Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [116]
Cambridge’s shoulders dropped. Finally he asked, “Is there any way I can help?”
“Contact Commander Glenn and advise her of my intentions,” Seven replied with a nod. “And no matter what happens, do not attempt to terminate whatever connection I may establish with the Indign.”
The doubt in his eyes reflected her own trepidation, but he nodded firmly and offered her a friendly smirk. “Once more unto the breach, my dear.”
Between Voyager and Hawking, eight Indign cubes had been destroyed and six disabled in the first five minutes of the battle. While this left only ten to continue their assault, Voyager’s shields were at thirty-six percent, significant damage was done to several decks, and there were dozens of wounded personnel.
Hawking’s shields were below twenty percent and one of her phaser arrays was fried. In his last communication, Captain Itak had direly reduced their potential odds of success to less than ten percent.
Eden was forced to agree with his assessment. It seemed her options had gone from severely limited to none. Voyager and Hawking would have to destroy every Indign vessel or be destroyed.
Eden had dreamed of years spent in peaceful exploration, unlocking mysteries barely imagined, and productive contact with dozens of unknown species. In none of her dreams had she presided over the crippling of her ship in a single battle, never mind the destruction of another race’s fleet.
She cursed Willem for leaving Voyager vulnerable. He had compromised their systems thoroughly. She could have ordered her three vessels to engage their slipstream drives and eluded the Indign before the attack began. Unfortunately now, it was a little late.
But not necessarily for Galen.
“Eden to Itak,” she called, as Gwyn executed a near flyby of a cube and Kim unleashed a barrage of phaser fire upon its weapons array.
“Go ahead, Voyager,” Itak’s maddeningly calm voice replied.
“Are you still capable of slipstream flight?” Eden asked, attempting to match his tone.
After a short pause, Itak replied, “Lieutenant Vorik assures me that we are.”
“Very well. Break off your attack and regroup with Galen. I’m going to order Commander Glenn to engage her slipstream drive. Hawking should enter into the corridor Galen forms and rendezvous with the rest of the fleet as planned.”
“Voyager will not survive this battle alone,” Itak offered.
“You let me worry about Voyager,” Eden replied. “Stand by.”
“Acknowledged.”
Eden then keyed her comm panel to hail Commander Glenn and quickly repeated the orders she had just given Captain Itak.
“I understand, Captain,” Glenn replied. “However, Counselor Cambridge has just advised me that Seven of Nine is attempting to speak directly with the Indign. I don’t believe we should leave the area if there’s a chance she might succeed.”
Eden looked to Chakotay. “What the hell is she doing?”
Chakotay shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’ll tell you this: if Seven thinks she can get through to them, I wouldn’t bet against her.”
Eden found herself hoping he was right.
“I can give her three more minutes. Advise Counselor Cambridge to let her know. If she doesn’t get anywhere in that time, you are to coordinate your escape with Hawking as directed.”
“Understood. Glenn out.”
Eden looked again at Chakotay, amazed at his resolve in the face of the odds arrayed against them. She only wished she could share some of his confidence. Wordlessly he offered her a tight smile and for just a moment, she did.
“Commander Paris?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Can we keep this up for another three minutes?”
“Let’s find out.” Paris smiled grimly.
Seven began by seating herself on the edge of the biobed and bringing the face of Irene clearly into her mind’s eye. Irene was soon joined by Kathryn, Chakotay, Icheb, Naomi Wildman, and for good measure, Commander Tuvok. Seven allowed herself to imagine strength and support radiating from each of them into her. She met the eyes of each of them, drawing upon her memories of their love and steady resolve before arraying them behind her in an ordered formation, her own