The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [66]
"Tactical is prepared for any hypothesized eventuality. We have fully integrated the information provided by Mr. Kim into our systems.
Every tactical crew member has been briefed and is familiar with the construction and weaknesses of the Akerian vessels. Phasers can be powered up upon your order, Captain."
Compete efficiency as usual. She nodded, then glanced at Kim.
Kim tapped the PADD in front of him on the table. "I've spoken with every department, and they're up to speed. Everyone and everything is operating at peak efficiency. They're just waiting for the word, Captain--and of course to learn what the away team has discovered," he added hastily, glancing at Chakotay.
"Lieutenant Torres, how's Engineering?"
"Carey's been doing a fine job in my absence, Captain," said Torres with an unexpected graciousness. "All the damage has been repaired and everything's back on-line."
"In that case, then, I think it's time we learned just what the away team has been up to." She sat down, yielding the door to Chakotay.
The first officer did not rise, but he did lean forward.
"If we were on an ordinary exploratory mission," he began, "we'd be here for the next several months, helping the Verunans rediscover their technology. As it is, we can't do that. But they seem to be managing well on their own."
He paused, gathering his thoughts.
"The Verunans are descended from a race called the K'shikkaa.
They sent out at least one colony ship, called the Soul." He pressed a touch pad, and an image of the ship appeared on the viewscreen.
Kim looked puzzled. "But that's--" Janeway hushed him with a slight shake of her head. Chakotay, curious, looked at them both for a moment, then continued.
"Accompanied by the six escort ships, it landed on Veruna Four.
There was everything in there to help the K'shikkaan colonists start a good life. The thing was, Veruna Four was so pleasant that over the years they forgot about the colony ship, stored the computer components and the escort ships in caverns to protect them, and returned to the land. The only ties they had to their past were cryptic stones, some of which Nata and I deciphered and which helped us learn about the ship."
He eased back into his chair, snapping off the image, and nodded to Torres, indicating that she could resume the thread.
"They are a very advanced people, Captain," said Torres eagerly.
"I'd figured out most of how their ships worked, but there were some things I had no idea about. The information helped me and the Verunan crew working on the ships to effect repairs much more quickly. I wanted--" She broke off, horrified about what she was about to say.
Janeway could guess. "You wanted to put in some of our technology," she said softly.
Torres glanced down, her breast heaving with agitation, then looked her captain squarely in the face. "Yes," she said defiantly. "But I didn't."
"I know you didn't," replied Janeway, her voice still soft, still compassionate. "You're not Seska. You understand why we can't do that. Torres, if you think for a minute that any of us here wouldn't love to be able to just transport all the Verunans to safety, you're wrong. Wanting to break the rules out of compassion isn't a crime, B'Elanna. But a Starfleet officer knows that there are other ways to help."
Pleasure and pride spread over the engineer's face. "And we found them. The Verunans themselves--or the K'shikkaa, as I guess we ought to call them--provided what we needed. Anyway, I downloaded as much as I could, and Carey is at this moment transferring the information into our computer banks.
Ironically, they may have information that could help us."
"That would be a nice bonus," agreed Janeway, "but let's not count on it.
But the ships are up to speed?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Paris, what about the pilots?"
There was a noise that might have been