The Light Read Free Page A

need to contend with. The output is negligible enough that it doesn’t reach far beyond the planet, but Starfleet doesn’t want to take any chances. They want the power shut down.”
    Aside from the Borg factor, this all seemed fairly routine to Gomez. The specifications of Borg cubes could be easily accessed by any starship in the service, so she still wasn’t clear why the S.C.E. was being sent. She voiced this concern to Gold, adding, “The Hood is already onsite. Wouldn’t it be simpler for them to send a team in to turn the thing off?”
    â€œUnder normal circumstances, yes,” Gold said, “but there’s another element to this, and Scotty wants Starfleet’s best engineers to look into it.” He paused to make sure he had everyone’s attention. “There’s apparently an odd energy distribution pattern that indicates the power is no longer being directed throughout the ship, but rather below the surface.”
    â€œThat is peculiar,” said P8 Blue from her specially-designed seat at the opposite end of the table. The Nasat’s comment was accompanied by a tinkling sound that indicated the insectoid engineer’s growing interest. “This would also explain why the cube appears dormant despite the minimal active power flow.”
    â€œI concur,” said computer specialist Soloman, the lone Bynar on the ship.
    Gomez had to admit, her own curiosity was piqued. Although she still believed this was a task that the Hood ’s engineering team could readily deal with, part of Gomez was glad that her team would be the one to investigate the mystery, despite the fact it was centered around a Borg cube.
    â€œIf, for whatever reason, you’re unable to shut the power down, our orders are to clear the site and destroy the cube,” Gold said. “Any questions?”
    Sitting opposite Gomez, Mor glasch Tev, the da Vinci ’s Tellarite second officer, cleared his throat roughly and raised a stubby index finger. “Perhaps I’m missing something here, Captain, but why are we complicating matters by looking into this power distribution anomaly? We’re talking about a Borg cube. Why not just destroy the thing and be done with it?”
    â€œBecause we’re the S.C.E., Tev,” said Gold. “It’s our job to investigate engineering anomalies. And as I’ve already mentioned, the cube shows no signs of any danger. I can appreciate your reticence where the Borg are concerned; I’m sure we can all relate in one way or another. But I assure you, we wouldn’t be going anywhere near that ship if I didn’t think it was safe.”
    â€œVery well, sir,” Tev said, “although I still have my reservations.”
    â€œSo noted,” Gold said, then glanced at the rest of them. “Any other questions?”
    When no one else spoke up, Gomez said, “All clear, sir.”
    â€œExcellent.” Gold rose from his chair and fixed his eye on Gomez. “We’ll reach the planet in just over four hours, so you have until then to review the data and prepare a mission plan.”
    Gomez stood as well and bobbed her head. “Aye, sir.”
    â€œDismissed.”

    Soloman almost sent Dantas Falcão sprawling to the deck as he sprang out of the turbolift the moment the doors parted. The attractive human female, the da Vinci ’s medical technician, avoided the collision by twisting out of the way at the last second, completing a graceful three-hundred-and-sixty-degree pirouette before falling softly against the bulkhead. The impromptu display was one of the most impressive evasive maneuvers the diminutive Bynar had ever seen.
    Unfortunately, he was late for the meeting Commander Gomez had called in the mess hall to discuss their upcoming Borg mission, and there was no time to compliment Falcão on her impressive feat of acrobatic legerdemain. He’d been in sickbay when the team was summoned,