Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [35]
Expecting Vance to start pushing back harder against Archers increasingly challenging tone, Mayweather was surprised when the freighter captain merely threw his head back and laughed.
“My crew and I are probably responsible for a goodly number of those stories about dilithium-hungry Klingon raiders plundering the Gamma Hydra sector, Vance said after hed finally gotten his breathing back under control. “Spreading those kinds of tales tends to encourage my competitors to drill their wells somewhat closer to the safe green hills of Earth, as it were. Which leaves more profits for me to spread around the fleshpots of Rigel X and Risa.
“I suppose plying your trade in a Klingon-built ship could lower your profile quite a bit out in places like Gamma Hydra, Reed said in a tone that suggested he was beginning to appreciate the other mans tactical instincts. “At least as far as any real, live Klingons you might bump into out there might be concernedas long as they dont find out whos driving, that is.
“Very well reasoned, Lieutenant Reed, Vance said with an engaging smile. “Tell me, have you ever considered seeking your fortune in the private sector?
“Captain Vance, I didnt come here to bring my crew to a job fair, Archer said, his voice edging into noticeable testiness.
Vance sighed again, then nodded. “No. I dont suppose that you did. In any case, were not expecting a lot of trouble from the Klingons. At least not with the United Earth government and its Coalition of Planets allies working so hard to protect Gamma Hydra from the Klingons with that Neutral Zone ideaa no-mans-land that your Starfleet will no doubt defend with great ferocity once its established.
Evidently losing patience with the topic of galactic politics, Archer said, “Captain, my immediate concern is defending Coalition space from this vessel.
“Im sorry? Vance said, his expression going abruptly blank.
“The Kobayashi Maru is a menace to navigation, Captain, Mayweather said.
Vance tipped his head to the side and blinked in evident bewilderment. “Beg pardon? he said.
“Againyoure not using a navigation beam, Archer said, speaking with exaggerated slowness, like an Academy instructor trying to get through to a particularly thickheaded cadet.
“Or even a bloody night light, Reed added without smiling.
“Captain Vance already explained about all of that, Searles said, frowning and speaking with the same slow meter Archer had used. “I had to take the navbeam offline for a few hours, just for the duration of our other repairs.
“Thats why I took the Maru somewhat off the beaten path, Captain Archer, Vance said, holding up a hand in an obvious effort to prevent Searles from aggravating Archer any further. “Out of consideration for any other vessels that might happen by while our trousers are still down, so to speak.
“How very considerate of you, said Archer.
Vance didnt appear to have noticed the jab. “On the other hand, space is bloody huge . I hardly think were posing any serious danger to anyone, navbeam or no.
“Then humor us, Captain, Archer said. “And remember, the sooner we complete the inspection the regs require us to make, the sooner you can get back to carrying, as you put it, the blessings of civilization to the farthest reaches of the galactic hinterlands. Where no man has gone before, as it were.
Vance appeared to be making a careful study of Archers expression, which was resolute. Then he spread his ruffle-fringed hands before him in an almost theatrical concession of defeat. “So be it, he said, turning and retracing his earlier steps down the corridor. “Follow me.
Mayweather found the nearly two-hour inspection tour both tedious and nostalgic. Tedious because there was precious little for a pilot to do while the more engineering-oriented portions of the inspection proceeded, and nostalgic because the freighters interior, in which he found himself wandering, was so much like the one in which he had grown up.
He passed part of the time in a surprisingly congenial conversation with