The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [60]
Abruptly, a handful of smaller craft invaded the screen from its bottom edgeseven remote-controlled Starfleet shuttles hurtling through the void at full impulse, rapidly leaving the Stargazer behind. The shuttles, which ranged in size up to a Type-7 personnel carrier, looked dwarfed by the Nuyyad ship even though the latter was much more distant
Status? Picard demanded.
Gerda answered him. Eighty seconds to target.
The commander could feel his heart thud against his ribs. Eighty seconds. Five million kilometers. The difference between victory and defeat, life and death, survival and annihilation.
Ben Zoma cast him a look of confidence, a look that seemed to assure Picard that everything would be all right. Then he retreated to the engineering console and began monitoring ships systems.
Each of the shuttles carried an antimatter payload big enough to punch a hole in the Nuyyad vessels shields. But to accomplish that feat, they would have to reach the enemy unscathed and that, Picard reflected, was easier said than done.
He had barely completed the thought when one of the shuttles became a flare of white light on the viewscreen. Cursing beneath his breath, he whirled on his weapons officer.
What happened, Mr. Vigo?
The Pandrilite shook his large blue head, obviously as confused by the premature explosion as Picard was. I dont know, sir. I didnt trigger it I can tell you that.
I can confirm that, Ben Zoma interjected. The payload seemed to go off on its own.
The second officer could feel his teeth grinding. If the other shuttles went off prematurely, they would be all but toothless. The Nuyyad vessel could pick them off at its leisure.
Fifty seconds, Gerda announced.
It was time for the Stargazer to enter the fray. Full impulse, Picard told Idun Asmund.
Aye, sir, said the helm officer.
Power phasers, the commander added.
Powering phasers, Vigo replied, activating the batteries that could still generate a charge.
Forty seconds, declared Gerda, her face caught in the glare of her navigation controls.
He glanced at Ben Zoma. His friend returned itand even managed a jaunty smile. Ive still got confidence in you , it seemed to say.
Suddenly, a green globe shot out from the Nuyyad ship and skewered one of the shuttles. Again, Picard saw a flash of brilliance. Then a second shuttle was hit. It too vanished in a splash of glory.
That left four of the smaller crafta little more than half of what they had started out with. And they still hadnt gotten within two million kilometers of their target.
Evasive maneuvers, said the second officer.
Aye, sir, Vigo responded, implementing one of the patterns they had programmed in advance.
On the screen, the shuttles began banking and weaving, making the enemys job that much more difficult. Unfortunately, it would get easier again as they got closer to the Nuyyad vessel.
Thirty seconds, said the navigator.
Picard desperately wanted to accelerate the shuttles progress. But he didnt dare have them drop hi and out of warp speed so close to a planet, where gravity added a potentially disastrous layer of difficulty.
In the end, he had no choice. He would have to grit his teeth and hope the shuttles did their job.
The Nuyyad fired another series of green vidrion blasts. However, to Picards relief, none of them found their marks. The four remaining shuttles went on, intact.
Gerda looked up from her controls, no doubt eager to see the drama with her own eyes. Twenty seconds.
The enemy vessel unleashed yet another wave of vidrion splendor. For a moment, as the Stargazers shuttles passed through it, Pi-card lost sight of them. Then the emerald brilliance of the energy bursts faded and he was able to catch a glimpse of the smaller craft.
There were three left, it seemed. Part of that light display must have been one of them exploding.
One less shuttle meant one less shot at success. That was the inescapable reality of it. But they were getting close now to the enemy. With luck,