Planet X - Michael Jan Friedman [53]
The Xhaldian studied his monitors. “Their weapons are based on disruption technology—not unlike that used by the Klingons and the Romulans. They have no tractor emitters that I can see, but they’re built for battle. Nearly sixty percent of their power is permanently channeled to their weapons ports.”
“Two hundred thousand kilometers,” Rager announced.
“Their propulsion systems?” asked Riker.
“Much like ours,” said Sovar. “Maybe a little less efficient. And if they’re a lower power priority, they can’t proceed at high speeds for any length of time.”
“Unfortunately,” Picard observed, “that won’t be a disadvantage in close quarters. In fact, we should channel extra power to shields and weapons ourselves—just in case.”
The tactical officer followed the captain’s suggestion. “Done, sir.”
Rager spoke up again. “One hundred fifty thousand kilometers.”
Soon, Troi thought, they would be face to face with the aliens. By then, she would have found out the truth.
Abruptly, Data turned to face Picard. “Captain, I have managed to penetrate Xhaldia’s energy fields with long-range sensors.”
Picard nodded. “Excellent, Commander.”
The android returned his attention to his Ops monitors. “There is a great deal of interference, but …”
“Yes?” the captain prodded.
Troi was eager to hear his findings as well.
“It appears,” said Data, “there are several smaller versions of the orbiting vessel already in evidence on the planet’s surface. Eight of them, to be precise. What is more, they seem to be clustered in a particular area.”
Picard digested the report. “What area is that?” he asked.
The answer didn’t come from the android. It came from the station directly behind them.
“The vicinity of Verdeen,” said Lt. Sovar, his voice trembling ever so slightly.
“The transformed,” Storm gasped, with a certainty that seemed to go beyond logic. “Whoever these people are, they are after the transformed.”
Riker scowled. “It seems that way, all right.”
“But why?” asked the X-Man. “And how did they know about the transformed in the first place?”
“A good question,” said the captain.
“Eighty thousand kilometers,” Rager told them.
“In any case, it’s not an invasion,” the first officer observed. “At least, not the kind we anticipated.”
“That’s true,” Picard agreed. “One can hardly conquer an entire world on the strength of a few landing parties.”
“Captain,” said Sovar, breaking into the exchange. “We are being scanned by the alien vessel.”
Of course, the counselor thought. If the Enterprise could scan the aliens, the aliens could scan them.
“I guess we’re even now,” said Riker.
Suddenly, Troi felt something on the fringes of her consciousness—something that made her skin crawl. Her every instinct told her to break the connection. But she knew how important it might be, so she opened herself up to it even more.
“Counselor?” said Picard.
Troi groaned. “I … sense the aliens. They are … brutal … belligerent. All they care about is power.”
Storm put her hands on the counselor’s shoulders. “Easy,” she said. “Do not seek to do too much, child.”
But Troi wasn’t finished. “They have … nothing but contempt for the people on the planet … for the Xhaldians. They consider them … consider all other species … unworthy of their concern.”
The counselor writhed in her seat. She had never felt such arrogance, such hunger for havoc and destruction. Up until then, she had been willing to give the aliens the benefit of the doubt; she could do so no longer.
“They are conquerors,” she whispered. “But they have not come here to conquer. There is something else … something they covet …”
The transformed, she thought. Just as Storm had said. Satisfied that she had gleaned all she could, Troi severed the empathic link. Overwhelmed by a wave of relief, she slumped sideways in her chair, her skin bathed in a cold sweat.
“Are you all right?” Picard asked her.
The counselor nodded. But her fears had been confirmed—and then some.
“Twenty thousand kilometers,” Rager said.
Storm knelt at Troi’s side. “By the goddess,” she said admiringly.