ENT - 012 - Kobayashi Maru

FORTY-FOUR

Tuesday, July 22, 2155 EnterpriseNX-01, Gamma Hydra sector

A FTER A RCHER SIGNEDoff with Gardner and returned to the bridge, the Starfleet Academy cadets code for imponderable mysteries kept swirling through his mind.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Mentally translating those time-honored military placeholders into less polite nonmilitary parlance, he thought, What. The. Fuck.

“The Kobayashi Maru? Reed asked from his position at the bridges tactical station. “I find it hard to believe that Starfleet considers that rattletrap a priority.

Seated in the big chair in the bridges center, Archer spread his hands. “Thats our mission, Malcolm. We are to guarantee that vessels safety, at all costs.

According to Gardner, Starfleet regarded the beleaguered fuel carriers mission as critically important to both of its covert sponsors, Starfleet and the Vulcan High Commandeven if Earth now harbored doubts about its partnership with Vulcan. Recognizing how vital a secret listening post in the Gamma Hydra sector could be to Coalition security vis-à-vis both the Klingons and the Romulansafter all, both empires still occasionally fought each other for control of the regionArcher could find no reason to question the admirals orders, however unorthodox they might seem on the surface.

He only wished he could help Columbia. Her captain and crew now had to face peril alone.

What Enterpriseneeded was more speed, but Archer already knew there was no way to open the throttle any widernot without transforming the starship into a light-year-long plume of ionized debris. The vibrations in the deck beneath his boots confirmed that Mike Burch down in engineering had already pushed Enterprises mighty warp-five propulsion system as far as he could.

Archer glanced toward the portside communications station, where Ensign Sato continued her tireless efforts to raise the stricken freighter. “Kobayashi Maru,repeat your message, please. This is Enterprise. Repeat, we are on our way to your present position. Please confirm your status.

Archer leaned forward anxiously. “Travis, how soon will we reach the coordinates Admiral Gardner sent us?

Travis gave his chair a half turn away from his helm console and toward the captain. “Were leaving Gamma Hydra, section fifteen, Captain. Entering section fourteen at coordinates twenty-two by eighty-seven by four. That still puts us nearly twenty minutes away from the Kobayashi Maru,sir.

Archer nodded to Travis, then glanced at Hoshi, who continued frantically working her console.

“Anything yet, Hoshi?

“Im relying on the computer to enhance the carrier signal, sir. The youthful com officers usually smooth-as-porcelain forehead wrinkled slightly as she concentrated. She adjusted her earpiece and tried again to distinguish the cry of a single voice from the background roar of a cosmic ocean.

She shook her head sadly a moment later. “I thought I had them for a moment, but the signal keeps degrading. Their com system might have sustained some damage, and Im picking up a lot of interference on the other end

A burst of fragmented voice commingled with a shrill squall of static interrupted her, the rush of noise pouring from the bridge speakers in a torrent. “imperative! This is theKobayashi Maru, nineteen periods out of Altair VI. We have struck a gravitic mine and have lost all power! Our hull is penetrated and we have sustained many casualties

Despite the layers of distortion imposed by both distance and disaster, Archer immediately recognized the English-accented voice on the other end of the channel as that of Kojiro Vance, the flamboyant master of the S.S. Kobayashi Maru.

“Kobayashi Maru,this is Enterprise,Hoshi said, her fingers entering commands at a brisk pace as she tried to isolate and enhance the tenuous subspace lifeline she had just reestablished. “Please confirm your position.

“Enterprise, our position is Gamma Hydra, section ten. Hull penetrated. Life-support systems failing. Can you assist us,Enterprise? Can you assist us?

“Hoshi, tell Captain Vance he wont have to hang on for more than another twenty minutes, tops, Archer said. “ Enterpriseisnt going to let the Kobayashi Marusink.

Hoshi nodded. As she busied herself relaying his reassurances, Archer hoped he hadnt just promised Vance the impossible.