The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [70]
They could not fire the ship's phasers while Voyager was in warp. She did not want to risk losing another photon torpedo out of their limited supply. Besides, knowing what she now knew about the Akerians, she did not wish to attack unless there was no alternative. And they hadn't fired upon her--not yet.
Voyager was still closer to the concavity. If only they could move faster, they could beat the two Akerian ships inside. But that would mean losing the shuttlecraft and the six Guardian ships nestled beneath Voyager's protective shields, and that was unacceptable.
Damn, but they had been quick in repairing the ship. For all her words of caution to the away team, for all her nagging worries and doubts and what-ifs, she hadn't honestly expected to see the Akerians for at least another day. Apparently, though, Sun-Eater and the treasure trove of information it housed was of paramount importance to the Akerians.
They were not attacking; they were racing to get inside, to do what they could to defend what was... inside? On the other side? Soon Janeway would know the mystery of what exactly lay within the concavity. And soon, her ship and the six small ships she protected would be confronting the Akerians.
She watched, cursing softly and angrily, as the two ships sped away and disappeared into the darkness of the concavity. "Cease hailing attempts, Mr. Kim." They were inside now, waiting...
for her.
But that doesn't make sense, part of her brain whispered.
Everything I've learned about this aberration tells me they can't fire on us once we're inside! If they were going to defend that ruined planet, they'd attack now, while we're outside.
Suddenly she knew why the two Akerian ships had not engaged the Voyager, and her mouth went dry. Outwardly, she did not react save to turn to Tuvok and bark out her swift, certain knowledge in a voice that was utterly steady. "Phasers on-line, Tuvok.
They're going in there to get reinforcements."
Scarcely had the words left her mouth than the Victory and the Destroyer reemerged from the gaping mouth of the concavity. And, just as Janeway had predicted, hard on their heels came another ship.
And another.
And a third.
Five of the remaining six Akerian war vessels were assembled here, fanning out in a semicircle and approaching the Voyager at warp speed.
"They're trying to encircle us," said Chakotay.
"I can see that, Commander," his captain replied, still not moving from her standing position. "Janeway to Paris. Watch your people, Tom.
Keep them close--it's going to get bumpy."
"Aye, Captain," replied Paris.
"Chakotay, take evasive action--and I mean evasive. These people don't waste much time."
Immediately Voyager dove like a dolphin. Everyone was pitched forward slightly. Janeway stumbled, catching herself on Chakotay's chair.
"Neither do you, apparently," she hissed with a flicker of grim humor to her first officer. Chakotay didn't reply, she doubted he had even heard her. His dark, intense gaze was fastened on the viewscreen, and his fingers flew over the controls. The maneuver worked. Chakotay had taken them directly under the approaching line of Akerian ships, and with another abrupt movement, the ship veered upward. Janeway decided she was better off in her chair. She sank down in it, keeping her own gaze on the screen.
"Rear view," she snapped.
The Akerians were behind them now, wasting precious moments in circling back around to continue the hunt. But their would-be prey was heading back toward Sun-Eater with a vengeance. Janeway allowed herself a tiny, satisfied smile. Paris's touch on the conn might have more finesse, but Chakotay certainly got the desired results.
But Voyager could only travel at warp two, and the Akerian hounds on their heels had the luxurious advantage of speed. They took it, coming back with a terrible acceleration. This time, three of the ships, one of them the Victory, pulled directly in front of them, the other two hanging back to port