Synthesis - James Swallow [90]
Rager shook her head, anticipating the captain’s next words. “No improvement, sir. If anything, the fog’s getting denser.” She gestured at her panel. “Scanners are throwing up a storm of false readings and ghost returns. We’re really in the thick.”
He nodded gravely. “Do what you can.” Will stepped away and turned toward Lieutenant Pazlar “Melora, tie in your processing systems to the main sensors. If you can filter down the noise, we might be able to find our people.”
“Aye, sir,” responded the Elaysian, leaning in to punch out a series of commands.
“We don’t know that Tuvok and the others were still in the engagement zone,” said Deanna, offering a hopeful thought toward her husband’s unspoken question. “They may have got clear before the Null fully manifested.”
Vale nodded. “Even if they lost the shuttle, they could have made it to the tanker with McCreedy and the tech team.”
Rager turned in her chair before Will could answer. “Captain, we’re being hailed.” A complex string of binary code chattered over the comm channel.
“On speaker,” he ordered.
A familiar mechanical feminine voice issued out. “Unit Identifier: Cyan-Gray. Active mobile. Interrogative: What is your status, Titan?”
“We are…” Will paused. “Our status is nominal,” he concluded.
Deanna thought she detected something like relief in the reply. “Thank you for your assistance, William-Riker. My shipframe sustained severe systemic damage from the Null attack. I estimate my survival rating was less than twenty-four-point-two percent prior to your intervention.”
“Glad we could help.” She heard him say the words, but Deanna sensed the hollow ring to them.
“Interrogative: Where is your scout vessel?”
“We’re looking for it right now. Can you help us?”
There was a momentary pause. “Affirmative. I will remain in this zone to support you in recovery of your missing crewmem—” The signal abruptly broke up into static, just as a warning tone sounded from the tactical console.
“We’ve got company,” said Keru. “Seven… no, eight Sentry craft moving in from the far side of the engagement zone on intercept vectors.”
“Whatever they want, they’re breaking in on the open channel,” Rager told them. “Cyan-Gray has been cut out of the circuit.”
“Weapons?” asked Vale. On the screen, the AI ships were visible now, moving in quick, darting motions.
Keru shook his head. “They’re not targeting us, but I do read active prefire chambers on all ships. The hammer’s back, even if the finger’s not on the trigger.”
Deanna saw Will stiffen, his hands drawing tight. “What now?” he said quietly.
The ships on the screen were a mix of types: silvery raptorlike craft that vaguely resembled something Romulan, vessels that appeared to be made entirely of octagonal solar panels, and a large elliptical form bristling with fans of antennae. The ovoid ship caught the sunlight and flashed amber-bronze. A thick band of crimson circled the vessel’s prow as it turned to present itself to the Titan.
“Your presence is not required here!” The strident voice crackled through the bridge’s hidden speakers. “You will leave immediately.”
“Red-Gold,” said Deanna, recognizing the Sentry’s arrogant tenor.
“We came to render whatever help we could,” said Will, iron beneath his words. “Our people were in danger, and so were yours. We couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
“You were told to remain at the spacedock. Organics have no business becoming involved in Sentry matters. You were not authorized to bring your vessel to this location!”
“If we hadn’t,” snapped Vale, “the Null would be chewing its way through that planet down there right now!”
“You should not have come here,” came the reply, and Deanna knew the meaning went deeper than just the Titan’s dispatch of the Null. “The incursion would have been dealt with in due process. Your continued interference in our affairs will not be tolerated.