The Captain's Oath

by Christopher L. Bennett

  Karabos II

  Rhenas Sherev looked different than Kirk remembered her. She’d let her hair grow out since leaving Starfleet, wearing it in a white braid that dangled halfway down her back, with shaggy bangs across her dark blue forehead. She was dressed for warm weather, in a tank top, shorts, and low boots, and Kirk could see that an intricate metallic support frame hugged the skin of her left leg. Her left hand clutched the tip of an ornate antique cane.

  However, as soon as she spotted Kirk and Mitchell, she laughed out loud and ran toward them, the cane clutched loosely in her fingers. Her gait was a bit slow and uneven, but she seemed untroubled by it as she loped across the sere, rocky surface of the local landscape, a barren desert at the foot of a craggy mountain range. The low oxygen level of the air, like that of a mountain peak on Earth, did not seem to faze her either. Kirk and Mitchell had needed tri-ox injections from Dr. Piper before beaming down, but Sherev had been here long enough to acclimate.

  “Jim! Gary!” She threw her arms around them one by one. “It is so wonderful to see you both again.” She noticed them eyeing her cane, whose grip Kirk could now see was styled after the head of an atlirith, an Andorian eagle. “Oh, this? A gift from my eldest zhei. It’s mainly just for show. Makes me look distinguished and professorial. Sure, I’m a little slower than I used to be, but I still get around.

  “And so do you, Jim! I couldn’t believe it when I heard your voice calling from the Enterprise! You finally traded up, and to a Constitution, no less. I’m so proud of you!”

  Kirk chuckled, grateful but puzzled. “You mean this is the first you’ve heard of it?”

  “I’m sorry, I’ve just been so caught up in this survey. It takes up just about all my attention.”

  “So we hear,” Mitchell said. “You also seem to have overlooked that there are several huge chunks of rock and ice on the way to hit this planet in two and a half days.”

  Sherev grimaced, her antennae rearing back in disgust. “Believe me, I’m aware. But now that you’re here, Jim, you can convince Skovir and her people to give me more time.”

  Kirk touched her shoulder, noting that her upper body was significantly more muscular than he remembered. “We’ve already spoken to Director Skovir, Rhen. She’s firmly committed to her timetable.”

  “Then you have to un-commit her. What we’re on the verge of discovering here is too important.”

  Mitchell looked around the barren, empty landscape. “Here? All I see is a whole lot of nothing.”

  “Well, for a navigator, you were never very good at seeing what was right under your nose, Gary,” Sherev teased. “Come on, boys, I’ll show you what we’ve found.”

  She led them toward the large geodesic dome that served as her team’s base. Mitchell stared at Kirk and mouthed, “Boys?” Kirk shrugged. She was a civilian now; she could call them what she pleased.

  Entering the dome was a breath of fresh air, quite literally. It was a welcome relief from the stiflingly hot, thin atmosphere outside. Sherev took a few moments to introduce Kirk and Mitchell to the three Andorians, two humans, and one towering Makusian who made up the rest of her team, but didn’t let them linger to get acquainted, instead leading them over to a worktable on which she called up images of her team’s discoveries.

  “The first clue we had was a low-level radiation signature over three hundred kilometers southwest of here,” she said, indicating another portion of the same large continent where they now stood.

  “Left over from the ancient war?” Mitchell asked.

  “What? Use your head, Gary. You know antimatter weapons are clean, no fallout.”

  “Oh, right, antimatter. I forgot. You mean like photon torpedoes.”

  “Yeah, only bigger. It’s why we haven’t found much in the way of ruins on the surface, or even underground. Most of the cities were cratered in the final war. It’s almost as bad as the Vega cataclysm.”

  Kirk studied her. “Is that why you’re so invested in this one, Rhen? The hope that you can achieve here what you couldn’t at Vega?”

  She patted him on the back. “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, Jim, I’ve been to experts. I’m here because my experience studying a similar cataclysm makes me useful here. I know what to look for.”

  He nodded. “Understood. I apologize.”

  But Sherev had already moved on. “For instance, this.” She called up an image of a massive stone slab at the bottom of a large excavation. Judging from the archaeologists standing next to it, it was some two meters high and wide and four times that in length, tapering from one end to the other. “It’s mostly concrete encased in sapphire, highly resistant to erosion. But it contains enough thorium-232 to give off a low-level radiation signature that our sensors were able to detect through several meters of rock. Clearly it was meant to get someone’s attention. And to remain noticeable for millions of years if necessary. That isotope has a very long half-life.”

  Kirk stared in wonder. “They knew their world was dying. So they buried a message for posterity, in case aliens ever came here.”

  “And we came a lot sooner than they anticipated—only about four thousand years.”

  Mitchell peered closer at the image. “I don’t see any writing on it.”

  “How could they expect aliens to read their language?” Sherev asked him. “No, the slab is the message.”

  Kirk examined the way it tapered. “A directional marker?”

  She grinned at him, her antennae perking up. “Bright boy! Go to the head of the class.” She worked a control, and more lights appeared on the map of the continent. “We found a total of five of these markers buried around this continental plate . . . all of them pointing inward to the location where we’re standing. Whatever they wanted us to find is here.” She zoomed in on the area. “It’s nonvolcanic, far from a fault line, about as geologically stable a site as you can find on this planet. And our scans detect a void several hundred meters inside the mountain. It’s shielded by walls denser than the surrounding rock, so it’s hard to get a clear sense of its interior layout, but we can tell it’s there.

  “Jim, they left this for us. Whatever’s in there, it was important enough to them to preserve for posterity, to invite alien visitors to find. It’s the legacy of their civilization, the only surviving part of a dead people. Could you just up and walk away from that?”

  Kirk was moved by her urgency, her empathy for a long-extinct people crying out to be remembered. “Not if I had a choice, no. But to paraphrase an Earth poet, just because they said to the universe that they existed, that doesn’t mean the universe has any obligation to let them be heard.”

  “It’s not the universe trying to silence them, it’s the Aulacri.”

  “Whose plans are dictated by the universe. This world is their best candidate for terraforming, and the current orbital configuration is the best they’ll have for decades.”

  Sherev narrowed her eyes. “Is that what Skovir told you? She’s lying, Jim.”

  “That’s a strong accusation.”

  “Well, call it being selective in her presentation of the data. There’s at least one other world in Aulacri space that would be almost as good for them to colonize; it’d just take a little more work to terraform and it’d be a little less ideal. And, hell, there are at least two good candidate worlds in the adjacent Federation sectors. If they really want to join us, they could apply with the Bureau of Colonization for one of those worlds once they’re members. I already offered that option to Skovir, and she rejected it out of hand.”

  “Rhen, look at it from their perspective. They may be interested in joining us, yes, but we’re still new to them. They need more time to evaluate whether it’s in their best interests. We can’t expect them to take it for granted that we’d give them what they need.”

  “There’s more to it than that, Jim. Skovir wouldn’t even consider it. She’s hell-bent on smashing the crap out of this particular planet.”

  “It’s been her life’s w
ork for twenty years, Rhen. Surely you of all people can understand being stubborn about completing a project.”

  She accepted the characterization without complaint. “Yeah, so I know what it looks like. I even tried to engage with her on those grounds, to show I was sympathetic, but no luck. Jim, I’m telling you, there’s something deeper driving her. It was when I told her about the information the Karabosi left for us to find that she got more resistant. It’s like she doesn’t want us to discover it for some reason.”

  “She was pretty clear about her reason,” Mitchell said. “She was really mad at them for killing off the rest of the planet’s life along with themselves. Makes sense for a terraformer.”

  “No, I’m sure it’s more than that,” she insisted. “It’s like she’s afraid of what we might discover here. Like she’s trying to cover something up.” Her antennae twisted tighter, like clenching fists. “And she’ll probably succeed. As comparatively stable as this region is, the quakes resulting from the comet impacts will probably bring down the mountains on top of the underground complex. Whatever’s in there would be crushed.”

  Kirk thought it over. “There are fifty-eight hours left. Is there any chance you could penetrate the complex within the next day or two? Soon enough to gather at least some data from the facility before you have to evacuate?”

  Sherev brightened, clutching his arms. “Oh, I was hoping you’d ask! Yes, with phaser bores and an additional science team from the Enterprise, we could probably pull it off.”

  “I think that could be arranged.”

  The archaeologist sobered. “But there’s only so much we could learn from a quick look. Whatever we find in there, we’d need to learn more about the planet as a whole to put it in meaningful context. It could take months, years of work to get real answers. You’ve got to keep trying to convince Skovir to divert the comets.”

  “I’ll do what I can, Rhen. But you need to be ready to leave with time to spare if it comes to that. I’m getting a little tired of having to rescue you.”

  Sherev smiled. “But you haven’t let me down yet, Jim. And I don’t expect you to start now.”

  U.S.S. Enterprise

  “. . . So we need to penetrate that underground site within the next day, if possible,” Kirk told the officers assembled in the main briefing room, “and retrieve what information we can before it becomes necessary to leave.”

  Next to Kirk, Gary Mitchell took in the reactions of the gathered officers. Spock was unreadable, as always; the man was so stiff he made Kirk seem like, well, like Mitchell. Chief Engineer Scott and Lieutenant Sulu had listened with fascination as Kirk had relayed Sherev’s discoveries, and both men looked eager to get involved. But Lee Kelso sat brooding by Spock’s side, looking unhappy about something. Mitchell was still unsure what to make of the man. He seemed amiable enough most of the time, but whenever Kirk was around, he closed off and grew far more serious. Mitchell wondered if he was trying to emulate a captain with a reputation for seriousness. If so, he was overdoing it. Mitchell would probably have to talk with him about it before he serioused himself into a heart attack, or at least a sore jaw from all that teeth-clenching.

  “Mister Spock,” the captain went on, “I want you to assemble a party to assist Doctor Sherev, favoring personnel with experience in archaeology and underground excavation. Engineer Scott, you’ll assist with the phaser bores.”

  The burly, squarish-featured Scotsman gave Kirk a brisk nod. “Aye, sir. I’ve been hopin’ to give the latest model a try.”

  “Pardon me, Captain,” Spock put in, “but Commodore Mendez’s orders were to prioritize the safety of Federation citizens along with the territorial demands of the Aulacri. Assisting the researchers in furthering their excavations seems counterproductive to both.”

  “Mendez also said we were free to convince the Aulacri to choose an alternative. That will be your job, Mister Sulu. Work with Commander Mitchell to survey the system’s cometary belt. Perhaps our navigational computers can find an alternate cometary configuration that they could use to bombard the planet at a later date, but still in the reasonably near future. We just need enough extra time to excavate the mountain site.”

  “Yes, sir!” Sulu answered.

  “Oh, goody,” Mitchell said with a sigh. “Plotting the courses of space rocks. That brings back memories. Dull ones.” Sulu grinned, his enthusiasm undimmed.

  “In the meantime,” Kirk finished, “I intend to invite Director Skovir aboard and inform her of our efforts. If we return the Aulacri’s hospitality, maybe they’ll be more receptive to considering a compromise. Mister Kelso, since Commanders Spock and Mitchell have their own tasks, I’d like you to join me in greeting our guests and showing them the ship.”

  “Permission to speak freely, sir?” Kelso asked.

  Kirk blinked in surprise, but said, “Go ahead.”

  “With all due respect, sir,” the helmsman went on, “what if they don’t appreciate your efforts to change their minds? We’re guests in their space. They’re within their rights to ask our scientists to leave, and they’ve done so already. I’m afraid that what we’re doing will look to them like an act of defiance—showing them we don’t respect their territory or their wishes. What will that do for their membership prospects?”

  The captain pondered for a moment, then replied quietly, “Those are valid concerns, Mister Kelso. That’s why it’s important to present our case as diplomatically as possible. Remember, the discoveries we could make on Karabos II would benefit the Aulacri as well as the Federation. It is, as you say, one of their own worlds.”

  Kelso let out a breath through his nostrils. “Understood, Captain.”

  But Mitchell could tell the man was unhappy with Kirk’s orders. Once the captain dismissed them and exited with the others, Mitchell held Kelso back for a moment. “Okay, Lee, are you gonna tell me what’s bugging you? I thought you were trying to impress the captain with how serious you could be, but I finally figured out you’ve got something against the guy.”

  The blond helmsman fidgeted. “I’d rather not talk about it, Commander. I know you and the captain are old friends.”

  “Forget that. I know how to keep a secret. And if there’s an issue between you and Captain Kirk, that’s for you and Captain Kirk to hash out. Trust me, if I finally figured out you have a problem with him, you better damn well believe he figured it out a week ago. I’d just like to hear your side of it, maybe help you find a way to get over it before the captain has to deal with it himself.”

  After a moment’s thought, Kelso spoke. “Look. I’ve been trying to give the man a fair shake. I admit, I’ve been feeling a little cheated that I hardly got a chance to learn from Captain Pike before he got replaced by a guy barely older than me. I’ve been trying not to hold that against him, figuring Starfleet had their reasons, that Kirk must know what he’s doing if they gave him a ship like the Enterprise.”

  “But?”

  “But then we get our first mission and . . .” He trailed off.

  “Hey, don’t lose your nerve now, Lee.”

  “Well, frankly, Commander, it feels like Kirk’s playing favorites. Like he’s putting his loyalty to an old friend above the good of the mission. And . . . with all due respect, maybe you can’t see it because you’re close to them both yourself.”

  Mitchell chuckled. “First of all, Lee, the amount of respect due to the likes of me is hardly worth worrying about. Second of all, you don’t have to worry about Jim’s objectivity. He’ll fight for his friends, sure, but he knows his duty.”

  “Are you really sure of that, Gary? I mean . . . well, I saw Doctor Sherev in those images from the site. She’s a damned attractive woman. Is it possible the captain is more attached to her than he should be?”

  The navigator stared at Kelso for a moment, then laughed long and hard. “Jim Kirk? Putting romance ahead of his career?” He needed a moment to catch his breath. “Oh, man, are you ever reading from the wrong data card!” He bro
ke up again, then struggled to get it under control. “Trust me, Lee, you’re way off base. I mean, the man enjoys a good shore-leave fling like the rest of us, but on the job, he’s the most focused, disciplined man I’ve ever met. His career’s always come first, and he decided long ago not to let anything else get in its way.

  “Oh—and Sherev, for your information, is happily married to three other people. Jim respects that too much to even consider what you’re suggesting.”

  “Well . . . all right,” Kelso conceded.

  Mitchell peered at him. “Somehow you sound less reassured than before.”

  “Like you said, his career is what drives him. Drives him so hard that he got a front-line starship command faster than anyone ever has. Maybe he feels he has to prove he deserves it.

  “And if that’s so,” Kelso finished, “maybe he doesn’t.”

  Realizing he wasn’t going to get through to Kelso today, Mitchell dismissed him. He’d leave it to Jim to sort things out with the man, if it came to that. Kelso only saw the relative shortness of Kirk’s command record, the fact that he only had one prior starship command under his belt. Maybe if he’d been there aboard the Sacagawea, as Mitchell had been, he’d understand how that one command had tested and tempered Jim Kirk, and how his decisions and achievements had proved him ready for still greater things.

  SACAGAWEA

  2263

  Eight

  When interacting with the populace of a precontact planet, an officer of Starfleet shall make no identification of self or mission; no attempt at interference with the social development of said planet; no reference to space, to other worlds, or to advanced civilizations . . .

  —Starfleet General Order One