Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [159]
Archer leaned forward anxiously. “Travis, how soon will we reach the coordinates Admiral Gardner sent us?
Travis gave his chair a half turn away from his helm console and toward the captain. “Were leaving Gamma Hydra, section fifteen, Captain. Entering section fourteen at coordinates twenty-two by eighty-seven by four. That still puts us nearly twenty minutes away from the Kobayashi Maru, sir.
Archer nodded to Travis, then glanced at Hoshi, who continued frantically working her console.
“Anything yet, Hoshi?
“Im relying on the computer to enhance the carrier signal, sir. The youthful com officers usually smooth-as-porcelain forehead wrinkled slightly as she concentrated. She adjusted her earpiece and tried again to distinguish the cry of a single voice from the background roar of a cosmic ocean.
She shook her head sadly a moment later. “I thought I had them for a moment, but the signal keeps degrading. Their com system might have sustained some damage, and Im picking up a lot of interference on the other end
A burst of fragmented voice commingled with a shrill squall of static interrupted her, the rush of noise pouring from the bridge speakers in a torrent. “imperative! This is the Kobayashi Maru, nineteen periods out of Altair VI. We have struck a gravitic mine and have lost all power! Our hull is penetrated and we have sustained many casualties
Despite the layers of distortion imposed by both distance and disaster, Archer immediately recognized the English-accented voice on the other end of the channel as that of Kojiro Vance, the flamboyant master of the S.S. Kobayashi Maru.
“Kobayashi Maru, this is Enterprise, Hoshi said, her fingers entering commands at a brisk pace as she tried to isolate and enhance the tenuous subspace lifeline she had just reestablished. “Please confirm your position.
“Enterprise, our position is Gamma Hydra, section ten. Hull penetrated. Life-support systems failing. Can you assist us, Enterprise? Can you assist us?
“Hoshi, tell Captain Vance he wont have to hang on for more than another twenty minutes, tops, Archer said. “ Enterprise isnt going to let the Kobayashi Maru sink.
Hoshi nodded. As she busied herself relaying his reassurances, Archer hoped he hadnt just promised Vance the impossible.
FORTY-FIVE
Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Columbia NX-02, near the Alpha Centauri system
“T HE NEW ARRIVALS are not answering our hails either, Captain, said Ensign Sidra Valerian.
Now why doesnt that surprise me? Hernandez thought as she leaned forward in her command chair. She barely succeeded in holding back a cough precipitated by the ozone-tinged air with which neither the bridge ventilation fans nor the fire-suppression system seemed quite able to cope.
Though many of the bridge consoles and monitors had been rendered inoperable during the last exchange of fire with the Vulcans, there was nothing wrong with the central viewer, which gave her a crystal-clear view of several of the ring-and-spear-shaped vessels of Earths former friends as they came about to begin what they no doubt intended to be their final concerted attack. Since the Vulcan reinforcements had arrived on the scene, Hernandez had lost count of just how many guns must be trained on Columbia s vitals at the moment.
Talk about overkill, she thought. Leave it to the Vulcans to leave absolutely nothing to chance. These guys must be the original belt-and-suspenders personality types.
Hernandez turned toward Veronica Fletcher, who stood beside the command chair, her body as taut as a bowstring. “Recommendation, Commander?
“I recommend we run like hell, Columbia s laconic first officer said.
“With all the battle damage shes taken today, Commander, Columbia can barely limp, much less run, said Lieutenant Commander el-Rashad, the Syrian science officer. “Even if we were five-by-five