“Attack! Attack at once!” Karsul stated. He brought his fist down on the table for emphasis.
“Any other recommendations?” Kor asked mildly. There was a confused muttering.
“It would help if we had some idea about your own thoughts on the matter,” Kandi drawled, rising from his seat and moving to the table.
“Clever, Kandi,” Kor murmured to his old friend and companion. “Put me on record so that if my plan goes wrong there will be only one to bear the blame.”
“I am not trying to trap you,” Kandi replied in the same low tone. “But there are others who will,” he added with a glance toward Karsul.
“I am aware of the situation, but this is not the time to discuss it.” Kor lifted his head, and scanned the handsome, dark-skinned faces of his officers. “I admit it is difficult to forgo a tempting target like the Enterprise,” he said in a normal tone.
“Then why do it?” Karsul demanded.
“For an obvious reason—the space/time rip. A computer extrapolation indicates that the rip is increasing at a terrifying rate. At its present rate of growth it will begin to offer a substantial threat to Imperial shipping in fifteen days, and a threat to nearby worlds in another thirty.”
“So let us deal with the Federation ship, and then turn to the phenomenon.”
“You make it sound as if we are dealing with a scout ship. This is the Enterprise … with Kirk in command. Even with two cruisers it is very likely that we would end up with both ships crippled or one destroyed. That would certainly hamper our investigation of the phenomenon.”
“Kor is right. The Enterprise is the most powerful starship in the Federation fleet, and Kirk is no average Earther. He can fight like a Klingon when pressed to it.” Kandi shook his head. “I would not willingly go up against him unless he were heavily outnumbered, and certainly not when we are faced with what could potentially be a greater threat than the Federation.”
“What would you consider a sufficient number of ships?” Karsul asked. His tone was polite, but there was something in his expression that indicated that he thought Kor and Kandi were behaving like cowardly old men.
“Three at least,” Kandi replied, refusing to be provoked.
“So what do we do?” Kaandal, Kor’s aide-de-camp, asked. “Sit and stare at the Earthers until the phenomenon devours us all?”
Kandi cocked an eyebrow at Kor. “He has a point. I’m also not enamored with the idea of a standoff with the humans.”
Kor folded his hands on the table, and carefully studied his fingers. “The humans are technologically superior in some areas to us Klingons.” He cut off the babble of protest with a hard glance. “It serves no purpose to deny it. Their worlds are richer, and such abundance gives them advantages. It is possible that they have techniques, equipment that will allow them to solve the puzzle of this space/time warp faster than we could.”
“So we sit back and let them do the work for us?”
“No. We work with them. It will increase our chances of success if we pool our resources.”
“Work with humans?” Karsul spat out, his face twisted with anger. “Never!” He paced furiously away from the men clustered at the table. Kor’s eyes narrowed in fury, and he rose and kicked back his chair with a booted foot. He walked to his second, and swung the younger man around.
“Is your answer still ‘never’ when I say this is an order?” The silence stretched between them. Karsul panted slightly with anger. “Think well, Karsul,” Kor said softly. “The agonizer is an effective device for quelling even the hottest temper.”
The younger man’s jaw worked for several seconds, then he gave an abrupt nod. “If it is your order, Commander, I will work with the humans.”
“A wise choice.” Kor turned back to the other officers. “Kandi, get back to your ship. The rest of you return to your stations. We will see if Captain Kirk is willing to be reasonable.”
Kandi paused at the door, and looked back over his shoulder. “And after we have dealt with the phenomenon?”
A small, almost mischievous, smile tugged at Kor’s lips. “We can always attack the Enterprise then.”
There was a gust of laughter from the relieved officers, and Kandi nodded slightly, indicating his approval of Kor’s tactics.
Kor waved dismissingly to his junior officers, and fell into step with his old friend. The corridors were deserted. Everyone was at his post because of the alert which had been called with the arrival of the Enterprise. They reached a connecting corridor, and halted. Here they would have to part, Kandi to the transporter room to return to his ship, and Kor to the bridge.
“You are going to take vengeance on Kirk for the trouble he has caused you?”
Kor sighed, leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “I suppose so, although I would probably be better served by taking vengeance on those men at Fleet Command who reprimanded me. Kirk and I were merely victims of the Organians. No matter who had been in command on Organia the result would have been the same. I did not fail in my command,” he concluded, and his expression was bitter.
“Not so loud,” Kandi warned. “There are some on your ship who wouldn’t hesitate to report such insubordination back to Klinzhai.”
“You think I can’t control my officers?”
“I don’t think you are realistic about their capability for treachery.”
Kor smiled faintly. “That just makes them good Klingons.”
“And thwarting them makes you a better one,” Kandi retorted. He clasped Kor on the shoulder. “I must go now. And remember—watch your back.”
“I always do.” Kor watched as Kandi strode quickly down the corridor, and felt bereft. He wished he could have had Kandi as his second. Then he would have known that his back was secure, but the younger man was too fine an officer to be left playing second fiddle to him. He deserved a ship of his own.
Kor continued to stare down the hall long after the lean, elegant figure of his friend had vanished. Then with a sigh he pushed away from the wall, and continued to the bridge. It did no good to repine. He would just have to guard his own back.
His bridge crew turned expectantly to face him as he entered. He waved them back to their stations, then paused by his communications officer.
“Get me Kirk.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sir, we’re receiving a signal from the Klingon cruiser.”
“Put it on the screen, Lieutenant.” Kirk gave a smile of satisfaction and leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced over his belly. Maslin moved away from Uhura to stand near the command chair.
“I apprehend that you expected this development, Captain,” Spock said, stepping down from his science station.
“Quite true, Mr. Spock.”
“May I know the reason, Captain?”
“The Klingons are obviously as concerned about the phenomenon as we are, and I find the fact that they sent two ships very telling.”
“In what way?”
“Two ships? Two science teams? They obviously don’t have much confidence in their ability to solve this mystery.”
“I see. Then you believe they will propose a truce?”
“I think it highly likely.”
“But can we trust them?” Maslin said abruptly, moving in to join the conversation. “I’ve heard stories about Klingon treachery.”
“Beginning to be glad you’re on a starship, and not on a luxury cruiser, Mr. Maslin?” Kirk asked with a teasing gleam in his eye. “But as for your not unfounded fears, this is Kor we’re dealing with. He’s a Klingon, but on Organia he seemed like a man who disliked senseless waste. I think he’ll respond the same way in this situation. At any rate, we’ll just have to—” He broke off as the Klingon bridge flickered to life on the screen.
“Captain Kirk, still waiting I see.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Commander. Besides, I have a job to do. Your presence here doesn’t alter that fact.”
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�And I too have a job to do, Captain. However, since our jobs overlap, I suggest that we pool our resources. It may lead to a speedier resolution of the problem.”
“I think that’s an excellent suggestion, Commander. The rate at which this phenomenon is expanding makes it imperative that we act at once. I don’t think either one of us has the time to indulge in the luxury of a battle.” Kirk smiled, and Kor gave a wolf’s grin in answer.
The Klingon made a sound of disappointment, and shook his head. “It’s a pity that we are once more thwarted in our test of strength.”
“That space/time rip may require all the strength we’ve got, Commander.” Kirk paused. “Then I take it we have a truce?”
Kor nodded. “What kind of surety do you want, Kirk?”
“We’ll prepare a jettison buoy outlining our agreement, and voice printed under both our names. That may deter any treachery on either of our parts.”
“You’re a trusting man, Kirk.”
“Hostages are more trouble than they’re worth, Commander, and I’m sure you don’t want humans on your ship any more than I want Klingons on mine.”
“So, where do we begin?” Kor said, accepting the logic of Kirk’s statement. “We have scanned the perimeter of the phenomenon, but the data is meaningless.”
“My first officer is of the opinion that the root of the problem lies not in space, but on the planet below us.”
Kor frowned. “On what does he base this conclusion?”
Kirk shot an ironic look at Spock. “Logical intuition,” he replied dryly. “At any rate, I’m sending a landing party to the planet.”
“In that case we will naturally wish to have one of our own present.”
“I expected you would.”
“It is only prudent, Kirk. We will ready our science team. Please let us know where you intend to beam down. We wish to be near—but not too near.”
“A wise precaution, Commander. We wouldn’t want to cause friction between our people. Until later.” Kirk signaled Uhura, who broke connection.
He cocked an eye over his shoulder at Maslin. “Well, Mr. Maslin, how’s this ‘institution’ doing so far in dealing with those threats that you made so light of when you first joined the Enterprise?”
“Not bad,” Maslin said stiffly. “I suppose I didn’t really expect to find Klingons.”
“You never do, Mr. Maslin, you never do.” The smaller man flushed slightly at the condescension in Kirk’s voice.
Kirk leaned forward in his chair. “Mr. Sulu.”
“Aye, sir?”
“These orders are for both you and Mr. Chekov. See that you heed them should it become necessary.” The two men swung around in their chairs to face Kirk. “I want constant monitoring of the Klingon cruisers. If you detect anything out of the ordinary bring up the shields. You are to give no consideration to the landing party. Your first priority is the protection of the Enterprise. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Sulu said quietly. He was echoed by Chekov, who looked frightened. It was apparent that the young Russian was just beginning to understand how close he stood to the command of the Enterprise, since Spock, Scotty and Uhura would be members of the landing party.
“Mr. Sulu, you have the bridge.” Kirk swung out of his chair, and headed for the turbolift.
“I don’t recall including you for the landing party, Captain,” Maslin said.
“I’m including myself,” Kirk said whimsically. “I won’t be there constantly, but I’ll be in and out to check on your progress, and I’m going down now to oversee the landing.”
“That will put all four of your top officers on the planet’s surface, leaving only juniors prepared to take the bridge if there should be an emergency,” Maslin said, taking up a blocking position before the doors of the turbolift.
“You’ve been doing your homework, Mr. Maslin.”
“I never do anything by halves. Since you forced me into this incredible organization I decided to understand it—so far as that’s possible.”
“Very commendable.”
“Yes, isn’t it? But I want to know why you will be transporting down at all? Surely the team you’ve assembled is capable of setting up a camp without your direct supervision.”
“I always do,” Kirk said shortly, beginning to eye the composer with some hostility.
“Well, that’s stupid.” Everyone on the bridge stiffened at the musician’s abrasive tone, and hunched their shoulders as if preparing for a storm to break over their heads. Kirk opened his mouth to respond, but Maslin drove on before he had a chance.
“Star Fleet has spent millions training you to be a starship captain. I don’t want to see all those tax dollars going to waste if you should get killed, and frankly we would all be better served if you stayed aboard the Enterprise where your expertise and training can do us some good, rather than mucking about on some god-forsaken planet. Besides, I don’t want some second stringer trying to rescue my ass if we do get into difficulties.”
Sulu and Chekov glared at the composer.
“Thank you, Mr. Maslin,” Kirk said very quietly, and with great control. “Your objections have been noted. But I can assure you that all of my officers are fully capable of commanding the Enterprise.” Sulu and Chekov looked mollified. “Now, shall we get started? As I pointed out to Commander Kor, that phenomenon seems unwilling to wait for us to settle our petty differences.” And he pushed past the smaller man into the turbolift.
Kor sat staring at the shimmering image of the space warp on the viewer in his private quarters. It was not a thing he could destroy with a good blast of disruptor fire or a well-placed torpedo, nor could he use his own cunning to solve the problem. He had to rely on others to answer this puzzle, and it frightened him.
Suddenly hands slipped over his shoulders to stroke the metallic fabric of his shirt front. Startled, he threw back his head, and looked up into the face of Kali, his wife of five months.
“You’re off early,” he said while admiring the way her delicate, bifurcated brows accentuated her golden eyes.
“No, you’ve just lost track of time,” she replied as she moved to the bed, and stripped out of her short tunic and thigh-high boots.
“Um,” Kor grunted noncommittally, watching the play of muscles beneath her bronzed skin as she shrugged into a soft robe. “So, how was your day?”
“It could have been better.”
His brows rose at her uncharacteristic response. “How so?”
She crossed to him and, slipping an arm around his neck, settled into his lap. Her piquant face, with its high cheekbones and pointed chin, was grave. “Why have you agreed to work with the humans? You’re giving Karsul just the opening he needs.”
“First Kandi, and now you,” Kor grumbled. “I’m not blind to Karsul’s ambition, but I am also not blind to the dangers inherent in that.” A blunt finger jabbed out at the twisting colors of the phenomenon as it played across the small screen.
“But humans?” Kali protested.
“In spite of what you may have heard or read in Imperial propaganda, the humans are a highly capable and advanced race. It would be foolish to waste that expertise in a senseless battle that might leave us severely crippled. The humans can always be dealt with later if the need arises.”
She pulled out of the circle of his arms, and paced the small, drab room. “It alarms me when you say such things about our Empire.” She shook her head, sending her shoulder-length black hair flying about her face. “I don’t like it, and if you won’t think of yourself, at least think of me.”
“Kali, Kali,” he sighed, rising and crossing to her. He slipped his arms around her, feeling the tension in her slender body. “I am not disloyal to the Empire, but I have traveled widely in this crazy galaxy of ours, and I have learned to separate truth from doctrine. This phenomenon is too dangerous to ignore while we battle the humans for territory. We will conquer the humans; it’s just a matter of picking the most advantageous moment.”
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“All of this philosophy is all well and good, but what about Karsul?”
“I’ve been handling puppies like Karsul for years,” he said contemptuously.
“Then don’t get careless now. You have me to think of.”
“As if I could ever do anything else,” he murmured, bending to press his lips against the soft skin of her neck.
“I’m serious, Kor,” she said as she avoided his embrace. “What will become of me if you fall?”
A small, ironic smile flickered across his dark face, and he seated himself on the bed. “I have no doubt that Karsul would take you. You would maintain your rank.”
She was on him instantly, her hand connecting with a ringing slap against his cheek. “How dare you! If rank and position were my only concern there was a fleet admiral who would have been happy to marry me. You can question and doubt everyone around you, but not me! However hard you find it to accept, I do love you. You are the man I want, and I’ll not lose you to a mutiny which you are foolishly courting.”
“Vixen,” he said lovingly and, capturing her hands, he pulled her down atop him. “You’ve made the past two years bearable,” he murmured against her lips. “And I’ll risk you for nothing. We’ll solve this problem, and I’ll handle Karsul. Who knows,” he said, pushing up on one elbow to look down at her, “you may end up married to a fleet admiral after all.”
“What nonsense. A commander is enough for me.” And she pulled him into her arms. Behind them the phenomenon writhed and twisted, advancing another few kilometers toward the Taygetian sun.
Chapter Five
Getting started took longer than had been anticipated. There was equipment to be gathered, and Spock had to run scans of the planet’s surface before the landing party could beam down. After some two hours of sitting on the bridge, and watching others work, Kirk had become bored. He left the bridge in Spock’s capable hands, and began to wander agitatedly through the ship looking for company. Finally he decided to settle in rec room C, and wait it out. Apparently others had had that idea too, for when he stepped through the doors Maslin’s staccato and rather harsh voice filled the room.
The Tears of the Singers Page 6