“Well have to take the entire com system offline for a few hours at least while we get this problem sorted out, Juan said.
“The sooner you two get those subspace bands tuned back in, Paul said, “the sooner I can cross that report off my list.
Perhaps ten minutes after Nora and Juan had pulled open the bridges primary com system access panel, Charlie pointed directly toward the main viewer.
“What the hell is that? he said with a puzzled frown.
Looking at the forward screen, Paul could see for himself that his helmsman wasnt simply imagining things. A long, tapered shape had indeed suddenly appeared like an apparition before his startled gaze, seemingly materializing out of nowhere.
Nora and Juan both abruptly set aside their com system repairs, transfixed by the approaching ship.
“Must have roared in pretty damned fast, Juan said. “Id guess she must have been doing warp four or better before she went sublight.
“What kind of ship is she? Nora wanted to know.
“I hope its not what it looks like, Charlie said, his eyes suddenly going nearly wide enough to see in the radio spectrum.
Paul swallowed hard as he nodded in silent agreement with the Horizons pilot. The bulbous projection at the nearer end of the incoming vessels long, narrow body marked it as something no freighter captain wanted to encounter. As did its two widely spaced, ventrally curved engine nacelles.
The dull glow Paul saw emanating from the depths of the newcomers forward weapons tube wasnt exactly an encouraging sign, either.
“Whats a Klingon battle cruiser doing way out here in the Gamma Hydra sector? he said, addressing nobody in particular. “Were a hell of a lot closer to the Romulans stomping grounds right now than we are to Klingon space.
“Lets just hope they keep right on going without noticing us, Juan said, standing beside the com console, transfixed by the image on the screen.
Equally absorbed by the approaching apparition, Charlie said, “Not much chance of that. What are the odds theyd just happen to drop out of warp almost right on top of us?
“Im receiving a hail, Nora said. “Audio only.
“Put it on speakers, Paul said, nodding.
A deep, gravel-coated voice resounded through the small bridge. “Nov Duj. Pejeghbe Duj. Ghuh tIjta pagh QIH.
“Dunno what hes saying, Charlie said. “But it doesnt sound friendly.
Paul was forced to agree. “Run that through the translation matrix, Nora.
“Already on it, she said as she finished entering a brief series of commands into her console.
A few tense heartbeats later, the computer substituted a synthetic English-speaking voice for that of the Klingon who was hailing them. “Alien vessel. Surrender your ship. Prepare to be boarded or destroyed.
Paul sighed. “Thats pretty much what I thoughtyou were going to say, he muttered under his breath. He flipped a switch on his chair console, opening an intercom channel to the engine room. “Mom, Im going to need all the speed you can give me.
“You dont seriously expect to outrun that monster, do you, son?Rianna said, evidently having already monitored the developing situation from her station.
“Weve got a better chance of doing that than we do of winning a straight fight, Paul said. Even though his brother had persuaded him of the wisdom of upgrading the Horizons weaponry during his last visit more than two years earlier, a Klingon battle cruiser was nowhere near as easy to dissuade from using force as was your garden-variety pirate ship.
“All right, son,Rianna said. “Ive got my hand on the throttle. You just give the word.
“Consider it given. Charlie, take us back down into the gravity well of the system we just left, pedal down all the way. Maybe we can lose em in one of the asteroid fields.
“Hang on to your butts, Charlie said again as he entered the appropriate commands. Paul felt his stomach lurch once more as the freighter accelerated and the inertial dampers again took a few microseconds to catch up. His lunch seemed to desire escape nearly as urgently as he did, but he somehow held on to it until the mercifully brief peristaltic impulse passed.
“Nora, send a distress signal, Paul said once hed found his voice again. He knew that transmitting a Mayday via ordinary EM-band radiothe only option available with the subspace gear still downwould be about as useful as waving semaphore flags. But he had to do something.
“Its no good, Nora said, shaking her head in evident frustration. “Theyre jamming us!
“Then launch the log buoy, Paul said, swallowing hard.
“Done, Nora said a moment later.
Paul felt a subtle change in the vibrations coming through the deck plates. Something wasnt right.
At the helm, Charlie seemed to be beating back panic, but only barely. “The helm just went dead. Navigation is completely offline.
Pauls heart raced. “Did the log buoy get away?
Nora slammed her fist down on her console, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath as though struggling to compose herself. “Afraid I cant tell. My station just went down, too.
Darkness suddenly enfolded the bridge. Paul heard a brief chorus of startled cries and gasps.
“Life support, too, Charlie said. Only then did Paul notice the sudden total absence of the ubiquitous background hum of the air-circulation fans.
Paul fumbled for the intercom controls. “Engine room! Mom! Nothing. Despite the failure of the helm and just about everything else, the ever-present aural backdrop created by the warp engines was gradually intensifying.
Then an eerie but welcome reddish glow slowly began to suffuse the chamber as the battery-powered emergency backup circuits dutifully yawned, stretched, and began to wake up.
“At least somethingsstill working, Paul said.
“We still dont have any control over anything up here, Juan said, speaking from the gloomy shadows near one of the port stations.
The vibration in the deck plates shifted yet again. Paul knew the ship was accelerating.
“Were still generating warp power, Nora said.
The deck rattled and vibrated. The effect was very different from anything he had ever experienced before. More powerful, and more out of control. Deck segments slammed into one another like a planets tectonic plates suddenly cranked into absurdly fast motion, a billion years crammed into a few fleeting heartbeats.
“Wed better get the escape pods ready, he said, raising his voice to be heard above the din. “Just in case.
Charlie entered a command, checked a readout, then cursed. “Not functioning.
Why doesnt that surprise me?Paul thought, struggling to remain calm, or at least to sound that way the next time he spoke. “Nora, get that viewer back up. I need to see what that Klingon ship is up to.
“Working on it, she said, a keen edge of terror audible in her voice. “But I cant seem to
She stopped abruptly when the forward viewer suddenly winked back to life, displaying an aft view. Looming against the star-bejeweled blackness of deep space, the Klingon battle cruiser was still closing in inexorably on the Horizons retreating stern.
“Good work, Paul said, thankful for whatever small miracles might appear.
“I didnt do it, Nora said, sounding flummoxed. “I still havent figured out why the hell the lights went out in the first place.