Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [120]
“Fire torpedoes,” Benteen said, “pattern sigma.”
A spread of torpedoes hit the Galor at various points, doing no physical damage, but wiping out their shields.
“Phasers,” Benteen said quickly. “Take them down before they can reconstitute.”
The starbase now had four phaser banks-one of the upgrades provided by the S.C.E.-and three of the four fired on the Galor, destroying it in a plume of flame.
Looking at the forward viewer, Hahn saw that the Lexington had done likewise to the second ship, and that the third had been disabled by the da Vinci.
Stepping forward to stand next to Benteen, Hahn said, “End battle simulation.”
The illumination in ops returned to normal. Once again, ben Zoma’s and Gold’s faces appeared on the screen. “Not bad,” the former said.
Dax looked up and smiled. “What happened to the fourth phaser bank?”
“Salek and Duffy are scrambling around trying to figure that one out right now,” Gold said with a smile, referring to the two men in charge of the S.C.E. contingent on his ship. “We won’t leave until it’s working right.”
“Still,” Hahn said, “the upgrades you performed worked beautifully. That was one of the most realistic battle simulations I’ve ever seen.”
“We aim to please,” Gold said.
Turning to the watch officer, Hahn said, “As do you, Commander. You handled that well.”
Benteen nodded. “Thank you, sir.” If she felt any pride at his compliment, she did not show it.
Grinning, Hahn said, “At ease, Commander. The simulation’s done.”
“Yes, sir,” Benteen said, though she didn’t noticeably relax.
Giving up, Hahn turned toward his office. “I’m going to go contact my wife. Commander Benteen, you-”
“Sir!” That was Ledrah. “We’re picking something up! Three vessels approaching from the Cardassian border at high warp!” The Tiburonian looked up sharply. “Approaching at warp nine.”
Now as serious as Benteen, Hahn turned back toward ops. I can always call Crystal later. “Identify.”
Dax shook her head, the ponytail that held in her brown hair waving from side to side. “Unknown. It doesn’t match anything in the database.”
Hahn stared at Dax. “Nothing? Not even a vague comp?”
“No.” Dax looked up, concern etched on her spotted brow. “Sir, we’ve literally got thousands of ships in the computer. This isn’t close to any of them-but it’s coming from Cardassian space.”
“Oy vey,” Gold said.
“What is it?” Hahn asked.
“My tactical officer just informed me that the ships are arming what appear to be weapons-of the exact same design as the new Cardassian weapons.”
Frowning, ben Zoma said, “That can’t be good.”
Hahn looked at Ledrah. “Open a channel, Lieutenant, maybe they’re only here to talk.”
“That seems damned unlikely,” ben Zoma said.
“Maybe, but I want to give it a chance.”
Ledrah said, “Channel open.”
“This is Admiral Eric Hahn of Federation Starbase 375. Please identify yourselves.”
“I am First Omet’iklan, and I am dead. I go into battle to reclaim my life. This I do gladly, for I am Jem’Hadar. Victory is life.”
Ledrah stared up at Hahn. “They closed the channel.”
“Pity,” Hahn said, “as I’d like to know what the hell that meant.”
“Whoever they are,” ben Zoma said, “they don’t appear to have our best wishes at heart, since they’re talking about going into battle.”
“Agreed,” Hahn said, and gave Benteen a look.
“Red alert,” she said, “all hands to battle stations. This is not a drill, repeat, this is not a drill.”
“Lieutenant,” Hahn said to Ledrah, “keep trying to hail them. Maybe-”
Dax interrupted: “They’re coming out of warp.”
Looking up at the screen, Hahn saw the three ships appear, in a formation that put them in a prime position to attack the starbase, a level of precision piloting that both impressed and frightened the admiral.
One second later, some very familiar weapons fire spit forth from all three ships-one straight at the starbase, the other two at the two starships nearby.
The beam splashed against the shields, but a glance at the look of concern on Dax’s face didn’t make Hahn feel any better. “Lieutenant?”
Dax looked up. “Shields