IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 6

The untouched glass of cognac still stood on Jim's desk. He felt as if it had been days since Spock, sitting opposite him, had briefed him on the planet they were now orbiting. Jim Kirk entered his cabin, and indicated for Spock to sit. He noted with some satisfaction that the Vulcan had relaxed to a certain extent since they had left the bridge. He sat down, and touched the hand-cut crystal containing the amber liquid. Although he did not feel like a drink, he took pleasure in rotating the glass in his hand and feeling the work of art that the glass itself represented.

"Is Sulu stable now, Spock?" he asked at last, somewhat reluctant to break the companionable silence that had settled comfortably between him and his friend.

"Psychologically he will be able to cope with his situation for a short time."

"Short time? That's not very precise, Spock."

"Jim, the emotional part of a human mind is not a precise instrument. I cannot predict the unknown," Spock stated mildly annoyed.

Jim regarded his First Officer for a long while. Spock looked back, calmly returning the steady gaze.

"Spock, I'd rather you didn't mind-meld or -touch with Sulu anymore."

"Captain, I too would rather not participate in another mind meld with Lieutenant Sulu. I hope that it will not be necessary."

Before Jim could make up his mind whether to order Spock not to mind-meld with Sulu anymore, the door chime sounded.

"Enter."

The doors opened silently and McCoy entered, holding one of his small medical scanners. He proceeded, without a word, to run the scanner over Spock.

"That is unnecessary, Doctor," snapped Spock.

"Temper, temper," McCoy taunted.

Spock looked up bemused. He was surprised at his reaction to McCoy's natural and commendable concern. The unusually deep mind meld must have affected him more than he realised. He would have to take care not to let this influence his efficiency.

McCoy had finished scanning Spock and also, surreptitiously, Jim. He grunted and sat down, worried about the readings he picked up from the Captain. Spock was physically in good health.

"How is Sulu, Bones?" queried Jim.

"Well, thanks to that crazy mind-meld he is stable. For the moment. But I don't give him more than at most four days. After that, I will have to put Sulu in stasis otherwise he could go into another total withdrawal," McCoy turned a glare at Spock before he continued, "And I don't want Spock to risk his life mind-melding with him again!"

"Hardly my life, Doctor," Spock answered, but to himself he added, 'only my mind'.

The door chimed again, it was exactly 15 minutes since they had left the bridge. Jim Kirk wondered if Lieutenant Offer had been waiting outside the door following anxiously the chronometer display on his wrist computer.

"Enter."

Lieutenant Offer had only been in the Captain's quarters once before: When he was recently assigned to the Enterprise and the Captain had made a point of speaking to the new recruits individually in the privacy of his cabin. He entered the Commanding Officer's cabin with some unease but also with great curiosity. The Captain indicated he should sit down in a chair facing the desk. He didn't really know why he was invited to join this meeting, usually reserved only for the two other men, Commander Spock and Dr. McCoy.

As if reading his mind the Captain addressed the young officer:

"Mr. Offer, you were asked to join this informal meeting, because you seem to look at this situation with impartiality. Also during our meeting with K'L'trok you showed great restraint, and laudable diplomacy."

Lieutenant Offer felt the colour rising in his cheeks. He was quite embarrassed by the Captain's praise.

"Thank you," he stammered as he took his place at the desk.

Kirk proceeded to offer everyone the exceptional cognac from the Gascogne region on Earth, where it was still distilled in copper stills and mellowed in old oak casks. Even Spock, much to Lieutenant Offer's surprise accepted a small amount. He had never seen the Vulcan drink any form of alcohol before.

"To business, Gentlemen. I have outlined to Mr. Spock what has happened planet-side, but only very briefly. Let's go over it again and I would appreciate any suggestions," Kirk looked round at each man in turn then continued, "Mr. Offer, why don't you summarise our situation."

Yehudy Offer nearly spilt his drink from surprise at that request.

"Sir...uh..yes sir," he stammered as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Where would you like me to start, sir?"

"From the time we beamed down."

"Right. When we beamed down, we were asked to wait, because K'L'trok was dealing with some peoples called 'The Havelians' which did...," the Captain interrupted the young officer.

"Sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant, but let me just add something here. The Havelians, as you may know, are an artisan colony of humans descendent from a small Earth country that used to be known, in the 20th century, as the Czech Republic. These Havelians practice mainly art and culture. Therefore they are heavily dependent on trade for all their technological necessities. I, therefore, wondered why the K'S'vaits still needed humans, if these colonists trade with them. Then a worse thought came to my mind; that the Havelians were trading in other beings. But after continued questioning K'L'trok admitted that they value the art-forms of the Havelians enough to trade in these. The chairs, for example, -even the Vulcan one- are all products of the Havel-colony." Jim finished and let the unspoken fact that the K'S'vaits do trade in other things than just beings hang in the air.

"Interesting," murmured Spock quietly.

"Please continue, Mr. Offer," Jim invited.

The Lieutenant cleared his throat and continued:

"Well, at last K'L'trok joined us, and Captain Kirk asked to discuss the matter further."

Again Jim interrupted:

"He thought that Mr. Offer was a prime candidate for the breeding program, and was ready to exchange a few crystals for him." He turned to look at Yehudy Offer, "Now you know your price," he added with a smile.

Lieutenant Offer shrugged his shoulders and, at a nod from Jim, continued:

"K'L'trok, consented to further discussions, in which we asked whether they would accept genetic material instead of actual humans. At first K'L'trok dismissed this out of hand. After some persuasion from the Captain he promised that he would put the proposal to his committee and that they would consider it, but that it may take time. Captain Kirk thought it unwise, at the moment, to let the K'S'vaits know that we are pressed for time. We, therefore, gave the impression that time for us was not of the essence. Any further information that we requested, such as how they stop ships from leaving orbit, was only met with smiles and evasive answers. He warned us, however, not to seek a demonstration. As there was little left to discuss we took our leave and returned to the Enterprise," Offer finished and looked at his Captain.

"Thank you, Mr. Offer," Jim turned the still full glass in his hand and then held it against the light as if seeking inspiration from the golden reflection of light in the amber liquid.

"Comments, please."

The cabin lights flickered suddenly and at the same time the computer screen on the desk whistled, startling McCoy who was about to give his piece of mind about the mess they found themselves in.

"Screen on," Jim said calmly although he felt apprehension gripping his insides.

The screen obeyed, came on, revealing the agitated face of his Chief engineer.

"What's up, Scotty?" Jim asked and braced himself.

"Captain, ye are not gonna like this... we now have only one dilithium crystal left, and that is damaged like the rest of them. All the other crystals have totally disintegrated. The only one left is na going to last long. We are already running most of the ship on auxiliary power. When the last one goes....," Scotty's face said it all.

"How long can we maintain orbit when that happens?" Jim asked

"Well, saving all kinda power, maybe 72 hours, Captain," Scotty added something in Gaelic that Jim rather didn't want translated.

"73 hours 34 minutes, if we conserve maximum energy," Spock added in a matter of fact voice.

"Scotty, start saving all the power you can now. Kirk out. Screen off."

"Well that doesn't leave us much time or choice," he added looking at the blank screen.

"What do you mean by that, Jim?" Bones looked suspiciously at Kirk, "I hope that didn't mean trading one or two of your crew for some crystals."

"No, Bones, it doesn't," Jim stood up, and turned his back to the Doctor, " at least not yet."

"Jim, you can't be serious!" McCoy made as if to go and confront James Kirk.

The Captain turned round, however, and faced his friend, often his second conscience.

"What would you have me do, Bones, destroy my ship and let 430 people die? Let it plummet to that blasted planet below? To burn up? Well, what would you have me do?"

"Sorry, Jim. I just find the idea so abhorrent," McCoy sat down again.

"I know, Bones," Jim said softly, "so do I. Only those that volunteer would stay behind. I'll go myself in order to save this ship!" Jim exclaimed.

"That would be unwise, Captain," Spock said calmly.

The Captain glowered at his First Officer, but he knew that Spock was right. As captain his duty, in this case, was to stay on the ship and not volunteer to procreate.

"Captain, if I may be so bold. If it comes to leaving someone behind, I wouldn't mind more opportunity to study this culture." Lieutenant Offer spoke up.

"If it comes to that I will consider your request, Mr. Offer,", Jim said sounding and looking tired. He dismissed the young and promising helmsman. "You can return to your post now, Lieutenant Offer."

When Lieutenant Offer left, Jim turned to Spock:

"Mr. Spock, please find out where the K'S'vaits keep their stocks of dilithium."

Spock's eyebrow rose. He said nothing for a moment, then:

"There are two main storage holds for the dilithuim, Captain, one is approximately 34 kilometres due north of the city, in a mountainous landscape. The other is further due east of this city, near a smaller but densely populated area," he finished without any inflection in his voice.

Jim was not unduly surprised that Spock had the requested information at hand - it had happened too often that his First Officer had anticipated his requests to really astonish him now.

"Protected?"

"Affirmative."

"How strongly?"

"Breachable."

"Theft, Jim?" McCoy's eyes took on a wicked gleam.

"Just covering all possible venues." Jim replied smoothly, then seriously, "But first we must try and convince the K'S'vaits, either with rewards or threats. Bones you and....Offer will go back and try to talk some sense into these people. Use persuasion, inducement, or coercion to convince them that it would be in their best interest to have the Federation on their side. Tell them we can give them a lot of genetic material, anything but humans."

"The Federation ain't gona be happy dealing with a planet that deals in any kind of sentient life, Jim," McCoy commented.

"When we get out of here, we can deal with that problem," Jim dismissed the objection. McCoy nodded then asked:

"What are you going to be up to?"

"Up to, Doctor," Jim said, innocence incarnate, and in good imitation of his First Officer, "that depends, on how successful you are."

McCoy gave Jim a hard look but then left saying on his way out:

"Good luck, Jim."

---

"Well, Spock?"

"Captain?"

"Have you considered a career as a thief?"

"Never, Captain," came the dry answer.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but I want you and Scotty to plan and prepare for a raid on that storage plant nearest to the city. If all else fails, we will have to help ourselves."

"Captain, with all due respect, you seem to have forgotten K'L'trok's threat if we attempt to leave orbit."

"No, Spock, I haven't forgotten, I am working on that. Any ideas are welcome."

"Moreover, Captain, are you planning to go on this raid?" Spock asked noncommittally.

"Affirmative, Mr. Spock, any objections?"

"Yes, sir. Numerous. First of all, you as Capta....."

"Spock, you may as well save your breath. If we have to steal those crystals, I will go. No arguments will change my mind."

Spock pursed his lips and a look of stubbornness crept into his eyes. He said nothing, however. Stood up, looked at his Captain for dismissal, then with a: "Good night, Sir," left his Captain sitting at his desk. Captain James Kirk was once again rotating his crystal glass, now empty, deep in thought as the doors closed after the departing Spock.

Jim sank down onto his bed. It was well past midnight, ship's time, and he had gone 28 hours without sleep. He was tired and frustrated that there was so little he could actually do. He did not want to revert to theft to obtain those life-saving crystals. But even less did he like the idea of asking any of his crew to stay behind, although he knew that many would volunteer, and Mr. Chekov, and Mr. Offer would head the line. He was bone-tired, a few hours of sleep would be welcome, but unpleasant thoughts kept him from relaxing. This situation was too messy. And there were unexplainable things that worried him about the K'S'vaits, apart from their interpretation of the Vulcan IDIC. The Vulcan - that brought him to Spock, who had behaved quite uncharacteristically a number of times since they got back. And that stubborn look on Spock's face as he left. 'What was his First Officer up to?'

At last his eyelids slid over his tired and smarting eyes. Jim fell into a restless sleep. Sleep that would be far too short. The near future had other plans than a night's sleep for the Commander of the Enterprise.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.