IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 13

"Red alert, red alert, this is no drill, all hands to battle stations," the automated alarm blared throughout the ship just as Scotty finished the re-materialisation of Spock and his party.

'Oh my god!' Scotty thought as he realised that had the red alert sounded a few moments earlier Spock and the security men would be scattered across the universe as the ships shields came on. He left and hurried to the Bridge. Upon arriving he heard Chekov announcing:

"Proximity alarms have been activated, Keptin. A Romulan warbird dropping out of warp, and assuming orbit."

Kirk turned round when Scott entered.

"What happened to your arm, Scotty?" Jim asked, concerned, but in a loud voice to override the alarms, seeing the burned sleeve and the taped-up arm.

"It's a long story, sir."

"Then shorten it, Mr. Scott," Jim ordered as he turned his attention back to the screen and Chekov's readings.

When Scotty hesitated he turned his head slightly and snapped:

"Well?"

"Well, sir, Mr. Spock and I thought that it would be a good idea to disable the weapon and then..." Scott started.

"You what?!?!" Kirk looked at Scott unbelievingly.

"We, uhm..."

"Keptin, the warbird has attained orbit."

"Captain, the Romulan commander is hailing us," added Uhura.

"On screen, on my command," Kirk said, still glowering at Scott.

"We will have the whole story out later, Mr. Scott," he promised, the threat of reprimand implied in the tone of his voice, then continued, more gently:

"If you are up to it can you make sure that we have weapons if needed."

"Aye, sir," Scott said, relieved that the wrath of the Captain had been averted for a while. For a moment he nearly felt thankful to the Romulans. He then remembered how his Enterprise would suffer if she had to use any energy for the weapons with her one cracked dilithium crystal and hurried to engineering, all else forgotten.

"Stand down to yellow alert," Kirk ordered and a blissful silence descended on the Bridge.

Jim braced himself for the verbal tap-dance he would have to perform to save his ship. 'So Spock had disabled one of the K'S'vait weapons,' he thought. He didn't know whether to be angry at Spock for disobeying an order, pleased that Spock had succeeded, worried that Spock wasn't back yet, or furious that they, therefore, had no crystals as yet. As he composed himself he decided that he would be all those when, if (he corrected himself) Spock got back. 'If they were still all alive.'

He turned to Uhura and nodded.

The screen shimmered and the view changed from the menacing-looking Romulan ship to an equally menacing face of an older Romulan commander.

"Captain Kirk, I presume," the cold voice of the commander sounded on the bridge.

No translator, Kirk realised.

"And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing," Jim said equally politely and coldly.

"I am commander tr'Aihan of the Rihansu Imperial force. I have arrived here to answer a distress call."

"Indeed, and may I ask from whom?"

"From the inhabitants of the planet that you are currently orbiting and which you call Kavayak, Captain."

"Was the distress call, perchance, from a man calling himself Rakholt, Commander?" Kirk tried to goad the Romulan. He had read the translated message that his Communications officer had intercepted. Thus he was well aware what the Romulan Commander wanted: The planet and the current Captain of the Enterprise; himself.

"The name is immaterial, Captain. However, I am planning to provide the assistance requested. The planet is not aligned to the Federation, therefore you cannot object."

"The planet may not be a member of the Federation, but it is in Federation space, and so are you and your ship, Commander. That in itself could be construed as a distinctly provocative action." Kirk's voice got even colder and harder.

"Captain, we are only answering a distress call. Surely that is not an unfriendly act," the commander said in an unconvincingly soothing manner.

"Very well. But we will keep a sharp eye on you and your movements. Any violent actions will be dealt with immediately, Kirk out," answered Kirk with cool composure. He was glad that the Romulan, or any one else for that matter, could not see his hands sweating. He did not want to try and fight with the so crippled Enterprise, and bereft of his best helmsman and science officer, who also happened to be the best first officer in the fleet.

"Chekov, report any changes in their weapon status and any movement between that ship and the surface," he swivelled round.

"Lieutenant Uhura, monitor and report any important communications. You also have the conn. I'll be in my quarters. Notify me if there is any change whatsoever."

"Yes, sir," was the crisp reply.

Before leaving his chair, Jim called engineering.

"Scott here."

"Mr. Scott, I want to see you in my quarters. Now," Kirk said and cut of the communication.

---

tr'Aihan leaned back in his command chair and took a slow deep breath. So far so good. He had managed to place his ship in orbit round this planet without incidents that could lead to a Rihansu-Federation war. He would have to be very careful. The Romulan Empire could not afford a war at this time. He also wanted to bring back home a living Captain Kirk. 'A very much alive Kirk to stand trial along with that Vulcan-human crossbreed.' tr'Aihan's eyebrows descended in a thoughtful frown. He went back over the conversation with Kirk in his mind. Word for word, looking for all the hidden meanings. And there were a number, he realized. He also believed, now, that Rakholt had spoken the truth, for the Federation Captain, had been also very careful not to escalate further hostilities. 'So maybe his ship is disabled in some manner', thought tr'Aihan with a degree of anticipation, 'patience!' he ordered himself. The honour would be his soon. His family name would be restored and he would not have to patrol the Neutral zone as a punishment for being a brother to a Dishonoured one. How his brother had ended up on Kavayak he did not know. However, that too would become clear when he talked to his brothers son.

---

As Kirk arrived at his cabin he found Scotty already waiting by his door. He noticed that Mr. Scott was very pale and trying to inconspicuously support his wounded arm.

"Come in, Mr. Scott."

Kirk indicated for Scotty to precede him. As Jim sat down, Scott stayed standing rigidly to attention.

"Oh, do sit down!" Kirk said irritated.

Scotty sat on the edge of a chair facing the Captain.

"Well, Mr. Scott, please explain your and Mr. Spock's actions. But briefly, as I may be called to the bridge at any time," Kirk said calmly but curtly.

Succinctly Mr. Scott outlined their plan, their reasons and what had happened on the planet's surface.

"We take full responsibility for our actions, Sir. I would like to add that I agreed with Mr. Spock's plan and accompanied him willingly. However, the security guards knew nothing of this," Scotty ended and waited for the end of his career as Chief engineer.

James Kirk was angry. He was angry that Spock had defied his orders, although he admitted to himself that he would have probably done the same. He was also angry that Spock had not at least tried to discuss the plan with him. But again he had to admit that there had not been the opportunity for such a discussion. While these thoughts were occupying his mind Kirk kept staring at Mr. Scott with a rigid expression.

"You have willingly agreed to disobey my orders to Spock. Mr. Scott, are you aware that that is a court martial offence?" queried Kirk in an ice-cold tone of voice.

"Yes, sir."

'Not "Aye",' Kirk thought somewhat amused.

"And you would do the same again?" he continued inexorably.

Scott looked uncomfortable. "Yes, Sir," he whispered.

"I see," Kirk said with finality. A forbidding silence occupied the room. Scotty had seen the Captain angry many times before, but never such cold calculated anger. He really began to fear that this time he and Spock had stretched the Captain's tolerance too far. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he felt faint from more than just the wound on his arm.

Jim shook his head in exasperation. "Report to Sickbay, Mr. Scott," he ordered.

"Sir?"

"You heard me. Off to Sickbay with you! Have that arm treated."

"What about the engin...," Scott tried tentatively.

"Mr. Scott, are you disobeying my orders again?" Jim asked quietly, the threat unspoken.

"No, Sir, " Scott capitulated hastily.

"Then report to sickbay. NOW. That's a direct order!" Kirk saw the mixed emotions of relief at being let off and worry for the well-being of the ship cloud his Chief engineer's face.

"When and IF you are allowed to leave the doctor's ministrations," Kirk's stomach constricted at the thought that he knew nothing of McCoy's whereabouts, "you may return to engineering. Dismissed."

"Aye, Sir," Scott said relieved.

Just as he was about to go through the door Kirk's voice stopped him.

"Mr. Scott, never disobey my orders in such a manner again," he said very seriously.

"Yes, Sir," Scotty said quietly and escaped. He wondered if Spock would get off as lightly as he did.

---

The landscape that lay before the three officers of the Enterprise was bleak, desolate and savagely ravaged by unnatural causes.

'Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off any weather at all,' the quote from Shakespeare's Tempest came unbidden to Spock's mind.

They stood atop a small hillock. Black scree crunched under their feet. Not one blade of grass, let alone a plant or tree adorned the ground. Not even any low scrub. There was absolutely no growth anywhere. No sound of birds or insects broke the oppressive atmosphere, apart from a dull mechanical thudding noise emanating from a hollowed mountain-side a few meters in front of them.

Frequent gusts of strong wind, however, masked even the thudding sound. The loose black scree lifted in the wind and swirled round their feet. Half of the mountain which they were facing was hidden by a low dark cloud. The lower half had a gaping black-hole that served as an entrance into the silent darkness. Metal tracks twisted their way into the blackness.

Spock felt an unaccustomed sensation of heaviness settle upon him. It seemed as if, everywhere, desperate voices were trying to reach him, to claim him for their own purposes. He tightened his mental shields with considerable and disquieting difficulty, glanced at the lieutenant and ensign standing behind him. Both looked alert and concerned but calmly composed.

Without any words spoken between them, Spock led his team, as silently as possible, down towards the ominous entrance to the mine.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.