Planet X - Michael Jan Friedman [55]
Picard was tempted to fire again, but decided against it. His resources were limited, after all.
He turned to Data. “Run an analysis of their shielding, Commander. Let’s see if there are any weak spots.”
As the android got to work, the captain glanced at Rager. “Let’s give them a different look to contend with. Picard delta omega, Lieutenant.”
“Aye, sir,” said the Conn officer.
Rager began a new set of maneuvers … just as the Draa’kon unleashed another savage barrage. Most of it slid by them into the void, but a blast caught the edge of the saucer section.
Suddenly, the bridge skewed hard to port, forcing Picard to grab Rager’s chair or be thrown to the floor. At the same time, one of the aft control panels erupted in a geyser of sparks. Immediately, a crewman grabbed a fire extinguisher and played it over the panel.
“Shields are gone, sir!” Sovar called out.
Feeling his jaw muscles flutter, Picard turned and eyed the viewscreen with renewed resolve. “Where’s my analysis, Mr. Data?”
“I am almost finished,” the android replied. A moment later, he swiveled around in his chair. “As you suspected, sir, the overall toughness of the Connharakt’s shields comes at the expense of some weak spots elsewhere. These can be found behind all four of the vessel’s warp nacelles.”
Picard clapped Data on the shoulder. “Good work, Commander.”
“Thank you, Captain,” said the android.
Picard turned to Rager. “We need to get behind them, Lieutenant.”
“I understand, sir.”
Without hesitation, the conn officer brought their nose up and avoided another Draa’kon volley—one that would have gashed them from stem to stern. What’s more, Rager stayed with the maneuver, bringing them directly behind the monstrous Connharakt.
The captain could see the flares of cold blue fire lodged in the enemy’s nacelles. If Data’s analysis was accurate, they had an opportunity to turn the tide of battle.
But it wouldn’t be there for long. “Target phasers!”
“Targeted,” said Sovar.
Picard gritted his teeth. “Fire!”
Four ruby-red beams lanced out, two striking the nacelle on the upper right and the others striking the upper left. Both structures exploded in clouds of blue fury.
But the captain wasn’t about to let up. Not when the Draa’kon’s next barrage might be the one that destroyed the Enterprise.
“Fire!” he commanded.
Again, four phaser beams pierced the enemy’s shields. Again, they elicited twin energy outbursts. But when the viewscreen cleared, Picard could see that only one of the remaining nacelles had exploded. The other was badly charred, but intact.
Which meant the Draa’kon juggernaut could still move. And if it could move, it could hunt.
Even as that thought crossed the captain’s mind, he saw weapons ports swivel on top of the Connharakt. “Get us out of here,” he told Rager. “Picard delta omicron.”
But the Draa’kon were already striking back. A fierce, green light blanched out the viewscreen for a moment. Then the Enterprise was punished with the most devastating barrage yet.
The captain was catapulted forward, flipping end over end. He hit a bulkhead with such force he felt himself black out for a moment. When he came to, the taste of blood strong in his mouth, he took stock of his bridge.
The lights, still tinted by the red alert, were flickering on and off almost hypnotically. Two more of the aft consoles had exploded and were spewing sparks. And his people were strewn all over the place.
With the exception of Data. Somehow, the android had managed to remain at his post. As Picard looked on, his second officer’s artificial fingers flew over his control board in a blur of speed.
The captain knew what Data was doing, too. Having taken over the helm function, he was trying to keep the Enterprise in one piece despite the enemy’s intentions to the contrary.
Dragging himself to his feet as his officers and Storm did likewise, Picard ignored his bruises and abrasions and glanced back at the viewscreen. It showed him the Connharakt, still dogging their