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She led the team around a few more corners, and then finally into a small cul-de-sac. Like the main terminal area, the walls here looked like big slabs of marble, but these were covered in dust. According to the records in the mission profile, there used to be a terminal here, but it had been consolidated into another unit.

Although the lights had remained on in much of the complex, they’d apparently been removed from this area. The only illumination was provided by the wristlamps, and whatever light was coming in from the corridor.

Switching hers off, Corsi said, “Everyone kill the wristlamps. I don’t think they have any scanning equipment, so they’ll be searching by sight.”

110 walked up to Gomez. “Are you all right, Commander?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Gomez said, blinking furiously. “This dim cavern is actually helping.” Letting out a breath, she said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.” She tapped her combadge. “Gomez to da Vinci . Five to beam up.”

Silence answered.

Oh, hell , Corsi thought. She tapped her own combadge. “Corsi to da Vinci .”

Gomez immediately whipped out her tricorder. “The combadges are functioning normally. And there’s no security measure of Ganitriul’s interfering. Which means the da Vinci can’t answer.”

Shaking her head, Corsi said, “That fits. We were ambushed—they probably were, too. If they’re not answering, they—”

“We know what it means, Commander,” Gomez said quickly. “Right now, let’s focus on what we can do.”

Corsi nodded. Gomez was right, actually. “Drew, stand guard.”

Drew nodded, gave Hawkins a quick, encouraging look, then headed out to the mouth of the culdesac.

Corsi knelt down to check on Hawkins. Conveniently, Hawkins himself had been carrying the mini-medikit. She opened it and treated his wound as best she could. It would do until they got back to the da Vinci .

If they got back.

“We need to figure out how to proceed with the mission,” Gomez said.

Looking up sharply at Gomez—who looked rather sinister with the light from the tricorder shining up on her face, casting odd shadows on her pale complexion—Corsi said, “Commander, I don’t think we should be proceeding anywhere. We’re actually in a defensible position right now. There’s twelve armed Eerlikka out there, and all we’ve got are phaser rifles that are basically glorified clubs, thanks to our friend the computer— who’s already lied to us.”

“I have not lied to you intentionally, Lieutenant Commander Corsi.” The voice of Ganitriul startled Corsi, and she got to her feet and raised her phaser rifle on instinct.

Gomez, however, didn’t look at all surprised, as if disembodied voices spoke without prompting to her all the time. “You told us those were sensor ghosts that Drew picked up, Ganitriul.”

“I believed that they were—just as I believed that the current running through my dataport was safe for 110. I was in error in both cases. It is not something I am accustomed to, but it has become a regular occurrence since this invasive program was placed within me. I also know what has happened to your ship.”

“Are they okay?” Gomez asked, sounding concerned.

“They were attacked by a Pevvni ship. For some reason, the Pevvni have constructed a vessel that is beyond my control. This is in direct violation of Eerlikka law. The First Speaker is on the vessel, as is one of the clergy. Unfortunately, I was unable to maintain contact with either ship, so I do not know what precipitated the conflict. Captain Gold and First Speaker Ansed were discussing working together amiably when I lost contact. The Pevvni ship opened fire moments later. I am unable to detect the da Vinci any longer.”

“What about the Pevvni ship?” Gomez asked.

“It is still in orbit, but damaged.”

Corsi gritted her teeth. She didn’t like the sound of this at all. Of course, the da Vinci just could have been off Ganitriul’s sensors—or those same sensors could have misinformed Ganitriul. Or , she thought with a sigh, the damn computer could be lying to us.

No matter what, though, the away team was on its own.

Gomez turned to the Bynar. “110, you said