Part 12 (1/2)

”I could run this s.h.i.+p with half that number,” Blaze replied. ”These old Const.i.tution-cla.s.s vessels were very well designed. And I understand the Galaxy-cla.s.s stars.h.i.+ps can be operated with only a skeleton bridge crew, if necessary. It really is a shame I can't get my hands on one of those. But who knows? An opportunity may yet present itself.”

They stepped into the turbolift. ”Bridge,” said Blaze.

Riker exchanged glances with Dorn. ”If I understand correctly,” he said, ”you were seriously damaged in your encounter with the Enterprise. I'm a.s.suming we're in orbit above D'rahl, which means the s.h.i.+p has to be cloaked, otherwise you'd be visible on scanners. You told LaBeau that the repairs involve installing new engine components. That's a pretty big job. It also means you're going to have to go through a drive systems shutdown at some point.”

”That is correct,” said Blaze.

”But that means you won't be able to stay cloaked during that time,” said Riker.

”No, we will not. It is unavoidable, but there will be a period of time during which we shall be exposed and vulnerable. It shall be up to your friend, LaBeau, to render that period of time as brief as practically possible.”

”But what about the Enterprise?” asked Riker. ”The minute you decloak, you'll show up on their scanners.”

”Worried, Stryker?”

”You mean you're not?”

”We will deal with the Enterprise when the time comes,” said Blaze.

They stepped out onto the bridge. For Riker, it was an eerie sense of dej vu. He had been aboard Const.i.tution-cla.s.s stars.h.i.+ps before, so the bridge looked familiar, but modifications had been made here, as well. It appeared as if Romulan navigation consoles had been installed, and the communications console was different, as well. So was the bridge crew. An Orion was sitting in the captain's chair, which he vacated as soon as Blaze came on the bridge. The navigator was a human, but the helmsman was a K'tralli, as was the communications mate. And they were as rough-looking a lot as Riker had ever seen, dressed in a wild array of clothing that included bits and pieces of Merchant s.p.a.cefleet blues combined with outlandish civilian garb and K'tralli uniforms. Most of them were tattooed, and many had ears, noses, cheeks, and even eyebrows pierced.

”This Stryker, our new gunner,” Blaze told the bridge crew. ”And Thorn here, among her other duties, will be the one to patch you up should you start getting at one another's throats, so I suggest you treat her with respect.” He introduced the bridge crew. ”Navigator San Marco, Helmsman D'karr, Communications Mate T'gahl, and Bos'n Gol.” The last was the Orion. ”And here will be your station, Gunner's Mate,” Blaze said, conducting him to the weapons console.

Riker saw that, unlike some of the other consoles on the bridge, this one was original equipment. Or, at least, it was similar to the original weapons console, which would have been removed when the s.h.i.+p was sold as surplus. Somewhere, Blaze had found another one to replace it. He looked it over carefully. It seemed to have been a.s.sembled from the components of several different consoles, but it was familiar enough that he would have no trouble operating it. However, he saw no point in letting Blaze know that.

”It's been years since I've even seen one of these,” he told the freebooter. ”And this isn't like the consoles we had back at the Academy. This one is an older model. What's more, it looks as if several separate consoles were cannibalized to put this one together.”

”I can a.s.sure you that does not impair its function,” Blaze replied. ”I suggest you spend time familiarizing yourself with the equipment. It's programmed to conduct simulations, just like the ones you trained with. I will expect you to be able to operate it expertly by the time we are ready to leave orbit.”

”And if I can't?” asked Riker.

”I have confidence in you, Stryker,” Blaze replied. ”However, if necessary, I can operate the weapons console myself. I said that I could use a gunner. I didn't say I needed one.”

”Right,” said Riker. He glanced at the crew, then turned his attention to the console as Blaze conducted Dorn from the bridge to show her the s.h.i.+p's medical facilities. As he pretended to concentrate on studying the layout of the console, he tried to rack his brain for a way out of the situation.

They had come to the Zone in order to seek intelligence about Blaze. Instead, they had been shanghaied aboard his s.h.i.+p. Their weapons had been confiscated, which made little difference one way or another, as they would have been pitifully inadequate against the disruptors carried by Blaze and his senior officers. More importantly, their communicators had been seized and destroyed. That meant there was no way they could call the s.h.i.+p, nor was there any way the Enterprise could attempt to trace them through signals sent to their communicators.

We're stuck, but good, thought Riker. He was thankful he had taken the trouble to be so painstaking in doc.u.menting their cover ident.i.ties and making sure the files were placed in the Merchant s.p.a.cefleet data banks. Blaze had accepted them at face value as a result. Still, he was under no illusions that Blaze's trust would be won easily or quickly. He'll have us watched, he thought. There was even a good chance he might have their quarters monitored. They would have to find someplace safe to talk. Somehow, they had to get off this s.h.i.+p and alert the Enterprise to its location. But how?

If he could seize a moment or two at the navigations console, then he could determine the Glory's current position. But even if there were some way he could manage to do that un.o.bserved, there was still the problem of getting off the s.h.i.+p and conveying that information to the Enterprise. The transporters would be the only way. a.s.suming they would have a chance to get to them. Failing that, their only chance was in somehow alerting the Enterprise to the Glory's presence, either by getting a signal out or through some act of sabotage. The only trouble was, Blaze would immediately realize who must have done it and they would still be aboard the s.h.i.+p when the Enterprise attacked.

One way or another, he would have to figure something out before the crew finished their repairs. And that was another thing. Installing new drive components was not something that could be done quickly, and it would require a drive systems shutdown. Since the cloaking device operated off the drives, then the Glory would not be able to remain cloaked during that time. Blaze knew that, and he wasn't worried. That bothered Riker. For the length of time it took to install the new drive system components, the Glory would be a sitting duck. Its phaser banks would remain operative off stored charges, but the s.h.i.+p would be completely unable to maneuver. There would be no way in h.e.l.l Blaze could hold off the Enterprise under such conditions. So why wasn't he worried?

”Need any help?” said San Marco, the navigator, coming up to stand beside him at the console.

”No, thanks. I think I'll manage,” Riker replied.

”You're sure?”

”I think so.”

”You'd better hope so, Gunner, for your sake.” Riker glanced at him and nodded. Yeah, he thought. Tell me about it.

Chapter Six.

”MR. DATA, are you absolutely certain they are no longer on the planet surface?” asked Picard, with concern.

”I do not possess enough information to be absolutely certain, Captain,” Data replied. ”It is possible that Commander Riker and his party might have been removed to some location our sensors are not able to penetrate. However, we know that the K'trall do not possess the technology to interfere with our sensor scans, nor do they possess the knowledge to construct forcefields or structures which our sensors would be unable to penetrate.”

”Yes, but the Romulans do,” Picard said, grimly. ”Commander Riker's party may have been taken prisoner, or even killed.”

”I had considered that possibility, as well, sir,” Data replied. ”If that were the case, it would have been necessary for them to have been killed in such a manner as to preclude any attempt to communicate with us. A phaser or disruptor set on wide-dispersal beam might have accomplished that. However, I programmed the s.h.i.+p's sensors to scan for minute atmospheric traces of rapid nadion effect that would indicate any vicinity where a phaser or disruptor might have been discharged recently. I was able to pinpoint only one such locale, and the coordinates match those from which you recently beamed up with Colonel Z'gral. In other words, sir, despite the Romulan presence on D'rahl, the only one to have fired an energy weapon anywhere on the planet surface within the last twenty-four hours was yourself. Having eliminated that possibility does not, of course, mean that Commander Riker's party might not have met with violence by some other method, but lacking more detailed information, I am unable to draw any conclusions.”

Picard took a deep breath. ”Mr. Data, how many vessels are currently stationed in orbit above D'rahl?”

”Our sensors register eleven merchant freighters, sir,” Data replied. ”However, we are unable to detect any vessels on the other side of the planet.”

”I want you to conduct sensor probes of all those vessels, Mr. Data, starting immediately,” said Picard. ”Mr. Worf, contact Starbase 37 and the Merchant s.p.a.cefleet Union office on D'rahl and request a complete listing of all vessels currently in port, along with scheduled departure times. Inform them that this is a Starfleet Priority request.”

”Inform them also, Mr. Worf, that until further notice, all scheduled departures are canceled, as per my authority,” Gruzinov added. ”No vessel is to leave orbit without my personal authorization.”

”Aye-aye, sir,” Worf replied.

”I'll take the heat for that, Jean-Luc, don't worry,” Gruzinov told Picard. ”We'll get your people back.”

”a.s.suming they are still alive,” Picard said, grimly. ”Commander Riker would not have left the planet surface voluntarily without communicating his intention to us. So either they have all been killed, or else they have been taken prisoner, most likely aboard a s.h.i.+p.”

”Given the strength of the Romulan presence on D'rahl, it is entirely possible that they have a cloaked Warbird in the vicinity,” Gruzinov said. ”Perhaps even stationed in orbit and cloaked. We'd better notify Starfleet Headquarters.”

Picard compressed his lips and nodded. ”The Romulan presence on D'rahl leaves us with no other choice.” He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. ”This may be the beginning of a war.”

”Captain, I am receiving a message from the planet surface,” Worf said.

”Onscreen, Mr. Worf.”

Governor T'grayn's face appeared on the main viewscreen. He looked extremely agitated. ”Captain Picard, I fear that I must lodge a formal protest. Word has reached me that you have abducted Colonel Z'gral and are holding him aboard your s.h.i.+p. I must demand his return immediately.”

”Now, you listen to me, you fat, traitorous-” Z'gral began, angrily, but Picard took him by the arm and squeezed, firmly.

”Colonel ...” he said, softly.

Z'gral fell silent at once. He was a soldier, and he understood that Picard was in command here.

”Governor,” said Picard, ”Colonel Z'gral came aboard this vessel voluntarily and has formally requested political asylum.”

”Ridiculous,” T'grayn replied. ”Colonel Z'gral is not a dissident, nor is he a criminal. He is one of our most honored citizens! You invaded his home and-”