Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [78]
“Your honor remains safe with me, Admiral Krell, Archer said carefully. “As well as other matters that are best never spoken about again.
“I can see that a RomuluSngan might envy your skill in the dark art of blackmail, Archer, Krell said with a grunt. “You spoke to my aide of the Draylax incident. Why can you not leave the matter alone?
“Because Im still having trouble making sense of it, Admiral, Archer said. “Perhaps if you were to help me shed a little more light on what really happened here at Draylaxand why I might be able to see my way clear to talking about it a whole lot less from now on.
Krells eyes narrowed as he stroked his grizzled chin in apparent contemplation. With another grunt, he said, “Your threats aside, you have proved trustworthy with confidences thus far, Captain. Perhaps I can afford to trust you somewhat further. Particularly if doing so makes you less of a pain in the oyoS. And makes you go away as well.
Archer smiled, though he was even less sure about the meaning of oyoS than the translator evidently was. “Nothing would make me happier, Admiral. You, too, I expect.
“Very well, Captain, Krell said, nodding. “But I shall add only this to what I have told you already: The three battle cruisers that attacked Draylax were commanded by rogue captains. Men who were operating without the legitimate authorization of either the High Council or the Klingon Defense Force. They were killed during the commission of their treachery. Their Houses, as well as the Houses of the craven subordinates who followed their un-lawful orders, have since been dispossessed and discommended for their lack of honor and discipline.
Archer had no pretensions to serious expertise about Klingon culture. Nevertheless, he felt more than justified in assuming that virtually everyone in the Empire who might know anything about the Draylax affair was no longer available for questioning. At least, he thought, not without an extremely sensitive Ouija board. One thats tuned in to Sto-Vo-Top, or whatever the hell the Klingons call their version of the hereafter.
“Forgive me for making this observation, Admiral, Archer said aloud. “But that sounds awfully convenient.
Krell leaned forward and displayed a pair of curved and wickedly sharpened incisors. “That is as may be, Captain Archer. But it is also my final word on the subject. Admiral Krell out.
And with that, Krells image vanished, replaced for an instant by the Klingon trefoil emblem, which yielded to the ships status screen a heartbeat or so later as the subspace channel closed.
He sat alone in the darkness, staring into the empty blue glow of the screen. “Naghs, he muttered, thinking that mastering the Klingon spoken language might not be as difficult as hed once thought.
Still lying in the corner, Porthos came out of his apparent slumber, raised his head slightly, and released a low growl that might have done a Klingon captain proud. Archer chose to take it as a noise of solidarity rather than a reprimand for his rude use of Klingon vocabulary.
“I agree completely, Porthos. I cant buy what Krells trying to sell, either.
He knew that the Klingon Defense Force ran on discipline just as much as Starfleet and the MACOs did. Perhaps even more so.
Three trained Klingon captains wouldnt just suddenly go rogue for no apparent reason, he thought. Krell still knows a hell of a lot more about this than he wants anyone else to find out. And hes prepared to sweep it all under the rug to make sure that nobody does.
Once again, Archer felt an all but overwhelming need to talk to someone he could trust. Somebody with fewer than four legs.
He toggled open the intercom switch on his desk. “Archer to TPol.
No answer. His second try wasnt any more successful. Despite the