Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [33]
“Oh, crap, said the middle-aged Asian man who stood at the front of the trio, his colloquial speech belied by an accent worthy of an Oxford English Lit professor. “Looks like weve been boarded by bloody pirates again.
Mayweather nearly snickered out loud at this as he appraised the other mans ruffled white shirt, black buccaneer-style boots, and bright paisley-printed waist sash. All that was missing from the stereotypical image of an ancient Caribbean freebooter was an eye patch, a parrot perched on one shoulder, and perhaps a peg leg, though an open jug of rum and a hook hand would have been nice touches as well.
“Easy, Sergeant, Archer said to the female MACO. She nodded to her fellow trooper, and both took a step backward, their rifles lowered slightly. Mayweather continued holding on to his own weapon, as did Reed.
The captain holstered his phase pistol, took a step toward the olive-skinned Asian man, and extended his right hand. “Captain Jonathan Archer, he said. “Commanding the Starship Enterprise, from Earth.
“Captain Kojiro Vance, the man said, accepting Archers handshake and flashing a brilliant, and apparently somewhat relieved, smile. “Master and commander of the merchant vessel S.S. Kobayashi Maru, based out of the port of Amber on Tau Ceti IV. Welcome aboard.
Archer released his grip on the other mans hand and took a moment to exchange introductions of the other members of the boarding team and Vances officers, both of whom were clad in light blue jumpsuits more characteristic of flight engineers or other technical personnel than of pirates. Vance introduced the woman as Jacqueline Searles, his chief engineer, and the man as Arturo Stiles, his first mate.
Once the initial pleasantries were completed, Reed said, “We used our searchlights to read your hull markings and looked up your vessel in the Earth Cargo Service registry. From beneath a disapproving scowl he added, “The records show her as a Class-III neutronic fuel carrier, one presumably manufactured by an Earth firm or one of the Martian contractors.
“Imagine our surprise at discovering that shes actually a rehabilitated Klingon military freighter, Archer said.
Vance sighed, staring off at a bulkhead as he gathered his thoughts. “So youve noticed that, he said at length. “The port authorities tend to overlook such things in some of the more remote places. I suppose thats one of the advantages of adopting Tau Ceti IV as a home port, rather than carrying the flag of Earth or Alpha Centauri or Vulcan.
Or even Altair VI, for that matter, Mayweather thought, wondering if the still relatively new frontier settlement there had already acquired slightly too much law and order for the freighter captains taste. The fact that Tau Ceti, whose human colonies lay about five light-years closer to Earth than did Altair, could allow someone like Vance to operate with impunity seemed to Mayweather a testimony to just how much work lay ahead for the nascent Coalition of Planets. Vance and his ship seemed to be an object lesson in how desperately the interstellar neighborhood needed the law and order the Coalition promisedincluding, apparently, those parts of the galaxy that were in Earths backyard.
“Whats your point, Captain Archer? Searles asked, folding her arms defensively across her chest. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she frowned, revealing the subtle, scar-like lines characteristic of long-term exposure to low levels of delta radiation, which was still a common pitfall in the space freight business. Mayweather guessed she was probably ten to fifteen years younger than her apparent age, which might make her his contemporary.
“You dont think flying around in Coalition space in a Klingon ship is a problem? Mayweather said, holstering his weapon. No wonder these people prefer to ship out with their lights turned off, he added silently.
Searles waved one of her hands dismissively.