Текст книги "Kobayashi Maru"

Автор книги: Andy Mangels

Соавторы: Michael Martin
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

She understood now that she had done a good deal more than merely damage her relationship with her captain and friend, Jonathan Archer, to say nothing of having allowed Malcolm Reed to do the very same thing; she had also grievously damaged whatever might have remained of the intimate bond shed forged with Charles Tuckerall because she had believed it necessary to save his life at all costs.

A bottomless abyss of pure, unalloyed shame opened within her. Perhaps I actuallydisrupted Trips mission. A mission that was the very reason he risked suffering a second, more permanent death inside the Romulan Empire in the first place.

To her horror, she realized that her illogical, emotional actions might have compromised the safety of both of their homeworlds.

Not to mention that of the entire Coalition of Planets.

THIRTY

Monday, July 21, 2155 Qam‑Chee, the First City, QonoS

P HLOX MADE A STUDIOUS ATTEMPTnot to count exactly how many armed Klingons had crowded into the medical treatment chamber. Though the warriors had to a man either ignored or failed to understand his polite requests that they stand outside the mobile sterile surgical field he had set up, he did his best not to appear intimidated. In fact, he was far more appalled than intimidated by the casual disregard these people seemed to have for even the most elementary surgical protocol.

Corporal Ryan, one of the two MACO troopers who had accompanied Captain Archer to the planets surface, had called him to one of the Klingon capitals minimalist medical facilities. Because Archers team had taken Enterprises last remaining shuttlepod, and because time was of the essence, Phlox had had no choice but to beam down to the facility, an experience he still found troubling even under the best of circumstances. And this was hardly the best of circumstances.

Regardless, he was grateful that Corporal Ryans summons hadnt come any later than it did. Archer had suffered significant blood loss during what Phlox had been told was a duel with a Klingon admiral named Krellwhom Phlox could see had gotten the worst of the injuriesand had needed an immediate transfusion. Whether or not the hulking Klingon physician KonJef, in whose infirmary Phlox was now working, could have fixed Archers wounds was immaterial; Phlox doubted that his Klingon counterpart could provide human‑compatible hemoglobin to Archer, much less the stored units of whole blood Phlox had brought with him from Enterprise.

Apparently finally taking notice of the crowded conditions in the surgical bay, the giant Klingon doctor barked a few terse orders, and the majority of the assembled warriors obligingly shuffled outside into the flagstone‑lined corridor. Phlox heaved a quiet sigh of relief that Archers transfusion tubes were no longer in danger of being yanked out by an accidental encounter with the tip of a batlethsome broad‑shouldered Klingon soldier was carrying across his back.

One of those who remained behind was a striking Klingon woman. Her teeth were sharp and her breasts were pushed up and half exposed in a revealing outfit made of fur and leather. She stood near the table upon which Krell lay, displaying as much grief as Phlox had ever seen on a Klingon face.

“Thank you for clearing the operating chamber, Phlox said, looking over to the Klingon doctor with what he hoped was a nonthreatening smile.

“It was not for yourbenefit, DenobuluSngan,KonJef said, fairly spitting the words from underneath a long, squared‑off gray beard.

Phlox nodded, tilting his head to one side. “Nevertheless, I appreciate the gesture.

He worked quickly on the shirtless and unconscious Archer, using a hand‑held antimicrobial cleansing unit and a protein fuser in an attempt to repair the captains disconcertingly deep thoracic wound.

Archers breath changed and he stirred. He tried to rise from the flat stone bier beneath him, then winced and ceased making the effort. “Am I gonna live, Doc? he said, his voice weak.

Phlox looked down at his captains face for an instant, nodding, then returned to his duties. “Yes, Captain, but you willbe rather sore for a while, once youre up and moving about. Luckily, the Klingon weapon missed your liver and several other major organs. Unfortunately, it chipped two of your ribs badly. You may experience some respiratory discomfort for the next several weeks, I would imagine.

“How about Krell?

Phlox spared a glance over to the other table, where the Klingon doctor and an assistant purposefully went about their work, their blue surgical gowns spattered in purplish gore. The woman still stood nearby, watching the proceedings intently.

“It would appear that your opponent will indeed live. From what I could see, he has a compound fracture in one leg, a dislocated shoulder, and a rather cleanly detached arm.

Archer winced again. “That would be because I sliced it off, he said quietly. “Hope there wont be a lot of hard feelings about that.

“Well, Shran is finally on speaking terms with you again, isnt he, Captain?

Archer chuckled, remembering how angry the former Andorian soldier had been during and after the knife duel they had been forced to fight late last year. “Compared to what happened to Krell, Shran only got a haircut, Phlox, he said. “And I doubt that Klingon limbs grow back on their own the way Andorian antennae do.

“True, Captain, Phlox said, nodding. “However, the physician attending to Krell believes that he mightbe able to reattach the severed arm. The admirals other injuries, while painful and messy, appear eminently repairable as well.

Phlox inspected his handiwork closely, pleased at the results so far. “Ive done what I can for the moment, Captain. You will still need to lie down for a while and finish your transfusion. Were this any ordinary circumstance, I would prescribe bed rest for at least a week. I understand, however, that our current circumstances may not allow you that luxury.

“No, they wont, Archer said, smiling weakly. “Im glad you noticed. Lets hope it means we wont be on opposite sides of one of those tired old captain‑youre‑in‑no‑shape‑to‑leave‑sickbay arguments that doctors like to start.

“That depends entirely on how careful you can be over the next few days about not undoing all the work Ive just done stitching you back together, Phlox said around what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Now, with your permission I would like to offer my assistance to Doctor KonJef.

“Thats fine by me, Phlox, Archer said. “Ill just try to go back to a less painful place in my head.

Phlox stripped off a pair of surgical gloves and put his hands under a sanitizing sprayer mounted on one of the dull metal walls. Grasping another pair of gloves, he approached the woman and the two male Klingons who were working on Admiral Krell.

Although he hadnt known the identity of Archers wounded opponent at first, Phlox realized that he was quite familiar with him once hed heard the mans name. Less than a year ago the fleet admiral had been intent on destroying everyone at the QuVat colonyincluding Phlox and Archerin order to halt the spread of the augment‑derived metagenic virus.

“Id like to put my skills at your disposal in your efforts to reattach the admirals arm, Phlox said. “I have done extensive work in neurological reconstruction, and I have made a close study of the tissue‑regeneration techniques of the Adigeons.

The woman spat at him, glaring. “I will not allow youto touch Krell. The virus youinflicted upon him has done enoughdamage to our House already.

The Klingon doctor growled something at the woman in their native tongue, but the words were too quick and low and guttural for Phloxs translator unit to pick up. The woman glared again, baring her fangs, then stepped up to Phlox.

He swiftly pulled his eyes up from where they werehis gaze had immediately focused on the point where her deep cleavage swelled most provocativelyand met her angry gaze.

“If you harm Krell any further, she snarled, “you will not see another sunrise, DenobuluSngan. She spat out the Klingon name for his race as though it were a curse.

As she moved away from him, Phlox stepped in to examine the work already being done by KonJef and the other Klingon medic. The work seemed to be competentat least so farbut Phlox feared it would leave Krell with only partial use of his hand.

“Please allow me to assure you and the admiralswife, that I will do everything in my power to help him.

KonJef glared at him with hard, steel‑gray eyes. “Shes his sister. Iam his husband. And I will make certainyou do nothing wrong.

Being a Denobulan with three wives, each of whom had three spouses of her own, Phlox had no reason to find Krells family arrangement in any way unusual. Nodding, he reached for a microscalpel that lay on a nearby tray. “Do you have a pair of fiber‑enhancers and some brighter surgical lights? he asked the other two medical personnel. “Id like to make certainthat Admiral Krell regains the full use of his arm.

Archer sat up painfully on the hard surgical slab as Chancellor MRek strode into the medical chamber, flanked by several warriors.

“Captain Archer, MRek began. “Your tenacity and stubbornness, not to mention your savagery in battle, mark you as a spirit who was probably meantto be a Klingon. The pink, fleshy form that spirit now resides in notwithstanding.

Archer tried to smile, and winced at the pain in his face, a lingering souvenir of Krells attempt to rip his cheek from his skull. “I consider that a great compliment, Chancellor. He put up a hand to discourage Phlox from approaching. Phlox backed away, lowering his gaze as well as the medical scanner in his hand.

“Despite your unwillingness to kill your opponentan outcome we truthfully thought to be impossible to begin withyou have fulfilled your part of our bargain, MRek said.

“So youre going to tell me the plain truth about the attacks on Draylax.

MRek shook his head. “No, Iwill not. Thatduty will fall to Admiral Krell. He turned to regard the Klingon whom Archer had been told was the High Councils chief physician. “Doctor KonJef, can you rouse Krell long enough for him to perform his duties?

Archer thought he saw a look of anger flicker over the doctors face, but the man merely nodded. Archer imagined that even a chief physician would think very carefully before daring to defy the wishes of the leader of the Klingon High Council.

“He has just endured a long and intricate surgical ordeal, Chancellor, KonJef said. “It will be painful for him, but I believe I can wake him without causing him any permanent harm.

“Do it, MRek said. Turning back to Archer, he said, “The evidence that he shows you will notbe allowed to leave QonoS.

“But how am I supposed to convince my superiors that

“That is yourproblem, Terangan,not mine, MRek said, interrupting him. “Your government expected us to take yourword as to its intentions. If your superiors expect us to trust you,then surely theywill not mind affording usthe same respect.

Archer nodded. Whatever Im about to learn must embarrass the hell out of the Klingons,he thought. Or else they wouldnt care so much about hard evidence leaking out.

He could only hope that, as MRek had said, his own word would be enough to assuage the suspicions and fears of the decision‑makers of the Coalition of Planets.

THIRTY‑ONE

Taugus III

T RIP FELT A PALPABLE SENSEof relief when his own eyes finally confirmed that the explosion that had laid waste to Sopeks hideout hadnt taken the Scoutship Drolaewith it. The blunt‑shaped, eight‑meter‑long vessel remained parked on the same nearly level stretch of rock‑strewn hillside where Trip and Terix had left it, some three klicks and change away from the still‑burning remains of the dissident compound.

“Are you sure youll be able to fly this thing solo? Malcolm said, eyeing the gray‑green hull of the alien vessel with unconcealed suspicion. Shuttlepod Two cast a long shadow behind him and TPol as the late‑afternoon sun continued to sink ever lower in the sky behind it. The bloated orbs orange‑refracted rays were painted brown and ocher by the durable but slowly diminishing column of smoke and fire that marked the ruins of Sopeks base.

“Theres only one way I can think of to find out, Trip said with a grin as he slapped the hull with an open palm. “Hell, Im not even sure I can get the hatch open without Terixs advance written permission. I just have to hope he left the computer a note.

“I take it he wasnt exactly the trusting sort, Reed said.

“Were talking about a Romulan centurion, Malcolm. Not an eagle scout. Trip placed his right hand on the recognition pad that was mounted to the immediate right of the forward hatch. The hand‑plate was recessed so that it was flush with the rest of the hull when its tough duranium cover was in place.

To Trips relieved surprise, the hatch hissed obediently open two or three heartbeats later.

“Lets hope your friend Terix didnt leave any booby traps active in there, Malcolm said, his expression grave as he nodded toward the open hatch, through which a few of the scoutships faintly glowing instrument panels were visible.

A swarm of butterflies fluttered in Trips gut; he could think of only one way to put thatnotion to the test as well.

TPol took a couple of steps closer to Trip and the open hatchway before she stopped between the two men and folded her arms before her. “Perhaps the centurion anticipated that he might have no alternative other than to trust you under certain extraordinary circumstances.

That sounded reasonable to Trip. It was also far more encouraging than Malcolms paranoia, however justified it might be. “I guess he could have told the computer to let me drive if he was too injured to take charge himself. Even if he didnt trust me completely, he might have figured Id expect my chances of staying in Valdores good graces to suffer if I were to use this ship to run awayor if I came back to Romulus without my escort.

“Unfortunately, thats exactly whats happened, Malcolm said. “How do you intend to explain Terixs absence to Valdore?

Trip stared thoughtfully into the middle distance, gazing with unfocused eyes at the pillar of combustion debris that still rose above the site of his most recent brush with death. Sopek, who had probably escaped the explosion along with some of his people, had also probably left Terix to die in the conflagration. But if Sopek had decided to take Terix along, then both men were surely already very far from here by now; Terix would be a prisoner of a group of dangerous Romulan political dissidents who had managed to spirit him off‑planet without leaving any detectable radiation trail to follow.

“I have no idea, Malcolm, he said at length. “Im afraid Im just going to have to keep making it all up as I go. And Im going to start by returning to Romulus to check in with Valdore. If I dont, hell think Terix was right in suspecting me of being a spy.

“Judging by what youve told me, I think Valdore will knowyoure a spy soon enough, Reed said. “That is, if Terix really did survive and somehow finds a way to get a report to him. And thats assuming that he and Valdore dont alreadyknow a lot more than you think they do.

TPol nodded. “I agree. Valdore nearly killed both you and Lieutenant Reed once before. It would be a serious mistake to underestimate him now.

Trip nodded as he considered TPols warning. But although hed never forget how close he and Malcolm had come to dying when they had struggled with Valdore over control of an experimental remote‑controlled Romulan drone ship last year, Valdore wasnt a man Trip could simply run away from.

“Besides, you dont have to keep doing this, Reed said, spreading his hands before him. “I know firsthand how this kind of clandestine work can take over your life if you let it. Maybe youve alreadyaccomplished enough here. Maybe its time you thought about coming in from the cold, so to speak.

Coming in from the cold,Trip thought, mesmerized for a moment by that tantalizing thought. Rising from the dead.The notion had occurred to him many times since his Romulan sojourn had begun. But circumstances had always conspired to make the goal of coming home seem as unreachable as the Andromeda Galaxy.

“I must concur with Lieutenant Reed, TPol said, her dark eyes taking on an almost pleading cast that Trip had seen only rarely; the last time was when Doctor Phlox had worked frantically, though without success, to save the life of their dying baby.

“Others could take over for you, she continued. “I ask you again to let ustake you home. TPol gestured toward the crest of a nearby hill, where the trio had carefully set down Shuttlepod Two among piles of gray boulders and short stands of blue‑green scrub vegetation.

Home,Trip thought, not entirely certain he fully recognized the concept anymore.

“Im certain Captain Archer could use your help more than ever now, Reed said. “What with all the trouble between the Klingons and the Draylaxians weve been hearing about.

“Yeah, I picked up some intel about the Klingon thing just before I left Romulus, Trip said, stroking his cheek as he mulled his friends words over. “I was hoping to find proof that the Romulans were really the ones behind thatlittle problem as well. No such luck.

He paused as he realized that he had just reinforced the very argument his friends were trying to make, though they were probably as dismayed as he was that the Coalition seemed to be facing imminent war on two fronts rather than on just one.

Tucker came to a firm decision then, arriving there with a certitude that surprised him. “I appreciate what youre trying to do, both of you. But my business here isnt anywhere near finished yet. I haveto stay. Hell, I havent even found out for sure what happened to Terix yet.

TPol raised an eyebrow, clearly incredulous. “Commander, Terix is an enemy who will doubtless try to kill you again the first time he gets the chance. He would surely compromise you, which in Romulan space would effectively be the same thing as executing you.

“Hes an enemy, thats true enough, Trip said, nodding. “But hes an enemy I was in the midst of serving with on a mission that was at least as important to the security of the Coalition as it was to the Romulan military. Which sort of makes Terix a comrade, as weird as I know that sounds.

“Ive never been in the habit of leaving anyone behind, TPol. And Im sure as hell not gonna start now.

“But even if you do manage to find Terix still alive, Reed said, raising his voice, “youll probably have to kill him straightaway, just to maintain your cover. You say you cant leave a comrade behind, which I assume comes out of your sense of duty. But can you killhim when your duty demands it?

Trip didnt want to think about that at the moment. “Theres still the threat of the Romulan stardrive to consider, Malcolm.

“But the Klingons Malcolm said.

Trip interrupted him, determined to protect his resolve against any further assault. “The captain can handle the Klingons, if you guys are both behind him.

TPol and Reed exchanged silent and uncomfortable looks.

“You guys areboth behind him, right? Trip asked. “He must have sent you here before he knew about the Klingon‑Draylax thing.

Reed paused to cough into his fist. “Not exactly. We sort ofcame on our own. Without telling the captain.

Jesus!Trip thought. Why am I not surprised?

Shaking his head, he said, “Well, youve just given me another good reason not to go back with you. I wouldnt want to be standing anywhere near ground zero when you report to him.

TPol raised an eyebrow. “Ground zero?

“Wherever the captain happens to be when he sees us again, Malcolm said.

“I have to stay behind for a much better reason: Im still the only one close enough to the Romulan stardrive problem to prevent it from becoming an even bigger threat. Whether its the dissidents or the Romulan military who eventually get control of the stolen data and get the damned thing into production, when it happens itll make the Klingon Empire look about as dangerous as a basket of day‑old kittens in comparison.

TPols mouth formed a grim slash, but she said nothing further. She evidently knew when it was illogical to keep trying to change Trips mind, even if she didnt find his mind to be a particularly logical one.

Trip wished he could gather her up in his arms right now, reassure her that everything was going to work out just fine in the end. But there was no time for that, and he wasnt sure he believed it himself. Besides, she just might break his arm if he got physically demonstrative with her now, right in front of Malcolm.

“So youre just going to hop into this thing and fly it right back to Romulus, Malcolm said, gesturing toward the open hatchway of the Scoutship Drolae.

Trip nodded as he set one of his boots on the little vessels open threshold. “Yup. If I want to maintain my cover here, its really the only thing I cando.

“Even though its probably even money that Admiral Valdore will decide that youre actually a spy who gave his centurion watchdog the heave‑ho sometime during the last mission. And then hell kill you.

“Ill just have to hope he accepts my word that Im a loyal Romulan. The fact that Im going to Romulus as opposed to running will have to mean somethingto him. Anyway, its our best hope of neutralizing that warp‑seven drive. Or better yet, getting the equivalent of it to Captain Stillwells people.

TPol held up her right hand, which she bifurcated into a familiar “V gesture. Her stoic features looked as hard as the boulders that surrounded the shuttlepod behind her, though her eyes glistened with what appeared to be excess moisture.

“Live long and prosper, she said.

Standing on the threshold of the Drolaes hatchway, he faced her and returned the gesture. He tried to make himself repeat the traditional words of both greeting and farewell, but found he couldnt get them through a throat that had suddenly gone as dry as Vulcans Forge.

“Ah, hell,he said, lowering his hand.

He dropped back to the rocky ground, closing the meter or so that separated him from TPol in less than a second. Gathering the extremely surprised Vulcan woman in his arms, he kissed her, full on the lips. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a huge grin spreading across Malcolms face as the kiss lingered ever so slightly longer than even the laxest interpretation of Vulcan propriety might have excused.

His eyes widened in surprise when she squeezed him tight and returned the kiss with a passion that he doubted most Vulcansand probably quite a few humanscould tolerate. The moment stretched as their very essences seemed to blend together, and he only became truly conscious again of the passage of time when he realized that she was squeezing him nearly tightly enough to crush his rib cage.

It took most of his strength to break off the kiss, and the rest to hold her at arms length with his hands on her shoulders. He suspected that another three to five seconds might remain before she either kissed him again, or got really angry with him for stirring up such intense emotions within her.

“Im going to, um, take a walk, Malcolm said. “Check on the shuttlepod. For, say, twenty minutes?

“Thirty, TPol said.

Trip watched in mild puzzlement as Malcolm abruptly turned on his heel and walked away, quickly disappearing over a nearby rise. TPol joined Trip in the scoutships open hatchway a heartbeat later, shoving him unceremoniously across the threshold and following him inside.

“Thirty minutes, Trip said as she approached him closely and the hatch hissed shut behind her. “What do you suppose we can do

Her eyes aflame, she grabbed his shirt and tore it open. “Do not waste the time talking.

Reed dutifully waited thirty full minutes before walking slowly back to the scoutship.

The Romulan vessel was still right where hed left it, though neither Trip nor TPol were anywhere within view. The main hatch was closed.

At least the ship isnt rocking,he thought, thankful for small mercies. But please, dont let me have to knock on the door.

As though in response to his thoughts, the scoutships main hatch hissed open. TPol emerged, looking like a portrait of staid dignity, with every hair in place.

Trip followed her out of the craft a moment later. He was flushed, sweating, disheveled, and grinning like an idiot.

Reed returned the grin. This was the image of Trip he wanted to keep in his memory forever.

In case,he thought, he never manages to come in from the cold.

“Till next time, okay? Trip said, gathering TPol into another embrace near the scoutships open hatch. Trip felt as torn about parting from her now as he had before this whole damned spy business had begun.

TPol nodded, apparently at an uncharacteristic loss for words.

He released her and turned back toward the hatch. Malcolm was standing in the way, and caught him in a quick bear hug.

“Keep safe, Commander, the tactical officer said as he released Trip. “Or Illmurder you. Fair enough?

“Fair enough, Malcolm. Trip grinned as he hopped back up into the open hatchway, alone this time. “And lets all hope that fortune really does favor the foolish.

Which covers all three of us,he thought as the hatch hissed closed, separating him from his friends.

Perhaps for the very last time.

THIRTY‑TWO

Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Qam‑Chee, the First City, QonoS

T O A RCHERit felt as though only hours had passed since he had last entered the Klingon High Councils main assembly chamber, though he knew he had little grasp of time as it was reckoned on alien planets. QonoS, like countless other worlds, had its own calendar based upon the unique motions of the planet and its satellites, none of which corresponded neatly to United Earth Standard. Combined with his time in the arena and in the medical facility afterward, Archer wasnt at all certain exactly what time it was when Krell began presenting the evidence that MRek had promised would exculpate the Klingon Empire over the attack on Draylax.

With his doctor husband looking annoyed nearby, Admiral Krell moved slowly but restlessly about the front of the otherwise nearly empty chamber, using a crutch tucked under his good arm to support his considerable weight. Although Krell once again had two armsa hard cast held the reattached limb immobile against the admirals sideit was clear that his every movement was causing him excruciating pain. Though he had emerged from the duel in slightly better shape than Krell had, Archer felt grateful for the hard bench on which his weary weight rested at the moment; with the wound in his side still smarting even as it was healing under Phloxs ministrations, he certainly wouldnt want to have to stand for any length of time, despite his own restive desire to get back to work protecting Earth and the Coalition. This guy obviously doesnt deal with enforced idleness any better than I do,Archer thought, feeling a surge of sympathy for a kindred spirit as he watched Krells unconscious fidgeting.

Mounted on the wall beside Krell was a giant flat screen, not unlike the central viewer that adorned the forward wall of Enterprises bridge. Standing sentry at the door were several armed Klingon warriors, all of them evidently carrying enough rank and privilege to be allowed to witness the admirals presentation; because of the sensitive nature of Krells briefing, Chancellor MRek had insisted that Archers MACO escorts wait outside the chamber, and Archer had nearly had to fight another duel to convince the chancellor to overrule Krells initial refusal to allow Phlox to stay.

Using his one functional hand, Krell gestured toward the screen, which had shifted to an oblique overhead starboard view of the busy bridge of a Klingon battle cruiser. “As you can see, the captain and crew of the I.K.S. KajDeelwere taken completely unawares by the total loss of instrumentation control on their bridge, the admiral said.

“Why is the system still generating an audiovisual record if all the other bridge systems have failed? Archer asked. Beside him, Phlox moved his medical scanner over the captains shoulder area, and Archer turned his head just enough to see the doctor frowning at the results. Though Phloxs reaction certainly piqued his curiosity, he had no time to pursue the matter at the moment.

“A secondary crew happened to be aboard the KajDeelat the time, recording these images for instructional and training purposes, Krell said. “Their equipment was not tied in to the ships systems.

On the screen, Klingon personnel rushed around, shouting at one another in evident anger and frustration. Several even pounded their fists ineffectually at the consoles in front of them.

Then, in a scene inset within another, the Klingon battle cruisers bridge viewer changed images; instead of displaying a neutral star field, it now showed a dark emerald Romulan bird‑of‑prey. The orientation of the warship didnt permit Archer to see its ventral underbelly, which the captain knew from experience usually carried a garish, predatory bird design; nevertheless, there could be no mistaking the horseshoe‑crab configuration of this vessel as anything but Romulan.

The image on the screen‑within‑the‑screen changed again, backing off to a longer view, even as the agitation of the KajDeels crew ratcheted even higher. The audio quality of the recording played havoc with the language matrix of Archers translation device, enabling him to parse only every fourth or fifth word at best. But he was absolutely certain he understood whythe Klingons on the screen were so excited.

The KajDeels viewer showed a second Klingon vessel, this one apparently a fuel tanker, of the same class that the Klingons had used to carry deuterium fuel when Enterprisehad aided the pirate‑besieged deuterium miners of the settlement on Yeq three years ago.

“What are they saying? Archer asked.

“They were shouting that most of the ships systems had gone offline, Krell said. “Life support and communications were among the first to fall. The weapons systems were apparently still functioning at this point, though the weapons control interfaces were not. Therefore the KajDeelcould neither call out for help nor warn the freighter PeD NIHwIthat their weapons systems had targeted the vessel, all on their own.