ENT - 012 - Kobayashi Maru

FOURTEEN

Friday, July 18, 2155 EnterpriseNX-01

C APTAIN J ONATHAN A RCHER COULD FEELhis pulse accelerating as he left his ready room and stepped onto the bridge. His conversation with Erika Hernandez had crossed over the time of Enterprises early-morning shift-change, so while most of his alpha-watch crew were already on deck, his gamma-watch commander, D.O., was still seated in the captains chair, going over reports on a datapad.

“Ensign Mayweather, your console should be receiving a set of coordinates near Draylax in a moment, Archer said before acknowledging ONeill or any of the others. “Set a course there immediately, maximum warp.

He spoke up then, looking around at the other members of the bridge crew. He noticed that a few faces were missing; TPols absence was to be expected, but he had assumed he would see Malcolm Reed at his usual place behind the tactical station. “It appears that the Klingons have launched an attack near Draylax, he announced loudly. “Captain Hernandez is taking Columbiathere now. Weare going to be her backup.

“Is this the first strike of a war? ONeill asked, surrendering the captains chair to Archer as she stood. Alarm was etched on her features.

“Were not sure yet, D.O., Archer said. “All we really know so far is that three heavily armed Klingon warships are fighting their way toward the Draylax systems main population centers. Draylaxs entire defense fleet may not be up to fending them off, and Admiral Gardner has ordered Columbiato assist them.

“And Enterprise? ONeill asked warily.

“Gardner hasnt given us any new orders yet, but I expect that to change soon enough.

“Forgive me, sir, but isnt sending Starfleets two best ships to deal with this a bit of overkill? Mayweather asked, turning from his console. “Draylax isnt even part of the Coalition of Planets.

“That may be, Travis, but Earth has a mutual defense arrangement with Draylax, Archer said, taking his seat and toggling a switch on one of its arms. “Burch, I need full warp capability. We have to push this ship to her limits. And make certain all weapons ports and hull-plating polarization protocols are triple-checked. We may be seeing some action soon.

“Right away, sir,Burch replied, his voice issuing from the com unit on Archers chair.

Archer reached for a datapad that ONeill was patiently holding out to him. “How was the night shift, D.O.? Did I miss anything interesting?

ONeill, a petite redhead, smiled grimly. “Not really, sir. We encountered a cloud of debris at about oh-three-hundred. Drifting ice crystals that must have been the remnant of some long-dead comet. But they apparently werent substantial enough to even fog up the windows.

“Wheres Malcolm? Archer asked, gesturing toward the tactical station that the enthusiastic Englishman usually manned during the alpha-watch hours.

“He called in sick earlier, D.O. said, her smile slipping into a frown. “Said he must have had a bad reaction to some of Chefs food. Unless we wanted to have him hitting the head every five minutes, it didnt make sense to have him on duty.

Archer grinned and lowered his voice. “Malcolm and his sensitive stomachits a wonder hes ever able to fly at all sometimes. I assume Phlox will have some kind of antidiarrheal to settle him down. He squinted for a moment, scrolling through a personnel roster in his mind. “Who do we have to replace him? Yoc? Beaton?

“If you dont mind, sir, Ill take Reeds post myself, ONeill said. “I didnt really have any plans for my off-duty time today, and Im not terribly tired.

Archer clapped a hand on the lieutenants shoulder and stood. “Suit yourself, D.O. Have some food ordered up from the mess though; cant have your stomach rumbling so loudly it drowns out the com system. But before you take over that post, I have a call to make from my ready room. You have the bridge again until Im done with that.

Turning toward the communication station, Archer saw that Hoshi Sato was frowning as she studied her com-system displays. “Whats wrong, Hoshi? he asked, moving toward her.

“I know you said it was all right for a certaincrew member to make private subspace transmissions off the main system, Sato said, keeping her voice low even as she glanced sideways to make sure that none of the other bridge crew were standing near enough to overhear her. “But I think we should put them in the official logs.

Archer frowned. “Do any of these transmissions pose a problem?

“Im not sure, Hoshi said, shrugging. “But another, significantly longertransmission went out last night.

“And?

“ Enterprises clocks happen to be roughly synchronized with the region on the planet to which the transmission was sent, Sato said, carefully leaving out the name of the planet they both knew they were discussing: Vulcan. “The transmission went out at about oh-three-thirty hours. That seems like an odd time to be dealing with personal business back home.

Archer waved his hand to one side. “Ive given up on what seems odd when it comes to those particular people, Hoshi. Thanks for alerting me, but Im not overly concerned about it.

“Yes, sir, Sato said, though her expression showed that she wasnt entirely placated.

“Besides, we have bigger fish to fry right now, Archer said. “I need you to raise Admiral Krell of the Klingon Defense Force. Pipe it through to my ready room after you set up the connection.

Minutes later, Archer found himself pacing in his small ready room office, wishing that any of his closest companions aboard the ship were present to consult with him regarding the trials that lay ahead: TPol, Trip, Malcolmeven Porthos was good for counsel from time to time. It wasnt that he couldnt make decisions on his own, but hed always found it best to bounce ideas off his trusted friends, even if, ultimately, he went with his own gut feeling more often than not. But at the moment his most trusted friends were either “dead, hallucinating, running to the bathroom, or sleeping on the pillow at the foot of his bed.

Two chimes sounded from the com unit mounted on the wall. “I have Admiral Krell,Satos voice announced from the speaker.

Archer crossed back behind his desk, tilting the desktop viewscreen up even as he remained standing. The visual pickup would be looking up at him, giving him a subtle if slight psychological advantage. “On-screen, Archer said.

Less than a year had passed since Archer had first tangled with Krell, when the hostile fleet admiral had been intent on destroying the Klingon Empires own QuVat colony, including its inhabitants: Klingons who had been infected with genetically mutated augment virus. Although Doctor Phlox had succeeded in synthesizing a cure for the plaguepartially by using Archer as a guinea pig to create antibodiesKrell still attempted to go ahead with the colonys destruction, personally leading a trio of Klingon battle cruisers against both Enterpriseand Columbia.

It was only after a canister containing the metagenic QuVat virus ended up aboard the admirals shipdispersing an aerosolized virus and infecting the Klingon leader and his crewthat Krell called off the attack on QuVat in favor of perfecting a cure to the illness.

The viewscreen before Archer melted to black for an instant before the shadowed face of the Klingon fleet admiral appeared to replace it. Archer recognized the mane of white and brown hair, and the white goatee with a center braid that defined Krells aggressive appearance. But something seemed subtly different about him. When Krell leaned forward, the difference immediately became clear.

“What do you want, Archer?Krell asked. He sounded as angry as he had during the confrontation at QuVat, and a pair of large hooked teeth still protruded from beneath his upper lip, but the dusky-hued ridged Klingon that Archer had seen before was gone. In his place was a more human-looking Klingon with less pronounced ridges. He looked more like a swarthy human pirate from Earths South Sea islands than he did a Klingon warrior.

“Why have your ships attacked Draylax, Admiral? Archer said, not allowing his expression to convey any shock at the change that time and retroviruses had wrought upon the warrior whose visage once could have made children cry.

“I have no idea what youre talking about,human, Krell said, emphasizing the final word as if it were a curse.

“Three of your vessels have attacked Draylax without provocation. Youhave command of the fleet, Admiral. Order them to withdraw.

Krell sneered and leaned back again into the shadows behind him. “You credit me with too much power, Captain. There aremany admirals and generals who wield authority in the Klingon Empire, and myinfluence has been reduced of late due tocertainchanges that have occurred.

“Changes within the Klingon military, or changes to you? Archer asked, pressing the point. “I cant imagine that youd let anybody take any authority away from you, Krell. It was always my impression that youwere one of the most powerful warriors who ever drew a blade on QonoS.

Krell wound his beard-braid around one finger, tilting his head to crack his neck languidly. “Your flattery is noted, Captain, but your understanding of a warriors place in our society is lacking. Especially when such a warrior has been infected with a pernicious disease.

“But you helped to bring an end to the disease, and stability to the Empire, Archer said, exaggerating the truth to almost elephantine proportions. “That should have brought you commendations and honors.

“Perhaps if I had not been changed by the virus, that would be true,Krell said, leaning forward again and growling into his monitor. “Your physician is responsible for my shame. His perfidy has bought him my undying enmity. I will one day paint the walls of my cabin with his blood.

Archer stood his ground. “What does yourshame have to do with Draylax? Are you so spiteful that you would be willing to strike the first blow of a war in a system that can barely defend itself? Is thatthe legacy you would leave to your children?

“First, even if the Empire were to engage in the attack you speak of, it should be no cause of concern for you humans, or your so-called Coalition of Planets,Krell said, all but growling his words. “You are meddling in interstellar affairs that are beyond your grasp.

“Second, the Klingon Empire has ordered no hostilities against Draylax. If we had, I would know about them.

Krell moved in closer, until his angry face nearly filled the monitor completely. “I have not sworn a blood oath against you, Archer, but that can change. Whatever tenuous honor you have accrued inside the Empire in exchange for your help in curing the metagenic virus is balanced on the tip of adk tahg. Be careful that you do not slip down the edge to your doom.

The screen abruptly went black, and Archer realized a few seconds later that he was holding his breath. Even across light-years and through a viewscreen, an angry Klingon could be both formidable and intimidating. He hoped he wouldnt have to encounter Krell in the flesh any time soon.

More importantly, he hoped that the fleet admiral hadnt been lying to him. But if the Empire really had not authorized the hostilities now being directed at Draylax, then what was really behind the danger toward which Erika Hernandez and Columbias crew were hurtling at this very moment?

To say nothing of his own people, who were speeding toward the very same fate just as quickly as Henry Archers mighty warp-five engine could carry them.