enemy vessel’s scanners probed for her ship, Toqel had been assured by her engineers that the cloak should withstand even the most intense sensor sweep.
The Starfleet vessel was growing larger on the viewscreen, its maneuvering thrusters propelling the enemy vessel ever closer.
“They detect us!” Nilona said.
Toqel did not agree. Engaging the
Kretoq
’s impulse engines to give them some distance after depositing the last communications buoy—itself a means of baiting the Starfleet ship and seeing how its commander would react to the mysterious appearance of the objects—likely had triggered an alarm to the enemy vessel’s sensors. It was a calculated risk, but in addition to being a further test of the cloak’s abilities, Toqel also wanted maneuvering room if it became necessary to retreat, or even to turn and fight.
Forcing her voice to remain calm and measured, she ordered, “Stand by to route power to weapons and shields at my command.” Glancing toward Rezek, she called out, “Range.”
The centurion replied, “Sixty-three hundred
mat’drih,
and closing.” After a moment, he added, “Proconsul, their current course heading indicates they will pass close enough that collision is a danger.”
Very close,
Toqel conceded, but still distant enough to suggest the Starfleet vessel’s sensors had not actually locked onto the
Kretoq.
“Helm,” she said, “lay in a course out of the asteroid field along our current orientation. Adjust your course to utilize the largest asteroids along our flight path for cover. Engage when ready.”
“Understood, Proconsul,” Nilona replied as he leaned over his console and set to work. The only indications of the
Kretoq
’s acceleration were the telltale movement of a status indicator Toqel noted on the helm console, followed by the image of asteroids passing the edges of the viewscreen as the ship pushed forward.
Stepping away from the tactical station, Rezek moved until he could lean close enough to Toqel to speak without being overheard by other bridge personnel. “Proconsul, that heading will take us to dangerous proximity to them.”
Toqel nodded. “Yes, it will. What better way to test the cloak than from point-blank range?” Her engineers had boasted that the cloaking field would be effective from as close as one ship length away from an enemy target. She intended to test that claim to the fullest extent possible.
“We should attack the Earther ship now,” said Mortagh, the Klingon officer manning the tactical console and the
Kretoq
’s designated liaison to those members of the original crew who had been retained in order to assist Toqel’s people with the transition to the vessel’s onboardsystems. “They do not suspect that we lie in wait, ready to slaughter them like the helpless prey that they are.”
Turning from the viewscreen, Toqel glared at the Klingon with undisguised contempt. “And what point would that serve? If I’d wanted to destroy them, I could have done that long before now.”
Mortagh sneered so that she could see his yellow, uneven teeth. “This childish game wastes a ship of the
Kretoq
’s stature. Do you know how many glorious victories this ship has achieved in battle? Of those, none were earned by sneaking around like cowards in the dark.”
“I’m not interested in glory,” Toqel countered, returning her attention to the screen. “I care only about defeating the enemies of the Empire.” Glancing at Mortagh one last time, she added,
“My
empire, not yours.”
Though still uncomfortable with the evolving situation, Rezek had returned to his station without further comment. Once more hovering over the tactical displays, he called out, “They are passing abreast of us, range three hundred
mat’drih.
” Nothing else was said for the few moments it took for the underside of the Starfleet ship to fill the viewscreen. It now was so close that Toqel could make out the seams in its hull and the markings of its
The Starfleet vessel was growing larger on the viewscreen, its maneuvering thrusters propelling the enemy vessel ever closer.
“They detect us!” Nilona said.
Toqel did not agree. Engaging the
Kretoq
’s impulse engines to give them some distance after depositing the last communications buoy—itself a means of baiting the Starfleet ship and seeing how its commander would react to the mysterious appearance of the objects—likely had triggered an alarm to the enemy vessel’s sensors. It was a calculated risk, but in addition to being a further test of the cloak’s abilities, Toqel also wanted maneuvering room if it became necessary to retreat, or even to turn and fight.
Forcing her voice to remain calm and measured, she ordered, “Stand by to route power to weapons and shields at my command.” Glancing toward Rezek, she called out, “Range.”
The centurion replied, “Sixty-three hundred
mat’drih,
and closing.” After a moment, he added, “Proconsul, their current course heading indicates they will pass close enough that collision is a danger.”
Very close,
Toqel conceded, but still distant enough to suggest the Starfleet vessel’s sensors had not actually locked onto the
Kretoq.
“Helm,” she said, “lay in a course out of the asteroid field along our current orientation. Adjust your course to utilize the largest asteroids along our flight path for cover. Engage when ready.”
“Understood, Proconsul,” Nilona replied as he leaned over his console and set to work. The only indications of the
Kretoq
’s acceleration were the telltale movement of a status indicator Toqel noted on the helm console, followed by the image of asteroids passing the edges of the viewscreen as the ship pushed forward.
Stepping away from the tactical station, Rezek moved until he could lean close enough to Toqel to speak without being overheard by other bridge personnel. “Proconsul, that heading will take us to dangerous proximity to them.”
Toqel nodded. “Yes, it will. What better way to test the cloak than from point-blank range?” Her engineers had boasted that the cloaking field would be effective from as close as one ship length away from an enemy target. She intended to test that claim to the fullest extent possible.
“We should attack the Earther ship now,” said Mortagh, the Klingon officer manning the tactical console and the
Kretoq
’s designated liaison to those members of the original crew who had been retained in order to assist Toqel’s people with the transition to the vessel’s onboardsystems. “They do not suspect that we lie in wait, ready to slaughter them like the helpless prey that they are.”
Turning from the viewscreen, Toqel glared at the Klingon with undisguised contempt. “And what point would that serve? If I’d wanted to destroy them, I could have done that long before now.”
Mortagh sneered so that she could see his yellow, uneven teeth. “This childish game wastes a ship of the
Kretoq
’s stature. Do you know how many glorious victories this ship has achieved in battle? Of those, none were earned by sneaking around like cowards in the dark.”
“I’m not interested in glory,” Toqel countered, returning her attention to the screen. “I care only about defeating the enemies of the Empire.” Glancing at Mortagh one last time, she added,
“My
empire, not yours.”
Though still uncomfortable with the evolving situation, Rezek had returned to his station without further comment. Once more hovering over the tactical displays, he called out, “They are passing abreast of us, range three hundred
mat’drih.
” Nothing else was said for the few moments it took for the underside of the Starfleet ship to fill the viewscreen. It now was so close that Toqel could make out the seams in its hull and the markings of its
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