Pantheon - Michael Jan Friedman [219]
“Shields down ninety percent,” Gerda reported dutifully.
They couldn’t take another blast like the last one, the second officer told himself. But then, maybe they wouldn’t have to.
“Now, Mr. Vigo!” he shouted over the hiss of seething plasma.
A string of golden photon torpedoes went hurtling toward the depot. Before the enemy could fire again, the torpedoes hit their target—and were rewarded with a titanic display of pyrotechnics.
But did they pierce the Nuyyad’s shields? As Idun Asmund pulled them off their collision course, Picard peered at the weapons console and checked the depot’s status.
For a moment, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then Vigo said it out loud, giving his discovery the weight of reality.
“We must have hit one of their primary shield generators, sir. They’re defenseless from one end to the other.”
As defenseless as the Stargazer had been after its initial encounter with the Nuyyad. As defenseless as the Magnians had been when the second officer found them.
Picard eyed the viewscreen, which was still tracking the enemy depot as Idun brought them about. The installation didn’t look any different to the human eye, but to their sensors it was naked and unprotected.
He had a feeling the Nuyyad would remember this day. Certainly, he knew he would. “Target and fire,” he told his weapons officer.
Vigo unleashed one torpedo assault after the other, pounding the installation in a half-dozen places. And everywhere the matter-antimatter packets landed, they blew something up.
Finally, the last remaining section erupted in a fit of expanding energy, painting the void with its glory. Then it faded, leaving an empty space where a Nuyyad presence had been.
“Serves them right,” said Ben Zoma.
Picard looked at his friend and wished he could disagree.
Captain’s log, supplemental. We have returned to Magnia to drop off the colonists who aided us with our tactical enhancements. Fortunately, none of them have shown any lasting effects from their exposure to psilosynine. Though I had reason to distrust these people when I first met them, I now see that they are as trustworthy as anyone I know. They are also what the name of their ancestors’ ship proclaimed: valiant. In accordance with Shield Williamson’s request, I recommend that Guard Daniels be returned to the colony and that its existence henceforth be kept a Federation secret—for our good as well as that of the colonists. After all, there are those who might try to tap into the Magnians’ potential for their own ends. As for Jomar…I am grateful for his assistance in destroying the Nuyyad depot, which proved critical to our efforts. However, his arrogance, penchant for violence and insistence on implementing his plans over our objections mark him as someone the Federation should avoid in the future. And while it pains me to paint all Kelvans with the same brush, I find I must do exactly that—or fail in my service to the Federation. My recommendation is that we encourage the Kelvans to remain an insular society…indefinitely.
Picard gazed at Serenity Santana, the sun of her world sinking through tall trees into a deep, red-orange miasma behind her.
“Will you miss me?” she asked with a smile, the mountain wind lifting her raven hair.
Torn between emotions, the second officer shrugged. “What can I say? I wish we had met under different circumstances.”
“Then…you won’t miss me?”
He couldn’t help chuckling a little at her cleverness. “I didn’t say that,” he told her.
Abruptly, his combadge beeped. He tapped it in response. “Picard here.”
“We’re ready to leave, sir,” said Ben Zoma. “If you’re ready to beam up…?”
The second officer glanced at Santana again. “Give me a minute, Gilaad. Picard out.”
“You know,” she said, “we Magnians like our privacy. But if you ever get the urge to visit us…”
Picard nodded. “I’ll know where to find you.”
“I hope so,” Santana told him, her eyes telling him she meant it with all her heart.
Then she