"RUSCH, DEAN WESLEY SMITH KRISTINE KATHRYN - TREATYS LAW 4TH IN THE DAY OF HONOR SERIES STARTREK B" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

responsible. He had intended to check the lockers himself, but he had

been detained, talking to a yeoman in the bar. She was worth being
detained for. She was not worth losing a bet over.

It galled him to lose, but he had no one to blame but himself. Even so,
the bet had been a nice diversion from the last month, which had been
filled with routine. The sector of space they were in had provided
nothing new, not even an interesting debris field or an unusual moon.

He smiled at Bogle, but his smile had an edge. Bogle had won this bet,
but he wouldn't win the next.

"I could use a drink right now," Kirk said. "Care to join me?" With a
wide sweeping gesture he indicated the door.

Bogle laughed. "I'd be glad to."

Both nodded to the relieved-looking station commander, then turned and
headed for the door side by side.

Kirk liked Bogle, and even with the ribbing for not catching the thief
first, drinking with his friend would be enjoyable. Just what Dr. McCoy
had ordered for him and the rest of the crew.

But before the captains had taken two steps, their communicators went
off simultaneously.

Kirk had his up and open first, instantly wondering what emergency would
cause both starships to call their captains at the same time. "Kirk
here," he said.

Beside him Bogle turned his back on Kirk and said, "Bogle," in such a
stern tone that Kirk glanced over at him.

"Captain," Spock's voice came loud and clear Over the communicator. "We
are receiving a distress call from the agricultural planet Signi Beta.
They are under attack and asking for assistance from anyone nearby."

Signi Beta was the Federation name for the Klingon farming planet QI'
tu'. Just the name Signi Beta annoyed Kirk. The Federation farmers had
lost the planet to the Klingons in a fair and honest contest.

But losing to the Klingons galled Kirk more than losing to Bogle did.

The planet was not in dispute, though. Why would anyone attack it?

Behind him, he heard Bogle get the same news. "Mr. Spock," Kirk said,
"notify the crew that shore leave has been canceled. Order them back to
the ship immediately. Then set a course for Signi Beta. On my mark,