Pantheon - Michael Jan Friedman [201]
The second officer was about to ask why that would be of particular concern to his weapons chief. Then it hit him with the impact of a directed energy beam: the galactic barrier.
If their shields dropped just before they went through it, they would be naked to the phenomenon. The crew would be completely and utterly exposed to the barrier’s mysterious and volatile energies.
Kirk’s ship had had some protection, primitive as it might be by contemporary standards, and Gary Mitchell had still become a being capable of enslaving his entire species. How much more monstrous an entity might be created on a vessel that had no shielding at all?
“I see your point,” said Picard.
Clearly, they couldn’t go back to the Federation as they had planned. Not yet, anyway. First, they would have to identify and neutralize the saboteur, then scour the ship for lingering signs of his or her handiwork.
“I will find the saboteur,” the second officer promised. “I don’t yet know how, but I will do it.”
“I’m sure you will, sir,” said Vigo, his expression an earnest one. “If there’s anything I can do…”
“I’ll let you know,” Picard told him. “And Lieutenant…”
“Aye, sir?” said the weapons officer.
“As before, not a word of this to anyone.”
“You can trust me, sir,” Vigo assured him.
No doubt, Picard mused. He wished he could say that about everyone aboard the Stargazer.
Carter Greyhorse walked into the Stargazer’s lounge, where Commander Picard was already seated at the black oval table.
“Doctor,” said the second officer, by way of acknowledgment.
“You wanted to speak with me?” asked Greyhorse, pulling out a chair opposite Picard’s and sitting down.
“I did,” said the commander. “But I’d prefer to wait until the others arrive before I begin our discussion.”
Others? Greyhorse wondered.
He had barely completed the thought when Ben Zoma, Simenon, Paxton, and Cariello walked into the room, one right after the other. Nodding to the doctor, they took their seats.
Greyhorse hadn’t realized that this was to be a staff meeting. But then, he could easily have missed that part of Picard’s summons.
Ever since his visit from Pug Joseph, the medical officer had been unable to keep from thinking about Gerda Asmund again. He was so preoccupied, so distracted, he hadn’t even felt an urge to complete his tests on the psilosynine he had synthesized.
And with renewed longing had come a renewed sense of despair. Gerda was so forceful, so graceful, so vibrant…so unlike Greyhorse. What chance could he possibly have with her?
“Doctor Greyhorse?”
Greyhorse turned to Picard. “Yes?”
“I would like to get underway now,” said the second officer.
The doctor looked around and saw that Vigo and Jomar had joined them without his realizing it. They were sitting at the table along with the others. My god, he told himself, it’s worse than I thought.
“The reason I called this meeting,” said Picard, “is to discuss what course of action we should adopt next.”
Simenon looked at him. “I’m a little confused. Aren’t we supposed to be going home?”
“Yes,” said Cariello, “to warn the Federation about the Nuyyad?”
“Indeed,” Picard replied, “that is the agenda I had intended to follow. However, it occurs to me there is something more we can accomplish here before we return.”
“Explain,” said the Kelvan.
“As you will recall,” said Picard, “we were told about a supply depot that the enemy had set up on this side of the galactic barrier—one that seemed to be a critical part of their invasion plans.”
Greyhorse thought he could see where the second officer was headed. “You want to scout out this depot?”
Picard shook his head from side to side. “No,” he told his assembled officers and allies. “I want to destroy it.”
The doctor looked at him, struck dumb by the audacity of his declaration. So, apparently, was everyone else sitting around the table.
“Are you sure that’s wise, sir?” asked Paxton.
“I believe it is,” said the second officer. “For one thing, you saw how easily we handled