Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [106]
“But why was it an affront to them? Archer asked. “If theyre telling the truth, there isnt any harm in proving to us that somebody else was responsible for the attack on Draylax.
Kolos smiled. “Do you have children, Captain?
“Not yet, Archer said.
“Well, I have fathered many . And one thing I can tell you that I suspect is true of all culturesKlingon, Terangan, Andorianis that when a child is embarrassed about something, he will fight all the harder to protect himself than if he is outright lying. Governments are not so different from children, Captain.
Archer shook his head. “What does MRek have to be embarrassed about? Is it that the Romulans have found a way to commandeer their ships?
Kolos did a double take. “Why would you think that?
“We found one survivor in the wreckage of one of the three battle cruisers destroyed at Draylax. She all but said that the Klingons were being controlled by the Romulans. But she didnt know how, and she didnt survive long enough to give us any more than that.
His expression grave, Kolos nodded. “I dont know that to be true, but if it were, that would be something that the military would not want exposed.
“So theyd rather go to war against the Coalition than admit they were vulnerable to the Romulans?
Kolos shrugged, opening his hands, palms pointed upward.
“Unbelievable, Archer said, sighing heavily. Now he felt even more defeated.
“If that is the case, then you must defeat Krell decisively, Kolos said. “And you must kill him.
Archer stared at the older alien, incredulously. Gesturing toward Corporal Ryan, he said, “I dont even know how to use that weapon properly.
“We have nearly three of your hours before the combat is to begin, Kolos said, standing up. “Let us use the time to find ways for you to use the blade that Krell wont anticipate.
He lowered his voice slightly, moving closer to Archer in order to speak at a volume intended only for the captains ears. “And let us hope that Krells strength isnt what it once was because of the changes the metagenic virus has wrought.
Archers breath was already growing ragged and labored, and it was still fairly early in the match. The gladiatorial chamber that he and Krell were in was un-godly hot; even stripped to the waist, he was sweating profusely. Probably gonna lose ten pounds in a hell of a hurry, he thought. Unless I lose my head first, that is .
The two of them had been led into the arena ten minutes earlier, wearing only their pants and boots, and carrying only their batleth s. The chamber was part of a vast, torch-lit underground cavern that had apparently been excavated and enlarged for the sole purpose of conducting combat-to-the-death rituals such as this one. Rising from the ground all around were irregularly shaped stalagmites precipitated out of some hardened mineral that Archer couldnt quite identify; even in the dusky light of the wall-ensconced torches, he could see that many of them were stained a dark purplish-black that was probably the residue of Klingon blood.
About twenty feet up, ringed around the caverns outer walls, was a secondary level surrounded by waist-high railings, behind which stood the assembled members of the Klingon High Council, various uniformed military luminaries, and a large cheering section comprised of growling, snarling Klingon civilians that might well have included his prospective undertaker and burial florist for all Archer knew.
Krell had barely said ten words since seeing Archer again in the combat chamber, and four of them had not been translatable. Archer knew he couldnt hope to reason with the soldier, but he also knew that even if he somehow managed to prevail, he couldnt find it in himself to kill him, either. I sure as hell cant afford to let you know that, though, he thought as he regarded his opponent in much the same way he might a Cape buffalo getting ready to make a lethal charge.
Koloss accelerated training