Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [117]
“And if thats happened, then that warp-seven drive data his people stole is still in some pretty damn untrustworthy hands.
“It might already have been too late to prevent that from happening even before we arrived, Commander, TPol said as she laid in a course away from the planet and began powering up the main drive. She wondered silently whether Trip actually considered the hands of an aggressive and expansionist Romulan military to be significantly more trustworthy than those of the political radicals who at least nominally stood against them. After all, the enemy of ones enemy could sometimes be ones friend, as Suraks adversary TKarik had pointed out on more than one occasion.
But such considerations could be complicated enormously by rogues such as Sopekagents whose true loyalties were anything but clear.
“Dont you think I know that? Trip said, his evident anger creating a jarring counterpoint to his outwardly Vulcanoid appearance. “Data is the hardest thing of all to contain once it gets out. And your kicking down Sopeks door didnt make dealing with the thieves any easier, especially now that theyve taken a Romulan centurion prisoner. Theyll take their time trying to wring everything they can out of him, just like they did with Ehrehin.
Trip turned to the side, the planets reflected light surrounding him in a faintly bluish aura. Although she could see him only in profile, she noticed that his eyes had taken on a haunted, faraway cast that she could only wonder about. He seemed somehow disappointed, and perhaps a little angry as well. She wondered if his feelings stemmed from a mission that had ostensibly failed. Or whether he was disappointed by his apparent failure to extricate himself from a dangerous situation unassisted.
“I wish you two hadnt come, Trip said quietly, almost as though he had read her mind. As she watched him stare down at the slowly rotating alien world below, she considered their mental link again, and decided that he might indeed have picked up a cue from her on some subconscious level.
“Youre welcome, Commander, Reed said sourly. “My apologies for misjudging the situation down there so badly. I should have realized you were just trying to lull this Terix fellow into a false sense of security when you let him get the drop on you.
Malcolms mention of the Romulans name brought a shudder to TPols spine. Not because she recognized his name, but because she had recognized his face. She had seen him several days earlier, via the mind link, torturing Trip.
TPol watched in silence as Trip turned toward Reed, bristling. “At least I managed to get in there without setting off the goddamn self-destruct system.
Reed seemed to be running out of patience. “Would you prefer we set you back down on the planet so you can have another go at this?
Trips eyes widened as though he had suddenly become aware of just how ridiculous he sounded. Then he shook his head and chuckled. “Of course not, Malcolm. He paused, apparently gathering his thoughts. “On the other hand, Terix and I left a scoutship down on the planet only a few klicks from Sopeks base, just a short ways from the spot where you two parked the shuttlepod. If that ship is still intact, I cant risk leaving it down there. Itll be easy pickings for any Ejhoi Ormiin who might happen by.
Though TPol desperately wanted to get the shuttlepod back to the relative safety of Coalition space as quickly as possibleand with Trip aboard itshe knew that she couldnt dispute his logic.
An alarm sounded on one of the sensor consoles, persisted for perhaps two seconds, and then stopped by itself.
“What is it? Trip said as he approached the front of the cockpit.
TPol studied the readout and frowned. For a moment, something that strongly resembled the profile of a large vessel