The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [47]
Shields down eighty-two percent! Gerda thundered. Damage to decks five, nine, and ten!
She had just gotten the words out when the viewscreen flooded with bright green fury. Picard barely had time to brace himself before the ship staggered hard to starboard, jerking his fellow officers half out of their seats.
Ruhalter thrust himself to his feet and came forward to glare at the screen, as if he could stop the Nuyyad by force of will alone. Pattern Omega! he snarled.
Idun sent them plummeting in a tight spiral, vidrion bundles bursting savagely all around them. Somehow, they emerged unscathedbut the enemy didnt let them go far. The Nuyyad ship banked and dogged their trail, like a predator that had smelled its victims blood.
Pattern Omicron! the captain cried out, trying desperately to give them some breathing room.
Idun coerced the ship into a sudden, excrutiatingly tight loop, causing the hull to groan and shiver under the strain. But the maneuver worked. Unable to stop in time, the Nuyyad vessel shot past them.
Maximum warp! Ruhalter commanded.
The Stargazer tore through the void at a thousand times the speed of light, putting a hundred million kilometers between herself and the enemy with each passing second. Picard eyed the viewscreen, but he saw no sign of the Nuyyad. All he could see were the stars streaming by.
The tension on the bridge eased a notch. Commander Leach, who had lost all the color hi his face, sighed and eased himself into a vacant seat by the forward engineering console.
Report, breathed the captain.
Gerda consulted her monitor. Hull breaches on decks twelve, thirteen, and fourteen. Repair teams have been deployed to all damaged areas. Sickbay reports nine injured.
Dead? asked Ruhalter.
No one, the navigator replied.
The captain seemed relieved. Well, he said, thats something to be thankful for. What about our shields?
Gerda glanced at him and shook her head. There arent any, sir. That last volley took out the last of them.
No shields , thought Picard. It was a good thing they had escaped when they did. Another barrage like the last one, and
Captain! exclaimed Werber, his face caught in the ruddy glare of his control panel. Theyre on our tail again!
Give me a visual, said Ruhalter.
Once again, the viewscreen showed them the Nuyyad ship. Pi-card felt his jaw clench. Though they were pushing the Stargazers warp drive as hard as they dared, the enemy was slowly catching up to them.
Weapons range, Werber told them.
Stand by, helm, the captain told Idun. If we cant outrun them, well have to outfight them.
Picard stared at him, wondering about the wisdom of Ruhalters strategy. As if he sensed the younger mans scrutiny, Ruhalter looked back.
I know, Jean-Luc , his expression seemed to say. Without shields, we dont stand much of a chance. But what choice do I have ?
Picard wished he had a good answer. None , he conceded silently.
Target photon torpedoes, said the captain.
Aye, sir, came Werbers response.
Ruhalters eyes narrowed with resolve. Pattern Alpha.
All at once, Idun swung them hard to port. The Stargazer wheeled more quickly and gracefully than she had a right to, coming about a full one hundred and eighty degrees. Before the second officer knew it, he found himself face-to-face with the Nuyyad.
And the enemy hadnt cut his speed one iota.
Fire! the captain roared.
A swarm of photon torpedoes took flight, illuminating the void between the two combatants. At the same time, the Nuyyad vessel unleashed its most devastating attack yet.
It was a glorious, breathtaking spectacle, emerald green mingling with gold, brilliance weaving its way through brilliance. Unfortunately, it lasted only a fraction of a second.
Then the Stargazer reeled under the hull-buckling onslaught, sending Picard crashing into a bulkhead. Pain shot through his ribs and the side of his head and blackness began to overwhelm him.
No, he told himself, fighting to regain his senses. I cannot give in. I need to know what has happened. The taste of blood strong in