Star Trek: Rules of Engagement by Peter Morwood

Author:Peter Morwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671661298
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1990-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

floatplane Maia. Purpose extended-range

mail delivery. First nonstop transatlantic

mail flight. "Nineteen forty-four. Operator,

Deutsches Luftwaffe, Germany. Unmanned

Junkers Ju-Eighty-eight bomber carrying

Messerschmitt Bf-One-oh-nine or

Focke-Wulf Fw-One-ninety fighter. Name

Mistel Two combination. Purpose

crude guided missile, forward fuselage converted

to carry three-point-eight-tonne shaped-charge

demolition warhead."

"Stop," said Jim. He turned to Spock.

"How old is the K'Vinga class of battle

cruiser? Old enough to warrant using one like that?

To carry a warhead?"

"Doubtful, Captain. Latest intelligence

reports indicate that, like Starfleet, the Klingons

have a policy of constant upgrade and

refit-except of course when ships are sold to the

Romulan Empire, and stripping out appears more the

order of the day. It is not beyond speculation that there is

a Klingon engineer with talent equal to that of Mr.

Scott, since the effective result to many of their

vessels is similar to what has 124

been done to the old Constitution class

Enterprise-a new ship built on the structure

of the old. I find it unlikely that any situation

could arise where this ship would be used as a disposable

weapon. Almost certainly the same applies

to Klingon vessels."

"Point taken," said Jim.

"Nineteen-fifties," the library computer

continued. "Operator, USAF

Strategic Air Command, America. Convair

B-Thirty-six carrying Grumman FF-One

Goblin hook-recoverable parasite fighter within

aft bomb bay. Purpose point defense during

mission. Also Convair B-Thirty-six carrying

Republic FE-IGHTY-FOUR-F

trapeze-launched fighter semi-scabbed onto

bomb bay. Purpose extended-range recon

missions.

"Nineteen seventy-seven. Operator, National

Aeronautics and Space Administration. Boeing

Sevenforty-seven Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

carrying Orbiter Enterprise-One-oh-one.

Purpose ferry flights, airworthiness tests,

and manned free-flight tests during initial

phase of space shuttle program."

But the Klingons saw no need for orbiters or for

research programs and no need for any of the rules

and regulations that bound the Federation. "What about our

intruder? What category does he fall into?"

"That thing's military, Jim," said Bones.

"Otherwise it wouldn't be here. It wouldn't dare be

here!"

"The K'Vinga class has never been anything but

military, Doctor," Spock said.

"However, some of its later variants have converted their

troop-carrying capability into research space.

Although I can do nothing more than surmise from the information

presently available," he said, evidently picking

his words with care, "I suspect it is possible that the

Klingon fleet has been experimenting with fully

com125

puterized onboard systems and that we are on

course to meet one of their prototypes."

"You mean an M-Five clone?" Jim and

Bones said much the same thing at once, both men

simultaneously imagining the devastating consequences

should another central command computer-this one programmed

by Klingons-decide to run amok.

Spock looked at the schematics readout and

shook his head. "More probably a ZD-EIGHT

modification. The most reliable information available

at present indicates the Klingons' continuing

refusal to adopt centralized artificially

intelligent units."

"They don't trust smart machines,"

translated McCoy. "I always thought there was something

good about the Klingons, if you only looked hard

enough."

"I suspect that the smaller craft

contains the control systems," Spock continued, "and the

battle cruisees remote-command structure is

designed around them. Although the Klingons are

scarcely safety-conscious and are therefore

notoriously profligate with lives during the testing

of new equipment, it seems most likely that the

scout detaches itself before passing maneuvering

instructions to the cruiser."

Bones gestured toward the viewscreen. "if that

thing's new, Spock, then it's been kept

secret. You know the Klingons well enough they

might not have much concern for safety, but when it comes

to security they're red hot. So what in hell is

that ship doing here?" Jim was

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