“We’re talking about a species advanced enough to create a planetoid designed to store enough energy over time to move a star out of its orbit and powerful enough to transport our ship over forty thousand light-years,” Kim replied. “If they decide they want us dead, we’re going to die, so I have to believe they don’t, and we should do everything in our power to avoid changing their minds.”
There was something refreshing in his bluntness. It nurtured trust. But that didn’t entirely change her calculus. “I want us ready to defend ourselves the next time they approach this vessel,” Glenn said.
“I do too, but I believe our first priority, beyond restoring as much power as possible, has to be establishing communication with them.”
Glenn shook her head. “Every action these aliens have taken thus far has been hostile, Lieutenant. They assaulted us. They moved us against our will, almost destroying our ship in the process. And they took a member of my crew from us.”
“They also left material on our ship that even now is helping to seal fractured areas of the hull,” Kim said.
“So, you believe this is some great misunderstanding?”
“I don’t know what to believe. And until we have more information, I’m not going to decide to approach them with hostility. Forgive me, Captain, but while I understand and share your anger, I’ve never found acting from a place of anger, especially in first-contact situations, to be a good plan.”
As a rule, Glenn didn’t either. But she had rarely felt as out of control as she did at this moment. It was an unnerving and frightening sensation.
“If I order you to fire on them if they approach the ship again, will you do it?” Glenn asked.
“It’s your ship, Captain, and I will serve at your pleasure for as long as you are willing to have me do so. I will follow any order you choose to give. But I’m not in the habit of following orders with which I disagree without at least making my superiors aware of that fact at the appropriate time and place.”
Glenn sat back, suddenly light-headed. The Doctor had advised her that she wouldn’t be ready to return to duty for several days. She was beginning to understand the physical limitations that made that recommendation practical.
“Duly noted,” Glenn said. “How do you suggest we proceed?”
“Every time the Edrehmaia approach us, they emit photonic signals on a wide spectrum. Assessing whether or not those signals might be a form of communication is my next priority.”
“So we can ask them why the hell they did this?”
“Assuming we can restore any power at all to our engines, I was thinking we might ask them to let us go.”
Glenn was struck by a new thought. “If their intentions toward us are as benign as you hope, why don’t we ask them to send us back?”
Kim considered it. “We barely survived the trip here. I’m not sure I would risk returning the way we came. We’d do better to focus on restoring our slipstream drive.”
“Without benamite?”
“We are working now on recrystallizing what was lost.”
“Do you have any reason to believe that will work?”
Kim shook his head. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve seen Nancy perform miracles before and I’m hoping she has a few more for us up her sleeve.”
“Lieutenant Conlon?”
The question Glenn had forgotten until now to ask was suddenly on the tip of her tongue. Fleet personnel often moved among their sister ships but those who transported to Galen were usually injured or visiting the injured. Why had Kim been aboard her ship at all?
“You were here visiting the lieutenant at the time of the attack, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You and she are…” Glenn began.
Kim’s cheeks again began to redden.
“I think we’re past the point of standing on formality,” she said. “If you and I are going to work together, we’re going to have to learn to trust each other. In my experience, that begins with honesty.”
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Nancy Conlon and I are intimately involved. Our daughter, who is only a few weeks old, is residing in a gestational incubator a few doors down. I will leave it to her to brief you on her personal medical condition, but you must have been aware that she was transferred here weeks ago in order to treat a serious illness.”
“I was. I approved the transfer. But as I am not her treating physician, I was not informed of the specifics of her case. I assume you know more than I do and are comfortable with her performing the duties of our chief engineer?”
“Honestly, I’d rather have her here devoting herself entirely to getting well. But under the circumstances…”
“None of us are going to be able to have what we want for the foreseeable future, are we, Lieutenant?”
“No, Captain.”
Naming the unpleasant reality that faced her when she had begun to process her new circumstances and found herself unequipped to do so had a calming effect. Nothing about this situation was okay or was likely to be so for a long time. But at least she had someone beside her now who was willing to face that reality along with her, and, if possible, conquer it.
That knowledge helped.
8
VESTA
“We have to go after them,” Chakotay said.
Admiral Janeway, who did not disagree, rose from her workstation where she and Chakotay had
