Hacker Chronicles 2/HACKER2.BIN/537.CHAP#8.TXT

Text File | 1993-03-01 | 18KB | 458 lines

                               ***    EIGHT   ****



            Captain's log, Stardate: 5850.3.

            We are 8 hours, 15 minutes from the planet Organia.  Our
       mission is contingent upon the answers I receive from the
       inhabitants of the planet.  To be an ambassador of good will or the
       weapon of their destruction will be decided in just nine hours.
       My crew is only aware of our destination.  I am sure that when I
       give the command for self-destruct, there will be questions that I
       am unable to answer, and fears I will be powerless to quell.

            Lieutenant Grensk, who is accompanying us on our voyage, is a
       puzzle I have yet to solve.  Uhura could find no record of his
       existence when I gave her instructions to investigate his history.
       No prior service records, nor credit holdings, not even birth
       records were uncovered, until 5 hours ago, when I instructed her to
       search again.  Then she found his complete file located where it
       clearly was not before.  I have had a peculiar feeling about
       Grensk, that I would have passed off as asocial behavior due to
       the lack of trust his superior had in me.  Notwithstanding, Spock
       noted a strangeness to him as well.  'As if he were Vulcanoid,
       masquerading as a human,' is how my First Officer put it.  Spock
       made several attempts to 'apparently' accidentally make physical
       contact with Grensk, in order to make passive mental reception of
       his thoughts, but Grensk has always managed to keep distance
       between them.

            Ship status: Against Chief Engineer Scott's advisement, we are
       at warp seven.  Mr Scott is still reporting a possibility of an
       uncontrolled antimatter implosion, if we keep up our present
       velocity.  Under my current orders, I have little choice but to
       have our speed maintained, though it is against my own personal
       judgement.  If we must, we can reduce speed to warp 5 and continue
       to use warp speed through the Organian solar system to the planet
       Organia.  Warp speed is inadvisable within the proximity of any
       gravitational influences, but we could still meet our deadline
       should we have to slow.

            In four hours the last of the fleet should be arriving just
       beyond sensor range of the Klingon Side of the Neutral Zone.  My
       greatest fear is not in the possibility of our destroying Organia
       under orders, for I do not believe we have the power to do so.  But
       our very presence might either provoke them to anger or cause them
       to remove all restraints from both treaty sides, allowing an inter-
       galactic war, to which there would be no winner.

            The Federation is hanging off a ledge, and my actions may be
       the force that pushes it over the brink.

            End Log.



                                  *         *         *

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            James T. Kirk heard the cabin chime and allowed it to ring
       twice, in case, he hoped, it rang by mistake.  On the second ring,
       he merely said, "Come."

            Both Spock and Dr. McCoy entered as Jim lifted himself from
       his desk to meet them.

            "Captain," Spock began, but was immediately cut off by McCoy.

            "Jim, we've got a problem." the Doctor corrected himself,
       "Make that a Big Problem!"

            "Not another one," Jim stated tiredly, sitting back down and
       turning his chair to face the two.  "This isn't my week."

            "Jim, Spock told me of the suspicion you were having about
       that S.I. officer you have watching you.  At first I thought you
       both were acting a bit paranoid, but Spock convinced me to follow
       him with my medi-scanner in hand and take a reading while Spock had
       him occupied."

            "So, what's the Verdict?  Is he Vulcan, Romulan or just a
       flake?"

            "None of the above, Jim...  He's an android."

            "An android?  Bones, are you sure?"

            "Not merely an android, Captain." Spock found an opening in
       the conversation before McCoy could completely misinform him.  "He
       is a modified R-D-I combat android from the planet Tolmera.  During
       the Tolmerian wars, the automaton was considered an excellent
       killing machine.  Supposedly, the last of them had been destroyed
       or dissassembled in accordance with the terms of the armistice
       pact.  I suspect that not only is that an inaccurate fact, but it
       seems that certain members of Starfleet have taken it upon
       themselves to put at least one of them to use in a probable
       suicide mission."

            "Suicide mission?  Spock, this isn't supposed to be a suicide
       mission!"  Jim felt a cold needle-like jab in his stomach.  Fear.

            "Perhaps not for us Captain," stated Spock, "albeit, I believe
       we have evidence that Commodore Stormcloud had an ulterior motive
       for sending it, rather than to observe you."

            "You mentioned suicide mission, Spock.  What could the android
       do that we weren't already ordered to do?  Make sure there are no
       witnesses to the extermination of the Organians?" Jim asked.

            "I do not know exactly what the android's mission entails.
       Suffice to say, he is completely capable of destroying the planet
       Organia by himself."

            "Tell him why, you pointed ear pixie, or are you waiting for


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       the movie to come out!"  McCoy was full of old Earth expressions.

            "I believe that I was in the process of explaining myself,
       when you..."

            "Spock, just tell me!" Jim said impatiently.

            "Captain, do you recall the Commodore stating that he had
       accounted for every grain of the Garth explosive that was removed
       from Elba II for purposes of experimentation?" Spock queried.

            "Yes Spock, continue."

            "The Commodore neglected to mention the fact that 'every grain
       accounted for' had been placed in a detonation encasement lodged in
       the chest of our Mr. Grensk," Spock concluded.

            "This is definitely not my week," Jim said dejectedly.  "The
       Commodore's 'insurance policy'," he said remembering the words of
       Stormcloud.

            "Apparently," agreed Spock.

            "So that's why we were to take the shuttlecraft down to the
       planet, instead of transporting down."  Jim rubbed his chin.  "The
       substance can't be transported."

            "Now that I know this much, would ya mind filling me in on
       what the heck we are going to Organia for?" the Doctor said.

            "I'm afraid I've said too much already, Bones."

            "That's great!  We're headed for a planet that may or may not
       be destroyed by a walking time-bomb, which may or may not take us
       with it, and you still think you should keep your Chief Medical
       Officer in the dark about why!" McCoy said angrily.

            "Orders," Jim simply said, then added, "Sorry, Bones."

            "Well then, if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to sickbay.  At
       least I know what's going on down there." He turned to leave.

            "Not so fast, Bones."  Jim grabbed his arm, "I may not be able
       to tell you everything about our mission, but I might need your help
       in dealing with our mechanical Starfleet officer."

            "I'm a doctor, not the bomb-squad!" he countered, fidgeting
       with his uniform.

            "If I may, Captain," Spock broke in. "We are due on the bridge
       in four point eight minutes.  Perhaps we could continue with Doctor
       McCoy's meaningless banter afterwards."

            "Why you copper blooded..."

            "Bones!" Jim interrupted, "Spock's right.  We have to go.  You

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       go on to sickbay and we'll join you in about 15 minutes and see if
       we can come up with something that will help."

            McCoy looked at Spock, opened his mouth to speak, closed it,
       rolled his eyes while shaking his head and walked out of Jim's cabin.





                                   *         *         *





            Uhura was sitting relaxed, at her station, monitoring blank
       channels.  She had little to do since the communications blackout
       had been issued.  She hummed softly to herself and rotated her
       chair to look at the forward viewscreen's depiction of the stars
       in front of them.  She looked down at Sulu and Checkov, who were
       smiling as they quietly exchanged jokes.

            They were not unconcerned with the current events which had
       forced them toward their destination.  They were aware that it was
       a priority mission and that the details could only be given on a
       'need to know' basis, which caused even greater concern among them.
       On the surface, the bridge crew seemed to have its normal, though
       with no Captain on deck, more casual, "high" morale.  Underneath,
       however, the tension escalated with every kilometer gained towards
       Organia.

            The turbo-lift doors opened and out of it stepped Lieutenant
       Grensk.  He looked at the empty captain's chair and registered to
       himself that Sulu must have console command.  "Mr.  Sulu, where is
       Captain Kirk?"

            Sulu faced the lieutenant, "He is in his cabin, and left word
       that he is not to be disturbed..." he said, "By you," he added a
       little too cheerfully.

            "We are now 8 hours and 47 seconds from destination orbit, are
       we not?" questioned the android.

            Sulu looked at the chronometer and without showing his
       surprise at Grensk's accuracy, he said, "Eight hours, forty-one
       seconds, mark."

            "Lieutenant Uhura, please contact Captain Kirk and inform him
       that his presence is urgently required on the bridge," spoke
       Grensk, unemotionally.

            The lift opened again, as Captain Kirk and Spock entered,
       before Grensk completed his sentence.

            "Belay that, Uhura," Jim said as he and Spock walked over to

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       the ship's emergency console.  "Computer, this is Captain James T.
       Kirk, engage auto-destruct program, version A7."

            "Working," spoke the familiar female voice. "Encoded Nine
       hours to destruct from final sequence."

            The lift doors parted once again, allowing Chief Engineer
       Montgomery Scott to exit it.  He promptly joined the others at the
       console.

            The significance of the Captain's command caught everyone's
       attention and caused several worried looks to be exchanged.

            "Good of you to join us, Mr. Scott," the Captain greeted
       Scotty.

            "Good?  I wouldna call riggin ma engines to blow 'good',
       Captain.  In fact, I've been spendin the past two days tryin to
       keep em from doin just that."

            "Awaiting initiation code from Captain James T. Kirk," the
       computer prompted.

            "Understood, Mr. Scott, but you don't think we'd be here if I
       wasn't under orders or the situation didn't necessitate it?"

            "Does the Captain wish to cancel auto-destruct procedures?"
       the computer queried.

            "Negative," Jim lied to the computer as he rested his eyes on
       the Intelligence Officer across the room.

            Jim spoke his code into the console, without taking his eyes
       off the lieutenant.  Spock identified himself and spoke his part to
       the computer, followed by Mr. Scott in turn.

            "Awaiting the final sequence for auto-destruct," it announced.

            "Computer, this is Captain James T. Kirk, initiate final
       sequence, code zero, zero, zero, destruct, A7, zero," he said.

            The computer beeped 3 times and stated, "Nine hours from
       destruct," and became silent, awaiting eight 60 minute intervals to
       announce the hourly countdown.  It would give a count by minutes at
       the last hour and by seconds at T minus one minute to destruct.

            Jim straightened himself and turned from the lieutenant to
       Uhura.  "Has communications silence been broken by anyone?"

            "No, Sir, all channels are clear," she responded
       professionally, not betraying her fear.

            Jim stepped down to his chair of command and snapped the
       intra-ship comm button to open.  "This is the Captain.  Though I
       am under orders not to disclose the details of our mission, it is my
       is my prerogative to inform you that the Enterprise is currently in

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       countdown for destruct.  We have almost 9 hours to countermand the
       order, but in the event that I deem it necessary to allow it to
       complete, Uhura will give the evacuation code and all hands will
       report to their assigned shuttle craft for emergency
       disembarkation.  You will have no less than twenty minutes to
       report and launch, so there will not be any need to worry, or
       stampede.  I'll keep you posted if the situation changes.  Captain
       out."  He depressed the button again with the bottom of his fist
       and closed the comm.  channel.  Just as quickly as the flip of the
       switch, an idea came to him.

            "Mr. Scott, have your men finished cleaning and inspecting
       the propulsion units on all our shuttles yet?" Jim asked.

            "No sir, but we should ha them done by 0900."

            "That will give me two hours clear before I need one." He
       paused to glance at Grensk again.  "Mr. Scott," he continued, "how
       long will it take to refuel, restock fresh supplies, emergency
       units, recalibrate all sensors and life support systems and check
       structural integrity of all shuttles?  By the book!" he
       emphasized.

            "Well, Sir, with all ma men workin without breaks, I'd guess
       about three more hours added to the first estimate.  1200 hours.
       Just about the time Enterprise is set to blow, Sir," the Scotsman
       said.

            "According to regulations, we are required to have them in
       that state of readiness in the event of evacuation.  Isn't that
       correct, Mr. Grensk?"

            Lieutenant Grensk was unaware that the Captain was speaking to
       him, until his name was mentioned.  He snapped his head up to face
       the Captain and replayed the question to himself.  "That is
       correct, Captain. However,"

            "It appears we will have to, in the interest of adhering to
       Starfleet regs. concerning the safety of my crew, forego the
       Commodore's personal order to use the shuttle craft as
       transportation to the planet," Jim said, smiling inwardly but
       intoning his voice to express sadness at having to disobey the
       Commodore's order.

            "But Sir," the lieutenant stressed unemotionally, "the
       Commodore specifically,"

            "Lieutenant," Spock interrupted. "You of all people would not
       insinuate that the Commodore would order a Starfleet Captain to
       violate standing Starfleet orders," he stated as if it were a
       foregone conclusion, not a question.

            "No, Sir," he responded to the First Officer.  "Captain, I
       would like to offer my services to Mr. Scott to expedite the
       preparation of one craft, in time for planetfall."


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            "Request denied.  That would keep you from the duties assigned
       you by the Commodore.  Whatever they are."  Kirk rested back into
       his chair, as if he intended to remain there.  "Besides, I don't
       want you getting under foot of Mr. Scott's repair detail."

            "But Sir, I am fully rated on,"

            "That will be all Lieutenant," Jim silenced him abruptly.

            "Aye, Sir," responded Grensk.  "Permission to leave the
       bridge?"

            "Granted," said Kirk and all eyes, many quite curious,
       followed Grensk's exit.

            "Mr. Scott, get your men started and keep an eye out for
       anything suspicious."

            "Aye, Sir," Scotty said and exited the bridge.

            "Uhura, have Security post four guards around the shuttlebay,
       with instructions not to allow Lieutenant Grensk admittance," Jim
       said, then added, "Tell Security that phasers are not to be issued
       to the guards."

            "Right away, Sir," she said as she pondered the meaning of his
       command.

            "Mr. Spock," Kirk said as he lifted himself from the chair, "I
       believe we have a date to keep in sickbay.  Mr.  Checkov, the
       con is yours."

            "Aye, Keptin," Checkov said eagerly, unable to restrain the
       joy from his voice.  To him it was a rare and precious thing to sit
       in the command chair of the Enterprise.  Few would disagree.

            The lift doors closed behind the Captain and Spock.

            "What do you suppose that is all about?" queried Uhura.

            "I don't know," spoke Sulu, "but the plot's thickening."
















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