IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 10

In the main office of the large governmental dome were gathered the council which included K'L'trok and security chief K'Fron. The room was under heavy guard. A heated discussion was in process. Various council members accusing others for the development of this unsavoury situation. However, in the end K'Fron and his security force got the most blame.

While the barrage of accusations was raining on his head, K'Fron had an idle thought that the council should not alienate his security force at a time like this. After all he could take control. He was in charge of all forces planet wide. Then he could show this clown council how to really run this planet. He shook his head to clear such thoughts of treason from his mind.

Suddenly the president of the council and thus the presiding ruler of the united world banged the table and proclaimed in a loud voice.

"Enough!"

He turned his pure K'S'vaith face towards K'Fron.

"Securion K'Fron, how are your forces dealing with this unrest?"

K'Fron sprung to attention when he was addressed by the president. The president being one of the select few who had only K'S'vaith blood flowing through him was over two meters tall, with a voice that matched his imposing size. Only pure K'S'vaits were ever elected for the presidency and the only pure K'S'vaits left on the planet were all, ironically, original descendants of the Master.

"My lord. My forces are deployed all over the city with isotropic phasers persuading everyone to go to their dwellings. They are also guarding all important installations. A number of groups have, as a precautionary measure, been sent to smaller urban cities where the disturbance has not yet started," answered K'Fron hating his submissiveness to this pure-bred.

"Good. I expect this uprising to be over by the day's end," his deep voice, made all the more imposing by the slight echo created by the microscopic vibrations of the crystalline wall, reverberated round the room.

The slightly furred head of the president then turned towards K'L'trok. He pierced the interplanetary-trade officer with his gaze.

"You have not been very successful in obtaining any humans yet," he stated.

When K'L'trok only managed to shake his head in agreement, the voice continued.

"The Federation ship sent that message. The Federation ship is responsible. It will, therefore, have to compensate for this in addition to payment of the crystals. Make that clear to them. We hold this Federation fully responsible," he ended and settled back into the seat specially made for his physique.

"Yes, my Lord," answered K'L'trok.

When he was dismissed with a regal wave of the president's hand he hurried to his own office wondering how to approach this new situation, wondering also if he would live long enough to see another day.

---

When Captain Kirk entered his bridge, Lieutenant Uhura was already at her station, correcting the over-ride from Auxiliary control.

Kirk settled into the centre seat and swivelled round to face Uhura.

"Lieuten....."

"Captain."

They addressed each other at the same time.

Jim smiled and indicated that Uhura precede him.

"Thank you, Captain. I only want to report that all systems are back to normal," she said trying for a smile of her own, but failing miserably, the worry about Sulu, McCoy and Offer clearly written on her face.

"Good. Can you contact someone down on the planet for me, Uhura? And get McCoy as well."

"Yes, sir." Uhura swivelled back to her station.

"Captain to engineering. Mr. Scott, report, please"

A few moments of silence went by, then the Scottish brogue of his chief engineer came through.

"Still holdin' out, Captain. Just."

"Do we have weapons capability?" asked Kirk

"Aye, but that's goin' to put an awful lot of stress on the wee crystal we have left, Sir"

"Thank you, Scotty, do your best."

Kirk hit another toggle and got Christine Chapel answering his call to sickbay. The pain in his stomach became worse when the voice of Chapel reminded him that Dr. McCoy was somewhere planet-side, and he had not yet heard from him.

"How is Sulu?" he asked.

"Still stable, Captain."

"Is Mr. Chekov with him?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have him report to the bridge immediately. Kirk out." Jim turned to look at Uhura again.

"Uhura?"

"Nothing yet, Captain." Uhura sounded apologetic, "Neither Dr. McCoy nor Lieutenant Offer are responding to their communicators. However, both communicators are functioning. No one is responding to our hails on the planetary frequency we used earlier."

"Keep trying, Lieutenant."

Jim faced the view of the planet with its multitude of orbiting ships. 'Should he lock on the communicators and beam them up? Would McCoy and Offer be with the communicators, however? Should he go down and take some crystals? Time was running out! They had to obtain dilithium or the Enterprise would soon start plummeting towards the planet and 430 of his people would burn up. How was LaPierre involved? How badly had she disrupted the negotiations between them and K'L'trok? Were McCoy and Offer still safe? How stable was the government on that planet? Could things get any worse?' These thoughts kept running through his mind in unceasing circles while he wished for his luck to change and for Spock to return to the bridge.

The bridge doors opened, and Jim looked up expectantly, hoping that one of his wishes was coming true.

Chekov entered the bridge at a near run.

"Reporting for duty, sir."

"Good, I want you to man the weapons station and navigation for now, ensign."

"Yes, sir." Chekov was glad that he had something to do again. The silent vigil he had kept at Sulu's side was wearing him down. He slid behind his empty navigation station and started going through all the necessary checks of the ballistics and navigation systems. The helm was occupied by Ensign Natasha Taravitch, a trainee. They were running out of seasoned and highly trained helms-people, he reflected. He leaned over and whispered something in Russian to his neighbour. She laughed nervously.

"Belay that chatter, ensigns" ordered the Captain curtly, while tapping his finger on the nav-com.

Chekov cringed, and Taravitch nearly jumped out of her seat. Normally the Captain didn't mind quiet conversation between the bridge crew. 'Things must really be bad,' Chekov concluded and put his full attention into his work. Uhura looked up suddenly.

"Captain, we are being hailed."

"On screen then, Uhura, and notify Mr. Spock."

---

In the deep bowls of the Enterprise, Spock was performing a task he found distasteful. Interrogating another sentient being. Trying to discover the truth when he continually met with evasions at best and outright lies at worst. He was also surprised to find that he had a headache. He could not remember ever having a worse one in his life. Now his temples were pounding in rhythm with his heartbeat, and sharp pangs of pain cut across his forehead. If this was what the Captain felt every time he complained of a headache (and Spock knew Kirk only mentioned the worst ones) Spock understood why he went to see McCoy; it was decidedly an unpleasant sensation. He then called upon his Vulcan training and banished both the thoughts and the pain to the back of his mind, to enable him to concentrate fully upon his task.

He looked at the ensign sitting at the opposite end of a table. She looked defiant yet apprehensive. Spock had already been aware of her views and the effect it had had on the other crew members. She did not have many if any friends among the ships community. Her constant assertion that her Believe was the only correct philosophy and that all sentient beings had to accept her believe of The Way had driven away even crew members that usually managed to befriend the most difficult beings. Indeed, no one wanted to share duty with her apart from lieutenant Offer, who, Spock knew, would try and debate the issue with LaPierre. He knew that the Captain was already considering an application for reassessment of her suitability in Starfleet when the current situation arose.

"Please continue, ensign. You beamed down to the planet surface, alone, and was approached by a local man. Proceed, please."

"He forced me to accompany him, and showed me the horrible results of your IDIC," she stressed the word 'your' and nearly spat the word 'IDIC', her eyes momentary ablaze in anger.

"And then...," Spock asked, refusing to be baited.

"Then I had to cooperate. In all conscience. The Way must to be spread throughout the universe. And if that means helping the local population to defy authority then that's what I had to do."

"Tell me more about this man who approached you."

There was a stubborn silence

"He gave you the tape?"

A slight nod.

"His name?"

Silence.

"How did you get back on the ship?"

"Larry Dee beamed me up."

"Willingly?"

"Yes."

"Did he know what you were planning?"

"Yes."

Spock's eyebrow rose as he felt the lie hanging in the air.

"Mr. Dee was aware that you were going to send the tape?" he rephrased his question.

LaPierre had heard that you could not lie to Vulcans. 'Was the fact that Spock had asked the same question twice a sign that he knew that she was lying?' She disliked Larry, but maybe it was unwise to lie at this stage just to get him into trouble; on the other hand she had nothing to lose.

"Yes," she could not help herself.

"You are not telling the truth, ensign," Spock said gravely.

"So what are you going to do about it?" she said impudently.

"I am not going to do anything about it, ensign. But you are not helping yourself. Your situation is grave as it is, but understandable. Your prevailing attitude is inexcusable. This interview is being recorded. Your non-cooperation will not help you at your forthcoming hearing," Spock answered her impertinence with total imperturbability, although he could sense acutely the ensign's dislike of him.

He wondered how to continue this unproductive interview. There was no way he could force any information out of the recalcitrant ensign. Thankfully, all known techniques of forcing the truth from a prisoner, either by drugs, or the use of the neural neutralizer were banned by the Federation. These techniques were only used in medical emergencies and rarely at that. The thought of using the Vulcan mind-meld on a non-willing participant never even entered his mind.

Spock regarded the ensign, and was about to restart his interrogation, when Uhura's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Mr. Spock to the Bridge, please."

Spock stood up, went to the wall comm-unit and acknowledged the call.

"This interview is over for now, ensign. Perhaps you should reflect upon your statements. If you wish to add or change anything I will be available to you. I will send Mr. Karlos to guide you through the legalities of your hearing and your legal rights."

Then Spock motioned one of the guards to lead ensign LaPierre to her new quarters. The other he ordered to find Lieutenant Dee and to detain him until further notice.

---

When Spock arrived on the bridge, he saw his Captain arguing, though diplomatically, with the K'S'vait K'L'trok.

K'L'trok had a worried, nervous manner about him.

The Captain, Spock noted, was furious but managing to mask it.

"K'L'trok, the Federation does not deal in hostages. Does not trade in humans. And... does not take kindly to threats," Jim said as calmly as he could while Spock made his way down to stand beside him. Jim acknowledged him with a quick look.

"Captain, but you did start this unrest." K'L'trok's voice had a frightened edge to it.

"I acknowledge that one of my crew sent a tape given to her by one of your citizens. She did not know what was on the tape."

"Can you prove that?" K'L'trok nearly shouted.

Jim looked again at Spock, who shook his head ever so slightly. "We can, and we will. Meanwhile if anything happens to my officers you will be held responsible by the Federation:" Jim's fists tightened.

"We have nothi..." The communication was suddenly cut off and the screen went blank.

"Uhura, what happened?" Jim looked at his communications officer.

"That was cut off from the planet, Sir," Uhura said somewhat mystified.

Jim Kirk looked at Spock again.

"Well...?"

"The statement that we can prove LaPierre obtained the tape from a K'S'vait and from whom was rather premature, Captain."

"You mean she didn't tell you who gave it to her."

"She was, indeed, rather uncooperative."

"Did she implicate any one else on board my ship?" Jim's voice hardened.

"Affirmative. She has implicated lieutenant Larry Dee, but she was not telling the whole truth. However, I have had him detained."

"Maybe he can tell us something," Jim felt like grinding his teeth. He was getting nowhere and he was not getting any answers.

"Have you found anything more about their weapons' system, Spock?" asked Jim not really expecting a positive answer.

"Affirmative, Captain," said Spock while clasping his hands behind his back.

"And..."

"From the incomplete data gathered I theorize that they have a system capable of disrupting any specific crystalline structure by changing the crystal lattice. They generate an energy beam that can break the very gluons that are, so to speak, the strong forces that hold matter together. Jim, that requires an incredible amount of very precisely focused energy, measured in electron volts it would amount to..." Spock would have liked to continue but Jim interrupted him gently:

"Give me the details later, Spock. Is this the same thing which the ship that attacked us used?"

Spock looked uncomfortable at having to extrapolate further, with so little data.

"Captain, there is insufficient data to answer that question. The probability that we would encounter two different weapons that could cause such similar damage is ...very low," he said somewhat reluctantly, wishing he could have time to go into the details.

"Later, Spock." Jim felt the discomfort of his science officer at having to give incomplete answers.

"But this is interesting and makes our situation also more serious. However, can we destroy the weapons with our phasers once we have dilithium?"

"No Captain, the weapons are situated within a similar single Urascium crystal structure as the one we met K'L'trok in. These buildings are impenetrable by conventional, weapons."

The Captain was quiet for a few moments, then he asked even more hopefully: "Can we come up with anything to counter it?"

"Affirmative, Captain." Spock waited for a beat.

Just as Kirk was about to urge him on he continued:

"Mr. Scott and I have already discussed the necessary changes to our shields. I have taken the liberty of telling him to proceed with the specific changes. These readjustments will prevent the penetration of the beam by diffusing the energy within the shields. However, the reinforced shields will provide protection for only a very limited period and will use a large amount of our own energy." Spock again fell silent, then continued thoughtfully: "The K'S'vaits have only two weapon installations on the whole planet. These are situated so that each synchronous orbiting ship is within range of at least one of the systems at any one time. The weapons cover a large surface to area ratio but they are not designed for deep-space range. This also explains why all ships are allocated specific parking orbits upon their arrival. If we could disable one weapon, it would give us a half-orbital period in which to leave this orbit safely after new crystals have been implemented."

"And I suppose you have the exact location of these installations?" Jim asked somewhat surprised.

"Of course, Captain," Spock replied serenely.

A companionable silence fell between the two officers.

"Spock."

"Captain?"

"We need dilithium."

"Indeed."

"We will have to... help ourselves."

"Indeed."

Jim looked at Spock. But did not see any sign of humour in his eyes. "Is that all you have to say - Indeed?"

Spock was tempted to answer in the manner indicated, but refrained. "Negative, Captain. I am intrigued as to who you will send to help ourselves."

"The landing party will consist of myself, Scotty and four security guards. You will have the conn, Mr. Spock." Kirk said in a voice that normally would book no argument from any one. He felt Spock stiffen and knew that he would not get off without opposition from his first officer. Suddenly Uhura interrupted the silent battle of the wills.

"Captain, we are being hailed from the planet again. It is someone who calls himself Rakholt and wishes to speak to the commander of this ship."

"Acknowledge and wait," ordered Kirk.

Spock looked at Jim, with a You belong here on the Bridge look and a I ought to go but remained silent. He cocked his head to one side, raised one eyebrow slightly and waited for Kirk to speak. The Captain gave him a scouring look, but then relented and smiled ever so slightly.

"You win, Spock. You go. But don't do anything dangerous, I repeat, anything dangerous, like trying to disable any weapon systems. Just get the crystals and get back here. Understood?"

"Affirmative, Captain," answered Spock looking decidedly uncomfortable for a Vulcan.

Jim continued to stare at him severely before reluctantly dismissing him. He then made his way to the centre seat and indicated to Uhura to open communications.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.