Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [68]
“They have, Gardner said with a grave shake of his head. “Which is a damned shame for us.
“Im not sure I understand, Admiral, Hernandez said, blinking involuntarily.
He leaned forward slightly. “Ive just conferred with Minister Samuels. He and I are in agreement that if Earth could get another nonhuman civilization or two to apply for Coalition membership right now, Captain, it would go a long way toward smoothing the ruffled feathers of the Vulcans, the Andorians, and the Tellarites over Earths position favoring full membership status for Alpha Centauri. Our intervention in the current crisis might persuade the Draylaxians that joining the Coalition is in their best interests after all.
“My only interest is in saving lives, Admiral, Hernandez said, shaking her head. “The galactic political horse-trading behind all of this really doesnt concern me all that much.
“Im afraid it has to concern you now, Captain, Gardner said, his voice evoking the cold solidity of hull metal. “Were involved in this matter regardless. Even though Draylax isnt a Coalition member, it has recently entered a mutual defense pact with one of its closest neighbors: Alpha Centauri.
“And were already committed to the defense of Alpha Centauri, Hernandez said. A slow, sinking feeling began tugging her guts inexorably downward.
The admiral nodded. “Alpha Centauri is one of the United Earth governments Coalition partners, which has its own separate mutual defense compact with Earth. Therefore Starfleet is legally required to treat an attack on Alpha Centauri as if it were an attack on Earth. We are obliged to protect Alpha Centauris treaty partners as well.
“So we have to treat an attack on Draylax as though it were an attack against Alpha Centauri, Hernandez said. Her stomach was now in free fall.
“Or against Earth itself, Gardner said, nodding.
Hernandez recalled a history course shed taken at the Academy, in which she had studied the complex diplomatic cats cradle of mutually interlocking defense agreements that had bound the European nations of the early twentieth century. With so many countries prepared to deploy their armies in defense of so many allies, all it had taken was the assassination of one man in an obscure Balkan country to plunge most of the planet into the bloodiest war humanity had ever experienced up to that time.
“So Im afraid you may have to do a bit more than whatever you reasonably can, Captain, the admiral continued, his gaze hard yet also sympathetic. “You have to defend Draylax. To the death, if thats what it comes to. Columbia is therefore to be considered expendable so long as Draylax remains in jeopardy.
And while the Coalitions nonhuman members remain in a snit over the Alpha Centauri business, or Draylax continues to stay out of the alliance, Hernandez thought sourly. She could only hope that something other than the blood of her crew would become the coin that purchased peace within the Coalition, if such a thing was even possible.
“Aye, aye, sir. Do we know who the attackers are, Admiral?
“Klingons, Gardner said after a pregnant pause. “Three battle cruisers, according to the reports weve just received.
Hernandez nodded, though she wasnt encouraged. “I hope we arrive in time to do some good. Once we get there, well hold them off as long as we can, Admiral. Im sure Major Foyle and his MACOs will give the Klingons one hell of a fight.
She could only hope that Doctor Metzgers sickbay would be spared the baptism of fire that the MACOs were about to face.
The admiral nodded again, his eyes glistening with unshed moisture. “I know you all will do your best, Captain Hernandez. Godspeed to you and your crew. Gardner out. And with that, his image vanished.
Oh, well, she thought. “Captains discretion has always been overrated anyway.
She reached across her desk and punched a button on the compad built