Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [82]
"The captain may know more than you think," Chakotay said.
"You'll have to trust me, Neelix," Janeway told the Talaxian, who silently nodded in return.
Chakotay stood beside the captain, pressing her for a response to his request to accompany her.
Janeway sighed audibly. She didn't like the idea, but she didn't hate it enough to deny Chakotay his wish. She had gotten to know the commander well enough to recognize the look in his eye. He was a Maquis, after all, and they seemed to have a preference for being in the thick of things. Besides, if her plan didn't work, the rest might not matter anyway. "Very well," she said. "Let's go."
***
"The Federation ship launched a photon weapon of some type at Gantel's cruiser. A direct hit," Tatel said, anxiously watching her tactical panels while maintaining contact with Triness, her counterpart on the bridge of Gantel's ship. "The cruiser has lost its forward shields."
"Impressive, for a single strike," Daket said, managing at least to sound self-assured. "Small wonder Gantel is so interested in acquiring that ship."
"I have downloaded a report on the Federation's secret weapon," Tatel added.
Daket was already somewhat familiar with this--a secret technology that somehow had allowed these Federation people to make their enemies, Gantel's emissaries, vanish into thin air without any visible actuators or support apparatus. Capturing such a device was indeed a most enticing prospect, as long as the would-be captor did not become a victim.
"Transfer the report to my console. I'd like to read it," he said. At least, I'd like to try, Daket thought, not certain he would get the chance.
"You have it," Tatel said. She went back to scanning her screens again, and listening to communications from orbit. She frowned suddenly, an unusual public expression for any Televek.
Daket didn't like the look of it. "What?" he prodded.
"Gantel is planning to continue the attack. They are rebuilding their forward shields, transferring power." She paused, apparently waiting.
"What now?" Daket asked, certain he wanted to know, though increasingly certain he would not like what he heard.
"They've opened fire again. Voyager's shields are weakening.
Gantel believes that if he can deplete them another ten percent, they will collapse. If he waits, they may be able to recover, or outmaneuver the attempt. The Federation ship is apparently quite agile. Gantel has stated--" Tatel went silent. She held still for a moment, staring down, then she played her fingers once more over the panels before her.
After a few seconds her hands rose, then hovered in the air just above the console, as if she feared what it might do.
"Report, Associate," Daket insisted.
"We have lost contact with Gantel's ship," she said, turning away from her controls. "They must have taken damage." She was looking at Daket with eyes full of pain and... remorse, perhaps, which was clearly misplaced.
A character flaw, he decided. As if she could have done something. As if they mattered more than she did, Daket mused, scoffing at the idea.
Already he was getting to know her too well, perhaps. A replacement would be best, when they got back home.
"Check your instruments," he told her.
"Functioning normally."
"Then their communications must have been knocked out."
"No," Tatel said, slowly shaking her head.
When she said nothing else, Gantel asked: "What do you mean, no?"
"I mean they're gone. No readings, no telemetry, nothing on sensors.
Only the Federation ship is showing up."
She looked worse now; Daket was sure he had never seen such an alien expression on a Televek face before. Tatel wasn't quite right, he decided. Able, efficient, loyal, but not right. This was no time for futile laments. Everything had just changed. It was time to act, to address the facts. The prospect