Miracle Workers (SCE Books 5-8) - Keith R. A. DeCandido_. [et al.] [31]
Ross smiled at the thought of Captain Scott contentedly pulling himself through the depths of the antiquated starship. “Well, I’d imagine you’re anxious to take a tour yourself, aren’t you?”
His face taking on a somber expression, McCoy replied, “Maybe after all the work is done.” He nodded in the direction of open space beyond the plexi-steel viewing port. “I’ve volunteered to lead the forensic detail going aboard the Defiant. It’ll take several weeks to identify all of the crewmembers, based on what I’ve read of Captain Gold’s report. It’s a sad duty, but one I couldn’t in all good conscience leave to someone else.” Ross saw McCoy’s eyes begin to water as the admiral cast a glance downward before continuing. “I’ve always felt a bit guilty that I was able to figure out how to counteract the effects of that interspatial nonsense where the Defiant’s doctor couldn’t. Maybe if she’d had more time, she would’ve come up with something like the theragen cure eventually. We were lucky we only had to deal with the effects of that space from outside the rift, but they were stuck right in the middle of it. They never really had a chance.”
He paused for a moment before returning his attention to Ross. “The least we can do now is make sure the crew gets to their final rest as best we can.”
Ross nodded quietly in agreement before the SpaceDock intercom system attracted their attention, along with that of everyone in the observers’ gallery and, in all likelihood, the rest of the station.
“Attention, all personnel: Incoming starship on approach vector. Stand by for docking.”
“Ye’ve done a fine job, Captain. My compliments to your crew.”
In his ready room aboard the da Vinci, David Gold absorbed the praise from Captain Montgomery Scott, noting a glint of satisfaction in the legendary engineer’s eyes that he hadn’t seen in quite a while. Like himself, Scott had only barely been able to contain his enthusiasm at the idea of stepping aboard the Defiant to revel in the history it represented. Of course, Gold knew that his friend’s desire to examine the fabled starship was more personal, more deeply ingrained from life experience than he himself would ever know.
“All the credit goes to Commander Gomez and her team,” Gold said. “In addition to her figuring out a way to get the Defiant out of the rift, Commander Duffy played a large part in straightening out the rest of the mess we managed to get ourselves into.”
“Ah, Commander Gomez,” Scott replied. “Yes, I’ve read her report, and I mean to have a conversation with the lass once she’s finished aboard the Defiant. Of all the areas of that ship to blow to hell, did it have to be engineering? I was so lookin’ forward to gettin’ in there and pokin’ around.” Gold could see that Scott was joking, naturally, though he couldn’t help but wonder how much truth lay behind the playful words.
“As for Mr. Duffy,” the S.C.E. commander continued, “I must tell ye, Captain, I know somethin’ about bein’ thrust into a command situation when ye don’t feel qualified to do the job. Your Mr. Duffy comported himself remarkably well for a lad who’s not lookin’ for a command of his own. His quick thinkin’ to save that Tholian ship went a long way toward avoidin’ severe damage to our relations with the Assembly. The bloody politicians are still foamin’ at the mouth over the whole thing, but I suspect they’ll eventually get over it.”
Gold couldn’t resist a small chuckle at that. “Well, they need something to keep them busy. On that note, though, what’s the word on bringing the Tholians and the Klingons to the negotiating table?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Scott replied, “There’s no tellin’ what those popinjay diplomats are plannin’. Ye’d think that with the information your team discovered aboard the Defiant that the Diplomatic Corps would want