KIRK SAT AT THE CONN, legs crossed, arms folded tightly across his chest. He knew he looked a lot calmer than he felt.
Scott had been down in Engineering for several hours, putting Spock's plan into effect and pulling in crew from all over the ship to cram into the warp engine room, the horizontal intermix chamber, and, with appropriate suiting, the dilithium reactor room. Anyone who could be freed from duty was ordered to report to Scott. Packed in as they were, they were all going to be very good friends by the time this was over.
Without a doubt, Kirk was willing to bet that most of the crew thought this was nuts. He could hardly blame them for the sentiment, but all the same, he suppressed a smile at the thought. Any of them who had shipped with him more than a few months had probably seen him do something stranger than this at least once. The first rule of thumb when you were a starship captain was to learn to fly by the seat of your pants. He liked to think he'd become pretty good at it over the years.
And there was always the self-destruct, if they needed it. He just prayed that Spock was right and they wouldn't. So far, things were progressing much as Spock had said they would. Power was still very low, but they seemed to be gaining some ground, enough that they now had almost continual contact with the landing party. That was a benefit that Kirk wouldn't willingly give up.
"Captain?" The cautious tone of Sulu's quiet voice immediately pulled Kirk out of the respite of his momentary reverie. "I think we might have a problem, sir."
"What is it, Mr. Sulu?"
"I'm not certain, Captain." The helmsman frowned. "Systems are so erratic that it's difficult to be completely certain, but I think there's an unidentified ship approaching."
Kirk perked up immediately. "One of Starfleet's?"
"Inconclusive, sir."
"On-screen." For all the good it did. Kirk leaned forward, trying to peer through the rain of static. There was a ship out there, but damned if he could tell whose it was.
They didn't need to give the creature another Federation ship to munch on, not while they were getting the Enterprise back on-line. "Uhura, warn them off if you can. Tell them we have a priority-one situation here."
"Aye, sir."
Sulu suddenly called out. "Captain, I still can't discern the make, but she's approaching rapidly, and I think her shields are up."
"Yellow alert!" Kirk snapped. His heart sank when no familiar klaxon answered his command. He glared away Sulu's apologetic look and stabbed the communications button. "Scotty! I need shields!"
Never in Kirk's memory had Montgomery Scott sounded so put out. "I'm sorry, Captain, but there's just no way I can do that. I've barely begun implementing Mr. Spock's idea. We've got improved communication capabilities, but that's it. If you want power to shields and weaponry I can maybe get some of it for you in a wee bit, but that means we're dead in the water so far as going anywhere."
"Mr. Scott, that's not good enough."
"Yes sir," Scott replied. "Begging the captain's pardon, I wish it were different. I wish there was something I could do, but my bag of tricks is empty. The crew and I are working as hard as we can, but the lass just doesn't yet have it in her to give."
Kirk suppressed the storm of emotions roaring through him. "Scotty, we have an unidentified vessel approaching with shields raised. If we don't get some protection, it may not matter much longer." He cut the connection before the chief engineer could respond. Uhura, open all hailing frequencies to the approaching vessel."
"I'll try, sir," she said dubiously. "Communications are better, but nowhere near what I'd like." Her clear voice filled the room as her hands played across her console. "This is the Federation starship Enterprise to unidentified vessel. We have a priority-one situation at present. For the good of your ship and crew, keep your distance. Please identify yourself."
Static crackled across the viewscreen, turning it into a raging blizzard. Somewhere in that mock storm, the wind abated for an instant, clearing the screen and letting them all see what bore down upon them.
"Captain!" Sulu's strident voice identified it for them all, not that Kirk thought there was any question. "Romulan bird of prey off the starboard bow!"
Oh, hell. "Red alert! Scotty, there's a bird of prey out there! I need everything you can give me!" How are we going to get out of this one?
"Captain!" Uhura called sharply. "The Romulan captain is hailing us!"
Kirk's mind tumbled. Now what? He had no choice. "Put him on screen, Commander."
"I'll try, sir," Uhura responded.
She did a good job, considering the dicey reception. Kirk decided it was just as well. With the lurid scar across his cheek and a nose that looked as if it had been broken half a dozen times, the Romulan commander was certainly no beauty.
He sat in his seat, straight and regal, with his dark robes around him, rank insignia gleaming shiny gold against the blackness of his sleeves. He looked like a Humanoid shark. "I am Telris of the Romulan Empire and captain of the bird of prey Elizsen."
Kirk's mind jumped. What to do? On the one hand, he had to consider the safety of his ship and crew. Could he ask the Romulans for assistance? Did he dare show weakness to this enemy of the Federation? Negotiations were no closer to a permanent treaty with the warlike race than they were with the Klingons. It was Kirk's personal bet that they never would be, but that didn't mean he wanted to aggravate the situation, either. How far could he trust them, if at all?
Kirk cut in before Telris drew another breath. "Greetings, Captain Telris. I'm Captain James T. Kirk, of the Federation starship Enterprise. I—"
"We know who you are, Kirk," the Romulan commander growled, his tone ugly. "Your reputation precedes you."
All thoughts of establishing trust went right out the window. Kirk wasn't certain just how, exactly, he was supposed to take that remark but felt safe in guessing he should feel insulted. Well, he would … later. When he had time. "You are now in direct violation of Federation treaty. If you return to Romulan-held space immediately, no formal charges will be filed." How's that for bravado? Kirk asked himself.
Disconcertingly, Telris laughed, a long and hearty bellow of sound, echoed by his men in the background. When he stopped, his expression was less than humorous. "Your sarcasm amuses me, Kirk. Thank you. It has been a long time since I had such a good laugh." His thick fingers caressed the arms of his chair. "I find it highly unlikely that you will press charges of any kind or take any action against me or the Romulan Empire."
"Oh, really?" Kirk said calmly. "And what makes you so certain?" His eyes strayed to Sulu's broad, round features in supplication, and the helmsman shook his head very slightly and very slowly. Come on, Scotty, Kirk silently prayed. Where are those shields?
Telris leaned forward, and his face filled the screen like something out of a bad movie. "Because our sensors indicate your ship has not yet raised her shields. I find it highly unlikely that you trust me so fully, Kirk, which means your Enterprise"—he said the name with a decidedly oily slur—"is without power to raise those shields … or to do much of anything else, either, if our sensor readings be true." He sat back in his chair, the picture of satisfaction. "As for the rest, a thief and saboteur should not consider himself in a position to point the finger of accusation."
Kirk blinked with surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
"You're very good at playing the idiot, Kirk," Telris praised. "But this time it will not save your life or the lives of your crew. Your 'priority-one situation'"—his voice was laced with heavy sarcasm—"is a Romulan space station, which I have tracked and now find within Federation boundaries and chaperoned by not only a Federation starship but the jewel of Starfleet's puny armada." He vehemently thrust his forefinger at Kirk. "James Kirk, I charge you with trespassing into Romulan space, theft and sabotage of a Romulan space station—"
Kirk barked laughter he didn't feel. "Theft?! How do you propose this station got here? That we towed it? The Enterprise does not have that kind of power and you know it. This station was found derelict and adrift within our borders."
"A likely story from the murderer of a station's crew!"
"Murderer?!" Kirk was so flummoxed by this latest charge that he momentarily ignored the others.
"Our sensors indicate life signs aboard the space station from only four individuals. Four, Kirk, when there was a crew of over one hundred. Your men, I presume."
"That proves nothing!" Kirk broke in angrily, rising to his feet on a wave of pain and stepping toward the screen, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "I deny your allegations! We found this station adrift and unmanned within Federation borders! I readily admit that some of my crew are aboard! They were sent to investigate how a Romulan space station came to be where it does not belong." The jibe didn't seem to bother Telris in the least. "They reported to me that the station crew was dead a long time before their arrival. They died of hypothermia caused by the presence of a creature aboard the station—"
"A creature, indeed!" Telris laughed sardonically. "Save me your pretty speeches, Kirk, and do not attempt to place your own blame upon a fabrication. Your glib words may work among your Federation sheep, but they do not work with me! The charges stand, and you will pay the highest penalty!"
Kirk wanted to hit something. That was the problem with Romulans … you were damned no matter what you did. "It's the truth! My people have seen it. At least one of my crew has been killed by it. I can't help it if you don't have the sense to believe me. Go ahead and make your claims, Telris. Make all the charges you want against me with the Federation. They'll go along nicely with my countercharges of infiltration beyond treaty borders and espionage. It's taken as common knowledge that the Romulan Empire resorts to attempting to plant spies within the Federation, but I never thought you'd have the unmitigated gall to try and set up an outpost within our very borders!"
Telris applauded slowly and contemptuously. "Bravo, Captain Kirk. A sterling final performance. You misunderstood me in one small detail, however."
Kirk's eyes narrowed. He felt the bridge crew behind him, taut and breathless. "Oh?"
The Romulan captain nodded. "Yes. I have no intention of bringing charges against you with the Federation." His eyes widened mockingly. "Does that surprise you? I see that it does." He slowly stood. Under different circumstances, Kirk might have been awed by the sheer presence of the man. "I prefer to take care of things by myself as they arise. I see no reason to bother higher authorities with the details of your eradication." He smiled as the wolf might have smiled just before it ate Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. "I consider myself particularly fortunate to have found the Enterprise without power. True, it takes away the thrill of the hunt," he acknowledged with mock sadness. "But it makes the ending most expeditious." He chuckled. "First, though, I'll take care of your boarding party." He gestured over his shoulder to someone out of sight. "Beam aboard with your men, Sacul."
"No!" Kirk cried. "My crew is innocent!"
"Nothing innocent ever thrived within the confines of the Federation, Kirk!" Telris snapped. But a moment later, someone yelled off-screen, and the Romulan commander whirled in. "What?!" His voice rose to a furious howl. "Then get them back here!"
Kirk had a sudden sneaking suspicion, and his hopes rose on a cresting wave. Spock had said that the creature needed time to recalibrate itself to new, previously untried food sources. It stood to reason that it would eagerly go after something it could consume without recalibration. And Elizsen and Reltah were both Romulan-built …
"Something the matter, Captain Telris?" he inquired lightly, resisting the urge to cross his fingers behind his back in a hopeful wish.
Telris rounded on him. His face was a mottled whorl of fury. "What have you done, Kirk? I'll kill you for this!" His fingers clenched as though he could feel the soft flesh of Kirk's throat under the curved nails. "How did you do it?! You have no power! How did you interrupt our transporter beam?! You've left my men smoking hunks of meat, Kirk!" He shrieked, his voice rising to a ringing cry. "I'll kill you for this! FIRE!"
"Scotty!" Even if the chief engineer had contrived to suddenly give them full power, there was no way shields could have been raised in time. "Hang on!" Kirk cried, bracing himself for the blast that would scatter the Enterprise and her crew across the universe. It never came.
On the screen, Telris shook in a towering rage, his face suffused with blood. He spun about, muscular arm swinging, and slammed a crewman out of his chair and onto the floor. "Not the space station, you vermined idiot! The Enterprise!"
Blood ran from the cowering Romulan's lacerated lip. "My lord!" he cried beseechingly, holding his hands up to protect his face. "I aimed for the ship, my lord! I swear it! The shot went wild!"
"So, weaponry aims itself now, does it?!" Telris kicked him savagely in the side, then hauled him up by one arm and flung him back into his chair. "It's your life, fool! Fire on the Enterprise! Now!"
The crewman's shaking hands sought his controls. Even with bad reception, Kirk saw every ounce of color fade out of the Romulan's face. "Captain Telris, we have a power drain! Weapons systems are failing!"
Relief washed through Kirk in a head-rushing wave. "Welcome to the family, Telris. You're going to keep losing power until you're down to minimals, just like the station did." Just like the Enterprise, too, but he wasn't about to say it. After all, they had Mr. Scott and a crew of over four hundred eager volunteers busy at work in the ship's belly. Who knew what might come of that? Something better.
Telris spun about and glared at the screen. "If that is the case, then we shall use what energy we have left to rid the universe of you!" He turned and slapped the helmsman soundly across the back of the head. Blood spewed from the crewman's nose. "Ram the Enterprise!"
To Kirk's horror, trajectory changed slightly, and the bird of prey turned toward them and began to accelerate.