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Apparently, the human commander is going to make a fight of it.

Nostrene was pleased at that thought. He had heard of the tenacity displayed by Starfleet in combat situations and had seen reports of their actions during the Dominion War. Those who fought aboard Federation ships showed remarkable resolve, even in the face of certain defeat. It was a trait Nostrene could admire even in nonTholians. He knew that the brief skirmish he had experienced earlier with the Starfleet recovery vessel had not been a true test of its crew’s mettle, so it was with great anticipation that he greeted the coming battle.

The subordinate overseeing the tactical scanners suddenly turned from his station. “ Commander, I am detecting a fluctuation in background radiation readings. The interspatial pocket is opening.”

“How is that possible?” Nostrene demanded. According to the readings obtained by his science advisor, the rift was not expected to reopen for some time yet. “Put it on screen.”

The image on the command deck’s main viewer shifted in time for Nostrene and everyone else to see the mysterious black void appear once more, a gaping hole in the fabric of space. Seconds later, part of the rift was itself blocked out as a blue-green shape erupted from its center.

“The other ship,” Taghrex exclaimed. “It has returned.” Turning to Nostrene, he said, “Should we alter our attack course? It would be powerless to defend itself against us.”

Indeed, Nostrene thought. Even as it emerged from the rift and shed the multihued cocoon of energy enshrouding it, the Defiant appeared to be nothing more than a powerless hulk. Its warp nacelles were dark, as were the numerous portholes that pockmarked its surface. It was inconceivable for it to be capable of mounting any kind of defense.

“Negative,” he decided. “It poses no threat. We will dispatch the other vessel first. The derelict will still be there when that task is complete.” Turning back to the row of tactical scanners, he said, “Target the rescue ship’s weapons banks. Stand by to attack.”

That was when the derelict opened fire.

CHAPTER

10

Alarms wailed on the bridge of the da Vinci as an electric-blue phaser blast sliced through the viewscreen’s image of the Tholian attack formation and connected with the ship anchoring the lower-left corner of the pulsating, hexagonal web.

Kieran Duffy watched in awe as the stricken enemy ship reeled from the blow of raw energy and wavered in its flight. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he found himself in his second battle at the helm of the da Vinci.

But I know damn well I didn’t give any order to fire.

“Who the hell is shooting?” Duffy shouted as he saw the web flicker in intensity. It quickly resolidified as the five remaining ships moved into a pentagon of offensive power, leaving the injured craft to drift away from the group.

Stevens’s answer was awash with excitement. “Duff! She’s back! The Defiant’s back!”

The news shocked Duffy, then the thrill of it immediately infused his body. The center seat felt electrified to the young commander as he spat order after order to the bridge crew.

“McAllan! Fire a spread on your predetermined targets! Helm, angle us toward the rift! And put the Defiant on the viewer, for God’s sake!”

As Duffy tried to regain his perspective of the battle with its new participant, the viewscreen’s angle now assisted him with a view of the newly configured Tholian force and the glowing U.S.S. Defiant. The century-old starship was moving through the doorway of its interspatial cage under what appeared to be its own power. Duffy gasped as the ship’s secondary hull and finally its twin nacelles cleared the rending of space just in time to be called back to active duty with a vengeance. He squirmed in his seat as he felt the tide of the battle turning more in their favor.

Oh, Sonnie! You and your timing!

“Direct hit!” Gold called out from the sensor console in the Defiant’s auxiliary control center. “Nice shooting, Soloman.” Peering into the viewfinder mounted against the room’s rear bulkhead,