Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [171]
“Aye, sir, Reed said just before his attention became riveted to one of his tactical displays. “Captain! Im reading two incoming warp signatures. No, make that three. Theyre dropping out of warp, and just about right on top of us.
TPol hunkered over the hooded scanner built into her science console. “Configuration is Klingon, she said, immediately switching from what Archer recognized as the depths of Vulcan grieving back to no-nonsense officer mode. “All three are D5 -type battle cruisers.
And if those ships really have Klingons behind the wheel, then Im Dorothy Gale from Kansas, Archer thought, recalling both the evidence hed gathered on QonoS and the mysterious warning about an imminent Romulan sneak attack.
Aloud, he said, “Tactical alert! Recall those shuttlepods. A heartbeat later, the bridge lights dimmed.
“Polarizing the hull plating, Reed said. “All weapon systems armed and tactical crews summoned to battle stations. Lieutenant Burch is preparing a photonic torpedo to disperse the graviton flux around the freighter.
“Shuttlepods returning to launch bays, Hoshi said.
“Give me a tactical display on the Klingon ships, Malcolm, Archer said, returning to his seat.
The image of the mortally wounded fuel carrier vanished from the viewer, replaced by a computer-generated grid depicting the local region and all five ships that now maneuvered within it. The two white computer-generated icons that represented, respectively, Enterprise and the Kobayashi Maru were so close they almost touched at the viewscreens center, while the three outlying long-necked gray deltas that stood in for the approaching Klingon warships wasted no time deploying themselves in a loose triangle that encompassed most of the screen.
“Theyre trying to surround us, Archer said.
“And theres a good chance well never get away from them if they do, Reed said in strictly matter-of-fact tones. “Their weapons tubes all read as hot. The nearest vessel is at ten thousand klicks and closing rapidly.
“Are the shuttlepods docked yet? Archer asked, scowling.
“Shuttlepod Two reports successful docking capture, Hoshi said. “Shuttlepod One is making its final approach.
“The nearest Klingon vessel is opening fire with its main disruptor, said Mayweather.
The bridge rocked, but not nearly as hard as it might have had the gunner attacking them really meant business.
Archer turned toward Reed, who displayed a puzzled frown. “They should have hit us a hell of a lot harder than that.
Archer shook his head. “They would haveif it really was the Klingons pushing the buttons on those ships.
“And if theyre really Romulans, Captain? TPol asked.
“If theyre Romulans, then theyll want to capture more of their enemies ships, Archer said. “The bastards will try every trick in the book to take Enterprise intact.
“At least at first, Reed said with a gallows grin. “Once they realize they cant have her intact, theyd probably be inclined to make sure that nobody else can have her either. Present company included, of course.
Archer nodded. “Well have to gamble on whether their patience will run out before time is up for the Kobayashi Maru s survivors.
“And on whether or not we can pull off a rescue and get out of here in one piece before both deadlines expire, Reed said. “I recommend we dont press our luck here, Captain. They might only be lobbing snowballs at us now, but were still outgunned and outnumbered three to one.
“We should stay long enough to rescue as many of the survivors as possible, Captain, said TPol. “That first shot bought us some time. The Romulans just showed us that destroying Enterprise is not their top priority.
“Commander, Reed said, his voice raised slightly, “if we start taking serious hits, even with our hull plating polarization activated, the warp drive could go down. And if that happens
“If that happens, Malcolm, Archer interrupted,