Star Trek: The Original Series - 082 - Federation (42 page)

“Unlock its secrets.” Data rejoined the discussion. “If that is true, Captain Picard, then the Romulans must have devised a second part to their plan, to allow them to reclaim this object once we have determined its function, if we are able.” Picard had already considered that. “A very good point, Mr.

Data. Would your investigation of this object have uncovered any Romulan listening devices?”

-Without question,” Data said. Then he looked over at the reconstruction grid on the shuttlebay deck. “However, there is no telling what may be hidden in the complexities of the apparent Borg assembly. I will require some time to scan that assembly detail.” “In the meantime,” Picard said as he studied the mound of parts already removed from the Borg-like material, “perhaps it would be wise to surround the entire artifact with a security field, in order to disable any hidden sensing devices.” ‘Tll get on it right away, Captain,” La Forge acknowledged.

“But what should we do about this?” He indicated the object.

Picard studied the inscriptions carefully. If he were to follow the rules apparently inscribed on it, he would turn the object over to Starfleet, where a science team would begin analysis and trial and error. It could be decades before any results might be forthcoming, if at all. But as his attack on Traklamek had shown, sometimes the rules could be changed.

“Is it possible,” Picard asked, “that the conduits used by the Borg to tap the object’s power might also be used to link it with a computer?” La Forge nodded. “That’s why we were scanning for an interface area on the surface.” “Why not try to access the object from the exposed interface area?” Wesley was the one who answered. “Wouldn’t that be like… cheating, sir?” Picard shook his head. “In this case, we’re making up the rules as we go along, Mr. Crusher. I see nothing wrong in exploiting every opportunity which presents itself.” La Forge looked thoughtful. “I could hook up a type-three interface connection between the ship’s computer and the ob-ject in just a few minutes, sir. It won’t tell us anything immediately. but at least we could start probing the object’s circuit structure.” Picard nodded. “Make it so.”

A half hour later, the Borg-like artifact was encased in a sparkling forcefield that would prevent any type of monitor from recording the events on the shuttlebay deck and transmitting them to any potential Romulan spy.

At the same time, beside the Preserver object, La Forge, Wesley, and Data had set up a portable engineering computer-console. A thick bundle of monofilament induction leads ran from the console to a universal connector that was attached to the interface area on the object’s scarred section. Picard had watched his crew set up the equipment with interest.

Finally, La Forge looked up from his tricorder and flipped the tiny device shut. “We’re getting positive signal strength from all microscopic conduits, sir.” Data spoke from his position at the console’s controls. “I have established a program which will allow our equipment to probe each conduit in terms of signal strength and its interrelationship with other conduits. It will be a trial-and-error method at first, but in time we should gain a basic understanding of the circuit logic used within the device, which might lead to our being able to communicate with it.” “Splendid,” Picard said to his team. “Any idea how long it might take?” “On the order of hours to days, sir. Assuming that we are correct in identifying the object as containing computational ability.” Picard had been hoping for faster results, but it would take the Enterprise more than two weeks to reach Starbase 324, so at least there was a chance of achieving some breakthrough before then.

“Please proceed, Mr. Data.” Data ran his fingers over the console’s control panel. “I am now completing the connection.” Status lights flickered over the console’s displays and on the universal connector.

“Intriguing,” Data said as he studied the readouts.

Picard stepped closer to look over the android’s shoulder. He could see that patterns were already beginning to emerge.

“Look at that,” Wesley said, standing on Data’s other side.

“The object is probing our equipment the way we were trying to probe it.” “Is that right, Mr. Data?” Picard asked.

“It is. sir. It appears the object is considerably more sophisticated than I anticipated.” He pointed to the largest display screen on the console. where geometric shapes created by multicolored lines swirled like mixing water currents. “The data-relay pattern that is developing is similar to that which was created by Dr. Ira Graves when he downloaded his intellect into the ship’s computer.” Picard reacted with alarm. “Is the object attempting to download information?” Data angled his head, eyes fixed on the displays. “It is unlikely that—” Riker’s voice came from Picard’s communicator. “Bridge to Picard.” He sounded troubled.

Picard tapped the Starfleet delta on his chest. “Go ahead, Number One.” “Sir. the Enterprise has just changed course.” “Under whose authority?” Picard asked.

“That’s just it, sir. No orders have been received or given. We simply… changed course and the helm no longer responds.” Picard looked at the universal connector attached to the Preserver object. He had been in space long enough to guess what had just happened. “Disconnect the interface at once,” Picard ordered. Perhaps the object wasn’t to blame, but the interface could always be reestablished later.

Data quickly entered commands on the control surfaces.

Picard heard the Enterprise’s engines begin to whine.

“Sir,” Data said, “the interface no longer appears to recognize our abort commands.” “Captain Picard,” Riker announced. “We’re at warp eight and continuing to accelerate.” “Mr. ka Forge!” Picard called out as he pointed at the universal connector.

But Wesley was closer and immediately saw what the captain meant. He grabbed the monofilament fibers attached to the connector.

“Wesley, no!” La Forge warned.

Too late. The instant Wesley yanked on the fibers, sparks erupted from the connector, traveling along the fibers to flare around the youth s hands. He cried out as he was flung back to land heavily on the deck. The connector, now free, clattered on the deckplates.

La Forge and Data rushed to Wesley’s unconscious form.

Picard hit his communicator. “Number One—what’s our sta-tus?” Sparks continued to flutter over the surface of the connector, along the monofilaments, and onto the console itself. None of the controls could be touched now. The engines continued to increase their pitch.

“We’ve just hit warp nine?’ Riker answered tensely. “All bridge controls are locked.” Picard glared at the Preserver object. “Willmlisten carefully.

Our computer has been invaded by an override program. You must shut down all computer functions. We will have to reset the—” Picard’s communicator squealed. He tapped it again. “Picard to bridge?” But the connection had been severed. It made perfect sense. All communications on the ship were controlled by the computer.

A few meters distant, Wesley moaned as La Forge and Data succeeded in helping him to his feet. Picard moved swiftly to an equipment locker and pulled out a phaser. As he jogged back to the console, he set the weapon to level nine to vaporize the interface console and keyed in his security override command to permit that level of power discharge on board. But as he raised the phaser to take aim, all lights in the shuttlebay went out at once.

Picard held his finger over the phaser trigger button, loath to fire when he could not see Data, La Forge, and Wesley. It took a moment for his vision to adjust to the emergency storage lights that came on-line. They were independent of the computer system, but would only provide a few hours of low-level illumination.

“Stand back?’ Picard warned his crew. Then he fired at the portable computer console. It took only a few seconds for the console to dissolve beneath the phaser’s fury.

But the scream of the Enterprise’s engines still rose.

La Forge ran to the captain’s side, shouting to be heard above the din. “Sir, if something has taken over the computers and can control all the ship’s systems, we have to get out of the shuttlebay ?lOW/” Picard was about to ask his chief engineer why. But then he became aware of the characteristic sputter of a forcefield being shut off and he looked in horror at the hangar-bay opening. For an instant. time stopped for Picard as he realized what had happened.

The atmospheric containment field had been shut down.

The wind began to howl as the bay began to explosively decompress.

Picard felt himself yanked forward, feet sliding across the deck, as the wind propelled him inexorably to the vacuum of space.

And oblivion.

U.S.S. E ITERPRISE NCC-1701 APPROACHING TNC 65813 Stardate 3855.5 Earth Standard: Nevember 2267

The first phaser volley struck Kirk’s Enterprise ten minutes before she had reached her destination. Mr. Scott had managed to coax a few extra decimal places of warp propulsion out of the engines, but it was not quite enough to avoid interception. Still, Cochrane saw that Kirk was pleased that his ship would now only be vulnerable for ten minutes, and not forty-five. But as far as Cochrane could tell, a starship could be destroyed in seconds, so the difference between ten and forty-five minutes seemed incon-sequential.

Cochrane and the Companion were back on the bridge when the attack began. Spock had prepared a station for them, two chairs close together by unused environmental controls. They had managed to clean up and eat in the interim. They had toured the Enterprise’s vast engine room. Some of the basic components Cochrane felt he could understand, but most had been a mystery to him. Mr. Scott had been quite kind in attempting to explain key systems, but Cochrane had realized the pressure the engineer had been under and had left as soon as possible.

He and the Companion had even found a few moments to themselves, and Cochrane had immediately apologized to her.

They were to have had years together, full of peace, uneventful, and yet, after only six months, this had happened.

But for the Companion, she regretted nothing. “When we became as we are,” she had told him, “we knew each hour with you was numbered, each moment spent was a moment less in the iime we would have. But we have had those six months, and we will have years more to come before we are no more.” Cochrane had held her then, admiring her strength. For one who had come so late to understanding humanity and the brevity of human lives, she had courage enough for them both.

But Cochrane had heard the hidden tension in Kirk’s words thesc past five hours. He had seen the intent expressions on the faces of Kirk’s crew. He had realized that it wasn’t just Kirk and McCoy who were the best in their roles on board this ship—each inctuber of the crew he observed excelled in the same way.

Whether that meant Starfleet had discovered staffing methods unknown in Cochrane’s time, or whether in the face of interplanetary exploration humans had actually begun to change in the past century and half, Cochrane couldn’t be sure. But despite the talent on board the Enterprise, despite her near-miraculous technical capabilities, Cochrane knew that the captain felt their situation was precarious.

Yet if the Companion was not capable of detecting that tension in others, Cochrane did not feel it was his place to take her hope from her. Let her dream of a peaceful future with him. He owed her that much, not because of duty, but because of the love he felt for her.

Cochrane wanted to protect her as she had protected him. But as the bridge trembled beneath the pursuing cruiser’s first phaser hit, all he could do was hold her hand. At least her smile told him it was enough. For now.

“Damage report,” Kirk said. He sat in his chair as a king would occupy his throne. All power emanated from that one position.

“They’re still too far away to inflict damage,” the Russian, Mr.

Chekov. reported. “No damage to ship or shields.” “Time to the black hole?” Kirk asked.

“Nine minutes,” Mr. Sulu replied.

“Status of second cruiser?” “Thirty minutes away.” The second cruiser had intercepted the decoy shuttle, destroyed it, then doubled back to join the pursuit of the Enterprise.

Thus far, there was no way to know which of the two cruisers carried Thorsen, or even if Thorsen had survived the attack on the third.

The bridge shuddered again. “Minimal damage,” Chekov reported without being asked. “Shields stabilizing.” “Transfer all power to aft shields,” Kirk said. “Those hits are going to get worse.” “Photon torpedoes launched from pursuing wessels!” “All hands stand braced for impact,” Kirk broadcast throughout the ship. “Ready on phasers, Chekov.” But Chekov did nothing. He spoke with a question in his voice.

“Torpedoes passing us, Keptin.” “Damn,” Kirk said. “Full power forward shields!” Instantly the viewscreen flared with orange energy as the Enterprise bucked. A moment later, sirens sounded as she shook again.

Chekov called out above the cacophony. “No damage from impact with photon torpedoes! But direct phaser hit on port nacelle and hangar-deck doors.” Spock also raised his voice to be heard through the inundation of noise. “Shields at sixty percent.” Cochrane realized what had happened. As soon as Kirk had reduced the strength of his forward shields, the pursuing cruiser had launched torpedoes on a trajectory that would carry them in front of the Enterprise to detonate where her shields were weakest. Then, when Kirk had recognized that strategy, when he had strengthened the forward shields, the cruiser had taken advantage of the starship’s exposed aft by firing again.

As damage reports filtered in through the bridge speakers, Kirk said, “At least we know Thorsen isn’t on that ship.” Cochrane agreed. The attack had been too well thought out.

Whatever else Thorsen had become in the past century and a half, Cochrane doubted he was capable of that kind of sophisticated strategy.

-‘Arm plnoton torpedoes,” Kirk ordered. “Let’s be ready when ttney try that again.” “Cruiser has launched again,” Chekov said.

“As soon as they pass us, drop from warp and launch our torpedoes at the aft of the cruiser,” Kirk said. ‘-Torpedoes passing… now/” Chekov said.