Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [45]
“Engage,” said Picard.
A shudder went through the ship, but only for a second. Then it stopped.
“No problems with hull integrity or ship’s systems,” reported Geordi. “But we haven’t slowed down one iota.”
The captain frowned. “Warp factor two, Mr. Crusher. Engage.” Wesley executed the order. Again, there was a brief vibration. “Still nothing,” Geordi said. “No cause for alarm, no change in speed.”
Picard noticed that Simenon was staring at him. He-turned to face his former chief engineer, and the Gnalish looked down at his hand on the armrest. Four of his scaly gray fingers were extended; his thumb was folded back: When he looked up again at the captain, his meaning was clear. .
“Warp Factor Four,” commanded Picard. “Warp Factor Four,” said Wesley, complying.
This time the ship’s trembling was more pronounced, and it lasted longer. But when it was over, the streaks of starlight on the viewscreen were longer and a little less frantic. “Progress,” announced Geordi triumphantly. “We’re down to warp nine point nine one.”
“Which means we’ve cut our speed by a third,” said Simenon. He looked at the captain. “Sorry. It’s the professor in me.” “Quite all right,” said Picard. If they had been alone, he would have clapped the Gnalish on the back-as he’d had occasion to do so many times on the Stargazer, “How is the ship holding up?” he asked.
“Considerable stress on hull integrity,” Geordi told him. “But we can handle it.”
“Should we try Warp Factor Five?” asked Wesley. The captain glanced at Simenon’s hand. There were still only four fingers extended. “I wouldn’t recommend it,” called La Forge. “I think
we’re on the edge now. And we’ve slowed down considerably-why take the risk?”
“Then we will remain at Warp Four,” Picard decided: “And Mr. Crusher-do not anticipate.”
The back of the ensign’s neck turned red. “Acknowledged, sir.” “All right,” said Geordi. “We’ve bought ourselves that time we wanted. Let’s do something with it. Data, Crusher, Professor Simenon-you’re with me.”
The Gnalish gave the captain one last look as he swept past-a look that said his contribution was all in a day’s work. Then he was on his way to the turbolift along with Wesley and the android, his tail switching back and forth over the carpeted deck. Geordi was leaning on a bulkhead, his arms locked across his chest. He looked at Simenon, Data, and Wesley in turn. Not the most upbeat bunch, he remarked to himself. But then, he wasn’t feeling too upbeat himself just then. Of them all, only Data was still holding his head erect—and that was only because he wasn’t human enough to know when he was licked. “We’ve been at this for hours, and we’ve got nothing to show for it,” Geordi said. “I’m opening the floor to any idea,. no matter how wild. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be an idea-just a half-baked notion.”
The others looked at him. Simenon grunted. “I mean it,” Geordi said. “Anything.”
Wesley straightened a little. “Okay. What if we separated-the saucer section from the battle bridge?” Simenon shook his head. “It wouldn’t help. If we were moving strictly under engine power and you disconnected the saucer, it would drop out of warp. But since the warp field is being imposed on us externally, the saucer would continue to be dragged along with the battle bridge.”
The android nodded. “That would be the most likely result.” “I agree,” said Geordi. “All right—forget separation. How about the shuttles?”
“Same thing,” responded the Gnalish. “They’d be stuck here just as we are.”
“They might proceed more slowly,” offered Data, “because of their lesser mass. Remember, we are not in normal space; Newtonian principles may not hold here.”
“And what if they did proceed more slowly?” asked Simenon. “It would only be a stop-gap maneuver.” “Besides,” said Wes, “none of them can travel faster than warp one-so whatever advantage we enjoyed on the way out we’d lose in spades on the way back.” Geordi nodded. “Even assuming there were enough of them to evacuate the ship-which there aren’t, even including the lifeboat pods. Next.” “We launch a probe,” said