Read Online Star Trek: That Which Divides by Dayton Ward - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dayton Ward
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replied, “Three point six two standard days, Captain.”
“Three days to get in and salvage as much of the ship itself as you can,” Sortino said. “It’ll be tight. You may end up having to destroy the wreckage, rather than leave behind anything you can’t remove before our window closes.”
Kirk nodded. “I know. We’ve already exposed the Dolysians to enough advanced technology just by being here. The last thing we need is them digging around through the Huang Zhong wreckage and finding something dangerous, or something they’re just not ready to deal with yet.” He cast a somber look in McCoy’s direction. “It looks like there’s not much work for you, Bones.”
“At least we can help the survivors,” the doctor said. “That’s something, anyway.”
Pausing as though to process that grim reality, Kirk closed his eyes and rubbed his temples for a moment before looking to Scott, who still stood near the railing in front of McCoy and Sortino. “Okay, Scotty; taking the Enterprise through the rift is off the table, and our safety cushion rulesout transporters. What about our shuttlecraft? Can they be rigged to make the transit?”
The engineer replied, “Aye, we can deactivate their warp engines. From what I can tell, impulse drive doesn’t seem to pose a problem with the energy field, but we can install extra shielding for added protection.”
“How long?” Kirk asked.
Frowning, Scott said, “Five hours, I’d think.”
The captain gestured toward the turbolift. “Make it less, if you can.”
“Right away, sir.” Offering nods to the captain as well as Sortino, Scott turned and made his way toward the alcove at the rear of the bridge.
Leaning against the red railing, Kirk said, “Bones, it looks like you and your team will be getting a taxi ride through the rift. Have Scotty allocate a shuttle exclusively for medical transport use. Treat your patients there only if you have to. Otherwise, bring them back to the Enterprise .”
McCoy had already been thinking along those lines from the moment the notion was raised to make use of shuttlecraft. “You read my mind, Captain.”
“Good,” Kirk said. “Spock, take another shuttle and see what you can find out about the rift. If it is artificial, then maybe it and whatever brought down the Huang Zhong are related, somehow.”
“Where are you going to be, Jim?” McCoy asked.
Indicating Sortino, the captain replied, “I’ll be accompanying the ambassador to meet with the Dolysian leadership.” He paused, tapping the railing. “We’ve got three days to do our jobs, people. Otherwise, whoever’s on the other side of that rift when it closes will get to enjoy a rather extended vacation, courtesy of the Dolysians and who orwhatever else might be on that planetoid. I want answers, and I’m sure the Dolysians do, too. “Any questions?”
“How soon do we get started?” McCoy asked, anxious to reach the Huang Zhong survivors and get on with helping them. His comment earned him a smile from the captain as he offered one final, curt nod.
“All right, then,” Kirk said. “Let’s go to work.”
FIVE
Vathrael felt the sting of the lirash across the back of her right hand as she twisted her own weapon in a failed attempt to parry the strike. Her opponent grinned as he pulled his staff back, holding it with both hands across his body while sidestepping from left to right as he searched for another opening. Gritting her teeth to force back the pain from her hand, Vathrael turned and maneuvered to keep her adversary in front of her.
“Very nice,” she said, returning the smile and nodding in approval. If the lirash had been the actual weapon with its bladed head and spiked base, rather than the wooden replicas used for training, she might well have lost her hand during that attack. As it was, Vathrael could see where the pale green skin across her knuckles was already beginning to darken.
“Thank you, Commander,” replied Terius.
“Three days to get in and salvage as much of the ship itself as you can,” Sortino said. “It’ll be tight. You may end up having to destroy the wreckage, rather than leave behind anything you can’t remove before our window closes.”
Kirk nodded. “I know. We’ve already exposed the Dolysians to enough advanced technology just by being here. The last thing we need is them digging around through the Huang Zhong wreckage and finding something dangerous, or something they’re just not ready to deal with yet.” He cast a somber look in McCoy’s direction. “It looks like there’s not much work for you, Bones.”
“At least we can help the survivors,” the doctor said. “That’s something, anyway.”
Pausing as though to process that grim reality, Kirk closed his eyes and rubbed his temples for a moment before looking to Scott, who still stood near the railing in front of McCoy and Sortino. “Okay, Scotty; taking the Enterprise through the rift is off the table, and our safety cushion rulesout transporters. What about our shuttlecraft? Can they be rigged to make the transit?”
The engineer replied, “Aye, we can deactivate their warp engines. From what I can tell, impulse drive doesn’t seem to pose a problem with the energy field, but we can install extra shielding for added protection.”
“How long?” Kirk asked.
Frowning, Scott said, “Five hours, I’d think.”
The captain gestured toward the turbolift. “Make it less, if you can.”
“Right away, sir.” Offering nods to the captain as well as Sortino, Scott turned and made his way toward the alcove at the rear of the bridge.
Leaning against the red railing, Kirk said, “Bones, it looks like you and your team will be getting a taxi ride through the rift. Have Scotty allocate a shuttle exclusively for medical transport use. Treat your patients there only if you have to. Otherwise, bring them back to the Enterprise .”
McCoy had already been thinking along those lines from the moment the notion was raised to make use of shuttlecraft. “You read my mind, Captain.”
“Good,” Kirk said. “Spock, take another shuttle and see what you can find out about the rift. If it is artificial, then maybe it and whatever brought down the Huang Zhong are related, somehow.”
“Where are you going to be, Jim?” McCoy asked.
Indicating Sortino, the captain replied, “I’ll be accompanying the ambassador to meet with the Dolysian leadership.” He paused, tapping the railing. “We’ve got three days to do our jobs, people. Otherwise, whoever’s on the other side of that rift when it closes will get to enjoy a rather extended vacation, courtesy of the Dolysians and who orwhatever else might be on that planetoid. I want answers, and I’m sure the Dolysians do, too. “Any questions?”
“How soon do we get started?” McCoy asked, anxious to reach the Huang Zhong survivors and get on with helping them. His comment earned him a smile from the captain as he offered one final, curt nod.
“All right, then,” Kirk said. “Let’s go to work.”
FIVE
Vathrael felt the sting of the lirash across the back of her right hand as she twisted her own weapon in a failed attempt to parry the strike. Her opponent grinned as he pulled his staff back, holding it with both hands across his body while sidestepping from left to right as he searched for another opening. Gritting her teeth to force back the pain from her hand, Vathrael turned and maneuvered to keep her adversary in front of her.
“Very nice,” she said, returning the smile and nodding in approval. If the lirash had been the actual weapon with its bladed head and spiked base, rather than the wooden replicas used for training, she might well have lost her hand during that attack. As it was, Vathrael could see where the pale green skin across her knuckles was already beginning to darken.
“Thank you, Commander,” replied Terius.
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