Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [155]
But we just might kick over the anthill anyway, he thought. And touch off a conflict that will cripple most of two quadrants for decades, and probably kill millions of innocents on both sides. The Klingons will consider us shoot-on-sight enemies then, sure as gravity. And the Romulans will sit back and laugh through the entire bloodbath, waiting until both sides are too weak to stop them from swooping in to pick up the pieces.
The intercom on Archers desk whistled, presenting a welcome interruption to the captains gloomy ruminations. Toggling the channel open, he said, “Archer here. Go ahead.
“Were receiving a priority communication from Starfleet, Captain, said Hoshi, a note of urgency audible in her voice. “Its Admiral Gardner.
“Thanks, Hoshi. Pipe it straight to my ready room, please.
Archer wasted no time activating the blank monitor atop his desk, which quickly shifted to the weary but hyperalert visage of Sam Gardner. TPol and Reed immediately began moving toward the ready room door to give Archer some privacy, but stopped after he motioned them to stay and positioned his monitor so that its visual sensor pickups showed the admiral everyone present in the room. The motion forced him to suppress a wince of pain, a reminder of his ordeal on QonoS.
The silver-haired admiral noted the presence of Archers subordinates with a nod, and then focused solely on the captain. “Archer, you still look like hell, Gardner said with a sympathetic nod before abruptly switching into his “all-business mode. “Captain, the Coalition Security Council has been busy evaluating the evidence you brought back from QonoS. From where Im sitting, it appears to have changed everything.
Archer forced himself to absorb this apparent good news with at least some degree of caution. “I hope thats a change for the better, Admiral, he said.
Gardner nodded again. “It is. Because the Klingons have made no aggressive moves against us since you delivered their ultimatum, the Coalition Security Council has tabled all plans to adopt an aggressive defensive posture against the Klingon Empire. Even the hotheads on Andoria have agreed to hold their horses a while longerunless they believe the Klingons to be acting in direct defiance of the ultimatum. A small, relieved smile somehow slipped out onto the admirals otherwise granite-hard countenance, reminding Archer that few people are more reticent about wars than the hardened warriors charged with fighting them. “Well done, Captain.
“Thank you, sir, Archer said. “Lets hope we can keep the proverbial dogs on their leashes this time.
Gardners smile abruptly vanished. “We still may not have that luxury. Starfleet Command has just received word that Centauri III and the Calder II science outpost have come under attack.
“Do you believe the Klingons to be responsible for either of those attacks, Admiral? TPol asked.
Training his suddenly narrowed eyes squarely upon TPol, the admiral said, “Not as far as we can determine, Commander.
Thank God , Archer thought, though he remained uneasy. So long as the Coalition Council remained balanced on the razors edge of a declaration of war against the Klingon Empire, whose ships had already been proven to be vulnerable to hijacking by a hostile third party, he was certain he was going to continue feeling that way. He could only hope that the evidence that he and Phlox had found on QonoS would prevent the Councils more hawkish members from going off halfcocked should the Klingons appear to have defied the Coalitions ultimatum.
“The Romulans must be responsible, sir, Malcolm said. “Its got to be the Romulans.
Breaking eye contact with TPol, Gardner shook his head. “Weve found no definitive evidence of that either, Lieutenant.
“Then who is responsible? Archer wanted to know.
“Brief transmissions from Columbia and from personnel at Calder II have tentatively identified the aggressors in both attacks as Vulcan military vessels. The hostiles appear to have jammed outgoing communications in both locations before we could learn any additional details. Starfleet Command is