The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [73]
Unfortunately, Heard couldnt think of one.
Mind you, he said, I want to trust you. My instincts tell me to trust you. I just dont have the luxury of trusting you.
And his trust had been watered down by recent events, though he didnt feel compelled to mention that.
Williamson smiled a little sadly. Does that mean that youre turning down our offer?
The second officer couldnt deny the appeal of sensor and tractor enhancements, considering they didnt know how many
Nuyyad vessels they might eventually be facingor how powerful they might be.
He took a moment to weigh the benefits against the risksand made his decision. In the interest of defending Magnia as well as the Stargazer , he said, Ill accept your operators.
Williamson nodded. Youve made the right choice, Commander.
I certainly hope so, thought Picard.
Lieutenant Vigo sat with his back against the curvature of a Jefferies tube and watched another piece of conduit casing go sailing past him.
A couple of colonists were wailing to receive the component farther down the line. Even from a distance, the acting weapons chief could see the concentration on their facesa concentration that had been there since earlier that morning, when the Stargazer beamed up a supply of replacement parts from the planets surface.
Hows it going? asked Lieutenant lulus, a curly-haired security officer, as he made his way toward Vigo from a perpendicular tube.
Rather well, it seems, said the Pandrilite, watching the Magnians snatch the piece of casing out of the air and fit it into the conduit they were building. These people have hauled more parts in the last hour than you and I could have lugged in a day. lulus nodded. Amazing.
Very much so, said Vigo. And yet, separately, none of them can move one of these parts even an inch.
The security officer looked at him. So how do they do it?
By working together, the weapons officer replied. When they pool their efforts, they raise their effectiveness in leaps and bounds. At least, thats how it was explained to me.
You know what? said lulus. They can do it anyway they wantas long as theyre finished before the Nuyyad get here.
Vigo grunted softly. That was one way of looking at the situation.
Unfortunately, Picard had insisted that every colonist on the Stargazer have an escort. Clearly, the commander didnt want the Magnians to do their jobs any way they wanted.
It seemed like a shift from Picards earlier stance, when he had been willing to place more trust in the colonists. But then, Vigo mused, even commanding officers were allowed to change their minds.
Lieutenant? called one of the colonists from his place at the end of the tube. Could I see you for a moment?
It was the first time any of the Magnians had asked for Vigos help. He wondered what the man wanted.
Ill see you later, he told lulus.
Sure, said the security officer.
Then the Pandrilite moved his bulk through the tube, wishing fervently that he could have glided through it like one of the casing components instead.
Jean-Luc Picard entered his quarters, sought out his bed and sank into it gratefully. It had been a long day.
All in all, the work had gone wellboth on the Stargazer and on the planets surface. Simenon had reported that the warp drive was almost functional again, and the colonists were on the verge of bringing then shield generators back on-line.
And having had a chance to look at Williamsons proposal regarding the Stargazers sensor and tractor systems, it appealed to him even more. If it meant having a few colonists on board during the impending battle, he could live with it.
After all, he had gotten this far taking chances. With luck, the same approach would get his ship home.
The only fly in the ointment was the incident with Jomar. However, there hadnt been any reprise of it, nor had Picard been forced to deal with any other instances of hostility.
He closed his eyes, knowing the work on his ship would continue unabated throughout the night. By morning, the second officer hoped, there would