Part 1 (1/2)

Blaze of Glory.

by Simon Hawke.

Prologue.

COMMANDER WILLIAM RIKER leaned back in the command chair on the bridge of the Enterprise and touched the insignia on his chest. ”Riker to Captain Picard.”

”Picard here,” the captain responded from his quarters. ”What is it, Number One?”

”Sir, we're making our approach to Starbase 37,” Riker replied. ”We should be ready to begin docking procedures in about five minutes.”

”Very good, Number One. Thank you. I will be there shortly.”

Riker looked up at the main viewer. Starbase 37, revolving in orbit above Artemis VI, filled the screen. It was the first time the Enterprise had ever visited this sector, and Riker was painfully aware that he had not read anything about the K'tralli system since his days at the Academy. He had intended to refresh his memory before they arrived at the starbase, but his duties had left him with no opportunity to do so. What with a backlog of crew efficiency reports to complete; having to go over and sign off on one of Geordi's exhaustively detailed, periodic maintenance reports; then having to see Dr. Crusher for an overdue physical that he had already put off at least a dozen times until she finally insisted that he had to do it now, there had simply been no chance to consult the data banks. Now they were here, and almost ready to begin docking procedures.

The commander of Starbase 37 was an old friend of the captain's. Riker knew Picard would want his crew to present their usual spit-and-polish, and it wouldn't do for the first officer not to be adequately briefed. Fortunately, Riker had access to a unique last resort in Lieutenant Commander Data.

”Mr. Data,” he said, ”access your memory under the subject headings of Starbase 37, Artemis VI, and the K'tralli system and give us a brief summary overview, if you please.”

”Very well, sir,” the android replied, from his forward console. He c.o.c.ked his head slightly to one side, an affected mannerism Riker knew well. Data had picked it up from observing humans and often did it when he was processing information or as an interrogative expression. Riker listened carefully as the android launched into a summary of his programming concerning the subjects specified.

”Starbase 37 was established thirty-five years ago in orbit above Artemis VI, the only Federation colony planet in the K'tralli system. There are five other inhabited planets in the sector. A'tray, L'ahdor, D'rahl, and S'trayn were all colonized from the K'tralli homeworld, N'trahn. First contact with the K'trall occurred approximately forty years ago, and led to the treaty which resulted in the colonization of the planet now known as Artemis VI.

”The K'trall are descended from the same racial stock as the Vulcans and the Romulans,” Data continued, ”but they are a distant, offshoot civilization, with a culture all their own, having hardly anything in common with their racial forebears save for their physical appearance. Unlike Vulcans, they express emotion, but are far less aggressive than the Romulans.

”For much of their history, the K'trall had a monarchical form of government,” Data went on, ”but approximately ten years before the Federation made contact with them, a revolution had occurred that brought about a dictators.h.i.+p. At the time of first contact, their economy was in a state of near total collapse, and their provisional government was having difficulty effecting the promised democratic reforms. They welcomed contact with the Federation, and were eager for economic aid and establis.h.i.+ng trade. Following the negotiation of the treaty that made them members of the Federation, the K'trall invited the colonization of Artemis VI, the last of the easily habitable planets in their system. Starbase 37 was established as a diplomatic outpost, and to administer the Federation colony on Artemis VI, in addition to all Federation s.h.i.+pping in the sector. For the past thirty-five years, that has remained the primary mission of Starbase 37 and its personnel. There is, at present, no Federation amba.s.sador to the K'trall. Amba.s.sador Bowman, who last held the post, died of natural causes recently and his replacement has not yet been appointed. Until a new amba.s.sador is designated, those duties are being filled by the current commander of Starbase 37-”

”Captain Ivan Valentinovitch Gruzinov,” said Picard, as he came onto the bridge.

Riker immediately got to his feet.

”Yes, sir, that is correct,” said Data.

”Captain Gruzinov is an old friend, Mr. Data,” said Picard, as Riker moved aside to let him a.s.sume the command chair. ”He was in his last year at the Academy when I was just a plebe. There were many times I stood braced at attention before him while he called me on the carpet.” Picard smiled at the memory as he sat down.

Data c.o.c.ked his head slightly to one side. ”If I understand the reference correctly, sir, you mean to say that he upbraided you for some perceived flaw in the performance of your duties?”

”Yes, indeed, and most vociferously,” replied Picard.

”Were there frequent flaws in your performance at Starfleet Academy, sir?” asked Data.

Riker cleared his throat softly. Picard gave him a sidelong look. Riker was staying out of this one. ”In certain matters pertaining to discipline, yes, I regret to say,” Picard admitted. ”Especially during my first year. Cadet First Lieutenant Gruzinov made it something of a personal crusade to whip me into shape. And though I resented him for it mightily at the time, looking back, I am grateful for his efforts. He provided me with no small amount of motivation, if for no other reason than to deny him the satisfaction of finding fault with me.” Picard smiled as he remembered. ”At the time, I absolutely loathed him, but following my graduation, we served together aboard the Antares and became good friends. I have not seen him now in over twenty years.”

”Captain, we are being hailed by Starbase 37,” Lieutenant Worf said, from his console.

”Onscreen, Mr. Worf,” Picard said.

Riker turned toward the main viewscreen. The image that appeared on the screen was that of an officer a few years Picard's senior, robust and fit, with broad shoulders and a thick chest, close-cropped gray hair and a wide, rugged-looking face with broad features and pale blue eyes. ”Greetings, Enterprise,” he said, with a slight Russian accent, then smiled. ”Welcome to Starbase 37, Jean-Luc.”

”Thank you, Ivan,” Picard replied, and Riker noted that he gave the name the correct Russian p.r.o.nunciation, saying the ”I” as a long ”E” and accenting the first syllable. ”It's been a long time, old friend. You're looking well.”

”Flying a desk agrees with me,” replied Gruzinov. ”I'm getting soft in my old age. You are cleared to begin docking procedures. Try not to b.u.mp anything on your way in. I'll see you when you come aboard.”

He signed off, and the image on the screen was replaced by that of Starbase 37, its docking port filling the viewer.

”Try not to b.u.mp anything?” said Worf, glancing at Picard in a puzzled manner.

Picard looked slightly irritated. ”A rather annoying reference to the first time I ever directed a docking procedure on an Academy simulator, Mr. Worf,” he replied. ”I ordered the helmsman to engage starboard forward maneuvering thrusters, when I should have said starboard rear maneuvering thrusters.”

”Ah, that kind of b.u.mp,” said Riker, with a grin. He recalled his own early experience at simulated docking procedures at the Academy all too well. Docking a Galaxy-cla.s.s stars.h.i.+p was a great deal more difficult than it looked, and it looked d.a.m.n near impossible to a first-year cadet. ”I think we've all done at least one of those,” he added, with a smile.

”Correction, Number One,” Picard said. ”There was one cadet at the Academy who aced the simulation first time out, isn't that right, Mr. Data? She's all yours. Why don't you show them how it's done?”

”Yes, sir,” the android replied, lining the s.h.i.+p up for its approach.

Data executed the docking maneuver with unbelievably smooth precision. Riker smiled as he thought how the crew of the starbase would be impressed at the way Data brought the s.h.i.+p in, computing the approach so accurately that they were simply able to drift into the docking port completely without the use of maneuvering thrusters for minute course corrections, except merely to slow the s.h.i.+p's drift as they locked into berth. It was a very showy display, the sort of thing the starbase crew would talk about for quite some time to come.

A short while later, they were being escorted down the companionway leading to the central hub of the starbase and the commander's office. Picard had chosen Riker, Worf, Data, and Troi to accompany him. Riker noted how all the starbase personnel they pa.s.sed saluted their party smartly. Generally, military protocol was not so formally observed in Starfleet. The salutes were not required, but they were being given as a courtesy. It spoke well of Captain Gruzinov's leaders.h.i.+p, thought Riker.

Gruzinov rose from his chair and came around his desk to greet them as they came into his office. He was a large man, big-boned and powerful-looking. Riker thought he must have made an intimidating uppercla.s.sman in his days with Picard at the Academy. ”Jean-Luc!” he said, extending his hand to Picard warmly.

”It's good to see you, Ivan,” Picard said. ”You've put on a bit of weight.”

”And you look depressingly fit,” Gruzinov replied, with a grin. ”It's good to see you, too, old friend.”

”Allow me to present my officers,” Picard said. ”My first officer, Commander William Riker; s.h.i.+p's counselor, Deanna Troi; Lieutenant Worf, chief of weapons and security; and my helmsman and navigator, Lieutenant Commander Data.”

Gruzinov greeted each of them in turn. When he came to Data, he said, ”I saw the way you brought the s.h.i.+p in, Mr. Data. Most impressive. I see the stories I've heard about you have not been exaggerated.”

”Thank you, sir,” said Data.

”Well, I'd be pleased if you'd all join me for a drink,” Gruzinov said.

”We'd be delighted,” said Picard.

”I think you'll find the adjoining briefing room a bit more comfortable,” Gruzinov said, beckoning them toward a connecting door. They went through into a small and very comfortably appointed briefing room, similar to the one they had aboard their own s.h.i.+p, Riker thought.

”Please, be seated,” said Gruzinov. ”I have asked a member of my staff to join us. She will be arriving shortly.”

He poured them drinks, enjoying playing the host, and then proposed a toast. ”To old friends,” he said, to Picard.

”Old friends,” Picard echoed.

”How long has it been, Jean-Luc?” Gruzinov asked. ”About twenty years since we served on the Antares?”

”A bit more than that, I think,” Picard replied, as they all sat around the table.