The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [81]
And you brought the deflectors back up, Heard concluded.
The weapons officer nodded. Thats correct, sir.
Rcard sat back in his chair. I hope I dont have to tell you how critical that action was. If not for you, Lieutenant, our encounter with the Nuyyad might have had a very different conclusion.
Vigo looked a little embarassed. I was glad to be of help, sir.
You can be of further help, the second officer told him. I want you to examine this altered shield command junction. See if you can glean anything from itperhaps in comparison to the first altered junction we discovered. Then report back to me.
Aye, sir, said Vigo. But he didnt get up from his chair right away.
What is it? asked Heard.
The Pandrilite looked apologetic. Begging your pardon, sir, but are we going to return to the Federation with the saboteur on board?
The second officer was about to ask why that would be of particular concern to his weapons chief. Then it hit him with the impact of a directed energy beam the galactic barrier .
If their shields dropped just before they went through it, they would be naked to the phenomenon. The crew would be completely and utterly exposed to the barriers mysterious and volatile energies.
Kirks ship had had some protection, primitive as it might be by contemporary standards, and Gary Mitchell had still become a being capable of enslaving his entire species. How much more monstrous an entity might be created on a vessel that had no shielding at all?
I see your point, said Picard.
Clearly, they couldnt go back to the Federation as they had planned. Not yet, anyway. First, they would have to identify and neutralize the saboteur, then scour the ship for lingering signs of his or her handiwork.
I will find the saboteur, the second officer promised. I dont yet know how, but I will do it.
Im sure you will, sir, said Vigo, his expression an earnest one. If theres anything I can do
Ill let you know, Picard told him. And Lieutenant
Aye, sir? said the weapons officer. As before, not a word of this to anyone.
You can trust me, sir, Vigo assured him. No doubt, Picard mused. He wished he could say that about everyone aboard the Stargazer .
Carter Greyhorse walked into the Stargazers lounge, where Commander Picard was already seated at the black oval table.
Doctor, said the second officer, by way of acknowledgment.
You wanted to speak with me? asked Greyhorse, pulling out a chair opposite Picards and sitting down.
I did, said the commander. But Id prefer to wait until the others arrive before I begin our discussion.
Others ? Greyhorse wondered.
He had barely completed the thought when Ben Zoma, Simenon, Paxton, and Cariello walked into the room, one right after the other. Nodding to the doctor, they took their seats.
Greyhorse hadnt realized that this was to be a staff meeting. But then, he could easily have missed that part of Picards summons.
Ever since his visit from Pug Joseph, the medical officer had been unable to keep from thinking about Gerda Asmund again. He was so preoccupied, so distracted, he hadnt even felt an urge to complete his tests on the psilosynine he had synthesized.
And with renewed longing had come a renewed sense of despair. Gerda was so forceful, so graceful, so vibrant so unlike Greyhorse. What chance could he possibly have with her?
Doctor Greyhorse?
Greyhorse turned to Picard. Yes?
I would like to get underway now, said the second officer.
The doctor looked around and saw that Vigo and Jomar had joined them without his realizing it. They were sitting at the table along with the others. My god, he told himself, its worse than I thought.
The reason I called this meeting, said Picard, is to discuss what course of action we should adopt next.
Simenon looked at him. Im a little confused. Arent we supposed to be going home?
Yes, said Cariello, to warn the Federation