Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [77]
“NuqneH, Terangan? the frowning warrior said as Enterprise s linguistic translation matrix took a beat to calibrate before beginning its continuous real-time translation stream. “What do you want, Terran?
Noting that the man on the other end of the comlink had a conspicuously smooth, humanlike forehead, Archer knew he would have to proceed with no small amount of caution. After all, any Klingon who bore a permanent reminder of that particular crisis was bound to have a chip on his shoulder when it came to dealing with humans.
But he also understood Klingons well enough to know that they preferred plain talk to beating around the bush.
“I am Captain Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise . I must speak with Fleet Admiral Krell immediately regarding the Draylax situation.
“I am Captain Qapegh, Fleet Admiral Krells adjutant, the Klingon said with a pronounced sneer. “You have already been privileged to speak with the admiral very recently. Why should I permit you to do so again so soon after the previous occasion?
Although Archer never broke eye contact with the Klingon on the monitor, his hands moved busily across his desktop keyboard as he composed a covert text message just out of the line of sight.
Cant afford to let myself look like a timid beggar, Archer told himself as he fixed the other man with his hardest, most withering stare.
“I called before to seek an explanation for the Klingon Empires hostilities against Draylax, he said, discreetly hitting the “transmit key as he spoke. “Admiral Krell has yet to provide a satisfactory one.
Though Qapegh bared his sharpened teeth aggressively, he appeared impressed by Archers audacity nevertheless. “You risk much, human.
“Its all part of the service, Sparky.
The Klingon suddenly broke off from Archers stare, apparently not out of intimidation, but rather because something outside the Klingon com systems field of view had just demanded his attention.
“You have targ- backed a text transmission onto the subspace channel you used to reach this office, Qapegh said, his face adorned in undisguised surprise as he looked back in Archers direction.
“Uh-huh, Archer said, nodding.
“It is coded, Qapegh said in truculent tones.
“Thats right. For the admirals eyes only. And I expect hes going to be pretty damned unhappy with anybody who delays his seeing it. Needless to say, its fairly time-sensitive stuff. Admiral Krell can contact me on the secure frequency specified in the message header to receive the encryption key.
Archer closed off the channel before the goggle-eyed Klingon could finish drawing breath to make a reply that was doubtless now being delivered at a full-throated shout before a blank screen. After all, the last thing he needed was to have some pissed-off Klingon waking up his dog in the middle of the night.
That certainly felt good, Archer thought as he leaned back in his chair and waited patiently for the inevitable return call. He listened to the gentle susurration of Porthoss snoring in his otherwise dark and silent cabin.
He was a little surprised that it had taken six whole minutes for the incoming call indicator on his com-panel to light up. Suppressing a grin, he transmitted the encryption code in response to the text message that scrolled up his screen, and then allowed nearly another whole minute to pass. The incoming light came on again, and he sat up straight and assayed his best parade-ground military bearing just before toggling the “accept key.
“Thank you for contacting me so soon after our last conversation, Admiral, he said to the older, gray-bearded Klingon whose glowering face and almost human-smooth forehead now filled his viewer like a looming mountainside. “You do me honor.
“Do not play games with me, Archer, Krell said. “You know as well as I do that my decision to respond to your summons has little to do with honor, either yours or mine.
Archer suppressed a smile, as well as any further comment regarding