Текст книги "Kobayashi Maru"

Автор книги: Andy Mangels

Соавторы: Michael Martin
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Trip knew that even if he lived to be a hundred, he would never rid himself of a few truly ghastly memories. One such indelible recollection was the swath of indiscriminate devastation that an experimental Xindi particle weapon had wrought upon his Florida hometown, where his little sister Lizzie had died a little over two years ago.

Another equally ineradicable mark on his psyche was the image of Sopek, or Chuihv, murdering Trips original bureau partner, Tinh Hoc Phuong, in cold blood. With a single disruptor blast, Sopek had reduced a brave but helpless human being into a smoldering pile of ash and gristle.

“What the hell makes you think you and I have anythingin common? Trip said, glowering.

Either unaware of or unconcerned by Trips hostility, the other man said, “I know that you are conducting espionage on behalf of the Coalition of Planets. I am conducting similar operations under the auspices of the principal intelligence agency of one of the founding members of that body: Vulcan.

Trip frowned, incredulous. “ Youwork for the Vulcan Security Directorate?

“I have been a VShar agent for many years, the older man said, nodding. “Among my numerous ongoing directives is the task of continuously monitoring the evolution of the Romulan Star Empires military posture in order to accurately assess its threat potential to Vulcan. To perform these duties successfully, I must keep certain key individuals within the Empire convinced that I am, in fact, a loyal Romulan. Simultaneously, others must believe that I am leading an insurgency of sorts against the Romulan military.

Trip involuntarily displayed his teeth. “So which of those audiences were you playing to when you murdered Tinh Phuong?

The man on the other side of the desk released a sigh, an almost haunted expression momentarily displacing his usually dour demeanor.

“Suppose I were to tell you that the VShar had obtained proof that Mister Phuong had become a grave threat to Vulcan security? he said at length. “His death may well have saved a hundred other lives, both on Vulcan and elsewhere in the Coalition.

“Thats a damned convenient charge for you to make, Trip said, “especially now that Phuongs not around anymore to defend himself. I suppose I should expect you to pass that same sort of judgment on menow that I know way more about you than you ever wanted me to. Unless Valdore catches up to this ship in the meantime and serves up a little fire and brimstone to the both of us, that is.

“I assure you, Commander, that I have taken great care to remain several steps ahead of Admiral Valdore, Sopek/Chuihv said. “Particularly after the unpleasantnessyou and I experienced on Rator II.

Anger and astonishment wrestled one another to a standstill within Trips chest; whatever “unpleasantness the dissident leader had endured while fleeing from Valdores assault force, what Phuong had suffered was infinitely worse.

Easy, Charles,he told himself. Calm down. Try to make it look like you wereborn with these ears, even if this guy really knows better.

“How do I know youre not secretly working for Valdore? he said aloud. Making a broad gesture that encompassed the entire small office chamber, he added, “After all, it cant be easy to pinch a bird‑of‑prey right out from under the admirals nose.

“No, it isnt, Sopek/Chuihv said. “It was extraordinarily difficult, in fact. But we had an advantage of which Valdore is unaware.

“And that is?

Sopek/Chuihv leaned forward, the fingers of both hands interlaced atop his desk. “Some of my Ejhoi Ormiincompatriots recently learned about a secret Romulan military weapon capable of usurping the command and control computers of Vulcan vessels. This weapon may also be able to usurp the technology of other Coalition worlds as well, which is why I have decided to share this knowledge with you.

Huh,Trip thought. So hesnot gonna kill me. I think.

The other man continued: “My people applied what knowledge we could gain of the principles behind this new weapon to the task of liberating thisvesselhe paused to gesture broadly at the walls that surrounded them“from a repair dock located in the Taugus sector.

This ship would have come in really handy when he needed to make his quick vanishing act from Taugus III,Trip thought. And it also probably explains those sensor ghosts TPol and I saw when we were on the shuttlepod.

It occurred to Trip then that one very prominent loose end remained from that incident. “What did you do with Terix? he asked.

“The centurion who accompanied you to Taugus III, the other man said, his expression emotionless even by Trips notions of Vulcan standards.

Trip did what he could to restrain his impatience. “Yeah. Him.

“Unfortunately, Centurion Terixsuccumbed during debriefing.

Debriefing,Trip thought, parsing the gentle euphemism for its real, less benign meaning. Interrogation.Terix might have been an adversary, but he didnt deserve to die screaming on the rack.

“So when are you going to bring the thumbscrews out for me?Trip said.

Sopek/Chuihv favored him with a blank, bewildered stare. “Excuse me, Commander?

“Whether youre working for Valdore or the Ejhoi Ormiinor the Vulcan Spook Bureauor all three at onceI cant see you just letting me go without first trying to pick mybrain the way you picked Terixs.

A look of dawning understanding crossed the enigmatic mans face. “Ah. You were expecting a thorough and coercive interrogation. Under normal circumstances, I would not hesitate to do just that to anyone who has been such a close associate of the late Doctor Ehrehin. However, I have agreed to forgo thatand to do what I can to keep you from falling into Valdores hands.

Trip ran a hand over his frown‑crumpled brow, and nearly recoiled from the highly corrugated texture of his artificial forehead ridge. Jeez. My great‑granddaddy could have scrubbed his overalls on this thing.

“Why? he said aloud.

“It is a personal favor to an associate of mine on Vulcan.

That didnt tell Trip nearly enough. “Who are you talking about?

“Someone with whom youshare a close mutual friend, Commander, Sopek/Chuihv said.

Someone in the spy trade on Vulcan is saving my bacon?Trip thought, astonished. Although he had no idea for whom the other man was doing favors, he felt certain he knew the identity of the “close mutual friend he had in common with this unnamed individual.

TPol.

That womans determined to go right on trying to rescue me, one way or another,Trip thought, his feelings of helplessness and frustration threatening to boil over. Whether Ive asked for her help or not.

“You are an extremely fortunate individual, Commander Tucker, said the Vulcan double agent. “You have cheated death more times than any other man I have ever encountered.

Trip shrugged, feeling worse rather than better despite the compliment. After all, it wasnt as if hed had a lot of control over his destiny over the past few weeks; he was getting damned tired of being able to do little more than merely react to events as they happened.

“If everything youve just told me is true, then my luck wasnt good for much more than pure survival, he said. “After all, it didnt let me get wind of Valdoresremote hijacking system until after youdid. And if this thing actually works, it could be at least as dangerous as anything else Ive uncovered in Romulan space so far.

Sopek/Chuihv nodded. “Indeed.

“On the plus side, Trip said, “I suppose I can assume that youve already told the VShar all about this remote‑hijacking thing.

“Of course. And it is more properly referred to as the arrenhehwiuatelecapture system.

Thats easy foryou to say,Trip thought as he tried to imagine wrapping his Alabama‑Florida accent around that particular verbal mouthful.

Aloud, he said, “I really should get in touch with my superiors about this, too. Just to make absolutely sure that the restof the Coalition sees this threat coming.

The other man shook his head. “Im afraid we need to maintain communications silence at present. At least until after I am reasonably certain that Valdores forces can neither listen in on us nor pursue.

Thats pretty damned convenient, too,Trip thought. He studied the other mans face, but found it as inscrutable as that of any Vulcan hed ever met. Well, Ill know which side hes really on after the first big Romulan military engagement with this new weapon goes down. If Coalition ships really do see this thing coming in advance, then I might be able to afford to trust this guy. But if the good guys end up getting caught with their britches down again, the way it happened at Coridan

He suppressed a shudder.

Of course, it wasnt as though he had a lot of alternatives at the moment to taking his captors words at face value. After all, challenging this man too much could get him just as dead as Phuong, any number of favors to friends of mutual friends notwithstanding.

“I suppose youll have to put a lot of light‑years between this ship and Romulus pretty quickly if you want to stay ahead of Valdore, he said, eager to change the subject to something a little less volatile. “Whats your heading?

The other spy gazed contemplatively at a bulkhead as he considered how much to reveal on the subject. Evidently deciding that Trip was harmless to him nowor perhaps having concocted another convenient liehe said, “We are presently making best speed for the Tezel‑Oroko star system.

Trip had no trouble maintaining a blank expression; though he thought he might have heard that systems name before, he assumed it was distant enough to lie beyond the “Here There Be Dragons point on his mental star charts.

“Whats at Tezel‑Oroko? he asked.

“The intelligence services of both Vulcan and Earth are jointly constructing a covert listening post near the systems edge, the other man said. “Its purpose is to monitor military activity inside the boundaries of both Romulan and Klingon space.

“All right, Trip said. “So why is thisship going there? There I go, challenging this trigger‑happy thug again. Ive really got to watch that.

Sopek/Chuihv did not appear offended in the least at the question. “A freighter that had been expected to bring some of the last technical components and other matйriel needed to bring the listening post online is overdue. We are going to do whatever we can to assist the listening posts crew in dealing with any related supply‑line deficits or security problems.

Trip nodded in silence, a strange calm suddenly descending over him, displacing most of his earlier frustration and despair. He found the feeling remarkable, especially given that there was still a very good chance that he was soon to die among enemiesdigested in the proverbial belly of the beast, no lessno matter what he tried to do to alter his circumstances.

But damned if it doesnt feel good to be charging off todo something,he thought. Actually performing a rescue instead of just waiting around for the cavalry to arrive.

Unless, of course, Sopek had just handed him the Vulcan equivalent of what Trip could imagine his father calling a line of pure horse puckey.

FORTY‑ONE

Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Gamma Hydra sector

J ACQUELINE S EARLES DIDNT KNOW PRECISELYwhat she expected the end of the world to sound like; but the continuous shuddering groan the Kobayashi Marus warp core sent through the fuel carriers entire structure sounded enough like a doomsday knell to convince her that the end had grown uncomfortably near.

“Vance! The rising din of the overstrained engines forced Searles to shout to be heard across the narrow expanse of the fuel carriers bridge. “The dilithium chambers getting too hot! I have to shut the whole propulsion system down!

“We have a scheduleto keep, Jackie, said Kojiro Vance, who seemed far too calm and collected to have a firm grasp of the current situation.

Executive Officer Arturo Stiles, who stood beside the Kobayashi Marus eccentric master and commander, displayed a far better understanding of realityas well as a good deal less equanimity. “Whats the point of keeping to the schedule if we dont get where were going in one piece? he said.

The captain merely sat contemplatively in his worn leather‑upholstered chair, stroking his chin as he weighed the dire warnings of his two most senior officers. For all Searles could tell, Vance might have been gazing into his closet and ruminating over which one of those damned pirate shirts he was going to wear next. She hated to think she might have no choice but to take command just to keep everyone aboard the Marualive; there would be repercussions afterward, and the last thing she needed right now was to lose this job.

Correction,she thought. The last thing I need is to get vaporized because my boss is obsessed with delivering the mail on time.

Fortunately, Vance himself took that fateful decision out of her hands a moment later. “All right, the captain said, his shoulders sagging despite the broadening effect of the epaulet‑like decorations that adorned his blousy tunic. He fixed her with an almost pleading gaze. “Take us out of warp, Jackie. At least until you can sort out whats going wrong back there.

Vances order had scarcely left his lips before the exec hopped over the railing that separated him from one of the boxy forward duty stations, where he assisted a junior male crewman in entering the appropriate commands into the console. The young crewman, an engineers mate named Simonson, looked as relieved as Searles felt; she wondered if hed been about to stage a mutiny of his own.

This wasnt the first time Searles had justifiably feared that the alien contraptions she had reluctantly allowed into her engine room might do them all in. Secret Vulcan gadgetry doesnt seem to come with a straightforward users manual,she thought, wishing Vance had never approached her with the stuff.

“Well let her cool down for an hour or so before we try to bring the warp‑power mains back online, Vance said, addressing nobody in particular as he made the first verbal footprints in the bridges new‑fallen blanket of silence.

Searles noticed then that Stiles was staring at her, an urgent question burning in his dark eyes. The only answer she could offer him was a helpless shrug.

“Id like a chance to pick up the pieces back in the engine room first, Searles said, casting her gaze back upon Vance. “ Thenwe ought to decide how much downtime the main propulsion system is going to need.

Vance looked intensely uncomfortable with that, though he uttered nothing other than a muttered, half‑intelligible curse. Why do ship captains seem to think we engineers can get them special waivers for the laws of physics?she thought.

“Captain, I think you and I need to have a word in private, said Stiles, his eyes hurling thunderbolts in Vances direction.

“Youd better set the table for three, Captain, Searles said. Looks like the jig is finally up,she thought, feeling a sense of relief at the prospect of no longer having to protect an awkward secret on Vances behalf. Vance should have let his first mate in on this thing at the beginning.

Vance sighed and chewed his lip as he stared off into the middle distance. Then he looked up, first at Stiles, then at Searles.

“All right. I owe the both of you at least that much. He rose from his chair and made a grand “after you gesture toward one of the two doors located in the bridges aft section. “In my cabin, if you please.

Arturo Stiles couldnt quite bring himself to accept the chair Vance had offered; until hed had a chance to process the startling admission the captain had just made, he preferred to stand.

“So weve really come all this way to help the Vulcans set up a military listening post? Stiles asked, gesticulating as though his hands were semaphore flags as he stood between the two places where the captain and the chief engineer were sitting. “Just when were you two planning on letting mein on this? Im only the goddamn first mate,after all.

Vance met Stiless roar with remarkable composure. “To be absolutely candid with you, Arturo, I wasntplanning on letting you in on this. I would have been content to quietly drop off a few of the personnel weve been carrying as passengers, along with a number of sealed crates, once we finished the voyage to the outskirts of Tezel‑Oroko. Then we would have quietly returned to our original itinerary, with nobody the wiser.

Stiles still couldnt quite get his head around any of this. “But why keep it from me?

Vance flashed that damned insouciant smile of his, the one that said, Honey‑this‑isnt‑what‑it‑looks‑like‑even‑though‑youve‑caught‑me‑red‑handed‑canoodling‑with‑an‑Orion‑animal‑woman.“For your own protection, of course, the captain said.

“I dont get it, Vance. Youre acting like a common smuggler. Have you gotten us involved in something illegal? Stiles knew it wouldnt be the first time his skipper had played fast and loose either with interstellar law or the UESPA regs.

“ Illegaland clandestinearent necessarily synonymous things, Arturo, Vance said.

“You just told me that the Maruis secretly transporting both people and matйriel on behalf of the Vulcans, Stiles said as he finally allowed his weight to land on the proffered chair. “Why would a race that cant even tell lies need to use an old Klingon rattletrap like the Maruas a secret courier?

“Dont be so nave, Arturo, said the chief engineer, crossing her legs on the low, lumpy couch near the desk behind which Vance reclined. “Vulcans lie like rugs, and you know it. They do it all the time; they just never got quite as good at it as we did.

Vance grinned. “And that fact may explain why humans and Vulcans seem to be so much stronger together than apart. Its a perfect partnership of brains and guile.

Stiles could barely suppress a volcanic surge of anger as he hiked a thumb toward Searles. “You didnt seem to have a problem letting our chief engineer in on the truth before now. And how did this Vulcan problem land in the Marus lap anyway?

Vance spread his hands helplessly. “The Vulcans probably didnt think their own military or merchant vessels could maintain as low a profile as an Earth Cargo Service vessel could, what with the Klingons and the Romulans both so touchy lately about Coalition naval movements. So after the Horizonfailed to make its cargo‑pickup rendezvous with the Maru, it fell upon usto deliver what the Horizonwould have carried to its final destination.

“And that meant we needed to make up for a considerable amount of lost time very quickly, Searles said.

“Right, Vance said. “Unfortunately, this vessels maximum warp capability was simply not equal to the task.

That explains our sudden change to a hell‑for‑leather course all the way out to Tezel‑Oroko,Stiles thought. He couldnt help but wonder whether any humans had ever before ventured out so far.

Or so fast.

“So the captain felt he had no one to turn to except me, Searles said. “If this, um, mission for the Vulcans was to stay on a completely need‑to‑know basis, that is.

Stiles thought he was beginning to understand the captains need for secrecy, though he still felt insulted and deceivedand perhaps even a bit betrayed.

The exec cast a hard glare at Searles. “So how did you get this much giddy‑up into an old bucket of stem bolts like the Maru,Jackie? Did the Vulcans help with that, too?

She nodded. “Vances contacts on Vulcan supplied the parts. I just turned the wrenches, with a little help from a couple of the experts bound for Tezel‑Oroko.

The captain paused to clear his throat before he continued with the explanation‑cum‑briefing. “I had to resort to using certainengine components that the Vulcan government had entrusted to me against an eventuality such as this one.

“What kindof components? Stiles asked, his curiosity thoroughly piqued. He knew that the Maruwould be able to make it the rest of the way to Tezel‑Oroko in just a matter of a few hours, once her warp drive was back up and running; hed never seen a human‑piloted ship make that kind of time before, including Starfleets fancy NX‑class jobs.

Apparently responding to the blank look on the captains face, Searles glanced up at the ceiling as she began reciting her mental list of the ad hoc modifications her warp drive had undergone. “A new antimatter flow regulator. A dilithium matrix wave‑guide like nothing Ive ever seen before. Something called a flux capacitor. And a couple of other things I wouldnt have recognized without a little help from one of our expert passengers.

Vance nodded. “One of the experts with pointed ears, that is. At any rate, I needed Jackies cooperation to get all the new drive pieces properly installed, along with the systems designed to monitor them.

Those propulsion widgets must have still been in their packing crates when those Starfleet engineers were crawling through theMaru s guts,Stiles thought. He wondered how long Vance could have maintained his present cool demeanor had Captain Archer been the one challenging him with ticklish questions about secrecy, legality, and lies, Vulcan or otherwise.

Then it occurred to him that Starfleet would probably pay handsomely for access to those secret Vulcan engine parts. Arrogant, condescending bastards that they were, the Vulcans had always done their damnedest to curtail such wholesale transfers of technology from their world to Earth. Stiles wondered if their nearly century‑old de facto technical embargo against humanity was finally about to end.

“No wonder those rabbit‑eared elitists swore you to secrecy, Vance, Stiles said. “I never met a Vulcan who didnt at least drop a few broad hints that we Earth folk are still a little too wet behind the ears to venture out of our own solar system.

Vance made a noise of agreement. “If it had been up to the Vulcans, thered be nothing in the Alpha Centauri system right now but ancient ruins and tumbleweeds. And the idea of humans flying a fuel carrier like the Maruunder the flag of a settlement on Altair VI would be just another one of Doctor Cochranes pipe dreams.

Searles put a hand to her chin as her forehead crumpled into an elaborate frown. “Kind of makes you wonder why the Vulcans would lend us this stuff, even with their own experts aboard the Maruto babysit us.

“Something out here must worry the Vulcans a little bit more than the prospect of warp‑six‑capable humans does, Vance said. “It would certainly explain why theyd want to set up a secret listening post to keep close tabs on it.

Stiless thoughts drifted toward his own half‑formed nightmare images of the mysterious Romulans, shadowy mental pictures derived from countless stories and rumors of fearsome warships whose bellies were painted to resemble the blood‑red plumage of predatory birds. The Romulans would be the nearest likely subject of any Coalition listening post placed in this sector. Regardless, the Vulcans decision to allow a human freighter crew to play with their supercharged high‑warp goodies continued to puzzle him.

His spine shuddered with the cold of the grave as the simplest possible explanation of the Vulcans largesse occurred to him: Maybe they really dont expect us to survive any encounter with whatever might be lurking out here.

A moment later, the Kobayashi Marushook as though the Hephaestus of Earths ancient mythology had just slammed his hammer right into the ships vitals. Searles cried out as Vances office fell under a blanket of darkness. Stiles immediately experienced the stomach‑churning freefall sensation that signaled the abrupt failure of the gravity plating. And he could hear Vance speaking in the darkness, his voice as understated as she had ever heard it.

“Uh‑oh, the captain said.

FORTY‑TWO

Tuesday, July 22, 2155 Enterprise NX‑01, near the Gamma Hydra sector

S EATED AT THE DESKin his ready room, Jonathan Archer listened to the joint report from TPol and Reed in almost meditative silence. TPol wrapped up the brief presentation with a solemn dignity that Archer usually associated with eulogies.

“By now, she said, “Trip has already reached Romulus.

Where hes probably already had to face whatever rough justice Admiral Valdore had in store for him,Archer thought. Though he respected Trips abilities both as an engineer and as a highly survival‑adept Starfleet officer, he hadnt been an intel operative all that long, and Archer knew that Valdore was no fool either.

He despaired of seeing his friend ever again.

“Unfortunately, our encounter with Trip didnt change the Coalitions current tactical situation in any way that really matters, Reed said, looking nearly as mournful as Archer felt. “He still has to get his hands on workable warp‑seven engine plans, though this may be simply because the Romulans themselves have yet to come up with a completely workable design. And his Romulan intelligence sources had him convinced that the Klingonswere the ones behind the attacks against Draylax and our shipping lanes, rather than any Romulan culprits.

Archer nodded, becoming all but resigned to the bleak prospect of a hot war with the Klingons; it was beginning to look inevitable, despite the evidence Archer had found exculpating the Klingon Empire, which had no present hostile intentions toward any member of the Coalition of Worlds.

But we just might kick over the anthill anyway,he thought. And touch off a conflict that will cripple most of two quadrants for decades, and probably kill millions of innocents on both sides. The Klingonswill consider us shoot‑on‑sight enemies then, sure as gravity. And the Romulans will sit back and laugh through the entire bloodbath, waiting until both sides are too weak to stop them from swooping in to pick up the pieces.

The intercom on Archers desk whistled, presenting a welcome interruption to the captains gloomy ruminations. Toggling the channel open, he said, “Archer here. Go ahead.

“Were receiving a priority communication from Starfleet, Captain,said Hoshi, a note of urgency audible in her voice. “Its Admiral Gardner.

“Thanks, Hoshi. Pipe it straight to my ready room, please.

Archer wasted no time activating the blank monitor atop his desk, which quickly shifted to the weary but hyperalert visage of Sam Gardner. TPol and Reed immediately began moving toward the ready room door to give Archer some privacy, but stopped after he motioned them to stay and positioned his monitor so that its visual sensor pickups showed the admiral everyone present in the room. The motion forced him to suppress a wince of pain, a reminder of his ordeal on QonoS.

The silver‑haired admiral noted the presence of Archers subordinates with a nod, and then focused solely on the captain. “Archer, youstill look like hell,Gardner said with a sympathetic nod before abruptly switching into his “all‑business mode. “Captain, the Coalition Security Council has been busy evaluating the evidence you brought back from QonoS. From where Im sitting, it appears to have changed everything.

Archer forced himself to absorb this apparent good news with at least some degree of caution. “I hope thats a change for the better, Admiral, he said.

Gardner nodded again. “It is. Because the Klingons have made no aggressive moves against us since you delivered their ultimatum, the Coalition Security Council has tabled all plans to adopt an aggressive defensive posture against the Klingon Empire. Even the hotheads on Andoria have agreed to hold their horses a while longerunless they believe the Klingons to be acting in direct defiance of the ultimatum.A small, relieved smile somehow slipped out onto the admirals otherwise granite‑hard countenance, reminding Archer that few people are more reticent about wars than the hardened warriors charged with fighting them. “Well done, Captain.

“Thank you, sir, Archer said. “Lets hope we can keep the proverbial dogs on their leashes this time.

Gardners smile abruptly vanished. “We still may not have that luxury. Starfleet Command has just received word that Centauri III and the Calder II science outpost have come under attack.

“Do you believe the Klingons to be responsible for either of those attacks, Admiral? TPol asked.

Training his suddenly narrowed eyes squarely upon TPol, the admiral said, “Not as far aswe can determine, Commander.

Thank God, Archer thought, though he remained uneasy. So long as the Coalition Council remained balanced on the razors edge of a declaration of war against the Klingon Empire, whose ships had already been proven to be vulnerable to hijacking by a hostile third party, he was certain he was going to continue feeling that way. He could only hope that the evidence that he and Phlox had found on QonoS would prevent the Councils more hawkish members from going off halfcocked should the Klingons appear to have defied the Coalitions ultimatum.

“The Romulans must be responsible, sir, Malcolm said. “Its got to be the Romulans.

Breaking eye contact with TPol, Gardner shook his head. “Weve found no definitive evidence of that either, Lieutenant.

“Then who isresponsible? Archer wanted to know.

“Brief transmissions fromColumbia and from personnel at Calder II have tentatively identified the aggressors in both attacks asVulcan military vessels. The hostiles appear to have jammed outgoing communications in both locations before we could learn any additional details. Starfleet Command is trying to keep this information under wraps, of course, for obvious reasons.

“But Command had to inform the United Earth Council.

“And they jumped to the conclusion that this was true? Archer asked. “Theyve seen the Klingon recordings. How could they consider blaming Vulcan?

“ Captain, I dont need to remind you that many people have problems with the Vulcans. They have never understood why they held humanity back, insisting that humans were not ready to move into deep space.

Archer was having trouble accepting any of this. “The problems Ive had with the Vulcans over the years have never been a secret, Admiral. But I cant believe that Vulcan would ever

“No, neither do I. But I answer to Earths government, as do you, Captain. However, it has been suggested that Commander TPol be relieved and confined.