Star Trek: New Frontier: Dark Allies by Peter David

Author:Peter David
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671020804
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1999-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

VII.

IT TOOK THE BRIDGE CREW some time to get used to the sight of a Redeemer vessel pacing them. The impulse was to be at battle stations, preparing for a direct assault. Indeed, the captain had told them to remain battle-ready, but the ship had stood down from yellow alert. They were cautious, and Kebron kept a wary eye on any sign that the Redeemers were powering up their weapons. But there was nothing. One would have thought the Redeemers to be the most benign of races in the history of the galaxy.

They reached the Tulaan star system, and Soleta held a brief (over the screen) conference with the Prime One who, along with the Overlord, had returned to the Redeemer vessel. He indicated the point where the far watch points had indicated that the Black Mass had first emerged, and then Soleta—in conjunction with McHenry—plotted a course that would take them in the direction of the Black Mass so that they could see it first-hand and, hopefully, intercept it.

By that point, Calhoun brought the ship to yellow alert so that they would be ready for anything. Si Cwan was likewise on the bridge as the Excalibur, side by side with the Redeemer ship, hurtled in the direction of the Black Mass' last reported position. Although the entity was moving at warp speed, it was nevertheless only in the realm of warp one or two. The starship could move far faster, of course, and therefore could get to the Black Mass long before it got anywhere near Tulaan IV. They would have lots of time to try and deal with the Mass and somehow get it to change course or, preferably, turn around and head back for the Hunger Zone. At the very least, they hoped to re-steer it toward an uninhabited system, of which there were more than a few.

There was none of the usual banter on the bridge as they watched the monitor. Even though they knew that the sensors would inform them of contact well before there was a visual, they couldn't help but strain their eyes studying the screen.

And finally, Soleta—the more experienced sensor monitor—announced, "Captain. I'm getting readings, dead ahead."

"What are they?"

She paused for a long time before finally saying, "I do not know."

"You don't know?" Calhoun tried to keep the surprise out of his voice. "Best guess, then."

"A biological form, moving at approximately warp one point three. Impossible to determine its size, since it keeps changing. Best description is that it is like an amorphous, living cloud."

"Is it one entity?"

"I do not believe so. It appears to be composed of millions of smaller entities, but I am unable to get an individual reading from any of them."

"Put it onscreen."

Calhoun imagined that the collective breath of the bridge crew was being held as the screen shifted for a moment, and then the Black Mass appeared on it.

He didn't quite know what he was looking at, at first. "Highlight it, Lieutenant," he said. Within seconds the

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