Part 10 (1/2)

The lift disgorged McCoy and Uhura. ”It's my fault, sir.” In the race from communications twelve to the bridge, the doctor had resigned himself to one of the shortest careers in the history of Starfleet Medical. ”I brought him aboard. At the time I felt it would be a harmless and unnoticed subterfuge. Given the Red Alert situation I thought Starfleet could use every available hand. I gave him a-”

Pike broke in tellingly. ”I don't want to know how, how, I want to know I want to know why.” why.” His gaze bored into Kirk, and it was evident the cadet would have one fleeting chance to explain himself before being a.s.signed to the brig for the duration of the voyage. ”Not why you're on board, but why you're standing here in front of me right now, looking like someone who just met himself coming. And,” he added in a low, dangerous voice, ”it better be good.” His gaze bored into Kirk, and it was evident the cadet would have one fleeting chance to explain himself before being a.s.signed to the brig for the duration of the voyage. ”Not why you're on board, but why you're standing here in front of me right now, looking like someone who just met himself coming. And,” he added in a low, dangerous voice, ”it better be good.”

Kirk steadied himself. ”I checked the complete complete available scientific description of the energy surge that was reported near Vulcan prior to Starfleet's reception of the request for a.s.sistance. The parameters are almost identical to a similar surge that was detected just before the available scientific description of the energy surge that was reported near Vulcan prior to Starfleet's reception of the request for a.s.sistance. The parameters are almost identical to a similar surge that was detected just before the Kelvin Kelvin was attacked by a Romulan s.h.i.+p more than twenty years ago-the day I was born, sir. Furthermore, that was also described as a 'lightning storm in s.p.a.ce.' You know that, sir. I read your dissertation. That s.h.i.+p, which had formidable and advanced weaponry, was never seen or heard from again. The was attacked by a Romulan s.h.i.+p more than twenty years ago-the day I was born, sir. Furthermore, that was also described as a 'lightning storm in s.p.a.ce.' You know that, sir. I read your dissertation. That s.h.i.+p, which had formidable and advanced weaponry, was never seen or heard from again. The Kelvin Kelvin attack took place on the edge of Klingon s.p.a.ce. And at twenty-three hours last night, there was an attack; forty-seven Klingon warbirds were destroyed by Romulans, sir. And it was reported that the Romulans were in one s.h.i.+p, one ma.s.sive s.h.i.+p.” attack took place on the edge of Klingon s.p.a.ce. And at twenty-three hours last night, there was an attack; forty-seven Klingon warbirds were destroyed by Romulans, sir. And it was reported that the Romulans were in one s.h.i.+p, one ma.s.sive s.h.i.+p.”

Pike's expression darkened to match his tone. ”And you know of the Klingon attack how?”

All eyes turned immediately to the heretofore silent communications officer. ”Sir, I intercepted and translated the message myself. Kirk's report is accurate.”

Kirk stepped forward. Off to one side, a lieutenant moved his hand toward a cabinet that held his sidearm. From looking and listening to the excited, slightly wild-eyed cadet, there was no telling what he might do-or what he might be on.

Kirk held his position, and the lieutenant stayed his hand-for the moment. ”We're warping into a trap, sir. The Romulans are waiting for us, I promise you that.”

A troubled Pike digested this, then switched his attention to his science officer, who, despite Kirk's startling appearance on the bridge, had remained remarkably restrained and silent.

”The cadet's logic is sound. Lieutenant Uhura's record in xenolinguistics is unmatched in recent records, Captain. We would be wise to accept her conclusion.”

Pike considered Spock's counsel. Turning, he ordered the communications officer, ”Scan Vulcan s.p.a.ce. Check for any transmissions in Romulan.”

”Sir, I'm not sure I can distinguish the Romulan language from Vulcan.”

”What about you?” Pike asked. ”Can you speak Romulan, Cadet...”

”Uhura. All three dialects, sir.”

”...Uhura, relieve the lieutenant.”

”Yes, sir.”

Silence enveloped the bridge as Pike deliberated. Coming to a decision, he turned toward the helm. ”Mister Sulu, hail Captain Alexander aboard the Newton.” Newton.”

As the helmsman complied, the s.h.i.+p's science officer shot the attentive Kirk another look. It was less than affectionate.

Sulu's eventual response was confused-and ominous. ”Sir, our hail's not getting through. We're being blocked by some kind of subs.p.a.ce interference.” His hands whipped over the console in front of him. ”I can try to a.n.a.lyze the-”

”Never mind that now.” Pike was sitting up straight in the command chair. ”Try the Excelsior.” Excelsior.”

Sulu complied, and on his own tried several other routings before sitting back slightly. ”Nothing, sir. In fact, I can't make contact with any of the fleet.”

”'Subs.p.a.ce interference' my a.s.s,” Kirk muttered. ”Given the reality of what's likely a fake planetary distress call, I'd hardly be surprised to discover that someone or something is deliberately interfering with Starfleet communications. Sounds to me like our signal is being blocked.”

Pike deliberated. ”We need to refine communications power in order to be able to warn the other s.h.i.+ps of what we've discovered.”

”Sir,” Sulu said unnecessarily, ”for that we'd have to drop out of warp so that our signal incurs no distortion from post-lightspeed motion.”

Emerge in the Vulcan system in concert with the rest of the armada or fall from warp in order to talk to them: not a choice Pike wanted to make. Try as he might, however, he could not come up with another option. Meanwhile, time was looking over his shoulder.

”Understood,” he declared finally. ”Emergency stop.”

Sulu leaned toward his console. ”Emergency stop, aye!”

The six lines of subs.p.a.ce stretching from Sol to Vulcan abruptly became five as the Enterprise Enterprise dropped out of warp. No stars burned in its immediate vicinity and no planets gleamed nearby. The s.h.i.+p was very much alone. dropped out of warp. No stars burned in its immediate vicinity and no planets gleamed nearby. The s.h.i.+p was very much alone.

Pike turned to Uhura, who, following a brief but intense discussion with the lieutenant who had been manning communications, had now relinquished that position to her.

”Hail those s.h.i.+ps, Cadet. Now.” Now.”

”Attenuating relevant frequencies in order to increase power, Captain.” Her hands were delicate but their movements were a.s.sured as she worked the pertinent instrumentation.

An unusual quiet descended on the bridge as, lost in their own thoughts, everyone waited for a response. When it finally came it was neither what was hoped for nor what was expected. Unrecognizable pings and strange electronic stutters, as if somewhere a transmitter was crying in emptiness.

Interference, an edgy Kirk thought. He stared at Uhura, silently trying to encourage a response that was not forthcoming. ”Come on, come on, come on.” an edgy Kirk thought. He stared at Uhura, silently trying to encourage a response that was not forthcoming. ”Come on, come on, come on.”

She waved a hand in his direction. ”Kirk, quiet quiet! I've channeled all communications strength into a narrow stream of encrypted information, and the s.h.i.+p is working to send it now.” Her other hand worked the console in front of her. ”Opening a channel.” There was a stir on the bridge as everyone seemed to lean in her direction. At last she announced, ”Channel open, sir. If you would like to try and make conta-”

Pike was speaking before she could finish. ”This is Captain Christopher Pike of the U.S.S. Enterprise. U.S.S. Enterprise. All s.h.i.+ps be advised: possibility of hostile Romulan presence in vicinity of Vulcan. Until presumed emergency situation is further clarified, recommend full s.h.i.+elds and weapons systems at standby.” All s.h.i.+ps be advised: possibility of hostile Romulan presence in vicinity of Vulcan. Until presumed emergency situation is further clarified, recommend full s.h.i.+elds and weapons systems at standby.”

”Message sent, sir,” Uhura reported.

They waited for a response. And waited. Possibly it was being blocked by whatever was interfering with their communications.

No one wanted to dwell on certain other possibilities.

”No response, sir,” Sulu eventually felt compelled to report aloud for the official record. ”From...any s.h.i.+p.”

The fingers of Pike's right hand drummed fretfully on the armrest of the command chair. ”What's the fleet's ETA to Vulcan orbit?”

Spock checked his readouts. ”They should be preparing to drop out of warp now, Captain.”

Pike nodded. ”Tactical on screen. Display their automated transponder signals. Those, at least, should be strong and clear enough to penetrate any two-way interference.”

Once more the science officer manipulated instrumentation. In response a quintet of glowing blue dots appeared on the forward main viewscreen. Each was accompanied by a name-Armstrong...Defiant...Newton...Mayflower...Excelsior...The attention of everyone on the bridge followed the dots as they moved into the Vulcan system.

Spock continued to monitor his instruments. ”The fleet has dropped out of warp.”

As he watched the monitor, Pike tried not to show his unease. A moment pa.s.sed, then another, and another. The dots had slowed enormously, but remained exactly as they should. The tension that had gripped the bridge began to subside. McCoy had moved to stand beside Kirk. Both men regarded the screen.

”See?” Leaning close to his friend, the doctor dropped his voice to a whisper. ”They're there. there. They've arrived. I shouldn't have just given you a dose of mud flea vaccine-I should've put you under general anesthetic. It would have been better than...” They've arrived. I shouldn't have just given you a dose of mud flea vaccine-I should've put you under general anesthetic. It would have been better than...”

”Bones.” Kirk had not taken his eyes from the forward monitor. ”Wait.” ”Wait.”

One of the blue dots had vanished from the screen.