Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [55]
Batanides put a supportive hand on his shoulder. “At least you won’t have to make any precipitous decisions without a higher-up on board. Whatever we decide to do, I’ll be the one who has to answer to Starfleet Command.”
Picard looked over at her, and saw a wan smile on her lips. Through her cool exterior, he could sense her grief. He searched for something to say in reply, when his combadge chirped, followed by Data’s voice. “Captain, we’ve just received another transmission from Chiaros IV.”
“Ruardh?”
“No, sir. It came on a Starfleet frequency. And it appears to be from Commander Cortin Zweller.”
Picard, Batanides, and Dr. Crusher entered the bridge quickly. Hawk was busy at the conn station, while Data stood before one of the science consoles, working alongside the Vulcan technician, K’rs’lasel. The Vulcan spoke first, facing the captain. “Sir, I intercepted a subspace signal moments ago. It was very brief, but I believe it was intended for us. The signal contained a Starfleet identification code belonging to Commander Zweller.”
“The subspace burst was weak, but we have managed to salvage most of it over the past three minutes,” Data added. “It appears to contain several adjacent sets of coordinates located on the Nightside of Chiaros IV. It also contained a garbled message about security-grid forcefields, the significance of which I have yet to ascertain. In addition, the transmission mentioned the word ‘prisoners’ very prominently, as well as a stardate which will occur five hours, fifty-seven minutes from now.”
Picard smiled broadly as hope welled up within his chest. “He’s telling us that he’s their prisoner,” he said to Batanides. “And that he needs our help.”
“Captain, the message could be a ruse,” Batanides said, her voice pitched low enough so that only Picard, Data, and K’rs’lasel could have heard it. “They may have tortured Zweller to gain access to his command codes.”
Picard looked at Batanides, then at Crusher. He shook his head. “Somehow, I don’t believe that the rebels would do that. And if Troi were here, I think she would concur.”
“The Chiarosan rebels might not be the ones doing the torturing, Captain,” Crusher said. She didn’t need to finish that thought for him to know exactly what she meant.
Picard weighed the options in his mind. Zweller might indeed be a prisoner, and might have found the means-somehow- to send that signal. On the other hand, the message may have originated either from the Chiarosan rebels or from the Romulans. Even Ruardh’s people could have sent the signal, as a catalyst to force Picard’s hand.
And yet, Corey is still down on the planet. And so are Riker, Troi, and heaven only knows how many survivors from the Slayton.
Then Picard made his decision, and it felt right, somehow inevitable. His jaw set in determination, he began giving orders. “Mr. Data, I want you to pinpoint as close as you can the coordinates that signal gave us.” He turned to address the blond officer who was monitoring a sensor display near the rear of the bridge. “Mr. Daniels, prepare the shuttlecraft Kepler for passage through the planet’s atmosphere. I’ll need the shields operating at maximum efficiency, and I want as much firepower on board as possible.” He sincerely hoped he would not be called upon to use it.
“Aye, sir,” Daniels said, then strode purposefully into the starboard turbolift.
“Sounds like you’re planning a rescue operation, Johnny,” Batanides said, smiling.
Picard gestured toward Crusher. “Nothing overly aggressive, Admiral. Just myself and the doctor. There may be wounded at those Nightside coordinates who will require her attention.”
“There’ll be three of us in that shuttle,” Batanides said, her tone and posture brooking no argument.
Picard nodded, knowing that there were some battles he couldn’t hope to win. “All right,” he said. “But we must leave quickly. The message’s time reference could mean that we