Free Star Trek by Dayton Ward, Kevin Dilmore Page B

agreement from the rest of the crew.
    Ross looked to Ghrovlatrei and pointed to the tricorder sticking from the top pocket of her coveralls. “Lieutenant, can you tell me where Mogad is?”
    Consulting the device, Ghrovlatrei shook her head. “There are three Cardassians scattered throughout this room that are still conscious. One of them is maintaining his position among the cargo containers near the closest of the patrol ships, but the other two are moving, perhaps to join their companion. I cannot determine which one is Mogad.”
    From his vantage point, Donovan could see the quartet of patrol ships, their cockpit hatches visible along the top edges of their wedge-shaped hulls. There was no way the Cardassians would be able to approach the ships without being seen.
    Small favors
, he mused.
    With a grunt of frustration, Ross shook his head at the report before looking to Ghrovlatrei again. “Cover this hatch. Make sure none of the Cardassians get past you. Donovan, you come with me.”
    Her brow creasing in uncertainty, Ghrovlatrei asked, “What do you have in mind, Commander?”

    Ghrovlatrei was right
, Donovan chided himself.
This assignment was better when it was boring
.
    Moving in a crouch, Donovan scurried between thestacks of cargo containers, his ears straining to detect any signs of the three Cardassians who were still hiding somewhere in the shuttlebay. For the third time in as many minutes, he swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He cursed himself for not having the presence of mind to have carried a tricorder of his own. The device would have proven invaluable to him right about now.
    Of course, you had no idea Commander Ross was going to suggest something this crazy, did you?
    Their time and options fading, Ross had decided on a bold course of action. With Ghrovlatrei and Dillone providing covering fire if needed, the two Starfleet officers had set out in search of Mogad. Donovan was circling along the perimeter of the room to the left of their defensive position near the exit hatch, while Ross searched somewhere among the cargo modules to the right. With no tricorders to scan for the locations of the Cardassians, both humans were forced to rely on their own senses to discern any telltale clues of their enemy’s presence. So far, Donovan had seen and heard nothing to indicate he was not alone here, despite what his pounding heart and rapid breathing told him.
    His thoughts were broken as a voice called out across the shuttlebay. “Mogad!” Donovan froze in place, even holding his breath as the voice, AldoCorsi’s and full of anger, echoed in the room. “Mogad,” he repeated, “we have to talk. We have to put a stop to this before it gets completely out of control.”
    What was he doing? Why was he drawing attention to himself? Surely, Mogad or one of his subordinates would try to home in on his voice. He was placing himself and his crew in danger.
    â€œMogad, we can’t allow this to go any further. Too many people have died or been hurt already, even though you could have prevented it. Are you ready to sacrifice more lives by failing to act?”
    Or was he?
    Of course
.
    Donovan smiled to himself, nodding in appreciation for Aldo’s savvy. He was trying to get the Cardassian to speak and reveal his location. After years of dealing with Mogad, the freighter captain probably knew the gul as well as anyone outside his own family. But would he know enough to be able to provoke the Cardassian? It was a simple ploy, attacking Mogad’s ego and pride.
    Simple, yet effective.
    â€œLet us not forget that it was you who chose to engage in espionage, Corsi,” Mogad said, his voice crisp as always, though Donovan was more concerned with the fact that it was also close. Very close.
    Somewhere to the right
, he decided, though the voice was muted somewhat by the cargo containers blocking much of his view of the shuttlebay. He took a