The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [91]
"Mr. Kim, try to raise the Victory," Janeway ordered.
A moment, then, "No response, Captain."
"What a surprise," said Janeway sarcastically. "Well, then, prepare to broadcast this message on all possible frequencies.
This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. I urge all Akerian vessels to vacate the concavity immediately. This concavity will be destroyed shortly.
I repeat, evacuate all your people and remove all vessels from this area. The concavity is going to be destroyed." She nodded to Kim, who began to broadcast the announcement.
"Bridge to Engineering. We're getting ready to head out again, Torres.
You got us in beautifully. Let's go out the same way."
"Aye, Captain," Torres replied.
"Are your friends prepared, Mr. Paris?" she asked of the lieutenant heading the Verunan fleet.
"Aye, Captain. We couldn't be more eager to be out of this place."
A slight smile touched Janeway's lips. "I hear that, Lieutenant.
We'll be out of it soon, and then..." And then, what? "Then we'll sort things out. It seems as though First Warrior Garai understands what's at stake here. Let's hope Linneas does, too."
***
Traitor!
The word burned through Linneas's mind like a red-hot brand. Oh, he'd been taken in, all right, he'd been as gullible as a Verunan. Garai had been all obedience, subservience, everything one could want in a first hand. It had been the greatest mistake of Linneas's life to promote him to a first warrior. He saw that now, now that it was too late, now that everything Linneas had fought, lied, and killed for was about to be destroyed at the whim of some arrogant alien who prattled on about justice and balance and other such nonsense.
He was breathing heavily, his talons clenching and unclenching.
Oh, he'd get the traitor, all right. He'd get them all. And he would do it as a first warrior should: by battle prowess and a willingness to sacrifice.
Ahead, the Voyager hastened toward the mouth of the concavity, the six cowardly little ships clustered beneath her, relying on the bigger ship to protect them. The Destroyer, an ill-named vessel as it turned out, had finished its ignoble task of collecting the frightened scientists and was following close on Voyager's heels.
"First Warrior," came the voice of his first hand, "the Voyager is hailing us."
"Ignore it."
The first hand did so but an instant later was bothering his commander again. "Apologies, First Warrior, but the captain of the Voyager is broadcasting a message on all frequencies."
Linneas nodded. This, he would listen to, as he had all the other open messages the captain named Janeway had sent.
"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. I urge all Akerian vessels to vacate the concavity immediately. This concavity will be destroyed shortly.
I repeat, evacuate all your people and remove all vessels from this area. The concavity is going to be destroyed."
Linneas breathed deeply, slowly. Pleasure began to grow, hot in the pit of his stomach. He permitted himself a smile beneath his concealing helmet.
"Prepare to fire the gravity wave," he announced.
"First Warrior?" The title was a question as pronounced by Linneas's first hand.
"You heard me," he replied, swiveling in his chair to fix his baleful gaze upon the uncertain officer. "This so called captain plans to destroy the concavity. There is nothing I can do to stop her nor the traitorous Garai. But, for honor's sake, open a frequency to the Destroyer. I must at least inform my former first hand of my plans."
When Garai's visage appeared on the screen, Linneas spoke. "You have yet one chance to redeem yourself, First Warrior Garai. If Janeway is determined to destroy everything we have worked for, then destroyed it must be." He leaned forward. "But I will take her and everyone else with me."
"Linneas... you are insane!" gasped Garai, all composure shocked