The Red King - Michael A. Martin [76]
“Commander Suran’s injuries were evidently worse than we had believed,” Donatra said before crossing to a wall-mounted comm unit.
She jabbed the activation button with her thumb. “Bridge, this is Commander Donatra.”
“Acknowledged, Commander,” came Liravek’s crisp response.
“Patch me into the fleet, Centurion. There’s been a change of plans.”
U.S.S. TITAN
“I’ve finally got one of Oghen’s senior civil authorities on subspace channels, Captain,” announced Lieutenant Rager, who sounded both relieved and tired.
Troi felt the same way. It had taken hours to reach anyone with any apparent decision-making authority in the Neyel Hegemony’s power structure, such was the chaos that seemed already to be taking hold on the central Neyel world. From the disjointed gabble of communications Titan had already intercepted, the planet seemed to be in the grip of a steadily growing global natural disaster.
“On the screen, Lieutenant,” Vale said from the seat at Will’s right.
A hard-looking gray Neyel with dark, close-cropped hair filled most of the screen a moment later. Troi didn’t realize it was a female Neyel until she began to speak. “I am Defense Subdrech’tor Hiam, outworlder.”
Will rose, standing in front of his command chair as a sign of respect. “I am Captain William T. Riker of the Federation Starship Titan.”
“I have received your earlier transmissions, Captain.”
“Then you understand the seriousness of the danger you face.”
The Neyel official neatly sidestepped the question. “Explain your presence in our space. Are you responsible for what is happening on the Coreworld?”
“No, we are not, Subdrech’tor,” Will said, though his emotional aura gave the lie to his words. For a variety of reasons, Will evidently felt very much responsible for the rift and what it threatened to do to this reason of space. After all, the rift might never have opened in the first place but for the battle two months ago between Shinzon and the crew of the Enterprise.
Hiam’s shuttered eyes widened in apparent recognition. “ ‘Federation.’ First one of your representatives comes among us bearing sweet words. Then you avenge her death by visiting destruction upon us.”
This woman is clearly not one of her people’s pro-Burgess progressive thinkers, Troi thought sadly.
“You must evacuate your world’s people, Subdrech’tor. We are here to help you.”
“Help us? The Neyel people have always been more than capable of helping themselves.”
However true this assertion might have been in the past, Troi knew that the subdrech’tor couldn’t back it up now. The disasters being caused by the subspace distortions were evidently causing so much havoc that the Neyel military hadn’t been able to send even a single ship to challenge Titan as she continued to make best speed for Oghen.
“Subdrech’tor, whatever anomalies are plaguing your world right now will only intensify over the coming days. My staff believes you will have to take steps to evacuate your homeworld. We offer you whatever assistance we can provide.”
Hiam paused, apparently thinking the matter through. She was too far away, of course, for Troi to get a true empathic “read” on her. Nevertheless, it wasn’t hard to conclude that Hiam was a canny tactician with a flexible outlook; whether her primary concern was saving as many lives as possible, or how heroic she might make herself appear after the crisis, was an open question.
In the end, it didn’t really matter. “All right, Captain Riker. Bring your ship to Oghen, for whatever good it will do. You can hardly make matters worse than they already are.” And with that, she signed off, her stern visage replaced by the star-speckled vista of the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Will sat back in his chair, his mind a study in stress and tension, as were his shoulders.
Vale had noticed this as well. “Captain, you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders