Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [176]
Just as he knew from those around himthose allies whose worlds and governments and societies and cultures and families were threatened with annihilationthat before the week was out, they would be at war.
As always, none of the Vulcan diplomats spoke at all before they reached their heavily guarded consulate, and the interior chambers that they kept shielded from both listening devices and sensor scans.
Once inside, however, it was Solkar who spoke first. “How soon should we inform the Coalition Council about what became of our ships at Alpha Centauri? he asked.
Soval crossed to his desk, near the central wall of the pentagonal chamber. He decanted a vessel of TRukh spiced tea there, and poured some of the glowing orange liquid into a glass. “We are still investigating precisely what happened, and how it happened. The optimal time to inform the others, of course, would be sometime prior to their discovery of the same truths.
LNel paced, agitation clearly showing on her smooth, unlined face. “Which depends on the status of Columbia, which our fleet reports as having been relatively undamaged at the time of their withdrawal from Alpha Centauri.
“Calm yourself, LNel, Soval said, calling upon his well-honed Syrrannite disciplines to filter all emotion from his being as he spoke. “The commanders of those vessels were under strict orders to destroy evidence of any Vulcan involvement in the Alpha Centauri attacks, and to attempt to deploy countermeasures designed to prevent the Romulans from gaining any further access to our technology. They were not charged with safeguarding Starfleet vessels after the Romulan threat had been neutralized.
“And what will happen if Columbia has fallen into Romulan hands in spite of the efforts of our fleet? LNel said, clearly still struggling to calm herself. “They have already shown themselves quite adept at seizing control of both Vulcan and Klingon technology, our countermeasures notwithstanding.
Soval stared into his glass, then took a sip of the spiced liquid, feeling it burn his tongue as he swallowed. Finally, he answered.
“I feel confident that Vulcan will take part in the offensive against the Romulans that is to come. And if Starfleets technology has become compromised, we will introduce new countermeasures to make certain that Vulcan remains, as always, insulated and protected.
Despite their relative youth, LNels and Solkars facial expressions told Soval that they understood what he was saying. Vulcan had played a larger role than humanity would ever know in moderating the breakneck pace of Earths development into an interstellar species. As with the secret listening post near Tezel-Orokoa facility that still needed to be staffed, resupplied, and completedVulcan was good at keeping secrets.
Thursday, July 24, 2155
Keisha Naquase stared at the message that had come into her datapad seconds ago. She was tremendously protective of the deviceit was actually locked to her wrist with a tetherbut now, in the crush of other reporters outside Starfleet Headquarters, she gripped it even more tightly as she backed away from the other assembled members of the press corps.
They all knew something was up. During the last thirty-six hours, a significant number of new military personnel had arrived, representing every member of the Coalition: Vulcan, Andor, Tellar, Draylax, Alpha Centauri, and even members of several species that she and the other human media had only recently been able to identify as potential Coalition allies.
But security and secrecy had been tight, and Starfleet was taking every step to make certain that no leaks occurred.
Except that she had one. He hadnt been in contact for several days, but he was on the inside.
And she had just gotten a message from him.
“Come on, Nash, pick up, she said to herself, hearing the chimes in her earpiece. She stole a quick glance in the direction of Gannet Brooks, who stood with several of the others; Brooks always seemed to scoop just