The Red King - Michael A. Martin [139]
LAUNCHED STARDATE 56979.5
UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS
There followed the long list of Starfleet dignitaries and principals associated with Titan’s development and construction, which included Commander Xin Ra-Havreii. And below that, the revered words of Surak of Vulcan:
“INFINITE DIVERSITY IN INFINITE COMBINATIONS”
As Will had intended, Tuvok spoke the words aloud, his voice carrying across the bridge and piped through the comm system to every part of the ship. Coltrane played on, improvising his way nimbly through a small jazz combo’s complex and frequent harmony changes.
“Do Vulcans count as humans?” Torvig whispered to Eviku, apparently seeking a way to save his wager from the jaws of defeat. Considering that Torvig was nonhumanoid, Troi thought his question a fair one.
Eviku grinned triumphantly at Torvig, then began slowly applauding Tuvok’s presentation. The applause spread first to Bralik, then to Keru, Pazlar, Jaza, Vale, Lavena, Rager, Dakal, Will, and just about everyone else who wasn’t presently holding one of the champagne flutes that Cethente had already begun conscientiously gathering up. Troi joined in the applause, which had all but drowned out Coltrane’s tenor saxophone.
At first, Troi had wondered why her husband had delegated the reading of Titan’s motto. But as soon as Surak’s words had left the Vulcan tactical officer’s lips, she understood the reason.
It had not simply been a gesture on behalf of diversity, or the Vulcan IDIC philosophy that so eloquently articulated it, and had in turn found expression in the composition of Titan’s crew. It was all of those things, to be sure. But it had also been intended to help them honor a fallen comrade, and to mourn her passing.
It’s for T’Lirin.
The crowd of appreciative crew members quickly scattered as Cethente and Bralik finished gathering up the glassware they had brought. Troi took her seat, realizing belatedly that she was still holding the empty synthale bottle.
After exchanging yet another brief but significant glance with Jaza, Vale resumed her customary seat at Will’s right. Then the captain sat in his command chair, leaning forward enthusiastically, his eyes riveted to the main viewscreen. Troi knew from his eager gaze and the tenor of his emotions that he was looking past the limb of the cerulean planet displayed on the screen.
Will Riker was already soaring among stars that his kind had not yet traveled.
“Lay in our course for the Gum Nebula, Ensign Lavena,” he said, refulgent with the hope of a man who had just been granted a chance to start over. “Break orbit on my mark.”
“Course already laid in, Captain,” Lavena said. “Titan is rested and ready, sir. Just give the word.” The upbeat, wailing strains of John Coltrane’s sax continued to reverberate through the bridge.
“From the top, Ensign,” Will said, raising his index finger as though it were a conductor’s baton.
“Take it away.”
THE VOYAGES OF THE
STARSHIP TITAN
CONTINUE IN
ORION’S HOUNDS
About the Authors
ANDY MANGELS is the USA Today best-selling author and co-author of over a dozen novels—including Star Trek and Roswell books—all co-written with Michael A. Martin. Flying solo, he is the best-selling author of several nonfiction books, including Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters and Animation on DVD: The Ultimate Guide, as well as a significant number of entries in The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes.
In addition to writing several more upcoming novels and contributing to anthologies, he is currently directing and scripting a series of sixteen half-hour DVD documentaries for BCI Eclipse, to be featured in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe DVD box-sets.
Andy has written hundreds of articles for entertainment and lifestyle magazines and newspapers in the United States, England, and Italy. He has also written licensed material based on properties from many film studios and Microsoft, and his two decades of comic-book work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse,