Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [32]
“Ive always hated that sound, said Lieutenant Reed, who was seated directly behind Captain Archers copilots seat, to Mayweathers left. “It makes me expect to have to start sucking bloody vacuum at any moment.
“That, Malcolm, the captain said as he put the console before him into “safe mode, “is only the sound of two mutually compatible airlocks making beautiful music together.
“Perhaps the airlocks ought to get a room, sir, Reed said quietly.
Mayweather turned in his seat and cast a sidelong glance at the aft portion of the shuttlepods small crew cabin, where Chief Engineer Burch chuckled as he unhooked his flight harness. Reed nodded toward the captain as he unstrapped himself from his seat, checking the charge on his phase pistol as Burch and the two MACOs seated nearby did likewise before moving swiftly toward the hatch. Mayweather thought he saw the tactical officer suppressing a gratified smile as the ranking MACO trooper, Sergeant Fiona McKenzie, eyed the airlock with evident suspicion while the much younger and greener Corporal Matthew Kelly held his phase rifle in a white-knuckled death grip.
“Dont worry, guys, Burch said, evidently beating down an ironic grin of his own. “I packed a big roll of duct tape in my toolkit, just in case the airlocks decide to give us any real trouble.
“I suppose the airlocks would be one of the first things a human freighter captain would modify on a Klingon tub, Captain, Reed said, not sounding terribly reassured. “I just wish wed brought the captain of this free-falling disaster aboard Enterprise instead of agreeing to come aboard his ship.
Archer shook his head. “You know as well as I do that its standard Starfleet procedure to board and inspect any problem vessel we encounter, Malcolm, he said. “And judging just from what Ive seen so far, this bucket is a textbook example of a problem vessel.
“Fair enough, Captain, Reed said, raising his weapon to a ready position as the hatchway hissed open. “I just have a bad feeling about this ship.
Mayweather felt his ears pop slightly the moment the hatch cleared its seals, a sensation that punctuated the short-lived movement of a slight breeze as the small pressure differential between the shuttlepod and the freighter abruptly equalized. Having grown up on a freighter not so vastly different from this one, the sensation didnt trouble him in the least. As he followed the MACOs, Captain Archer, and Lieutenants Reed and Burch into the familiar narrowness of the gray, utilitarian corridor that lay beyond the shuttlepods hatchway, he felt a pang of nostalgia that bordered on homesickness.
Its been way too long since Ive been in touch with Mom and Paul and everybody else on the Horizon, he thought, drawing in a deep draft of the freighters recycled, faintly metallic air. I should at least get a letter off to them soon.
“Wheres the welcoming committee? Archer asked, his phase pistol drawn and at the ready. The MACOs flanked him as he took the pointMayweather knew he wouldnt have agreed to bring the troopers along had either of them insisted on taking the pointand moved steadily forward down the conduit-lined corridor toward a bend some ten meters distant.
“They knew we were coming, Mayweather said, his voice echoing along the otherwise silent corridor. Unlike the captain and Reed, he had left his weapon holstered, though he wasnt allowing his hand to venture far from its handle. Somewhat encumbered by the half-meter-long toolkit he carried, Burch had likewise left his phase pistol at his side.
“Maybe theyre baking us a cake, Reed said with a weak smile.
The sound of multiple footfalls approaching from beyond the bend in the corridor prompted Mayweather finally to grasp his phase pistol and raise it defensively. Despite the results of Commander TPols sensor scans, he half expected to bump into a group of angry Klingons at any moment.
Three figures suddenly strode into view.
“Halt! McKenzie cried as both MACOs raised their weapons in a clear gesture of warning.
The trio, which