Or even Altair VI, for that matter,Mayweather thought, wondering if the still relatively new frontier settlement there had already acquired slightly too much law and order for the freighter captains taste. The fact that Tau Ceti, whose human colonies lay about five light‑years closer to Earth than did Altair, could allow someone like Vance to operate with impunity seemed to Mayweather a testimony to just how much work lay ahead for the nascent Coalition of Planets. Vance and his ship seemed to be an object lesson in how desperately the interstellar neighborhood needed the law and order the Coalition promisedincluding, apparently, those parts of the galaxy that were in Earths backyard.

“Whats your point, Captain Archer? Searles asked, folding her arms defensively across her chest. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she frowned, revealing the subtle, scar‑like lines characteristic of long‑term exposure to low levels of delta radiation, which was still a common pitfall in the space freight business. Mayweather guessed she was probably ten to fifteen years younger than her apparent age, which might make her his contemporary.

“You dont think flying around in Coalition space in a Klingonship is a problem? Mayweather said, holstering his weapon. No wonder these people prefer to ship out with their lights turned off,he added silently.

Searles waved one of her hands dismissively. “Captain Vance has had the Maruretrofitted extensively since he acquired her. Except for her gross hull configuration, shes about as much a Klingon vessel as your Enterpriseis.

Stiles, the fortyish jumpsuited man who stood at Vances other side, spoke up in clipped, almost angry tones. “Thanks to those modifications, the Maruconforms to every regulation in the UESPA rulebook governing the equipment and capabilities of Class‑III neutronic fuel carriers.

Vance nodded, looking pleased at the point his exec had just made. “For all intents and purposes shes precisely as advertised in your ship registry, as well as in our current ECS flight plan, and in our own logs: a Class‑III neutronic fuel carrier with eighty‑one hands on board.

Archer raised an eyebrow. “Eighty‑one? Our sensors picked up quite a few more lifesigns than that.

“In addition to the Marus crew, were also carrying about three hundred colonists, engineers, and various other technical experts and tradespeople, Stiles added, thrusting his chin out in Archers direction in a silent so thereexpression.

Vance nodded cheerfully. “All of them qualified, ready, and eager to carry the blessings of civilization to the farthest reaches of the galactic hinterlands. Where no man has gone before, as it were.

“Of course, youre welcome to verify all of that for yourselves if youre not content to take our word for it, Captain Archer, Stiles said in stilted tones.

Archer smiled humorlessly. “Im afraid Starfleet doesnt give me the option of taking anythingat face value, Mister Stiles. Especially not after weve found such a flagrant violation of ECS and UESPA navigational regs.

Vance once again looked confused. His expression would have been comical had the matter before him not been so very serious. “Come again, Captain? he said.

“Captain Vance, whyis this vessel running dark and silent? Archer said.

Vance shifted his weight from one buccaneer‑booted foot to the other in obvious discomfiture. At length, he said, “Lately weve been experiencing a few smalltechnical problems, Captain Archer. But its nothing that Miz Searles cant handle. Were already well on our way to putting all of it to rights.

“Do you need any help? Mayweather asked.

“We could use our grappler, said Burch. “Give you a tow to the port at Altai

“Thank you, but that wont be necessary, Vance said quickly, interrupting. “Weve just had to shut down a few nonessential systems temporarily in order to make somein‑flight repairs.

Archer glowered. “Are you telling me that you consider something as basic as your navigation beam a nonessential system?

Though Vance looked no less uncomfortable than he had before, he now seemed to have no trouble returning Archers glower. “Frankly, the only thing I consider truly essential, Captain Archer, is getting my ship back under way as quickly as possible. My passengers and cargo have to reach their destinations on time.

“And where might those destinations be? Archer wanted to know.

“The first one on this voyage is the Gamma Hydra system, Vance said around an avaricious leer. “Those planets and most of the surrounding sector are extremely resource‑rich, with huge deposits of everything from deuterium to pergium to the dilithium everybodys been so worried about running out of ever since the Coridan disaster. Were transporting a crew of mineral‑extraction experts and other specialists to the outposts that have been popping up all over the vicinity over the past few years.

Gamma Hydra,Mayweather thought, recalling that the Horizonwas scheduled to bring some technical and commercial cargo out to one of that sectors rapidly proliferating new outposts sometime in the not‑too‑distant future.

“Gamma Hydra, Archer repeated as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Judging from what Ive heard, thats a pretty rough neighborhood.

“Meaning what? Searles said.

“Meaning the Gamma Hydra sector is immediately adjacent to space claimed by the Klingon Empire, Captain Vance, said Reed.

Archer nodded to Vance. “Im pretty sure that the Klingons are every bit as interested as you are in developing the very same resources that youre salivating over.

Expecting Vance to start pushing back harder against Archers increasingly challenging tone, Mayweather was surprised when the freighter captain merely threw his head back and laughed.

“My crew and I are probably responsible for a goodly number of those stories about dilithium‑hungry Klingon raiders plundering the Gamma Hydra sector, Vance said after hed finally gotten his breathing back under control. “Spreading those kinds of tales tends to encourage my competitors to drill their wells somewhat closer to the safe green hills of Earth, as it were. Which leaves more profits for me to spread around the fleshpots of Rigel X and Risa.

“I suppose plying your trade in a Klingon‑built ship could lower your profile quite a bit out in places like Gamma Hydra, Reed said in a tone that suggested he was beginning to appreciate the other mans tactical instincts. “At least as far as any real, live Klingons you might bump into out there might be concernedas long as they dont find out whos driving, that is.

“Very well reasoned, Lieutenant Reed, Vance said with an engaging smile. “Tell me, have you ever considered seeking your fortune in the private sector?

“Captain Vance, I didnt come here to bring my crew to a job fair, Archer said, his voice edging into noticeable testiness.

Vance sighed again, then nodded. “No. I dont suppose that you did. In any case, were not expecting a lot of trouble from the Klingons. At least not with the United Earth government and its Coalition of Planets allies working so hard to protect Gamma Hydra from the Klingons with that Neutral Zone ideaa no‑mans‑land that your Starfleet will no doubt defend with great ferocity once its established.

Evidently losing patience with the topic of galactic politics, Archer said, “Captain, my immediate concern is defending Coalition space from thisvessel.

“Im sorry? Vance said, his expression going abruptly blank.

“The Kobayashi Maruis a menace to navigation, Captain, Mayweather said.

Vance tipped his head to the side and blinked in evident bewilderment. “Beg pardon? he said.

“Againyoure not using a navigation beam, Archer said, speaking with exaggerated slowness, like an Academy instructor trying to get through to a particularly thickheaded cadet.