Vances smile grew ironic. “A pity you werent here to explain the newly lawful and orderly status quo to the Orions and the Nausicaans. Particularly the last few times they decided to deprive me of my cargo.

Vances earlier reference to the pleasure worlds he favored when his vessel was at liberty sprang abruptly into Mayweathers mind. Having lived in space all his life, he understood better than most that the interstellar hauling trade favored neither the lazy nor the libertine, though he also knew that brains counted for at least as much as hard work did. And he could see that this self‑styled pirate was certainly not lacking in brains. Maybe if he spent more time working and less time partying,he thought, hed be able to afford to keep his ship from falling apart around his ears.

“We can tow you back to one of the drydock facilities at Altair VI in just a few hours, Captain, Burch said.

“And Im to pay for their services with what,Lieutenant? Vance said, sounding angry now that his embarrassing state of financial disarray had at last been laid totally bare. “My credit with the Altair VI port authority is, shall we say, less than sterling at the moment. My cargo is already spoken for, so I cant simply trade it away. Besides, the fine, upstanding citizens of Darro‑Miller will want hard currency, and I wont be flush again until after the Marus current voyage concludes.

“In the state shes in right now, Captain, the Marus voyage is alreadyover, Burch said. “Im sorry.

Though Vance looked deflated, his tendency toward bravado hadnt deserted him entirely. Addressing Archer, he said, “You wouldnt be interested in floating us a temporary loan, would you?

Except for the faint clatter of metal forks against lightweight aerogel plates, a sudden hush blanketed the room. The crewmen and technicians who were eating at the tables along the opposite wall made a show of ignoring the tableau, though they had to have heard every word. Stiles looked like he wanted nothing more than simply to crawl away somewhere and die with whatever slender shreds of dignity remained to him. Mayweather felt intense embarrassment for the first mate, as well as for his captain.

Archer was the first to disturb the extended silence. “Im afraid I cant lend you any money, Captain Vance.

Vance now looked utterly defeated. “Then please dont neglect to scuttle us before you get under way for your next assignment, he said very quietly.

“But since the regs require me to render aid to all vessels in distress, Archer continued, “Ill lend you something more valuable than money: my chief engineer and his staff.

“Sir? Burch said, obviously as surprised as Mayweather was. Reed, Vance, Stiles, and Searles all looked poleaxed as well, and even the two usually impassive MACOs exchanged quiet sidelong glances.

“How much time do you need to get the Kobayashi Maruback under way? Archer asked the engineer.

Burch answered without hesitation. “Forty‑eight hours, max.

“Then get busy, Lieutenant. Give TPol a list of whatever personnel and matйriel you think youre going to need.

“Yes, sir, Burch said, grinning as he contemplated the no doubt unusual challenges that awaited him. Mayweather hoped for his sake that his repair‑time estimates would prove as reliable as those his predecessor used to make. After all, as good as Burch had so far proved himself to be, he wasnt Commander Tucker.

Nobody is at the moment,Mayweather thought with a profound sense of sadness.

After directing Lieutenant Reed and the MACOs to remain aboard to keep an eye on things, Archer moved toward the lounges raised hatchway. “Lets head back to Enterprise,Travis. I want to get this job expedited so we can get back to chasing realpirates just as soon as humanly possible.

“Can never get enough of that,Captain, Mayweather said, grinning as he followed Archer into the corridor that led back to the section of the Kobayashi Maruto which Shuttlepod One was docked. As they walked, he contemplated still more endless hours of patrolling, watching, and waiting. And the interval that would precede the resumption of those monotonous tasks.

Forty‑eight hours. Two days.

Plenty of time to dash off a few handwritten letters home before the Maruresumed her voyage toward Gamma Hydra, and a rendezvous with the Horizon.

SEVEN

Day Thirty, Month of KriBrax Dartha City, Romulus

T HE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT, throwing the entire lab into stygian darkness. Trip knew that the facility had its own emergency backup power systemswhich should have kicked in on their own the minute the main power circuits were interruptedso he was immediately suspicious. His pupils struggled to cope with the nights abrupt intrusion.

Though he was still effectively blinded, his artificially pointed ears nevertheless identified the nearby sound of metal clicking against metal.

A disruptor pistols safety catch.

“Ehrehin, get down! Trip shouted.

In the same breath, he tackled the elderly scientist, hoping that the more‑than‑human strength inherent to Vulcans and their genetic offshoots would keep the old man from suffering a bad fracture when he hit the floor.

Breaking a hip is still a lot better than taking a disruptor blast,he thought as both mens bodies slammed against the unyielding tile floor behind one of the labs massive bookcases. The transitory brilliance of an energy blast singed the hairs on Trips neck in the split second before hed moved out of the immediate line of fire.

That wasway too close,he thought amid the acrid stench of ozone and fear. He struggled to catch his breath and get his bearings.

“Cunaehr! The old man could barely wheeze Trips Romulan cover name, his lungs just having been forcibly and suddenly emptied. But at least he had eluded the assassins disruptor beam.

For the moment, at least.

“Stay down, Doctor, Trip whispered. “And keep quiet. He hauled himself up onto his elbows, cautiously surveying what little he could see of the labs work area in an attempt to pinpoint the would‑be killers location.

Then he heard the gentle rustle of something moving beyond the sturdy desk behind which he and the old man had taken refuge. The sound seemed to have come from somewhere near the labs rear exit. Another muffled noise came from the opposite side of the room. Though his heart raced like a reactor core about to go critical, Trip tried to remain absolutely still.

Shit. At least two of em are in here with us.

“Are you armed, Cunaehr? Ehrehin said quietly, a fearful quaver in his voice.

“Dont talk anymore, Trip whispered back, ignoring the question. Though he didnt, in fact, have an effective weapon within handy reach, he didnt want to admit it out loud. Keeping the bad guys guessing about things like that was always the best policy in this sort of situation.

“Stay here, Trip whispered directly into Ehrehins ear. Despite the darkness, he was close enough to Ehrehin to see that the old man was beside himself, owl‑eyed with commingled fear and outrage.

Trip heard another noise coming from the front of the lab, the direction from which the disruptor bolt had originated. Someones feet moved slowly and stealthily forward. No one was visible as yet behind the farrago of tables, desks, bookcases, and computer terminals scattered about the room, so the shooter had to be crouching, keeping his profile low.

Taking his cue from the intruders, Trip slowlyand quietlycombat‑crawled toward the source of the intermittent sound before him. A moment later, another disruptor blast cleaved the air above him, at perhaps chest level.

Trip grinned as he imagined a pairhe hoped it was only a pairof assassins, hunkered down on the floor much as he was, at opposite sides of the lab. They dont know exactly where to shoot just yet. And they have to fire high to protect each other.He wondered whether the assassins tactics implied that they lacked night‑vision equipment, or were merely displaying an overabundance of caution.