Then it occurred to him that Starfleet would probably pay handsomely for access to those secret Vulcan engine parts. Arrogant, condescending bastards that they were, the Vulcans had always done their damnedest to curtail such wholesale transfers of technology from their world to Earth. Stiles wondered if their nearly century‑old de facto technical embargo against humanity was finally about to end.
“No wonder those rabbit‑eared elitists swore you to secrecy, Vance, Stiles said. “I never met a Vulcan who didnt at least drop a few broad hints that we Earth folk are still a little too wet behind the ears to venture out of our own solar system.
Vance made a noise of agreement. “If it had been up to the Vulcans, thered be nothing in the Alpha Centauri system right now but ancient ruins and tumbleweeds. And the idea of humans flying a fuel carrier like the Maruunder the flag of a settlement on Altair VI would be just another one of Doctor Cochranes pipe dreams.
Searles put a hand to her chin as her forehead crumpled into an elaborate frown. “Kind of makes you wonder why the Vulcans would lend us this stuff, even with their own experts aboard the Maruto babysit us.
“Something out here must worry the Vulcans a little bit more than the prospect of warp‑six‑capable humans does, Vance said. “It would certainly explain why theyd want to set up a secret listening post to keep close tabs on it.
Stiless thoughts drifted toward his own half‑formed nightmare images of the mysterious Romulans, shadowy mental pictures derived from countless stories and rumors of fearsome warships whose bellies were painted to resemble the blood‑red plumage of predatory birds. The Romulans would be the nearest likely subject of any Coalition listening post placed in this sector. Regardless, the Vulcans decision to allow a human freighter crew to play with their supercharged high‑warp goodies continued to puzzle him.
His spine shuddered with the cold of the grave as the simplest possible explanation of the Vulcans largesse occurred to him: Maybe they really dont expect us to survive any encounter with whatever might be lurking out here.
A moment later, the Kobayashi Marushook as though the Hephaestus of Earths ancient mythology had just slammed his hammer right into the ships vitals. Searles cried out as Vances office fell under a blanket of darkness. Stiles immediately experienced the stomach‑churning freefall sensation that signaled the abrupt failure of the gravity plating. And he could hear Vance speaking in the darkness, his voice as understated as she had ever heard it.
“Uh‑oh, the captain said.
FORTY‑TWO
Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Enterprise NX‑01, near the Gamma Hydra sector
S EATED AT THE DESKin his ready room, Jonathan Archer listened to the joint report from TPol and Reed in almost meditative silence. TPol wrapped up the brief presentation with a solemn dignity that Archer usually associated with eulogies.
“By now, she said, “Trip has already reached Romulus.
Where hes probably already had to face whatever rough justice Admiral Valdore had in store for him,Archer thought. Though he respected Trips abilities both as an engineer and as a highly survival‑adept Starfleet officer, he hadnt been an intel operative all that long, and Archer knew that Valdore was no fool either.
He despaired of seeing his friend ever again.
“Unfortunately, our encounter with Trip didnt change the Coalitions current tactical situation in any way that really matters, Reed said, looking nearly as mournful as Archer felt. “He still has to get his hands on workable warp‑seven engine plans, though this may be simply because the Romulans themselves have yet to come up with a completely workable design. And his Romulan intelligence sources had him convinced that the Klingonswere the ones behind the attacks against Draylax and our shipping lanes, rather than any Romulan culprits.
Archer nodded, becoming all but resigned to the bleak prospect of a hot war with the Klingons; it was beginning to look inevitable, despite the evidence Archer had found exculpating the Klingon Empire, which had no present hostile intentions toward any member of the Coalition of Worlds.
But we just might kick over the anthill anyway,he thought. And touch off a conflict that will cripple most of two quadrants for decades, and probably kill millions of innocents on both sides. The Klingonswill consider us shoot‑on‑sight enemies then, sure as gravity. And the Romulans will sit back and laugh through the entire bloodbath, waiting until both sides are too weak to stop them from swooping in to pick up the pieces.
The intercom on Archers desk whistled, presenting a welcome interruption to the captains gloomy ruminations. Toggling the channel open, he said, “Archer here. Go ahead.
“Were receiving a priority communication from Starfleet, Captain,said Hoshi, a note of urgency audible in her voice. “Its Admiral Gardner.
“Thanks, Hoshi. Pipe it straight to my ready room, please.
Archer wasted no time activating the blank monitor atop his desk, which quickly shifted to the weary but hyperalert visage of Sam Gardner. TPol and Reed immediately began moving toward the ready room door to give Archer some privacy, but stopped after he motioned them to stay and positioned his monitor so that its visual sensor pickups showed the admiral everyone present in the room. The motion forced him to suppress a wince of pain, a reminder of his ordeal on QonoS.
The silver‑haired admiral noted the presence of Archers subordinates with a nod, and then focused solely on the captain. “Archer, youstill look like hell,Gardner said with a sympathetic nod before abruptly switching into his “all‑business mode. “Captain, the Coalition Security Council has been busy evaluating the evidence you brought back from QonoS. From where Im sitting, it appears to have changed everything.
Archer forced himself to absorb this apparent good news with at least some degree of caution. “I hope thats a change for the better, Admiral, he said.
Gardner nodded again. “It is. Because the Klingons have made no aggressive moves against us since you delivered their ultimatum, the Coalition Security Council has tabled all plans to adopt an aggressive defensive posture against the Klingon Empire. Even the hotheads on Andoria have agreed to hold their horses a while longerunless they believe the Klingons to be acting in direct defiance of the ultimatum.A small, relieved smile somehow slipped out onto the admirals otherwise granite‑hard countenance, reminding Archer that few people are more reticent about wars than the hardened warriors charged with fighting them. “Well done, Captain.
“Thank you, sir, Archer said. “Lets hope we can keep the proverbial dogs on their leashes this time.
Gardners smile abruptly vanished. “We still may not have that luxury. Starfleet Command has just received word that Centauri III and the Calder II science outpost have come under attack.
“Do you believe the Klingons to be responsible for either of those attacks, Admiral? TPol asked.
Training his suddenly narrowed eyes squarely upon TPol, the admiral said, “Not as far aswe can determine, Commander.
Thank God, Archer thought, though he remained uneasy. So long as the Coalition Council remained balanced on the razors edge of a declaration of war against the Klingon Empire, whose ships had already been proven to be vulnerable to hijacking by a hostile third party, he was certain he was going to continue feeling that way. He could only hope that the evidence that he and Phlox had found on QonoS would prevent the Councils more hawkish members from going off halfcocked should the Klingons appear to have defied the Coalitions ultimatum.