Day of Honor - Treaty's Law

by Dean Wesley Smith

  Twice she lost her balance in loose dirt, but managed to keep her feet under her and the Klingon rifle in her hand.

  At the bottom of the gully the world seemed to shake, dirt clouds lifting from the ground as on the other side of the ridge a huge explosion filled the sky with black smoke and debris.

  One of the Narr transports must have exploded.

  "This way," Kerdoch shouted over the rumbling. He turned toward the colony and started down the gully at a full run.

  She managed to stay within ten steps of the big Klingon and keep her feet-until a second explosion shook the ground and sent her sprawling face first into a pile of sand and dirt,

  Sulu tumbled beside her, rolled, and regained his feet. He grabbed her arm and yanked her up without a word.

  In front of them the Klingon was scrambling up into a pile of large sun-baked boulders.

  She followed, breathing hard, spitting sand out of her dry mouth.

  The shelter was nothing more than a rock ledge with some loose boulders near the bottom. Large cracks ran up the side of the rock face.

  She was about to say there wasn't enough shelter here against the plasma beams when Kerdoch turned sideways, stooped slightly, and slid into a dark opening at the bottom of one of the cracks.

  She stopped, leaning against a rock, panting.

  Huge clouds of dark smoke billowed up from j ust over the ridge, filling the sky with black clouds that cast huge shadows over the nearby hillside.

  "Is there room?" Sulu asked.

  Kerdoch's faint voice echoed out of the crack. "Yes. "

  Sulu glanced around, rifle at ready, then indicated she should go first.

  Vivian bent down and slid inside. The crack was so narrow the stone rubbed against her chest and back. How had the larger, bulkier Kerdoch made it through?

  Then afterj ust two shuffling sideways steps, she was inside a larger area, about the size ofa small cabin on the Enterprise.

  "The children found this," Kerdoch said.

  "Lucky for us," Sulu said as he came inside and stepped away from the entrance, letting the light fill the small area.

  Vivian took a deep shuddering breath and tried to force her eyes to adj ust to the faint natural cave light.

  The floor of the cave was the surface of a fairly flat rock. Above her was another streak of light where the cave opened uP to the air. Otherwise, the narrow crack they had come through was the only opening, and the cave's only feature.

  Sulu flipped open his communicator. "Captain."

  "Great work, Sulu," the captain said. "You managed to blow up both transports. Are you in a safe location?"

  "I'm not sure about that," Sulu said.

  "Where are you? Your transmission's broken up."

  "We're in a small cave j ust down the ravine from the Narr camp. But one direct hit on the outside of this rock pile will turn this place into an oven. "

  It took a moment for Kirk to respond, as if he had to decipher Sulu's words. "That's better than being in the open," Kirk said. "Stay put until I give the all clear."

  "Aye, sir," Sulu said and snapped his communicator closed.

  He glanced at Rathbone and shook his head while leaning his rifle up against the side of the cave.

  "Looks like we're on the sidelines for the next part of this battle," she said with more relief than she cared to contemplate.

  "Appearances can be wrong. " Sulu said. "Stay prepared. "

  "I will take the watch," Kerdoch said, moving past her to the entrance and squeezing through.

  She allowed herself to drop to the floor and pull out her bottle of water. Her hands were starting to shake, but she managed to get one large gulp of water into her mouth before the shaking got so bad she couldn't hold the bottle .

  Spock noted what the Farragut was doing,j amming right through the Narr to get to the smaller attack ships trying to reach the atmosphere.

  "Follow the Farragut, " Spock ordered. "Target any ship firing at them. "

  The Enterprise rocked as one of the Narr ships opened up at close range.

  "I'm not reading any damage," Chekov reported. "The shields are holding, Mr. Spock."

  Spock did not reply, but kept his attention on the Farragut as it fired on and destroyed fighter after fighter. Spock had never realized that Captain Bogle could be so aggressive.

  Phaser fire streaked from the Enterprise, pounding first into the ship to the right of the Farragut, then next to the left.

  "Continue firing," Spock ordered. He wanted to cover the Farragut as much as possible.

  "All Narr fighters, they are out of range," Ensign Chekov said.

  The Farragut turned and began firing on the larger Narr ships around it.

  "The Farragut is holding her ground between the Narr ships and the atmosphere," Chekov said.

  Spock said nothing. He didn't dare . It was a useless gesture by Bogle. His position was not defensible .

  Suddenly it felt as if something large had rammed the Enterprise. The entire bridge seemed to tip up on end, then immediately right itself.

  Two Narr ships had targeted the Enterprise at the same moment, attempting the same attack that the Federation ships had used against them.

  "Shields are at eighty-five percent," Chekov said.

  "Move in beside the Farragut, " Spock said. "Continue firing."

  The ship rocked again hard left as the Enterprise took a position beside its sister ship. Spock managed to hold on to the captain's chair.

  The three Klingon battle cruisers continued to run attack passes at the Narr craft, hitting them as they flashed past, then turning and making another run.

  No ship, including the Narr, seemed to have suffered any serious damage.

  "Continue targeting and firing, Mr. Chekov," Spock said.

  "It looks like a standoff, Mr. Spock," Uhura said.

  Spock was quite aware ofthe situation. Three Narr ships had the two Federation ships cornered against the atmosphere. The other four Narr ships had formed a shield against the marauding Klingon battle cruisers.

  For the moment Lieutenant Uhura was correct. It was a standoff. But the Narr attacks would wear down the Farragut and the Enterprise by sheer numbers. Their position at the moment was not defensible.

  The ship rocked again slightly.

  "The Farragut is hailing us, sir," Lieutenant Uhura said.

  "Audio only," Spock said.

  "Spock," Captain Bogle said, "I think it's time for us to withdraw to our previous positions. "

  "I concur, Captain," Spock said.

  "Right through the center of them again?"

  "Agreed," Spock said.

  "Ten seconds, on my mark.… Now. "

  "Navigator, lay in a course to our previous position, one half impulse. Mr. Chekov, continue firing at any target. " Exactly ten seconds later, Spock said, "Now. "

  At the same moment both the Farragut and the Enterprisejumped forward, directly at the Narr ships.

  Chekov continued firing beam after beam as the Enterprise slipped between two of the enemy ships and beyond.

  Suddenly the Narr strikes against the shields stopped.

  "Cease fire," Spock said.

  The three Klingon battle cruisers pulled away and also took up their previous positions.

  "Shields at eighty percent," Chekov said.

  Spock hit the comm button. "How soon till we have full shields, Mr. Scott?"

  "Ten minutes, Mr. Spock," Scotty said, sounding a bit harried.

  "Thank you, Mr. Scott," Spock said, staring out at the seven Narr craft.

  "It's as if nothing has changed," Chekov said.

  "It only appears that way," Spock said. "The situation is very different than twelve minutes ago."

  "Hold your position, Mr. Spock," Kirk said, and snapped his communicator closed. He and his team were still trapped, waiting for the coming attack.

  But things were changing quickly.

  He and Kor stood on the edge of the disrupter cannon platform, g
azing at the smoke billowing from the Narr camp. He had no idea that Sulu's mission would be so successful. From what he could tell both transports had blown up. There was no doubt that would slow the enemy down, but by how much was anyone's guess. Maybe long enough for the Enterprise to figure out a way to break through and get them off this planet.

  If they survived the coming attack.

  "Kirk," Kor said.

  Kirk glanced his way, then followed his gaze up into the sky.

  Four Federation shuttles were turning on final approach, all coming in for a landing, one right after the other. Kor had rounded up eight of the colonists and they were all standing by to unload the weapons from the shuttles and distribute them among the other colonists.

  Since the destruction of the transports, Kirk had decided that the shuttles most likely would be an even match for the small Narr fighters headed their way, not in weapons, perhaps, but in shields. So Ensign Adaro stood in the shade to one side ready to board one.

  Kirk would take a second shuttle . The other two would have to stay unmanned until Sulu and Rathbone returned.

  The three manned Klingon shuttles swooped in and took up positions on three sides of the colony, hovering silently.

  "It sure feels better having them there," Kirk said.

  "A slight comfort," Kor said. "I agree."

  As the Galileo touched down, Kirk stepped off the platform and headed for it. Kor turned and moved inside the disrupter cannon shelter. With the help of a colonist, he would man the weapon. Kirk just hoped he was half the shot Sulu was against the fast Narr fighters.

  The other three shuttles touched down within twenty paces of the edge of the colony, one right after the other, kicking up small puffs of dust and black soot.

  Behind the Galileo was the Columbus, followed by the two Farragut shuttles. Ensign Adaro had already reached the Columbus and was scrambling to open the outer lock. Two of the Klingon colonists already had the Galileo door open and were climbing inside.

  Kirk reached the Galileo a second later.

  He quickly helped the colonists unload the weapons, then climbed in and shut the door, slipping into the pilot's seat as if he'd been sitting in one for years.

  He quickly powered up all sensors, brought up the shields, and powered up the phasers. The phasers on the shuttles were nowhere near as powerful as the Enterprise weapons, but they just might serve the purpose.

  The Narr fighters were hovering j ust beyond the Narr camp, as if waiting for orders.

  Kirk took the shuttle up to the same height as the hovering Klingon shuttles and held position, waiting.

  Ensign Adaro did the same with the Columbus.

  Then they waited.

  Twenty minutes later they were still waiting.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  KERDOCH LEANED AGAINST one of the large boulders outside the small cave. Smoke billowed from the Narr camp, filling the clear sky with a huge black cloud. Beyond the cloud he could see shiny wings hovering in formation. The Narr fighters had arrived, but were holding position.

  The blood coursing through his veins during the attack had calmed, but he still breathed hard from the excitement of it all. Never had he felt so alive. The very truth of being Klingon had faced him, and he had met the challenge. He had avenged the burning of his fields, the killing of his neighbors.

  If the Narr attacked again, he would avenge again.

  The humans who had fought beside him had also showed great courage and honor.

  Today he had learned a great lesson. Enemies have honor, also. It was a fact he had never considered before.

  Sulu squeezed out of the cave mouth, followed by the human woman. He took up a position near Kerdoch while she moved to the right to find shelter behind another large boulder.

  "They will wait until sunset to attack," Kerdoch said.

  "I think you're right," Sulu said. He flipped open his communicator. "Captain?"

  "Go ahead, Mr. Sulu," the human captain said.

  "The Narr attack ships are hovering beyond the colony. Kerdoch and I believe the attack against the colony will be coming at sunset, j ust as the Narr told you."

  "I'm starting to think you're right, Mr. Sulu. Can you make it back to camp? I don't want to risk taking a shuttle that close to their camp. "

  Sulu turned to the woman, who nodded. Then he looked at Kerdoch.

  Kerdoch laughed softly.

  "How long?" Sulu asked.

  Kerdoch glanced at the woman, then at Sulu. He knew they were both tired. Two rest stops would be needed, but this valley was easier than the one they had come down one ridgeline over. However, the warrior Kahaq was in that other valley.

  "We should locate Kahaq," Kerdoch said. "One hour to do so and return. "

  Sulu nodded, then spoke into the instrument in his hand. "Captain, we'll move over one valley to the north to search for Kahaq. We should be back in the colony in one hour. "

  "The first sun sets in two hours," Kirk said. "If we see any of the fighters moving, we will notify you. Then take cover. We'll be there to help. Kirk out."

  Sulu snapped his communicator back on his belt.

  "Your captain is a man of great common sense," Kerdoch said. "Now drink. "

  He lifted his own canteen and took two large swallows, letting the water fill his stomach and calm him even more.

  Both Sulu and the woman opened their bottles and drank deeply with him.

  When they had recapped their bottles , Kerdoch swept his rifle up over his shoulder, turned his back on the humans , and climbed up on the nearest rock, looking for a path to the top of the ridge.

  Kirk set the Galileo down gently inside the colony, twenty paces from the disrupter cannon, and climbed out into the hot, dry air. The heat hit him like a blanket covering his body, making him stop, forcing him to take a deep breath. He'd been enjoying the controlled comfort of the shuttle cabin, but for the moment he had to talk to Kor.

  Ensign Adaro remained aloft in the Columbus, standing guard along with the three Klingon shuttles.

  Sulu, Rathbone, and Kerdoch had discovered

  Kahaq's body thirty minutes after they started back.

  Kahaq had died while lying out in the open in the heat, without water, in full Klingon warrior dress. They had left the body there and returned ten minutes before. There was now less than one hour until sunset.

  Kor stepped out of the shadow of the disrupter cannon and motioned that Kirkjoin him in the dome.

  Inside the slightly cooler interior McCoy sat at the table, his uniform drenched in sweat, a large bottle of water in front of him. Kerdoch stood near the door, his rifle still slung over his shoulder. Rathbone and Sulu were sprawled on the cot, leaning back against the dome walls. They both looked exhausted.

  "Great work," Kirk said to them, then turned and indicated Kerdoch.

  "I agree," Kor said to the colonist. "Your deeds this day will be remembered. "

  Ketdoch only nodded, but even Kirk could tell the colonist was pleased at Kor's words.

  McCoy scooted a large bottle of water toward Kor. "Drink. It's actually cold. I just made three trips to the well to refill our supplies in here."

  "Good thinking, Bones," Kirk said. He'd been concentrating so much on the coming fight, he'd forgotten about important basics like water and food.

  "No thinking involved," McCoy said. "If we don't drink enough in this god-forsaken heat and we die. Why anyone is fighting over this planet is beyond me. If you Klingons were smart, you'd let the Narr have the place. "

  "Doctor," Kor said, "after one more day of this heat, I might agree with you. "

  "Imagine what it's doing to the Narr in those armored suits," Kirk said. He took a long, cold drink from the bottle after Kor, then passed it back to McCoy.

  "We must talk," Kirk said to the Klingon commander. While sitting in the Galileo, he'd had time to study the situation. They had managed to level the coming fight to some degree. With Suru and Dr. Rathbone back in camp, all four Federati
on shuttles could be in the fight, along with the three Klingon shuttles. They were still outnumbered, twenty fighters to seven shuttles, but with the disrupter cannon the fight might be almost even.

  Mr. Scott had also sent along two specially modified sonic disrupters he thought might have a chance of canceling out the antigravity controls in the Narr suits. That, along with the new weapons brought down in the shuttle and it seemed, at least for the moment, that the ground fight might be level.

  But that still meant a fight. And Kirk didn't much like that idea.

  "Talk," Kor said to Kirk, sitting down in a chair at the table and plactng his hands flat on the surface in front of him.

  Kirk pulled out another chair and sat facing the Klingon commander.

  "Kor, we must trust the Narr. We must talk with them. Now. Before the fight. "

  Kor slapped the tabletop with the palm ofhis hand, making a sharp gunshotlike noise that echoed in the small dome. "Kirk, you have gone soft. Has the heat turned you into a coward, afraid of the coming fight?"

  "I'll fight," Kirk said, his voice as cold and as hard as he could make it. He stared intently into the deep blackness of Kor's eyes. "If I must. "

  "So why talk?" Kor asked, never letting his gaze waver from Kirk's. "Humans always want to talk before fighting. It is your worst trait. "

  "Because, Kor," Kirk said, "the Narr have a valid claim to this planet and you know it. "

  "Possession is the only right Klingons recognize."

  Kirk pointed in the direction of the Narr camp. "They now have possession of one area of this planet, and they control the space above it. "

  "And we will take it back," Kor said.

  "As they are trying to do from you, " Kirk said.

  "Klingons do not surrender," Kor said. "We fight. "

  "I am not saying you should surrender. Just give me a chance to talk to them again."

  "For what reason?" Kor said.

  "To stop the coming fight," Kirk said. "The Federation agreed this was to be a Klingon planet, and we left. Kerdoch and his neighbors won this planet in a fair and honorable fight, which they fought without weapons. They fought using advanced agricultural methods. "

  "Klingons are superior in many ways, Kirk," Kor said. "We have won this planet. And we now defend it."