Have Tech, Will Travel (SCE Books 1-4) - Keith R. A. DeCandido_. [et al.] [2]
Nothing about any of this made any sense.
Picard glanced at Data, then turned around to look at Number One. “I’m open to suggestions here, people.”
No one said a word.
Picard nodded. None of them had any more idea what to do with this ship than he did. They just didn’t have enough information about the alien ship to even try to come up with a plan, and the alien ship’s shields were blocking all but the most basic surface scans.
“They are powering weapons again, Captain,” Data said.
“Return fire!” Riker ordered.
The blast shook the Enterprise again, sending Picard staggering to grab the armrest of his chair.
“Shields at twenty-six percent,” Data said.
“We punched a hole in their shields again,” Lieutenant Vale said. “It has now closed.”
Picard nodded, looking back at the lieutenant’s fresh, sweating face. Vale had blue eyes, blond hair, and a button nose that made her look much younger than her actual age. But she was a good tactical officer. Smart and very quick. And, from what he understood, deadly in a fight.
Suddenly, Lieutenant Vale's statement sunk in.
“Data,” Picard said, “how long did that hole in their shields remain open?”
“One-point-three-three seconds,” Data said.
“Is that enough time to get a probe through and the information back?”
Data glanced up at Picard, his yellow eyes showing just a touch of interest. “It could be done, sir,” Data said. “But we would have to be closer.”
“Let’s do it,” Picard said, dropping down into his chair. “Data, you take the helm and get us in close.”
Data’s fingers were flying over the panel as Picard turned to Commander Riker. “Will, ready the probe and fire the instant you have a hole in those shields.”
“Understood.”
Picard punched the comm link for engineering. “Geordi, I need the front shields reinforced.”
“Yes, Captain,” La Forge’s voice came back.
“Lieutenant Vale,” Picard said, glancing back at the young officer. “I want you firing constantly until I give you the word to stop. Punch as big a hole in those shields as you can. Give Commander Riker a large target. He might need it.”
Riker frowned. “I could fly a probe down a gopher hole.”
“Make it a big hole, Lieutenant,” Picard said.
She laughed. “Yes, sir.”
Riker only frowned and shook his head.
Picard sat back in his chair, studying the alien ship, letting his people have a few seconds to get ready. A large empty area of the alien ship’s surface seemed to suddenly pop out at him. It was above the equator ring, about halfway to one of the poles of the ship, and was just about the only area of the actual surface of the alien ship not covered with equipment. He hadn’t noticed it before because it was painted exactly the same color as everything else.
“Data,” Picard said, “take us right at that equipment-free area on the alien ship.”
Data glanced up at the screen, then nodded. “Ready, sir.”
“Make it so,” Picard said.
The Enterprise surged directly at the alien ship on what seemed like a ramming course, firing phaser after phaser.
The alien ship returned fire, rocking the Enterprise like a child smashing a toy into the ground.
Picard hung onto his seat as the lights flickered and the ship shook.
“Shields at sixteen percent,” Deanna said, her voice much calmer than Picard knew she was feeling.
Another blast rocked the Enterprise .
“Ten percent. Bulkhead failures on three decks.”
“Keep pounding those shields, Lieutenant!” Picard ordered.
The alien shields flared bright red from the Enterprise phaser fire and then failed, right over the empty spot. The next phaser blast smashed into the alien ship, ripping open the black skin square in the middle of the smooth surface area.
“Probe away!” Riker shouted.
“Stop firing!” Picard ordered.
The probe slid through the opening, heading for the damage in the alien ship’s surface.
“Bull’s-eye!” Riker said.
“Nice shot,” Picard said, nodding at his first officer’s beaming face.
“Information coming in,” Data said.
Another blast rocked