ENT - 012 - Kobayashi Maru

FIFTY

Wednesday, July 23, 2155 San Francisco, Earth

P RIME M INISTER N ATHAN S AMUELS WOULDhave preferred to have a pleasantly dull and utterly uneventful morning, but he realized now that not only was it shaping up to be a most decidedly unpleasant day, it was likely only a sample of many weeks, or perhaps months, of similarly eventful days to come.

The Coalition Security Council had called yet another one of its now-ubiquitous emergency sessions, and the decisions he expected todays meeting to yield had an even heavier air of gravitas than any action the body had taken during the previous several weeks. It was one thing to threaten war, but quite another to follow through and actually declare it. Regardless, the latest images Starfleet had relayed to the ministries of the United Earth government clearly showed that the nascent alliance had an extremely limited number of options.

All of the Coalition delegatesincluding those representing the most recently inducted members, Draylax and Alpha Centauriwere seated at their customary spots at the semicircular array of conference tables. Mounted on the wall at one end of the room was a wide, flat video monitor, which played and replayed an endless, grainy loop of the previous days debacle in the Gamma Hydra sector. Starfleet Admirals Sam Gardner and Gregory Black, MACO commandant General George Casey, and several other members of Starfleets top brass were seated near the giant viewscreen, their expressions uniformly grave and somber.

“I still believe that the Klingons mustbe involved in this, Gora bim Gral of Tellar said in his customary testy manner. “Note that only theirships have allegedly succumbed to this so-called Romulan superweapon. Therefore I think they must be acting in collusion with the Romulans.

Samuels saw Vulcan Foreign Minister Soval glance toward Ambassadors LNel and Solkar, one eyebrow raised. But none of the three Vulcans made any audible response to Grals assertion, leaving the minister to wonder what they might be thinking.

“We concur, said Grethe Zhor, one of the two newest delegates to the Council. “Draylax has already been a target of one of these deadly attacks. Regardless of the so-called evidence Captain Archer has gathered for this council, the fact remains that it was Klingon vessels that fired the volleys that killed so many of our people, and destroyed the Tau Cetan freighter Kobayashi Maru.

Anlenthoris chVhendreni rose to his feet, the Andorian foreign ministers cerulean antennae bent almost parallel to the white-maned slope of his skull. “The images clearlyshow the presence of a Romulan ship, as well as the Klingon vessels that destroyed the Kobayashi Maru. Are any of you really nave enough to believe this to be a coincidence? That the Romulans just happenedto be at the site of an apparent Klingon attack? He glared around the assemblage, reinforcing his point with his icy gaze before sitting down again.

Gral snorted. “Has no one considered that if the Klingons areresponsible, that they may be using a Romulan ship in order to misdirect our retaliation? This is only the second piece of evidence we have seen that the Romulans might be involved in anti-Coalition aggression, however peripherally, and yet we have seen manyexamples of Klingon barbarism!

“Two other attacks occurred just last night, including one in mysystem, Centauri IIIs Ambassador Jie Cong Li said. “Why has Starfleet not yet made even a preliminary report about either of them?

Interior Minister Haroun al-Rashid cleared his throat, then spoke. “Two other attacks did indeed occur last night. One was directed at the science outpost on Calder II, and the second incident happened near Alpha Centauri. Starfleet dispatched Earths second NX-class vessel, Columbia,to assist in Alpha Centauris defense.

“And what happened after that? Gral asked, wrinkling his porcine nose.

Samuels knew that al-Rashid must have been squirming inside, although his exterior looked enviably cool and calm. Both men had been present at Admiral Gardners secret briefing, and therefore knew the potentially explosive secret that both Earth and Starfleet had deemed it prudent to conceal, at least temporarily, from their Coalition peers: the fact that both Columbiaand a source on Calder II had confirmed that Vulcan military ships had initiated last nights attacks.

Vulcan ships that Starfleet now firmly believed had acted under Romulan control, like the Klingon vessels that had attacked Draylax.

Samuels watched as al-Rashid glanced toward the Starfleet brass before spreading his hands and addressing the other Coalition delegations. “We dont yet know exactlywhat happened last night, he said, dissembling only as much as absolutely necessary. “And we havent heard much from Columbiasince just before her engagement with the hostiles near Alpha Centauri.

“And how long ago was that? Thoristhe name that Anlenthoris chVhendreni used most commonly among his diplomatic peerslooked surprised, his antennae cued almost bolt upright.

“Its been approximately ten hours, al-Rashid said. “ Columbias silence may be due simply to transmitter damage, but Starfleet wont be able to confirm her status until another vessel can reach her and get a report on whats happened out there.

“What about Centauri IIIs defenses? Have you no fleet to protect your own? Gral asked.

Before an annoyed-looking Ambassador Li could respond, Minister Soval stood, holding one hand out to preempt the discussion. “My government dispatched several Vulcan Defense Force vessels to Alpha Centauri III yesterday to reinforce the systems defenses. Like Starfleet, we have heard nothing conclusive from our vessels, as yet, regarding the outcome of the engagement. He sat back down, tucking his hands into his robe sleeves.

So much for Vulcans not being able to lie,Samuels thought, suppressing a sly smile. Even if Soval believes what hes saying, that only means that somebody higher up on Vulcan must have lied tohim.

Samuels saw Gardner and Black exchange inscrutable looks in response to Sovals words. He also noted that at least one of their subordinates had surreptitiously pulled out a datapad and was quickly entering something into it with his stylus. He sincerely hoped that the aide was merely researching the veracity of Sovals claim, rather than leaking something to the press; hed seen enough “Worlds at War?headlines during the past week to last several lifetimes.

“So we have missing or incommunicado Vulcan andStarfleet ships at Alpha Centauri, and we already know what happened with Enterprisenear Tezel-Oroko, Thoris said. “What has become of the Calder II outpost?

Minister al-Rashid shook his head again. “We have not heard all the details as yet, but the final, fragmentary transmissions Starfleet received hint that the entire outpost was probably destroyed.

“By whom? Gral demanded. “Or what?

“The scientists at the outposts apparently couldnt transmit any clear visuals of their attackers before the hostiles jammed their central transmitter, al-Rashid said.

Grethe Zhor rose to her feet, scowling in evident anger as she crossed her arms beneath her triple bust. “I realize that I am one of the two newest inductees to this council, but I find I must question whether all the effort Draylax has expended in order to join this group can be justified. During the past week, there have been nearly a dozen smaller attacks that can be attributed to this same unfolding pattern of aggression, whether on the part of the Klingons, the Romulans, or perhaps even some never-before-seen alliance of the two. Almost allCoalition worlds and their colonies have been affected in some manner by these assaults.

“Yesterday, threesuch attacks occurred in or near Coalition space, she said, continuing with rising passion. “Starfleet was unable to stop any of them Znoc,Captain Archer fled with Enterpriselike a frightened childand the Vulcan fleet may have just proven equally useless at Alpha Centauri. We need to decide beyond all doubt and debate whothe aggressor is, and then go after that aggressor. All of our endless equivocating and discussion will only result in more death. More destruction.

Samuels watched the Draylaxian in silence, a few of her words sticking in his craw as she paused to pound her hand on the conference table in an effort to emphasize her point. “In case some of you have not been paying close attention, we are alreadyat war. An enemy has attacked us, and continues to do so even as we argue. It is already long past time for us to begin fighting back.

Sensing that the tension in the room was about to erupt, Samuels pounded his gavel loudly against the central lectern, breaking through the rising mixed gabble of assenting and dissenting murmurs.

“Ambassador Grethe Zhor is right about many things, he said. “However, I must object strongly to her characterization of Captain Archers actions. If the Romulans were indeed attempting to capture one of our most advanced starships, then he had no choice other than to withdraw as he did. Of course, given the admittedly ambiguous circumstances near Alpha Centauri, it may already be too late to get that particular horse back into its stable. For all we know, our mutual enemy may already have gained control of Starfleet, Vulcan, andKlingon technologies.

Samuels watched Soval flinch ever so slightly in response to his conjecture; he wondered if the idea truly hadnt yet occurred to the stoic Vulcan foreign minister, or if the Vulcans were simply hiding their knowledge that the worst had already occurred. As usual.

Samuels clenched his jaw tightly for a moment, grinding his back teeth slightly before he resumed speaking. He hated having to say what he was about to say, and had felt the words coiled in the pit of his stomach, like poisonous snakes preparing to strike.

“Circumstances force me to suggest that this Security Council may not be the most effective venue for many of the decisions that will have to be made in the very near future. I move that eachof our worlds prepare to convene a council of war immediately, with full input from each of our militaries.

Even as he said the words, the Council members all began getting to their feet, gesturing and shoutingmostly in agreementand Samuels wondered if this moment, rather than the signing of the Coalition Compact, might turn out to be the one for which history remembered him best.

God help us all,he prayed silently, closing his eyes in the forlorn hope of shutting out the tumult that had erupted in the Coalition Council Chamber, if only for an instant.

It was one thing to threaten war, to give speeches and to debate the merits and pitfalls of interstellar conflict. But even given historys inescapable lessons about the all-too-frequent necessity of going to war against aggressors, Samuels knew that hedid not want to lead humanityso recently unified and at peace with itselfinto a brand-new age of conflict out there.

Just as he knew from those around himthose allies whose worlds and governments and societies and cultures and families were threatened with annihilationthat before the week was out, they wouldbe at war.

As always, none of the Vulcan diplomats spoke at all before they reached their heavily guarded consulate, and the interior chambers that they kept shielded from both listening devices and sensor scans.

Once inside, however, it was Solkar who spoke first. “How soon should we inform the Coalition Council about what became of our ships at Alpha Centauri? he asked.

Soval crossed to his desk, near the central wall of the pentagonal chamber. He decanted a vessel of TRukh spiced tea there, and poured some of the glowing orange liquid into a glass. “We are still investigating precisely what happened, and how it happened. The optimal time to inform the others, of course, would be sometime prior to theirdiscovery of the same truths.

LNel paced, agitation clearly showing on her smooth, unlined face. “Which depends on the status of Columbia,which our fleet reports as having been relatively undamaged at the time of their withdrawal from Alpha Centauri.

“Calm yourself, LNel, Soval said, calling upon his well-honed Syrrannite disciplines to filter all emotion from his being as he spoke. “The commanders of those vessels were under strict orders to destroy evidence of any Vulcan involvement in the Alpha Centauri attacks, and to attempt to deploy countermeasures designed to prevent the Romulans from gaining any further access to our technology. They were notcharged with safeguarding Starfleet vessels after the Romulan threat had been neutralized.

“And what will happen if Columbiahas fallen into Romulan hands in spite of the efforts of our fleet? LNel said, clearly still struggling to calm herself. “They have already shown themselves quite adept at seizing control of both Vulcan and Klingon technology, our countermeasures notwithstanding.

Soval stared into his glass, then took a sip of the spiced liquid, feeling it burn his tongue as he swallowed. Finally, he answered.

“I feel confident that Vulcan will take part in the offensive against the Romulans that is to come. And if Starfleets technology hasbecome compromised, we will introduce new countermeasures to make certain that Vulcan remains, as always, insulated and protected.

Despite their relative youth, LNels and Solkars facial expressions told Soval that they understood what he was saying. Vulcan had played a larger role than humanity would ever know in moderating the breakneck pace of Earths development into an interstellar species. As with the secret listening post near Tezel-Orokoa facility that still needed to be staffed, resupplied, and completedVulcan was good at keeping secrets.

Thursday, July 24, 2155

Keisha Naquase stared at the message that had come into her datapad seconds ago. She was tremendously protective of the deviceit was actually locked to her wrist with a tetherbut now, in the crush of other reporters outside Starfleet Headquarters, she gripped it even more tightly as she backed away from the other assembled members of the press corps.

They all knew somethingwas up. During the last thirty-six hours, a significant number of new military personnel had arrived, representing every member of the Coalition: Vulcan, Andor, Tellar, Draylax, Alpha Centauri, and even members of several species that she and the other human media had only recently been able to identify as potential Coalition allies.

But security and secrecy had been tight, and Starfleet was taking every step to make certain that no leaks occurred.

Except that she hadone. He hadnt been in contact for several days, but he wason the inside.

And she had just gotten a message from him.

“Come on, Nash, pick up, she said to herself, hearing the chimes in her earpiece. She stole a quick glance in the direction of Gannet Brooks, who stood with several of the others; Brooks always seemed to scoop just about everybody when it came to Starfleet-related news, but so far today she had been mum. And Keisha had been working her own contact for weeks now, setting him in place. It was amazing the kind of loyalty that good sex could inspireand the sob story shed given him about having a relative serving aboard the still-missing Columbiahadnt hurt either.

Finally, just as she was about to try another editor at the sub-net, Nash McEvoy picked up his comlink.

“What is it, Naquase?he asked breathlessly, as though hed just entered his office at a flat-out run.

She toggled the headpiece vidcam she wore, activating it even as she turned her back to face the rest of the press gaggle. She didnt want them to see the “on light on the headset.

“I promisedyou Id scoop your girl, she said, subvocalizing into her throat mic. “And I recorded your promises. So dont even thinkabout trying to back away from our deal.

“This had better bebig, or else you just torched your bridge while you were still standing on it,McEvoy said, hiding none of his testiness.

“Oh, its big,all right, Keisha said, holding the datapad up to where the cameras eyeand Nashcould see it.

Thursday, July 24, 2155 Grangeburg, Alabama

Albert Tucker balanced the four plates of waffles in both hands as he exited the kitchen. He had picked the strawberries in their patch of the communal garden at sunrise, then sliced them thinly in order to add them to the multigrain batter. He knew how much his dad loved strawberry waffles, and he and Mom visited so rarely these days that Bert wanted to make certain they both had a good time.

“All right, Dad, heres your favorite, he said, entering the dining room.

Seated at the table were his father, Charles, and his mother, Elaine, while Berts husband, Miguel, stood nearby. They all looked stunned and grief-stricken.

What now?Bert thought. They had already lost Berts sister in a Xindi attack on Earth, and his brother, Trip, had been killed on the Starship Enterpriseonly a few months back. Today everyone in the room bore the same signature of tragedy hed seen on both of those other terrible occasions.

“What is it, Mike? he asked, holding the shifting stack of plates like an inexpert juggler.

Miguel pointed to the nearby wall-mounted flatscreen, which he often left turned on as a soundless visual wallpaper. Though the sound was muted as usual, he could see the silent news anchor mouthing words, the screen split between him and a stern-looking uniformed Starfleet official.

Bert watched as his father took his mothers hand. “Say goodnight, Gracie, said Dad, incorporating his nickname for Mom into what was doubtless some sort of obscure, centuries-old pop-culture reference calculated to cheer her up.

It didnt seem to be working, however; Moms misting eyes remained riveted to the image on the screen, which Bert finally began looking at closely.

Crawling across the screens bottom, in large white capital letters superimposed onto a red stripe, was a single ill-omened phrase.

The stack of plates left Berts nerveless fingers in time-dilated slow motion, smashing on the floor with the same silence as the screens three endlessly marching words:

COALITION DECLARES WAR!