Part 9 (1/2)
The computer responded promptly. ”Authorization not recognized-please try again. Speak clearly and distinctly.” ”Authorization not recognized-please try again. Speak clearly and distinctly.”
”I am am speaking clearly and distinctly. Agh, this is the twenty-third century. What good is voice recognition that doesn't recognize your speaking clearly and distinctly. Agh, this is the twenty-third century. What good is voice recognition that doesn't recognize your voice voice?” Since the rhetorical question failed to make the slightest impression on the computer's programming, he was compelled to try again.
”Nine-five-victor-victor-two.”
”Access granted. Ensign Chekov, you are recognized.”
”Oh thank you so wery, wery much,” he responded mockingly. ”Actiwate-activate intras.h.i.+p communications. All channels.”
Throughout the s.h.i.+p the ensign's face appeared on every active monitor, his youthful visage replacing everything from engineering readouts to entertaining fancies. In engineering, technicians and supervisors paused what they were doing to look and listen. Around them inconceivable amounts of energy roared within their containment fields as they worked to twist s.p.a.ce around the s.h.i.+p.
”Your attention, please,” the young officer on the screens was saying. the young officer on the screens was saying. ”This is Ensign Pavel Chekov speaking to you from the bridge. The keptin has asked me to brief you on our rescue mission.” ”This is Ensign Pavel Chekov speaking to you from the bridge. The keptin has asked me to brief you on our rescue mission.”
In the main tactical bay, weapons masters looked up from their work at the nearest screen. Around them was concentrated enough destructive power to level a fair segment of a small continent. Since its proximity did not disturb them, they were unlikely to be unsettled by anything the ensign had to say. But their interest was the equal of anyone else's on board.
”At twenty-two hundred hours GMT,” Chekov broadcast, Chekov broadcast, ”long-range sensors detected an energy surge of astronomical proportions in the Vulcan quadrant of Federation s.p.a.ce. It was described as 'a lightning storm in s.p.a.ce.' As there were and still are no known stellar phenomena in the area capable of producing such a surge on such short notice, this eruption immediately attracted the attention of a broad spectrum of Federation scientists. Soon after, Starfleet Command decoded a distress signal from the Vulcan High Council declaring that seismic sensors situated across the entire surface of the planet were predicting ma.s.sive tectonic s.h.i.+fts within the planetary crust that could trigger immense earthquakes and unprecedented volcanic activity.” ”long-range sensors detected an energy surge of astronomical proportions in the Vulcan quadrant of Federation s.p.a.ce. It was described as 'a lightning storm in s.p.a.ce.' As there were and still are no known stellar phenomena in the area capable of producing such a surge on such short notice, this eruption immediately attracted the attention of a broad spectrum of Federation scientists. Soon after, Starfleet Command decoded a distress signal from the Vulcan High Council declaring that seismic sensors situated across the entire surface of the planet were predicting ma.s.sive tectonic s.h.i.+fts within the planetary crust that could trigger immense earthquakes and unprecedented volcanic activity.” He cleared his throat. He cleared his throat.
”Our mission is to confirm the tectonic s.h.i.+fts with an eye toward possible interdiction of dangerous continental plate mow-plate movement, and to be prepared to a.s.sist in evacuations should the need arise.”
In the main medical bay, staff were putting the final touches on a triage setup while paying close attention to the transmission from the bridge. No one was paying closer attention than Kirk, who lay there listening to the remainder of the ensign's briefing.
”Please review all report details thoroughly before our arrival,” Chekov concluded. Chekov concluded. ”Thank you for your attention.” ”Thank you for your attention.”
Behind Kirk two of the medical technicians returned to their labors. ”Wonder what could be causing an energy surge like that? Sounds like Starfleet thinks it's connected to the trouble they're having on Vulcan.”
His colleague nodded meaningfully. ”Mighty strange coincidence if it's not. Spatial consequences of unpredicted gravitational distortions aren't a specialty of mine. If they are linked, let's hope the phenomenon is a transitory one.”
”If it is,” her a.s.sociate observed, ”there won't be much for us to do when we get to Vulcan-which would suit me just fine.”
”Not to mention the Vulcans.” The other tech's comment was heartfelt. She had never met a Vulcan and had yet to encounter the newly commissioned Enterprise' Enterprise's celebrated science officer. His kind were reputed to be a cold, distant people-but they were Federation, just like humans.
Kirk's thought processes were recovering along with the rest of him. Lying there silently off to one side, he had made the same connections as the two techs, as doubtless had everyone else on board who had even a pa.s.sing interest in geoscience. The ensign's broadcast had instructed all departments to familiarize themselves with the complete body of information that had been transmitted from Vulcan. Swinging his legs off the gurney on which he had been resting, he wandered over to an unoccupied console and pulled up the extensive file.
It seemed reasonably straightforward. The energy anomaly, the consequent tectonic disruptions on Vulcan, the related forces involved-all what one would expect given the urgency of the message. It was all there in cold electronic print. According to the interleaved explication it had been translated from the Vulcan prior to transmission. A caveat he had committed to heart during his first year at the Academy flashed through his mind.
”To be certain of accuracy when drawing conclusions, whether in the lab or in combat, always take care to refer at least once to the original information.”
A lightning storm in s.p.a.ce. Where had he read a description of an energy surge like that before? Where had he read a description of an energy surge like that before?
No, it couldn't be, could it? Kirk sat up fast, too fast, his head pounding. He hurt so much he wondered why it was so important...wondered why the room had suddenly gotten so bright. Kirk sat up fast, too fast, his head pounding. He hurt so much he wondered why it was so important...wondered why the room had suddenly gotten so bright.
Ever the solicitous doctor, and hoping that he could divert the med tech's attention away from his ”patient,” McCoy stepped over. ”Oh good, Jim, you're awake. How 'ya feel?” Kirk's moaning in pain ensured everyone would remember him, but before McCoy could berate his friend for overreacting, he noticed the size of his hands. ”Good G.o.d, man!”
”What?” Kirk knew something was wrong. He felt it, he just couldn't see it. He lifted his hands up; they had swollen to elephantine proportions. ”What the h.e.l.l's this?”
”A reaction to the vaccine, d.a.m.nit.”
What he was looking at was a translated electronic file. If he entered the appropriate command, the monitor would provide a hard copy-but it would still be the same translated electronic file. What about the original transmission? Not that he was in a position to do anything about it one way or the other, but...
Ever since he had once memorized, just for fun, the instruction manual for a certain antique automobile, he had always been a firm believer in acting on original original information. information.
It took only a second to pull up the actual broadcast. Unusually, there was no accompanying visual and the words were distorted due to distance and having been relayed several times prior to decoding. He listened intently, and the longer he listened the more he could sense the hairs on the back of his neck starting to rise. His lips parted in disbelief.
”Holy...!”
Now he remembered where he had heard of ”a lightning storm in s.p.a.ce.”
McCoy was furiously scanning Kirk. The readings were not good; now his friend had become his patient.
”We gotta stop the s.h.i.+p!”
Kirk whirled, and managed a stride and a half before nearly knocking down McCoy. The doctor glared at him, started to say something, then changed tack as he saw the look on his friend's face.
”What the h.e.l.l are you d-?”
”Something's not right,” Kirk shot back at him. ”In fact, if I'm right, it's real wrong. Serious Serious wrong.” He grabbed at McCoy's arm. ”Come with me, Bones-hurry!” wrong.” He grabbed at McCoy's arm. ”Come with me, Bones-hurry!”
”What?” The doctor jerked free of the younger man's grasp. ”Jim, I said low low profile! That means you should...” profile! That means you should...”
But Kirk was already out the door and moving fast, leaving him behind. Fl.u.s.tered and fearing for his friend, McCoy rushed after him.
”Jim-slow down! Wait a G.o.dd.a.m.ned minute! Jim, I'm not kidding-we need to keep your heart rate down.”
Kirk located a computer interface; he found his fingers had gotten larger. There followed an impressive string of words not exclusively but most emphatically of the four-letter kind. Only when the long exclamation finally concluded did he bark an order at the console.
”Computer, locate crew member and communications specialist Uhura!”
”As an officer Lieutenant Uhura's location is privatized unless...”
”DO IT!” He forced himself to take a deep breath. ”a.n.a.lyze urgency in request tone and calibrate accordingly!”
The s.h.i.+p responded without hesitation. ”Intimations of exigency have been a.n.a.lyzed and their source has been noted for the record. Lieutenant Uhura is presently at communications monitoring station twelve, deck four.” ”Intimations of exigency have been a.n.a.lyzed and their source has been noted for the record. Lieutenant Uhura is presently at communications monitoring station twelve, deck four.”
”I haven't seen a reaction this severe since med school.”
”We're flying into a trap!”
Fumbling in his medkit for the correct medication, the doctor looked up and noticed that his patient was gone.
Racing down the corridor, McCoy rounded a turn just in time to see the lift doors sliding shut in front of Kirk. The doctor caught up in time to meet the younger man's eyes, but not in time to make it into the lift with him. He took a step back, forced to wait for another lift to arrive.
”Dammit, Jim!” Jim!”
You try to help someone, McCoy thought to himself. McCoy thought to himself. But if the patient won't listen to his doctor, then he sure as h.e.l.l is unlikely to listen to himself. But if the patient won't listen to his doctor, then he sure as h.e.l.l is unlikely to listen to himself.