have a report of what happened, Mister Boma?” Spock asked, his voice as flat and devoid of emotion as his expression. Unable to read whatever thoughts might be lurking behind the impenetrable Vulcan façade, Boma felt the initial pangs of familiar resentment. It had been two years since the mission to explore the Murasaki 312 quasar, in which Spock had commanded a team of specialists from the Enterprise —including Boma—aboard the shuttlecraft Galileo . As he met Spock’s steady, unwavering gaze, the memories of that mission came flooding back to the forefront of his consciousness.
Latimer and Gaetano, murdered by those creatures. The rest of us scared for our lives, and with every setback and every death, he just kept looking at me—at all of us—the exact same way. All we wanted was some reassurance, some compassion or understanding from our commanding officer, anything that might have told us we were going to be all right and make it out of that hell. But no, that wouldn’t have been logical. Instead, all we got was that same damned blank stare, you bastard.
The thoughts came unbidden, and he pushed themback. Now was not the time for rehashing the past. Cradling his sling and his wounded arm a bit closer to his chest, Boma cleared his throat, struggling to keep an edge from his voice. “I don’t have a formal report, sir. Between caring for Kari and Rideout and being the Federation liaison for the colony, I haven’t had the time to prepare one, let alone the equipment. I’m happy to tell you what I know for now.”
“That will have to suffice,” Spock said. “What can you report about the circumstances which led to the Huang Zhong ’s crash?”
Frowning, Boma replied, “We were pretty beat up after passing through the rift. After we assumed orbit above Gralafi, we started a sensor scan of the planetoid, looking for something to support our theory that the energy field was artificially generated. I think we made somebody or something mad, because we were hit by some kind of tractor beam.” He paused, recalling the Huang Zhong ’s final moments. “It dragged us down from orbit. We managed to disable it with photon torpedoes, but by then it was too late.”
Spock nodded at the report as Arex asked, “Do you have the coordinates for the source of the tractor beam, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t,” Boma answered, “but you can probably still scan for residual energy from the torpedoes. That should lead us right to it.”
“Then that is where we shall begin,” Spock said.
Still standing next to him, Shin asked, “Is there something we can do to be of assistance, Commander?”
“I do not believe that will be necessary,” the Vulcan replied. “We will be able to use the sensors aboard the Columbus . However, your continued help at the Huang Zhong crash site would be appreciated.”
The Dolysian leader nodded. “We are at your service.”
Boma said, “Be careful when you fire up your sensors, Mister Spock. There’s no telling what kind of response you might get.”
“A practical observation, Mister Boma.” To Arex, he said, “Lieutenant, it seems we will have no further need for your shuttlecraft. Once Doctor McCoy has determined the extent of Master Chief Petty Officer Rideout’s continued medical treatment, you will return with the Einstein to the Enterprise and notify Mister Scott that salvage operations for the Huang Zhong can commence immediately.” Then, he turned back to Boma. “Lieutenant, are you available to accompany us?”
Caught off guard by the request, Boma almost tripped over his own mouth in his attempt to answer. He had assumed Spock would prefer to leave him behind for eventual transfer back to the Enterprise . Sensing an opportunity, he replied, “Absolutely, sir.” He then held up his injured arm. “That is, if you think a one-armed science officer is any good to you.”
His expression never once wavering, Spock said, “In the event Doctor McCoy is unable to
Latimer and Gaetano, murdered by those creatures. The rest of us scared for our lives, and with every setback and every death, he just kept looking at me—at all of us—the exact same way. All we wanted was some reassurance, some compassion or understanding from our commanding officer, anything that might have told us we were going to be all right and make it out of that hell. But no, that wouldn’t have been logical. Instead, all we got was that same damned blank stare, you bastard.
The thoughts came unbidden, and he pushed themback. Now was not the time for rehashing the past. Cradling his sling and his wounded arm a bit closer to his chest, Boma cleared his throat, struggling to keep an edge from his voice. “I don’t have a formal report, sir. Between caring for Kari and Rideout and being the Federation liaison for the colony, I haven’t had the time to prepare one, let alone the equipment. I’m happy to tell you what I know for now.”
“That will have to suffice,” Spock said. “What can you report about the circumstances which led to the Huang Zhong ’s crash?”
Frowning, Boma replied, “We were pretty beat up after passing through the rift. After we assumed orbit above Gralafi, we started a sensor scan of the planetoid, looking for something to support our theory that the energy field was artificially generated. I think we made somebody or something mad, because we were hit by some kind of tractor beam.” He paused, recalling the Huang Zhong ’s final moments. “It dragged us down from orbit. We managed to disable it with photon torpedoes, but by then it was too late.”
Spock nodded at the report as Arex asked, “Do you have the coordinates for the source of the tractor beam, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t,” Boma answered, “but you can probably still scan for residual energy from the torpedoes. That should lead us right to it.”
“Then that is where we shall begin,” Spock said.
Still standing next to him, Shin asked, “Is there something we can do to be of assistance, Commander?”
“I do not believe that will be necessary,” the Vulcan replied. “We will be able to use the sensors aboard the Columbus . However, your continued help at the Huang Zhong crash site would be appreciated.”
The Dolysian leader nodded. “We are at your service.”
Boma said, “Be careful when you fire up your sensors, Mister Spock. There’s no telling what kind of response you might get.”
“A practical observation, Mister Boma.” To Arex, he said, “Lieutenant, it seems we will have no further need for your shuttlecraft. Once Doctor McCoy has determined the extent of Master Chief Petty Officer Rideout’s continued medical treatment, you will return with the Einstein to the Enterprise and notify Mister Scott that salvage operations for the Huang Zhong can commence immediately.” Then, he turned back to Boma. “Lieutenant, are you available to accompany us?”
Caught off guard by the request, Boma almost tripped over his own mouth in his attempt to answer. He had assumed Spock would prefer to leave him behind for eventual transfer back to the Enterprise . Sensing an opportunity, he replied, “Absolutely, sir.” He then held up his injured arm. “That is, if you think a one-armed science officer is any good to you.”
His expression never once wavering, Spock said, “In the event Doctor McCoy is unable to
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