Star Trek #78: The Rings of Tautee by Dean Wesley Smith

Author:Dean Wesley Smith [Smith, Dean Wesley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Kirk; James T. (Fictitious character), Space Opera, Interplanetary voyages, Fiction, Science Fiction, American fiction, General, Media Tie-In
ISBN: 9780671001711
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 1996-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch Bogle swiveled his chair.

Lee was hunched over his science console, monitoring everything. He didn't know what he'd do without Lee.

"What's the status of the Enterprise?" Bogle asked.

"They seem to have taken very little damage," Lee said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Bogle shook his head, too. He didn't know how Kirk managed it. If Bogle were to lay odds, he would guess that Kirk would be the only officer in the fleet to retire without losing a ship. If he didn't get tossed out first for breaking rules.

The red-alert lights shut off, leaving the bridge in near darkness. Bogle blinked, grinning to himself.

Nice going, Proje "Sir," Gustavus said, "the Enterprise is hailing us."

"And sir," Lee said, "that Klingon ship off our bow is powering up."

"Wonderful," Bogle said. Just as he had predicted. The Klingons would attack when the wave hit. He hoped Pro repaired those shields in time. "Put the Enterprise on screen."

The screen flickered and then an image filled it. Bogle resisted the urge to rub his eyes. The Klingon commander stood beside Kirk, looking as at ease on the bridge of the Enterprise as her own captain did. A tiny woman stood beside them. The men dwarfed her and yet she seemed to belong in their company.

"Captain," Kirk said, a slight smile crossing his face. He knew what impact he was having and it 128 THE RINGS OF TAUTEE was clear he was enjoying it. "I'd like to introduce you to Commander KerDaq." Kirk indicated the Klingon standing beside him on-screen.

KerDaq nodded, but said nothing.

Kirk's smile disappeared. Bogle saw the determination in Kirk's eyes. Even though Kirk gave the appearance of enjoying things, he knew how serious the situation was.

For all of them.

"I understand you're having shield problems," Kirk said. "Mister Spock is sending a heading and timing so that you will be able to run with the coming subspace wave to reduce its impact."

"Understood," Bogle said.

"As do I," KerDaq said. "Now I must warn my ships."

Kirk nodded. "Kirk out."

The screen went dark and then came back with the picture of the Klingon battle cruiser off their bow.

Bogle sat staring, not totally understanding what he'd just seen. Kirk and the Klingons working together. And behind them a woman had been standing silently.

An alien woman.

An obvious Tauteean survivor.

"I have the heading and coordinates," Lee said.

"We have fifty seconds."

"Transfer them to navigation and be ready to initiate on the correct timing." Bogle turned to Lee. "Mister, I want a double check on those calculations within twenty seconds or we're going to jump to warp to outrun the subspace wave. I 129 Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch won't take any chances with this crew and this ship."

"Working, sir," Lee said.

Fifty seconds to repair the shields and to hold on. Bogle let out his breath. At least the Klingon attack he had been expecting probably wouldn't come. Not if KerDaq was on the bridge of the Enterprise.

"They are correct, sir," Lee said, and he actually sounded confident.

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