IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 23

The atmosphere in the briefing room was tense and angry. McCoy barely kept his outrage in check when he heard that not only a ship's complement of Orions had been destroyed, but an entire cargo hold of other beings as well. All those people slaughtered for no reason what so ever. 'If Jim is going to target some of those dammed K'S'vaits then I'll push the button!' he thought angrily until he realized what he was actually considering. Appalled, he calmed himself. 'Why do so-called intelligent beings keep killing each other?' and for a few seconds he envied the Vulcans.

Captain Kirk and Mr. Scott exchanged a glance. Scotty nodded and formed an old fashioned 'OK' sign with his fingers. Kirk acknowledged with a slight nod. The mini-screens in front each one of them filled with a view of a domed room with a large rectangular table. On each side of the table sat four K'S'vaits, all vastly different in their physical forms. At the head of the table sat the largest K'S'vait that Kirk had seen. It was an imposing figure. 'That must be the President.' Flashed through Kirk's mind.

Spock leaned over to him and explained, sotto voce, that the President was always of pure K'S'vait blood. 'So this is what those people looked like before all this enforced so-called IDIC came into being. Impressive and ironical,' thought Jim.

"You want to speak to us, Captain? And you threaten us. Why?" The imposingly deep voice of the president underlined the computerized translation.

Kirk sat up straight and said: "You have just destroyed a ship in orbit around your planet, killing over four hundred beings aboard. It was in Federation space, and not a threat to you . Why?" The Captain opened and did not allow any time for an answer before continuing: "You have attacked us, which is unacceptable. You deal in living intelligent beings, many of whom are Federation citizens who have been captured and enslaved. That too is unacceptable, and must be stopped. You sell very dangerous technology within the Federation to both Federation members and non-aligned worlds. That too must stop." Kirk said in a duranium-hard voice, looking directly at the President.

There was a moment of silence. One of the other K'S'vaits started to say something but was interrupted by the President.

"Let us take your grievances one by one," he said in a patronising voice.

James Kirk tried to keep calm. He saw Scotty's complexion turn a darker shade of red. McCoy was near boiling point. Uhura was busy with keeping all the communication-channels and translations working smoothly, but even she had an angry frown on her face. Only Spock and, surprisingly, Lieutenant Offer, looked calm. That was not unexpected from Spock, but that the only expression on Offer's face was one of interest intrigued Kirk.

The President's voice continued. "We had to destroy the Orion ship to protect our planet. We mourn the loss of life."

Unfortunately Kirk could not dispute the fact that an Orion ship might be a threat to a planet.

"Their weapons were not charged - how were they a threat to you?" asked Spock calmly.

"The living cargo you refer to were, in fact, captured K'S'vaits. If we had allowed The Pirates to leave unpunished they would have returned. This was a preventative strike as much as a punitive measure. You as a military man, Captain, must understand that."

"So you just kill your own people - if it's convenient." snapped McCoy.

"Bones..." Jim warned, although he agreed with the doctor's sympathies.

The President did not deign to reply to the outburst. He ignored it and continued to answer Kirk's next accusation, taking it for granted that they were satisfied with the explanation for the destruction of the Orion vessel. "As for attacking you...we apologise. That was a mistake on behalf of my former," and he stressed the word former, " extra-Kavayakian commerce officer. He will be punished for such an act of aggression."

Almost immediately K'L'trok was hoisted from his seat and led away by two large security guards.

'These people are totally illogical,' thought Jim, 'One moment they condone aggression, the next they punish someone for it...they will be hard to reason with.' he shook his head in disbelief.

"Now let us address your misconception that we deal in living intelligent beings. We offer a choice to people to come and live on our planet. We invite them to come and practise the Vulcan concept of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations at its fullest realization. The only beings we trade for are slaves, prisoners and war-captives. Beings who otherwise have no or much worse life than we can offer them here. We save these people." The President stressed the last sentence and paused as if ovecome. Kirk wondered if the President actually believed all that. If so things were looking grimmer than before. The President continued in a less emotional fashion. " All newcomers are made aware of the rare dangers that can occur within our hospitals when producing offspring with other species. But all choose to take the risk and to add to the concept of IDIC. Your Vulcan officer should understand that and agree with it." The President invited Spock to comment.

All through the President's speech Spock's eyebrow had been ascending as high as Vulcanly possible. Now he lowered it and steepled his fingers in front of him, lightly tapping the tips of his index fingers against his chin.

"First of all, the concept of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, although a central part of Surak's philosophy, is not a uniquely Vulcan creation. For example on earth in their 20th century, the scientist Albert Einstein stated that: 'The life of peaceful nations with reciprocal respect for one another and toleration of each other's differences was civilised and just.' The operative words, in this apt description of IDIC are Respect and Toleration of differences. Neither the destruction, nor artificial and forced creation, of differences is implied. Your way - the forced interbreeding, is not IDIC but against IDIC, and it is, in fact, tyrannical." Spock paused but was not yet finished and continued before anyone could speak. "On Ecobeta, their great philosopher, Davdks, stated some four thousand years ago that, 'The pursuit of knowledge in toleration for those unlike us must be one of our highest ideals.' The celebration of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations means just that. It does not indicate the Creation of Diversity. Neither does it imply the assimilation of different cultures. It simply means learning from one another and thus increasing knowledge and understanding. The awareness of C'thia, translating roughly as 'truth-reality' or if one prefers, logic, is the result, not the creation of chaos and tyranny." Spock ended in a almost perceptibly louder voice and a glint of angry impatience in his eyes. For him, a highly emotional state.

Only Kirk and McCoy noticed, however. Both looked at him in surprise and some concern. The rest of the Enterprise people listened in fascination at his unusually lengthy explanation. Offer looked satisfied, since Spock quoted one of his favourite humans, Einstein, in relation to IDIC. When Kirk turned back to the K'S'vaits he saw that Spock's logical and, for him emotional, appeal had had no effect. Their expressions, if he read them correctly, looked extremely bored and their eyes were filled with incomprehension.

The President spoke again: "As I said, the Vulcan agrees."

There was an audible irate sigh originating from Spock himself. All looked at him in astonishment. Spock tried to hide his own surprise at this slip and loss of control.

The President continued, unaware of anything untoward. "As to what we sell and to whom we sell it, that is our own business." He ended, implying that the whole matter was closed to any further discussion.

Kirk returned his gaze to the council chamber. He leaned forward slightly as he spoke: "As to what you sell and to whom being none of my business, that is true only in so far as it does not leave your planet. Any inter-planetary commerce is and must be regulated by the FCIPCF: Federation Council of Inter-Planetary Commerce and Finance. This is to safe guard worlds against extortion and illegal dealings in dangerous substances, under which your weapons technology is classifiable." He was actually surprised that the K'S'vaits had not tried to deny the trade in their weapons. "The matter of interbreeding too, ultimately, is your own business, but the buying of extra-planetary life is mine and it must stop. That also applies to luring ships into orbit and then targeting them with your weapons." Kirk said adamantly, his expression hardening further.

"Just how do you propose to stop us, Captain?" a new K'S'vait voice said. "Place us on another interdict status?" it mocked.

"That will, indeed, be one of my recommendations to Star Fleet. But this time I will recommend a total no-contact order due to the danger to approaching ships. Such an order will be controlled and the transgression thereof will not be tolerated. You will be cut off economically as well as culturally," he paused to let that sink in, then continued: "Nor will we tolerate other incursions into this Federation space by non-Federation aligned species, including Romulans." Again a short pause. "Unless, ofcourse, you agree to some changes and allow a party of Star Fleet officers from this ship to oversee that these changes proceed accordingly." Kirk did not allow his features to relax in the slightest.

"We do not believe you can stop ships coming to us or stop them trading with us. You do not have such power." It was that same scornful voice again, a K'S'vait unknown to Kirk.

The Captain looked at the President hoping that he would say something that could lead them towards an agreement. But the President sat in his chair, his large body and face totally immobile, his eyes half-closed. Kirk wondered whether he was listening at all.

'So it comes to the show of force,' the Captain thought sadly. "To show you we mean business, I suggest you look out of your east-facing wall," he said and indicated for Uhura to cut off the audio channels but to keep the visual ones. He saw that the K'S'vait did indeed gather to look out of the east-facing part of the dome. He wondered why. They'd seemed so confident and contemptuous. 'Why bother?' The President, merely turned his head in that direction.

"Jim, what are you up to?" asked McCoy, concerned.

Kirk ignored him. Instead he contacted the bridge after once more receiving an affirmative signal from Mr. Scott.

"Mr. Chekov, are the phasers locked on to those coordinates and ready?"

"Yes, Keptin."

"Good, fire on my order."

"Jim, you can't," McCoy objected loudly.

"Captain, the prime directive...,"Spock tried calmly.

Uhura just sat silently, aghast. Offer didn't know what to think.

"Gentlemen!" Kirk sliced through any further protests. He verified that the K'S'vaits attention was still directed at the right place and said calmly: "Now, Mr. Chekov."

Chekov felt sweat drops form on his forehead when the Captain had asked if all was ready. It was very rare that the Enterprise used phasers against a planet. Now, with a rapidly beating heart, he touched the appropriate pad on his control board. He felt the slight increase in the usually gentle vibration of the Enterprise as she released her deadly powers. The visible red light given off by the phaser-beam carved a straight path towards the planet's atmosphere where it disappeared from view.

"Uhura, audio on, please." The Captain's face was stone.

As the audio communications were re-established they heard gasps of amazement and fear:

"It's all gone!"

"But the people are still there and alive!"

"It's so precise. Look...none of the other buildings have been touched!"

On the main-view screen, Jim had shown the people in the briefing room what was happening. Where once a crew of K'S'vaits were trying to remove an almost totally demolished building and clean up the site, only an entirely empty space was left along with a bewildered clean-up crew. There job was suddenly done for them by some unseen and seemingly omnipotent power. Not one bit of crystal, stone, beam or other matter was left in the space where all the rubble had been a mere second ago. The buildings that were attached to either side of the destroyed dome were intact, pristine.

Kirk felt intense relief that it had worked. He gave Scotty a quick mischievous grin.

'Clean and precise. Fascinating,' Spock thought.

"Well, I'll be dammed," said McCoy grinning, "you son of a ..."

Kirk gave him a warning look.

Suddenly the voice of the President brought their attention back to the matter at hand. "Enough! Captain we see you speak wisely. We do not wish to be cut off from cultural and economic contacts with other worlds. What are your proposals?"

Jim smiled inwardly, 'Nothing like a few fireworks to get someone's attention,' he thought. Outwardly he assumed his 'centre seat' expression. "You will refrain from dealing in any sentient life and stop the enforced inter-breeding generally. You will help those that are malformed due to their genetic and physiological incompatibility. All inter-worlds commercial arrangements must go through the FCIPCP. I suggest that you apply, in due course, for Federation membership if you think you can abide by Federation rules. Membership would however, provide you with many positive things. I will send down a party to monitor these changes. They will keep Star Fleet informed at all times. The party will include a medical officer to oversee provision of aid to the afore mentioned unfortunate ones. I want your personal assurance that my officers will be safe and unhindered in their observations. Will you abide by these restrictions?"

"Yes, we will," the President agreed.

Kirk noticed some surprise among the other K'S'vaits. 'Could he trust this man? Did he have a choice?' he wondered wryly.

"We will be back to obtain a full report from our landing party," he stressed.

"You have absolutely nothing to fear. All will be as you have said."

"Very well..." Jim still wanted some more assurance but the President spoke again: "We will now close communications with you, to start implementing your directives. When your landing party is ready to beam down, inform K'Trek, who will meet them and arrange for their well-being and anything they will need to carry out their duties. Salutations, Captain." The screens went blank.

"Can we trust them, Jim?" McCoy asked.

"I don't know, Bones, but we have to take that risk, at least for now."

"It is the only logical way we can proceed, Doctor," Spock added.

"Lieutenant Offer." Kirk turned toward the young officer.

"Yes, Captain?"

"I would like you to lead that landing party."

"Thank you, sir. I would love to get the chance to study these people more."

"Good. I am including two security guards in your landing party apart from the medical officer, who will be assigned by Dr. McCoy. The other two are up to you."

"Yes, Sir." Offer very nearly saluted, in his pride and gratitude.

"And we will be back for you soon." Kirk promised.

---

In the K'S'vait meeting-dome the President was being bombarded with questions from all sides.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed. Some of the other K'S'vaits put their hands over their ears. "We have agreed to the Captain's demands simply to get that ship out of here. When they leave we can contact our allies on Ch'Rihan and proceed from there." He ended, stood and walked in a brisk but flowing manner out of the room.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.