40.6 Tales of the Dominion War by Keith R. A. DeCandido

Author:Keith R. A. DeCandido [DeCandido, Keith R. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure
ISBN: 9781416503644
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2004-08-31T23:00:00+00:00

The transporter room Picard hoped to find was there, but without power. There was a battery backup system, but circuits had been crushed by falling debris and the captain could not fix them alone. He made his way back to where he knew Deanna, Amarante, and the other Academy graduates and their families would be. Along the way he checked every door he could open for survivors, and every communications console for power, but neither quest bore fruit.

It was once he was reunited with Deanna and his niece that the real work began.

Controlling and consoling the mass of graduate relatives, Deanna was already in full counselor mode before Picard even pulled together Amarante and her classmates and the few other Starfleet personnel that had found their way to the lounge. Some of those Deanna said she'd met on her way from Picard's VIP quarters. No wonder he encountered no one on his way back. For that reason and because most staff would either be on shift in ops or in offices off base.

"I don't know your names," Picard said, meeting each new ensign's eyes with his own, "and I'm not sure I have time to learn them. But those of you here, having seen to the safety of your loved ones and the injured without panic, are already holding yourselves well as Starfleet officers. I need you all to stay that course." He paused in dramatic effect that only starship captains and the finest actors possessed. "Many are likely dead. Those of us who remain... need to be Starfleet Command."

The captain had seen more than one eager ensign in his career, and he saw the same determination in every face that looked back at him now. And as well a touch of fear. That was normal, and natural, and they would have to set it aside.

"Very well," Picard said. "Who here majored in communications?"

Two hands raised and one other of the young officers said, "I did."

"You three, then. Take two others, not in your field, and get to the surface. There's an emergency stairway two doors down that is clear. Once outside, find ground transportation, as aerial may be compromised. We don't know if this is to be a full-scale invasion or not, but I want you out of the air. Get to the nearest intact communications hub, and I don't care if that's governmental or commercial. We need to know if communications are jammed locally, globally, and to what extent. If you're able to get a signal out of the city, you're to set us up with a link to the nearest Starfleet office."

"And if they're also under attack, sir?" one of them asked.

It was a good question. "If they've attacked Mexico City as well, then try Detroit, or Houston. Then New York, Toronto, Santiago, Tokyo, London, and keep expanding outward. Cover the globe if needed. There's a reason we have offices and operations spread over the planet. Find sidearms or phaser rifles before you go, then head out."

"Aye."

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