Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [72]
The screen abruptly went black, and Archer realized a few seconds later that he was holding his breath. Even across light-years and through a viewscreen, an angry Klingon could be both formidable and intimidating. He hoped he wouldnt have to encounter Krell in the flesh any time soon.
More importantly, he hoped that the fleet admiral hadnt been lying to him. But if the Empire really had not authorized the hostilities now being directed at Draylax, then what was really behind the danger toward which Erika Hernandez and Columbia s crew were hurtling at this very moment?
To say nothing of his own people, who were speeding toward the very same fate just as quickly as Henry Archers mighty warp-five engine could carry them.
FIFTEEN
Friday, July 18, 2155 Columbia NX-02
“W E DONT HAVE any other choice, Captain Erika Hernandez said, feeling a single cold bead of sweat escaping her hairline and moving down between her shoulder blades.
Sitting at the edge of her captains chair, she spoke to her senior helm officer in a steady voice. “Evasive maneuvers, Mister Akagi. Every salvo you dodge will earn you an extra hour of sack time every day for a week.
“ Hai, Captain, said Lieutenant Reiko Akagi. Hernandez didnt need to see the pilots face to know that she was smiling broadly even as her hands deftly moved over the ships helm controls.
Hernandez turned partially around, catching the worried glance of her XO, Commander Veronica Fletcher, before her own gaze settled on Lieutenant Kiona Thayer, her senior tactical officer. “Kiona, bring to bear everything youve got. I have a feeling this could be the fight of our lives.
As hyperbolic as that statement might have sounded, Hernandez suspected it would prove not to be an exaggeration once the battle was through. I hope were still around then to debate that, she thought grimly.
But the odds didnt look good. Even as Columbia had arrived at Draylax, the three Klingon battle cruisers began firing on the planet below, even though several expanding clouds of glittering metallic debris provided mute testimony that they had already dispatched Draylaxs defense ships some time ago. Fletcher had noted that the Klingons appeared to have been holding back, as though they had been waiting for Columbia to decelerate into orbit around the principal inhabited planet of the Draylax system. Hernandez had to admit that the tableau before her looked suspicious as hell.
Damn, I wish Archer was here along with his ship, she thought. The last time they had faced a trio of Klingon cruisersabove the QuVat colonyit had been she who had helped him . At least two Starfleet ships against three Klingon vessels had seemed a fairer fight; this time it would be three against one.
She toggled a switch on her chairs com unit. “Lieutenant Graylock, whatever you do, dont be stingy with the power to our hull plating. Were about to take some heavy fire. She didnt wait for his affirmative reply; she didnt need to. He was as good a chief engineer as Tucker had been during his brief time aboard this vessel, before hed been billeted back to Enterprise .
“Take her down to block the disruptor cannons, Hernandez said. “Polarize the hull plating, and double it up here on the bridge and in engineering.
She turned toward Fletcher. “Veronica, get Major Foyle and the MACOs ready for a ship-to-ship transport. I know itll be risky, so let them know that its not mandatory. Volunteers only. But if we can catch even one of their ships with its proverbial pants down, we might be able to get our guys on board and take over.
Fletcher nodded and moved swiftly to a com station to call Foyle. Hernandez knew that there probably would be few volunteers. MACOs might be brave to a fault once they get to the battle, but I doubt that many of them trust the transporter enough to risk buying the farm with it before they get close enough to see the whites of the enemies eyes, she thought gloomily.
Still, she had wanted to try that maneuver for a while now, and the time