The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [16]
The ship exploded into fragments, no longer truly a ship but merely debris, rushing to join the dozens of other chunks of vessels that fairly littered the orbit of Veruna Four. Chakotay had perhaps felt as helpless at other times in his life but certainly never more than he felt at this moment. Six people were gone, blown to bits.
It now had become chillingly clear why there was so much wreckage about a planet of peaceful inhabitants. The Akerian Empire's arm was long indeed. And as he watched, both ships turned, slowly, languorously, to face the Voyager.
CHAPTER 4
There was a horrible, sick feeling in the pit of Janeway's stomach.
She knew what it was, recognized it from many times before when it had made its nauseating presence known. She had, once again, been forced to witness the destruction of life. Once or twice, she'd even looked into the face of the dying as she'd fired the weapon that had ended the life. More often, she'd watched a ship blow up, just as this small Verunan scout had, from a distance. Familiarity made it no easier, especially when it was coupled with the dreadful thought, Was this my fault?
Would this have happened had I acted faster or differently?
She could not indulge in the luxury of guilt, not now, not when the Akerian ships had trained their terrible attention upon her ship and her crew.
"Open a hailing frequen--" she started to say, but the Akerian commander beat her to it. Without warning, a helmeted face appeared on the screen. A large, blocky shape that sat atop a pair of broad shoulders, it gave little clue as to the nature of the creature whose face it shielded. Metal horns affixed to the top of the mask curved into sharp points, giving the utilitarian helmet the grace note of a ceremonial mask. The horns looked scarred; something had made deep notches in them. Janeway was briefly reminded of the old Earth tradition of armoring for battle. The Akerians wore metal body protection as well as helmets, undecorated for the most part save for swooping winglike tips that extended off the shoulders. The mask, vague and featureless except for horizontal slits at the areas where she presumed the eyes and mouth were located, faced her directly.
"Attention, Viha Nata, the inhabitants of Veruna Four, and the alien vessel who has trespassed into our space." The voice provided by the translator was masculine. The background against which the words sounded was harsh, rough, and snarling in a sharp contrast to the rather purring, soft sounds of Viha Nata's voice.
"This is Linneas, first warrior of the Empirical Exploratory Unit, commander of the Akerian vessel Victory. Verunans, your continuous rebellion against the might of the Akerian Empire grows troublesome.
We have been lenient, even merciful, but we will no longer tolerate your interference. Make peace with what gods you have, and prepare to suffer the same fate as your scout ship. You have gone too far. Your populace will be destroyed.
"Alien vessel, you have ignored our warning. You sought to interfere between us and those who blatantly defied our rule.
You have engaged in open dialogue with our enemies. I offer you one last chance to turn and vacate our space. If you do not, you, too, shall be destroyed."
"Silence audio," said Janeway. Kim obliged. Safe in the knowledge that Commander Linneas could not hear, she asked with a grim smile, "If anyone has anything to say, speak up now."
"Captain," said Neelix anxiously, "maybe our shields will protect us.
Maybe not. I suggest we take advantage of the opportunity Commander Linneas has given us to retreat."" Janeway shook her head.
"Unacceptable. We've come this far to investigate that concavity, and I'm not going to turn and run at the first sign of trouble. Not when we know that the Akerians can get inside and out of it safely.