Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [166]
Archer, however, harbored serious doubts that the Romulans would pay even the slightest attention to any such resolution. He was certain that they would go right on scrapping with the Klingons over the many resource-rich systems scattered across this swatch of what the stellar cartographers had dubbed the Milky Ways Beta Quadrant. And that was to say nothing of their current plan to foment dissension and possibly even warfare between the Coalitions member planets.
“The Kobayashi Maru should be coming within extreme visual range now, Captain, TPol said.
“Graviton counts at the vessels coordinates are going through the roof, said Reed.
“That would be consistent with the detonation of a gravitic mine, TPol said crisply, in full Vulcan mode.
“Lets have a look at her, TPol. Maximum magnification.
The star-flecked darkness that lay ahead of Enterprise swiftly gave way to the grainy image of a badly battered freighter; the tapering shape was silhouetted only faintly in the dim reflected glow of one of the countless irregularly shaped ice bodies that made up the frigid halo of cometary debris that surrounded the dim and distant star Tezel and its co-orbital partner, the even dimmer gas-giant-protostar Oroko. Though the vessels long, narrow lines gave it only a superficial resemblance to a Klingon battle cruiser, Archers central nervous system found the similarity close enough to make his hackles rise.
“Whats our ETA, Travis? Archer asked, finally succumbing to the urge to rise from his chair and begin pacing across the middle of the bridge.
“Well come within transporter range in about four minutes, Captain, the helmsman said as he checked a nav display and entered a small course correction.
“The MACO and Starfleet emergency boarding teams are assembled and ready, Captain, said TPol. “Theyve prepped the shuttlepods in both launch bays, and are standing by at the transporter pad.
“Sickbay reports ready as well, Captain, Hoshi said from her com station.
“Captain, Im reading another vessel in orbit around one of this systems Kuiper bodies, Malcolm said, sounding alarmed.
Archers hackles stiffened even further. “What kind of vessel?
“Her profile is consistent with that of a Romulan warship, Captain, Reed said, sounding almost eager to get a closer look.
Romulans. Great. Swell. On the other hand, this could be an opportunity to gather whatever additional proof of Romulan aggression even the most skeptical Coalition representative might require. “Location?
“About two million kilometers on the other side of the Kobayashi Maru .
Well, they cant do very much damage to either of us at that range, Archer thought. “Keep tabs on it, Malcolm. Let me know immediately if she starts moving.
“Aye, sir. Reed immediately set about entering a new series of commands into his tactical station.
“Hoshi, raise the Kobayashi Maru s captain, Archer said.
Hoshis fingers moved nimbly across her com console. “Opening a channel, Captain.
“Captain Vance, this is Enterprise, Archer said, raising his voice slightly for the benefit of the com systems audio pickups. “We can begin transporting your survivors in two minutes.
“Archer, I never thought Id be so glad to hear your voice again, Vance said, all but shouting over a sibilant background wash of static. “Seems unlikely, doesnt it?
Archer let a small smile crease his lips, since he was certain that he knew a good deal more about the Kobayashi Maru s mission than Vance would have preferred. “Probably about as likely as your ship sailing so far off the edge of the map, Captain.
“Believe me, Captain Archer, the Maru would be navigating far safer waters right now had the Horizon showed up for our rendezvous when she was supposed to.
Mayweather turned his chair so that he faced Archer, his eyes wide with concern.
Picking up on his helmsmans obvious distress, Archer continued addressing Vance. “The