Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [154]
“No wonder those rabbit-eared elitists swore you to secrecy, Vance, Stiles said. “I never met a Vulcan who didnt at least drop a few broad hints that we Earth folk are still a little too wet behind the ears to venture out of our own solar system.
Vance made a noise of agreement. “If it had been up to the Vulcans, thered be nothing in the Alpha Centauri system right now but ancient ruins and tumbleweeds. And the idea of humans flying a fuel carrier like the Maru under the flag of a settlement on Altair VI would be just another one of Doctor Cochranes pipe dreams.
Searles put a hand to her chin as her forehead crumpled into an elaborate frown. “Kind of makes you wonder why the Vulcans would lend us this stuff, even with their own experts aboard the Maru to babysit us.
“Something out here must worry the Vulcans a little bit more than the prospect of warp-six-capable humans does, Vance said. “It would certainly explain why theyd want to set up a secret listening post to keep close tabs on it.
Stiless thoughts drifted toward his own half-formed nightmare images of the mysterious Romulans, shadowy mental pictures derived from countless stories and rumors of fearsome warships whose bellies were painted to resemble the blood-red plumage of predatory birds. The Romulans would be the nearest likely subject of any Coalition listening post placed in this sector. Regardless, the Vulcans decision to allow a human freighter crew to play with their supercharged high-warp goodies continued to puzzle him.
His spine shuddered with the cold of the grave as the simplest possible explanation of the Vulcans largesse occurred to him: Maybe they really dont expect us to survive any encounter with whatever might be lurking out here.
A moment later, the Kobayashi Maru shook as though the Hephaestus of Earths ancient mythology had just slammed his hammer right into the ships vitals. Searles cried out as Vances office fell under a blanket of darkness. Stiles immediately experienced the stomach-churning freefall sensation that signaled the abrupt failure of the gravity plating. And he could hear Vance speaking in the darkness, his voice as understated as she had ever heard it.
“Uh-oh, the captain said.
FORTY-TWO
Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Enterprise NX-01, near the Gamma Hydra sector
S EATED AT THE DESK in his ready room, Jonathan Archer listened to the joint report from TPol and Reed in almost meditative silence. TPol wrapped up the brief presentation with a solemn dignity that Archer usually associated with eulogies.
“By now, she said, “Trip has already reached Romulus.
Where hes probably already had to face whatever rough justice Admiral Valdore had in store for him, Archer thought. Though he respected Trips abilities both as an engineer and as a highly survival-adept Starfleet officer, he hadnt been an intel operative all that long, and Archer knew that Valdore was no fool either.
He despaired of seeing his friend ever again.
“Unfortunately, our encounter with Trip didnt change the Coalitions current tactical situation in any way that really matters, Reed said, looking nearly as mournful as Archer felt. “He still has to get his hands on workable warp-seven engine plans, though this may be simply because the Romulans themselves have yet to come up with a completely workable design. And his Romulan intelligence sources had him convinced that the Klingons were the ones behind the attacks against Draylax and our shipping lanes, rather than any Romulan culprits.
Archer nodded, becoming all but resigned to the bleak prospect of a hot war with the Klingons; it was beginning to look inevitable, despite the evidence Archer had found exculpating the Klingon Empire, which had no present hostile intentions toward any member of the Coalition of Worlds.