Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [69]
“Hernandez to engineering, she said.
The Austrian chief engineer replied in his customary blunt Teutonic tones. “Lieutenant Graylock here, Captain.
“We need to get to Draylax as quickly as possible, Karl. I need you to push it a little bit past the redline. Again.
“I suppose my engine core can manage warp five point two for an hour or so without vaporizing us completely, he said, an undercurrent of dour humor buoying his grim words. “Anything else, sir?
“Just try to keep us in one piece, Karl.
“That complicates things a bit, Captain, but ja, I think my people can handle it. Ill make Biggs and Pierce get out and push if I have to. And Ill set Rivers and Strong to running in the hamster wheel.
Smiling, she said, “Thanks, Karl. Hernandez out. She pressed another button. “Hernandez to com.
Ensign Valerians crisp reply came half a heartbeat later. “Bridge, Captain.
“Sidra, isnt Enterprise s patrol route supposed to take her into this sector about now?
“Aye, Captain, I believe it is.
That struck Hernandez as suspiciously like a good omen, though she was far too experienced an officer to put much stock in such things. “Try to raise them. I need to speak with Captain Archer as soon as possible.
“Aye, Im on it, sir, the com officer said. “Ill transfer the connection to your ready room once its established.
“Thank you, Sidra. Hernandez out.
She hadnt decided yet whether she was calling because she wanted to ask for Jonathans help, or because she merely needed the emotional closure of a last farewell.
FOURTEEN
Friday, July 18, 2155 Enterprise NX-01
C APTAIN J ONATHAN A RCHER COULD FEEL his pulse accelerating as he left his ready room and stepped onto the bridge. His conversation with Erika Hernandez had crossed over the time of Enterprise s early-morning shift-change, so while most of his alpha-watch crew were already on deck, his gamma-watch commander, D.O., was still seated in the captains chair, going over reports on a datapad.
“Ensign Mayweather, your console should be receiving a set of coordinates near Draylax in a moment, Archer said before acknowledging ONeill or any of the others. “Set a course there immediately, maximum warp.
He spoke up then, looking around at the other members of the bridge crew. He noticed that a few faces were missing; TPols absence was to be expected, but he had assumed he would see Malcolm Reed at his usual place behind the tactical station. “It appears that the Klingons have launched an attack near Draylax, he announced loudly. “Captain Hernandez is taking Columbia there now. We are going to be her backup.
“Is this the first strike of a war? ONeill asked, surrendering the captains chair to Archer as she stood. Alarm was etched on her features.
“Were not sure yet, D.O., Archer said. “All we really know so far is that three heavily armed Klingon warships are fighting their way toward the Draylax systems main population centers. Draylaxs entire defense fleet may not be up to fending them off, and Admiral Gardner has ordered Columbia to assist them.
“And Enterprise ? ONeill asked warily.
“Gardner hasnt given us any new orders yet, but I expect that to change soon enough.
“Forgive me, sir, but isnt sending Starfleets two best ships to deal with this a bit of overkill? Mayweather asked, turning from his console. “Draylax isnt even part of the Coalition of Planets.
“That may be, Travis, but Earth has a mutual defense arrangement with Draylax, Archer said, taking his seat and toggling a switch on one of its arms. “Burch, I need full warp capability. We have to push this ship to her limits. And make certain all weapons ports and hull-plating polarization protocols are triple-checked. We may be seeing some action soon.
“Right away, sir, Burch replied, his voice issuing from the com unit on Archers chair.
Archer reached for a datapad that ONeill was patiently holding out to him. “How was the night shift, D.O.? Did I miss anything interesting?
ONeill, a petite redhead, smiled grimly. “Not really, sir. We encountered a cloud of debris at