beep and a red light began to flash. Morn reached
over and pressed the button. "Command, here," he acknowledged.
37 "Sir," an Engineer reported, "Joint is under attack in the last
ventilation shaft coming out of engineering. He reports being bombarded
with massive electrical discharges. His shields are holding, for the
moment, but they will not withstand this severe an attack for long."
38 "Reverse the flow in the ventilators!" Morn ordered. He rushed from
the conference room, and palmed the arsenal cabinet outside its door.
The screen immediately identified him, and the cabinet's doors sprung
back. Morn withdrew a sword, not bothering with a scabbard, grabbed a
shield and headed for the center shaft. His Number Two and Three also
seized weapons and followed him.
39 They emerged in engineering and rushed by the Engineers who were
staying clear of the fireworks taking place in the upper corridor. As
the three Officers entered they could see a thin, shimmering outline
hanging down from the ceiling firing electrical discharges into the
vent. "Full shields!" screamed Morn. "Side by side so our fields
overlap. Wide beam on the swords. Open fire!"
40 The corridor was only three people wide so as the officers
overlapped their shields they effectively blocked it. Laying their
swords on the shields' tops, they began a steady barrage. The
creature's reactions were instant. It swung its
attack away from the ventilator and onto them. The shields' deflectors
sent the electrical bolts flying back in all directions. Soon the
corridor seemed like a raging thunderstorm, the loud noise hurting
Morn's sensitive ears.
41 Finally the creature started to back off, its electrical barrage
stopped, and it began to be filled with a faint blue glow. Suddenly,
from about its center, a beam of intense blue light burst out, pierced
the electronic deflectors, and struck Morn's shield. There was a loud
BANG and Morn was forced backward, but miraculously the