Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [60]
As if on cue, the bird-of-prey that had successfully neutralized the spacedock suddenly powered its engines and shot past the Copernicus-not leaving orbit, but heading instead toward the horizon, seeking another target somewhere above the planet. The remaining two Klingon ships veered about to the front of the Excelsior, blocking any attempt to follow.
“Where does he think he’s going?” Thelin asked aloud. “Helm, follow that vessel!”
The Copernicus turned hard about and set off in pursuit of the rogue Klingon ship, leaving Excelsior and the other birds-of-prey in their wake. The tactical officer spoke up. “Sir, I’m tracking another ship from Earth’s surface,” she said. “It’s a Type-3 shuttlecraft, and it appears that the Klingons are on course to intercept. Its call sign is…” She gasped. “Captain, it’s Starfleet One! It’s the president’s shuttle!”
Suddenly, the tremendous tension that had built up within the Andorian had a focus-a clear duty to perform-and he felt substantially better. “All right, people,” he said with enthusiasm. “Our first priority is to make sure that shuttle gets clear. Power up weapons and fire on those karskat Klingons as soon as they’re in range. Where’s Excelsior?”
“Sir,” Lee said, “Excelsior reports that the two other birds have reengaged them. They can’t assist us in the pursuit.”
“Klingon vessel in range,” came the word from tactical. “Firing phasers.”
The Copernicus phasers struck their target, but the Klingons’ shields fully absorbed the energy of the blasts.
“Their shields are holding. No damage.”
“Klingon vessel will intercept Starfleet One in thirty seconds,” Croy called out.
“What’s the word on the reinforcements?” Thelin shouted.
“The starships have been recalled to Mars, sir,” Lee said with exasperation. “We’re on our own.”
Damn! Thelin thought. Our weapons aren’t powerful enough to penetrate Klingon shielding. “Keep firing,” he commanded anyway.
Unless we can penetrate their shields some other way…
“Carol!” he said, spinning around to face the scientist. “We still have a Genesis torpedo in the launching bay. Can you reprogram it from here?”
Carol shook herself out of her nearly trancelike state. “What? I mean, yes…I can make minor modifications to the matrix.”
“My only concern is point of impact,” Thelin explained. “I want the whole Genesis effect focused upon the deflector energy particles. Can you do that?”
“Yes, I think so,” Carol replied, and swung around in her chair to face the console.
“Ten seconds,” Croy announced.
Carol chewed on her lip as her fingers flew over the console, calling up screen after screen with lightning speed as she modified the parameters for the interaction of the Genesis effect. She was making progress, but it was taking time-too much time.
“The president’s shuttle is now in range of the Klingon vessel,” Croy said. “Starfleet One is taking enemy fire!”
“Concentrate all of our firepower on the Klingon weapons systems,” Thelin commanded. “Try to poke a hole in those shields. Tactical, lock on target for the torpedo launch.”
“Programming the Genesis device now,” Carol said.
“Target locked,” came the announcement from tactical. “Starfleet One aft shields down to fifty percent.”
“Download complete,” Carol finally shouted with relief. “Ready to deploy!”
“Fire!” said Thelin.
The torpedo shot out from the launcher and guided itself with precision toward the bird-of-prey, where it struck the deflector field in the aft section, briefly producing a shimmering fireball as the effect spread throughout the vessel’s shields. The effect dissipated within seconds.
“Klingon shields are down!” Croy said excitedly.
“Fire phasers at will,” the captain commanded.
The Copernicus’s weapons pounded the aft section of the vessel with multiple phaser blasts until the ship erupted in a bright fireball.
Ensign Lee spun around from