Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [79]
"Report," she ordered.
"They are using a photonic pulse weapon of some kind," Tuvok said.
"The individual pulses are not very intense, but in great numbers their impact is formidable."
"Shield integrity is holding, levels dropping slightly. Down fourteen percent," B'Elanna Torres said from the bridge's engineering bay.
"How long before the shields collapse?"
"If the Televek can maintain this level of attack," Torres said, "I estimate shield collapse will occur in four minutes, twenty-seven seconds."
"Give or take," Janeway heard Paris say under his breath. She nodded to herself. The pulses and energy beams continued to pound the shields, shaking Voyager with their impact and sending shock waves through the hull and deck, making the ship ring like a giant bell.
Janeway wasn't sure the crew would last as long as the shields.
Gantel was leaving her no choice. "Ready photon torpedoes."
"Forward photons armed and ready," Tuvok answered.
"We have to make these torpedoes count," Janeway said. "They're all we've got right now, and we can't get any replacements. We can't afford to waste a single one."
"I have every intention of making them count," Tuvok said, looking up, somewhat perplexed.
"Range two hundred thousand, target locked," Paris said.
"Shields down thirty-seven percent," Tuvok dutifully reported.
Janeway held her breath, nodded. "Fire one."
"Torpedo away," Tuvok said as he touched his panel. The loud echo of the weapon as it fired sounded throughout the ship.
Janeway watched as the first salvo reached the cruiser and vanished in a fierce white flash.
"The Televek's forward shields have collapsed," Tuvok said, his voice a monotone now. "They are trying to rebuild them."
"Open a channel," Janeway said. "Tell them to stand down or be destroyed." She turned to Chakotay. "Without our shields, they must have thought they could take us out quickly," Janeway speculated.
"But they must have detected our shields when they went up."
"And they must have assumed they could knock them out again without much trouble. Let's see what they'll do now."
Chakotay nodded. "I wouldn't care to guess."
"No response to our hails, Captain," Stephens said.
For the moment hostilities had ceased. No one on the bridge spoke a word as all eyes watched the main screen. Then both Televek weapons opened fire again, just as before. Voyager's lights dimmed momentarily, then brightened somewhat as the shields absorbed the initial impact.
"Evasive maneuvers, Mr. Paris," Janeway responded.
"Captain," B'Elanna said, "we can't keep this up forever. The shields are down nearly fifty percent and dropping. Unless we start rerouting power from vital systems, they're not going to protect us much longer."
"Televek forward shields are building up again, Captain," Tuvok said.
"Twenty-three percent and climbing."
"Captain, enough is enough," Chakotay said.
Janeway eyed the main screen with cold resolve, then nodded in agreement. "Target two," she said. "Fire two."
Tuvok touched his panel once more. "Number two away."
Almost instantly the second torpedo crossed the distance between the ships. It penetrated the Televek's partial shields and detonated, spilling most of the blast inward, where it struck the cruiser directly. The impact caused a massive rupture in the cruiser's hull.
Gases and debris poured from the opening, leaving a trail as the ship veered off. It exploded in a violent fireball a second later. A huge cloud of debris and vapor particles began to spread out through space, continuing the orbit the ship had been maintaining.
"Apparently the Televek underestimated the strength of our torpedoes," Chakotay suggested.
"I guess so," Paris said.
To his credit, Janeway noticed, Paris wore