Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [57]
Were only going to get one shot at this, Riker continued. Target their primary reactor. With any luck, their warp core should explode.
I have accessed their coil frequency, Data called, from his supine position on the deck. Initiating ionic pulse …
The bridge reeled once more. Riker held on, bowing his head as the aft console exploded, raining smoke and debris. Make it quick …!
A moment earlier on the Bird-of-Preys bridge, BEtor smiled, intoxicated with triumph, at her older sister.
Soran had proved himself a worthy ally; not only had he given them a weapon of incredible power, he had also come up with the plan which would now provide them with the added pleasure of destroying the Enterprise. Who would dare stand up to them now? BEtor allowed herself a fleeting daydream: Herself, white-haired and wrinkled, telling again to her kinsmen and followers the story of how she and her late sister had, with nothing more than an ancient Bird-of-Prey, destroyed the great Galaxy-class starship …
The deck rocked slightly beneath her feet. She glanced over at the helmsman, who quickly reported, Minor damage to the port nacelle. Our shields are holding.
Her smile widened. Fire at will …
She watched with unutterable delight as the torpedoes found their target, scarring the gleaming metal of the Enterprises hull. You were wise to tell your captain not to trust us, Commander Riker. Are you contemplating your own words now?
Beside her, Lursa laughed softly in pure enjoyment.
Target their bridge.
Full disruptors, BEtor added. They had savored their advantage long enough; time now to make a clean, swift kill.
The navigator released a soft yelp, one full of such mortal surprise that BEtor whirled swiftly in her chair, her euphoria turned abruptly to unease.
The navigator looked up at her, his eyes wide with panic. We are cloaking!
What? BEtor gasped.
Mistress! the helmsman cried. Our shields are down!
There was no time for her to issue an order; merely to stare, stunned, at the viewscreen, which showed a pack of torpedoes streaking toward them, then to share a final gaze of stunned defeat with her sister.
The bridge shuddered beneath the blows, which came so fast and hard that BEtor could not keep her balance, could not remain in her chair, but fell, clawing for purchase, to the deck. Around her, consoles exploded into flame, bodies flew, men screamed; and then a rumble began, deep in the ships belly, one that grew until the deck beneath her trembled, until the very teeth in her skull chattered. She knew by instinct that the warp core had begun to implode, that there was no chance of survival. She and the ship and everyone on it would be reduced to dust.
Even so, she felt no sorrowit would be a good death, a warriors deathonly deep frustration at having come so close to victory, and a good amount of irritation at a human called William Riker.
Riker shielded his eyes against the blinding flash on the viewscreen as the Bird-of-Prey dissolved into spinning debris.
Yes! Data crowed, exultant.
Riker wasted no time celebrating, but pressed his signaling comm badge.
La Forge to bridge. Commander, Ive got a problem down here. The magnetic interlocks have been ruptured.
I need to get the
There came a hissing sound, as if the link had dissolved into faint static. Riker frowned. Mr. La Forge …?
In the background, he heard Geordi shout, Coolant leak! Everybody out! There followed the sounds of people scrambling, shouting.
Bridge! Geordi called in a voice sharply urgent and breathless from running. Weve got a new problem. Were about five minutes from a warp-core breach. Theres nothing I can do.
Understood, Riker said. He hesitatedan instant, no morethen turned toward the helm. Deanna, evacuate everyone into the saucer section. Mr. Data, prepare to separate the ship.
He moved to the captains chair with a sense of cold unreality, and grimly pressed the control that sounded the alarm he had hoped never to hear except in drills.
Beneath the shelter of a tree, Picard paused to make sure Soran was absorbed in his work, then