The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [54]
Normally, Captain Ruhalter would have conducted this meeting, wringing the best out of each of them and making them more than the sum of their parts. But Captain Ruhalter, unbelievable as it seemed, was deadand Commander Leach was in a coma from which he might never emerge. For better or worse, it was Picards meeting to conduct Picards ship and crew to command.
The second officer hadnt asked for this. He hadnt imagined himself ensconced in a center seat until years later, when he would have had a good deal more experience under his belt. But the situation was what it was, and he was determined to do what it demanded of him.
I called you here for two reasons, he began. One is to announce that, effective immediately, Lieutenant Ben Zoma will assume the post of acting second-in-command. At the same time, Lieutenant Ang will take over Mr. Ben Zomas duties in the security section.
There were nods around the table, though not from Werber, Simenon, or Jomar. No surprise there, Picard thought. Ben Zoma had never been a favorite of Commander Leach or his friends.
The second reason for this meeting, the commander said, is the difficult set of circumstances in which we find ourselves. As you all know, we have taken heavy damage to our primary systems. Still, it remains our duty to survive and to warn the Federation that the Nuyyad are every inch the threat of which we were warned.
No one seemed inclined to argue the point. However, he did receive some wary lookspredictably, from Leachs camp.
There are two options open to us, Picard went on. Two choices. We can make a run for the galactic barrier in our diminished condition and hope we dont run into the Nuyyad again. Or, as an alternative, we can try to find Serenity Santanas colony and seek replacement parts there.
Her colony ? Werber echoed, a look of disgust and disbelief crossing his face. Are you insane, Picard?
The second officer felt a spurt of anger. He swallowed it back. You will address me as you would have addressed Captain Ruhalter, he said in a clipped tone, or I will find a weapons officer who can.
Werber went dark with anger. You want the respect accorded a commanding officer? Then exercise the judgment of a commanding officer. That Santana woman led us into a trap, Commander. She almost destroyed us. I wouldnt trust anything she told us.
Picard glared at the weapons officer. Despite appearances, we do not know for certain that Ms. Santana engaged in any treachery.
Werber looked at him wide-eyed. Are you blind? She led us to the slaughter like a fat, little lamb. She
The second officer tapped the Starfleet insignia on his chest. Security, he said, this is Commander Picard. I would like an officer posted outside the lounge immediately.
Right away, sir, came the response.
The weapons chief drew in a breath, then let it out. Clearly, he didnt relish the idea of being led away by a security officer. What I meant to say, he amended with an effort, is that, under the circumstances, it would be imprudent to believe anything Santana told us.
I agree, said Jomar, albeit without emotion. Who knows? There may never have been any Valiant survivors in the first place. And even if this colony exists, Santana might not have divulged its true coordinates.
Werber looked at him. Hang on a second. You mean to say youve never heard of this colony?
Never, the Kelvan confirmed.
The weapons chief seemed confused. But arent you from this side of the galactic barrier?
I am, Jomar told him. However, space is as enormous here as it is in your galaxy, and I only became familiar with a small portion of it before I emigrated to Nalogen Four.
It was Paxton who dragged the discussion back on track. Even if Santanas colony exists, he said, and even if she gave us the right coordinates, her people may not be all that glad to see us.
True, Jomar remarked without inflection. Especially if were right in our assumption that Santana led us into a trap.
Plus, Simenon hissed, our technologies may be incompatiblein which case their parts would be useless to us, even assuming