Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [77]
Asylum.
Chapter Eleven
Picard and Batanides entered the main shuttlebay, which currently held a pair of type-9 personnel shuttlecraft in the flight deck, though neither was powered up at the moment. No other officers were present on the deck, which was as Picard had expected; at Batanides’s request, he had ordered the shuttlebay cleared. Apart from the two shuttles, the cavernous hangar was seemingly empty. Their footfalls reverberated loudly across the deck.
The Romulan scout ship was nowhere to be seen, which was also as Picard expected; it was cloaked, also at the admiral’s request.
Picard deplored having to take these sorts of precautions, but he understood their occasional necessity. During the trip back to the Enterprise, Batanides had made it clear to Commander Roget that his officers weren’t to speak to anyone about the scoutship. Given the fragile complexities of Chiarosan geopolitics, Picard thought her mandate for discretion was probably the wisest course. And despite his reticence about illegally operating a cloaking device, Picard nevertheless thought it prudent to give the Romulan vessel as low a profile as possible while it was aboard the Enterprise.
Picard tapped his combadge. “Number One, two to beam aboard the scoutship.”
“Acknowledged, Captain,” came the reply.
A moment later, Picard and Batanides stood in the small Romulan engine room, where Data, La Forge, and Zweller labored over a partially disassembled computer core. The three officers noted the presence of Picard and Batanides, but went back to their work after the captain made a subtle “as you were” gesture.
Riker, who was standing nearby, approached Picard and Batanides.
“Progress report, Number One,” Picard said.
“First, we’ve managed to stop the flow of tetryons from the warp core.”
“Good,” Picard said. “Those emissions might have defeated the purpose of activating the cloaking device.”
Batanides looked thoughtful. “This ship makes me wonder about something Ruardh said about the referendum.”
“What do you mean?” Picard said.
“I mean that if the outcome really could hinge on our producing proof that the Romulans are really the ones who are up to no good here…” Batanides made a broad gesture encompassing the entire room, then said, “…well, what more proof do we need than this ship?”
Zweller approached, shaking his head. “If we try to use this ship to prove that the Romulans have been backing the rebels, I think it’ll strike most Chiarosans as a bit too convenient.”
“How so?” Batanides said.
“I took a moment to review the electoral poll data,” Zweller said. “The Chiarosan electorate is a skeptical lot. Most of the voting populace thinks we’re so desperate, that we’d say or do just about anything in order to win them over now.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Picard said.
Batanides shook her head. “Very well. But I think you may be punting too early in the game.”
“Admiral, I think we have to look at the big picture here very carefully,” Picard said. “We mustn’t forget that the election is only a small part of the Romulans’ real agenda. I suspect that what they’re really after remains hidden elsewhere in the Chiaros system.”
“You mean behind the energy field,” Riker said, as La Forge and Data set aside their task and approached.
“Exactly, Number One. We may have to accept that the referendum is already lost. Therefore that ship will provide a tactical advantage rather than a political one.”
“You want to keep it in reserve,” La Forge said, smiling. “A ‘hole card.’”
“That’s right,” Picard said to the engineer. “And I want you and Data to find a way to play that card to our best advantage. We can use this ship to see what the Romulans are up to behind that energy barrier. And perhaps, if necessary, to put a stop to it.”
Batanides didn’t look entirely convinced. “If the referendum is already lost, then two days is all we have. That’s pretty slim timing.”
“We’ve done more with a great deal less,” Picard said.
“I must point out,