Marooned - Christie Golden [20]
"Then let's look for other options," said Jaeway firmly. ""If they're here, then we should be picking up signs of life. Therefore, something is blocking our ability to do that. Let's take a harder look at this storm." Her eyes narrowed as she analyzed the graph ic on her computer screen. "It's not moving in a normal pattern at all, now that I look more closely at it. It's stationary."
"As if it's deliberately engulfing the planet," added Chakotay. Their eyes met over the computer. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I think so," replied Janeway. "Mr. Tuvok, search for any signs that this storm might be artificial-a cover."
"Captain," yelped Kim, "I've got it. There's some kind of distortion field around the planet as well. It didn't register at first because the ion storm made it difficult for our sensors to get a lock on it. There is an atmosphere down there." He ran his fingers lightly over the console and added, "It can support life."
"How convenient," mused the captain, her eyes narrowing speculatively as she gazed at the viewscreen. "A planet with a stationary ion storm and a distortion field that hides any signs of life from prying eyes. Mr. Paris, I understand you're familiar with pirates."
"Uh," stammered the helmsmen. He didn't turn around, but he didn't have to for Janeway to sense his embarrassment; the tips of his ears turned pink. "I've, I've done some research on eighteenth century Earth pirates recently, yes."
Janeway exchanged smiles with Chakotay. "I thought so," she said. "What's your opinion of the present situation?"
"If I were a pirate in this system, I'd want a base that no one would think to look for."
"Exactly. Then take us into orbit, Lieutenant. I think ion storm, not X, marks the spot where we should look for our particular treasure."
Voyager slid smoothly into orbit. That was the last time anything went smoothly. Almost immediately the ship pitched and rolled as if it were under attack.
"Captain, the storm-" began Paris, his voice vibrating with the movement of the ship.
"Compensate!" cried Janeway. A tiny flame of anger began to bum deep inside her. She was tired of being jolted and shaken, her Starfleet vessel being worried like a rat in a terrier's mouth. When they caught up with these pirates "Captain, the sensors are going crazy!" If she hadn't known better she would have said Kim's voice had an edge of panic to it. "The readings-nothing's making sense any more!"
The ship was hit hard. The lights dimmed and then flickered wildly. Suddenly Janeway felt herself rising from her seat. She knew what had happened and immediately gripped the arms of her chair hard, even as her lower extremities continued to float upward.
"The artificial gravity has been disrupted!" she cried. "Everyone, hang on! Mister Kim, get it back now!" She felt a gentle pressure on her legs and craned her neck, peering upside down at the doctor. The hologram alone had been unaffected by the loss of gravity and was pushing her legs down, gently guiding her back into the chair. She felt a sudden surge of gratitude toward the troublesome twentieth-century meddler Henry Starlin& If he had done nothing else, he'd given them the autonomous holographic emitter that enabled the doctor to perform his tasks with much more effectiveness. She was glad he was on the bridge.
"Trying-" Kim had locked his legs around something and was furiously punching controls. Something he did worked, for Janeway abruptly dropped eight inches into the seat of her command chair. The crashes and grunts she heard around her indicated that not everyone else had had such a soft landing.
"Doctor, if there are no serious injuries, get back to sickbay now," she ordered, not even bothering to turn and look at him. There was a pause of a few seconds, presumably while the doctor assessed the situation, and then she heard the soft hiss