The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [57]
They sprinted out of the operations center, but Lemec didn’t hold much hope for their success. The intruders could have destroyed the manual system as well.
Lemec was already planning his escape. His private ship would take him to Betazed. Although he hated to lose the station, blowing her up was almost worth it to be rid of Moset. Freed of the doctor’s constant interference that disrupted the peace on the surface, Lemec would soon have Betazed—and the annoying resistance—under total control. As for the destruction of the station and the experiments, the fault lay clearly with Moset for dropping the shields and allowing the intruders access.
“How long until the station blows?” Lemec asked.
“Without instruments, I can’t give an exact time,” the engineer said.
“Your best guess?” Lemec asked.
“Ten to twenty minutes.”
Moset suddenly threw his hands into the air. “My research. We have to recover the data from my lab—”
Lemec smiled in satisfaction. “Considering the laboratory with your data is on the docking ring and the turbolifts are down, you won’t make it.”
“Sir, the turbolifts are the only system besides backup-lighting that seems to be functioning.”
“This is not a simple sabotage,” Luaran said. “Whoever has done this knows Cardassian systems.” She looked at Lemec. “It’s possible that one of your own people is giving intelligence to the Federation.”
Lemec bristled at the accusation. “It is also possible that the resistance is aiding Starfleet,” he said in a tight voice.
The science officer asked, “Should I give the order to evacuate?”
Luaran nodded grimly. “Although with communications down, I doubt most will hear it. I will help Moset gather his research. We will reconvene on Betazed.”
Lemec nodded, grateful that the Vorta had not made him responsible for Moset’s research. If her precious Founders thought it was so important, she could damn well be the one to try to get it off the station.
As the gul scrambled toward the turbolift, he hoped that the fool of a doctor and the irritating Vorta were still in the lab gathering his oh-so-precious data when Sentok Nor went up in flames.
Chapter Twelve
D EANNA EYED THE FORCE FIELD across the prison gate that effectively prevented her team from escaping with Tevren. “Main control of the gate is in the administration building.”
“I can return there and cut the power,” Data suggested.
“Go,” Deanna said, “but don’t cut the power. I don’t want to leave the entire prison unshielded. See if you can get the computer to release the gate. Room O-41.”
Data shifted Vaughn off his shoulder and onto the smooth tile of the entryway, then raced in a blur of speed back to the administration building. Deanna paced, waiting for the shield to drop. While Beverly kept an eye on Vaughn, Deanna watched for the approach of the Jem’Hadar squad.
“You have Lanolan’s weapon,” Tevren said, noting the hand phaser on Deanna’s hip. “Give it to me. I can help.”
“Shut up,” she snapped back.
Refusing to consider that Data might be unsuccessful, Deanna peered down the prison road. Although the approaching Jem’Hadar were obscured by a curve, she expected them to burst into view at any moment.
“The force field’s down,” Tevren shouted.
“I said shut up,” Deanna repeated. “We’re waiting for Data.”
“You two go,” Beverly said. “I’ll stay with Vaughn until Data gets back.”
“Won’t do us any good. Data’s the one with the transponder. None of us is going anywhere without him.”
Suddenly Data could be seen sprinting back toward them at inhuman speed. The android replaced Vaughn across his shoulders and followed as Deanna led them through the gate. The group raced around the facility at a dead run. They had almost reached a path that led into the mountains when a blast from a Jem’Hadar rifle shattered a tree branch above Deanna’s head.
“Take cover!” She waved her team behind a large outcropping just off the path. Data slid Vaughn to the ground behind the stone, then took his place beside Deanna. Beverly, phaser poised to fire, crouched at