by Various
"Our latest information shows that a preliminary map is due to be delivered to Admiral Ross in fifteen and one quarter hours."
Somehow, an android and a Vulcan would be comfortable with such precision. To Riker, fifteen hours from now would suffice. By then, the decision would have been made and it would be out of Riker's hands. What remained to be decided, though, was what to do with the Petraw. They had remained silent since the sabotage effort so the jamming signal was doing its job, but they couldn't maintain that in perpetuity.
Riker stood with the PADD and studied the engineer's recommendations as he strolled toward the ready room. He would contact the other captains from there and announce the decision. The commander was so absorbed with the information he did not notice the crewman coming his way and they collided. Both men tumbled to the deck.
Once on the carpeted floor, Riker looked up and saw Picard's face.
"Sir!"
"At ease, Will," Picard said with a smile. Both men scrambled to their feet and were the center of attention as everyone else on the bridge stood and came close to their commanding officer.
"Is everything all right? Did you find the answer?"
"I believe so," Picard said, patting the bag that remained at his side.
Quickly, Riker updated the captain on what had transpired, and in turn Picard explained his planet-jumping and search for the Resonators. He handed the tricorder to Data and asked him to begin the required analysis.
"We can swap details later," Picard said. "Let me notify the others that I am back and that we will need to act shortly. And then, I think, I need a shower and hot meal."
Riker broke into a grin. "I think I can watch things a little while longer."
"Very well." The captain began toward his ready room, paused, then turned around. "It's good to see you again, Number One. I've missed the ship."
Riker nodded, still smiling, and once more settled into the command chair. It didn't feel so uncomfortable for a change.
A few hours later, a refreshed Picard sat at the conference table with Riker, La Forge, Crusher, and Data. He had asked Captain Troi to patch in from her post on the Marco Polo to get her input. The others would be notified after the briefing. Data was standing by the monitor screen that showed a stellar map with the thirteen purple sites still highlighted.
"The pattern of dispersal does not, as yet, make sense," the android began. "All are located on planets and fortunately, all thirteen planets still exist. All are within Klingon, Romulan, Ferengi, or Federation space, aside from two that are within the former Thallonian Empire in Sector 221G."
"Data," Picard said, "does overlaying this pattern with the pattern of migration from Iconia tell us anything?"
"No immediate pattern is discernible. However, I will give the matter further study."
Picard frowned briefly but nodded. "How do we get the thirteen Resonators into position?"
"I have endeavored to work out a travel plan. It will require relaying the Resonators to fast ships from here. My initial plan indicates it will take some twenty-eight point five hours if every ship makes its scheduled rendezvous. This will require the Enterprise, Marco Polo, Chargh, and Jarok to leave the area, spreading the Resonators to others."
Nodding, Picard said, "Obviously, we should use the Excalibur and the Trident for the two Thallonian gateways."
"Captain," Riker said hesitatingly, "Admiral Ross suspects both Captains Calhoun and Shelby entered a gateway."
"I see," the captain said slowly. Then he smiled. "I am not at all surprised, Number One. No doubt he'll have his own story to tell and it's one I'm looking forward to."
Riker let out an exasperated sigh and said, "I'll talk to Mueller and Burgoyne and make a plan." He shook his head, clearly thinking about the crew of the ill-fated starships.
Data went on, detailing how the ships should move out with recommended warp speeds and courses. Working at his superhuman speed, he managed to work out .thirteen different itineraries that would cover a vast swatch of the galaxy in the minimum amount of time. Picard was impressed all over again with how smoothly his crew functioned.
"Captain," Troi said from the adjacent viewscreen. , "What about the Petraw?"
"I have not come up with a satisfying answer as yet," Picard admitted. "As we leave, I will need the Qob and Glory to take charge."
"With their attempt at sabotage, they cannot be trusted to remain complacent with fewer ships present," Data said.
"I recommend we disable as many of the ships as possible," La Forge suggested.
I'm not sure I see a better solution," Picard said slowly, not happy with the notion. "Prepare your plans, irdi. Will, contact the vessels we'll be meeting with.
Deanna, relay word to the other captains in the area. Let's try and leave within the hour. Dismissed."
Quickly and efficiently, the crew stood and went about their business and Picard was left alone in the observation lounge. While it felt good to be home, he disliked waiting more than a day to conclude the business at hand. And he kept thinking back to the world and little Chanik, faithfully waiting for the signal that would help protect a galaxy from chaos.
As expected, the Romulan commander was the first to be in touch with the captain. She seemed cool and collected despite her ship being anything but battle-ready.
Picard was now in his ready room, having caught himself up on status reports from his ship and around the fleet. He looked at the screen on his desk and acknowledged the darkly attractive woman.
"If you leave, it will only embolden the Petraw to try and conduct more sabotage."
"Have you a suggestion?"
"Destroy a handful of random ships, disable more, and even the odds."
"How Klingon of you," Picard noted, satisfied at the scowl marring her pleasant features. "I have my chief engineer preparing plans to disable the entire Petraw fleet as opposed to destroying anyone. This way, when we're done, we can decide what to do with them."
" You don't have a plan ? I am most surprised."
"Honestly, Desan, I have been more than a bit busy."
"Just what did you find on the other side?" She leaned toward the screen, intense curiosity replacing the scowl.
"The Resonators were found on the last Iconian stronghold in the Alpha Quadrant, a world reduced to much more primitive standards. But, they're developing nicely, and one hi particular helped me find them. It was quite an enlightening experience. When I return, if time permits, we can talk some more of it. But for now, I want you to know that I am placing my faith in the accords between our people and my personal trust in you to maintain the peace."
Desan seemed surprised by the vote of confidence and her expression betrayed her, pleasing the captain. She would make a questionable poker player, he considered. She merely nodded at the words and clicked off the communication.
Before he could pick up the next PADD on the tall stack to his right, the screen beeped once and he saw that it was the Kreechta captain calling. This might be a problem or, more likely, a diverting conversation.
"How can I help you DaiMon Bractor?"
"I want you to know I appreciate your faith."
This surprised Picard, who rested his chin on his fist and considered the situation. The Ferengi had a reputation for underhandedness overall. His own dealings had proven they could be spiteful and capable of killing.
'To be honest with you, DaiMon," Picard said, a smile on his face, "trust has to be earned and you have earned it."
Bractor bowed in appreciation. "There can be profit in many forms, I'm told. I consider this an investment against the future." 'The results should bring us closer together," Picard said hopefully.
"Thank you," the toothy captain said in all sincerity.
"Will you bring Doral along with you to keep him from influencing the others?"
"I hadn't considered him," the captain admitted. In fact, he hadn't even asked after the dejected Petraw leader. "But what you say makes sense, so yes, he will
accompany us."
"And should you find something of value when you put all the Resonators in place ..."
"As promised, if there's something to share, it will be shared with all. You need not fear being cheated."
"All hands have returned," Jessie Davison told Captain Troi.
She smiled and turned to face the screen before her. Already, the hulking Jarok was moving off, heading out at sublight speed and clearing distance until it could go into warp. The Enterprise was to move off next and then it would be their turn. The flight plan had already been entered, thanks to Data's inhuman speed. Mia Chan, her conn officer, grumbled good-naturedly about having nothing to do during the flight. Troi reassured her that they had stops to make along the way and her skills would be required.
The turbolift doors snapped open, admitting a trio onto the bridge. Johnny Rosario, the tactical officer, strode out first, looking a bit tired after his "baby-sitting" duties on one of the Petraw ships. No sooner did he enter the bridge than Chan jumped from her seat and ran to him.
She gave him a fierce bear hug that startled him and he wasn't sure where to place his hands. A look of panic was in his eyes when it became clear everyone was watching. After a few moments, when it became apparent Chan wasn't letting go, he tentatively placed his arms around her and returned the unbridled affection.
"I think I have feelings for you," she said giddily.
"I see, I see," he said slowly. The others around the bridge chuckled at that understatement.
"Affectionate crew," rumbled a voice from behind the couple. Troi knew it in an instant and stood at attention.
"Welcome aboard, Ambassador," she said, a wide grin showing her pleasure. She and Worf had been lovers once but now they were friends and she was genuinely glad to see him. Despite the length of the mission, not once did they have a chance to speak.
When the others realized the Klingon was in their midst, most returned their attention to PADDs or consoles. The couple blocking his entrance to the bridge started disentangling themselves, making excuses and apologies but accomplishing it with little grace.
"I try to run a comfortable ship," Troi said, finally walking around her embarrassed officers and giving Worf a much briefer hug of her own. Worf, like Rosario, was at first discomfited with the display, but gave her the briefest of hugs in return.
"The Resonators are still in the transporter room," he said, returning to business.
"Enterprise is beginning to move out," Science Officer Kal Sur Hoi said. The look of distaste on his face made Troi want to laugh. The Tiburonian seemed disdainful of anything not by the book, and interpersonal relationships seemed a bit beyond him. She had hoped to work on him, but hadn't come close.
"Do you think Geordi's plan will work?"
"As I understand it," Worf said, "he is using the escape patterns already programmed by the Petraw ships and is sending along polaron bursts to prevent them from beaming or using their engines. The Nyrians were most helpful in setting this up."
"Seems we made new friends," Troi said.
"They still want to return home," the ambassador noted.
"With luck, the captain will get them on their way. Okay, time to go to work." She shifted in her seat, leaning slightly forward.
"Helm, prepare to execute. Engineering, when we go to warp, we need to maintain maximum speed so keep an eye on the readings. Everyone, stand by to move out," Troi commanded. The staff snapped to work, a chorus of "aye's" filling the air. Worf stood by her side and seemed impassive.
Within a minute, they were clear to leave and the Marco Polo executed a clean arc, angling itself in a direction that would bring them to the first of two rendezvous locations. At sublight, they would need several minutes before they could enter warp space and the time was filled with status reports, relay checks, and the quiet hustle of any starship in Starfleet.
"Ready for warp," Chan announced, her hand tugging at her ear, her only display of nervousness.
"Warp seven, engage," Troi said.
The ship surged forward and the screen showed the shift into warp space and then another round of status checks filtered the air. Finally, the Klingon leaned down and whispered, so only Troi could hear, "You command them well. I am impressed."
Rather than say anything, she leaned up, kissed him on the cheek and laughed as his eyes went wide.
Davison, to her right, chuckled, and Worf left the bridge, his speed making the ambassadorial robes flutter.
"Time to rendezvous with the Trident and Excalibur," Riker asked.
"Fourteen minutes," Data responded.
The Enterprise had been cruising along at warp nine with no incidents. They had left the Petraw ships behind them ten hours earlier, allowing the crew to return to their normal routines. Which meant a rested Riker was in command and Picard was off-duty. People had time to eat or sleep, La Forge was able to run required diagnostics to prepare a maintenance schedule for their next stop at a starbase, and things were feeling normal for the moment.
Against all that, though, was the specter of chaos represented by the still-functioning gateways. Wars had broken out, natural disasters were occurring more frequently as the ancient technology began to harm the worlds it had once serviced. If Picard was right, the fourteen Resonators would either automatically close down the gateways, or at the least, give him control over them for the first time. If the latter, it represented awesome power and crushing responsibility. Starfleet, though, trusted him to make the right decision, since he had not once let them down.
Riker also took time to quickly review what he knew of the ships he was meeting. The Excalibur he had very briefly taken command of a few months back was gone, destroyed thanks to a madman. The ship on its way was a rechristened Galaxy-class vessel that Mackenzie Calhoun took command of in the wake of his return from the "dead." Picard was there for the christening, and had regaled his crew with the story of how he was ready to make Elizabeth Shelby the captain just as Calhoun turned up. He wound up with the ship; Picard wound up performing the wedding ceremony between the two. Shelby got command of the Trident, an Ambassador-class vessel.
Shelby irritated the first officer, mostly because of her Trident attitude, but deep down he suspected they were more alike than not and that was where the problem lay. A key difference between them was her ambition, and he presumed she should be somewhat mellowed now that she had both Calhoun and a ship of her own.
Still, the reports from Starfleet were disturbing, since they indicated that both ships were involved in trying to settle a gateway-inspired war between the Aerons and the Markanians. Somehow, this led both Captains Shelby and Calhoun to enter a gateway and were now presumed missing. If they were not recovered, it would be a tremendous loss.
"Trident to Enterprise."
Riker looked up and saw an attractive woman with dark blond hair tied in a knot at the top of her head, cobalt-blue eyes, and an intriguing scar on her left cheek. This was Kat Mueller, who had been the night-shift commander on the previous Excalibur. "Riker here."
"Commander Mueller, in temporary command of the Trident."
"So I understand. Sorry to hear about Captain Shelby. She was a fine officer."
"I would disagree," Mueller said, a hint of humor in her eye.
"I'm sorry?"
"She is a fine officer and will be rejoining us just as soon as we complete this assignment."
Riker smiled at that and added, "Well, that's good news. Calhoun as well?"
"The man cheats death more often than anyone in the Fleet." Riker was growing to like this woman by the moment. He hadn't gotten to know her very well during his brief tenure on the Excalibur.
"I'll take that as a yes. We won't have a lot of time so we're hoping to beam the Resonator en route."
"Beam a single object as we pass one another at high warp? That's imaginative."
"Born out of desperation, I admit," he said.
"Very well, we trust you will get it right the first time."
<
br /> "Well, there's no time for a second attempt if we're to repeat this with Excalibur."
As expected, the highly trained staff of the Enterprise managed the feat with minimal fuss and the two ships sped off toward different stars. Less than thirty minutes later, the Excalibur came within range. This time, Riker was exchanging pleasantries with Burgoyne 172, the ship's newly minted first officer.
"We'll be transporting the Resonator in about a minute," Riker told the Hermat. He remembered Burgoyne to be a complex but companionable person, and suspected s/he would make a fine first officer.
"Don't you find this a tad convenient? "
"In what way?"