The Garden - Melissa Scott [75]
"Aye, Captain," Torres answered, and cut the connection.
One good thing about the Kirse, she thought, ma-
terializing on Voyager less than fifteen minutes after her conversation with the ship, they didn't believe in unnecessary social amenities. Silver-Hammer had accepted her departure with equanimity, and without the niceties that would surround, say, a Klingon departure. Torres grinned at the thought, then smoothed her expression as she approached the ready-room door. "Captain? It's Torres."
"Come in."
The door slid open on Janeway's words, and Torres stepped into the room, not surprised to see both Chakotay and Tuvok sitting at the table as well as the captain.
"So," Janeway continued, "you think you've found us a way to have our cake and eat it, too?"
Torres blinked, then remembered the human metaphor. "I think so," she answered. "My data's already in the computer, undergoing final analysis, but I'm pretty sure I have the answer. The Kirse transporter isn't that different from ours-the primary problems are ones of resolution-and I can see at least two ways to adapt our system to their ends. However, because the Kirse don't have much metal-a lot of what I thought was metal is metallic ceramic or composite-we will have to provide them with some components from our supplies." She grinned then, unable to suppress her own pleasure at the tidy solution.
Janeway lifted an eyebrow. "I take it you've worked out a way around the problem you yourself pointed out?"
Torres nodded. "It's actually really simple." She reached for her datapadd, triggered the file of notes and sketches she had made on the planet, and swung it to face Janeway. "All right, the transporter components can't be made of ceramic or composite, given
the field resonances involved-that's one of the problems the Kirse have been having getting their system up and running. And we can't afford to sell them our only spare parts, the only spare parts in the whole Delta Quadrant. But-" She touched the datapadd's screen again, bringing up the final sketch. "-if we cannibalize some of our isolinear optical chips, we can convert them to transporter components for the Kirse, and replace them with composite copies. Kirse technology is more than capable of doing that. So we don't lose any spare parts."
"Will the composites function as well as the originals?" Janeway asked.
"That's what I'm testing now," Torres answered. "But the preliminary calculations indicate that they will-maybe even better."
Janeway looked at Tuvok. "Do you see any objections?"
"From a security standpoint, no," the Vulcan answered. "Nor from any other. May I say I think Lieutenant Torres has found an elegantly practical solution?"
"I agree," Chakotay said.
Janeway smiled. "As it happens, gentlemen, so do I. But I appreciate your testimonials. Very well, Lt. Torres, let's see what the final analysis says, but unless it turns up something very much unexpected, consider yourself commended."
"Thank you, Captain," Torres said. She paused. "There is one thing, though."
The smile faded from Janeway's face, and Torres hid a grimace. "Oh?"
Torres nodded. "The Kirse seem to make substantial use of implanted technology to control their system. Almost to the extent of making them part of it."
There was a little silence, and then Janeway said, "Go on."
Torres took a deep breath, and launched into a description of what she had seen, of the transporter controlled from the silver disk embedded in the flesh of Silver-Hammer's hand. She kept her voice steady, pleased that she managed to finish without betraying too much of the visceral revulsion she had felt at the sight. "I'm mentioning this because it's something we didn't know before," she said at last. "I don't know if it makes a difference."
"Are you saying they're like the Borg?" Chakotay asked.
"No." Torres shook her head emphatically, surprised at her own certainty. "But not like us, either."
"We use implants," Janeway observed. "Medical