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Lursa touched the diagram on BEtors small console screen. Magnify this section and enhance.

BEtor worked once more, enlarging the view of the Enterprise graphic. Lursa leaned forward until her face was a hands-breadth from the console arm, and read aloud, squinting. Their shields are operating on a modulation of two-five-seven point four …

She rose, her face flushed, and gazed into BEtors eyes with triumph.

Adjust our torpedo frequency to match, BEtor called out, her voice rising with excitement. Two-five-seven point four! She returned her sisters exultant smile; for with those words, she had just secured the destruction of the Enterprise, and victory for the house of Duras.

ELEVEN

Sir. His cheerful expression now replaced by one of concern, Data swiveled toward Riker. I am detecting an anomalous subspace reading in Main Engineering. It may be

Riker never heard the rest. The ship reeled hard to port, slamming him against the arm of his chair. He held on, managing to turn his head to look at the screen, where the bright glow of the most recent blast was fading to reveal the Bird-of-Prey against the backdrop of Veridian III. As Riker watched, another brilliantly shining torpedo emerged from the Klingon vessel and streaked relentlessly toward the Enterprise.

He barely had time to brace himself before the next one hitwith such thunderous force that when it ended, he felt amazed the hull above them had not been sheared in two.

Over the screaming of the red-alert klaxons, Worf called, They have found a way to penetrate our shields!

Lock phasers and return fire! Riker ordered.

On the screen, the Bird-of-Preys shields flashed as they absorbed the impact of the starships phaser blasts.

A no-win situation, Riker realized, even before he saw the next photon torpedo blazing toward them on the viewscreen. Without shields, the Enterprise would be torn apart.

The ship lurched again beneath his feet; the conn console erupted in a hail of sparks, hurling the conn officer to the deck.

Deanna! Riker shouted. Take the helm. Get us out of orbit!

Troi propelled herself from her chair and raced unsteadily across the rocking deck to the helm. Within seconds, Veridian III disappeared from the viewscreen but the Klingon vessel was in full pursuit. Not enough, Riker knew, as he squinted his eyes at the dazzling glow of another approaching torpedo. Lursa and BEtor had found a way to outwit the Enterprises superior firepower; it was time for Riker to return the favor.

As the ship was jolted again, Data called, his voice bright with panic, Hull breach on decks thirty-one through thirty-five!

Worf! Riker paused and braced himself as yet another hit rocked the bridge; overhead, the lights flickered. Thats an old Klingon ship. What do we know about it? Are there any weaknesses?

Worf clutched his console and held on as the ship rolled. It is a Class D-twelve Bird-of-Prey. They were retired from service because of defective plasma coils.

Plasma coils? Is there any way we can use that to our advantage?

I do not see how, Worf replied. The plasma coil is part of their cloaking device.

Data. Riker wheeled toward him with sudden inspiration. Wouldnt a defective plasma coil be susceptible to some kind of ionic pulse?

Perhaps … Data frowned, considering it, then brightened with enthusiasm. Yes! If we sent a low-level ionic pulse, it might reset the coil and trigger their cloaking device. Excellent idea, sir.

Worf nodded, on to the idea. As their cloak begins to engage, their shields will drop.

Right, Riker said. And theyll be vulnerable for at least two seconds. He glanced at the android. Data, lock on to that plasma coil.

No problem, Data answered, confident. He hurried over to a bulkhead, removed a panel, and began rerouting circuitry at inhuman speed.

Worf. Riker turned to the Klingon. Prepare a spread of photon torpedoes. Well have to hit them the instant they begin to cloak.

Aye, sir. Worf began to work his