The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [75]
Good point, Ben Zoma acknowledged. Suddenly, something occurred to him. Unless she had two different agendas
I beg your pardon?
What if Santanas role in the ambush was what she claimed it wasa response to the Nuyyads threatsbut her sabotage of the shuttle was for a different purpose entirely?
Picard mulled k over. That would explain why her fellow colonist didnt think twice about bringing our attention to the altered junction.
On the other hand, said Ben Zoma, arguing with his own proposition, what could she have gained by blowing up the shuttle?
The same as Jomar, said the second officer. Nothingexcept possibly the sacrifice of then own lives.
Were lacking a motive, Ben Zoma noted.
So it would seem, said his friend.
Ben Zoma looked at him. You might want to confront one of them about this. Or maybe mention it to our friend Williamson. One of them is bound to tell you something interesting.
The commander considered it. After a while, he shook his head. I dont think so, Gilaad. I want to identify the culprit before he or she realizes we have suspicions.
Then we need to keep tabs on them around the clock. Follow their every move until they slip up.
If you say so, said Picard.
Ill volunteer to hound Jomar, Ben Zoma offered.
And Santana?
Ill send Pug down to do that He knows her as well as any of us. And after the way Santana humiliated him, hell be that much more determined to catch her redhanded.
The second officer took a deep breath, We need to unmask this saboteurand quickly. Otherwise, there is no telling when a key system might betray us, repairs or no repairs.
Ben Zoma sympathized with his friend. Commanding a vessel was a difficult task at the best of times. In a situation where the ground kept shifting underfoot, it was nearly impossible.
Well catch your saboteur, he assured Picard.
The second officer grunted. You sound rather certain.
Ben Zoma smiled. Ive never let you down before, he said, wishing he were even half as confident as he sounded.
It was early the next morning, as Picard was getting dressed, that he got a call from Shield Williamson.
Taking it in his quarters, he saw the Magnians face appear on his monitor screen. Is everything all right? asked the second officer.
That depends, said Williamson.
On what?
On how you feel about having Serenity Santana board your ship again.
Picard looked at the colonist For what reason?
One of the technicians we planned to send up isnt feeling well. Santana is the only other Magnian whos qualified to do the job.
Troubled by the proposition, the second officer shook his head. You must know how this looks.
Like Im trying to pull a fast one, Williamson conceded. Of course, the decision is entirely yours.
Picard considered his optionsand the old saying came to him Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And it would certainly be a simpler matter for Pug Joseph to keep an eye on Santana if she was working there on the Stargazer .
Send her up, he told the Magnian.
But even as he extended the invitation, he could feel himself inching further out on the limb he had chosen.
14
CHAPTER
Captains log, supplemental. At last, we are ready. Magmas defenses have been fully resurrectedand thanks to Jomar, they should be in a better position to withstand the Nuyyad now that their shields will be laced with vidrion particles. The Stargazers systems have been restored as well, from our warp drive to our deflector grid. Whats more, the colonists have made use of their technical expertise and their inborn talents to provide us with a couple of tools we didnt have before improved sensor and tractor functions. Unfortunately, we have made no discernible progress in our search for a saboteur, but we remain hopeful. After all, we have some of our best people on the case .
Pug Joseph entered the tiny engineering support room on Deck 26 and spotted Serenity Santana among her colleagues. The dark-haired woman was shoulder to shoulder with them on her knees, fitting