Chapter 32

Chapter 32

In the Orion’s conference room, Brett studied the image of the Serparnian system again. Between Serpalal Prime and the asteroid field lay four planets, only one of them inhabited by a very unfriendly population. Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

“Sir, I know this might sound cowardly,” Merle began, his face turning red. “But why don’t we just wait here for Starfleet to send reinforcements? They shouldn’t be more than two or three days away.”

“He’s not going to wait that long. He’ll come after us if he doesn’t think we’re coming for him,” Brett said. He thought back to the duel in the assembly room. Slonix was not the kind of person to leave something unfinished. “What we have to figure out is how to use his trap to our advantage. Suggestions?”

Around the room Cooper, Merle, Ramirez, and Jolok looked to each other with blank faces. He couldn’t blame them; he didn’t have any ideas either. “Well, let’s think about this. He’ll think we’re running scared. Even though we’ll be running with shields up and at full alert, he figures without an experienced commander we’ll fall apart when he attacks. That’s why he wants to surprise us, to rattle whoever is in charge.”

“Makes sense,” Ramirez said.

“Of course he doesn’t know Captain Lichen and I are still alive, so it’s not going to work out like he hopes.”

Jolok made a high-pitched wheeze that was his race’s way of clearing their throats. “Excuse me, sir, but this ship cannot take another beating like last time. In a claw-to-claw fight he will destroy us.”

“Agreed. That’s why we can’t get into a straight fight,” Brett said. “We have to take him by surprise. Turn the tables on his ambush.”

“Don’t the Serparnians have any ships that could back us up?” Cooper asked.

“Only a couple ships that aren’t much more than armed freighters. They wouldn’t last three seconds—” A smile spread across Brett’s face as an elaborate ruse began forming in his mind. It just might work. “Mr. Ramirez, I’m going to need a channel to Prime Minister Serlinum. Put it through to the ready room, please.”

Brett hurried into the ready room that had belonged to Babs, the ready room Robyn had never claimed as hers. She might never get the chance now. Forcing this thought from his mind, he sat down behind the desk. The Serparnian prime minister’s face came onto the screen.

As Brett outlined his plan, Prime Minister Serlinum’s tongue flickered from his mouth as if swatting an insect. Even from orbit, Brett could tell the prime minister didn’t approve of the risky plan he proposed.

“What you say would possibly be very dangerous in lives and materiel. I cannot approve this on such short notice,” he said.

“I know it’s risky, Mr. Prime Minister, but we don’t have a lot of choices here,” Brett said. “One way or another that ship is going to finish what it started and when it does you’ll have an entire Federation task force here screaming for blood. That’s the kind of chaos this Serparnian Liberation Army needs to solidify their power.”

Before the prime minister could say anything, Brett continued, “Have you seen your chief steward lately?”

“No, he disappeared after the rebel attack.”

“That’s what I thought.” Brett went on to explain about the fortress hidden in the mountain, Streng’s alliance with Slonix, and his plan to create enough of a backlash against the government and Federation that he could seize power. Throughout this, Prime Minister Serlinum’s tongue darted out in spasms.

His eyes narrowing, he said, “I should have known. His clan held sway over most of Serpalal until they were overthrown in the Great Revolution a century ago.”

“He must still be harboring a grudge,” Brett said.

“Indeed. We will drive him from his lair and repay him for his treachery.”

“Actually, Mr. Prime Minister, I think I have a better idea.” Brett outlined this part of his plan, the prime minister again looking skeptical. Again Brett couldn’t blame him. This whole scheme of his sounded far-fetched—and it was—but it could also work.

“This is a terrible risk to take. Unfortunately I see no better alternative. It will be as you said. My aide will relay your instructions. The gods protect us.”

“We’ll need all the help we can get,” Brett muttered after the screen went dark. For a moment he stared down at the green planet below. Somewhere down there Streng waited in his rathole. Brett would flush him out, but not yet. First he would take care of Slonix and that ship.

The intercom beeped. “Commander, I have good news,” Dr. Chen said. “I created an antidote to that poison. The captain seems to be responding.”

“That is good news. Can I come down to see her?”

“For a few minutes. She’s not out of the woods yet.”

On the way to sickbay, Brett tried to hide his smile. Robyn might just make it. If she could survive all that, maybe his crazy scheme could work.

They had moved Robyn from the operating table to one of the examination beds. Already he could see the color returning to her skin. A band of synthetic skin covered the wound on her midsection. If he didn’t know better he might have thought she’d just had some kind of stomach virus.

Squatting beside her bed, her whispered, “We’re going to get them. I want you to know that. They’ll pay for this.”

As he reached out to brush hair away from her face, her eyes shot open. They widened with surprise as they took in the room and then widened even more at the sight of him. “Brett, how did we get here?” she asked.

“Cooper and Merle found us. They’re good kids.”

She smiled at this. “What about Streng and Slonix?”

When he explained his plan, her skin turned pale again. Before he could react, she swung her legs off the bed and got to her feet. “What are you doing?” he said.

“I can’t let you do this. It’s too dangerous.”

He seized her by the shoulders, resisting her feeble attempts to break away. “Robyn, you need to rest. I know it’s crazy, but it can work. Trust me.”

“You never understood,” she said. “My place is on the bridge. Not lying in bed. It’s my duty.”

“Forget about your duty just this once. You’re in no shape to do anything. You’ll endanger the crew more if you’re on the bridge. Is that what you want?”

She considered this a moment and then nodded. “You’re right. I’m being selfish, putting my needs above the crew’s.” She flashed a tired smile. “You’re a good first officer.”

“I learned from the best,” he said with a wink. “Get some rest. I’ll come down to see you before we get underway.”

Two hours later, the pieces of the plan were all in position. Prime Minister Serlinum had come through as promised. This had better work, Brett thought for the thousandth time in the last two hours.

Then the turbolift doors opened and he turned to see Robyn in the car, dressed in her full uniform. Except for a pale tinge to her skin, she looked as if nothing had happened. She even managed to walk down the ramp with the sure, steady gait of a Starfleet captain.

He resisted the urge to grab her by the shoulders and ask what the hell she thought she was doing. “Could I have a word in private, Captain?” he said.

“No time, Commander. Mr. Ramirez, is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir,” Ramirez said, his tone making it more of a question than a statement.

Robyn sank into the command chair with a sigh. “Very good. Let’s get underway.” She turned to Brett then and said, “This is where I belong.”