Last Full Measure by Michael A. Martin

Author:Michael A. Martin [Martin, Michael A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: High Tech, Star Trek Fiction, General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Archer, Adventure, Archer; Jonathan (Fictitious Character), Jonathan (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9781416503583
Publisher: Star Trek
Published: 2006-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Courier Ship Helkez Torvo

ARCHER STARED OUT THE transparent aluminum windows of La’an Trahve’s cockpit, focusing on a pinpoint of light ahead that their captured pilot had assured them was the manufacturing facility where the Xindi were assembling the large-scale particle-beam weapon they intended to deploy against Earth.

“Take us in, but slowly,” Archer said, looking down at Trahve from the prisoner’s side. “I don’t want to announce our presence here.” Grudgingly, the smuggler adjusted some of the controls on the console in front of him.

Malcolm Reed sat in the copilot’s chair, his brows furrowing in concentration as he studied the controls. “I’ll run a battery of passive scans as best I can, Captain, but I can’t vouch for the results. We’re not on Enterprise, and I’m still trying to get a handle on this ship’s systems.”

Patting his munitions officer on the shoulder, Archer offered him a gentle smile. “I’m sure your best will be more than good enough, Malcolm.”

Archer was still feeling embarrassed about his recent confrontation with Reed, and wanted to avoid getting into another for as long as possible—mostly because he knew that, fundamentally, Malcolm was right. The use of torture to gain information or a tactical advantage was anathema to every principle he held dear…except for one. And that one—the preservation of all life on Earth—was what was driving him now. It was the principal force that had driven him mercilessly for months now, ever since Admiral Forrest and General Casey had informed him that Enterprise was to be the spear’s point in Earth’s struggle against the Xindi.

“My initial scans are showing what appears to be a large-scale construction project of some sort, Captain,” Reed said. “It’s about the same mass as Enterprise, though I’m reading it as nowhere near as dense.”

Hayes stepped in close behind Archer. “How many crew are on board? How many ships are protecting it?”

“There’s no way to answer either question definitively using only passive scans,” Reed said. “If I start bouncing sensor signals off of that facility, then whoever might be inside will know we’re coming. And I’m sure we’d also attract some unwanted attention from whatever Xindi ships are nearby.” He fiddled with a few more switches and buttons, frowning as he concentrated on the alien graphics that appeared on his monitors.

“I am detecting several residual Xindi isotope trails apparently on outbound headings judging from their vacuum dilution gradients. But they seem unusually degraded, as though they were left by vessels that departed weeks ago.”

Hayes turned to Archer, his voice low. “I don’t like this, Captain. It’s all been too easy. Finding this reprobate—” He paused as he gestured at Trahve, who winced slightly at the MACO leader’s suddenly close proximity. “—getting passage here, and then finding their station apparently undefended. It all smells like a trap to me.”

Archer nodded. “I know. But we have to get close enough to find out whether or not this really is the target we need to destroy.”

“With all due respect, sir, what then?” Hayes asked, his eyes focusing on Archer’s.

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