The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [92]
“Stand by, Mr. La Forge. Captain to Transporter Room Two.”
“Aye, sir. Dodson here.”
“Dodson, confer with Chief Engineer La Forge about getting Commander Riker and Counselor Troi off the Krann flagship. I want you two working hand in glove.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Picard out.” He turned to Worf. “Mr. Worf, please return to the bridge. Kindly send my apologies to Presider Hek and inform him that our arrival aboard the flagship will be delayed indefinitely.”
“I’m sure he already knows that, sir.”
“I’m certain he does, too, Lieutenant. Nevertheless, let’s play the hand out. I also think I know why we haven’t been able to locate Commander Data and Ensign Ro. I’ll bet the capital’s been ‘gray-zoned’ by the Krann, everywhere but Government House, in order to distract us. Mr. Worf, I want a search party to go down and look for the two of them on a line between the bomb shelter and Government House.”
“Government House, sir?”
“Yes. If I know Data, he’ll reason that Government House is probably the safest place to be in the entire city. I just hope he and Ro evaded harm on their way there.”
Worf braced. “Permission to lead the search party, Captain,” he said formally.
“Granted. Use a shuttlecraft, Mr. Worf. This one’s ready to go. We have to assume that all our communication frequencies are subject to jamming at will by the Krann, which makes the transporter nearly useless. I’ll have the bridge advise the Lethanta that someone’s coming down. Don’t take too long at this.” Picard smiled slightly. “This is one of those times when I really do need you to be in two places at once. I’ll be in Transporter Room Two if you need me.”
The Klingon nodded. “Aye, sir.” He turned and quickly left the shuttlebay to organize his team.
“Damn!” Riker exclaimed as he and Troi came to a sudden stop. “Dead end.” He looked around quickly. There was one door, which proved to be securely locked.
Their pursuers were about a hundred meters away and getting closer quickly.
“Will!” Troi cried. “I think I can hear something!” She cupped her hand to her left ear and tapped her communicator again.
“—stand with— —Riker—combine—” came a familiar voice through heavy static. “Emerg—signal— —lock—”
“Will!” she cried. “Come over here and hold on to me! We both have to send our recall signals at the same time so they can get a lock on us!”
Riker hurried over and put an arm around her. “One, two, three, now!” Riker said as one of the Krann security guards drew close enough to leap at him. They both tapped their communicators at the same time.
And they disappeared.
And they reappeared.
“Man, are we glad to see you!” Riker said. “That was pretty close.”
“Welcome aboard, Number One, Counselor—” Picard began.
The transporter suddenly began complaining loudly.
“Captain,” Dodson reported, “the transporter has detected biological contamination involving the commander and the counselor. I’ve established a containment field.”
“Dr. Crusher to Transporter Room Two, on the double,” Picard called.
“On my way, sir.”
“Ops to Captain Picard.”
“Picard here.”
“Sir, the leading elements of the Krann fleet have opened fire on several Lethantan facilities in orbit around their planet. Lethantan forces are rushing to engage the attacking Krann ships.”
“I’ll be right there. Open a channel to Presider Hek and keep it open. I intend to talk to that—person. Will, Deanna, we’ll soon get to the bottom of all this. I suspect I know what was going on now.”
“So do I,” Riker said, his teeth clenched. “A pretty gutsy gambit on their part.”
“And it will cost them dearly. See you later.” With that, Captain Picard left the transporter room and headed at a brisk pace for the turbolift, which the bridge had already thoughtfully sent down for him. He entered it and fumed quietly as the ‘lift made its quick, nonstop way to the bridge.
There they were. At last.
“Worf to landing party,” the Klingon said into the air. “I’ve located the commander and the ensign. Report back to the shuttlecraft immediately.”
“About