3 Orion's Hounds by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett [Bennett, Christopher L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure, Star Trek fiction, Interplanetary voyages, Riker; William T. (Fictitious character), Life on other planets, Star Trek, Radio and television novels
ISBN: 9781416509509
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2005-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

"Bridge to Captain Riker."

As a Starfleet officer, Will Riker was trained to wake from a sound sleep at a moment's

notice. Over twenty years of experience had enabled him to hone the skill. Unfortunately,

neither training nor experience could make him enjoy it. The late-night call from Hachesa

on the bridge meant he'd have to give up having Deanna comfortably spooned within his

arms. It meant he'd have to get up and endure some strong replicator coffee to shock

himself into a ready state. It meant he'd pay for the sleep deprivation at a later time.

Most of all, it meant there was trouble. "Riker here," he said reluctantly, feeling Deanna

stir against him. "Go ahead."

"We having intruders on the bridge, sir. Captain Qui'hibra and two others have just beam

aboard without warning. He is demand to speak with you at oncely, sir."

Riker groaned softly, as much at the gamma shift commander's mangled syntax as his

unwelcome news. ("It wouldn't be so bad," Deanna had said to him one night, "if only there

were some consistent pattern to it." If Hachesa's grammatical idiosyncrasies corresponded

to any rules of Kobliad syntax, the rest of the crew had yet to figure out what they

were.) Sitting up, he put some steel in his tone. This was his ship, and it was time to

remind Qui'hibra of that. "Raise the shields. Have security escort our guests to the

observation lounge. I'll meet-"

Qui'hibra's voice overrode him. "I will not play games, Riker. There is no time. What I

have brought you to see is beginning now. I have come to your ship because you claim your

long-range sensors are superior to ours. I had hoped to be closer before it began, but if

we are doomed only to watch, we must see as clearly as we can. And you will come in haste,

Riker, for the onset is mere moments away. Either agree now or my clan will batter down

your shields and have you teleported to this bridge. Remember that you are in our

territory and still breathe only at my indulgence."

Riker exchanged a look with Deanna, who was sitting up now too. He's very serious, Will,

she thought to him. Better play along.

Though he was tempted to drag his feet as a show of protest, Riker was eager to get

answers, so he dressed and made his way to the bridge as quickly as possible, Deanna right

beside him. The rest of the main bridge crew was also in the process of assembling as he

arrived, presumably summoned by Hachesa.

"Elder Qui'hibra," he greeted his intruder curtly, then looked at the others behind him,

another male and a crestless female. "And these are?"

"My clan matriarch and daughter, Qui'chiri. And Hunter Se'hraqua, who is here to witness

the cost of his negligence. There is no time for pleasantries, Riker-the Great Hounding

has begun."

Qui'hibra gestured at the screen with a small tilt of his head; clearly he was not one for

melodrama. Riker stepped down to the center of the bridge for a better view-and his eyes

widened.

On the screen, hundreds of Pa'haquel ships were swarming around something...immense. It

was cylindrical, rounded, pocked like an

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