Free Chain of Attack by Gene DeWeese

said, it will go no farther than these walls unless you want it to."
    "As I understand it," she said hesitantly, "you're an expert on the gravitational anomalies the Enterprise was investigating—the anomalies that—that got us where we are now."
    "I know a little about them, yes. I was in charge of the laboratory that developed the detectors the Enterprise was using." He didn't add that his function had been purely administrative and that, until the announcement that the Enterprise would use the detectors on this special mission, he had barely known of the existence of either the anomalies or the detectors.
    "I—I understand that you don't agree with the captain's assessment of our situation," she said, "and, well, I would just like to know what you think our chances are. Based on your knowledge of the anomalies, do you think we can ever get back to the Federation?"
    "I rather doubt it," he said cautiously, letting his eyes flicker upward in the general direction of the bridge as he added, "at least not under the present command structure."
    And then, when she didn't bridle at his implied criticism of Kirk, he went on, his voice firmer. "As you said, I have my disagreements with Captain Kirk. In the first place, I strongly suspect that we are wasting precious time chasing after this mythical gate civilization that he hopes still exists. What's even more disturbing to me, however, is the fact that, if I'm to believe what the captain announced over the intercom a few hours ago, he's begun playing some kind of cat-and-mouse game with the alien ship that attacked us. To tell the truth—and here I'm trusting you not to let my words go any farther—I think the captain's course of action is not only putting us in unnecessary danger of another, more serious attack but is virtually destroying what little chance we do have of getting home."
    As he spoke, he watched her eyes, ready to backtrack at the first sign that her Academy-instilled obedience to rank was staging a comeback, but none came.
    "Unfortunately," he went on, "I am in no position to do anything about it. As the captain has pointed out, I am on board strictly as an observer, despite my being, in effect, a representative of the Federation itself."
    "But there must be something you can do," she said, some of the restrained emotion escaping once again into her words. "Captain Kirk would certainly listen to anything you have to say. With your knowledge of the anomalies…"
    Her voice trailed off as she saw him shake his head grimly. "In the first place," he said, "I fear he does not share your estimate of my knowledge. In the second, starship captains are not known for their receptiveness to unsolicited advice from unwelcome civilians. And in his eyes—and in the eyes of his officers, I'm sure—that is precisely what I am." He gave a minuscule shrug. "Not that I can fault them for that, of course. Or the rest of the crew for seeing me in the same light."
    "I'm sure not everyone feels that way," she protested. "I certainly don't."
    "I thank you for your confidence," he said, allowing just a touch of sarcasm into his tone but following his words almost immediately with his best apologetic look. "In any event, there's little either of us can do about the situation except watch and listen."
    "Watch and listen? I don't understand."
    He was silent a long moment, as if debating whether or not to take her into his confidence. Finally, he leaned toward her again. "Has it ever occurred to you," he said conspiratorially, "that the briefing we've all been given concerning our contact with the alien ship is not the complete story?"
    She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I still don't understand."
    "What I'm saying is, while I'm sure the captain wouldn't lie, I can't help but fear that there are a few things that he's simply not telling us." He held up his hand to forestall the protest he saw building in her face.
    "Believe me," he went on, "I've often dealt