String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [53]
“Captain,” B’Elanna’s voice interrupted her thoughts, “I can’t activate the warp engine. I’m locked out of the control system.”
“What?” Janeway demanded, attempting to rise from her seat.
But she didn’t get an answer to her implied question. A moment later the ship was struck hard by an unknown force, and instantly the viewscreen was bathed in a deep green glow. Simultaneously, the tumultuous jarring ride they had endured since crossing the event horizon ended, and with the help of the inertial dampers, the ship resumed a calm, smooth course.
“Mr. Kim, what happened?” Janeway asked, certain that he was already searching for the answer she was seeking.
“We’re caught in a tractor net, Captain. It’s coming from the array. We’re being pulled into one of the docking bays.”
Relief battled with concern as she considered this development. On the one hand, it was an entirely unexpected reprieve. For all she knew, it might be the only way to safely enter the array. On the other hand, she instinctively hated turning over control of her vessel to unseen hands.
“Harry, can you show me where we’re headed?”
Instantly the view of a docking bay came up on the screen. Janeway noted with some alarm that the entrance glistened with a faint blue forcefield, but she could only assume that if the tractor beam had been automatically activated, the station’s controls would also drop the force field as they approached. A moment later, her suspicion was confirmed, as the field blinked out of existence.
An eerie calm settled over the bridge. The alarms had been silenced, the smoke had cleared. All they could do now was wait.
Chapter 7
The bridge was silent. Janeway watched with an unmistakable sense of foreboding as Voyager cleared the entrance to the docking bay, and came to rest within its cavernous depths. She was so accustomed to facing the unknown with stoic faith in her crew’s ability to overcome any challenge presented that she didn’t even flinch at the heavy metallic clanging of alien docking clamps securing Voyager to the docking bay. She did, however, involuntarily release a faint sigh of relief as the bright green web that had drawn them here finally flickered out of existence, leaving the main viewscreen lit by only the faint bluish glow of the bay.
She was the first to speak.
“Status, Mr. Kim?”
“The docking clamps are secure and the forcefield has been restored. Damage reports are coming in now. Impulse engines and shield generators are offline.”
“Chakotay?”
“A few minor injuries, none life-threatening.”
“Ensign Kim, do we have a lock on Tuvok’s life signs?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Janeway to Tuvok, do you read?”
She held her breath, awaiting Tuvok’s reply.
None came.
“Voyager to Lieutenant Tuvok… if you are receiving this transmission, I order you to respond,” Janeway said more forcefully.
Again, no reply.
“Janeway to transporter room one,” Janeway called over the comm.
“Transporter room one reporting.”
“Lock on to Lieutenant Tuvok and transport him directly to sickbay.”
There was a brief moment of silence as she waited for confirmation of the successful transport.
“Transporter room one to Captain Janeway.”
“Go ahead.”
“Transport failed. We can’t establish a lock.”
Janeway rose from her seat.
“What’s wrong?”
Throughout this exchange, Seven of Nine had been busy at tactical. “I believe I may have an answer, Captain,” she said in her maddeningly calm voice.
Janeway closed the distance between herself and Seven in a few quick steps and examined the readings.
Seven began to speak as Janeway reached her. “There is a mineral compound of unknown origin contained within the metal that comprises over ninety percent of the station. It acts as a natural barrier to our transporters. It seems designed to repel any directed energy beams, including those used for the transfer of matter.”
Fascinating as all of this was, Janeway refused to be sidetracked for long.
“Would