Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [34]
Stiles, the fortyish jumpsuited man who stood at Vances other side, spoke up in clipped, almost angry tones. “Thanks to those modifications, the Maru conforms to every regulation in the UESPA rulebook governing the equipment and capabilities of Class-III neutronic fuel carriers.
Vance nodded, looking pleased at the point his exec had just made. “For all intents and purposes shes precisely as advertised in your ship registry, as well as in our current ECS flight plan, and in our own logs: a Class-III neutronic fuel carrier with eighty-one hands on board.
Archer raised an eyebrow. “Eighty-one? Our sensors picked up quite a few more lifesigns than that.
“In addition to the Maru s crew, were also carrying about three hundred colonists, engineers, and various other technical experts and tradespeople, Stiles added, thrusting his chin out in Archers direction in a silent so there expression.
Vance nodded cheerfully. “All of them qualified, ready, and eager to carry the blessings of civilization to the farthest reaches of the galactic hinterlands. Where no man has gone before, as it were.
“Of course, youre welcome to verify all of that for yourselves if youre not content to take our word for it, Captain Archer, Stiles said in stilted tones.
Archer smiled humorlessly. “Im afraid Starfleet doesnt give me the option of taking anything at face value, Mister Stiles. Especially not after weve found such a flagrant violation of ECS and UESPA navigational regs.
Vance once again looked confused. His expression would have been comical had the matter before him not been so very serious. “Come again, Captain? he said.
“Captain Vance, why is this vessel running dark and silent? Archer said.
Vance shifted his weight from one buccaneer-booted foot to the other in obvious discomfiture. At length, he said, “Lately weve been experiencing a few smalltechnical problems, Captain Archer. But its nothing that Miz Searles cant handle. Were already well on our way to putting all of it to rights.
“Do you need any help? Mayweather asked.
“We could use our grappler, said Burch. “Give you a tow to the port at Altai
“Thank you, but that wont be necessary, Vance said quickly, interrupting. “Weve just had to shut down a few nonessential systems temporarily in order to make somein-flight repairs.
Archer glowered. “Are you telling me that you consider something as basic as your navigation beam a nonessential system?
Though Vance looked no less uncomfortable than he had before, he now seemed to have no trouble returning Archers glower. “Frankly, the only thing I consider truly essential, Captain Archer, is getting my ship back under way as quickly as possible. My passengers and cargo have to reach their destinations on time.
“And where might those destinations be? Archer wanted to know.
“The first one on this voyage is the Gamma Hydra system, Vance said around an avaricious leer. “Those planets and most of the surrounding sector are extremely resource-rich, with huge deposits of everything from deuterium to pergium to the dilithium everybodys been so worried about running out of ever since the Coridan disaster. Were transporting a crew of mineral-extraction experts and other specialists to the outposts that have been popping up all over the vicinity over the past few years.
Gamma Hydra, Mayweather thought, recalling that the Horizon was scheduled to bring some technical and commercial cargo out to one of that sectors rapidly proliferating new outposts sometime in the not-too-distant future.
“Gamma Hydra, Archer repeated as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Judging from what Ive heard, thats a pretty rough neighborhood.
“Meaning what? Searles said.
“Meaning the Gamma Hydra sector is immediately adjacent to space claimed by the Klingon Empire, Captain Vance, said Reed.
Archer nodded to Vance. “Im pretty sure that the Klingons are every bit as interested as you are in