The Red King - Michael A. Martin [64]
But that might have been wishful thinking.
“The transporter is solidly locked on the coordinates provided by Commander Donatra,” said Lieutenant Radowski, who stood behind the main transporter room’s wide, curving control console. “Romulan shield nutation, modulation, and frequency data are all programmed exactly as specified. But environmental readings at the beam-in site are still dodgy.”
Though Radowski was speaking in low tones, Troi had sensed from the moment she’d entered the room that the young man was far more nervous than usual. And who could blame him? He was about to deliver Titan’s captain into a situation that might well prove to be lethal. Especially if the shields of the target Romulan ship somehow turned out to be less permeable than expected, even with the shield data Donatra had provided. And if that turned out to be the case, then the away team could find its atoms scattered over millions of cubic kilometers of Magellanic space in a fraction of a second.
Don’t even think that, Troi told herself as she pushed down the torrent of refulgent anxieties that streamed not only from Radowski, but also from the taciturn Admiral Akaar and Titan’s uncharacteristically somber new chief engineer, Dr. Ra-Havreii. The latter two senior officers—both clearly uneasy about having to allow subordinates to step into harm’s way—flanked Radowski behind the transporter console. They watched in silence as the away team members, all of them now outfitted in environmental suits, double-checked the status of their phasers, comm circuits, and tricorders before making their way up onto the round transporter stage.
After Tuvok and Lieutenant Rriarr, a Caitian security officer, took up protective positions on either side of the captain, Troi strode to the last empty pad, between a not-quite-so-serene-as-usual Science Officer Jaza and a palpably jumpy Ensign Crandall from engineering. The latter winced as he set his toolkit down at his feet with a too-loud clatter.
Will favored the away team with a backward glance and a reassuring grin that Troi could tell buoyed everyone, at least a little. “Sounds like everyone is ready.”
From beside the console, Akaar nodded with great solemnity as he touched his combadge. “Akaar to bridge.”
“Vale here.”
“The away team is prepared for transport, Commander. Are Donatra’s people still in position?”
“They’ve just signaled again that they are.”
“Confirmed,” Radowski said, glancing at his board, where a new stream of data had apparently just begun scrolling. “Preparing for coordinated transport in twenty seconds.”
“Good work, Lieutenant. And Will?”
“Go ahead, Christine.”
“Godspeed. But if I even think you might try to leave me in permanent command of Titan , I’m coming after you. Sir.”
Will’s grin expanded, in obvious appreciation of his exec’s penchant for dark humor. “So noted. I’ll try to be home in time for dinner. Mr. Radowski, energize.”
Radowski executed Will’s order, and to Troi’s eyes, Titan’s transporter room dissolved. She wondered if the temporary state of nonexistence through which she was passing in any way resembled what the Sleeper experienced during his long journey toward wakefulness.
IMPERIAL WARBIRD RA’KHOI
His breath sounding a bit too loud inside his helmet, Riker found himself standing in a broad alcove lit with a subdued, greenish light. He wondered if the beam-in had taken significantly longer than usual, or if his imagination had merely decided to work a double shift. He assumed the former, since it wasn’t every day that one beamed straight through a D’deridex-class warbird’s formidable deflector shield envelope, and with Romulan cooperation no less. Looking around, he saw that the other members of the away team were positioned just as he’d expected.