by Dayton Ward
Except, of course, he mused with a smile, that it didn’t happen that way at all.
Commander Riker, with his penchant for the curious when selecting gifts, had replicated a copy of the novel for Picard as a birthday present shortly after the Enterprise’s encounter with Zefram Cochrane in the twenty-first century. Given his and the crew’s covert involvement with the legendary man’s historic initial warp-speed flight as well as humanity’s first officially recorded encounter with an alien species, the book was a particularly whimsical gift. Though he did not normally partake of popular fiction for his leisure reading, Picard had nevertheless found the story to be so engrossing that he had reread the book several times in the years since first receiving it.
When done well, he decided, fictional first contact is almost as exhilarating as the real thing.
Picard exited his ready room and stepped onto the bridge to hear Commander Riker issuing the order to slow to impulse power. As the ship dropped out of warp space, the captain turned his attention to the main viewer and saw the multicolored streaks of light revert to distant points of light against the black tapestry that was the space surrounding the Enterprise. Even after all these years, he never tired of that sight.
“Report,” he prompted as he crossed the bridge, stopping in his habitual place between and just behind the forward conn and ops positions.
Rising from the command chair in deference to the captain, Riker said, “We’ve just entered the system, sir. Long-range scans show no signs of other vessel activity anywhere in the area, but that’s not saying much.”
“Explain,” Picard said, frowning at the report.
Turning in his chair at the ops position, Data said, “Our sensors are encountering a great deal of interference which appears to be caused by low-level radiation emanating from the massive asteroid field orbiting this system’s sun between the sixth and seventh planets. The radiation is a by-product of various minerals and ores comprising the bulk of the asteroids. It is an effect that will worsen as we move farther into the system.”
According to information gleaned from the probe recovered by the Vulcan ship in 2151, the asteroid belt had played an integral part in the Dokaalan people’s economy, with all manner of minerals and other raw materials being extracted for various uses. A great portion of the people’s limited interplanetary spaceflight capability had been devoted to a burgeoning mining industry, with dozens of freighters and personnel transports supporting a network of colonies operating among the asteroids.
“Is the radiation a danger to us?” Counselor Troi asked, rising from her own station and stepping forward until she stood next to Picard.
From the engineering station at the rear of the bridge, La Forge replied, “I don’t think so, Counselor. Even in a reduced state, our deflector shields should be more than enough to protect us. I’ll know more once we’ve finished analyzing our readings and after I’ve consulted with Dr. Crusher. As for the sensors, I’ve already got my people working on retuning them to offset the radiation’s effects. We won’t be at full capacity, but at least we won’t be blind.”
Satisfied with that, Picard turned his attention back to the main viewer, where a faint gray and brown band was just becoming visible on the screen. The asteroid field, he presumed, watching the swath of rubble and who knew what else continuing to grow and expand as the Enterprise traveled deeper into the Dokaalan system.
“Considering the extent to which the Dokaalan relied on the asteroid field,” he said, “their physiology must have possessed a natural resistance to the radiation.” Looking to Data, he said, “Commander, the message recorded by the Dokaalan first minister stated that as many people as possible would be evacuated to the mining colonies situated among the asteroids. Have you detected anything that might indicate the presence of such settlements?”
Shaking his head, the android replied, “Not as yet, sir. With our compromised sensors, we will have to move deeper into the system before we can hope for reliable readings.”
“Do you still think we might find something, Captain?” Troi asked.
“I honestly have no idea,” Picard replied. “At the very least, we might find some remnants of their civilization, some clue as to what actually happened after the probes were launched and how survivors, if there were any, might have coped.” Smiling slightly, he added, “We may as well make the most of our opportunity to examine all the possibilities. Wouldn’t you agree, Counselor?”
Picard’s orders for this assignment had not been terribly specific, owing in no small part, he suspected, to the nature of their issuance. Admiral Nechayev had sent him and the Enterprise to the Dokaalan system as a means of keeping them out of the spotlight for a time. The mission itself was simple, yet lengthy in duration, and Nechayev had therefore left the details to Picard. It comforted him to know that despite all that had happened, the admiral still trusted him to exercise his judgment, regardless of the task he was assigned.
Hours before they entered the region, long-range sensors had determined that the fourth planet, once the home of the Dokaalan people, had in fact been destroyed. Its debris had expanded in all directions to form a smaller, less dense asteroid field than the one blocking the Enterprise’s path through the system. Essentially, their mission was completed, at least according to the letter of Nechayev’s instructions.
However, the vagueness of the admiral’s orders meant, to Picard at least, that he had a good deal of latitude in which to work. Why not exercise it, and see what else there was to learn here? Perhaps they could determine what actually caused the Dokaalan planet’s destruction.
Moving to his command chair, Picard said, “Mr. Data, will you be able to negotiate the asteroid field even with reduced sensor capability?”
The android nodded. “Our navigational sensors and deflectors do not seem to be impeded by the radiation to the same degree as our defensive shields. It should be possible to augment their power sufficiently to provide the data I will need to guide the ship. However, I would recommend proceeding through the field with maneuvering thrusters only.”
“I don’t suppose you’d want to take the helm, sir?” Riker asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. “As I recall, you have a knack for this sort of thing.”
It had been more than a decade since the Enterprise-D happened across a Promellian battle cruiser, derelict for centuries and drifting within an asteroid field not altogether different from the one they were currently approaching. It was soon discovered that a network of energy-draining devices had captured the ancient vessel and those same traps were threatening to ensnare the Enterprise. La Forge devised a plan using minimal power to maneuver the ship out of danger, and Picard himself piloted the vessel free of the trap.
Smiling at the memory the first officer’s question evoked, Picard tugged down on his uniform tunic and settled himself more comfortably in his chair. “I think I’ll allow Mr. Data the pleasure this time, Number One.” Looking to the tactical station, he said, “Lieutenant Vale, please dispatch my latest status report to Admiral Nechayev.” The admiral would be reading the report even before the Enterprise finished navigating the asteroid field, he guessed, thanks to the network of relay buoys deployed by the starship during the journey here from Federation space.
“Aye, sir,” Vale replied. “Sending the message now.”
At the ops station, Data finished entering a sequence of commands before turning to look over his shoulder. “I have plotted a preliminary course through the field, Captain, though I will almost certainly have to modify our heading while en route. It will take approximately nine hours to complete the crossing and will require me to assume control of the conn station as well as my own.” Looking to Lieutenant Perim seated at the station to his right, he said, “No offense intended toward your own abilities, Lieutenant.”
“None taken, Commander,” Perim replied. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help?”
The android shook his head. “No, but thank you.” He ta
pped a new series of commands to his console, and the ops panel before Perim’s promptly went dark.
To the conn officer, Picard said, “You are relieved for the time being, Lieutenant.” With a smile he added, “Take some time and rest that knee of yours. Dr. Crusher will be happy with both of us for that.”
Smiling as she rose from her station, Perim nodded to the captain and said, “I’ll be sure to inform her that she has you to thank, sir,” before heading for the turbolift set into the bridge’s starboard bulkhead.
The orders given, there was precious little else for the captain to do as his officers returned their attention to their various duties. Sitting quietly and observing the activity taking place around him, he reflected that it was almost possible to forget the reasons behind their being sent here in the first place.
Almost, he thought, but not quite.
“Now entering the asteroid field,” Data reported without turning from his station. Having reprogrammed his own console in order to interface with both ops and conn functionality, the android was now using one hand each to control both operations. “Disengaging impulse drive and activating maneuvering thrusters.”
On the main viewscreen, the effects of the radiation given off by the asteroids were beginning to assert themselves. The usually crisp display rendered by the viewer’s imaging processor was now grainy and filled with static, jumping and wavering as lines crisscrossed the screen.
“Mr. La Forge,” Picard said, “what is the status of your sensor modifications?”
Behind him on the bridge’s upper level, the engineer replied, “Still working on it, Captain. The radiation levels are increasing at a faster rate than we anticipated, and it’s overloading some of our sensor relays. I may have to reroute power from nonessential systems to compensate.”
“At your discretion, Commander.”
Beyond the haze of interference on the screen, the boundary of the asteroid field was now visible. Uncounted masses of rock, varying in size and shape, now dominated the image on the screen. Some of the asteroids appeared small enough to fit comfortably within the confines of the Enterprise bridge, while still others could themselves be small moons.
Then the image on the viewer cleared, and all the captain could see was a single, massive asteroid filling the screen.
“Data!” he snapped.
The android was already reacting to the looming threat faster than any living being could, his fingers a literal blur across the ops panel. On the viewscreen, the mammoth chunk of rock lurched to the left as the Enterprise swerved to starboard, shifting on its axis to avoid collision. Though Picard knew the ship’s inertial dampening fields would guard against him being tossed about during the evasive maneuvers, he still gripped the armrests of his chair in an instinctive effort to hold on.
As the giant asteroid slipped away along the ship’s port side, Picard wondered if the expression on his own face matched the look of relief on Riker’s.
“No offense, sir,” the first officer said, attempting to muster some of his trademark good-natured bravado, “but I’m really glad you let Data take the helm this time around.”
True to his word, Data took just under nine hours to guide the Enterprise through the vast asteroid field, using the ship’s maneuvering thrusters to alternate between their maximum speed and a slow crawl. Rather than subject himself to the tension merely watching the crossing would engender, Picard had instead opted for the solitude of his ready room. While he was able to relax somewhat within the room’s soothing confines, attempting to read or even catch an hour or two of sleep had proven impossible. He was actually thankful when the call finally came.
“Data to Captain Picard,” the android’s voice said over the intercom, “we are nearing the inner boundary of the asteroid field.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Picard replied. As he exited his ready room a few moments later, he noted that Riker and the majority of the alpha-shift bridge crew had returned to their duty stations as well.
“Despite a few more close calls,” Riker reported, “it looks like we made it through without any problems.”
“Excellent work, Mr. Data,” Picard said as he took his seat in the command chair. “Mr. La Forge, have you had any further success with the sensors?” He noted as he asked that the image on the main viewer had improved dramatically since he had last been on the bridge. While there was still static around the edges of the screen, the center of the picture was reasonably clear as it depicted the asteroid field now surrounding the ship.
“We’re better off than we were, Captain,” the engineer replied, “but still not one hundred percent. The radiation put out by the asteroids is too much for us to filter completely. As long as we’re in the system, we’ll have trouble with sensors and shields, as well as the phasers and the tractor beam and even the transporters. I’ve got my people working on it, but there’s only so much we’ll be able to do.”
Picard nodded, unhappy with the report yet knowing that La Forge and his engineering staff were doing their level best to find solutions to the problems caused by the asteroid field.
“Captain,” Lieutenant Vale called out from the tactical station, “our sensors are picking up low-level power readings from multiple sources. I’m attempting to ascertain locations now.”
“Ships?” Picard asked.
“I’m not sure, sir,” the security chief replied, “but if I had to guess, I’d say no. The power readings are inconsistent with any propulsion system I’m familiar with.”
Riker turned in his seat to face the tactical station. “What about life signs?”
“Our scans are still being blocked to a large degree,” Vale replied, “but we’re detecting faint readings. Looks like somebody’s home somewhere, sir.”
Picard felt a surge of excitement at that. Someone was alive out here among the rocks. Were they descendants of the Dokaalan survivors, or merely others who had found the mineral-rich asteroid field to be of value?
“Mr. Data,” he said, “coordinate with Lieutenant Vale and plot a course to investigate the power readings she’s detected. Let’s start in that fashion while we familiarize ourselves with the area.”
“Captain,” Vale suddenly called out, “I’m picking up a signal. It’s on a very low frequency, and it’s so weak I almost missed it.”
“Is it being directed toward us?” Riker asked.
The lieutenant shook her head. “I don’t think so, sir. I’m processing it through the universal translator now.” Without further prompting, she keyed in another set of instructions, and static erupted from the intercom system. Picard flinched at the abrupt explosion of noise, but he thought he could hear words spread intermittently among the racket. Vale adjusted the volume so that it was tolerable, and several seconds passed as she worked to clear the channel and enhance the message.
Her efforts were rewarded moments later as the static abated and a male voice broke through. The audio was distorted, but the message was clear.
“This is Outpost Takir. Help us!”
Chapter Twelve
PICARD ROSE from his chair, stepping forward until he stood directly behind the conn and ops consoles, as though the movement might bring him closer to the person pleading for aid.
“Our reactor coolant tank has ruptured, and our environmental system has failed. Send any available transports for evacuation!”
Picard’s eyes locked on the viewscreen and the uncounted asteroids drifting all around the ship, as if he might locate the caller by sight alone. Somewhere out there, among all the tumbling and drifting rock, someone needed their help. Turning to Vale, he asked, “Can you locate them?”
The security chief did not look up as she replied, “Triangulating now, sir.” After several moments spent adjusting and studying her console, she added, “I think I’ve isolated the source of the transmission. I’m reading a concentration of life-forms approximately three thousand kilometers from our present position.”
“Relay that inform
ation to Commander Data’s station,” Picard ordered. “Data, lay in an intercept course and engage at our fastest safe speed.”
Data keyed the instructions into his console and said, “Course laid in, Captain. Estimated time to rendezvous is four point seven minutes.”
“Sensor readings are clearing, sir,” Vale said. “The signal is coming from what looks like a sizable outpost constructed on the surface of a large asteroid. I’m picking up nearly four hundred life-forms there.”
Digesting this new information, Picard asked, “Can you determine the extent of the damage they’ve suffered?”
“There are power fluctuations in what appears to be a fusion reactor core, consistent with a breach or leak. It might have been caused by a structural failure of some kind.”
That meant the possibility of radiation-related injuries, Picard knew. “Notify Dr. Crusher so her team can prepare. We’ll transport all survivors to the cargo bays for initial triage.” Even if every single person on the mining outpost was in need of medical attention, the ship’s cargo storage areas would provide more than sufficient room to accommodate them all, at least for the time being.
At the engineering station, La Forge said, “From what I can tell, Captain, they’ve got maybe a few hours, if that.”
With preparations to receive the outpost victims under way, the captain could feel the energy of the people around him as they set to work, an almost palpable tingle on his skin. It was infectious, for he felt his own pulse beginning to quicken in anticipation of the task that lay ahead and the idea that after so many weeks of monotonous travel, they were finally going to do something useful.