The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [79]
And how vital was protecting the concavity if Linneas was prepared to destroy it?
And most confusingly, most unforgivably to Garai's way of thinking, why did Linneas, having once taken a stand in front of the mouth of the concavity, back down and show his cowardice?
Had any other Akerian done such a shameful thing, Linneas would have been on him at once, ripping his throat out with his own hands.
Now, Linneas was hailing Garai, speaking frantically, disjointedly.
His helmeted face was on the screen.
"They have gone in, and Victory is damaged. Our shields will have to be repaired before we can follow. Pursue, Destroyer, and stop the intruder."
A low growl of frustration and irritation began in the back of Garai's throat, but he kept it soft.
"How do you wish me to do this thing, First Warrior?" he snapped, not quite keeping the sarcasm from his voice. "To fire the gravity weapon would be to destroy the concavity. To ram the ship would be to destroy the concavity. To attempt to board them using our transporting beam would be to--" "Silence!" roared Linneas, and he actually leaped toward the screen.
Startled, Garai instinctively jerked back. There was utter quiet aboard the bridge of the Destroyer. Linneas appeared to gather himself with an effort.
"I leave how best to stop Janeway and her ship up to your wisdom, First Warrior Garai. But you are never, never, to take such a tone of voice with me again."
"Understood, First Warrior Linneas." Garai kept his voice serious. "I shall proceed per your orders."
He ended the transmission, turned his attention to his crew.
"Shields at full strength. Prepare to enter the concavity. Let us find this Janeway and do what what we can."
Garai leaned back in his command chair as far as the bulky armor that was like a second skin would let him and thought thoughts he did not dare--not yet--share with another soul.
***
A few days ago, Paris had made a quip about Alice falling through the rabbit hole. Now, Janeway had an inkling as to how that fictitious little girl might have felt. Even through her tension, even through the apprehension that lurked in the back of her mind, she felt herself responding with awe and wonder to the magnificence of the scene that unfolded before her.
Light for vision was not a problem; the glowing matter from the dying sun provided plenty of illumination. The most gravitational pressure they would face they had already endured in entering the mouth. As they moved forward into--what?
Janeway wondered--the pressure eased until it was only somewhat stronger than that exerted by normal space. They were entering what looked to be a tunnel or pocket.
Vision, as she knew it would be, was distorted. The planet ahead, which they were rapidly approaching, was twisted in appearance as if she were looking at it through a fish-eye lens.
She knew that the closer they got to it, the less dramatic the distortion would be. The ships landing on the surface would see no distortion at all.
"It appears to be some sort of pocket," she said softly. "The hydrogen--it's being drawn by the gravity to the... I guess the best word is walls... of this space. Mr. Kim, are we still picking up verteron emanations?"
"Yes, Captain, we certainly are. There's a lot of activity around here." He hit a few controls, a frown furrowing his forehead. "I'm trying to locate where it's coming from."
Janeway sighed. "Remember to compensate for the sensor distortion.
Tuvok, any sign of company?"
"Negative, Captain. All the ships appear to have been deployed to the outside to combat us there. There are a few vessels on the planet but nothing approaching the size of--Correction. One of the ships from the outside has just entered the concavity. It is the Destroyer."
"Damn!" Janeway swore. "Let's get those ships down to the planet, then we'll try to decoy the Destroyer."
"Aye-aye, Captain," Chakotay replied. Smoothly, he brought the