Planet X - Michael Jan Friedman [56]
But for the time being, the android was eluding them. Taking advantage of the respite, the captain helped a shaken Lt. Rager to her feet and saw her back to her conn station. Then he turned to Sovar, who had only a moment earlier regained his position at Tactical.
“Report,” Picard told him, as his first officer came to stand beside him.
The Xhaldian glanced soberly at his monitors. “Weapons are offline,” he told the captain. “So’s the warp drive. The impulse engines have been damaged as well—there’s no saying how long they’ll last.”
Picard scowled. Without shields, weapons, or the ability to go to warp, they were defenseless. The only thing keeping them from annihilation was their impulse drive, and that might abandon them at any moment.
He needed to pull a rabbit out of his hat. And quickly.
Suddenly, a voice rang out over the intercom system. “Captain, this is Commander La Forge. I’ve got an idea.”
At that point, Picard was willing to grasp at any straw at all. “What is it, Commander?”
“It’s Nightcrawler, sir,” said Geordi. “He may be able to teleport us onto the Draa’kon ship.”
An intriguing idea, the captain conceded. But … “They still have shields,” he replied.
“That’s just it,” the engineer told him. “Nightcrawler’s teleportation abilities don’t work the way our transporters do. He circumvents normal space by entering some other dimension.”
The captain saw Geordi’s point. “If that’s so, he can get past the Draa’kon ship’s defenses—”
“And perform a mission of sabotage,” Riker finished. “Maybe even bring their shields down, so we can get other personnel aboard.”
Picard turned to Storm. “A possibility?”
She didn’t look optimistic. “Kurt is no expert on alien technology. He would hardly know what to wreck. And even if he did,” she said grimly, “what you’re suggesting would be extremely dangerous for him.”
“In what way?” Picard asked.
“Kurt can only teleport over a distance of a couple of miles,” Storm explained. “And normally, he only aims for a destination he’s familiar with. Otherwise, he runs the risk of materializing inside something solid.” Her nostrils flared. “Or in this case, materializing out in space.”
“Don’t forget,” Riker added, “the Connharakt will be a moving target. We’ll have to match her course and speed if Nightcrawler’s to have a chance.”
Abruptly, the deck lurched under their feet. Apparently, the Draa’kon had found them with another barrage.
“Hull breaches on decks nineteen and twenty,” Sovar reported. “Commander Worf is coordinating repair teams.”
“If there is any other way …” Storm began.
“Storm … Ororo, please this may be our only chance,” Nightcrawler insisted over the intercom link. “I can do it, Captain. And someone can come with me to handle the technical end of it.”
Storm eyed Picard. “You must understand,” she said, “Kurt and whomever he takes along may be adversely affected by the process.”
“Adversely …?” the captain asked.
“Sickened,” she said. “Exhausted. Perhaps to the extent that they will not be able to carry out their mission.”
The first officer looked at Picard. “Not if it’s Data who goes along. He doesn’t get sickened or exhausted. And he’s got all the technical expertise we could ask for.”
The android cast a glance at them, having overheard their conversation. “I would be more than happy to accompany Nightcrawler, Captain. That is, if you deem it advisable.”
The captain considered it. The maneuver would require split-second timing, of course. And if it didn’t work, he would be dooming two good men. But if he didn’t try it, he might be dooming his entire vessel and its crew.
“Very well,” he said at last. “If it is all right with your leader, I’ll take you up on your offer, Nightcrawler. You and Commander Data will attempt to disable the Connharakt’s shield generators.” He glanced at Storm and she nodded.
“Aye, sir,” the android responded.
As Data got up and was replaced by another officer at Conn, the captain turned to Riker. “Assemble some boarding teams, Number One—with a couple of X-Men present