Speaking in clinical tones, TPol continued her report. “The vessel appears to have been modified to carry neutronic fuel and other volatile chemical compounds, judging from both the visible deviations from design norms and the vessels sensor signature.

“Is she a derelict? Archer asked. “Or is anyone alive aboard that ship?

“Scanning, the Vulcan woman said. After a brief pause she said, “Im picking up nearly four hundred strong lifesigns. She paused again as she raised an eyebrow and fixed her dark gaze upon Archer. “Predominantly human.

Archers jaw fell open involuntarily. “Humans. Operating a Klingoncargo ship. In Coalition space.

“And without a functioning navigation beam, Reed grumbled.

Anger drew Archers mouth closed again, hardening his jaw like quick‑drying thermoconcrete as he turned to stare at the enigmatic image on the viewer. “Hail that ship, Hoshi. TPol, assemble a boarding team. Travis, I want you to warm up Shuttlepod One.

He turned again, facing TPol while Hoshi busied herself signaling the other ship. “That ships captain has got one hell of a lot of explaining to do, he said.

“Capture, Mayweather said, allowing himself to feel no small amount of relief as he heard the repressurization valve on Shuttlepod Ones portside hatchway give a reassuring whoomph. “Weve established a hard dock with the freighter.

“Ive always hated that sound, said Lieutenant Reed, who was seated directly behind Captain Archers copilots seat, to Mayweathers left. “It makes me expect to have to start sucking bloody vacuum at any moment.

“That, Malcolm, the captain said as he put the console before him into “safe mode, “is only the sound of two mutually compatible airlocks making beautiful music together.

“Perhaps the airlocks ought to get a room, sir, Reed said quietly.

Mayweather turned in his seat and cast a sidelong glance at the aft portion of the shuttlepods small crew cabin, where Chief Engineer Burch chuckled as he unhooked his flight harness. Reed nodded toward the captain as he unstrapped himself from his seat, checking the charge on his phase pistol as Burch and the two MACOs seated nearby did likewise before moving swiftly toward the hatch. Mayweather thought he saw the tactical officer suppressing a gratified smile as the ranking MACO trooper, Sergeant Fiona McKenzie, eyed the airlock with evident suspicion while the much younger and greener Corporal Matthew Kelly held his phase rifle in a white‑knuckled death grip.

“Dont worry, guys, Burch said, evidently beating down an ironic grin of his own. “I packed a big roll of duct tape in my toolkit, just in case the airlocks decide to give us any real trouble.

“I suppose the airlocks would be one of the first things a human freighter captain would modify on a Klingon tub, Captain, Reed said, not sounding terribly reassured. “I just wish wed brought the captain of this free‑falling disaster aboard Enterpriseinstead of agreeing to come aboard hisship.

Archer shook his head. “You know as well as I do that its standard Starfleet procedure to board and inspect any problem vessel we encounter, Malcolm, he said. “And judging just from what Ive seen so far, this bucket is a textbook example of a problem vessel.

“Fair enough, Captain, Reed said, raising his weapon to a ready position as the hatchway hissed open. “I just have a bad feeling about this ship.

Mayweather felt his ears pop slightly the moment the hatch cleared its seals, a sensation that punctuated the short‑lived movement of a slight breeze as the small pressure differential between the shuttlepod and the freighter abruptly equalized. Having grown up on a freighter not so vastly different from this one, the sensation didnt trouble him in the least. As he followed the MACOs, Captain Archer, and Lieutenants Reed and Burch into the familiar narrowness of the gray, utilitarian corridor that lay beyond the shuttlepods hatchway, he felt a pang of nostalgia that bordered on homesickness.

Its been way too long since Ive been in touch with Mom and Paul and everybody else on theHorizon, he thought, drawing in a deep draft of the freighters recycled, faintly metallic air. I should at least get a letter off to them soon.

“Wheres the welcoming committee? Archer asked, his phase pistol drawn and at the ready. The MACOs flanked him as he took the pointMayweather knew he wouldnt have agreed to bring the troopers along had either of them insisted on taking the pointand moved steadily forward down the conduit‑lined corridor toward a bend some ten meters distant.

“They knew we were coming, Mayweather said, his voice echoing along the otherwise silent corridor. Unlike the captain and Reed, he had left his weapon holstered, though he wasnt allowing his hand to venture far from its handle. Somewhat encumbered by the half‑meter‑long toolkit he carried, Burch had likewise left his phase pistol at his side.

“Maybe theyre baking us a cake, Reed said with a weak smile.

The sound of multiple footfalls approaching from beyond the bend in the corridor prompted Mayweather finally to grasp his phase pistol and raise it defensively. Despite the results of Commander TPols sensor scans, he half expected to bump into a group of angry Klingons at any moment.

Three figures suddenly strode into view.

“Halt! McKenzie cried as both MACOs raised their weapons in a clear gesture of warning.

The trio, which consisted of two men and a womanall apparently humanabruptly stopped in their tracks. Each of the three raised their hands, their faces displaying expressions of pure shock.

“Oh, crap, said the middle‑aged Asian man who stood at the front of the trio, his colloquial speech belied by an accent worthy of an Oxford English Lit professor. “Looks like weve been boarded by bloody pirates again.

Mayweather nearly snickered out loud at this as he appraised the other mans ruffled white shirt, black buccaneer‑style boots, and bright paisley‑printed waist sash. All that was missing from the stereotypical image of an ancient Caribbean freebooter was an eye patch, a parrot perched on one shoulder, and perhaps a peg leg, though an open jug of rum and a hook hand would have been nice touches as well.

“Easy, Sergeant, Archer said to the female MACO. She nodded to her fellow trooper, and both took a step backward, their rifles lowered slightly. Mayweather continued holding on to his own weapon, as did Reed.

The captain holstered his phase pistol, took a step toward the olive‑skinned Asian man, and extended his right hand. “Captain Jonathan Archer, he said. “Commanding the Starship Enterprise,from Earth.

“Captain Kojiro Vance, the man said, accepting Archers handshake and flashing a brilliant, and apparently somewhat relieved, smile. “Master and commander of the merchant vessel S.S. Kobayashi Maru,based out of the port of Amber on Tau Ceti IV. Welcome aboard.

Archer released his grip on the other mans hand and took a moment to exchange introductions of the other members of the boarding team and Vances officers, both of whom were clad in light blue jumpsuits more characteristic of flight engineers or other technical personnel than of pirates. Vance introduced the woman as Jacqueline Searles, his chief engineer, and the man as Arturo Stiles, his first mate.

Once the initial pleasantries were completed, Reed said, “We used our searchlights to read your hull markings and looked up your vessel in the Earth Cargo Service registry. From beneath a disapproving scowl he added, “The records show her as a Class‑III neutronic fuel carrier, one presumably manufactured by an Earth firm or one of the Martian contractors.

“Imagine our surprise at discovering that shes actually a rehabilitated Klingon military freighter, Archer said.

Vance sighed, staring off at a bulkhead as he gathered his thoughts. “So youve noticed that, he said at length. “The port authorities tend to overlook such things in some of the more remote places. I suppose thats one of the advantages of adopting Tau Ceti IV as a home port, rather than carrying the flag of Earth or Alpha Centauri or Vulcan.