Star Trek: Corp of Engineers - 069 - The Light by Jeff D. Jacques

Author:Jeff D. Jacques [Jacques, Jeff D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy
ISBN: 9781416545668
Google: YH2gMfZPy0EC
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2007-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Corsi gave in to Gomez’s request to sling her rifle. Though there had been no indication that the people here posed any kind of a threat, keeping her weapon in any position other than “ready” still made her feel a little vulnerable, despite the fact she could easily whip it into action with one lightning move.

Sure she might be a little overly cautious, but the way Corsi looked at it, she was being cautious for two—Gomez sure didn’t seem concerned about their safety. True, it was the job of security to protect the S.C.E. team members as they went about their mission, but the da Vinci’s first officer wasn’t usually so naïve, particularly when taking her team into the unknown. Something was bothering her. Corsi had noticed it almost the moment Gomez had walked into observation this morning; Stevens had even noticed it, if his reaction was any indication. And later in the mess hall, she’d begged off a pre-mission drink with the team so she could do some mission preparations? That was crap. And even if it was true, she could have spared five or ten minutes.

Corsi had to give her credit though. It was a testament to Gomez’s consummate professionalism that she wasn’t allowing it to interfere with her duties during the mission. But the moment they had some time alone, Corsi was going to see if she could get Gomez to open up about whatever it was that was eating at her. For now though, it was the oh-so-exciting task of playing tourist.

She had to admit, however, that the achievements of the population impressed her. It was proof of their resilience as a species that they’d been able to endure for so long, living beneath the earth. Right now, she and Gomez were on their way to visit the hydroponics chamber where food was grown and stored. It was difficult to gauge just how many people lived in this society, since she’d never seen more than four or six people at one time, aside from their initial sight of the pathway hub and the children in the classrooms. For all she knew, there could be no more than several hundred, or as many as five thousand people living here.

Their guide, Tey’sa, led them through one of the impressive archways situated throughout the system of corridors where the pathway inclined. The ceiling along the incline was lower here, and both Corsi and Gomez had to duck a little to avoid hitting their heads.

When they reached the top of the pathway, Corsi almost staggered at the sight.

Opening up before them was no mere “chamber.” It was a vast cavern, illuminated softly by elongated lights that simulated daylight and were fitted against the curved ceiling high above, like gargantuan archer’s bows. Crops grew below in a tiered arrangement, with larger plants on the floor and smaller ones suspended on one of the three upper levels, where a number of individuals monitored the vegetation to make sure it was healthy and producing the way it should.

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