Miracle Workers (SCE Books 5-8) - Keith R. A. DeCandido_. [et al.] [33]
Though the ship had been towed by the da Vinci back from Tholian space to the edge of the Terran system, Gomez had requested that the Defiant travel the last leg of its journey under its own power. She and Duffy, along with Pattie and several other S.C.E. specialists, had toiled for two days to ensure the ship’s ability to make the trip. Seeing the response from onlookers as they traversed the solar system, Gomez was glad she had pushed the idea.
“It’s something, all right,” she replied. “And it should be. The men and women who served on this ship deserve nothing less.” Turning the command chair to face Duffy, she said, “I haven’t had the chance to say this before now, Kieran, but I wanted to thank you for all you did. We couldn’t have completed the mission by ourselves.”
Duffy attempted to wave the praise away. “Thank Fabian, or even Corsi for that matter. They had as much to do with it as anyone.” His features took on an odd quality, one that Gomez couldn’t remember seeing before as he added, “They helped get me through the tough spots.”
At the helm where he was trying, without success, not to enjoy this occasion too much, Fabian Stevens turned in his seat. “Don’t listen to him, Commander. Ol’ Duff there is on the verge of becoming a real ‘lead-from-the-front’ kind of guy. Captain Gold might have to watch out for his job.” With a mischievous smile he added, “Or maybe you should.”
Gomez laughed, happy that her friend had performed so well under such trying circumstances. More than instilling added confidence in his shipmates, as well as Captain Gold and even herself, she knew that the experience would do much toward allowing Kieran to eventually realize his ultimate potential.
Still, she couldn’t let Stevens’s crack go uncontested. Her response was cut off, however, by a hail whistle from the communications console, followed by a female voice full of enthusiasm.
“ U.S.S. Defiant, this is SpaceDock Approach Control. Stand by for docking maneuver.”
It was a straightforward message, Gomez knew, conveying nothing behind the magnitude of the occasion. But she also knew that the time for reflection would come later. For now, there were the simple yet necessary obligations to tend to.
Nodding to Stevens, Gomez waited until he entered the necessary commands to transfer the ship’s maneuvering control to SpaceDock, then reported, “Approach Control, this is Defiant. We have transferred guidance to you. She’s all yours.”
“Affirmative, Defiant. SpaceDock confirms control. Welcome home.”
Her duties aboard the legendary ship finally at an end, Gomez replied, “ Defiant confirms. Thank you, SpaceDock.”
Under the guidance of automated maneuvering systems, the resurrected starship aligned itself with SpaceDock’s main entryway. With thousands of spectators looking on in the station’s observation areas and billions more watching over subspace video feeds, the ship quietly entered the orbital facility, sinking into the welcoming embrace that it hadn’t known for far too long.
After more than a century, the U.S.S. Defiant had finally come home.
COLD FUSION
Keith R.A. DeCandido
Historian’s Note
Cold Fusion takes place between the Star Trek: Deep Space 9® novels Avatar Book 2 and Section 31: Abyss. It also takes place simultaneously with Invincible.
CHAPTER
1
Commander, I humbly request permission to feed Abramowitz to the larvae.”
Kieran Duffy sighed, rolled his eyes, took a sip of his coffee, then looked up at the Nasat standing before him in the mess hall. “What is it this time, Pattie?”
P8 Blue, presently standing upright on her two rear legs, was tossing a padd back and forth among four of her arms. “Oh, it’s nothing different. She simply will not stop playing that music.”
“Have you asked her to stop?”
“Repeatedly. Endlessly. Constantly.”
“Well, at least your grasp