The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [78]
Well, he told himself, at least I tried.
If you think of anything that might shed some light, said Joseph, let me know, all right?
I will, the doctor promised him.
But as the security officer left, Greyhorse wasnt thinking about Josephs problem. He wasnt thinking about psilosynine either. He was thinking about Gerda Asmund again.
Phigus Simenon looked up at the wedge of blue sky caught between the spires of Magnias tallest towers.
He couldnt see the Stargazer . But then, he hadnt expected to. The ship was too far away even to be spotted at night, when the atmosphere of this world wasnt suffused with its suns light.
Abruptly, the engineer heard his communicator beep. It was what he had been waiting for. Tapping it, he said, Simenon here.
This is Commander Heard. Im taking us out of orbit.
Acknowledged, said the engineer.
Good luck, Heard told him.
To you, too, Simenon replied.
Heard out.
The Gnalish stared at the sky a little longer. Then he turned to Armor Brentano, who had been attending him patiently.
Ready? asked the colonist.
Ready, said Simenon.
Then he followed Brentano across the plaza to the elegant pink building that housed the shield control center, where they would bide their time until the enemy arrived.
Less than seventeen hours after Picard removed the Stargazer from Magnias sensor range, he heard Gerda Asmund announce the approach of two vessels she had spotted on her monitor.
The second officer had been leaning over Vigos weapons panel, supervising some last-minute diagnostics. Moving to a position just in front of the captains center seat, he gazed at the viewscreen.
Can you give me a visual? he asked.
Gerda worked for a moment. Then the screen filled with the sight of not one Nuyyad vessel but two, both of them as big and powerful-looking as the ones Heard had seen earlier. Obviously, the enemy believed that would be more than enough to put down the Stargazer .
We will have to show them the error of their ways, thought the second officer. Red alert, he said. All hands to battle stations. Raise shields and power up phasers.
Raising shields, Gerda confirmed.
Diverting power to phasers, said Vigo.
Their speed? asked Heard.
Full impulse, Idun reported.
This was it, the second officer told himself, glaring at the enemy. This was the test of all their hard work. They would either turn the Nuyyad back or be destroyed in the attempt.
Any sign that they see us? he asked his navigator.
None, sir, said Gerda, her hands darting over her control panel. Theyre heading straight for the colony.
As we expected, thought Picard. But he couldnt help thinking of Simenon, whom he had left to help defend Magnia.
He hoped that he and the engineer would both be around to congratulate each other when the battle was over.
Here they come, said Simenon, tracking the two yellow blips on his black sensor screen.
Brentano, who was seated to the engineers left, cast a thought Shields are at full strength .
Phasers powered and ready , replied Hilton-Smith, the blond woman to Simenons right.
Target phasers, intoned Shield Williamson, who had taken up a position behind the Gnalish.
Targeting , Hilton-Smith responded.
Range in thirty seconds , Brentano informed them.
On Simenons screen, one of the yellow blips unleashed a series of green energy bursts. A moment later, the other blip followed suit. Apparently, the engineer reflected, the Nuyyads weapons range was a little greater than that of the colonists.
Direct hits , said Brentano. But no damage to report. Shields are holding at eighty-six percent .
Range in fifteen seconds , thought Hilton-Smith.
Simenon watched the blips get closer. Again, they fired their vidrion cannons, and this time he thought he could feel a little tremor in the floor beneath him.
Shields down to seventy-two percent , Brentano told them.
Range in five seconds , Hilton-Smith reported, her eyes reflecting the light from her screen. Four. Three. Two
Fire! Williamson commanded, his voice ripping through the chamber.
On Simenons monitor, a half dozen red phaser beams