Kirk and the Voitaan council begin to unravel the mystery behind the enigmatic aliens who have been abducting security and medical personnel from the research base on Dreknor.
Meanwhile, aboard the Enterprise, Sulu discovers that the narrow gravity well between the two planets is drawing them together on a collision course that will destroy them both.
Need to catch up? Click here to read Part One.
“Star Trek: Worlds of Doubt” – Part II
Phil Giunta
Part Two: The Plot Thickens
Captain’s Log: Stardate 3022.1
It has just been reported that the research facility on Dreknor has come under attack. Preliminary information indicates the assailants to be citizens of the planet. I’ve called an emergency meeting with the Voitaan council aboard ship. As Dreknor was believed to be uninhabited, I look forward to their explanation. We’ve beamed most of the landing party back to the Enterprise. However, attempts to locate Doctor Piper and his medical staff have been unsuccessful.
In the conference room, Kirk finished listening to Mitchell and Scott’s report of the events on Dreknor. With them was Vanay, the Voitaan research administrator. The three informed Kirk that although the attackers were not familiar, their weapons were identical to those used by Voitaan security.
Neither Scott nor Mitchell was certain as to Piper’s whereabouts. They had also been unable to contact the doctor before beaming back to the Enterprise.
Kirk rose from his seat and began pacing the length of the conference room, impatiently awaiting the arrival of Garelen and his colleagues. “They better have a good explanation for this.”
As if on cue, the conference doors parted suddenly and three security guards escorted the council members in. Following them was Lieutenant Alden, chief of communications, whom Kirk called into the conference.
“Captain,” Garelen began as he hastily made his way into the room. “You wish to speak with us about the incident, no doubt?”
Kirk stopped pacing in mid-stride. “I’ve lost contact with my chief medical officer and his staff because your research facility was attacked by a group who, according to your people, don’t exist. Yes, I’d like to speak with you about this incident.”
“Captain, please,” Garelen said calmly, attempting to offset Kirk’s aggressive tone. “We are as shocked by this as you. When our initial survey teams came back from Dreknor over ten years ago, their reports were conclusive. They found no life on Dreknor whatsoever.”
“Maybe they didn’t look hard enough,” Mitchell commented.
“If you don’t mind, Councilor, I’d like to see those reports,” Kirk requested.
“I will be more than happy to provide them to you,” Sental said. “My office was in charge of the expedition at the time.”
With a quick nod of acknowledgment, Kirk turned to face the unusually quiet Nakor who seemed oddly distracted up to this point. “Mister Nakor, I would guess this incident just might shed some light on your investigation?”
“Perhaps, Captain,” Nakor relented. He seemed decidedly less hostile than earlier.
Kirk resumed his pacing once again. “Theories, anyone? If they’re not from Dreknor, then who are they?”
Sental was the first to speak. “This may sound rather outrageous, but what if these aggressors are aliens who somehow arrived on Dreknor after our initial survey of the planet? Perhaps they had been plotting to seize our facilities when the right moment presented itself.”
“Wild speculation,” Nakor retorted. “I find it more reasonable that these terrorists were directly responsible for the explosion in the testing lab. You cannot convince me that it was an “accident” any longer. I think they created their right moment.”
“Nevertheless, it would appear that we have two scenarios,” Spock announced. “The first is that these individuals are from another star system with which we are currently unfamiliar—possible, but not probable. The Enterprise’s sensors have detected no other ships either in orbit or on the surface of Dreknor.
“The second, and most likely, conclusion is that they are exactly who they claim to be, citizens of Dreknor who have obtained Voitaan weapons by abducting your scientists and security personnel. Further, if that is the case, then you must be prepared to negotiate with them on whatever demands they make. To them, your people are intruders on their world and they may feel threatened by your presence.”
Kirk stepped closer to the table. “To further that second possibility, it may not be all that difficult to explain why this attack occurred now and not sooner. I would guess that it took them several months, since the disappearances began, to gather all the necessary weapons they would need from your own security, to mount an effective siege of the facilities. Plus, if Nakor is correct and they did sabotage the testing room, they may have obtained access codes to the facilities from the missing scientists.”
Garelen leaned forward in his chair, his expression taut as he looked from Spock to Kirk. “Even if you are both correct, the question remains, why. Why did they not contact us peacefully years ago? Why did they consider it necessary to resort to violence in order to communicate with us?”
Before anyone could offer a reply, the voice of Lieutenant Uhura interrupted through the comm unit at the center of the table. “Captain, we are being hailed by one of the Dreknor, audio only on standard communicator frequency.”
“Can you pinpoint the location?” Alden asked.
“It appears to be coming from somewhere underground, roughly six hundred kilometers north of the facility. Sensors can’t penetrate the surface in that area, so they’re not providing a precise location.”
“Captain,” Scotty began. “If ye’d like, Kelso and I can work on boosting the long range sensors. We’ll see if can get ye exact coordinates.”
“On your way, Mister Scott,” Kirk ordered. He turned back to the comm unit. “Uhura, put it through down here.”
Kirk turned to Garelen, “Councilor, I have a hunch you may just get the answers you’re looking for.”
“Channel open, Captain,” Uhura announced.
“This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. To whom am I speaking?”
For several awkward moments, there was only silence. It continued for so long, in fact, that Kirk was wondering if Uhura had her signals crossed.
“You are speaking to Noren, representative of the citizens of Dreknor. You’ll pardon the delay, I wanted to verify your identity with your Doctor Piper.”
“I’d like to speak with him immediately,” Kirk said firmly. He was trying to avoid an aggressive tone. He had no desire to anger this person while he was holding members of his crew.
“You will get that opportunity when we are finished, Captain. First however, I would like to discuss the topic of murder.”
Kirk shot a glance at Garelen. Everyone in the room looked at Kirk. “I’m not sure I follow you, Noren.”
“Of course, Captain. Your Voitaan friends have not told you about how many of my people they have murdered with their weapons experiments. I certainly wouldn’t have expected them to.”
“I’m not aware of any weapons experiments, let alone murder,” Garelen exclaimed in surprise.
“And who are you, may I ask?” Noren said.
“I am Councilor Garelen of the Voitaan government.”
Again there was another long pause. “I see, Councilor. Perhaps you would like to meet down here and I can show you that which you are not aware of.”
Garelen looked to his fellow councilor Nakor. He returned a slow nod of approval. “Agreed. However, you must first guarantee that the hostages will not be harmed.”
“I am not the murderer, here,” Noren replied. “I assure you, no harm will come to them if you follow my instructions very carefully. Besides, they are currently tending to my injured and dying and are therefore very useful to me at the moment. However, if you decide not to cooperate, I will kill them—slowly, painfully. Do we understand each other, Councilor?”
Garelen swallowed hard before responding. “Quite. Name your location.”
After Garelen and Noren agreed on a suitable rendezvous point, Kirk asked again to speak with Piper. There was a long pause and several muffled voices. “Jim, it’s Mark. We’re all right for the moment.”
“What happened at the infirmary, Doctor?” Kirk asked.
“Noren and his people stormed the building and forced us here to tend to their people. He said something about the Voitaan injuring or killing them with some kind of weapons testing. I’m not actually clear on all the details about that, but most of the people we’re treating have definitely been injured by blasts from some type of energy weapons. Others show signs of slight radiation exposure. I wish I could get them to sickbay. Right now, though, it looks like I’m being asked to get back to work.”
“We’ll get you out as soon as we can, Doctor,” Kirk assured him.
“I hope so. I have a feeling my short-tempered Voitaan colleague, Doctor Seskan, may wind up getting blasted sooner rather than later. Good luck, Jim.”
Kirk wanted to say more, but Uhura announced that the signal was cut off at the source. Instead, he addressed the three Voitaan. “Before we go down I want to remind the three of you that if we verify Noren’s claims concerning the suffering inflicted upon the Dreknor by your people, Voitaan’s membership in the Federation could be jeopardized.”
“We understand, Captain,” Sental replied. “We certainly hope it does not come to that.”
“You just better hope I get my crew out of there alive.”
***
In the transporter room, Kirk assembled a landing party consisting of Garelen, Alden, a security team of five, and himself. At the console, Scotty reported that he was able to get a slightly better fix on the location of Noren’s underground encampment.
“How close, Mister Scott?”
“I’d say within forty kilometers from your rendezvous site. The sensors can’t distinguish human life signs from Dreknor or Voitaan underground, there’s some kind of interference from the mineral contents on the planet’s surface. So I can’t beam the hostages directly out o’ there.”
“Keep working on it. In the meantime, if we don’t report in thirty minutes, assemble two security teams and get the hostages out as quickly, and alive, as possible. Clear, Mister Scott?”
“Aye, sir, thirty minutes,” Scott replied with a nod. “Good luck, Captain.”
Kirk stepped onto the transporter pad with the rest of the landing party. “Energize.”
As the group faded from the transporter pad, Scott contacted security and placed them on alert. He hoped they wouldn’t be needed.
***
On the bridge, Hikaru Sulu stared at the sensor readings displayed in the raised monitor at the science station. When he reviewed them for the first time, he couldn’t believe what he saw. After adjusting the sensors, he received the same information and still did not believe it.
Now, as he sat back dejectedly in his chair and rubbed his eyes, he knew there was no disputing it.
“Report, Mister Sulu.”
Sulu started at the sound the monotone voice of the Vulcan who entered bridge unheard. There were few who had the ability to do that, and it made him realize just how tired he actually was.
“We have a problem, sir,” Sulu began. He worked the console to display, from the beginning, the data gathered by the ship’s sensors.
Within moments, Spock turned to the helm where Mitchell, who had arrived on the bridge with him, was just taking his seat. “Mister Mitchell, alter our orbit to keep the Enterprise away from the gravity well. I leave the course corrections to your discretion.”
“Aye, sir,” Mitchell complied. As he did so, the image of the double worlds on the viewscreen abruptly shifted. Voitaan was no longer in view as Mitchell steered the Enterprise out of the gravity well to an orbit perpendicular to Dreknor’s rotation. On the schematic above the Engineering station, it showed that the ship was now in a polar orbit.
Apparently satisfied, Spock stepped over to Uhura. “Lieutenant, contact Starbase 19. Inform them we will require at least two more starships for emergency evacuation of Voitaan and Dreknor within forty-six hours. Then attempt to contact the captain.”
At navigation and helm consoles, Stiles and Mitchell exchanged worried glances. In fact, Sulu noticed, just about everyone on the bridge became visibly concerned as they realized the meaning implied in Spock’s orders.
***
As the transporter effect faded, Kirk immediately stole a cursory glance at their surroundings. With him were Alden and Garelen—but not the security team. He shot a concerned glance at Alden who was already scanning the vicinity with his tricorder. Within moments, he gave a sharp nod in response to Kirk’s silent question. Yes, security was in place just as planned. Before beaming down, Scotty used the ship’s sensors to locate strategic areas around the rendezvous site from which security could observe the landing party unnoticed.
Facing the trio was the mouth of a small cave at the base of a fairly large mountain. The entrance was barely high enough to crawl through and Kirk dismissed the fleeting thought that it might serve as a possible ambush point for the Dreknor.
The sun had already begun to set on the other side of the mountain, casting the immediate area in a steadily darkening shadow. Kirk was certain that this detail was no small coincidence in Noren’s choice of time and location.
Taking closer scrutiny of their surroundings, Kirk noticed the various rock formations that, he imagined, concealed members of his security team.
Garelen stepped closer to Alden. In a low voice he asked, “Are you certain we are at the right location?”
The answer came shortly thereafter and without a word from Alden. Rather, it came from beneath them as the parched, cracked ground suddenly opened in what appeared to be a series of trapdoors. n one fluid, lightning quick motion, at least a dozen armed Dreknor leapt at once from below the surface and surrounded the landing party.
Drawing their phasers, Kirk and Alden moved immediately in front of Garelen, placing themselves between the councilor and the Dreknor.
“Hold your fire, Mister Alden,” Kirk ordered just loud enough for the communications chief to hear.
“My thoughts exactly, Captain,” Alden replied, though neither lowered their phasers.
At that point, one of the Dreknor, taller and broader than the others, slowly approached the landing party. “Somehow, I expected more of a fight.” The voice was immediately recognizable.
“We are here to negotiate for peace, Noren,” Garelen replied coolly. “Not to further the violence.”
“How eloquent, Councilor. I wish I could believe you.” It seemed Noren had little trouble recognizing voices as well.
“Where are the hostages, Noren?” Kirk asked.
The Dreknor slowly shifted his gaze from Garelen to Kirk and Alden. “Ah, yes, more humans from the big spaceship in the sky.” He raised his blaster rifle and shook it at Kirk to punctuate his words as he spoke. “You know, Captain, your Doctor Piper has been very helpful to my people. I may just have to keep him.”
Kirk lifted his phaser to match Noren’s. “Can’t let you do that,” he said. As he spoke, he brought his free hand up to his communicator hanging from his belt. He opened the cover just enough to press a button inside.
“It appears you aren’t in much of a position to prevent anything,” Noren gloated.
Kirk paused before replying, adopting the most sincerely innocent expression he could muster. “Appearances can be deceiving.”
The sound of footsteps and muffled voices caught Noren’s attention. He kept his gaze, and his rifle, fixed on Kirk as he backed up several steps. He risked a glance at the rest of his entourage behind him, which were currently surrounded by a Starfleet security team, phaser rifles raised.
Noren spun back and shot a glance at Kirk. To the captain’s surprise, the Dreknor’s expression was not filled with anger nor surprise. Rather, Noren adopted a rather sarcastic smirk. “Very clever, Captain. So what happens now, you attempt to massacre my people? We will not go down easily.”
Kirk did not reply. Instead, he removed his communicator and flipped it open. “Kirk to Enterprise.”
“Enterprise, Scott here, sir.”
“Plan was successful, Mister Scott,” Kirk began. “We’ll begin negotiations with the Dreknor immediately. I’ll keep you posted on our progress. Kirk out.”
Kirk flipped the communicator shut and turned back to Noren. “To answer your question, we’re going to talk. We’re going to find a suitable place to sit down and discuss this situation and come to a reasonable solution. In the meantime, I want to see the hostages.”
Noren took a deep breath and lowered his rifle. He nodded his head as the smirk faded. “Now, I’m impressed, Captain. I’ll take you to the hostages.” He turned and ordered his guards to stand down. Kirk did the same. It was an uneasy moment for all involved but it was also the first step towards trust, the single most important element needed in the effort towards peace.
Noren led the way around the opposite side of the mountain to another cave entrance, this one large enough for the entire group to enter. He appointed three of his guards to stay at the entrance while the rest of the group forged onward.
As they traveled, the path began to slope downward at varying degrees, descending in a sharp spiral before finally leveling off. The interior of the cave was illuminated by a series of greenish-blue light strips lining the walls.
No one spoke a word along the way and Alden began a scan of the interior of the cave with his tricorder. If any of the Dreknor took notice, they did not show it. In fact, the entire journey passed without incident. Fifteen minutes, and a few hundred meters later, the group finally came to a halt in what was essentially an intersection of five corridors.
Several of the Dreknor dispersed in various directions on Noren’s orders. The rest continued on their way straight down a corridor that dead-ended in what was little more than a cramped, makeshift infirmary. Around the perimeter of the room, sick and injured Dreknor lay atop salvaged cots or tattered mattresses. An unlucky few sat on the floor, huddled in corners, their arms or legs wrapped in bandages.
Noren stepped farther into the room allowing the others a full, unobstructed view. He then turned to face Garelen. “As promised, Councilor, I now show you that which you were unaware of. All of these people, and many before them, have been injured or killed as a result of vicious, unprovoked attacks by your people.”
“You mentioned weapons experiments,” Kirk said. “Can you give specific examples?”
“If you are asking whether we have evidence?” Noren said. “We do. In addition to records taken from the Voitaan compound, we have information extracted directly from the scientists.”
“Where are those scientists now?” Garelen asked.
Noren paused before answering. His hesitation was a more than adequate answer. “Understand that we were left with no other choice. We did what we felt had to be done. We tried for months to communicate with your people only to be slaughtered by your soldiers if we came anywhere near your complex. You see, we are a nomadic people, Councilor. We had no idea of your existence until three months ago when we reached this valley. It was then we discovered your military launching missiles into the valley, and firing energy weapons at the mountains. At first, we were going to continue onto another area but there were many among us that decided we were not going to be chased off like animals. The end result is what you see around you.”
Garelen glanced around the room slowly. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked at the ground before finally speaking. “Noren, please believe me when I say that my people were as equally unaware of your existence before now. Secondly, to the best of my knowledge, our scientists were never ordered to test any weapons.”
“Then once again, your knowledge is lacking.”
“Tell me, Noren, what exactly do you want from us?”
“I want your people off my planet!” Noren demanded, pointing an accusing finger at Garelen. Just as suddenly, his anger melted. He rubbed his neck and sighed. “But I guess that is too much to ask.”
“Noren, I want to help you,” Garelen said. “I give you my word that no further action will be taken against your people. If you provide me with the information you have, I will find those responsible for this. First, however, I ask only that you take us to the hostages.”
“The hostages are right behind you.”
Everyone turned at the sound of a gruff, weary voice laced with annoyance. Approaching from a small room behind them was an older Voitaan man wearing a beige jumpsuit covered with deep orange stains that Kirk took to be the blood of his people. Following a few steps behind was a haggard looking Doctor Piper, his blue tunic equally sullied.
Ignoring everyone else, the Voitaan made his way directly to Noren who drew himself to his full height as if preparing for the worst. “Doctor Seskan, what is her condition?”
“She’ll need complete rest for the next three to four days,” Seskan replied. “After that, she should be up on her feet and ready to lead a long, healthy Dreknor life—whatever that may be.”
Noren relaxed noticeably, allowing his shoulders to slump as if shrugging off the weight of the world. “Can I see her, at least?”
“She’s asleep now and I prefer she stay that way for several hours, but you’re holding the gun so I guess I can’t stop you.”
Noren glanced down at the rifle he held at his side. He exhaled in disgust and tossed it to one of his guards before rushing into the room from which the doctors emerged.
When he was certain that Noren was out of earshot, Seskan turned to Kirk. “About time you people got here.”
Before Kirk could reply, Piper quickly intervened. “Captain James T. Kirk, this is Doctor Seskan, CMO of the Voitaan infirmary.”
Kirk nodded sharply to the Voitaan before addressing Piper. “Any more information about what really happened to these people?”
Piper shook his head. “Nothing substantial. I’ve been in surgery with Doctor Seskan since we last spoke.” He nodded his head towards the back room. “That’s Noren’s daughter Raven. She was injured during a cave-in as a result of a bomb explosion, or so we were told.”
“Strong child, that one,” Seskan commented. “Though it’s a shame about her mother, I don’t know how she’ll take it.”
A moment of silence followed that was shortly interrupted as Seskan stepped around Kirk and Alden to Garelen. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re Councilor Garelen of the Yevra state?”
Garelen bowed his head in subtle acknowledgment. “You are correct, Doctor.”
Seskan nodded thoughtfully. “Then I assume you’re here to talk politics with these folks. Grace be with you, sir. You’re going to need it.”
Noren reappeared from the makeshift operating room and made his way back to the awaiting group. He seemed to have gained a second wind. There was a noticeable spring in his step as he approached.
“Now, gentlemen,” he began. “We can begin the task at hand.”
Garelen was about to speak when Kirk’s communicator beeped. Kirk looked over at Noren as he flipped it open. “Kirk here.”
“Spock here, Captain. Are you free to speak?”
Noren stepped away slowly and turned away from Kirk, but purposefully kept himself within hearing distance.
“Go ahead, Spock,” Kirk ordered. He also half-turned away from Noren as Spock began his report.
“As you are aware, Mister Sulu and I have been monitoring the gravity fluctuations between Dreknor and Voitaan. We have compared the data to that collected by previous Starfleet expeditions. In short, Captain, the results indicate that not only will the atmospheres of the two planets touch one another as expected, but it is estimated that within fifty-two hours, Dreknor and Voitaan will collide. All life on both worlds will be annihilated.”
Noren spun to shoot a wide-eyed glance at Kirk. Before anyone could react further, a thunderous explosion rocked the cavern. As everyone was pitched to the ground, the last thing Kirk saw was the unstoppable collapse of the ceiling.