Ghost of a Chance by Charles G. McGraw, Mark Garland Page B

her out.
    They walked in silence most of the way, until they had nearly reached their destination.
    “What is it you expect to find?” Tuvok asked as they entered the shuttle bay. Harry Kim stood waiting beside the open hatch of one of Voyager’s two main shuttlecraft.
    “I don’t know,” she told Tuvok. “People. Volcanoes.
    Earthquakes, perhaps. Other than that, nothing, I hope. Though I’m beginning to doubt it.”
    “Ready to launch, Captain,” Kim reported as Janeway acknowledged him.
    “Excellent, Mr. Kim.” The three of them boarded the shuttle and secured the hatch, then waited for the bay door to open. At the sound of the all-clear, Kim increased the small craft’s power levels while Janeway guided them through the opening, into space.
    ***
    “Bring our visitors back in,” Chakotay said, touching his comm badge.
    He thought it would serve no purpose to keep the Drosary waiting around indefinitely, and in truth he felt eager to continue, to try. The two security officers reappeared once more in the briefing room, flanking the three envoys. Once everyone was seated again, Chakotay explained that the captain was conducting her reviews and hoped to rejoin them shortly. He tried to pick up where they had left off.
    “I thought we might talk a little more about sensor technologies,” he said. “I believe we have a slight advantage in that area.”
    The three advocates regarded one another with mildly enlightened expressions. “Perhaps,” Tassay finally said, glancing admiringly at Chakotay.
    “We would have to determine whether there is any real benefit for the Televek,” Jonal said. “But I do see the sensors as a step in the right direction. We are not talking about the sale of empires here, only token exchanges. You needn’t be afraid of us, or of the Televek, Commander. They know what they’re doing. You must tell this to your captain, help me convince her.”
    Chakotay couldn’t help grinning. “I’m afraid I won’t be much help there.”
    “Commander to the bridge!” the voice of Lieutenant Rollins shouted over the intercom.
    “Chakotay here. What is it?”
    “Commander, the Televek have fired on the shuttle,” Rollins answered.
    Paris was already up and heading out the door as Chakotay sprang to his feet. “What’s their status?”
    “The shuttle has taken a direct hit. We’ve lost contact.
    They’re descending out of control.”
    “The three of you will remain here,” the commander told the Drosary.
    “See to it,” he ordered the guards, who quickly raised their hand phasers and trained them on the three aliens.
    “But, Commander,” Jonal said, despondent, “I assure you, this is—” “Not now,” Chakotay said, moving past them.
    “Wait, Chakotay, please,” Tassay said, reaching for him. “You must let us—” “No!” Chakotay replied coldly, avoiding her hand. He vanished into the hall at a jog.
    ***
    Kim’s shout of warning came at the same instant the energy beam flashed from the Televek cruiser. The shuttle rocked, then began to spin. As the cabin lights went out, the flash and sizzle of burning systems illuminated the darkness. Then the red emergency lighting brought grim clarity to Kim’s eyes once more. Janeway and Tuvok scrambled up from the deck and dragged themselves into position over part of the shuttle’s main console. The spin continued. Kim felt the fear fill his chest, a tightness that threatened to steal his breath. He forced his lungs full of air several times and tried to work past the fright.
    “We’ve lost power in the port nacelle,” he reported, hauling himself up among the others, working quickly to evaluate the rush of data displayed before him.
    “That is not all,” Tuvok said, sounding somewhat shaken as well, a rarity in any Vulcan, and no comfort to Kim.
    “We’ve got to pull out of this spin or we don’t stand a chance,” Janeway said, struggling with the controls. “Mr. Kim, see what you can do with those starboard