Star Trek: The Next Generation - 119 - Armageddon's Arrow (4 page)

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Standing at the center of the
Enterprise
bridge, his arms folded across his chest, Captain Jean-Luc Picard studied the as yet unidentified object now displayed before him on the main viewscreen. That it was a vessel was obvious, given its smooth surface, straight lines, and sharp angles. Even from this distance, the image—as conveyed by long-range sensors—was clear enough that Picard could see seams where hull plates, shifting in color from gray to varying shades of amethyst, had been joined to the vessel’s enormous frame. Long and narrow, and possessing flared sections of curved hull segments extending outward from its tapered core, it resembled a wedge of sorts. Beginning with a giant, bell-shaped aft section, it narrowed almost to a point at its opposite end. An assortment of ports, hatches, protrusions, and other attachments festooned its hull on all sides. Weapons placements and what likely were maneuvering thrusters also were evident, positioned at regular intervals from bow to stern, including a massive circular port at the very front of the ship. The craft appeared to be devoid of external light sources, its depiction made possible thanks to the
Enterprise
sensors and the main computer’s imaging software, and it was clear that the gargantuan vessel was adrift.

“Long-range sensors first detected the vessel less than ten minutes ago,” said Commander Worf from where he stood before his seat next to Picard’s command chair. “We attempted to hail it on all frequencies, but we’ve received no response. No signs of propulsion are evident, and so far we’ve registered no life-form readings.” The first officer paused, and Picard noted the small gleam in the Klingon’s eyes. “I thought you might find it interesting, sir.”

Picard smiled. “Something of an understatement, Number One.” Returning his gaze to the apparent derelict, he asked, “Have you completed your initial sensor sweep?” His attention now was focused on the numerous scorch marks, impacts, and breaks scattered across the ship’s hull, all evidence that the vessel had seen some form of combat.

From where she sat at one of the science stations along the bridge’s starboard bulkhead, Lieutenant Dina Elfiki replied, “Yes, sir. Most of our scans are being disrupted, possibly from an unknown substance or material used in the vessel’s construction. The hull plates are a composite of what appears to be neutronium along with several other minerals we’ve never encountered.” After a moment, the science officer added, “We’ll know more after we get closer. For now, though, sensors are still picking up minor power readings. If I had to guess just based on the energy signature, I’d say it’s some form of backup system.”

“It’s definitely adrift,” said Lieutenant Aneta Šmrhová, the
Enterprise
’s chief of security. “I’m not detecting any signs of propulsion.” Standing at her station behind Picard’s left shoulder, she tapped her console several times before adding, “So far, there’s no indication that it’s reacting to our presence.”

“Conn, adjust our course and speed for intercept,” Picard ordered.

Seated at the flight controller’s station, Ensign Allison Scagliotti replied, “Aye, sir.”

“Sir,” Šmrhová said, “we’ve collected enough data to put together a preliminary tactical view.”

“On-screen.”

In response to Picard’s order, the viewscreen changed to a computer-generated representation of the unidentified vessel, now depicted as a wire-frame model, which began a horizontal clockwise rotation. Once the technical diagram had completed a full circle, it lifted so that Picard now saw what he presumed to be a dorsal view of the craft, looking as though down at the top of its hull. The model then rotated from this new angle for a complete circle, before the presentation reset and began again, providing the captain with a complete view of the entire ship—at least as translated by the main computer from telemetry received by the
Enterprise
’s sensor array.

“No sign of active weapons or other defenses?” Picard asked.

“Nothing I can detect, sir,” answered the security chief. As though anticipating his next question, she added, “The battle damage, if that’s what it is, looks to be approximately one hundred twenty years old. Most of it appears to have been inflicted by some kind of particle beam weaponry, but it’s not matching anything we’ve seen before. There also are penetration points along the hull suggesting something like an energy torpedo, but not as advanced as ours.”

“We’re approaching the ship now, Captain,” reported Scagliotti.

“Bring us out of warp, Ensign,” Worf ordered. “Shields up.” When Picard cast a wry look in his direction, the Klingon did not flinch. “One can never be too careful, sir.”

Picard nodded. “Agreed.” To Elfiki, he said, “Give us back normal view.”

The image on the main viewscreen shifted again, this time to show red-blue streaks of light receding to distant pinpoints peppering the total blackness of interstellar space as the object of their curiosity careened into view. As before, it was a foreboding vessel, spinning in rather lazy fashion on its long axis, dark and angular like a fighting blade.
No
, Picard decided. To him, the ship resembled the sharpened head of a massive spear.

“It reminds me of a Tholian ship,” Worf said.

“We’re well away from their territory,” Picard replied, “even if we took into account how fluid their borders tend to be.” That said, the first officer’s observation was not entirely without merit, for the gargantuan ship did indeed possess a strong resemblance to the far smaller yet still wedge-shaped vessels favored by the Tholian Assembly. “Lieutenant Šmrhová? Any similarities with Tholian technology?”

The security chief said, “No obvious ones, sir. I mean, besides the general shape. Its internal power systems are completely different from anything we’d expect to find aboard a Tholian vessel.”

Behind him, Picard heard the sound of doors parting at the rear of the bridge, which was immediately followed by the voice of his chief engineer.

“Wow,” was Commander Geordi La Forge’s initial comment, but it was enough to make Picard turn from the viewscreen in time to see the awestruck expression on the other man’s face as he emerged from the turbolift. “Would you look at that?”

“We have,” Picard said, unable to suppress a mild grin. “Welcome to the party, Mister La Forge.”

“Thanks for inviting me, sir,” the commander replied, stepping to the engineering station at the rear of the bridge. Arriving with him was T’Ryssa Chen, who moved from the turbolift to stand next to Šmrhová.

“Reporting as ordered, Captain,” she said.

Picard nodded. “I thought you should have a look at this too, as it might well be the first representative technology from a species indigenous to this region.” Looking to Elfiki, he said, “Lieutenant, what more can you tell us?”

Elfiki replied, “It measures in excess of twenty-seven hundred meters in length, and nearly eight hundred meters at its widest point. Our scans are able to partially penetrate the hull plating, but the readings are muddled. I’m having to modulate our sensors.” She frowned, shaking her head. “Judging by the size of those engine exhaust ports, whatever drives that thing is likely pretty impressive.”

La Forge said, “Despite our limited scans, I’m still seeing what looks to be a rudimentary form of warp drive. If I had to guess, I’d say its top speed was about warp two or two point five, so somewhere between first and second generation, and probably not good for much beyond flights between planets in the same system.” He frowned, nodding toward the viewscreen. “Of course, that makes you wonder what it’s doing way out here.”

“Drifting, mostly,” Šmrhová replied. “I’ve tried backtracking its course to determine a point of origin. I can’t make a conclusive determination, sir, but its trajectory suggests that it came from the star system we’re approaching.”

Picard considered the possibility. “Sensor data collected by the survey drones that mapped this area indicated advanced life-forms.”

Looking up from her station, Chen said, “I’ve read those reports, sir. They didn’t mention anything about warp capability. This may be a relatively new technological breakthrough for them.”

“My thoughts exactly, Lieutenant.” Picard offered a small smile. “If that’s the case, then you may be busy quite soon.” Turning back to the screen, he said in a louder voice, “It looks as though the rest of us have a bit of a mystery to solve.”

The captain, for one, welcomed the diversion that—for the moment, at least—appeared to be benign. Following a rendezvous at Starbase 24 in which the
Enterprise
had received a final consignment of supplies as well as its chief medical officer and his wife, Doctor Beverly Crusher, returning from her temporary assignment at Deep Space 9, the starship had set out for parts all but unknown. Weeks of travel from the heart of Federation space had yielded precious little about which to be excited. That much had been expected from the transit to “the Odyssean Pass,” which Picard believed was so named in a poetic whimsy by the Starfleet cartographer reviewing data from the first unmanned survey probes to chart the region. On two-dimensional star charts, the Pass was an area between two branches of Federation territory that skirted the far boundary of space claimed by the Romulan Empire, extending beyond its borders away from Federation, Klingon, and Romulan territory. That the Pass represented one of the few directions in which the Romulans were capable of expanding was not lost on anyone, particularly Picard, who more than once had considered the ramifications should the Federation run afoul of the Empire with respect to any future border disputes.

“Is there a chance that ship belongs to any of our friends from these parts?” Chen asked. Looking over his shoulder at the young lieutenant, Picard noted her wry expression and discerned her meaning.

“If you mean the Romulans,” said Šmrhová, “I doubt it. There’s nothing in that ship’s construction or metallurgy that’s even remotely similar to anything the Empire might have.”

And yet, Picard decided, there was something about this vessel’s elongated, conical silhouette that somehow was familiar. “How long until we intercept it?”

“Just under an hour at our present speed, sir,” replied Glinn Ravel Dygan, the young Cardassian officer manning the ops station to Chen’s left. Aboard the
Enterprise
thanks to an officer exchange program between Starfleet and the Cardassian military, the glinn had requested his assignment to be extended so that he could stay with the ship during its new mission to the Odyssean Pass.

Dygan almost had not made the journey, owing to concerns and pressures over which he had no control. The fallout stemming from President Bacco’s murder and the revelation that a group of Cardassians representing an extremist group calling themselves the “True Way” had been behind the assassination with the aid of none other than President Ishan Anjar and his chief of staff, Galif jav Velk, was affecting diplomatic relations between the Federation and the Cardassian Union. Though the alliance had suffered in the wake of the tragic events and the search for the responsible parties, newly elected President zh’Tarash remained confident that the bonds of friendship and respect that had been forged after so many years of distrust and conflict could withstand even the horrific truths that had been dragged from the shadows into the light.

This, Picard knew, was due in no small part to the efforts and determination of Elim Garak, Castellan for the Cardassian Union, with whom the captain also had formed his own unique bond. One of the many initiatives Garak had put into motion after consultation with the new Federation president was the expansion of programs such as the one that had brought Ravel Dygan to the
Enterprise
.

“Captain,” La Forge said, “I think I’ve managed to tune the sensors to give us a slightly better picture.” He frowned. “Whatever that thing’s made of is doing a fine job blocking most of our scans, but I’m at least able to push through the hull to a degree. I can’t rule out other power sources that might be shielded, but Lieutenant Elfiki’s right. There’s a huge power generation system in there, and it’s not like anything I’ve ever seen.”

The engineer was cut off by Šmrhová, who called out, “Captain, sensors are reading a massive power surge from the ship. I’m picking up indications of a handful of systems coming online.”

“What sort of systems?” Picard asked. “Can you identify?”

Rather than a reply from the security chief, the abrupt wailing of the red alert klaxon answered his question. He turned to the viewscreen to see a series of harsh orange lights flaring to life at regular intervals down the length of the alien ship’s hull.

“I think it’s reacting to our scans, Captain,” Šmrhová said. “I’m reading sensors of its own, scanning in all directions, including ours.”

“Full power to the deflector shields,” Worf ordered. “Stand by phasers.”

“Shut off the alarm,” Picard added. His attention fixed on the viewscreen, he saw numerous weapons ports activating as the
Enterprise
continued its flyby, the particle weapons beginning to swivel in their mounts. “Conn, move us away. I want some maneuvering room.”