The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [79]
Their shields are taking a beating, observed Brentano, pure excitement in his voice.
Of course, none of them expected to win this battle from the ground. If the Magnians were going to prevail, their allies in the heavens would have to take the lead.
Just as the engineer thought that, he saw a third blip enter the picture. The Stargazer has arrived , he announced silently, but not without a certain amount of pride.
Picard eyed the bright, diamond-shaped ships on his viewscreen. Tire again! he thundered.
A second time, the Stargazers phasers stabbed at the enemy vessels, wreaking havoc with their shields. Whats more, the Magnians sensor enhancements allowed each beam to find its precise target.
Finally, the Nuyyad must have realized that something new had been added to the mix. Both ships peeled away, resorting to evasive maneuvers.
But Picard knew he had the enemy off-balance. The last thing he wanted to do was give them time to regroup.
Stay on them, he told Idun Asmund.
Aye, sir, said his helm officer, following one of the Nuyyad ships as it sped away.
Get a lock on their aft shield generators, he told Vigo.
Again, they were able to benefit from the Magnians participation in their sensor operations. The Pandrilite looked up. Got them, sir.
Fire! barked Picard.
The Stargazers phasers raked the enemys hindquarters with a devastating barrage. Unfortunately, they could dog only one vessel at a timeand the second officer was wary of getting caught in a crossfire.
He turned to his navigator. Where is the other one?
Bearing two-five-two-mark-six, Gerda told him. But its got its hands full with what the Magnians are throwing at it
Picard nodded, satisfied with the way the battle was going. It was just the way they had planned it.
Suddenly, Gerda swiveled hi her chair, her eyes wide with surprise and anger. Shields are down! she snarled.
The second officer didnt understand. We havent even been hit, he pointed out.
Nonetheless, the navigator insisted, shields are down!
Picard cursed beneath his breath. Fall back! he told Idun, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
But as if the Nuyyad had sensed the Stargazers untimely vulnerability, the enemy vessel wheeled and came after her. The second officer looked on helplessly as the Nuyyads cannons belched vidrion fury.
Brace yourselves! he cried out.
A moment later, the deck slid out from under him and sparks shot across the bridge. No, Picard thought. This cannot be happening. We had them.
Hadnt the enemy been at a distinct tactical disadvantage? And hadnt they just reconstructed the Stargazers deflector grid unit by unit? How could it have failed again so quickly?
Abruptly, a chill climbed the rungs of the second officers spine. The saboteur , he thought. It was the only explanation.
A second vidrion barrage pounded them, sending the Stargazer reeling to starboard. Flung into the side of the captains chair, Picard heard the deckplates shriek hike banshees.
Evasive maneuvers, he told Idun. Pattern Omega!
As the helm officer sent them spiraling out of harms way, Pi-card tried to take stock of his options. Shields or no shields, he told himself, he had to create an opportunity to strike back.
Then Vigo called out the best thing the second officer could have hoped to hear. Ive got the shields back on-line, sir!
Uncertain as to how long they would stay on-line, Picard turned to the viewscreen. The Nuyyad vessel was bearing down on them, following up on the surprising damage done by its volleys. Quite possibly, the enemy commander expected to finish them off.
The fellow was going to be disappointed, the second officer thought. With the Stargazers shields restored, Picard had all his options in front of him againand he knew which one he wanted to use.
Divert power to tractor beam, he snapped. Target a point on their shields in line with their main emitter.
Normally, a tractor beam was useless against an enemys