The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [47]
“It’s a trick.”
“Really?” Luaran shook her head. “Do long-range sensors indicate a fleet of Federation ships ready to sweep down on us?”
“No, but—”
“Didn’t you tell me our ships outnumbered them?”
“Yes, but—”
“Don’t we have superior firepower?”
“Yes, but—”
“Tell them we accept—”
Alarms suddenly rang out.
“Status?” the gul asked.
“We’re picking up a transporter signal.”
“Shields up,” he snapped.
Since his precious freighter had already docked, Moset didn’t protest.
“It’s too late, sir,” the science officer explained. “They’ve already beamed aboard.”
“Raise shields, Mr. Daniels, and fire at will,” Picard barked. “Perim, evasive maneuvers!”
As the battle was joined again following the successful insertion of Riker’s away team, Picard spared a moment to admire how well his crew had performed thus far. With the Federation forces stretched so thin, Picard had bargained with Starfleet to keep his senior officers by offering his lower-ranking crewmen to other ships. Now with most of his experienced officers on away missions, he’d been forced into battle primarily with wet-behind-the-ears ensigns and newly graduated Starfleet cadets. The situation aboard the Scimitar and Tulwar was no better. Under the leadership of experienced captains, personnel aboard the Saber-class ships were mostly rookies, too. In wartime, the neophytes would learn quickly or they wouldn’t survive. The manner in which the inexperienced crew had conducted themselves up to now made hope surge within him. Under the most difficult of circumstances, they had obeyed orders, risking their lives without question.
Picard’s initial gamble of surrendering to the Jem’Hadar had paid off, but greater challenges lay ahead.
Within the tactical inset on the viewscreen, Picard saw that the Scimitar and Tulwar had broken formation and were each savagely strafing a Cardassian cruiser with concentrated bursts of phaser fire off the stern of the Enterprise.
Softening them up, Picard realized. If he acted quickly—
“Lock aft torpedo launchers,” the captain snapped. “Full spread. Fire!”
As the Saber-class vessels veered away, pinpoints of red destruction fanned out from ports on the Enterprise ‘s stern, catching the overwhelmed Cardassian cruisers across the bows. One of the enemy ships erupted in a burst of light and debris. The other listed to starboard as small explosions ruptured the hull along its port side.
There was no time to savor the victory; the Enterprise shook again under enemy fire.
“Shields at fifteen percent, sir,” Daniels called out. “Jem’Hadar ships are moving to intercept. Captain, I think they intend to ram us.”
That won’t do. Picard studied the tactical inset, then glanced at the chronometer. It was going to be close.
“Stay on course,” Picard ordered. “Increase speed. Maximum impulse.”
Perim glanced over her shoulder. “Sir, the Jem’Hadar ships—”
“Follow my orders, Ensign,” Picard said calmly. “Full impulse.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” Picard could hear the tremor in Perim’s voice, but was pleased to see her hands move quickly to execute his order. And as she did, the first of the Jem’Hadar warships swept toward them.
Chapter Ten
R IKER, L A F ORGE, O’B RIEN, and a security detail of six beamed into an access tunnel of Sentok Nor’s upper core near a panel that, the chief was certain, opened into the station’s security office. Calling on the vast knowledge of Cardassian technology he’d gained on Deep Space 9, O’Brien had selected the insertion point. Like those of its sister station, Sentok Nor’s eighteen-plus kilometers of access tunnels were effectively shielded not only from electromagnetic interference, but also, and more importantly for this mission, from active scanning beams.
“Unless Cardassian sensors have improved significantly,” O’Brien said, “the station’s security force will have a hell of a time finding us, especially if we keep moving.”
“They know we’re here,” Riker said. “Sensors in ops will have picked up our transporter signals. We have to assume Cardassian and Jem