Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [26]
And now they had one.
“Ready disruptor cannons! he ordered, standing up from his chair in the center of the ships bridge and stalking closer to the main viewer. Around him, the warriors at his service bustled to comply.
On the screen was a RomuluSngan vessel, though it wasnt a ship of the type most commonly seen in his ships database. They had first encountered the enemy vessel via long-range scanners within the past kilaan, while searching for two missing Klingon battle cruisers, the I.K.S. SImyoH and the I.K.S. MupchIch .
“What progress have you made with the scans? Nahtan asked, stalking to the workstation of Nevahk, his most intelligent technician.
Nevahk barely glanced his way, concentrating instead on moving his blunt fingers over a multitude of blinking tactical screens. “They have been successful at blocking most of the scans, but we captured some fragmentary information nonetheless. He pointed a dusky-hued finger at a diagram that was uploading to a hull-mounted monitor to his upper left. “They have shields and weapons comparable to ours, though their skill in utilizing them no doubt pales beside the strength of the Empire.
He pointed to another area of his console, upon which the screens appeared blank. “We are unable to scan this section of the vessel, which seems to be shielded heavily.
“Then that section shall be our first target, Nahtan growled, turning on his heel and striding back to the center of the bridge.
“Open channels again! he commanded, casting the most intimidating glower he could muster toward the central viewer. “Romulan vessel, you will stand down and prepare to be boarded. You stand accused of piracy and sabotage, and will answer to the laws of the Klingon Empire!
He waited for several moments before turning his gaze toward Dekkven, his communications officer. The young warrior, a bekk who had recently lost most of his lower teeth in a brawl over a spilled bowl of gagh, shook his head. “No response, Captain, he said, his words slightly lisped around his injuries.
“Repeat the message and continue sending, Nahtan barked. He knew that if he were to fire on the other ship unprovoked, it could be seen as an act of cowardice. But by openly accusing the RomuluSngan even giving them a chance to surrender without a fighthe was protecting himself both tactically and politically. But soon, he would have no choice but to follow through on his threats. Other than that, his only concern now was whatever it was the Romulans were trying to conceal from his ships sensors.
“Captain, the Romulan ship is polarizing its hull plating, the comely Korind said from her station at the left of the viewer. “Its weapons tubes are powering up.
“Prepare to attack, Nahtan growled loudly, feeling his pulse quicken with the exhilaration of imminent combat. He felt certain that his crew was as excited as he was; they had done without the glories of battle for far too long.
“Tracking another ship coming out of warp, Korind said, even as the main viewscreen split into two images. On the left side was the Romulan ship, but on the right was a far more familiar vessel.
“The MupchIch . Nahtan was surprised but pleased. No trace of either of the missing Klingon ships had yet been found; no one had yet assumed the worst, though both vessels had been overdue long enough to cause some concern among the fleets command hierarchy.
Grinning with satisfaction, Nahtan now felt certain that he would see unequivocal and absolute victory this day. No Romulan vessel had ever been captured whole, and certainly not with its crew alive. But the enemy craft before him now was hopelessly outgunned, and might therefore be overwhelmed and seized intact. If the RomuluSngan were smart, they would turn and run back to their sovereign space like a whipped targ while they still stood any chance at all of doing