The Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter [90]
“According to Commander Miyakawa’s account,” said Riker, “the warbird was still circling Starbase 193 when we broadcast the distress message to the Portsmouth. The Romulans cloaked moments later, and presumably departed the area on an intercept course with the Enterprise.”
Data canted his head to one side as his positronic brain incorporated time and distance into his calculations. “If that is the case, I estimate that the warbird could approach firing range of the Enterprise within seventeen minutes.”
“That’s too close for comfort,” said Riker with an involuntary glance at the main viewscreen.
“Bear in mind, Commander, that this conjecture is based on a theoretical performance rate of one hundred percent. Depending on the degree of efficiency of the ship and its crew, actual values will fall short of that figure.”
“For safety’s sake,” said Picard, “let us presume they are very efficient. Helm, increase speed to warp nine.”
“Aye, sir.” The android swiveled his console chair back into a forward position as he implemented the captain’s directive. Somewhere down in engineering, Geordi had anticipated this demand because the warp engines immediately purred into high speed.
Picard called up to the aft deck next.
“Lieutenant Worf, reduce power expenditures throughout the ship and channel all available energy to the deflector shields.”
Pitching his voice low, so only the captain could hear him, Riker asked, “Do you think we can outrun them, sir?”
“Probably not,” said Picard. “They have too great a lead already. However, cloaking devices are a heavy drain on a warbird’s resources, so we can make them pay a high price for this pursuit. If they stay invisible, they will drain their weaponry system.”
“And if they drop the cloaking field, we have a target we can see.”
“Exactly, Number One.” Picard rubbed a hand over his face, as if to wipe away fatigue, then fixed his gaze on the viewscreen. “The rest is a waiting game.”
At close quarters, Riker could hear a faint rasp in the captain’s voice. Picard’s eyes were rimmed with red, another sign that he hadn’t gotten much rest tonight; but then, if he had been asleep in his cabin when yellow alert sounded, his arrival to the bridge would have been delayed by at least a few more minutes. No, Riker suspected the captain had already been awake when he received the call to duty.
“Captain,” rumbled Worf. “Long-range sensors detect an approaching vessel … intercept in fifteen seconds.”
“Go to red alert, Lieutenant,” said Picard grimly, and in an instant the bridge was bathed in red light.
Riker shook his head in disbelief. “If it’s the Romulans, they’re well ahead of schedule.”
“It appears I was in error,” said Data, looking back over his shoulder. Riker hadn’t intended to slight his estimate, but the android evidently felt the need to justify his miscalculation. “Apparently they have sacrificed the stealth afforded by a cloaking device for speed and strength of arms.”
“Closing at five hundred thousa nd kilometers …” warned Worf.
Riker saw Picard nod to himself, a sign he had chosen his strategy for the coming conflict.
“On my signal,” said the captain, “go to quarter-impulse speed. With luck, they’ll overshoot us by a decade.”
“Four hundred thousand kilometers … three hundred thousand …”
“Now!” said Picard.
The Enterprise’s sudden drop out of high warp drive sent a shudder rippling through the saucer hull. On the main viewscreen, Riker could see the warbird flashing past, but too slowly for warp speed. “Dammit! They’ve second-guessed us.”
“But at full-impulse speed, they still overshot,” said Picard. They watched the Romulan ship as it circled back to confront them. “It gives us a few extra seconds.”
“Phasers locking on target,” announced Worf.
“Fire at will, Lieutenant.”
Riker gripped the arms of his command chair in anticipation of the coming assault.
The Klingon unleashed a barrage from the phasers, but the warbird charged straight through the curtain of fire. Then, as the ships closed, the space between them burned with a dazzling crisscross of