The alert signal pounded through the ship, and duty personnel efficiently began to arrive on the turbolifts and take their stations. Picard studied the still advancing vessel. He had never seen anything like this either, but that didn't mean it could not belong to a race they did know. "Get me Groppler Zorn, Lieutenant. Continue universal greetings on all frequencies."

Worf tabbed his panel. There was a sharp beep, and then Zorn's voice echoed on the bridge.

"Yes. This is Groppler Zorn, Captain."

Picard didn't waste time on the niceties. Whatever this ship was, he had a gut-deep feeling it was not here on a peaceful mission. Was this Q at work-or was it someone else? "There is an unidentified vessel rapidly approaching this planet. It refuses to respond to hails. Do you know who it is?"

"There are no ships scheduled to arrive until-" "I asked you if you knew who it is, Groppler. You mentioned the Ferengi Alliance to me."

Zorn's voice trembled nervously. "Ah. Yes. But we have had no dealings with them, Captain. It was only a-a thought."

"Are you sure that's all? Or did you send out a message for a rendezvous with one of the Ferengi vessels? Perhaps one you now regret sending?" "No." Zorn sounded desperate. "Captain, I promise you it was an empty threat. I wanted your cooperation, your endors.e.m.e.nt to Starfleet. Forgive me- "

"The vessel has reached orbital insert trajectory, sir," Worf reported. "Sensors say it measures twelve times our volume."

"What could they want?" Zorn wailed. He knew the size and tonnage of the Enterprise. Anything so much larger than that was a horrendous threat to the station and the Bandi.

"They won't talk to us to let us know," Picard replied coolly.

"Captain, can't you force them to identify themselves? If they are hostile-"

"We'll defend you as best we can, Groppler. Picard out."

"What if it's Q, sir?"

That thought still rode Picard's mind. He shook his head. "I expect he'll make himself known as he did earlier. But that's not the vessel we encountered before."

As they tensely watched the viewscreen, the huge ship approached and settled into geosynchronous...o...b..t somewhat above and to starboard of the Enterprise. Picard could almost feel the oppressive weight of the ma.s.sive vessel pressing down on them. Suddenly a glowing pulse of light throbbed from the underside of the mystery ship toward the Enterprise.

The light flared over everything and everyone on the bridge. Picard twisted his head and saw the details of both objects and people outlined in a spectacular glow. Crew personnel were startled, but no one seemed to be in pain or discomfort. The light faded slowly away, and Picard tabbed on his intership line. "All stations-damage reports." He glanced around the bridge swiftly. "Status report."

"No apparent damage, sir," Worf said.

The others confirmed quickly. Every station reported the glow, but no damage. No casualties. All ship's functions were unimpaired and operating normally.

"Science-a.n.a.lysis of what hit us."

The science officer checked his console readings. "Nonmechanical probe, sir. Possibly sensory or telepathic in nature."

Worf looked up from his Ops panel again. "Sensors confirm we were just scanned, sir."

Chapter Nine.

THE UNDERGROUND SERVICE tunnel felt oppressive despite its size. The strange, smooth, shining walls with their curious markings gleamed in the soft light from an undetectable source. Troi was not aware of the sensation or of her companions as she leaned against the wall, still concentrating on the empathic waves impinging on her mind. Riker watched her, knowing she had shut them out and was allowing someone else to "walk" within the lanes of her mind. Geordi was closely examining the wall surfaces and Data was trying to raise the Enterprise.

Tasha moved in beside Troi and touched her shoulder. "Pain again?" Straightforward and honest, Tasha understood intellectually that Troi was a kind of receiver for the emotional emanations of others; but because she could never receive them herself, she did not know what it was Troi felt or perceived.

"Troi, you've been at it enough!" Riker snapped.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I feel close to an answer of some kind. There is ... deep need . .

. hunger." Tears sprang to her dark eyes, and she impatiently brushed them away.

Data had been steadily calling the Enterprise on every frequency the communicator offered. He turned to Riker, somewhat perplexed. "Commander, something is shielding our communicators."

"Are we too far underground?"

"No, sir. The effective range of the new communicator devices is well beyond this, and ordinary tunnel construction materials should not interfere."

"This isn't ordinary construction material," Geordi interjected.

Troi looked around at them, pulling her concentration back. One part of her mind had been listening to them, and she responded to both impressions, pulling it together. "That's exactly the feeling I've been reading," she said, nodding toward Data. "As if someone doesn't want us to be in touch with our ship."

"Come on," Riker said. "Let's get to the surface."

The viewscreen pictured the intruder vessel as it hovered in near orbit with the Enterprise. It worried Picard-too big, too dark, too silent. "Worf-anything?"

The big Klingon shook his head. "We have scanned all known records, sir. We have nothing on any such vessel. Nothing even close."

Ops looked around quickly and informed Picard, "Still no response to our signals, sir. We've done everything but threaten them."

"Sensor scans, Mr. Worf."

"Our sensors seem to just bounce off, sir."

"Can you get any readings at all?"

"No readings, sir." Worf looked up at the dark and oddly shaped ship on the viewscreen. "Who are they?"

Suddenly, a strange, blue-white beam snapped from the alien vessel down toward the surface. Another immediately followed. Worf reared around toward Picard, alarm etched on his broad, dark features.

"They're firing at Farpoint, sir!"

"Bring photon torpedoes to ready," Picard barked at the a.s.sistant security chief. "Damage report, Lieutenant Worf. That was directed at the station."

Worf tabbed controls on his console and reported over his shoulder. "No damage evident, sir. They've hit the old Bandi city-not the station."

In the service tunnel, Riker and his team had been hurrying along the pa.s.sageway with Troi and Tasha in the lead. Riker noticed the smooth, rounded wall structure of the tunnel giving way to an ordinary rectangular corridor with a stone and tile cladding. He paused briefly to look closer at the area where the two blended imperceptibly. Glancing around to Geordi, Riker waved the young lieutenant closer; and LaForge moved in to examine the wall material.

"LaForge?"

"At this point, it becomes ordinary stone, sir. Matching what's above." His brows knit together in a puzzled frown. "Amazing seaming here. The two appear to just melt together."

"Those stairs ahead are where Tasha and I entered, sir," Troi interjected.

Riker could see the stone block steps about twenty meters ahead where the tunnel opened up. Suddenly there was a long rumbling explosion that sent them reeling as the ground bucked and shuddered around them. Tasha pulled herself together first.

"Explosion. Phaser blast."

"Negative," Data said calmly. "But something similar."

"Location," Riker snapped.

Data scanned with his tricorder quickly and looked up. "One kilometer, two hectometers away. The old city." Another explosion rocked the area, the tremors shivering the ground under their feet.

Riker quickly glanced around to Troi. "Try to get through to the ship again. You, Yar and LaForge will beam up from here. Now!" Turning to Data, he nodded toward the stairway. "Data, with me. I want to see exactly what's happening." He started toward the steps, Data immediately following on his heels.

"Don't," Troi said involuntarily. Riker turned back. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't stop herself. Her mind flashed at his. Don't. If you should be hurt-Riker's face turned to stone. "You have your orders, Commander! Carry them out!"

Chastened, Troi looked away, her face flaming. She read his anger, his own embarra.s.sment at her flash of familiarity. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry." Riker and Data were already climbing the stairs toward the upper level as Troi reached up to tab her communicator. "Enterprise, three to beam up."

Riker and Data emerged in the shopping mall, which was in chaos. Although there was no damage here, the Bandi were fleeing it in panic. Another explosion ripped the air, and a cloud of dust from crumbling masonry puffed out the back of the mall where it connected to the old city. Riker nodded to Data, and they started for the damaged section on the run.

Mark Hughes had been a.s.signed to a.s.sist the transporter chief in Transporter Room 7. He was a little annoyed to have to stand aside and look on while the chief went about his duties. Mark, after all, had had instruction at the Academy in the basic functions of the transporter, and his training sessions had earned him high marks. Still, he was just an ensign, newly signed on; and he knew he would have to serve an apprentice turn in every ship's department in his first year on board.

The chief received Troi's order and locked on to the three communicator signals at the Farpoint Station coordinates. "What're they doing below ground?" he wondered aloud. But he shrugged his shoulders and started the transport.

The sparkling shimmer of the collection and materialization began on the pad, and the three columns formed into the solid figures of Tasha Yar, Deanna Troi and Geordi LaForge. As they stepped off the platform, Hughes moved forward to his friend. Tasha ignored Hughes and said briskly over her shoulder, "Mr. LaForge. To the bridge, please."

"Yes, ma'am." Geordi hesitated and fell back a little behind the two women as Hughes stepped in beside him.

"Geordi, what's going on?" Hughes demanded. "You're no sooner on board and you're a.s.signed to an away mission. Now they want you on the bridge-"

"Mr. LaForge," Tasha snapped as she looked back and realized he was not following her.

"Coming," Geordi said. He looked at Hughes, shrugged helplessly, and ran to catch up to the other two officers.

Hughes watched him out the Transporter Room door and then glanced back at the transporter chief.

"Some people would do anything for the moon and the stars ... and some have 'em dumped right in their laps without even having to ask." He felt jealous about Geordi's good fortune, although he had to admit Geordi did have some rank on him. But not that much, he thought a little bitterly. He was frank enough with himself to acknowledge he felt left out ... not only of feeling a part of the crew but also because Geordi already seemed to be moving far ahead of him ... maybe to a place where a friend who only ranked as a new ensign would not be wanted.

On the planet, Riker and Data had reached one of the boundaries that linked with old Bandi city with Farpoint Station. It was a courtyard, almost like a village square; but its pleasant aspect was ruined by the fire raging in a crumpled structure on the far side of it. A hand-worked metal door stopped the flow of traffic between the two sections, and when Data and Riker reached it, they found it was locked.

"Phaser it," .Riker ordered. As Data adjusted his phaser to a cutting setting, the first officer touched his communicator and spoke. "Enterprise, this is Riker." There was no immediate response.

Data briefly glanced up, then fired his phaser at the door's locking mechanism. The lock popped under the blast, and Data was able to wrestle the door open with a minimum of effort.

"Enterprise, come in," Riker said. He shook his head and followed Data through the door. "They must be busy up there-with whatever is-"

The explosive blast of some kind of energy bolt roared over his words. As Riker and Data whirled to look in the direction from which it had come, they saw another building shatter into stones and a ballooning cloud of dust. As the structure collapsed, Riker keyed his communicator again.

Picard studied the main viewscreen dispa.s.sionately. The mystery vessel directed another bolt of ferocious energy down at the planet, but even the maximum enlargement available on the screen was not able to give specific details. Worf was restless at the Ops console in front of him. Picard could see the Klingon's shoulder muscles bunching and tensing as he shifted weight in the chair. Finally, Worf grated insistently, "Standing by to fire, sir."

Picard waited for a full breath before he shook his head firmly. "Continue weapons standby. What exactly is that ship firing on?"

"Hard to tell, sir. Looks like only the old city, but some of the hits have been very close to where Farpoint Station joins it."

"No response from Riker yet?"

"No, sir. I have a continuous send for him. He might've gotten caught in some of that," Worf said, nodding at the viewscreen to indicate the damaged city.

Suddenly, Zorn's voice burst from the communications speaker. "Enterprise, Enterprise, help us! Come in, please!"

"Vessel firing again, sir," Worf rasped.

"What shall we do?" Zorn pleaded.

Picard tabbed the communications panel on his left. "Groppler Zorn- "Captain! You must save us! We're under attack-we have casualties-"

"We will send a.s.sistance, Groppler," Picard cut in harshly. "Where are the casualties?"

"The city," Zorn's voice wavered. The sound of another explosion almost obliterated his next words.

"The city. Center of the city. Hurry, please!"

"At once," Picard snapped. He tabbed his communications line again. "Sickbay. Dr. Crusher."

Beverly's voice responded immediately. "Crusher here."

"The Bandi city is suffering casualties. We'll need an emergency medical team-"

"I'm on it now, sir. Crusher out."

Picard grunted approvingly. Then he addressed the communications line again. "Commander Riker, come in. Where are you?" The hiss of the turbolift doors opening signaled newcomers to the bridge. He glanced around to see Troi, Tasha and Geordi hurry onto the bridge. "Riker?" Picard asked quickly.

"Still planetside, sir," Troi replied.

"I see. Mr. LaForge."

"Sir."

"You're a conn officer, aren't you?" At Geordi's nod, Picard gestured toward the empty conn panel beside Worf. "Take that position now. We may have to maneuver in a hurry."

"Yes, sir." Geordi hurried forward to slide into the console seat. Behind them, Tasha relieved the a.s.sistant chief security officer on the Weapons and Tactical console. Troi moved to her seat on Picard's left.

"Where was Riker when you last saw him?" Picard began, to Troi.

Riker's own voice sharply cut in over the communications line. "Riker to Enterprise. Come in."

"Finally," Picard muttered. "Commander, where are you?"

"With Data, on the edge of the old city, Captain. It's being hit hard."