STAR TREK: TOS - Errand of Vengeance, Book Two - Killing Blow

by Kevin Ryan

  Ensign Clark threw one of the aliens over his shoulder. He landed flat on his back—and stayed down.

  [77] Kell noted that few of the bar’s patrons had taken much interest in the fight, except to keep their distance.

  Together, he and Parrish watched the Nausicaan leader struggle to his feet. The task was made more difficult because he was trying not to touch the ground with either of his injured arms.

  The large alien finally stood up and gave Kell and Parrish a contemptuous look.

  “Go ahead, make a move, please!” Parrish said.

  The Nausicaan decided not to and simply backed away.

  Then the blast of energy-weapon fire cut through the din of the waning battle.

  Chapter Seven

  “I HAVE THE ... Endeavor, I think, sir,” Science Officer Okuda said.

  “On screen,” Captain Rodriguez ordered.

  The image on the main viewscreen shifted from the view of the open space to a close-up of a ship. No not a ship. At least not a whole one.

  Lieutenant Justman felt his mouth hang open as he saw the primary hull of the Endeavor hanging in space before them.

  The secondary hull and the warp nacelles were ... gone.

  Their captain must have separated the primary hull before the warp-core breach, Justman realized. The battle must have been intense and the damage very bad.

  The magnification increased on the screen and Justman could see that the primary hull had been damaged in the fighting. The saucer-shaped hull was scarred and [79] pitted. And in at least three places he could see significant hull breaches.

  The damage was terrible, but the primary hull was basically intact and that meant one thing. A single thought, a single word flashed onto Justman’s mind. Without realizing it, he spoke the thought aloud.

  “Survivors,” he said.

  “Exactly, and they are our first priority,” Captain Rodriguez said. “Klingon cruisers?” he asked.

  “Holding their position,” Justman said, taking a look at his tactical readout.

  The Klingons were sizing them up, Justman felt certain.

  That would give them some time. Perhaps just seconds, but enough time for the captain to do something—enough time to give the Klingons a surprise.

  “What do scanners show, Mr. Okuda?” Rodriguez asked.

  “I’m reading at least one hundred human life signs,” Okuda replied. “And about twenty nonhuman.”

  “Klingons?” the captain asked.

  Okuda checked his viewer and said, “Yes, sir.”

  “They’ve been boarded,” Rodriguez said, watching the screen carefully.

  “Sir,” Okuda said excitedly. “I’m not sure the Klingons have complete control though. I’m showing power spikes. I think it’s weapons fire.”

  Justman felt a wave of hope. Even with their ship crippled, the crew of the Endeavor was fighting. Well, the Yorkshire was at one hundred percent and he could see the determination on the captain’s face. He decided he would not want to be the Klingons right now.

  [80] “I have one of the Klingon commanders,” the communications officer announced.

  “On screen,” the captain said, standing.

  A moment later a Klingon face dominated the viewscreen. Justman had never seen a Klingon in person and this was the first time he had seen one in a live transmission. The Klingon had a mustache and a short beard. His expression was one of fierce contempt.

  “Earther commander,” the Klingon said. “I am Commander Maarcs, you will—”

  “This is Captain Rodriguez of the United Space Ship Yorkshire. You will stand down immediately!” the captain shouted. “You are in violation of treaty. Your aggression here is an act of war. You will retrieve the Klingons currently on board the Endeavor and return to Klingon space immediately or face destruction.”

  The Klingon grinned.

  It was not a pleasant sight, Justman decided.

  “I claim this system in the name of the Klingon Empire. Surrender your ship and I will grant you and your crew quick deaths,” Maarcs said.

  “Commander Maarcs,” Rodriguez said, “you are in no position to make demands. There are two Starfleet ships on their way to this system right now. Withdraw or face the consequences.”

  The Klingon laughed. “Earther Captain,” the Klingon said, and the emphasis he placed on the word “Earther” told Justman that it did not have good connotations among Klingons. “There are two Klingon battle cruisers in front of you. And our scanners show that your pathetic ships will arrive about one of your hours after two more Klingon vessels arrive. Surrender now.”

  [81] “Surrender, to you?” the captain said. “You do not even have control over the Endeavor. Even now your pathetic warriors are getting rousted.”

  That stung the Klingon commander, who could not hide it. Recovering, he said, “We will have the cowardly humans under control soon enough.”

  “Let me speak to Captain Shannon,” Rodriguez said.

  The Klingon’s face twitched. That told Justman that something was wrong. Perhaps the Klingon did not have Captain Shannon under control at the moment.

  “No,” the Klingon said. “But I offer a gesture to show that I am serious. Watch the Endeavor.”

  The image of the Klingon cut out and was replaced by the close view of the Endeavor’s hull.

  “Mr. Justman, what do you have on the Klingons?” the Captain said.

  Justman took a last look at his data, “Sir, both ships are damaged. I’m showing weak spots in their shields. The Endeavor hit them pretty hard before ...” The lieutenant commander found he could not finish the sentence. “It looks like they have also suffered some extensive radiation damage. Must have happened when the Endeavor’s warp core exploded.”

  The captain nodded, taking this all in.

  “I’m getting weapons locks on the weakest areas of the two ships,” Justman concluded.

  The captain was about to speak when he was interrupted by Science Officer Okuda, who said, “Sir, there is some activity in the forward airlock. I’m showing a concentration of life signs.”

  All eyes went to the viewscreen, which showed the top of the Endeavor’s primary hull.

  [82] “Helm, bring us about,” the captain said. “Let’s see what’s going on.”

  Justman felt the ship start to move and the view changed to the underside of the Endeavor’s hull. He could see the forward airlock clearly.

  The door was open, but he could see people in Starfleet uniforms inside, which meant the forcefield was on, holding in the atmosphere.

  Then, in a flash of insight, Justman knew what was about to happen. Before the thought had fully formed in his mind, he watched it play out.

  The view was close enough that Justman could see the faces of the Endeavor’s crew in front. They were frightened but not panicked.

  Then there was a shimmer as the airlock’s forcefield turned off. The people inside were violently lifted from the deck and propelled with great speed into the void of space.

  At the sound of weapons fire, Kell was instantly alert. A blade was one thing. As long as its point didn’t find the heart or brain, the medical facilities on board the starbase could repair nearly any injury his squadmates suffered.

  An energy weapon was another matter. Even human medical science—which was more highly developed than Klingon medicine—could do nothing to revive someone who had been disintegrated.

  Instinctively, he took a single step in front of Ensign Parrish.

  Then the red light of another blast lit up the dimly lit bar, which was suddenly completely silent. Searching [83] quickly for the source of the weapons discharges, Kell saw a squad of six armed starbase security officers led by a very angry-looking woman wearing lieutenant braids on the cuffs of her uniform.

  The Klingon felt himself relax.

  Immediately, the various combatants moved away from one another. The rest of his squad looked relieved, but Kell thought that it was the Nausicaans who were the most
fortunate that the authorities had arrived.

  The Nausicaans were uncharacteristically docile as the security officer herded them into a group. When they were all together, the leader began to speak, voicing a protest.

  “Quiet!” the lieutenant shouted, raising her phaser.

  The Nausicaan was immediately silent. The lieutenant barked orders to her squad and four of them escorted the eight Nausicaans out of the bar.

  Then, with the two remaining officers flanking her, the lieutenant approached Kell and his squad, who out of habit had fallen into line.

  She gave the officers a tight smile and said, “I’m Lieutenant Block. I will be your jailer for today.”

  Benitez smiled and said, “Our what?”

  “Your jailer. You are under arrest for violation of Starfleet regulation one forty-four eight, section five,” Block said.

  “Arrest, you can’t be serious,” Benitez said. “They attacked us. It was self-defense.”

  Lieutenant Block nodded her head in sympathy and Kell felt certain that she would release them. “That’s an interesting story, I look forward to hearing the rest of it when you troublemakers are in the brig.”

  * * *

  [84] “See, we were provoked,” Benitez said, from his position behind the forcefield of the brig, where the squad was now detained. “In fact, it was remarkable that we were able to neutralize the Nausicaans’ threat. Civilians could have been hurt. If it weren’t for Flash here—”

  “Who?” Lieutenant Block said.

  “Ensign Anderson,” Benitez said, pointing to Kell. “He disarmed the Nausicaan leader. And then Ensign Parrish disarmed another one. The arms represented a serious threat to the nearby civilians.”

  “I find that hard to believe, Ensign, since I currently have two injured Nausicaans in the infirmary. They say you initiated an unprovoked attack and ignored their pleas to be left alone.”

  “There were dozens of witnesses,” Ensign Jawer said.

  “I have dozens of witnesses who swear they didn’t see a thing,” she countered.

  “You don’t believe that,” Jawer said.

  “What I know for certain is that you six Starfleet officers intentionally ignored liberty guidelines,” she said.

  “But, the—” Benitez began, but the lieutenant silenced him with a glance.

  “Guidelines which are there for your safety,” she said.

  One of her officers handed Block a data padd, which she scanned quickly.

  “I see that I am privileged today,” she said, scanning the six people in the brig. “I think you are the most decorated group of officers I have ever had in my brig. Apparently, you have more citations and medals between you than some small crews. Well, after today, you will have something else to add to your permanent Starfleet record.”

  [85] She glared at the group for a moment; they were all silent. “I would like to make an example of you. Starfleet’s mission to seek new races and civilizations is not supposed to include sending them to the nearest hospital. And I am tired of playing den mother to first-year officers who are trying to prove themselves.”

  Kell shook his head in wonder. Would his mission end right here? Would he spend the balance of the coming war in a Starfleet brig—all because of some Nausicaans were looking for amusement at Starfleet’s expense?

  “But I am going to release you. It seems the Enterprise is needed elsewhere and your commander is convinced you actually make a contribution on board. Captain Kirk pulled some strings with the starbase commander.”

  Kell and his squad relaxed visibly.

  “Do not think you have gotten off easy,” she chided them. “I have already spoken to your section chief. He will be arriving shortly to take you back to your ship. From the sound of his voice I have a feeling that by this time tomorrow you will wish you were safely back here in my brig.”

  As if on cue, the Klingon saw the outer doors open and Sam Fuller come walking into the holding area. He glanced at his squad for a moment and then faced Lieutenant Block.

  “I’ll take them, Lieutenant,” he said.

  Block handed Fuller a data padd, which he signed and handed back. On a signal from the lieutenant, one of her men hit a switch and the forcefield disappeared.

  “Fall in,” Fuller said.

  Quickly, Kell’s squad formed a line in front of the chief, who walked the line, looking each of the security officers in the eye.

  [86] “I am very disappointed in you,” he said after a long silence, and Kell felt as if he had disappointed his own father in a matter of honor.

  “I have heard Lieutenant Block’s report and I know how these things go. This kind of trouble always had a mastermind, a ringleader. I am going to ask you just one question: Who started it?”

  The Klingon knew that the answer to that question was simple. It was he who had made a point of humiliating the Klingon trader who had somehow put the Nausicaans up to the fight. From the burning look in Sam Fuller’s eyes, he knew that he had something special planned for the ensign responsible.

  Kell did not hesitate, he took one step forward ... and saw the five people next to him do the same. The Klingon was surprised. While he was actually responsible, the rest of the squad had stepped forward only to spare him additional punishment.

  The chief’s face, however, registered no surprise.

  “I see. Then you will all receive the same punishment,” he said. “Let’s move. You have taken up enough of Lieutenant Block’s time already.”

  The chief nodded to Block and headed out the door. But as Fuller turned, Kell could have sworn he saw the ghost of a grin pass between Fuller and Block.

  Chapter Eight

  KELL WALKED INTO the security office and Chief Fuller looked up.

  “Sit down, Jon,” he said crisply.

  The Klingon sat.

  “I called you in here to finish our earlier discussion about your future.”

  “My future?” Kell asked. He had assumed the subject of their discussion would be punishment.

  “Your future with Starfleet. Have you decided what you would like to do? I repeat the same offer I made before. You are being offered discharge with full honors. And no one would think less of you for taking it. Your contribution in the incident in System 1324 will be remembered in this service and on this ship whatever you decide.”

  “I would like to continue my ... service, sir,” Kell said.

  [88] Fuller nodded. “I thought as much. I seem to be able to teach you all everything but sense.”

  “Have you spoken to the others?” Kell asked.

  “Yes, you all seem determined to ignore reason,” he said, and Kell heard a distinct note of pride in Fuller’s voice.

  The chief stood. “Come on, the captain has a special briefing for us,” he said.

  “What about our ... punishment,” Kell asked, following Fuller out the door.

  “It will have to wait,” Sam said as they strode down the corridor.

  The two men reached the turbolift and the Klingon watched the chief enter. For an instant, he watched Fuller draw a painful breath as he turned his body inside the lift. Kell followed and looked closely at the chief, who was sweating on his forehead.

  Suddenly, the Klingon realized that Fuller was in a significant amount of pain. His wounds obviously had not healed completely and normal movement was taking some effort.

  This disturbed the Klingon in a way he could not explain. He had seen the blast that hit Fuller’s position inside the caves. Yet even then Kell could not believe that Fuller had been dead. The human seemed indestructible, as if force of will guaranteed his survival.

  The Klingon knew such thinking was foolish. Yet in his time with humans he had seen many things that were foolish but also true.

  Now he was seeing evidence that Fuller was still injured, reminding him how close the human had come to death.

  [89] His reverie was broken when they arrived outside the briefing room. Benitez and Sobel entered just ahead of t
hem; then Fuller and Kell followed.

  Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock were inside the briefing room, as well as Security Chief Giotto and Section Chief Brantley.

  Once they were assembled, Captain Kirk wasted no time beginning. “I was pleased to hear that all of you choose to stay with Starfleet,” the captain said. “I am now going to ask you to accompany me on an important mission to stop the Orions from completing a plan to seriously damage Federation security.”

  Kell felt a pang of satisfaction. The Orions were dishonorable creatures. Any mission that helped put a stop to one of their cowardly plots would be a mission filled with honor.

  Then the Klingon remembered that if he would be accompanying the captain, his duty was to kill this human to whom he owed his life. That had to be his first priority. If he wasted time in seeking satisfaction in killing Orions, he risked dying before he could fulfill his ultimate duty to the Empire.

  The Vulcan hit a control on the computer and a star system appeared on the briefing room viewscreen.

  “This is System 7348, which is less than ten light-years from Klingon space. Remote probes tell us that it has a thriving indigenous population of sentient, pretechnological humanoids. The planet is threatened by an illegal Orion core-mining operation. We have to put a stop to that operation, before it kills the beings on that planet. I would like you to join me on the landing party to investigate,” Kirk said.

  [90] Two weeks before, the Klingon would not have believed that the cowardly humans he had learned about in the Empire would ever risk their lives for primitives they did not know. Now he knew that such behavior, odd as it was, was normal for them.

  Humans, he had learned, lived by their principles. Captain Kirk, he reckoned, would be willing to die on such a mission. To the best of his ability, Kell vowed to give the captain a good death. He owed at least that much to the man he owed his life.

  “Now I am going to share with you highly classified information that I believe pertains directly to this mission.” Kirk paused for a moment, studying the security squad in front of him. “The Klingon Empire is planning for war with the Federation.”