ENT - 012 - Kobayashi Maru

THIRTEEN

Friday, July 18, 2155 ColumbiaNX-02, near Draylax

“P LEASE ASSIST US ! Our defenses cannot hold much longer against the hostiles weaponry!Even without the bridges linguistic translation matrices rendering the incoming message into intelligible English, the static-laced voice that carried it would have conveyed a crystal-clear message of desperation and fear all on its own.

Captain Erika Hernandez leaned forward in her command chair as she listened to the plaintive distress call and stared straight ahead into the star-flecked infinitude displayed on the large forward viewer.

“Origin point of the transmission? she said, turning her chair slightly toward the portside com station.

“Looks like its coming from the Draylax system, Captain, said the redheaded Ensign Sidra Valerian, her Scottish burr thickening into a heavy brogue as it often did during times of heightened tension. The youthful senior communications officer had gotten busy tracing the Mayday signal immediately after its arrival a few moments ago.

“Maybe its lucky for the sender that he isnt farther away, Captain, said Lieutenant Reiko Akagi, from the helm console. “Draylax is very close to our current position. At maximum warp, I can get us there in just a few hours.

“Lucky for them,maybe, said Commander Veronica Fletcher, Columbias executive officer and Hernandezs second in command. “For us, not so much.

“Especially if were expected to stop a threat that the entire Draylaxian defense fleet cant cope with, said Lieutenant Kiona Thayer, the senior tactical officer. She stood in the bridges starboard section, studying the readouts on her station as Lieutenant Commander Kalil el-Rashad, Columbias second officer and sciences expert, analyzed the same data on his own console.

“Not necessarily, Hernandez said. “From what Ive seen, Draylaxs defenses are nothing to write home about. In fact, their defensive capabilities have always been weak enough to make me wonder why theyve been so uninterested in joining the Coalition.

“I wonder if they might be a bit more friendly to a Coalition sales pitch after this, Fletcher said, her New Zealand accent sharpening her words.

If theyre still around afterward,Hernandez thought, recalling the horrible devastation that had been visited upon Coridan Prime not so very long ago. Aloud, she said, “Ill leave that sort of thing to the diplomats. Our main concern is putting an end to this assault, if we can. Reiko, make best speed to Draylax. Sidra, get me Starfleet Command. Advise Admiral Gardner of our diversion to Draylax.

Brushing a lock of her blond hair away from her eyes, Fletcher stepped close to the command chair and leaned toward Hernandez. “Gardners not gonna be happy about this, she said in an almost conspiratorial tone. “After all, were supposed to be protecting the Coalition shipping lanes from pirates and litterbugs, arent we?

Hernandez favored her exec with a wry smile. “Werent you just complaining about how much patrol duty bores you?

“Lets just say that boredom is infinitely preferable to reenacting the Charge of the Light Brigade, Fletcher said quietly.

“Dont worry, Veronica, Hernandez said with a grim chuckle. “Well scout out the situation first and assess the odds. Then whether we stay or fall back will be up to the captains discretion.

Fletchers reply was preceded by a bantering smirk. “Thats very reassuring, Captain. You have always been the very soul of discretion.

An excited exclamation from Ensign Valerian interrupted Hernandezs rejoinder. “Admiral Gardners on the line, the com officer said, looking surprised.

“Very efficient, Sidra, Fletcher said.

The com officers brogue thickened even further. “Commander, I didnt raise him. Hescalling us.

“He must have a spy aboard, Fletcher said quietly, her voice obviously pitched for the captains ears alone. Hernandez couldnt always quite tell when she was kidding. “Or maybe hes bugged our helm console.

Hernandez ignored the comment. Nodding to the com officer as she rose from her command chair, she said, “Ill take it in my ready room.

“Admiral Gardner, Hernandez said as she seated herself at her small and perpetually cluttered desk. Fortunately, she had taken the liberty of pushing the stacks of paper, books, and two coffee cups safely out of the admirals line of sight. “Please go ahead, sir.

The subspace-transmitted image of the stern-faced man displayed on her ready-room terminal began speaking without any preamble. “Captain, an emergency situation has arisen.

“Draylax, she said.

Gardner nodded soberly as he ran a hand across his duranium-colored crew cut. “Its a potentially explosive situation.

“Were already on our way there at maximum warp, sir. My com officer was about to advise you of our course change. Well reach Draylax in less than four hours.

Assuming we dont get sent back out on pirate patrol in the meantime,she added silently.

“Outstanding, Captain,Gardner said with the faintest hint of a smile. “The Draylaxians are in considerable danger, given their relatively limited defensive and tactical capabilities. Even a singleNX- class starship could make all the difference.

“Well do everything we reasonably can to assist the Draylaxians, Hernandez said, nodding. “And to limit the loss of life.

“Of that I have no doubt, Captain. Nevertheless, I need to emphasize just how critically important Draylax is to the Coalition.

Unbidden, a frown creased Hernandezs brow. “I thought the Draylaxians had refused Coalition membership. Like the government of the nearby Porriman civilization in the Gamma Virginis system, with whom Hernandez had recently concluded a series of negotiations that had proved both lengthy and fruitless, the Draylaxians remained stubbornly determined to protect their sovereignty by avoiding large-scale diplomatic entanglements.

“They have,Gardner said with a grave shake of his head. “Which is a damned shame for us.

“Im not sure I understand, Admiral, Hernandez said, blinking involuntarily.

He leaned forward slightly. “Ive just conferred with Minister Samuels. He and I are in agreement that if Earth could get another nonhuman civilization or two to apply for Coalition membership right now, Captain, it would go a long way toward smoothing the ruffled feathers of the Vulcans, the Andorians, and the Tellarites over Earths position favoring full membership status for Alpha Centauri. Our intervention in the current crisis might persuade the Draylaxians that joining the Coalition is in their best interests after all.

“My only interest is in saving lives, Admiral, Hernandez said, shaking her head. “The galactic political horse-trading behind all of this really doesnt concern me all that much.

“Im afraid ithas to concern younow, Captain,Gardner said, his voice evoking the cold solidity of hull metal. “Were involved in this matter regardless. Even though Draylax isnt a Coalition member, it has recently entered a mutual defense pact with one of its closest neighbors: Alpha Centauri.

“And were already committed to the defense of Alpha Centauri, Hernandez said. A slow, sinking feeling began tugging her guts inexorably downward.

The admiral nodded. “Alpha Centauri is one of the United Earth governments Coalition partners, which has its own separate mutual defense compact with Earth. Therefore Starfleet is legally required to treat an attack on Alpha Centauri as if it were an attack on Earth. We are obliged to protect Alpha Centauris treaty partners as well.

“So we have to treat an attack on Draylax as though it were an attack against Alpha Centauri, Hernandez said. Her stomach was now in free fall.

“Or against Earth itself,Gardner said, nodding.

Hernandez recalled a history course shed taken at the Academy, in which she had studied the complex diplomatic cats cradle of mutually interlocking defense agreements that had bound the European nations of the early twentieth century. With so many countries prepared to deploy their armies in defense of so many allies, all it had taken was the assassination of one man in an obscure Balkan country to plunge most of the planet into the bloodiest war humanity had ever experienced up to that time.

“So Im afraid you may have to do a bit more than whatever you reasonably can, Captain,the admiral continued, his gaze hard yet also sympathetic. “Youhave to defend Draylax. To the death, if thats what it comes to.Columbia is therefore to be considered expendable so long as Draylax remains in jeopardy.

And while the Coalitions nonhuman members remain in a snit over the Alpha Centauri business, or Draylax continues to stay out of the alliance,Hernandez thought sourly. She could only hope that something other than the blood of her crew would become the coin that purchased peace within the Coalition, if such a thing was even possible.

“Aye, aye, sir. Do we know who the attackers are, Admiral?

“Klingons,Gardner said after a pregnant pause. “Three battle cruisers, according to the reports weve just received.

Hernandez nodded, though she wasnt encouraged. “I hope we arrive in time to do some good. Once we get there, well hold them off as long as we can, Admiral. Im sure Major Foyle and his MACOs will give the Klingons one hell of a fight.

She could only hope that Doctor Metzgers sickbay would be spared the baptism of fire that the MACOs were about to face.

The admiral nodded again, his eyes glistening with unshed moisture. “I know youall will do your best, Captain Hernandez. Godspeed to you and your crew. Gardner out.And with that, his image vanished.

Oh, well,she thought. “Captains discretion has always been overrated anyway.

She reached across her desk and punched a button on the compad built into the desk beside her computer terminal.

“Hernandez to engineering, she said.

The Austrian chief engineer replied in his customary blunt Teutonic tones. “Lieutenant Graylock here, Captain.

“We need to get to Draylax as quickly as possible, Karl. I need you to push it a little bit past the redline. Again.

“I suppose my engine core can manage warp five point two for an hour or so without vaporizing us completely,he said, an undercurrent of dour humor buoying his grim words. “Anything else, sir?

“Just try to keep us in one piece, Karl.

“That complicates things a bit, Captain, butja, I think my people can handle it. Ill make Biggs and Pierce get out and push if I have to. And Ill set Rivers and Strong to running in the hamster wheel.

Smiling, she said, “Thanks, Karl. Hernandez out. She pressed another button. “Hernandez to com.

Ensign Valerians crisp reply came half a heartbeat later. “Bridge, Captain.

“Sidra, isnt Enterprises patrol route supposed to take her into this sector about now?

“Aye, Captain, I believe it is.

That struck Hernandez as suspiciously like a good omen, though she was far too experienced an officer to put much stock in such things. “Try to raise them. I need to speak with Captain Archer as soon as possible.

“Aye, Im on it, sir,the com officer said. “Ill transfer the connection to your ready room once its established.

“Thank you, Sidra. Hernandez out.

She hadnt decided yet whether she was calling because she wanted to ask for Jonathans help, or because she merely needed the emotional closure of a last farewell.