Star Trek: That Which Divides by Dayton Ward

Author:Dayton Ward
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Standing at the foot of the ramp leading into her ship, Commander Vathrael looked toward the sky and noted the beginnings of the color shift signifying the onset of nightfall. Unlike the mauve tinge cast over everything during daylight hours, the effect of the energy field encompassing this world now was beginning to radiate a pale violet glow across the surrounding landscape, a hue Vathrael had come to find soothing. Though the barrier prevented the penetration to the planetoid’s surface of direct sunlight as well as light reflected from the two moons orbiting the nearby inhabited planet, the light refracted from the barrier itself did a serviceable job of compensating for that loss. Vathrael wondered if those responsible for the energy field had intended such an effect, or if it was simply an odd consequence of the technology they had seen fit to place here.

An interesting question, she conceded. It was but one of many queries she had considered with respect to the planetoid as well as the technology it seemed to harbor and those who created it. The weapons certainly commanded her interest, given how it had disabled and—if not for the timely intervention of her engineer—nearly destroyed the Nevathu, and brought about its forced landing here. Despite any personal desire Vathrael might have to further investigate such mysteries, they would have to be set aside while she and her crew tended to the more immediate problems they faced.

Footsteps on the ramp behind made her turn to see her engineer, Subcommander Mylas, descending toward her from the ship. His face and hands, along with his uniform—a standard gray one-piece coverall designed for wear by crew personnel when performing labor-intensive tasks where the regular duty uniform was inappropriate—were smudged with grime. Thinning, stark white hair dampened with perspiration and bloodshot eyes rounded out his disheveled appearance, testifying to the extended period of time he had spent in the bowels of the Nevathu.

“You look tired, my friend,” Vathrael said as she regarded him.

Mylas nodded as he came to a stop at the foot of the ramp. “I’ll rest when the work is completed, Commander.” Despite his words, he leaned against one of the ramp’s support struts, a breach of protocol that Vathrael would never have tolerated from anyone but him.

Unable to resist a small smile, she said, “If you’d let Fleet Command give you the promotion you’ve already earned several times, by my count, you wouldn’t have to crawl around in the belly of my ship trying to fix everything.”

“I much prefer my present duties, Commander. I’m not a creature of politics, or even polished military bearing. My place is with the machines, and I am happy to continue serving in that capacity so long as the empire will have me.”

Vathrael replied, “Fleet Command’s loss is my good fortune.” She first met Mylas when she was but a young centurion, recently graduated from the military academy on Romulus and having been posted to her first assignment to the warship Bloodied Talon.

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