“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 crewslive 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 theynot 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 specificallysaid 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 inour favor. For whatever reason, they were trying tostop further attacks against Draylax,Enterprise, andColumbia.

“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 destroyedyou 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 toEnterprise via subspace radio already. It is now your duty to bring it before the High Council and present it.

“What about Columbia? Archer said, squaring his jaw while trying not to look defensive.

“ TwoDaedalus‑ class shipstheEssex and theArchon will arrive at Draylax within the next few hours. They will continue to assistColumbia with her repairs, and render assistance on Draylax as well.

Gardners look softened a bit as he leaned forward. “Archer, whether you want to believe it or not, I do listen to what you have to say,and weigh your concerns,and present your arguments tomy superiors. But you are just a part of this organization. So am I. Starfleet is bigger than either of us. And the Coalition of Planets isimmensely bigger, even though its only been around for a few months now. You have been on the edge of discovery, have encountered new civilizations and seen things that most humans would never dream of outside of fiction. I have no doubt that history will record great things about you. Probably a hell of a lot greater than whatever it might say about me eventually.

“But for now, you have your orders, and you will carry them out. Go to QonoS. Impress the High Council. Make certain that wedont go to war. And down the road, when and if the Romulan threat really does become more apparent, you will be able to use all the experience youve gained out there on the edge of the unknownas well as the strength of a more unified Coalitionto stand up to it.

Archer saw Gardner move his hand toward the switch on his desk as he prepared to end the transmission. “Good luck, Captain. And Godspeed.

The computer screen went black

With a roar, Archer smashed his fist into the screen, sending it tumbling off his desk in a short‑lived shower of sparks. It crashed into the wall before falling to the floor, where it lay broken and dead.

Archer knew it was a stupid, brutish gesture that TPol would have found appalling. Nevertheless, it made him feel better, at least for the moment. Still, he realized that the isolation and anger he felt now would be nothing compared to what he would experience when he entered the lions den on QonoS to deliver the Coalitions ultimatum.

When he faced thatchallenge, he would be utterly and terrifyingly alone.

TWENTY‑THREE

Monday, July 21, 2155 Qam‑Chee, the First City, QonoS

T HE OTHER TWO TIMESthat Jonathan Archer had visited the Klingon homeworld had taught him little about the civilization other than the fact that their architecture looked as foreboding and militaristic as nearly every Klingon he had ever encountered. He wondered if there was any room for nonmartial culture and beauty among these severe, warlike aliens. But although high art here seemed largely confined to the production of elaborate edged weapons, he knew there had to be more to the Klingon people than that; even the savage Hun tribes of ancient Earth werent complete strangers to art and culture. When discussing this very matter once with Trip, the engineer had said with his understated Southern humor, “Hell, even cannibals can make some beautiful bone necklaces.

Archer had left Enterpriseunder the watchful eyes of Lieutenant Donna ONeill. She didnt ask why he was not taking Commander TPol or Lieutenant Reed along, he noticed. By now, the missing shuttlepod had been noted, though Archer had yet to log the incident officially. D.O. wasnt stupid, nor were any of the other bridge personnel; they probably figured that Malcolm and TPol were off on some secret missionwhich, in truth, they were. Its just not a mission that anybody authorized,Archer thought glumly.

He had also decided to leave Phlox behind, given the threats Krell had made. It was better to know that the Denobulan was safe aboard Enterprisethan potentially imperiled on the surface of the Klingon homeworld. Archer had left a grateful Hoshi Sato at her post as well; a small, communicator‑sized translator unit clipped to his uniform jacket would ensure that he got his point across, and that he wouldnt misunderstand the Klingons when they made theirs. He hoped they wouldnt succumb to the temptation to communicate via their cutlery.

Which left Archer alone except for the two MACO troopers who had accompanied him, Corporals OMalley and Ryan, both of whom had been trained in multiple unarmed fighting techniques, including the Vulcan disciplines of Suus Mahnaand VShan. Even though all three humans had been disarmed immediately upon entering the outer foyer of the Klingon High Council citadel, Archer knew he could count on the two MACOs to give a good accounting of themselves if it came down to a fight.

They had not been able to offer much in the way of moral support during the interminable shuttlepod ride down from orbit, however. Archer knew he was on his own in the Great Hall, for better or worse. As the huge iron doors before him opened with a groan and a clang, Archer stepped into the expansive inner sanctum. This wasnt the same High Council Chamber he had visited on Enterprises first mission, during which he had returned an injured Klingon named Klaang to his homeworld. He was thankful as well that it was not the forbidding multilevel courtroom on Narendra III, where a Klingon magistrate had once sentenced him to a year mining dilithium in the frozen depths of the asteroid penal colony Rura Penthe.

Just because this place wasnt that hellish chamber of summary judgment, however, didnt make it any less intimidating, and Archer felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise like a phalanx of fighters adopting a defensive stance. Seated around the deeply shadowed, torch‑lit room in a semicircular, two‑level observers arena were some two dozen Klingonsall but one were malenone of whom looked particularly pleased to be present. At the apex of the semicircle sat the man whom Archer recognized as having thanked himthough Hoshi had implied it was more of a threatwhen he had returned Klaang to his people. The Klingon chancellors hair and beard had become even whiter than they had been four years ago, but the form underneath the august warrior‑leaders bulky leather and armor seemed as formidable now as it had then.