Valerie nodded sympathetically.
“What I’m saying is that I don’t want anything more to do with wars and conquest, with knives and assassination. I thought I’d help Dana achieve her vengeance. But now, I’d rather slip away to somewhere quiet.”
“The New Men aren’t going away, Meta. They’ve infiltrated the Commonwealth. They’re attacking the Oikumene. Oh, it’s probably just the first stage so far. Yet that means the war will likely last a long, long time.”
“A lifetime?” asked Meta.
“Do you mean your lifetime, as the war won’t reach you while you’re alive?”
“That’s perceptive. Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”
Valerie first pretended to think about it. Then she faced Meta. “What good is that, really? I mean slipping away and building a life for yourself knowing that it’s all built with cards that will soon tumble away? I want to build a better world, to give my children more than I had.”
“You want to have children?” Meta asked.
“Someday.”
“You’d bring them into this evil universe?”
“Someone has to fight the good fight,” Valerie said, “to keep the human race alive.”
Meta pursed her lips. Then she took several steps closer, putting a hand on Dana’s arm. On the table, the doctor’s grimace lessened.
“She feels you,” Valerie said. “Maybe she can hear us.”
“Dana,” Meta said. “Can you hear me?”
Nothing happened.
“Dana,” Meta said. “Would it be better to find this alien starship as Maddox wants or to… do what we planned?”
Valerie would have liked to know what those plans were. She didn’t want to interrupt the moment, though. Was Meta really considering helping them? Did it make a difference that Dana Rich was in a coma? Did…
Valerie’s mouth opened in shock. She turned to stare at Sergeant Riker. He met her look with innocence. Had Captain Maddox believed he could turn Meta their way without Doctor Rich always giving her negative opinion? In other words, had Maddox prolonged the injuries and kept Dana in a drugged coma?
Valerie hoped Maddox wasn’t that ruthless.
Riker looked away.
Valerie wasn’t sure, but a guilty look seemed to come over the old man.
“Do you think she’ll survive her injuries?” Meta asked.
Valerie groped for the right words. She couldn’t dare tell Meta her suspicions. Finally, she said, “I think the odds are good.”
Meta nodded and turned back to the unconscious doctor.
“That’s long enough,” Riker said. His voice was softer than before. “It’s time to go,” he added.
Meta nodded before heading for the hatch. “Thank you,” she told Valerie. “I appreciate this.”
“You’re welcome,” Valerie said. “Maybe we should get back to work.”
Meta said nothing more as she exited the medical room.
-25-
Captain Maddox sat down in the control room. Fatigue made his eyelids heavy. For the last few days, he’d been berating himself for failing to see the ploy with the hidden mine. Looking back, it was obvious why the enemy had been near the Class 3 Laumer-Point.
Well, he couldn’t help that now. In this new star system, they limped toward the next Laumer-Point, hoping to leave before the destroyer appeared by working its way here through other jump routes. Had the enemy made it through the unstable point? Saint Petersburg’s destruction would be a great stroke of luck.
We could use some of that about now. He would have shaken his head, but Lieutenant Noonan might notice. She piloted the scout. Ensign Maker slept, while Riker guarded Meta as she continued to effect repairs to the engine and propulsion systems.
Maddox knew the importance of appearing confident. Never let them see you sweat. That intimidated opponents and bolstered allies. Right about now, his crew needed all the encouragement they could get.
Lieutenant Noonan took the moment to swivel around and clear her throat. Her intentness alerted Maddox.
“Captain, do I have permission to speak off the record?” she asked.
“Please,” he said.
“Sir… I’m not sure how to say this.”
He waited, feeling as if it might be better if she didn’t.
“Just how serious are Doctor Rich’s injuries?” Valerie asked.
“She’s recovering,” answered Maddox.
While watching him closely, Valerie asked, “Do you believe she’ll come out of the coma?”
“The robo-doctor gives that a high percentage.”
Valerie licked her lips. “Sir… did you drug her?”
“Of course not,” Maddox said.
Valerie brightened for just a moment. Then obvious suspicion furrowed her brow. “The robo-doctor administered the dosages, isn’t that what you mean?”
He didn’t squirm. That wouldn’t do. Instead, he nodded.
“Dana Rich is in an induced coma, isn’t she, sir?”
“No,” Maddox said.
“No?”
He came to a swift decision. “Lieutenant, speaking precisely, she isn’t in a coma at all. By your questions and manner, I suspect you realize I decided to… inhibit her consciousness for a time.”
“Because she’s too dangerous awake?” Valerie asked.
“I agree Dana Rich is dangerous, but that wasn’t the totality of my reasoning.”
“You’re trying to win Meta over to our quest, aren’t you, sir?”
The lieutenant’s perception surprised Maddox. She had guessed that with hardly any clues to work on. He nodded as an answer.
“Your methods are devious, sir.”
“I suppose one could make that argument,” he said.
“That isn’t the way to convince someone we’re trustable.”
“You’re correct,” Maddox said.
“But…” Valerie said. “You’re going to suggest that our mission means we must do whatever is necessary to achieve our goal.”
Maddox waited. There were times when it was wiser to let a person argue a point with herself. The lieutenant knew what would convince her better than he did.
“I can’t say I approve, sir.”
“If it’s any consolation,” he said, “neither do I.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Valerie said.
“Lieutenant, it’s a given that you and I will never do anything as important with our lives than to complete this mission. Without the sentinel, do you think Star Watch can defeat the New Men?”
“We don’t have enough information to make a perfect guess,” Valerie said.
“You’re hedging,” Maddox said. “What we do know tells us we can’t match their cruisers, their advanced weaponry. Three of their ships took out a double-strength battle group.”
“I understand your logic,” Valerie said, “and I’m not saying you don’t have a point. It’s just that I hate to practice deceit on people we’re hoping to trust with our lives. If Doctor Rich ever discovers what you did…”
“I’m telling you this in strictest confidence,” Maddox said.
“Yes, sir,” Valerie said.
A red light began to blink on his screen. Seeing it, a cold feeling worked through Maddox. “Our discussion is over,” he said. He adjusted controls, using passive sensors. A ship had just entered the star system from a different Laumer-Point than the one they had used to get here. The computer analyzed the data and— “An SWS destroyer has just appeared at a distant jump point,” Maddox informed her. A few seconds later, he added, “It’s the Saint Petersburg.” He stood. “Take your station and engage the cloaking device.”
“The cloak is damaged,” Valerie said. “Maybe if we waited to employ it, waited until their Jump Lag wore off—”