A Time to Harvest Page 3

  Commander La Forge and the engineering staff had been able to tune the vessel’s deflector shields to screen out the harmful rays, but the continuous need to keep the shields activated was beginning to take its toll on systems all over the ship. The shields also required repeated recalibrating in order to deal with varying levels of radiation as the Enterprise moved through the asteroid field.

  Just another day in the Dokaalan system, Riker mused, sighing heavily.

  “Commander Riker,” said a new voice from the engineering station at the rear of the bridge, “I think I’ve found a way to isolate the problem, sir.”

  Swiveling the command chair around, Riker met the gaze of a wide-eyed young man, tan-skinned with closely cropped black hair and wearing a lieutenant’s pips on the gold collar of this Starfleet uniform. The Enterprise first officer did not immediately recognize the young engineer, who obviously had been assigned to the bridge as part of the rotation schedule Riker himself had implemented during their voyage here. It was obvious by the man’s expression that he was both eager and nervous, no doubt brought about by a combination of their current situation and his being unfamiliar with bridge duty and having to work in such close proximity to members of the ship’s command staff.

  Riker also abruptly realized that he would only inflict more anxiety on the young engineer if he could not, in the next few nanoseconds, remember the man’s name.

  “Yes, Lieutenant…Pauls, isn’t it?” The engineer’s features appeared to relax somewhat, telling Riker that he had at least gotten the man’s name right. Making sure his words were carried by a mentoring tone that would help continue to put the lieutenant at ease, he asked, “What have you found?”

  Rising from his seat and stepping closer to the command well, Pauls said, “We could retune the shields to another frequency, sir, but we’re already straining the shield generators as it is, and tuning them to different frequencies every time they’re compromised isn’t helping. We’re running the risk of the shields failing altogether, sir.”

  Commander La Forge and the Enterprise engineering staff had determined earlier that if the ship’s deflector shields could be adjusted to the proper frequencies, they would be able to filter out the asteroid field’s ambient radiation and protect not only the people aboard but also those systems that had seen their performance degraded or compromised altogether. It was only with this strategy that such systems as the replicators, the forcefield generators, and even the containment fields used in sickbay, engineering, and other sensitive areas were functioning at all. The plan had not been enough to return use of the ship’s transporters or tractor-beam emitters, and the engineers had just as quickly set to work figuring out solutions for those problems, as well. At last report, there had been some success with the tractor beam systems but the transporters remained offline.

  “Since we need the shields,” Riker said as he stood up and moved to the bridge’s upper deck, “it sounds like the only option is to sacrifice some of the other systems we’ve tuned them to protect. Is that what you’re telling me, Lieutenant?”

  It was simple enough. If the shields failed, the hull of the Enterprise would be a sitting duck out here, exposed not only to the asteroid field’s radiation but to the debris that made up the field itself. A hull breach resulting from collision with an asteroid would be dangerous in its own right, but without emergency forcefields and other fail-safe measures, even a small rupture of the ship’s hull could prove catastrophic.

  From the expression on his face, Pauls knew all of this, too. Swallowing an apparent lump in his throat before replying, he said, “Yes, sir. So long as we keep trying to protect everything, it’s like spreading the cheese too thin across the cracker…uh, so to speak, sir.”

  Riker nodded as he mulled over the engineer’s report. “So you’re saying that with some adjustments, we can pick which part of your ‘cracker’ we want to cover, right?”

  The lieutenant smiled at the turn of phrase. “Absolutely, sir.”

  “Okay, then,” the first officer said, patting the younger man on the shoulder. “I need a list of suggestions for which systems to forgo, and I need it in about two minutes.”

  “Aye, sir,” Pauls replied without hesitation. If he was intimidated by the order, he gave no sign of it as he set back to work.

  Good man, Riker thought. Geordi’s been teaching his people pretty damned well. If the ship’s chief engineer could not be here to assist in their current situation, it comforted the commander to know that La Forge had ensured that anyone on his staff could substitute in a pinch.

  “Commander,” called Lieutenant Christine Vale from the tactical station, “sensors are beginning to penetrate the radiation, and I’m picking up the outpost. I think I can get us a visual.”

  “It’s about time,” Riker said as he moved toward Vale’s station on the bridge’s starboard side. “Let’s see it.” Reaching the tactical console, he turned his attention once more to the main viewer, which was still plagued by static despite the best efforts of the engineering staff.

  In the center of the screen was a large asteroid, and even from their current distance Riker could make out discoloration on its surface. Gray metal contrasted with dark brown and black rock, and the symmetrical lines and curves of artificial constructs stood out against the asteroid’s jagged, rocky contours.

  “Can you magnify that?” he asked.

  Vale shook her head. “That’s as clear as I can make it. The picture will improve the closer we get, though. We should be there in about three minutes.”

  Unhappy with the report but knowing there was nothing he could do about it, Riker allowed his gaze to drop to the tactical station and the array of display monitors Vale had activated in order to keep track of her various tasks. The Enterprise’s security chief had been overseeing the ship’s external sensors throughout the journey through the asteroid field, while at the same time monitoring communications with the stricken mining outpost as well as those areas of the ship that were currently preparing for the pending rescue operation. It was but the latest example of Vale’s ability to handle multiple demands simultaneously, and in the two years since she had joined the crew Riker had learned to appreciate her versatility as well as her initiative to tackle problems without waiting for instructions.

  “Life signs?” he asked.

  “Indeterminate, sir,” the security chief replied, “and power readings are minimal, as well. We’ve been transmitting on their last known frequency for an hour with no response.”

  The deck suddenly moved beneath Riker’s feet, and he automatically reached for the railing in front of him as he felt the ship pitching to starboard. On the main viewer, the asteroids seemed to tilt and move to the left as Perim executed yet another evasive maneuver.

  “Inertial dampening is definitely being affected,” he said as the deck leveled out again. “Lieutenant Pauls, I need those recommendations of yours.”

  Still at the engineering console, Pauls entered a series of commands to his workstation before turning in his seat. “I’ve got a new shield configuration ready, sir. It should give us the best overall protection from the radiation while compromising the least number of necessary systems. We’ll have to lose replicators and holoemission systems throughout the ship, which might be an issue for the medical staff if they’re employing the EMH.”

  Moving back to the center seat, Riker nodded. “With Dr. Crusher off the ship, you can count on that, Lieutenant.” Until the Enterprise’s chief medical officer returned, Dr. Tropp and the rest of her staff would be relying heavily on the abilities of the Emergency Medical Hologram.

  Pointing to the display monitor, he said, “See if you can reinforce protection in sickbay and the triage areas in case they need to move the EMH back and forth, but go with everything else you’ve figured out. We’ll adapt from there.”

  “Aye, sir,” Pauls replied. “This won’t take lo…”

  “Commander!” Vale suddenly called out. “I’m detect
ing a metallic object in our path. Approximately fifty meters in diameter. I’m not picking up any power sources or weapons.”

  As he leaned forward in the command chair, Riker’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What the hell is it?”

  “On screen now, sir,” Vale replied as she tapped commands to her console. The image on the main viewer shifted to show a gray object that was roughly rectangular in shape and with what Riker could clearly see was jagged metal trailing from one end, slowly tumbling as it drifted in space.

  “Part of the outpost,” Riker said, standing up and moving toward the forward bridge stations. “Blown away by the explosion?”

  At tactical, Vale said, “Most likely, sir.” A beeping sound from her console made her lean closer to examine the readings, and when she looked up again, her face had twisted into a mask of horror. “I’m picking up biological material from inside the structure, sir, but no life signs.”

  Silence engulfed the bridge in the wake of the security chief’s report, with nothing but normal background sounds filling the air as all eyes turned to the viewer. Riker followed the tumbling path of the module, trying to imagine the horrifying ride that the metal enclosure, once a safe haven from the void, must have offered to those trapped inside. Had they died quickly from explosive decompression in the seconds after the explosion and their separation from the outpost, or had they somehow survived that ghastly experience only to slowly suffocate as what little oxygen and heat trapped with them drained away?

  The very thought of dying like that sent a chill down Riker’s spine. How many more of them had suffered the same fate?

  A moment later and as if reading his mind, Vale reported, “Commander, I’m starting to pick up similar readings all round us. It looks like more debris scattered by the explosion, sir.” She shook her head. “Must have been one hell of a blast,” she added in a quieter voice, echoing Riker’s rising fears.

  Is there going to be anyone left to save?

  Gripping the arms of the command chair and hoping no one noticed how white his knuckles had become as he fought to keep emotion from his voice, Riker asked Perim, “How long before we reach the outpost?”

  “Less than a minute, sir.” Entering a new command string to her console, Perim added, “On screen now.”

  The picture on the main viewer changed once again to that of the asteroid that was home to Mining Station Twelve. Now that the Enterprise was much closer, the image was clearer and Riker could see the damage the explosion had caused. A gaping black maw had consumed much of the outpost itself, beginning at almost the center of the artificial structure and blossoming outward in all directions. Jagged metal, rock, and other materials he could not identify were forming an expanding cloud of debris around the asteroid itself. To Riker it looked as though someone had fired a missile or quantum torpedo at the heart of the facility as part of an orbital bombardment.

  “Dear God,” Pauls said from behind him, his voice a tortured whisper that Riker barely heard. “All of those people.”

  “I’m detecting life signs in some of the outer areas,” Vale said, still poring over her sensor readings. “Less than a hundred, sir. I’m picking up massive structural failure throughout the complex. Their main power reactor is gone, but I’m picking up auxiliary power sources in several locations.” A moment later she added, “There’s one large concentration of life-forms in one of the bigger modules on the outpost’s perimeter. Probably a habitat section.”

  Moving toward the conn, Riker said, “Perim, move us into position near that location. Vale, launch all rescue shuttles and feed them the coordinates for the other areas where you’re picking up life signs.” The plan had always been to use both the Enterprise and her small fleet of shuttlecraft, with the starship herself moving close to the mining facility as Picard had done during their first rescue mission here. It was a tactic that had saved nearly everyone on that outpost, and Riker was hoping for the same amount of luck, if not more, this time around.

  As he gave the orders, he felt the energy surge through his body at the idea that they could still accomplish something here. We’re not beaten just yet. Not by a long shot.

  “Mr. Pauls,” he said, his attention still riveted to the main viewer, “stand by to initiate a forcefield to cover the docking port once we’re in position. We might need the tractor-beam, too.” He knew that the tractor beam system was working now, but not at full capacity, thanks to the damnable radiation field.

  Take what you can get, he reminded himself.

  It took him an extra second to realize that Pauls had not responded to the order. Frowning, he turned to look back toward the engineering station. “Lieutenant?”

  The younger man was staring at the viewer, and Riker could see that he was obviously transfixed by the scene of destruction dominating it. “All those people…we’re too late…they just…”

  “Mr. Pauls!” Riker snapped, his voice echoing around the bridge.

  It was enough to rattle the engineer, who blinked rapidly several times before looking away from the viewer. “Sir?”

  “I need a forcefield ready to protect the docking port, Lieutenant,” Riker said, his voice steady but firm and his eyes locking with the other man’s. He resisted the urge to ask if the engineer was up to the task. After all, that question would be answered in the next seconds.

  Finally, Pauls nodded. “Aye, sir. I’m on it now,” he said before turning back to his station.

  Allowing a small sigh of relief, Riker took a brief moment to ensure that no one else needed any extra attention before making his way to the rear of the bridge. Pauls, visibly shaken by what they had all just seen, kept his blanched face toward his console as Riker approached and placed a calming hand on the other man’s shoulder.

  “Lieutenant, are you okay?”

  Focusing on his task, Pauls answered, “Yes, sir. I’m sorry for what just happened. I don’t know what to say, sir. I just froze.”

  “You’re not the first,” Riker said, “and you won’t be the last.” It was very likely that the lieutenant, as a junior engineer who had been aboard the ship less than a year, had rarely if ever been in a position where life and death were exchanging places as harshly as they were at this moment. “At least you recognized what happened. You’ll be better prepared the next time.”

  “Does it get easier, sir?” Pauls asked.

  Shaking his head, Riker replied, “The circumstances don’t, but the way you handle them does. That doesn’t mean you stop caring, it just means that you learn when to save those feelings for a more appropriate time, like after we’re finished here. Can you do that?”

  Pauls actually sat up a bit straighter in his chair as he looked up to meet Riker’s gaze. “Yes, sir. I think I can.”

  His faith in the young officer reaffirmed, Riker patted his shoulder again, smiling before turning back toward the center of the bridge and taking in the scenes of determined activity all around him.

  “Okay, people, we’ve got a lot of work to do, so let’s get to it.”

  And let’s hope we can still do some good here.

  Chapter Three

  “IF I NEVER SEE another asteroid field as long as I live, it will still be too soon.”

  Alone in the cockpit of the shuttlecraft Jefferies, Jean-Luc Picard hoped his voice, and his lapse in bearing, did not carry back to the small vessel’s sparse passenger area where Dr. Beverly Crusher and Counselor Deanna Troi were taking a brief rest from coordinating their own aspects of the Enterprise’s current rescue mission. They had resisted at first but he had pulled rank, gently ordering them to take advantage of the lull their current journey was imposing upon them. After all, once they got to their destination, he knew that rest would be a rare and valuable commodity.

  So, for now, he sat alone, helpless to do anything except watch the asteroids.

  Yes, he decided. Too soon indeed.

  Despite everything he and his crew had found in the three days since the Enterprise’s arrival in the
Dokaalan sector, Jean-Luc Picard had definitely begun to tire of this region of space. Its dense collection of massive planetary debris and the troublesome radiation had done its best to hamper nearly all of the technology that might be used to make their mission here any easier. Additionally, the asteroid field prohibited all but the most cautious means of travel, a particular burden now, as he piloted the Jefferies in pursuit of the Enterprise. This, on the heels of the Ontaillian mission, with the constant maneuvering through the ship debris in the boneyard, was more than enough to make Picard nostalgic for more open space.

  Refusing to admit that he might be suffering from the initial symptoms of spacesickness, he tried to ignore the telltale twinges of nausea induced by the continual bobbing and weaving of the shuttle. Despite his best efforts, though, there was no denying the slight yet unmistakable rocking of his body as he was lightly and continuously buffeted by course alterations for which even state-of-the-art inertial dampers and gyroscopic systems could not fully compensate.

  I haven’t thrown up since I was a cadet, he sternly reminded himself even as his stomach heaved yet again, and I’m not about to take that up again today.

  The relative silence of the shuttlecraft’s interior offered a minor sedative for his queasiness, just as it had a brief respite for Troi and Crusher, particularly the physician, who had been in constant communication with the Enterprise since its arrival at the scene of its second rescue mission in the Dokaalan system. In addition to the triage operations taking place under the guidance of Dr. Tropp, Lieutenant Vale and her security force were once again scrambling to provide temporary billeting for those survivors of the explosion on Mining Station Twelve who were being evacuated to the ship. The situation required the coordinated effort of a large portion of the starship’s crew, and Counselor Troi, for one, was doing her best to help Vale shepherd that endeavor.