The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [45]
“You should have anticipated my needs,” Moset complained. “We have a freighter of Betazoids arriving. This interference is most inconvenient.”
The gul’s gaze zoomed in on Betazed and the unscheduled freighter approaching the station. “Order the freighter to turn back.”
“Let the ship come.” Luaran belayed his order. “According to the Founders’ orders, Moset must have those prisoners.”
Lemec shook his head. “That freighter doesn’t have the embedded ID codes needed to enter the station during combat conditions.”
“You’re saying you’ve raised the shields?” Moset’s voice ascended an octave. “That they can’t dock?”
“Neither can the Federation.” Lemec held his temper and settled for sarcasm. “If we lower the shields, Starfleet might decide to drop in for a visit.”
Moset rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “You’re obsessed with the Federation. I hardly think—”
“Federation forces just destroyed another Jem’Hadar attack ship,” Luaran interrupted.
“Get those weapons back on-line,” Lemec ordered. “Now!”
“No,” Moset protested. “I won’t have power diverted from my experiments.”
“Your experiments are the reason our weapons are down,” Lemec informed Moset. The Dominion and Cardassian forces still had an obvious advantage, so he took his attention from the screen to rebuke the doctor. “If you hadn’t insisted that my engineers set up your equipment instead of completing the weapons repair and upgrade, we’d have the ability to defend ourselves.”
“They are firing phasers at the outer docking ring,” the glinn at tactical reported. “I’ve brought one phaser bank on-line. Shall I return fire?”
“No,” Moset shouted and pointed to the screen and the slow-moving ship from Betazed. “If you fire, you might damage the freighter.”
Lemec glowered at the doctor but enjoyed having the upper hand. Ever since they’d arrived at Sentok Nor, the civilian exobiologist had lorded his position over the gul. He’d used his influence with the Vorta and, as a result, weakened the station’s defensive capabilities. Due to Moset’s interference, the gul had problems on the station, and problems on the planet. Lemec grew thoughtful. He’d just returned from a visit to Betazed, where the natives had had the nerve to exterminate one of their own, right beneath his nose. Then the Federation dropped out of warp to do battle. A good leader had to ask if there was a connection between the incidents.
Unfortunately, Lemec didn’t have enough information to draw a conclusion. He was in charge of tactics, however, and he would demonstrate the unimportance of Moset’s wishes during a Federation attack. “That freighter is carrying Betazoids and a few Jem’Hadar. They’re expendable. Target phasers.”
“Phasers targeted,” said his tactical officer.
“No. Please, don’t shoot,” Moset practically begged, and Lemec took pleasure in every squeal of protest. “A little phaser fire won’t damage the station. I’m at a sensitive stage in my work and need those prisoners right away. I don’t have time to wait for you to round up another group.”
“Is there any way to accommodate the doctor?” the Vorta asked.
“Not without compromising the safety of this station,” Lemec replied.
Moset’s eyes flared with rage. Not bothering to hide his satisfaction, Lemec turned to tactical. “Fi—”
Moset shoved Lemec aside and launched himself over the console. Before Lemec could react, the doctor slapped the control panel. The station’s shields dropped.
In moments, the two Jem’Hadar battle cruisers would fire phased polaron beams at the Enterprise ‘s weakened shields. From aft, two of the Cardassian cruisers recharged their spiral wave disruptors. With shields down to twenty percent, Captain Picard considered his limited maneuvering options, knowing his decision could mean the difference between escape and destruction.
“Captain, the station