Ring Around the Sky - Allyn Gibson [24]
“Not at all, First Minister.” He nodded to Gomez, and she took Gold’s place before the viewscreen.
“First Minister, what can I do for you?” Gomez asked.
Grevesh smiled. “Minister Eevraith came to me this morning with a most unusual proposal, and I wished to solicit your opinion.”
“If I can help, of course.”
“I thought his idea mad, but if he says it can be done, perhaps there is some truth to it. He tells me that the elevator cannot be repaired, and that our only option to save Kharzh’ulla and the Ring is to allow the damaged elevator to collapse.”
“Collapse?” said Gomez with a hint of skepticism in her voice. “Wouldn’t the elevator’s collapse bring the Ring down on Kharzh’ulla?”
“Indeed,” said Grevesh. “I thought much the same. But Eevraith tells me that if we separate the elevator from the Ring and allow just the elevator to collapse, the Ring will remain fixed in place.”
Gomez crossed her arms and stroked her chin pensively. “Collapse the elevator, but allow the Ring to remain in place?” She paused. “First Minister, could I discuss this with Captain Gold and Commander Tev?”
Grevesh nodded. “Please, Commander Gomez, take your time.”
Gomez smiled. “Just a few moments, First Minister.” She made a throat-cutting gesture to Shabalala.
“The channel is mute.”
Gomez looked at Tev. “Eevraith presented your plan as his,” she said.
Tev nodded. “Of course.”
“Doesn’t that bother you?” said Gold.
“If it saves Kharzh’ulla,” said Tev, “I do not care what Eevraith does.”
Gomez nodded. She knew Tev’s sense of pride from personal experience. She could only imagine the sense of pride Eevraith had to be the politician that he was.
She returned to the center of the bridge. “Tony, reopen the channel.”
Shabalala nodded. “Channel open.”
“First Minister Grevesh,” said Gomez, “I’ve consulted with Captain Gold and Commander Tev. They’re skeptical of Minister Eevraith’s plan, but they’re willing to look into whether or not it will work.”
“Minister Eevraith assures me that it will.”
Gomez nodded. She turned and looked at Tev, hunched over a computer terminal. “Commander Tev?” she said loudly.
Tev looked up. “Commander, I believe Eevraith’s plan will work.”
“Did you hear that, First Minister? Tev has run a simulation of Minister Eevraith’s plan.”
On-screen, Grevesh smiled. “I thought Minister Eevraith mad. It reassures me that his idea was not.”
Tev rose from his seat and came to Gomez’s side. “Commander,” said Tev, “Eevraith’s plan is a simple one. We could implement it within six hours.”
“Six hours?” repeated Gomez. “So soon?”
Tev nodded as he looked directly at Grevesh on the viewscreen. “Yes, Commander. We need only detach the elevator from the Ring, and if we were to detonate explosive charges near the elevator’s base the elevator would collapse into the ocean.”
“Or,” said Gold as he joined Tev and Gomez in the center of the bridge, “we could use the da Vinci’s tractor beams to pull the elevator into deep space, so as not to pollute Kharzh’ulla’s oceans.”
Grevesh nodded. “Very clever, Captain. And very wise.”
“If the minister approves,” said Gomez, “shall we make the attempt today?”
“I am not by nature a hasty person, Commander Gomez, but we have delayed enough with the elevator. Time may not be essential, but I would feel more secure with the knowledge that the threat of the falling Ring had been resolved, as would all Kharzh’ullans.”
Gomez smiled. “Then we shall begin preparations here to collapse the elevator, First Minister. If you and Minister Eevraith would care to beam aboard, we would be glad to have you aboard to witness the elevator’s collapse.”
Grevesh nodded. “I would very much like that, Commander Gomez. I hope to give you an answer soon.”
“Of course,” said Gomez. “Da Vinci out.” The viewscreen went dark.
“Well,” said Gold with a sigh, “fine acting job, both of you.”
“Thank you, Captain,” said Gomez.
Tev said, “What is your plan?”
“We’ll place detonators on the elevator shaft as soon as Grevesh gives the world. We’ll also need to coordinate