String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [134]
“Commander,” Neelix said.
“Get down to sickbay, Neelix,” Chakotay ordered. “Tell the Doctor to prepare for casualties. Boarding this godforsaken place was almost a disaster. I don’t expect we’ll have an easy time on the way out either.”
“Yes, sir,” Neelix snapped, heading immediately for the turbolift.
Taking his seat next to the captain’s chair, he opened a comm channel to the entire ship.
“Three minutes remaining,” the computer said.
“This is Commander Chakotay to all hands. We are ready to depart the array. Red alert.”
As the bridge was bathed in the pulsing red glow of the emergency lights, B’Elanna said, “Commander, the tractor net controls that run along the outer edge of the docking bay are still active. We haven’t tried to disable them yet, but I believe we should do so before we attempt to leave.”
“Why would we do that?” Chakotay asked.
“Once we initiate our separation from the docking bay, our link with the array’s systems will disconnect. If the tractor controls should be activated automatically or by anyone else before we clear the bay, we won’t be able to pull free and maintain our exit vector, and once our link is terminated we won’t have any control over the tractor system.”
Chakotay weighed the pros and cons. Since the entire array was going to be dust in a matter of moments, he didn’t think it mattered one way or the other.
“Can we target them from here?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” Seven replied. “Their coordinates are locked in and phasers are ready.”
Chakotay was about to order Seven to fire when the most unexpected of voices cut softly through the tension enveloping the bridge.
“That would be most unwise, Commander,” Tuvok said, emerging from the turbolift.
Chakotay’s head snapped toward him, along with the head of every other bridge crewman present.
“Tuvok,” he whispered, then spoke up, saying, “the captain said you were dead.”
“She had good reason to believe I would be the last time we spoke,” the Vulcan replied with characteristic restraint. “But as you can see, she was mistaken.”
“Are you fit to return to duty?” Chakotay asked.
“I would not be here were I otherwise,” Tuvok replied.
Chakotay shook his head, a faint smile crossing his lips. He and Tuvok had never been the best of friends, but at this moment he was struck by how much he’d missed him over the past few days.
“Take your station,” Chakotay said. “Seven, replace Collins at ops.”
“Two minutes remaining,” the computer reported.
Seven complied as Chakotay continued, “So why shouldn’t we destroy the tractor net controls now?”
“Because if we do so, we will not be able to safely leave the array,” Tuvok replied. “The tractor net functions as a guidance system, shepherding vessels along the singularity’s event horizon. Our navigational systems are not sophisticated enough to calculate the required course adjustments, nor could the most skilled pilot successfully plot the appropriate course. It is one of many safety features created for this array and will activate automatically when we cross the docking bay’s threshold.”
Chakotay thought back to his conversation with Assylia and her conviction that the creatures had brought Voyager safely on board.
“How do you know that?” Chakotay asked.
“It is one of many things I learned from the life-forms who first brought me to the array,” Tuvok replied without a hint of remorse.
“Did they tell you that they were responsible for our safe arrival?” Chakotay asked.
“Yes, Commander,” Tuvok replied. “Assylia briefly disrupted the automated system when Voyager approached the array. They were able to counter her efforts only moments before the ship’s imminent destruction.”
“I hope you thanked them for us, Tuvok,” Chakotay replied, resuming his seat.
“I did, Commander,” Tuvok replied.
“Transporter room to the bridge,” Clayton’s voice announced.
“Go ahead, Ensign,” Chakotay replied.
“Commander, there is a highly localized subspace dissonance field forming in section fifty-seven epsilon of the array’s second ring,” she informed him.
Kathryn, Chakotay