Free Star Trek: The Next Generation - 119 - Armageddon's Arrow by Dayton Ward Page B

Enterprise , are you seeing this?” La Forge asked. On the viewscreen, Picard saw that the engineer was still studying the workstation, which now featured an active display depicting a technical schematic. Picard recognized it as a section of the alien craft, with a focus on its internal systems. “I think we can put to rest any idea of this not being a combat ship, and I mean that in the truest sense. If I’m reading this right, nearly every onboard system is designed to prioritize weapons and defenses, with the main particle cannon taking precedence over everything else. This thing is essentially the cannon with an engine attached, and some support systems to help it get to whatever it’s supposed to blow up next.”
    Lieutenant Elfiki added, “The computer’s decision-support software is incredible, and the entire system looks to be heavily encrypted. It’ll take days to sift through . ”
    “There’ll be plenty of time for that,” Picard said. “Number One, once Commander La Forge has set up the data link to the Enterprise , proceed to the source of the life-form readings.”
    “Acknowledged , ” replied the Klingon.
    Turning from the screen, Picard said to Šmrhová, “Lieutenant, alert engineering about Mister La Forge’s plan. I want Commander Taurik to oversee the operation and guard against any infiltration of our computer by anything over there.”
    The security chief nodded. “Aye, sir.”
    Though he allowed himself a small sigh, Picard forced himself to maintain his composure. As always, one of the most frustrating parts about sending an away team on a mission was the waiting.
    Waiting for what, exactly?
    *   *   *
    “Worf, we’re here.”
    Standing behind the Klingon in the large passageway, La Forge indicated with his tricorder an oversized, sealed hatch set into the bulkhead. The door, like much they had encountered so far during their exploration of the alien ship, was composed of unpolished, unpainted metal. A string of characters rendered in an indecipherable script was etched into the hatch’s smooth surface, and above the door was yet another luminescent strand providing dim illumination to this part of the corridor.
    “I think this says something about suspension,” La Forge said, studying his tricorder. “Could mean hibernation.” Not for the first time, he willed the universal translation protocols currently being employed by the Enterprise ’s main computer to work faster as they continued their process of interpreting the unknown language of the ship’s builders and possible inhabitants.
    “You got it right, Commander , ” said the voice of Lieutenant Šmrhová over the open channel. “The computer confirms that the label reads ‘Suspension,’ along with some kind of code it thinks might be a room or compartment number . ”
    “How’s the computer coming with the rest of the translation?” La Forge asked.
    The security chief replied, “Still working, but the database it’s building is already pretty large. The translation matrix found thirty-eight distinct languages represented in the ship’s computer files. A few of those were really interesting, and by that I mean odd, like they didn’t belong with the rest. Within an hour, you should be able to interact with any of the onboard systems . ”
    “And talk to anybody we meet?” Chen asked.
    “That’s the plan, Lieutenant . ”
    La Forge said, “Well, there’s still the security lockouts and decryption. Baby steps, but for now we’ll have to muddle through as best we can.” Moving so that he stood before the closed door and the control panel set into the adjacent bulkhead, he held up his tricorder and keyed one of the harmonic sequences he had assembled, similar to the one he had used to open the landing bay’s external hatch. This time it took him three attempts before he found a sequence that worked. An indicator on the control panel flared a bright yellow and there was an audible click as magnetic