Unification - Jeri Taylor [82]
The Enterprise had penetrated well into the Neutral Zone before it overtook the three Vulcan/Romulan ships. The smaller vessels were no match for the Starfleet ship on any level—speed, sophistication, or firepower. Riker felt sure he could help the Romulans see reason; to do other than follow his directive was to risk dire consequences.
The Vulcan defense vessels, dispatched from the planet, had stopped at the Neutral Zone. Their only purpose was to prevent the Romulans from invading their system; if the encroaching force was in retreat, they had no reason to pursue.
And perhaps Riker should have followed the same logic. There was none to his present actions, a fact of which he was well aware.
But something drew him forward. He would listen to its urging now, and question it later.
“Visual range, Commander,” said Worf, indicating that they had all but overtaken the fleeing Romulans.
“On screen,” said Riker, preparing to engage Danut once more. He was wholly unprepared for what happened next.
Geordi saw it first, reacting from his sensors. “A Romulan warbird, Commander. Decloaking alongside the Vulcan ships.”
And now the quartet of ships sprang into relief on the viewscreen—the three small Vulcan vessels and the looming, ominous warbird that shimmered into sight next to them.
“Red alert,” said Riker, and the lights flashed scarlet on the bridge.
A warbird was a very diflkrent story from the Vulcan craft. The Romulan D’Deridex class ship was as large and as powerful as the Enterprise, and as well armed. They would be at a standoff if it came to battle.
Rikcr’s command was to Worf. “Advise the warbird to withdraw and leave the Vulcan ships where they are.”
But Worf’s response confirmed Riker’s fears: “The warbird is powering up its forward disruptor array.”
So it meant to attack. They were all violating treaty conditions by being within the Neutral Zone; here, there were no legal protections, no sanctions. It was unauthorized entry by all parties—and the devil take the hindmost. “Ready phasers,” said Riker grimly.
The warbird emitted a fierce salvo of its disruptors. And another. And another.
But to Riker’s astonishment, the weapons fire was directed right at tile Vulcan ships. One by one, they shuddered with the impact of the massive disruptor barrage; they discharged small bursts of burning gases into space; white fire crackled into an inferno that enveloped them. And then they exploded. The bridge crew of the Enterprise watched in awe as the Vulcan ships ruptured, spewing matter. It was the ultimate fireworks display, a colorful, orgasmic array of burning metal and flesh, which catapulted flaming wreckage into the cold eternal night of space. The warbird recloaked.
On the bridge of the Enterprise, the crew watched in stunned silence. Finally, Geordi spoke, and his voice sounded strangely harsh. “There were over two thousand Romulan troops on those ships,” he said.
There was silence again.
“They destroyed their own invasion force,” added Troi, as though trying to explain it to herself.
“Rather than let them be taken prisoner,” offered Riker, seeking reason in an unreasonable act.
There was another quiet respite, then Riker spoke, quite softly. “Stand down red alert. Set a new course. Take us out of the Neutral Zone.”
And the ship wheeled and turned away from the still burning carnage the Romulans had brought to bear upon their own people.
D’Tan had lain in wait for several hours in the rough wagi brush that provided camouflage and a clear view of the cave opening. He felt numb with shock and grief; the awful loss his people had suffered had not yet registered with him fully.
He still didn’t know if his parents were alive or dead. Their rooms at the Taka were empty, and though he had searched through all the makeshift hospitals and shelters where the dazed survivors of Krocton segment were trying to care for their own, he had not found them.
They might have been killed in that