The Sky's the Limit - Marco Palmieri [102]
Mika pulled a shawl over her bare shoulders and followed Wes and Beverly toward the lodge hall. Despite the seriousness of the moment, she found a peculiar elation coursing through her at meeting Wesley’s mother. The other woman glanced at her. “My son has grown up. He’s truly become a young man, and you’ve made him very happy,” she noted. “I can’t remember the last time I saw that look in his eyes.”
Mika frowned. “He wanted you there when we were bonded,” she told her, “but the Enterprise couldn’t be reached. Starfleet wouldn’t tell us why…. We heard there was an incident involving the Romulans. Your ship was incommunicado for weeks.”
“I understand,” said Beverly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be!” Mika insisted. “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. What you’ve done today, going against your captain’s orders for us…I see where my husband gets his strength of character from.”
Wesley’s mother looked away. “Edward Jellico isn’t a bad man. He’s just not…”
“Not Jean-Luc Picard?”
She frowned. “No.”
There was a commotion up ahead, and Mika saw Athwara and the other elders outside the lodge talking over one another.
“Jellico’s going to take us out of here no matter what we do,” Wes was saying. “I’ll bet he’s calibrating the Enterprise transporters to beam as many of us up as the ship can manage in a single go. I doubt he’ll give us much warning.”
“How can we stop him?” Sinta asked.
Wes glanced back at his mother. “I can try to rig a transport inhibitor to fake out the sensor lock. If we get everyone into the lodge hall, or as close to it as we can, I might be able to project a field bubble they can’t beam through.”
“You know how to do that?” said Otakay.
“I travel. I’ve picked up a few things along the way.” He touched Beverly on the hand. “Mom. Thank you for what you’ve done, but you should go. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
The other woman’s eyes glittered. “I’ve only just met my daughter-in-law. I think I’d like to stay.”
Mika’s heart leaped when she saw Wesley smile at his mother’s words. It was like the sun coming out, all the old hurts melting away.
The lodge door banged open and Lakanta was there, his face grim. “Wes!” he shouted. “We have a big problem!”
“Great Spirit, what now?” Otakay grated.
“The sensors,” he bleated, stabbing a finger at the simple grid of scanner antennae on the lodge’s roof, “they’ve picked up another ship entering orbit.”
“Another Federation ship?” said Athwara. “A transport for us all, perhaps.”
Lakanta shook his head. “Not Federation, elder. A Cardassian Galor-class warship, the Reklar.”
Beverly’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. Wes, this is bad. Captain Jellico has a history with Gul Lemec, the Reklar’s commander.”
“I’m guessing they’re not well disposed toward each other?”
“Last time we crossed paths with him, it was a stalemate and we had to back down. Jellico won’t let that happen this time. He won’t let Starfleet—or himself—lose face over Dorvan V.”
“This changes things,” said Sinta. “Even if Wesley’s idea works, what happens then? These Cardassians, this alien Lemec, they come here with weapons and hold us at gunpoint?”
“I will appeal to both commanders for calm,” began Athwara. “We can resolve this through clear and honest discourse.”
Wes shook his head. “Forgive me, old grandfather, but I think that what matters to us will carry no weight with Lemec or Jellico.”
“Then what choices are open to us?” demanded Otakay, his color rising. “Deportation is unacceptable, we all agree on that. Occupation of our world by the Cardassians? We have all heard the stories of their death camps and their persecution of other races, like the Bajorans and the Lyshani! We will have to resist them!”
Mika gasped. “You’re advocating armed revolt?”
“If it comes to that!” Otakay snapped. “I am an old man, but I have fought for my home and I will do it again if need be.”
“Do you have weapons? Any defenses?” Beverly asked.
“A meteorite shield, some hand phasers and plasma shotguns,” noted Sinta. “Toys compared to those of a real military.”
“No one will shed blood over this!