Intellivore - Diane Duane [39]
“Mr. Data,” Picard said slowly. “What is the probability that all those are the same planet?”
“Quite high, I would say, Captain. In the case of the first and third images, the probability rises to ninety-eight percent—part of the same continent is visible in both. There is some change in the polar caps, but it is negligible. Albedo and, in the last two, gravimetric information are nearly identical.”
Ileen said softly. “But the stars—the primaries of those planets—this planet was seen circling—they’re light-years and light-years apart! B Hydri is nearly a kiloparsec from—”
“Yes, Captain,” Data said.
When you eliminate the impossible, Picard thought, paraphrasing in his shock, then what’s left must be the truth, no matter how crazy it sounds. “Someone is moving this planet around,” Picard said.
“And the ships that set course for it,” Clif said, “are never heard from again …”
Chapter Five
PICARD’S DREAMS WERE HAUNTED by images of huge, lumbering, dark shapes coming between him and the stars, cutting off the light, looming close, and closer …
“Morning” found the alien vessel still kiloparsecs away, to judge by its trail, neither accelerating nor decelerating, but losing them because of difference in speed, and heading steadily up and out of the galactic plane. Picard stood behind Data’s console and looked at the computer’s projection of the vessel’s course. “Not many star systems up that way,” he said softly. “A lonely, dark place to be heading into.”
He went and had his breakfast and then headed off for the largest of the conference rooms, where the science departments’ meeting had started a little earlier than scheduled. The room was already buzzing with about thirty staff from all three ships. Maisel was there, talking animatedly with her exec and her science officer, and a minute or so after Picard entered, Clif arrived, with Data close behind him.
The three captains sat down, and people sorted themselves out around the big table. When they were ready, Picard said, “Thank you all for coming. I’ll ask Mr. Data to bring you up to speed on the newest information we have to consider and then …” Picard spotted Ilene sitting across from him, chewing on her lower lip. Clearly she had something to say. Picard paused and looked at her expectantly.
“At the risk of ruining my well-deserved reputation for tact and forbearance,” Ilene said. The soft chuckles of her crew filled the room momentarily then died down. “I don’t think any of us needs much of an introduction. I think we can cut right to the chase here.”
Picard cocked his head to the side, then smiled slightly. “Point well taken, Captain Maisel. Why don’t you begin?”
There was quiet around the table for a moment. Finally Ilene spoke. “We have ships that vanish when they approach a certain planet. And we have that planet turning up orbiting at least three different stars. Mr. Data, is there anything in the scientific literature about planets moving from star to star?”
“Nothing at all, Captain,” Data said, and of all those in the meeting, Picard suspected he was the only one who could read the profound disappointment behind the words. “I have examined it most thoroughly.”
“So we’re in legend country here,” Clif said, thoughtfully. “Galactic urban myth.”
Now Picard smiled a little, for unwittingly Clif had put his finger on the idea that had kept Picard up late the night before. “Myth, perhaps,” Picard said, “but myth typically has a core of truth. And I’m wondering if it’s possible that the historians or, more properly, the folklorists might be able to shed more light on this problem than the scientists can, at least to start with.”
Some of the science staff looked at him quizzically. “There are species that have been in space a lot longer than any of ours have,” Picard said. “Now, not all of them are willing to talk much to the younger races. A lot of older species have gotten out of the habit of communicating