The Garden - Melissa Scott [87]
"Just coming through." The line appeared on the main screen, curving over the surface of Chakotay's globe toward the cross that marked the rendezvous site. "It'll take them there," Kim went on, "but it's not the most efficient use of power. They're coming in
too high in the atmosphere, they'll have to brake dynamically to make the landing."
"But it lets them change course up until the last seconds," Janeway said, and saw Chakotay nod, the same knowledge reflected in his eyes. "Chakotay, get our people back on board. Mr. Kim, raise Adamant."
"No response from the citadel," Kim answered. "They've gone to full shields there, and I can't even get a transmission through."
"Work on it," Janeway said. She wished, suddenly and violently, that her security officer and her best pilot weren't still on the surface, but shoved the thought aside.
"The transporter chief reports that the ion field has strengthened," Chakotay said. "She's having to bring Paris's party up two at a time."
"Right." Janeway stared at the screen, watching the red wedge of the Andirrim shuttle crawl along the course line. "Keep trying to raise Adamant, or Tuvok."
"I'm sorry, Captain," Kim said, "but I can't break through their shield."
"Try an overfocused beam," Chakotay suggested, moving to look over the younger man's shoulder. "We'll lose visual, but maybe voice can get through."
"Captain!" Kim said. "The Andirrim ship is hailing us."
"Put it on the main screen," Janeway said, "and keep trying to reach the surface."
The other images, planet and globe and the bright lines of the shuttle's projected course, disappeared, replaced by Nal Sii'an's scaled face. Behind him, another Andirrim, darker-skinned, with a rich purple mane, bent over a display table filled with fuzzy shapes, but the transmission blurred them beyond recognition.
"Captain," Nal Sii'an said. "I have a proposition for you and your ship."
"Captain," Kim said, his voice urgent, and Jane-way risked a glance over her shoulder.
"What?"
"The Andirrim are blanketing all transmissions from Voyager. We've lost all contact with the surface."
"The transporter chief reports that she's retrieved everyone except Paris and Renehan," Chakotay announced. "And of course Tuvok's party."
Janeway looked back at the screen. "And what's the meaning of this?"
Nal Sii'an smiled, showing white and pointed teeth. The Andirrim had clearly evolved from a carnivore species, Janeway thought, and then was annoyed at its irrelevance. "As I said, we have a proposition for you, Captain Janeway. You came here to trade-you are trading, it seems, so you know the habits of the Kirse, and the prices Adamant charges. I propose an alternative."
"Such as?" Janeway's mouth was dry, but she made herself meet the Andirrim's gaze with what she hoped was regal indifference.
"Join us as we raid." Nal Sii'an leaned forward slightly, red eyes bright. "Together we can take far more than either of us could alone, and you will save whatever outrageous price the Kirse has charged you. We will divide the spoils evenly, ship by ship, and together we can deal the Kirse a defeat they won't soon forget."
"We keep our bargains," Janeway answered. "The answer is no."
"Then we will treat you as one of the Kirse," Nal Sii'an said.
"You'll regret any attack on this vessel," Janeway
said. There was no harm in bluffing, not at this point, and every second's delay meant that Kim might resolve the transmission problem and be able to warn the Kirse. "We are a Federation starship, we've come unimaginable distances to trade here. After that, do you think we'd stand for any interference with our affairs?"
She saw Nal Sii'an blink, the white membranes momentarily obscuring his eyes, but then the Andirrim shook his head. "No. You are known to the Kazon-Ogla, and they call you solitary."
"Would