Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [78]
"Tell Daket I need him up here at once. We are engaging the Federation ship."
With this order too, Triness complied. After a moment she nodded.
Gantel stared unblinking at the ship on his screen. Then he stood up and pounded the little console in front of his chair with his fist. He would catch Voyager in a cross fire if he had to, but he didn't want to wait for that. "Very well. Open fire."
CHAPTER 14
Daket eased himself back into the comfort of his chair on the bridge and received the message with a mixture of trepidation and relief. He was being ordered back into orbit, finally, and probably not a moment too soon, given the rapidly deteriorating condition of the planet--another round of aftershocks had rattled the cruiser only moments ago. But with the first director's fleet still several light-years out, and with Daket's mission here anything but complete, the order made only one kind of sense.
"Did they describe the tactical situation in detail?" he asked Tatel.
"Not specifically, but the message was unusually brief, and they did not wait for a reply. I've been monitoring communications between Gantel and the Federation vessel. They were discontinued just a time ago. Gantel's cruiser is now moving into what must be an attack position, though he is keeping his distance."
Daket didn't like the sound of that. "Get everyone back here immediately. Prepare for departure. The field personnel are not to go back for anything. Equipment that cannot be carried in one trip is to be left behind."
Daket waited nervously as his orders were conveyed to his crews both on and off the cruiser. No matter what efforts were made it would take at least half an hour to get packed and powered up.
It had actually taken longer than that during the drills they had conducted, but of course everyone had known they weren't really getting out of here at that time. This was not a drill.
And there was at least one positive aspect to this dilemma: Tolif and the rest of his remarkably incompetent team at the Federation shuttle would never make it back in time.
"Daket," Tatel said, turning away from her consoles, a flicker of poorly concealed distress in her eyes.
"What now?" Daket asked.
"I'm reading engines and weapons--" She stopped as she glanced back at her instruments.
"I am listening," Daket reminded her.
"I'm receiving another message. Gantel is attacking Voyager."
"Put it on my monitor."
Daket looked at the screen that rose from the floor just to the right and front of his command chair.
"I am detecting weapons fire," Tatel said.
"I see it." Daket heaved himself up out of his chair. The way he saw it, one of two things was about to happen: either Gantel, bold and irrational as ever, would be destroyed by the Federation ship, leaving Daket in command of the entire mission--or Daket's own timely arrival in orbit would be a deciding factor in the success of whatever unfortunate engagement Gantel had gotten himself into. Either possibility would, under the impending scrutiny of First Director Shaale, likely lead to Daket's promotion to director, and all with an extremely limited amount of risk and effort on his part. A promotion that he felt was long overdue. He just had to be careful. Extremely careful.
In either case, he couldn't wait to get off Drenar Four and back into space, even if it was only to get shot at.
"Initiate emergency departure procedures. We'll have to leave a few people behind."
Tatel looked up, and Daket had trouble reading her expression.
The stress was getting to her, he thought, like everyone else.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing," Tatel said. She went quickly to work.
***
"Televek weapons powering up. Targeting beams detected. They are firing," Tuvok announced from the tactical bay. A single bright energy beam signaled the attack. Then a second, different volley erupted from the cruiser, quite unlike anything Janeway