Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [96]
“I never tire of your flair for the dramatic, Archer, Gardner said, traces of both bemusement and condescension mixing in his voice. “The Klingon High Council has agreed to grant you an audience, authorized by Chancellor MRek himself.
“This is the same chancellor who sent Duras to kill me for busting out of Rura Penthe. Just so were clear that youre aware youre sending me to face an extremely unfriendly crowd.
Gardner sighed. “Among many warrior societies, opposing leaders would often meet on neutral ground, setting aside their hostilities in order to discuss terms. Our xenoanthro experts believe that the Klingons will be much too honorable to do anything to you while under a flag of truce.
“Permission to speak freely, sir? Archer said, struggling to keep calm.
“Of course, Gardner said, nodding.
“Admiral, youre already talking as if we are at war.
“ We will be at war if the Klingons ignore this message, Captain, Gardner said, his voice grave. “Our formal cessation of hostilities ultimatum will be better receivedand discussedif one of our own is there to hand it to them personally.
“Have you ever heard the phrase shoot the messenger, Admiral?
Gardner offered a slight smile. “Archer, from what Ive been told, the Klingon High Council holds you in much higher regard than you think. Although the resolution that you and your CMO brought to QuVats metagenic virus crisis didnt make those affected by the cure terribly happy, the virus you helped cure would have decimated the Empire, and perhaps even destroyed it if youd left it unchecked. According to some intelligence weve gathered, a few influential Klingons have stopped just short of calling you a hero.
“Joy, Archer said under his breath. It wasnt that he minded having these people regard him as a heroit would be far preferable to being one of their targetsbut Klingon warriors were tremendously mercurial and unpredictable. And, as he had learned from Enterprise s very first mission, it was a mistake to assume that members of an alien society would think, act, or react the way that humans did.
“Have you reviewed the security recording I transmitted of the Klingon woman we recovered from the wreckage here at Draylax? Archer asked.
Gardner nodded. “We did. All of us at Starfleet Command did. And we cannot support your theory that the Romulans were really behind the attack on Draylax. Just because one dying Klingon suspects it does not make it so. Your scans of the ships before they were destroyed showed Klingon crews live Klingon crewsand despite the actions of the second cadre of battle cruisers, it is more likely that there have been intramilitary squabbles about hostilities related to the Coalition than it is that they were covering up Romulan involvement. Why would they not want to expose the Romulans? Or are you suggesting that the Klingons are also somehow in league with the Romulans?
Archer clenched and unclenched his fists under his desk, wanting so badly to strike at something. “The Klingon woman specifically said that the crew on the ships that struck at Draylax were kept barely alive, but unable to act. That would explain our sensor readings. And the second wave of Klingon ships may indeed have been trying to eradicate any trace of Romulan involvement. Whether thats because they suspect it, or because they dont want to be framed for the actions of those ships
“Exactly, Gardner said, interrupting him. “The second wave of vesselsships whose actions Krell apparently authorizedwas acting in our favor. For whatever reason, they were trying to stop further attacks against Draylax, Enterprise, and Columbia.
“Or they were trying to cover up the initial attacks.
Gardner shook his head. “If they wanted to cover this thing upif they didnt care about how their actions would be interpretedthen they probably would have destroyed you as well. He held up a hand, palm facing the screen. “Enough, Captain. The formal message you are to deliver to QonoS has been transmitted to Enterprise via