Atonement by Kirsten Beyer Read Free Book Online Page A

could easily account for Gres’s circumspection. But she and her husband had carefully planned their lives after Voyager returned home from the Delta Quadrant in order to prioritize accessibility to their daughter, Naomi, who was struggling in her first year at Starfleet Academy.
    A new thought occurred to her. “Take Naomi with you.”
    â€œShe is not scheduled to be done for several weeks, and her liberty is only four days long.”
    â€œCall it a family emergency,” Wildman suggested. Come to think of it, that wasn’t even a lie .
    Gres’s eyes softened. “I’d love having her all to myself for a few weeks.”
    â€œDo it,” Wildman insisted. “It will be good for both of you. Will you be able to stay in contact?”
    â€œI doubt it.”
    Wildman’s jaw tensed. But the stakes were too high to allow fear a foothold. “Take care of her. And yourself.”
    â€œAlways, my love.”
    Wildman nodded.
    â€œOne more thing?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œDoes Doctor Sharak have any friends on Earth right now?”
    â€œI’ll—” she began.
    â€œRatham,” Sharak’s voice said clearly over her shoulder. Turning, she saw him standing behind her, a tray heavy with two bowls and glasses in hand.
    â€œI apologize for dropping eves,” he said.
    â€œ Teema at . . . where was it?”
    â€œGayara,” Sharak replied.
    â€œ Teema. At Gayara ,” Wildman repeated. Turning back to Gres, she asked, “Did you get that?”
    Gres was chuckling at both of them. “Ratham, was it?”
    â€œYes,” Sharak confirmed. “She is a fellow at the Federation Language Institute.”
    â€œSam told me you were teaching her Tamarian.”
    â€œYour wife is a very quick study.”
    â€œThat’s not how I remember her,” Gres teased.
    â€œHey,” Wildman interjected.
    â€œSafe travels, you two,” Gres said.
    â€œSamantha and Sharak on the ocean. The winds fair.” Sharak nodded.
    â€œFor all of us, I hope,” Gres said.

3
    STARSHIP VESTA
    C aptain Regina Farkas stood before her bridge’s center seat giving half her attention to the report of her chief engineer, Lieutenant Phinnegan Bryce.
    â€œ. . . areestimated to be complete within the next three hours,” Bryce finished.
    â€œYou’re telling me that the majority of our systems are fully operational but you wouldn’t call us ‘battle-ready’ just yet?” Farkas asked.
    â€œI don’t believe our temporary repairs to the secondary shield generators would be sufficient to meet the demands you would place on them should we again face that Voth ship,” Bryce said.
    Farkas smiled faintly as she glanced toward the earnest young man who’d earned her respect and confidence in only a few months.
    â€œI don’t believe ten more years of tinkering would be sufficient for that, Bryce. Your concern is noted. I’ll do all I can to keep us out of harm’s way.”
    â€œThank you, Captain,” Bryce said.
    Returning her eyes to the main viewscreen where most of the major players could be seen taking their places for the admiral’s trial, she asked of her operations officer, “Jepel, do we have control of the transmission frequency?”
    â€œAye, Captain. Our modifications are stable.”
    â€œCan the Kinara detect them?”
    â€œA really good communications officer might notice the errant compressed wave,” Jepel admitted.
    â€œThen let’s hope they don’t have one of those,” Farkas said. “Sienna?”
    Her tactical officer, Kar Sienna, replied, “Status unchanged. The Voth vessel is holding position near the Manticle. ”
    â€œDo we have a name for her yet?”
    â€œThe Scion. ”
    â€œLovely. And the rest?”
    â€œTwo Turei, one Vaadwaur, and one Devore vessel have stationed themselves just outside the Gateway.