The Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter [79]
“Status report, Number One,” demanded the captain as he strode out of the ready room.
To the Klingon’s gratification, Picard carried the Pagrashtak with a care and dignity that showed the proper respect for its powers.
Riker rose to his feet, vacating the captain’s chair. “Lieutenant Worf has picked up an automated distress call from Starbase 193.”
At a nod from the first officer, Worf touched his console to release the message. Commander Miyakawa’s voice was coldly factual, but emphatic.
“… is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill. Starbase 193 has been evacuated; do not approach the base; do not attempt to dock. I strongly advise all vessels to leave the sector. This is not a drill. Repeat …”
Worf cut off the repeating loop.
“Why have they evacuated?” demanded Picard.
“No explanation,” said Riker with a shrug of frustration.
After checking another panel of the console, the Klingon shook his head. “Channels are open, but there is still no answer to our hails.”
“Continue contact efforts, Lieutenant.” The captain took his place in the command center and addressed his next spate of orders to the helm. “Set course for a return to Starbase 193.”
Even though he concentrated his visual attention on the tactical station, Worf still listened to the general activity on the bridge Data laid in the new course, Geordi confirmed sufficient power for a sustained warp eight, and Picard sent the Enterprise back toward the starbase.
The deck throbbed beneath Worf’s feet as the high warp speed strained the propulsion engines to near maximum capacity. Within seconds, the faded distress call from Starbase 193 reappeared on the communications console.
“Estimated arrival in four hours and seven minutes,” said Data.
Just under Worf’s tactical station, Picard and Riker were discussing reasons for the unexpected diversion. Their muted voices drifted upward.
“The likeliest explanation is that the station suffered some kind of equipment malfunction,” said Riker.
“But why weren’t we notified? Miyakawa knew our course headings; she could have sent a distress call directly to us if—” A flurry of crimson alarms suddenly tripped across the tactical consoles on the aft deck. From where he stood, Worf could see identical patterns washing over Data’s Ops controls as well.
“Captain,” called out Worf.
“Long-range sensor scans have detected an explosion in the sector.”
The android confirmed the announcement with a sharp nod of his head. “Magnitude of the energy release would be consistent with the detonation of a starbase’s generators.”
“And the base distress call has stopped,” added Worf. All signs of the strengthening signal had disappeared.
“Damn!” exclaimed Riker, jumping to his feet. “We’ll need survival rescue teams, paramedics—” “Hold on that,” said Picard. His order froze the first officer in place. “Lieutenant Worf, are there any other Federation vessels within this quadrant?”
Worf quickly checked the latest position reports from Starfleet Command. “At warp nine, the Portsmouth could reach Starbase 193 in six point five hours; the Plath would take seven hours.”
“Captain!” protested Riker. “Those extra hours could mean the difference between life and death to any people who were on that station.”
“We will have to trust to Commander Miyakawa’s efficiency and assume there was sufficient time for a complete evacuation. If she had wanted the Enterprise to provide assistance, she would have signaled us directly; she intended for us to stay away.”
“But why would—” “I suspect someone destroyed the starbase while in pursuit of the Heart,” said Picard.
“We have become a