Behind Kerdoch the sound of the transporter filled the room. He turned as a human form reassembled itself on the transporter pad. Could the humans be behind this cowardly attack? That was a possibility Kerdoch had not considered. The humans in the Federation colony had been more than friendly during the years they shared QI'tu' with the Klingons.
What was a human doing on a Klingon battle cruiser?
This was very confusing. Kerdoch shook his head. After this day and last night, nothing would seem impossible ever again.
This human was puny, but then, all humans seemed puny to Kerdoch. This human also had strength; that was evident in the way he moved, the confidence with which he carried himself. He was a warrior,just as the Klingons were.
The human stepped down from the transporter pad and nodded to Kor. "Commander. "
Kor nodded back. "Captain. "
A Federation captain ! With Kor. It was obvious to Kerdoch that these two knew each other-and didn't like each other. That he might have expected, but what was the human captain doing here? And why had they picked him, Kerdoch, off the surface ? Questions. Too many questions.
"This way," Kor snapped, turning and moving out of the room without waiting for a response.
The human captain stepped in behind Kor, and Kerdoch followed the human. Fourteen hours before, he had been walking the dirt path in his field when the attack began. Now he walked the corridors of a Klingon battle cruiser with a Federation captain and one of the Empire's most famous warriors.
Someone was stabbing her in the side of the head. She was sure of it. Waves of pain kept bouncing around inside her skull, and she'd have given anything to have them stop.
"The pain'll ease in a moment, Doctor," a solid, almost harsh male voice said above her, as if reading her mind. "Just lie still. "
The voice was right. The pain was slowly diminishing from stabbing to pounding.
She forced herself to try to remember what had happened. The floor under her back was hard and a little cold. She could feel the hum of something working through her shoulder blades. Around her she could hear voices, but she couldn't make out the words. Where was… ?
Then she remembered. She was on the bridge.
She had passed out on the bridge of the Enterprise. The thought was like an electric shock through her system.
Her eyes snapped open, and she tried to sit up.
"Wait a minute," the voice said. "No dancing until I say so."
No dancing? It took her a second to realize that was a joke. And as she did, she felt a hand push her back until she lay flat.
She agreed with the disembodied voice. Her vision was a blur ofspinning colors. She closed her eyes, and the spinning quickly stopped. Her head was clearing, and her memory was coming back.
The Enterprise had been under attack by a Klingon ship above Signi Beta. They had been hit, and she'd lost her grip on the railing and hit her head on the floor. That was all she could remember.
That and the pain. She forced herself to take a deep breath, which helped wash the pain back yet another notch. This time she slowly opened her eyes without moving. After a moment the face of Dr. McCoy came into focus above her.
"You're all right," he said, his hand firm on her shoulder. "You had a nasty fall, but you'll be fine. "
She'd worked with the gruff McCoy a few times on data she'd gathered from planets. He was an amazingly smart man who liked to call himselfjust an old country doctor. He was far from that. In her opinion, he had one of the most skilled medical minds in the Federation. Besides that, she liked him, gruffness and all. And he had seemed to like her, too.
"Thank you, Doctor," she said after a long few seconds. Her voice sounded odd to her ears, but speaking didn't cause any increase in pain.
The Doctor half snorted and gently held her arm to help her to her feet. "Go slow, now," he said. "The swelling has receded and the pain should go along with it. You tell me if it doesn't."
"Okay," she said, being very careful she didn't nod in the process. She managed to stand and hold onto the rail. The same rail she'd lost her grip on in the first place.
After a moment of making sure she wasn't going down again McCoy let go of her arm and turned to face the main screen.
Around her the bridge was functioning normally, none of the crew paying her the slightest attention. Science Officer Spock stood at his panel, face buried in his scope. Chekov and Sulu both attended their controls. Lieutenant Uhura sat facing the communication panel, intently listening to something on her earpiece. Only Captain Kirk was missing.
And on the main screen was the Klingon battle cruiser.
"What's going on?" she half whispered to McCoy.
"The captain's on that damned Klingon ship." He sounded annoyed. And slightly worried. "We're to wait here until he returns. "
Slowly, keeping her head as still as possible, she turned to completely face the front screen. The Captain on a Klingon ship? What was going on?
She leaned back against the railing and forced herself to take a deep breath. The pain in her head lessened even more, but the questions remained.
Captain Kirk could not identify the type ofroom he found himself seated in. Federation starships had exact configurations. Captains' quarters had a different look from ensigns'. Each room was designed for a specific purpose.
This room could have been the officers' mess or an emptied crewman's quarters. It certainly didn't seem like a meeting room. The lights were dim, as they were all over the ship. Klingons seemed to prefer dark colors as well, giving the whole place the feeling of something underground, something slightly unsavory.
Something dangerous.
The small room was also hot and stuffy. Kor had placed a pitcher of fluid in the center of the table, but no cups. No one had asked for any either, and Kirk wasn't about to be the first. He wasn't even certain he should taste anything on this ship, no matter how hot and thirsty he got.
The chair, however, was surprisingly comfortable. It had arms that encircled him, and the cushion, while not soft, wasn't hard, either. It was, however, a bit larger than he was used to-and he had always thought his command chair was large.
He sat in that chair for some time , while Kerdoch told his story. It sounded like the Klingon farmer and the other colonists had had a very long night. They were more than lucky to be alive.
The farmer spoke in precise detail. His memory was astounding, his ability to recall the trivial, trying. But like a good soldier, he assumed all details might be important.
Finally, the farmer finished telling his story of the night of flames, as he called it.
"Thank you, Kerdoch," Kor said, nodding in respect as the farmer stopped talking.
The farmer nodded back and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve.
Kirk had been surprised during the last ten minutes at the respect Kor showed the colonist. It seemed that even in a warrior race like the Klingons, those who supplied the food and built the ships and weapons were highly regarded and respected. It was an eye-opening detail of the Klingon culture that a Federation officer would normally never get a chance to see.
Kirk had seen many other things since he'd been on the ship, things he doubted any other Federation officer had seen. Kor had tried to keep him away from the main areas of the battle cruiser, but Kirk had sneaked a look into various sections, making a mental note of their layout and size.
Kor turned to Kirk, showing no respect at all now for a Federation captain.
"Well, Kirk," he said, his voice low and mean, "was this attack from one of the Federation's mongrel races? Do you deny it?"
"Of course I deny it," Kirk said, forcing himself to keep his voice level and not play Kor's game. "If we wanted to destroy the colony, we wouldn't have used small ships to do it. And if the attackers were rogue members of the Federation, we would have had warning. I would also have recognized the type of craft used. I don't. When I return to the Enterprise, I'll search our database for crafts like that. But I can tell you no
w, I've never seen or heard of diamond shaped ships of that size and configuration. "
"You would lie to protect your own," Kor said.
"No, I wouldn't," Kirk said. "If members of the Federation made this sort of cowardly attack, I'd want to catch them and punish them as much as you. " Kirk kept his gaze focused on Kor's eyes.
The silence stretched until finally Kor laughed. "So you would defend a Klingon planet to keep Federation races under control?"
Kirk held his temper. "Of course not, Commander," he said, keeping his voice level and cold and staring at Kor as hard as he could. "I would defend this planet because it sent out a distress call. Commander, the Organian Treaty would mean nothing if I refused to enforce it."
"You are a strange human," Kor said, shaking his head in disgust. "I will accept your word for the moment. But do not cross me, Captain. "
Both men stared at each other until finally Kerdoch said, "Commander, I would like to return to defend my family in case of another attack. "
Kor slammed his fist on the table and stood. "Of course, Kerdoch. I will send men with you to help."
"So will I," Kirk said. He flipped open his communicator before Kor could say a word. "Enterprise, have Dr. McCoy, Dr. Rathbone, Lieutenant Sulu, and a security detail meet me in the transporter room. Stand by to beam me aboard."
"Aye, Captain." Spock's voice came back clear enough for all in the small room to hear.
Kirk turned to the farmer. "Kerdoch, if the cowards who did this return, I will be at your side to defend you and your family. "
"As will I," Kor said.
Kerdoch looked first at Kirk, then at Kor. There was a puzzled, intent look in his eyes. But after a moment he nodded his agreement.
"Good," Kor said, slapping the farmer on the back.
Kirk flipped open his communicator. "Enterprise, one to beam aboard."
Then he turned to Kor and Kerdoch. "I will meet you at the colony."
Kor laughed, again shaking his head in mock amazement as Kirk beamed out.
But for Kirk, there was nothing to laugh about-at least not until they discovered who attacked this colony.
Chapter Five
FOR THE SECOND TIME in under two hours Kerdoch felt the effects of a transporter. Only this time he knew exactly where he was being beamed to: the center of the colony.
Back to his home.
Beside him stood Commander Kor and four warriors. Kerdoch had never felt so powerful before. Pride filled his heart and made his blood surge through his veins. He had been given many honors over his years as a colonist, but never one that pleased him as this did.
As the transporter released them in the open center courtyard of the colony, a shout went up from those nearby.
"Kerdoch has returned," one yelled.
"With help! " a woman's voice added.
Kerdoch stood proudly beside Kor as his neighbors and friends rushed toward them. The colony had suffered even more damage than Kerdoch had remembered. Beside him Kerdoch noticed that Kor frowned as he surveyed the remains of a once proud Klingon farming community. He must have been shocked at the destruction.
Kerdoch waited for a moment until his wife reached his side, and he hugged her. Then he held up his hands and waited for the crowd to calm.
"This is Kor," he said, "commander of the mighty battle cruiser Klothos of the Imperial Fleet."
At his mention of Kor's name there were several swift intakes ofbreath and one gasp. Suddenly everyone was again talking as the relief of having warriors and a battle cruiser here to help defend the colony grew thick in the air, and warriors led by a respected and much honored commander such as Kor.
Kerdoch's wife squeezed him, as ifhe were the hero responsible for bringing Kor.
Kerdoch, however, felt a distinct unease, as if the winds had shifted and things were not as right as the others might think. He looked over the smiling faces of his neighbors, but saw nothing. So he turned to Kor.
"Sir," Kerdoch said, "we must prepare."
Kor slapped Kerdoch on the back. "You are right, my friend. We must."
In front of them the air shimmered. Weapons came up and were trained on the spot as the Federation captain and several other humans appeared.
Around him Kerdoch could sense the tension returning like a thick fur blanket tossed over the crowd. Only Kor's men lowered their weapons. The colonists did not.
There were five humans with the Federation captain. One was a woman.
The human captain strode up to Kerdoch and Kor. "Do you have wounded?"
Kerdoch nodded. "Many. "
"Can someone lead the doctor to them?" The human captain indicated a thin man with a bag over his shoulder who stood off to his left.
Kerdoch turned to his wife and indicated that she should help the doctor.
"This way," she said, with only a questioning glance at her husband.
The human captain turned to his people. "Commander Rathbone, you and Lieutenant Sulu scout the surrounding fields, see if you can discover what was done to the crops, with what kind of weapon, and why. Ensign Chop, Ensign Adaro, you two stay with me. "
The human captain then turned to Kor. "We are here to help defend your colony. What needs to be done to get ready for another attack?"
Kor laughed at the Federation captain. "Kirk, you are still the fool. But for the moment we will gladly take advantage of your foolishness."
Kor turned to Kerdoch, who stood straight under the commander's gaze. "Do you have disrupter cannons?"
"Two are working," Kerdoch said "They are on the southwest and northeast perimeters. "
"Good," Kor said. "Two are better than none. Kirk have one of your men join one of mine and one colonist at each gun. "
One of the colonists put a hand on Kor's arm. "Do you think the humans can be trusted?"
Kor looked down at the offending hand. The colonist removed it quickly. "Are you questioning my judgment?"
"No, Commander," the colonist said. "It is just that when we had humans on this planet, we were instructed to keep them away from our weapons and our technology. "
"That is normally a good rule," Kor said, "but I think I can handle Kirk. "
The human captain rolled his eyes, but said nothing. He turned to the two humans in red shirts.
"Ensign Chop, you take the southwest cannon. Ensign Adaro, take the other. "
Kor turned again and faced Kerdoch. "From which direction did the ships make their attack runs?" Kerdoch glanced around at his neighbors, who were watching.
"Most came directly from the west," Katacq said, and others around him nodded.
"Then we will set up a defensive position on the western edge of the colony," Kor said. The human captain nodded his agreement, and without hesitation the two captains turned and moved toward the west, matching each other stride for stride.
After a moment Kerdoch realized that he and the other colonists should follow.
Dr. Vivian Rathbone forced herself to take a deep breath as she followed Lieutenant Sulu around a few of the damaged colony domes and out into the burnt fields.
Above them both suns kept the air thick and extremely hot, almost choking with the drifting smoke and black ash. The sky was the same pale blue and pink she remembered, but until now she'd forgotten how really hot it could get on Signi Beta. And how miserable. A person forgot such matters when five years of work got tossed away.
They moved a few hundred steps into the closest field and then stopped. She was having a very hard time believing she was in a landing party with Captain Kirk. And even a harder time making sense ofthe fact she was back on Signi Beta.
It didn't smell like Signi Beta.
The smoke filled her eyes with tears. Such destruction. And of crops. She had read about such things when she was studying history; she knew that sometimes war parties attacked supplies. But she had never seen it.
It looked as if a fire had made a selective rampage through the crops. The destruction looked all the more te
rrible since she knew it was deliberate.
Sulu crouched and used his scanner on the remains ofthe crops while she stood staring across the distant smoking fields, trying to take in what she was seeing.
She'd visited the Klingon colony twice during her years on this planet. Both times she had been struck by the beauty of the waves of blue-green crops, lush and supple even at the hottest time of day. Now those crops had been reduced to black ash. A crime.
"This is strange," Sulu said, shaking his head.
"What is?" Vivian asked, kneeling beside him. She knew why the captain had sent her and Sulu to investigate the destruction ofthe crops: she had lived and worked here, and Sulu was widely known for his botanical hobbies. In fact, she had hoped to someday talk to him about it. Once this mission was over, maybe she'd get the chance.
"I'm getting some strange readings here, Commander. " He held up his tricorder for her to look at.
She glanced at the numbers and then smiled, impressed. "Good work, Lieutenant," she said. "It took our scientists almost two months to identify that same problem. "
"You mean this is planetwide?" Sulu asked, turning to face her.
She nodded and stood slowly so as not to start her head spinning. "This planet, in its distant past, had a very different form of plant life, obviously native to these heat and soil conditions. Then something happened here about eight or nine hundred years ago that altered the planet's climate, and a second, biologically different form of plant life appeared, which slowly melded with and then overran the first. "
Sulu stared at his readings, shaking his head. "Amazing."
"It is that," she said. "Now the Klingons have imported a third form of plant life that is blending with the first two. We did the same thing in our experiments on the southern continent. The Klingons were more successful than we were. That's one of the many reasons they won this planet. "
Sulu stood, still studying his tricorder. "Any indication of what caused the first plant shift?"
Vivian shook her head. "Most likely it was a natural event such as a meteor strike, though some scientists think the plants were artificially introduced by a lost culture . Knowing the true story might have helped us win this planet. "
Day of Honor - Treaty's Law Page 4
