The Children of Hamlin - Carmen Carter [6]
Sometimes the search turned deadly.
With shields raised and weapons primed, Enterprise dropped out of warp speed in a dazzling screech of light and coasted toward the battle site.
“Mr. Data, what do you make of that blue aura?” demanded the captain, studying the clouded figure of the USS Ferrel and its attacker.
“Blue?” exclaimed Geordi. “Looks more like a riot of color to me.”
The comment reminded Picard of how radically the pilots visor transformed Geordi’s vision to cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
“It’s some kind of fluctuating energy field,” said Data as the ship’s computers displayed a readout on his ops console. “Purpose unknown, but its effects appear to be of limited range.”
“Captain, I still can’t raise either ship,” announced Yar. “All communications channels are silent.”
“The Ferrel may be unable to respond,” said Data. “Its control systems appear to be inoperative or barely functional.”
“Mr. La Forge, set a direct course for the hostile,” ordered Picard tersely. He had only a few seconds in which to decide his course of action against the unfamiliar alien vessel. The explorer in him was exhilarated by the thought of a possible first contact, but as a Starfleet commander his first duty was to defend a fellow starship and the Ferrel was definitely on the losing side of its struggle. “Prepare to fire phasers at my next command. Perhaps a change in the odds will deter the Ferrel’s assailant from continuing its attack.”
Tasha Yar signaled Worf from the aft stations to the tactical console and the two officers divided defense and assault responsibilities with short telegraphic gestures.
Picard tensed. “Fire phasers,” he said.
Lieutenant Worf splayed broad hands over the surface of the weapons console. Each twitch of a finger triggered a phaser blast from the underbelly of the Enterprise. Most of the pulses dispersed harmlessly into space, but two hit squarely on target.
The effect was immediate. The blurred haze enveloping the two battling ships vanished, revealing the ravages of their conflict. The large saucer section of the Constellation-class starship was distorted, its frame twisted and warped. Hovering close beside the Ferrel, apparently undamaged, was a densely packed cluster of spheres, translucent orange in color. The ships were of an equal size, but the Enterprise dwarfed them both.
“Open hailing frequencies, Lieutenant Yar.” Picard rose from his command chair. “This is Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the USS Enterprise. Identify your vessel.” He waited patiently as the seconds passed. Riker moved silently to his side as the silence continued.
“No response,” concluded Yar at last.
“No verbal response,” said Data. “But they are reacting.” He was the first to detect movement from the cluster.
The irregular mass of the alien ship had no discernible features that marked one end of the structure from another, but the entire group of spheres had started to revolve slowly on an internal axis. As the back side of the ship rolled into view, one spot of deep purple appeared nestled amid the orange. The rotation accelerated, whipping the odd-colored bubble out of sight, then back again.
Still spinning, the ship began to float toward the Enterprise.
Picard signaled another communications broadcast. “Alien vessel, if you do not respond, your approach will be considered a hostile action.”
The cluster did not slow its progress.
“I would have preferred a nonviolent conclusion to this conflict,” admitted Picard in a whispered aside to his first officer. “But it seems this life form doesn’t share my view. So be it.” His dropping hand signaled Lieutenant Worf to release another round of phaser fire.
A cascade of disrupting beams raked over the approaching ship. The surface of the spheres crackled and sparked, but only for the split second of actual contact. When the glow of the phasers had faded, the bubbles were intact. Worf loosed another volley, to no greater visible effect.
“Evasive action,” ordered Picard tersely.
Geordi La Forge sent his hands dancing over the console and the Enterprise