provide you with a course that will allow you to fulfill your imperative while keeping you from interacting with any of the races you tried to dupe.”
“We’re banished?”
“No,” Picard said carefully. “The universe is teeming with life and we’re letting you go out and find them before any of us get the chance. Turn it to your advantage and open your minds to the possibilities.”
Doral nodded, taking in the words, obviously surprised that the course of action did not involve trial or death. Picard figured there would be time enough to talk further so left him alone to his thoughts. Instead, he needed a long rest.
“It’s certainly been interesting,” Davison told Troi with a grin.
“When dealing with the Enterprise, there is no other way,” Deanna replied. They were standing in the captain’s quarters and Troi was done packing her bag. Her home ship had returned to the alliance an hour earlier and it was time to report. The mighty starship would tow the Mercury home with the Marco Polo flying escort and Brisbayne coming over in temporary command. Already, the Glory was limping into a point position, preparing to lead the Petraw fleet in its new direction. The Qob was arcing around, ready to head back to the Klingon Empire, the other ships positioning themselves accordingly.
“What should I do with this?”
Troi looked at the item and smiled wickedly. “Ask the chief to have it beamed directly to my quarters. I’ll need it soon.”
The two shared a humorous look and then proceeded to the bridge. Troi had grown fond of the crew and wished she had more time to work with them. They’d always be her first crew and that made them memorable. She still wasn’t sure if she wanted command for herself. After all, she hoped to spend the rest of her life with a man born to sit in the center seat. Working alongside him seemed good enough, either as counselor, first officer, lover or wife.
“Captain on the bridge,” Hol called as the doors snapped open.
That, she would miss.
“I just wanted to thank you all, for the hard work,” she said by the door. The crew had turned and given her rapt attention. All taut at their posts, the Enterprise fittingly on the viewscreen. “Starfleet Command will read our reports and I suspect you will all find yourselves with satisfactory assignments in the months to come.”
“But our assignments have been changed, our ships have moved on,” the Tiburonian science officer said, his voice bordering on a whine.
Troi grinned at him and answered, “Actually, with everyone mobilized to handle the gateways, Command clearly has to rethink deployments. You’re to follow us back to Earth and we’ll see what happens.”
Mia Chan rose, her eyes dividing time between Troi and Rosario. The counselor recognized that the pair was ready to begin a relationship and she wished them well. She knew how tough it would be for any couple to establish a strong bond while serving on the same ship, especially one this small, but it was possible.
“You were so great to work with,” Chan gushed.
“We all worked well together,” Troi said calmly. “There’s still more to be done. We won’t leave until the Petraw ships are on their way, just in case.”
“Shall I keep a weapons lock on the lead ship?” Rosario asked.
“No,” Troi countered. “We still have the dampening field in effect. In fact, we need to lower it in order to get me back to the Enterprise.”
She stood another moment, uncertain if there was more to say. Once more, she beamed a smile at her crew and turned, counseling herself to keep her emotions in check. Without a look back, she put a reassuring hand on