Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [27]
“Hail the MupchIch, Nahtan said. “Invite her commander to share the spoils of our conquest.
“Communications are jammed, Captain, Dekkven said, his voice rising to a slightly higher than normal register.
Nahtan muttered a curse that might have shocked even his own brother. “Get them back online!
Abruptly, the yellowish lights on the bridge winked out, and the blood-hued emergency lights replaced them. Nahtan whirled toward Nevahks station, where the technician was moving his hands across multiple screens, almost in a panic. “ QaStaH QIyah nuq jay? Nahtan roared, desperate to discover the cause and meaning of whatever malevolent influence was afflicting his ship.
“Weve just lost life support! Nevahk shouted. “Other systems are beginning to fail, shipwide!
A sound like a gong reverberated through the Veqlargh Jajlo s hull, and Nahtan felt the hollow, dropping sensation of the artificial gravity cutting out beneath his boots. He scrabbled to grab hold of his chair as a variety of surprised shouts, random clatterings, and other less identifiable noises reverberated from across the bridge and from other parts of the vessel.
“Shields are down, and we have explosive decompression on three decks, from Soch to Hut ! Korind screamed, her voice raised to a nearly frantic pitch as she drifted upside down and clutched at the console at her station for stability.
Suddenly, the central viewscreen switched images, showing a trio of what appeared to be vulqangan staring forward from what was obviously a Klingon bridge. The female in the center smiled viciously, uttering but a single short phrase before the image disappeared.
“Boch ghlchraj, the woman said just before vanishing. “Your nose is shiny.
Captain Nahtan of the I.K.S. Veqlargh Jajlo barely had time to wonder why a Vulcan had hailed them with Klingon taunts from the MupchIch s bridge, or why the viewscreen now showed the MupchIch firing its disruptors directly at the Veqlargh Jajlo .
His final thought, just before the smoke and fire and darkness took him, was one of disappointment. Perhaps today was not to be such a glorious day after all.
Day Twenty-nine, Month of KriBrax Dartha, Romulus
The holographic image of the Romulan captain flickered lightly in the air as a small insect flew through it. The kekla -gnats were ever-present in the Romulan capital at this time of year, when the grekekla trees were in fragrant bloom. Even here, within Admiral Valdores spacious office in the Romulan Hall of State, this tiniest member of the insect orders had insinuated itself.
Seated behind his heavy sherawood desk, his hands steepled under his chin, Valdore listened to Commander Dagarths report with barely contained glee. The first full-scale test of the Romulan Star Empires new tactical systemconceived by Valdore and designed and realized by the scientists under his commandhad been an outstanding success.
There had been some trepidation on all fronts, given the earlier failure against the first klivam vessel that Dagarths bird-of-prey, Nel Trenco, had attempted to seize, but their system reportedly had worked flawlessly in capturing and maintaining control over the MupchIch which Dagarths crew had then used to destroy the pursuing I.K.S. Veqlargh Jajlo . Had any serious operational errors occurredor had the Klingons somehow managed to summon reinforcementsthe considerable risk of causing an ill-timed war with the Klingon Empire would have loomed. Instead, as matters stood now, the best evidence available would show that one Klingon vessel had been responsible for the destruction of the others. The Klingons would be more interested in concealing their embarrassment than in engaging in another war against Romulus.
“Your service will be commended, Valdore said, gesturing toward the holographic image of the female captain of the Nel Trenco . “History