Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [104]
Paris wished that Kim would hurry up and seal the interdimensional rift. He knew it was a delicate procedure and one not best performed under duress, but right now he needed Harry at the top of his game.
The organic ships used by Species 8472 had populated Tom’s nightmares for years after Voyager’s first encounter with them. The ship had just reached the borders of Borg space. Their best hope of surviving transit through Borg territory had been a small passage completely devoid of cubes. The crew soon discovered that the absence of Borg vessels was due to the fact that it was controlled by hundreds of single-pilot ships. The unique biology of Species 8472 allowed them to link their pilot to the ship and to control the ship telepathically. Their shields and weapons far outstripped Voyager’s and the Borg’s. The Doctor had devised a nanoprobe-based warhead that infected the organic mass of the Species 8472 vessels and literally ate them alive.
It had been more than seven years since Paris had laid eyes on the vessels, but he had never forgotten the elegant sleekness of their design, a cylindrical body with a forward array of extended prongs from which concentrated energy could strike with devastating force. Several ships could converge in an attack, joining their weapons’ energy beams and then focusing them into a single strike that had the ability to destroy a Borg cube in one shot.
Captain Janeway had formed an uneasy alliance with the Borg by offering to share the nanoprobe-based torpedoes. All Janeway had demanded in return for sharing this technology was safe passage. It had been an uneasy alliance. Janeway had been forced to confront the unpleasant reality that the Borg had begun the conflict. Still, Voyager had emerged relatively unscathed. Species 8472 had been driven back to their home in fluidic space.
A little more than a year later, Voyager once again encountered Species 8472. This time, Janeway’s diplomatic aplomb had resulted in a peaceful resolution.
A single vessel, its forward array locked on Voyager, emerged from the rift. Paris found himself wondering if Voyager’s winning streak with Species 8472 was about to come to an end.
“Mister Kim, never mind closing the rift now,” Paris said sharply. “Prepare to engage.”
“Shields are up and weapons are armed,” Kim replied.
“Gwyn, move us into position to defend the Galen,” Paris added.
“Aye, sir.”
“Ensign Lasren, open a channel.”
“Channel open, sir,” Lasren replied as the small but deadly craft made a beeline for Voyager.
“Organic ship, this is Commander Tom Paris of the Federation Starship Voyager. We mean you no harm.”
The image on the main viewscreen was replaced by a familiar face. Paris almost smiled in relief until he realized that the alien genetically altered to look like a human female didn’t look happy to see him.
“I should hope not, Commander,” the woman replied.
“If you’d give me the chance, I’ll be happy to explain,” Paris offered.
“I have been authorized to negotiate only with Captain Janeway,” the woman said. “Please contact her immediately.”
Tom’s shoulders slumped involuntarily.
“Captain Janeway is no longer aboard Voyager,” Tom replied. “She was killed in the line of duty more than a year ago.”
The woman’s face softened. “I am sorry to hear that. She was a unique individual and exceedingly competent for a human.”
“We all miss her,” Tom agreed.
“In her absence, I will speak with Commander Chakotay,” the woman said obligingly.
Tom didn’t even blink.
“I will contact him immediately,” Paris replied. “A moment, please.”
The woman nodded warily. “I assume you know better than to play games with us, Commander Paris.”
You bet I do, Tom thought.
Turning to Lasren he said softly, “Drop shields, lock on to Chakotay’s signal aboard the Galen, and transport him directly to the bridge.”
“Commander Paris,” Kim interjected from tactical, in two words and five syllables communicating his forceful disapproval of the course the first officer had settled on.
“Later, Mister Kim,” Paris said grimly, “assuming any of us live through this.