Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [112]
“Captain Amalfitano, if you would please cover us while we beam aboard our defectors…”
“We’re on it, Captain,” Amalfitano said.
The Sentinel took up position between the Sladok and the Enterprise.
“Lower shields,” Picard said.
Sounding disappointed that the Sentinel was getting first blood, Ro said, “Yes, sir.”
“Chief Mun Ying, beam them aboard.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Captain!” Kadohata shouted.
Looking over at the viewer, Picard saw two of the ships on the tactical overlay wink out.
“My God.”
The Excalibur and the Reklar had destroyed each other.
“Any life signs? Escape pods?” Picard asked Kadohata, hoping for an affirmative answer.
Shaking her head, Kadohata said, “I’m sorry, sir. Sensors picked up some pods from both ships, but they were vaporized by the explosion. There are no life signs in the wreckage.”
Picard closed his eyes. He was tired. Tired of death, tired of war, tired of all of it. Except for the three-day respite he’d forced upon himself, he’d been going nonstop since the battle against the Borg, stumbling from one battle to another. Even this, which was supposed to be a proper diplomatic mission, was turning into yet another bloodbath.
And he’d had enough.
Opening his eyes, he looked to his first officer. “Mister Worf, you have the bridge. Work with the Sentinel to do whatever is necessary to keep our defectors safe.”
“Aye, sir.”
“I’ll be greeting our guests.” With that, Picard entered the turbolift. As soon as the doors hissed shut, he whispered, “Transporter Room 3.”
The speakers played the feed from the bridge the entire way. Picard barely noticed as Worf gave orders and Ro, Perim, and Kadohata carried them out. As he approached the transporter room doors, he heard Kadohata say, “The Sladok’s been destroyed. Sentinel’s lost shields and helm-they’re drifting.”
“Engage tractor beam,” Worf said. “Do not let them drift across the border.”
“Aye, sir,” Ro said.
The doors slid open. Picard saw Mun Ying standing behind the transporter, two security guards next to him. Two more security guards were on either side of the transporter platform, all of them watching the two people on the pads, who were being treated by Crusher and a nurse.
Standing in front of the console was Krajensky, who said, “I summoned the doctor, Captain-they were both injured.”
One of Crusher’s patients-a Bajoran woman who had a huge gash on her forehead that the doctor was trying to treat-leapt to her feet and said, “Are you in charge here?”
Glancing at Krajensky, Picard said, “I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Star-”
“We have vital intelligence for the Federation Council.”
The Ferengi who was with her bleated from the pad. “'We’? 'We’ don’t have anything. I have a destroyed yacht.”
“Shut up, Quark,” the Bajoran woman said without looking behind her. Her intense brown eyes were focused right on Picard.
“What is this intelligence?” Picard asked.
“Over the past five years, important people on Cardassia Prime, Qo’noS, Romulus, and Earth have all been replaced by shapechangers from the Gamma Quadrant.”
12
Praetor Narviat’s Home Ki Baratan, Romulus Romulan Star Empire
Narviat paced the strategy room in the basement of his home in fury. Several admirals had just left, and now he was waiting alone except for his two bodyguards. Since the war with the Klingons and Federation began, Charvanek had insisted that he have his guards with him everywhere. Once, those two would have been outside the door, but now, they were under strict orders from Charvanek to never let the praetor out of their sight.
A knock came at the door, and another bodyguard stuck in his head. “Lord Praetor, Colonel Koval has arrived.”
“Send him in,” Narviat said testily.
Koval entered and bowed ever-so-slightly as the bodyguard closed the door behind him. “What service may your humble servant provide, Praetor?”
“You may take over security for this war!”
“I’m sorry? I thought Colonel Lovok had that honor.