Black Fire (24 page)

But it was a stunned, speechless Kirk who faced the engineer; finally he recovered his voice.

"Scotty! What are you doing here?"

With a broad grin, Scott shrugged. "I dinna know meself, Captain. I reported ta the Academy as ordered, an' the next thing I knew, I was told the charges were dropped. An' here I am, Captain. I dinna press me luck by askin' too many questions. It's good ta be back."

Kirk continued to ask questions as they walked to Scott's quarters. "They gave you no explanation?"

"Nae, sir. I was told ta report ta Starbase 12 for transfer ta the
Enterprise
. I even got my stripes back." He pointed to his sleeve proudly. "Is something wrong, Captain?"

After a slight hesitation Kirk responded, "Oh, no, Scotty. I was just thinking …"

Something was disturbing him. Kirk thought.
This is all very peculiar
,

"I'm delighted to have you back on board, Mister Scott. You were sorely missed. By the way, what was so delicate that you couldn't beam it aboard?"

"It's a small model engine, Captain. Usin' that tiny sliver o' crystal that I got on Paxas. Wait till ye see what it can do. I dinna trust the energy cell to the transporter effects."

"I can't wait to see it," Kirk said enthusiastically. "Have you shown it to anyone in Starfleet yet?"

"Oh, nae, sir. Not yet. It's still experimental.

A summons from the intercom interrupted them. Uhura's excited voice reported promptly at Kirk's response.

"Captain, the
Hood
has been destroyed. All hands lost. We are ordered to proceed directly to the area to investigate. Coordinates follow… ."

"Martin, put the coordinates on visual. I want to see where we're going."

"Yes, sir." The science officer flipped a lever and the chart appeared on the view-screen in Scott's quarters.

"I know that sector," Kirk exclaimed. "Tomarii! Starfleet's been dragging their feet on this issue ever since Spock's presentation of evidence after the explosion. Now we'll see what their reaction is."

2

The
Moonhawk
proceeded to the sector under investigation as a result of the
Space Hawk's
destruction. The new Vulcan sub-commander was proving to a competent officer. He found certain aspects of life on the Romulan ship not unlike and superiors—which was to be expected in a more militaristic society. Unlike the
Enterprise
, the
Moonhawk
was a warship and there was no pretense as to any other function.

Spock's attentions were primarily focused on the coded messages he was deciphering without anyone's knowledge. He was beginning to piece together a Romulan plot to capture a Federation ship, but was still unable to determine the target or time element.

* * *

The
Moonhawk
's routine was interrupted by an urgent message, breaking off all other communication, including the coded messages.

This is the
Sun Falcon
. We are under attack. Unable to identify enemy. Please respond—coordinates being transmitted. Repeat—this is the
Sun Falcon
…" The transmission cut off abruptly.

Desus was grim when he met with his officers after altering the
Moonhawk
's course to the
Sun Falcon
's last coordinates. He was all business, but that he was in turmoil was evident to all.

"You all heard the message. It must be assumed that our sister ship, the
Sun Falcon
, is lost. This is the third ship we have lost in this sector. The integrator reports of another Romulan ship aside from the
Sun Falcon
that has ventured there: She and her entire crew were lost." He paused, clearing his husky voice before continuing.

"We know little of the region except that only one person known to us has been in the immediate area and survived." Looking directly at Spock, he studied him for his reaction.

"Sub-Commander Spock, it was you who warned the Empire of the Tomariian threat. It is in that precise area where the
Sun Falcon
has disappeared."

The memories of Tomarii were still fresh and painful; Spock remained silent.

"Sub-Commander Spock," Desus repeated. "I am waiting for a report."

There was no way of avoiding the order.

"If the Sun
Falcon
disappeared in that sector, it would be logical to assume that the Tomariians are responsible." Spock hesitated.

"Yes," Desus probed, "continue …"

"Of course you understand that without the complete facts my statement is simply conjecture. We cannot be certain until we have further data."

"Tell us more of the Tomariians, Spock. Your message from the
Enterprise
gave only the coordinates and the source of the danger, and nothing else."

"Under the circumstances, it was the only information I had time to transmit. The Tomariians are irrational. I cannot explain the processes responsible for their erratic development. I can only describe what I have seen and the conclusions I derived from my observations."

"Go on," Desus prodded.

"Tomarii is located in a tri-solar system. If the pirates of Corsair had been explorers and had ventured behind the red sun of Corsair, I believe they will have found a duplicate of their small hot sun on the other side of the red giant."

Desus reacted as if slapped, but said nothing. The fact that he had failed to ascertain this himself rankled.

"The Tomariian red sun is cooling, and the other, smaller sun is in such close proximity as to make that side of the planet, uninhabitable. If the planet, by some unexplained circumstance, survived the nova which formed the red giant and the smaller suns, the inhabitants were obviously greatly affected. The cataclysmic events should have destroyed all sapient life on the planet, as it must have on Corsair. Those species who did miraculously survive must have been extremely hardy and adaptable.

"My conclusion is that the Tomariians adapted by evolving new physical characteristics. I believe drastic changes must have occurred in their mental processes as well. As we all know, the selective process takes many generations. However, these creatures possess a very rapid and prolific breeding cycle, and their ability to reproduce so efficiently accelerated their adaptive processes.

"There must have been a fairly high technological development on Tomarii at the time the sun went red, some of which was retained. They did, for instance, keep the knowledge of spaceflight—in its early stages of development, but it enabled them to leave the planet. As their dominion spread, they borrowed new technology.

"Their survival instincts combined with their tenaciousness gave them the characteristics I observed. It is that same determination which keeps the seat of government on Tomarii. They are ruled by conditions which are untenable and which are contributing to their hostile behavior.

"The same breeding cycle which enabled them to survive has forced them into seemingly suicidal aggression. There are other examples of this type of behavior, such as the manuils of Rigel One, who become aggressive and hence murderous, killing each other when population pressures build."

The Romulan officers listened to the Vulcan, not commenting, but reserving their judgment until he had completed his briefing.

"While a prisoner on Tomarii, I discovered that their rationale is the reverse of ours. If they can find a worthy opponent who will reduce their population while affording them sport, they will provoke a war. Since survival of the individual is not paramount to them, they are a daunting and relentless foe."

"And your solution, Spock?" Desus asked.

"At this point I see no easy solution to the problem. They have the resources of many planets and a population, albeit dispersed, far surpassing any other species I have seen in my many years in the space service."

The Supreme Commander rubbed his hand against his chin as he listened to Spock. "You have not come up with a plan—not even for the Federation?"

A raised eyebrow was his response.

"Come, Sub-Commander Spock." Desus stressed the rank. "You cannot permit us to believe that you have not thought of a solution to the problem."

"I did not say that I had not considered a possible solution, sir, just that I had no workable solution as yet. I was injured at the time. I was not at the peak of my efficiency either in strength or mental function. When I had recovered sufficiently, I was court-martialed and imprisoned; I escaped, went with you to Corsair, and then was brought to Romulus. I did not have sufficient time to apply myself to the problem."

"I understand," Desus acknowledged. "I assign you now to work with the other officers on board the
Moonhawk
on an attack procedure which will assure us success."

"Sir," Spock said respectfully, "there are many hazards in space. The
Sun Falcon
may have been destroyed by some as-yet-unknown, different cause."

"What are the odds of that being the case, Spock?"

"Five point three percent."

The Romulan was not accustomed to receiving such a precise answer. He carefully studied his surprising friend, thought about his most interesting traits, and then left the briefing room without further comment.

Spock followed him out. "Desus, something more is disturbing you. May I be of assistance?"

"Find a way to destroy Tomarii, Spock. That is the best service you can do for me. My sister Clea was on board the
Sun Falcon
." He turned away from Spock to conceal his deep sense of loss.

How many times had Jim Kirk done the same, attempting to mask emotion he felt would make Spock uncomfortable? The parallel struck Spock hard. He hadn't been able to help Jim, either—not often enough. At a loss as to how to assist his friend, and hiding his own inner conflict, Spock turned his attention to the problem at hand: Tomarii.

3

"Captain, my sensors are picking up an alien ship. Too far away to identify. It's coming up now—I don't recognize the configuration. It's large—bigger than the
Enterprise!
"

"Larger than the
Enterprise?
" Kirk repeated. "The Tomariians had nothing that big. Keep that ship on your sensors. Sulu, keep us out of phaser range."

"Yes, sir," the helmsman acknowledged, keeping his eye on the view-screen and the ever-expanding object in its farthest visual depth.

"Well, will ye look at that!" Scott exclaimed in surprise. "Those markin's are a wee bit familiar!"

"They certainly are, Mister Scott," Kirk agreed. "Romulans! With their characteristic bird-wing designs."

"And look at the size o' her, Captain. That's nae copy of a Klingon design. It's entirely different. And look at her lines! She's beautiful!"

"This certainly changes the picture," Kirk observed. "Sound red alert, Chekov. We may not be after Tomariians after all."

The klaxon sounded the red alert. There was an immediate deluge of information coming at Kirk.

"Shields up, sir," Scott reported.

"Veapons are battle ready, Keptin," Chekov announced. "Veapons are battle ready, Keptin," Chekov announced.

"All decks report ready, Captain," Uhura's voice resonated.

"The engines are go, Captain," Scott said.

"The Romulan's shields have gone up, sir. She's seen us!" Martin reported with excitement.

"Let's see what they want," Kirk said calmly. "Open a channel, Lieutenant. Let's see if they'll talk."

The
Enterprise
was jolted by a blast to the hull.

"A hit on number four shield, sir. Engineering section. Shield holding, but weakened. That phaser hit us from a great distance! They must have improved their weaponry range." Martin bent over his instruments, relaying the information to Kirk as soon as he had interpreted it.

"Keptin, phasers are charged and ready."

"No, Chekov, not yet. Uhura, clear that channel for me. I want to know why they're attacking. If they have superior weapons, they may very well have destroyed the
Hood
and we won't have a chance."

"Channel open, sir. They are not acknowledging."

"This is Captain James T. Kirk, of the U.S.S.
Enterprise
."

"Captain, it's obvious that they are the ones who destroyed the
Hood
," Leonidas interjected. "We should attack!"

"I give the orders here, Leonidas. I want to make damn sure it was them and not someone else before we start anything we may not be able to finish."

"Desus!" Spock called as he entered the
Moonhawk
's bridge. "Stop the attack! It could not have been the
Enterprise
. The
Sun Falcon
was not attacked by a Federation ship."

"Get off the bridge, Spock. You are still too close to your affiliation with Starfleet. I will see justice done!"

"Desus, listen to me. It is not logical to assume the
Enterprise
was the instrument of Clea's death. This is not a sector in which Starfleet usually cruises. There must be a specific purpose for the
Enterprise
to be here—at this time."

"Is it that you do not want to see your Captain Kirk killed, Spock?"

Desus' words stung. "Yes," Spock answered honestly. "But I know him well. He would not attack without provocation. You can see he has held off from returning fire now. Give him a chance to explain the
Enterprise
's presence here before you attack again."

Desus looked past his Vulcan sub-commander to his weapons chief. "Have the fusion weapons prepared. This will be an excellent opportunity to test their real capability."

Spock stood by helplessly, knowing the new weapon was more powerful than any the
Enterprise
had.

"Desus, listen to reason," he pleaded. "I know Kirk well, as well as any man I have ever known. I am—was—his First Officer—his friend. Listen to what he has to say." The Vulcan's voice was calm, but insistent.

"Put through the
Enterprise
's transmission," Desus grudgingly ordered. "We will hear what Sub-Commander Spocks former captain has to say."

Spock stiffened in anticipation of hearing Jim Kirk's voice.