A beep sounded from one of the pockets in his own parka, and al-Khaled removed the glove on his right hand in order to retrieve his communicator. Flipping open the unit’s antenna grid, he said, “Al-Khaled here.”
“How’s the weather down there?”asked the voice of the Lovell’s commanding officer, Captain Daniel Okagawa.
“Balmy,” al-Khaled replied. “We’re thinking of going out for a picnic later this afternoon, once the temperature makes it to within ten points of a positive number.”
The sound of Okagawa chuckling was hollow and indistinct when channeled through the communicator’s speaker grille. “Well, according to the readings we’re getting up here, you might just be able to do that. There’s been some kind of power-generation equipment come online in just the last few minutes, fifty-nine meters below your present location.”
Exchanging surprised expressions with Xiong, al-Khaled said, “Really? What are we talking about?”
“Nothing too crazy,”Okagawa replied. “We’ve been able to confirm that it’s not the same system we detected the last time we were here. Whatever it is, it doesn’t appear connected to the global defense system, or whatever it was that almost blew up the planet. So, thanks for not doing that.”
“It’s early yet. Give us time.”
Al-Khaled paused as Xiong stepped closer and gestured toward the communicator. After holding it up for his friend, the lieutenant asked, “Captain, are you able to determine what the active systems are? We’re not getting anything that detailed down here.”
“At first blush, it looks as if it might be a computer or communications system. Maybe both. We’re picking up what we think are attempts by individual computer nodes to connect to a central hub and to each other, including the equipment at your location.”
Now Xiong looked pleased. “If that’s true, then it’s the biggest breakthrough we’ve had yet. Learning how to interface with such a system may well be the key to getting control of everything on the planet. After that, we may eventually learn to interface with companion systems on other worlds.”
“That is unlikely,” Nezrene said, calling out from where she still stood at the Shedai console. “Without the guidance and control from the First World, there are no Conduits, no pathways to link the worlds that once made up the Shedai realm.”
“First World?”Okagawa repeated. “Does she mean Jinoteur IV?”
Xiong nodded. “That’s correct, sir. Jinoteur is the key. Or, rather, was the key. With the system gone, we have no way of knowing whether the network that once connected their planets can be reestablished, or if there might be another planet somewhere in the Taurus Reach capable of providing the same function and control.”
“One step at a time,” al-Khaled said, holding up his free hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We can’t do anything until we prove we even have real access to anything on this rock. Nezrene, are you able to confirm what the Lovellsensors are picking up? What is it you think you’re tapping into?”
“I believe your captain is right,” the Tholian replied after a moment spent in silent communion with the console. “I am seeing communications pathways, both for connecting to other locations on this planet and for broadcasting into space. Some of it is easy to understand, though there are other aspects of the system that I am unable to transcribe.”
“Can you access any of those pathways?” Xiong asked, and when he spoke, al-Khaled heard the excitement in the younger man’s voice.
Nezrene nodded, or at least affected the Tholian equivalent. “I believe so.” Her left appendage moved to rest on another area of the console, and her movements became still for a moment, during which several displays on the crystal wall before her flared to life. Strings of incomprehensible script scrolled past, almost too fast for al-Khaled’s eyes to follow. Then Nezrene said, “I believe I have found one such pathway.”
An instant later, Okagawa’s voice came over al-Khaled’s communicator. “We’re picking up a new signal, Mahmud. From up here, it looks as though the computer node at your location is trying to connect to other nodes in the planetary network. So far, we’re not seeing that it’s having any success.”
“It could be something as simple as not employing the correct communications protocol,” al-Khaled offered. “Nezrene, are you able to see anything? Where are you—in the system, I mean?”
It took an extra moment before the Tholian replied, “I must admit, this is fascinating. If I concentrate and focus my thoughts on the tasks, I can see them being carried out within the network. It is as though I am traveling the pathways myself, moving from one point to another in the system.”
“Just as you suspected, Ming,” al-Khaled said, smiling. “This could be it; we may have finally found our way in.”
Though appearing satisfied at their progress, Xiong still seemed skeptical. “It took us four days to make it this far.” He frowned, shaking his head. “We need more time.”
“You’ve got three more days,”Okagawa said over the communicator. “After that, my orders are to pack up this field trip and get you back to Vanguard. We’re here on borrowed time as it is.”
Al-Khaled nodded in agreement. That Admiral Nogura had—over the strenuous objections of Ambassador Jetanien—authorized Nezrene to travel with the Lovellto Erilon was but one complication to this mission. If the Tholian Assembly learned that its compatriot had fled the station that had provided him sanctuary, it might feel compelled to extradite her, possibly by force. For that reason, Nezrene’s presence on the Lovelland her departure from Starbase 47 had been kept tightly guarded secrets.
There also was the Lovellitself to consider. With the Endeavourout on security patrol and the Sagittariustoo small for Nogura to consider for a mission of this type, it had fallen to the all-but-ancient Daedalus-class vessel to transport Xiong, his team, and his equipment to Erilon. Despite the array of improvements and upgrades to which it had been subjected, the Lovellwas nothing close to a ship of the line. It would stand no realistic chance against enemy attack. Still, in Nogura’s mind, the gains for carrying out Xiong’s research had outweighed the risks. The admiral had therefore approved a brief expedition back to the frozen planet, which had been chosen for its proximity to the station as well as the fact that Xiong, al-Khaled, and their teams were familiar with the layout of this Shedai structure.
“We’ll make the most of the time we have left,” Xiong said, “but we’re just scratching the surface here. Even if we can gain further access, we still don’t know the language of the computer software, assuming that the Shedai developed their technology along the concepts of hardware and software. It could take us months to decipher any meaningful portion of it.”
“You can do that back on Vanguard,”Okagawa countered. “Make recordings of everything, and if there’s something we can haul back with us, tell Mahmud, and they’ll start disassembling the place.”
“Understood, Captain,” al-Khaled said, cutting off any further protest from Xiong. “Al-Khaled out.” He pocketed the communicator and patted Xiong on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve done some good work here, and we’ve still got a few days, so let’s make them count. After all, we don’t know when we might make it back here.”
Xiong nodded, and al-Khaled saw the concern in his friend’s eyes. “Yeah. That’s what worries me. That, and wondering if the Klingons will figure this out before we do.”