Archer had left Enterpriseunder the watchful eyes of Lieutenant Donna ONeill. She didnt ask why he was not taking Commander TPol or Lieutenant Reed along, he noticed. By now, the missing shuttlepod had been noted, though Archer had yet to log the incident officially. D.O. wasnt stupid, nor were any of the other bridge personnel; they probably figured that Malcolm and TPol were off on some secret missionwhich, in truth, they were. Its just not a mission that anybody authorized,Archer thought glumly.
He had also decided to leave Phlox behind, given the threats Krell had made. It was better to know that the Denobulan was safe aboard Enterprisethan potentially imperiled on the surface of the Klingon homeworld. Archer had left a grateful Hoshi Sato at her post as well; a small, communicator-sized translator unit clipped to his uniform jacket would ensure that he got his point across, and that he wouldnt misunderstand the Klingons when they made theirs. He hoped they wouldnt succumb to the temptation to communicate via their cutlery.
Which left Archer alone except for the two MACO troopers who had accompanied him, Corporals OMalley and Ryan, both of whom had been trained in multiple unarmed fighting techniques, including the Vulcan disciplines of Suus Mahnaand VShan. Even though all three humans had been disarmed immediately upon entering the outer foyer of the Klingon High Council citadel, Archer knew he could count on the two MACOs to give a good accounting of themselves if it came down to a fight.
They had not been able to offer much in the way of moral support during the interminable shuttlepod ride down from orbit, however. Archer knew he was on his own in the Great Hall, for better or worse. As the huge iron doors before him opened with a groan and a clang, Archer stepped into the expansive inner sanctum. This wasnt the same High Council Chamber he had visited on Enterprises first mission, during which he had returned an injured Klingon named Klaang to his homeworld. He was thankful as well that it was not the forbidding multilevel courtroom on Narendra III, where a Klingon magistrate had once sentenced him to a year mining dilithium in the frozen depths of the asteroid penal colony Rura Penthe.
Just because this place wasnt that hellish chamber of summary judgment, however, didnt make it any less intimidating, and Archer felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise like a phalanx of fighters adopting a defensive stance. Seated around the deeply shadowed, torch-lit room in a semicircular, two-level observers arena were some two dozen Klingonsall but one were malenone of whom looked particularly pleased to be present. At the apex of the semicircle sat the man whom Archer recognized as having thanked himthough Hoshi had implied it was more of a threatwhen he had returned Klaang to his people. The Klingon chancellors hair and beard had become even whiter than they had been four years ago, but the form underneath the august warrior-leaders bulky leather and armor seemed as formidable now as it had then.
Archer stepped forward, holding out a data module in one open hand. “Chancellor MRek, honorable High Council members and warriors of the great Klingon Houses, I bring you an urgent message from the Coalition of Planets.
MRek gestured to one of his guards, who strode forward and snatched the data module from Archers hand. The soldier handed it to the chancellor, who held it out, then closed his hand around it, crushing it.
“Starfleet sent youto deliver the message, human, MRek said, his voice a low snarl. “It is only because you have aided the Empire in the past that you were not executed on arrival. Deliver the message yourself,and we shall see if your stay of execution merits an extension.
Having half expected such a response, Archer had already rehearsed his answer. He stepped forward, keeping his hands at his sides in a simultaneous show of defiance and submission; he hoped his body language wouldnt distract the Klingons from the importance of his words.
“Three days ago, three Klingon battle cruisers attacked the planet Draylax, crippling its defenses and causing thousands of casualties on that worlds surface. The aggressor ships did not respond to warnings from the Starfleet ship Columbia,or from my vessel, the Enterprise. They opened fire on ourships when we drew close enough for a confrontation. Our ships defeated two of the attackers, but the third was destroyed by a secondtrio of Klingon ships that arrived during the battle. These vessels did not engage either our ships or the colony. Afterward, Admiral Krell told me that the original three attacking Klingon ships were manned by rogue captains and crews.
“And your Coalition leaders do not believe his words? They think we are trying to incite war with them? MRek said, his voice rising in both pitch and volume.
“Not all of them do, Chancellor. But the Coalition Council is a democratic parliamentary body. Archer wasnt used to apologizing for democracy, but as hed learned over the last four years, human cultures and mores were not predominant in the galaxy.
Another older Klingon stood and shouted. “Draylax is not a member of your so-called Coalition, is it?
“Not currently, no, Archer said, addressing him for a moment, before turning his gaze back to the chancellor. “However, Draylax is one of Earths allies, and is a signatory, along with Earth and Alpha Centauri, to a mutual defense pact. Draylax is therefore under Earths protection.
“Under Earths protection? another Klingon snarled. “Were you not barely able to begininterstellar travel only a few short years ago?
Archer ignored the mans hyperbolic comment, concentrating instead on addressing the High Councils leader. “Chancellor, the Coalition does notwish to jeopardize the relative peace this part of the galaxy has enjoyed for so long. But understand that some in the Coalition maychoose to authorize retaliationif the Klingon Empire initiates any further unprovoked attacks against
“You accusethe Empire? Do you think us a race of honorless taHqeq?MRek stood and stalked toward the captain. “If we were going to attack,you would know it from the screams of your dying, from the rivers of blood that would drown your cities, from the stench of charred and burning flesh.
He glowered, lowering his voice as he neared Archer. Archer could feel the tension in the MACOs flanking him, and was grateful that they were trained well enough to know to avoid making any overtly threatening gestures.
“What happened over Draylax was directed neither against that world nor yours, Captain, the chancellor said after his face came to a stop only a few centimeters away from Archers. “Apart from a few minor Klingon-human skirmishesincluding those in which you and your crew were involved, Captainthe Empire has spilled no Teranganor Draylaxian blood. At least, not in sufficient quantities to merit a declaration of war.
Archer nodded, hoping that the sweat beading on his forehead wouldnt be visible in the firelight of the chamberand wishing that MReks most recent meal had been less aromatic. “I believe that, Chancellor, and have tried to convince my superiors of that. However, the Coalition Council requires He stopped himself for a moment, then quickly regrouped. “The Coalition Council requestsassurances that the Klingon Empire understands its warning that any further hostilities will be treated as cause for war. We also ask you to furnish objective proof that your government neither planned nor ordered the assault on Draylax.