Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [114]
“It’s likely that when ‘Meegan’ didn’t succeed in destroying us, they realized that the only other viable option was an all-out assault,” Chakotay observed. “One mosquito is a nuisance. A swarm of them is a legitimate problem.”
“We’ll destroy them all if we have to,” Eden replied. “But I don’t want it to come to that.”
Paris was comforted by her decisiveness.
“Two minutes to intercept, Captain,” Kim advised.
“Ensign Lasren, open a channel to the approaching vessels,” Eden ordered.
“Channel open.”
“Indign vessels, this is Captain Afsarah Eden of the Federation Starship Voyager. We have honored your request to depart your system. We have no intention of troubling you further. If there is something else you require of us, please advise us and we will do whatever we can to accommodate you. There is no need to resort to armed conflict. We bear you no ill will.”
In response, the Indign began to break their approach formation and move to positions to surround Hawking and Voyager. For now, they seemed content to ignore Galen, whose position several hundred kilometers from her sister ship’s was precarious.
“Indign vessels,” Eden began again, but was cut short by a crisp, monotone response.
“Return what you have stolen,” the Indign demanded.
Eden’s brow knitted itself into hard lines as she considered their demand.
“That’s going to be a problem,” she observed. Once Chakotay had briefed her, Eden had realized that Willem must have aided Meegan both in her attack on the Neyser colony and her escape. Clearly, she had stolen what the Indign were now seeking to retrieve.
“We would do so most willingly,” Eden replied. “The canisters that were stolen from your fourth planet have never been in our possession. The consciousness you sent to us took possession of a member of my crew, then destroyed your colony and collected the remaining canisters. She escaped before we were able to apprehend her. We do possess her last known coordinates and heading and would gladly join with you to capture and subdue her. If you scan our vessels you will be able to assess the veracity of my words.”
After a brief pause during which Paris entertained the hope that the captian might have gotten through to them, the three vessels nearest Voyager unleashed a salvo of phaser fire, rattling the decks.
“Shields are holding,” Kim advised. “Shall I return fire?”
Tom threw a quick glance in Chakotay’s direction and was met with his former captain’s unperturbed eyes. He seemed more curious than concerned.
Eden shook her head, rising from her chair and stepping toward the helm. “Evasive actions only,” she replied. “Indign vessels, this attack is unprovoked and unnecessary. Please disengage at once and let’s work together to solve what is now our collective problem.”
Paris watched Chakotay nod slightly in approval at her choice of adjectives.
After a moment, the three vessels that had opened fire adjusted their targeting solutions and fired as one at Voyager’s port nacelle. Gwyn immediately dropped the bow, offering only the mid-decks.
“Shields at ninety percent,” Harry called out.
“Damn it,” Eden hissed under her breath. “Ensign Lasren, are these ships unmanned drones or are there life-forms aboard?”
Paris understood the captain’s reluctance. B’Elanna’s shuttle was able to disable the Indign ship. Voyager’s weapons— even on a lower setting—would easily destroy them.
“I’m detecting hundreds of Indign cooperatives present,” Lasren replied. “Approximately seventy-five cooperatives per vessel.”
With obvious regret the captain turned to Kim and said, “Target the lead vessel’s weapons and fire when ready.”
A series of rapid, pinpoint bursts flew from Voyager’s phaser arrays, and multiple destructive explosions burst into bloom. The damaged vessel moved in ungainly fits and starts to clear as another cube dropped into its place.
“Indign vessels,” Eden attempted again, but was cut off