Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [128]
“Had we received word of it sooner, Krell said, sounding wistful at the prospect of such wasteful, honorless killing, “we might have prevented entirely what happened at Draylax.
“If it hadnt been for that camera crew, you might not have gotten there at all, Archer said. Addressing MRek, he said, “Chancellor, I believe it would be in everyones best interests if you were to authorize me to show these images to the representatives of the Coalition of Planets. It proves that the Romulans have developed some kind of remote-control weapon capable of seizing control of the space vessels of other species. If they take what Admiral Krell has just shown me at face value, they will have to absolve the Klingon Empire of any responsibility for what happened at Draylax
“No, Captain, MRek said, standing. “That the RomuluSngan have made us pawns in their cowardly ambushes is bad enough, but for you to make the Klingon Empire appear so vulnerable in the eyes of your worlds leaders, and those of the Coalition of PlanetsThe shame and dishonor is simply more than can be borne.
Krell spoke up, the rising timbre of his voice showing very clearly that he was still in great pain from his exertions. “There are security considerations as well, Captain Archer. These recordings show the bridge and instrumentation of a Klingon battle cruiser with great clarity and in considerable detail. I doubt that Starfleet or any of its allies would hesitate for an instant to begin reverse engineering our command-and-control architecture and other related technologies based on what they find in these images.
Archer rose from the bench where hed been seated, noticing only then that Phlox had finally quit scanning and was putting his medical scanner away. “Chancellor MRek, for the leader of a warrior society, you seem to have some fairly ridiculous fears.
MRek bristled, leaning forward to grasp the railing in front of his bench with both hands. “You dare?
A still, small voice somewhere deep within Archer counseled caution, but at the moment he felt too angry to listen to it. “Youre damned right I dare, he said, jabbing an accusing finger into the air. “You would allow your people to become embroiled in a dishonorable war against the Coalition of Planets instead of going after the real authors of the conflict? Youd let the Romulans get away with doing this to you, just to save yourself some embarrassment?
“We act to spare the Klingon Empire from dishonor, Terangan, MRek said, his voice pitched in a dangerous tone that seemed to provoke his soldiers to hair-trigger readiness.
But Archer knew he couldnt afford to back down now. “Even if that aversion to dishonor could mean the difference between a war with the Coalition and a war against our common enemy?
MRek sneered. “Do not presume to lecture me on the subject of honor, Captain. If you fear war against us, then you must find your own way to convince your leaders that the Klingon Empire will not take the blame for the attack upon Draylax. Persuading them will be your responsibility.
Im getting awfully damned tired of playing errand boy for one side against the other, Archer thought, his fighting instincts rising even as his diplomatic side struggled to maintain control of a very bad situation.
But, unless he had badly misjudged that situation, he knew he would leave QonoS with far more information than the Klingons realized.
THIRTY-THREE
Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Enterprise NX-01
“Y OU KNOW , J ONATHAN , about a hundred or so years ago what you just did would have been called bootlegging, Erika Hernandez said, a grim smile on her face.
Archer nodded toward the new viewscreen that sat on his