He blinked at her, now seeming to comprehend the ambassador’s nettled response. “Perhaps you have helped underscore my point, Ambassador.”

“All right,” Sulu said, stepping on Burgess’s rejoinder. “Perhaps a consultation with an expert is just what we need right now.” He pushed a button on the right arm of his command chair. “Captain Sulu to Lieutenant Hopman.”

“Hopman here, Captain.” From the somewhat higher timbre of her voice, Sulu could tell that she was once again in her female phase. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to pick your brain about how to make nice with members of martial cultures.”

[264] “I gather that Yilskene still doesn’t believe that we come in peace.”

“No. And he’s liable to believe it a whole lot less once we break out of his energy web. Any thoughts?”

“I’ve spent the last few hours poring through everything the library computer has on the Tholian warrior caste. Maybe ‘making nice’ isn’t the right way to win him over. If logic won’t persuade Yilskene of our benign intentions, then a little calculated violence might do the trick better.”

“Explain.”

“For centuries, members of the Tholian warrior caste have lawfully settled disputes with a ritual that translates roughly totruthcombat.”

“Somehow I get the feeling that we’re not talking about filibustering in the government chambers.”

“That’s right, Captain. It’s an ancient form of Tholian dueling.”

“Pistols at dawn?”

“Something you’ll like even better:swords. Thetruthcombat ritual reflects the warriors’ belief that the right or wrong of any dispute can be ascertained most accurately through personal struggle. The fight is resolved when either one party yields, or when one is dead.”

That sounded pretty straightforward—and not necessarily lethal, provided Yilskene’s desire to survive trumped his anger. And provided I can beat him.

“Doyou think Yilskene might agree to make the release of Excelsiorand the Neyel vessel contingent on the outcome of this ... truthcombat?”Sulu asked.

Hopman hesitated, evidently already having surmised where his questions were headed. “I can’t say for certain, Captain. You’re not a Tholian, after all, so he might not regard you as a ‘peer’ with whom he can do lawful combat. But if hedoes accept atruthcombat challenge, he’ll be bound by both caste honor and Tholian law to abide by the results.”

[265] Akaar moved toward the center of the bridge and spoke. “Captain, I respectfully request that I be allowed to represent Excelsiorin this ritual.”

“Request denied. Excelsioris my ship, and her safety is my responsibility.”

An uncharacteristic look of concern crossed the huge Capellan’s face, but he relented. “Aye, Captain.” The words seemed to cause him physical pain, but he was too disciplined an officer to argue with direct orders.

“Captain, I can see no logic in dueling with Admiral Yilskene,” Tuvok said, evidently not quite so concerned as Akaar with protocol. “The weapons would no doubt be some variant of the monoblade which Muskene used to assassinate Ambassador Kasrene. Even a glancing blow would be lethal. Logic suggests—”

“Opinion noted, science officer.” Sulu rose from his chair and glared at the Tuvok. Though he appreciated his instincts, he did not enjoy having his orders questioned, especially right out on the bridge in front of everyone. “Now do I have to send you to Dr. Chapel to have your hearing checked?”

Tuvok’s eyes bored into Sulu like mining lasers. “No, sir,” he said, then returned to his station.

“Um, Captain?”It was Hopman’s voice, coming from the intercom on Sulu’s chair. “Not that I’m questioning your judgment, but I think you might not want to rush into this.”

Taking his seat once again, Sulu massaged his temple, which was beginning to flare with an incipient headache. “Lieutenant, there’s not much time left. My only other options are either to protect the Federation’s honor by waiting around for Yilskene to destroy us, or to damage our reputation even further by escaping into Neyel territory through interspace.

“I like the idea of a straight fight a lot better than either of those choices. Report to the bridge immediately. Sulu out.” [266] He punched a button, cutting off contact with Hopman. Then he turned his seat aftward, toward the communications station.

“Commander Rand, open a channel to the Jeb’v Tholis.”

“I accept, Captain,”Yilskene said. “I will be gratified to see this matter settled decisively.”

Exchanging a quick glance with Lieutenant Hopman, who had arrived on the bridge a few minutes earlier, Sulu tried to conceal his surprise at how little time the Tholian admiral had spent considering his challenge.

“As will I,” Sulu said.

“My compliments, Captain, for your willingness to follow the precepts of Tholian law,”Yilskene continued.

Under other circumstances, Sulu might have basked in the admiral’s compliment. But considering that he and Yilskene would shortly become embroiled in a duel that could well leave them either maimed or dead, he decided that it was far too late to concern himself with diplomatic brownie points. The next few hours would be about survival, plain and simple.

“When in Tholian space, one does as the Tholians do,” Sulu said.

“Well said, Captain. Then I trust you are aware of the privilege of the challenged. The choice of venue for ourtruthcombat is mine.”

Looking to his side, Sulu saw Hopman’s slight nod of affirmation. “I understand,” he said. “When and where?” Sulu hoped that the scheduling of the truthcombat might buy Excelsiorat least a little additional time.

“Where is here, aboard theJeb’v Tholis. When is at the expiration of my original twelve-hour deadline. Will that give you sufficient time to craft an environment suit capable of sustaining your- life processes while you are aboard my flagship?”

“Three and a half hours will be ample,” Sulu said. He was grimly aware that his skill with a blade would at least be [267] as crucial to maintaining his “life processes” as would his EV suit. He wondered how badly the suit would encumber his motions. Luckily, from what he’d observed of the Tholians, their own physiology didn’t permit them to move very quickly. Though Yilskene wouldn’t need to wear an EV suit in his own ship’s environment, the high pressure there would doubtless slow the admiral’s movements down even further.

Suddenly Chief Engineer Azleya’s pleasant voice sounded from the intercom. “Azleya to the captain.”

“Stand by, please, Commander,” Sulu said, pressing the mute button. The last thing he needed was for Azleya to let Yilskene know about their escape contingency plans.

“Then let the record reflect that thetruthcombat challenge has been lawfully given and accepted,”Yilskene said. “My communications specialist will send you the precise coordinates to program into your transporter. I will see you at the appointed time, and will furnish the weapons.

“You will be remembered long in the Tholian Assembly, Captain Sulu,”he added. “I shall see to that personally, following the destruction of your ship and the invader vessel.”And with that, he vanished from the screen, leaving a view of the Tholian colony world in his place.

“He sounds pretty confident about winning,” Sulu said. “Maybe too confident.”

Still standing at Sulu’s side, Hopman nodded. Speaking barely above a whisper, she said, “He’s not the only one, sir.”

Doesn’tanybody on this ship think I can win this?Sulu thought. Whispering also, he said, “You’ve sparred with me plenty of times, Pam. You know I can handle a blade. Why the pessimism?”