Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [66]
“Did Captain Archer put you up to this, Lieutenant? TPol asked. Had the captains reticence about helping her merely been another secret maneuver, a tactic akin to the deliberate disinformation that still concealed, from most people, the fact that Trip wasnt really dead? Were Archers earlier protestations simply an official gesture intended, as Trip might have put it, to “cover his ass?
“Im afraid not, Commander, Reed said, looking a bit crestfallen. “In fact, I suspect this may be my final straw with the captain. Ive had to lie to him before because of my relationship with the bureau, and he believed me afterward when I told him I was through with all of that.
“My hope is that we will be able to retrieve Trip, and that the information he has gathered will be directly useful in mounting a defense against the Romulan Empires encroachment on Coalition space, TPol said. “The ends would justify the means in this instance, and Captain Archer would understand, especially if we keep him insulated from our actions.
“Thats a great hope, Reed said. “We can also hope for ticker-tape parades, commendations from our superiors, and free hot fudge sundaes for life. But I suspect that even if were successful, most of those wishes wont be coming true.
“Then why come with me? TPol asked, fixing Reed with an inquisitive gaze.
He offered a wan smile. “Because youre not the only one who cares about Trip, Commander. We didnt start out as friends when this whole journey began, but there are few men Ive met before or since whom I hold in higher esteem.
He pointed toward the viewscreen on the console where TPol had been working. “We have four minutes left before our departure window closes. Time to get packing.
TPol pointed toward a small traveling case shed left leaning against a nearby bulkhead. “I have already packed.
Reed shook his head. “Its a human expression, TPol. Dont take it literally.
“Like kicking my ass? TPol asked, grabbing the case and heading toward Shuttlepod Two. “Why are humans so fixated on the gluteal muscles? she said.
Reed fell into step beside her, snorting slightly. “Perhaps its because weve all got em, Commander. Even Vulcans, I suppose. He reddened visibly as he moved to open the shuttlepods hatch. “Not that I take much notice of such things.
“Indeed, TPol said in the most frostily polite tone she could muster. “And just so were clear, Lieutenant, you could not have kicked mine.
THIRTEEN
Friday, July 18, 2155 Columbia NX-02, near Draylax
“P LEASE ASSIST US ! Our defenses cannot hold much longer against the hostiles weaponry! Even without the bridges linguistic translation matrices rendering the incoming message into intelligible English, the static-laced voice that carried it would have conveyed a crystal-clear message of desperation and fear all on its own.
Captain Erika Hernandez leaned forward in her command chair as she listened to the plaintive distress call and stared straight ahead into the star-flecked infinitude displayed on the large forward viewer.
“Origin point of the transmission? she said, turning her chair slightly toward the portside com station.
“Looks like its coming from the Draylax system, Captain, said the redheaded Ensign Sidra Valerian, her Scottish burr thickening into a heavy brogue as it often did during times of heightened tension. The youthful senior communications officer had gotten busy tracing the Mayday signal immediately after its arrival a few moments ago.
“Maybe its lucky for the sender that he isnt farther away, Captain, said Lieutenant Reiko Akagi, from the helm console. “Draylax is very close to our current position. At maximum warp, I can get us there in just a few hours.
“Lucky for them, maybe, said Commander Veronica Fletcher, Columbia s executive officer and Hernandezs second in command. “For us, not so much.
“Especially if were expected to stop a threat that the entire Draylaxian defense fleet cant cope with, said Lieutenant Kiona Thayer,