Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [24]
“Then I trust I dont need to remind you not to let it become anything more than that, Commander. The old mans work poses the most clear and present danger to Earth since the Xindi came gunning for us. Its a threat to the entire Coalition. Never forget that.
“Youre worried about me going native, like my old pal Sopek, Trip said, not asking a question. Though he had recently almost died at Sopeks hands, he still wasnt entirely certain whether Sopeks primary allegiance had been to Vulcan or Romulus.
“Its a very real hazard every deep-cover agent has to consider, Commander. Youd do well to face that possibility honestly.
Trips jaw hardened in resentment, his sympathy for Stillwell notwithstanding. “Look, Captain. Ehrehin wants to rein in his peoples war making just as much as we do.
“The old man may be a genius whose expertise you admire, Stillwell said, a scowl creasing his already hard countenance. “But hes also a loyal Romulan. Youd do well not to forget that either, Commander.
You just cant admit the possibility that a Romulan could be the same as we are, can you? Trip thought, though he managed to hold his tongue.
“If Ehrehin believed in the aims of the Romulan military, he could have completed a working warp-seven prototype long before now.
“Maybe. Or maybe thats just what youd prefer to believe. Whatever he hasnt achieved yet for the Romulan military might not be for lack of trying. Remember, Commander, I also have a pretty damned thorough understanding of just what has to go into any crash high-warp research program, Stillwell continued.
“Starfleet did put you in charge of it, Trip said, keeping his expression guarded. Trying his best to be charitable, he supposed that Stillwells annoying tendency to try to micromanage and second-guess his work on Romulus was an outgrowth of his management of Earths warp-seven program, in addition to his covert duties seeking out related information from alien worlds under the auspices of the bureau. He didnt envy the man his job. Still, he couldnt help but wonder how badly Stillwell would have screwed up Trips task on Romulus were the two men to trade places.
Stillwell nodded. “They did indeed. And I find it hard to believe that I could fool them for any length of time into believing that my team was making significant progress if it really wasnt.
A sinking feeling developed deep in Trips belly, but he tried not to show any discomfiture. Had Stillwell just admitted that Earths warp-seven research had reached some sort of impasse?
“How is the project going, Captain? Trip wanted to know.
Stillwells scowl deepened. “Thats not a data point that you need to know at the moment, Commander.
Trips shoulders suddenly felt heavier as the weight of his own responsibilities bore down on him.
“My point is that I seriously doubt that the old mans superiors are fools either, Stillwell said. “Just as I doubt his claim that hes deliberately taking his research team down a blind alley to contain his peoples militarism. But if he is if then sooner or later Admiral Valdore will spot the lie and replace Doctor Ehrehin with somebody who will get the job done.
“For whatever its worth, Captain, I dont think there is anybody else here capable of getting the job done, Trip said. “Im a pretty fair warp engineer myself, and I cant make heads or tails of the technical gobbledygook hes been putting in his progress reports. I cant see how Valdores people will do any better.
“Lets hope youre right. Maybe Doctor Ehrehin is, as you once so colorfully put it, baffling Valdore with bullshit. But the old man knows who you really are. He knows your agenda. And he knows how impressed you are by his credentials, as well as by his alleged ideals.
“Therefore you must face the possibility that he is playing you, Commander. He may be conducting real warp-seven research behind your back as we speak. He might actually be making solid progress toward the