. . . afraid.
This struck Kebron as unusual, to say the least. He wasn't quite sure what to expect from Si Cwan, but fear hadn't quite been it. Kebron immediately started to become annoyed with himself as he realized he was feeling something for Si Cwan that he didn't want to feeclass="underline" sympathy. He pushed such annoying thoughts as far away as he could as he reported briskly, "No response."
"How far away are they?"
"Approximately two hours at warp two."
"Captain, we have to go get her," Si Cwan said urgently. "She can't be that close and we don't do anything."
"We're already working on one rescue effort, Ambassador," replied Calhoun. "We finish one before we move on to the next. We can't go running helter-skelter throughout the sector."
"Captain, please," began Si Cwan.
But Calhoun cut him off emphatically. "We have four dozen frightened and shaken-up people on this vessel. I'm not about to start dragging them on side trips."
"A side trip? Captain, there are livesinvolved."
"My decision is final, Ambassador. I'm sorry." He hesitated. "Unless . . ."
"Unless?" demanded Si Cwan with obvious urgency.
Calhoun turned to Lefler and said, "Refresh my memory, Lefler. We have a runabout down in the hangar bay?"
"Aye, sir. The Marquand.""
Can it make warp two?"
"That and a bit more in a pinch."
He nodded and looked back to Si Cwan. "Ambassador . . . we're remaining on station until such time that repairs are completed and we can send our passengers on their way. But if you want to grab a runabout and rendezvous with the Kayven Ryin,I'll authorize it."
"That is more than generous, Captain," Si Cwan said. "I'll prepare to leave immediately. . . ."
"Captain!" exclaimed an alarmed Zak Kebron.
"Problem, Mr. Kebron?"
"Sir, as head of security, I must register a formal protest."
"Formal. And me without my dress uniform."
"Sending a non-Starfleet individual out in a runabout . . ." Kebron couldn't find the words.
"On second thought, Mr. Kebron, you're absolutely right."
Zak let out a sigh of relief. "I'm pleased that you—"
"You'll be accompanying him."
"Captain! No, you can't—"
And Calhoun stepped in close to Kebron, and when he spoke his voice was low and angry, and his scar seemed to be standing out against his skin. "I can, and I am. I ask nothing of my crew members but the best they have to offer, and if the best you can offer is insubordination, then I'm going to get a new crew member and you can damn well walk home. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," said Kebron tightly.
"Good." Calhoun stepped back and then his gaze transfixed Si Cwan. "Do you have any problems with Mr. Kebron accompanying you?"
Si Cwan seemed ready to make one response, and clearly thought better of it, and said instead, "None whatsoever."
"Just what I wanted to hear: nothing. Lefler, have the shuttlebay prepare the Marquandfor departure. Gentlemen . . . have a pleasant flight. And stay in touch. You know how I worry."
XII.
SHELBY STARED INCREDULOUSLYat Calhoun. "You must be out of your mind."
Calhoun looked up from his desk. "I assume you're referring to the errand on which I sent Mr. Kebron and Ambassador Cwan."
"Of course I am! Kebron's made no secret of the fact that he doesn't like Si Cwan. How could you stick the two of them in a runabout together and send them out on a jaunt? We could have broken off from our repairs on the Cambon.If we'd left it sitting in space for a few hours while we checked out this other distress signal . . ."
"Nothing would have happened, y&s, I know. That wasn't the point."
"Then what was?"
"You've checked out Mr. Kebron's psych profile, I take it?"
"I read over his career highlights, yes. A solid officer . . . no pun intended. Diligent. Thorough."
"Yes, but sometimes he has difficulty . . . oh, what's the old phrase . . . working and playing well with others. Particularly when it comes to races with whom he has little to no familiarity."
"The fact that he's extremely suspicious makes him well suited to being head of Security. You don't want someone who trusts everyone."
"Granted. But you don't want someone who is so distrustful that it impedes his ability to function . . . particularly when it comes to interaction with other crewmen."
"Point taken," said Shelby reluctantly. "Do you have any reason to believe such would be the case with Kebron?"
"There was an incident—a series of incidents, really—during his first year at Starfleet Academy. He apparently wasn't at the Academy for more than five minutes before he got into a brawl with another cadet, who happened to be the first Klingon at the Academy . . ."
"Worf?" asked Shelby in surprise.
"You know him?"
"I've worked with him. He's a . . . unique individual."
"Most individuals are," he observed. "In any event, it appears that Mr. Kebron's tendency to be judgmental and suspicious proved a hindrance, and friction continued between him and Worf. In order to alleviate the problem, the Academy heads forced Mr. Kebron and Mr. Worf to be roommates. The close proximity prompted an airing out of difficulties and, eventually, a smoothly operating relationship."
"I see. And you decided that pushing Kebron and Si Cwan together for a period of time might smooth out the hostilities in this instance."
"That is my plan, yes. What do you think?"
"Risky and unnecessary. Simply order Kebron to cooperate with Si Cwan and let it go at that."
"I've found that human nature . . . or, for that matter, Brikar or Thallonian nature . . . doesn't generally respond well to . . ."
And then his voice trailed off, and he frowned.
Shelby watched in confusion. "Mac?" she said after a long moment. "What—?"
"We're in trouble," he said.
"What do you mean? What kind of—"
"Captain!"It was Lefler's voice, and there wasn't panic in it, but there was extreme concern. "We've got company!"
Instantly Calhoun was out on the bridge, his attention on the screen. Soleta had moved to the tactical station to cover for the absent Kebron, and she said, "It just dropped out of warp."
The vessel on the screen was approaching them rapidly. It was large and black with silver markings. As a result it almost seemed to be one with the starry background behind it.
"Go to yellow alert. Beam the repair crew off the Cambonthis instant and then raise shields. Scan it for weaponry," said Calhoun.
"Scanning," she confirmed as the yellow-alert klaxon sounded.
In a low voice, Shelby asked Calhoun, "How the hell did you know?"
"I usually know. It's a knack."
Before she could inquire further, Soleta said, "Scan complete. They possess front- and rearmounted phase/plasma cannons. Primitive but effective. If we get into a pitched battle, we could be hurt."
"Captain," said Shelby, "They've made no hostile move. With all respect, you can't go into any situation assuming that every vessel you're going to encounter may open fire . . ."
And Lefler suddenly called out, "Captain, they've opened fire!"