THE WARRING ONES

A STAR TREK STORY

JUANELL HOPPER

Jim Kirk and the crew are sent to negotiate a peace treaty between the Denobulans and the Antarans who have been warring for years. Jim's first encounter does not turn out well, but he is not ready to give up, and finds himself in the middle of a controversy that no one is sure what the true cause, or solution, is. He uses every tactic he can think of to try and bring the two sides together, and to find out the cause of the beginning of the wars, which he finds is not an acceptable task to some on the planet.

Why could this never work like it was supposed to? Jim Kirk thought as he was once again transported back to the Enterprise after trying to negotiate between two hostile races who did not want to stop fighting…or at least one of them did not. He had been trying to get the Antarans to negotiate a treaty with the Denobulans. The two had been at war for centuries, and the hatred was passed down from generation to generation. However, the Denobulans seemed to want the warring to end. They were tired of the constant battles and the death. The Antaran leader was having none of it as he did not trust the Denobulans, and they made clear to Jim who had gone to them to try and negotiate as he was ordered by the Federation. He had barely missed being pulled in two as the two tribes decided to fight over him and say that he was on their side. He had informed them that he was on neither side but that he was a neutral party in the negotiations. Then the Antarans decided that he was a hostile party in the negotiations and was on the side of the Denobulans and intended to help them destroy them. The Antaran leader had ordered Jim taken prisoner, but the Denobulans were not going to allow that and had pulled him between them for a few minutes. But Scotty had finally been able to transport him when they lost their grip.

Jim stood at the transporter as he had practically fallen off it when he appeared there. Spock was waiting for him. "I assume the talks did not go well," he said.

Jim looked at him with one of his sardonic looks. "You assume correctly," he replied. "I'm no good at this."

"I do not believe it is you, Captain, but beings who are set in their thinking and have no intention of letting anyone change them."

"Why didn't you tell me this before I went down there?"

"Because there is always a chance, Jim."

"Yeah. A chance for me to get pulled in half…or worse."

Jim left the transporter room looking like he had been definitely in a struggle. Bones joined him as he was walking down the corridor. "Well, you look about like you always do when you come back from negotiating with hostile beings who would rather die than try to get along," he said.

"Thanks, Bones," Jim replied.

"You're welcome. Hey, the next time you want to negotiate with some of these fools, why don't you take Spock with you? They might be so bored with his logical speech that they would forget to fight."

"Doctor, I find that remark offensive," Spock said.

"You would find what he used to call you more offensive and I don't see you getting angry at him."

"Bones!" Jim interrupted as he went into the turbo lift.

Spock and Bones went with him. "What exactly did they say?" Spock asked.

"Well, the Denobulans appeared to want to stop the fighting, and they tried talking peacefully to the Antarans, but the Antarans were convinced that I was on the Denobulans' side and that we were just trying to get them to let their guard down so that we could attack and destroy them. Then the Denobulans accused the Antarans of being unreasonable, and then they decided to fight over me, and I'm just glad I'm still in one piece."

"So they both just wanted to tear you in half and claim the part they got?" Bones asked.

The lift door opened and Jim walked out to go to his quarters which were close to the Bridge. "I will meet you on the Bridge, Captain," Spock said.

"I'll be there," Jim replied as he entered his quarters.

"Hey, when are you coming for your exam?" Bones asked.

"I don't know. Whenever I feel like it."

The door closed and Bones went on to the Bridge as well. "You think those species will just keep on fighting forever?" Bones asked.

"If they do not want to reach an agreement, it is likely, Doctor," Spock said. "They cannot be forced into peace."

Jim soon came to the Bridge and sat down in his chair. Spock stood on one side and Bones stood on the other. "Well, what are you going to do now?" Bones asked as they stared at the planet on the viewscreen. "Are you going to tell Starfleet that these beings are unreasonable, and stubborn and that they like war."

Jim scowled. "Something like that," he said.

"Remember, Captain, you have successfully negotiated several treaties," Spock pointed out. "The more you do, the more likely it is that some will fail. It is not a failure on your part, but of the beings who refuse to accept anything other than what they have always known."

Jim nodded. "You're exactly right, Spock. The problem with that logic is that Starfleet doesn't always think logically."

"Do you intend to try again?"

"I'm not sure."

Jim sat there a moment trying to think of a way that he could have convinced the Antarans that he was not trying to deceive them. "Maybe I should have gone to the Antarans first," he said.

"Going to a hostile species rather than the ones who want peace when you know nothing of either does not seem like the appropriate course of action," Spock said.

"I think he's saying that if you don't know anything about somebody, you can't exactly go and ask them for a treaty without finding out something first, and the best way to do that was to go to the one who wanted peace to let them tell you as much as they knew about the other," Bones interjected.

"Precisely," Spock agreed.

"I can't say that I learned a lot about the Antarans," Jim said. "The Denobulans seemed to know nothing but that they were enemies. I wonder if they really actually know what the war is about anymore."

Spock considered that, but Bones was the first to respond. "Are you saying that they have been fighting all these years and don't even know what the reason is anymore?" Bones asked. "What is this? Another Hatfield and McCoy situation?" He looked at Jim. "And, no, I wasn't related to those McCoys."

"I want to talk to the Denobulans again. I think there's a way to solve this problem if we just get them to think about it," Jim said.

"Beings who are bent on revenge or who hold grudges are not usually the most logical or the easiest to convince," Spock declared.

"Maybe we don't actually have to convince them but just get them to think about it. Maybe the younger ones want the war to end."

"It is possible that they would grow tired of carrying on a fighting tradition that was started centuries before their time."

"Losing friends, family." Jim leaned back in his chair as he was thinking. He smiled slightly. "That gives me an idea."

"Are you going to share that idea, Captain?" Spock asked.

Jim looked toward Chekov who was sitting at the navigation console. "Who do young beings listen to?" he asked.

Bones' mouth dropped open as he realized what Jim was thinking. "You're not serious," he said. He looked at Jim. "You are!"

"Relax, Bones," Jim said. "Maybe he can find those who want the conflict to end on both sides."

"How do you intend for him to do that? They don't look exactly like a normal human."

"Oh, I think you can help someone fix him up to look like an Antaran."

"Me? I'm a doctor, not a makeup artist."

"But you know what they look like emphatically."

Bones followed Jim as he got up from the chair. "How do I get into these things?" Bones asked.

"You have a way of worming your way into conversations," Jim replied with a smile.

Jim walked over to Chekov. "Mister Chekov," he said.

"Yes, sir," Chekov answered.

"How would you like to go on an away mission?"

"An away mission, Sir?"

"Yeah."

"Alone, Sir?"

"Will that be a problem?"

"No, Sir."

"I think the fewer there are there, the better, because too many will draw attention."

"Yes, Sir."

"Come with me. Mister Sulu, you have the con."

Jim, Chekov, Bones, and Spock left the Bridge. "Jim, are you sure this is going to work?" Bones asked. "What if Chekov gets in trouble down there?"

"Bones, relax," Jim said. "We'll keep in touch with him and transport him out at the first sign of trouble."

"But he's never done this before."

"I had never done it before when I went on my first away mission either, but now I have."

Bones rolled his eyes at that retort. "Yeah, and look how most of your negotiations go."

"That's why I'm sending Mister Chekov. Maybe he can do something in this situation that I can't. I can't disguise myself because they've seen me."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure they would notice that ego right away."

"Ego? I don't have an ego…anymore."

"You could have fooled me."

"If I may say, Doctor," Spock said. "It takes a certain amount of…ego, as you call it to be able to captain a ship. If Jim were not confident, he would not be able to lead this crew into success."

Jim scowled at that and looked at Spock. "Thank you, Spock."

"You are welcome."

"I guess I can't argue with that," Bones said. "But sending Chekov down there on an away mission when he's never been on one is just…it just doesn't seem like the smartest thing to do."

"Bones, Chekov went to the academy. He's been through simulations of all kinds, classes. He knows what he's doing."

"Thank you for your confidence in me, Sir," Chekov said.

"It's not that I don't have confidence in you," Bones corrected himself.

"Chekov is the youngest officer we have on the ship," Jim pointed out, "and he's going on this mission."

They went down to the medical bay since there was plenty of room there. Jim pushed the button on the communicator. "Ensign Brandon," he said.

"Yes sir," came the reply.

"Could you report to the medical bay please?"

"Yes, sir."

Spock smiled slightly. "I think I see where you are going with this, Captain," he said.

Bones rubbed his chin. "The disguise will probably work," he said.

Jim looked at him. "Oh, now you think I know what I'm doing."

"I never said I didn't think you knew what you were doing. I just don't want anything to happen to Chekov here."

"I think everything will be fine, Bones."

Just then, the door slid open and Ensign Brandon came in. She was a black earth girl and anyone who saw her knew she was interested in beauty and makeup. As a matter of fact, she cut everyone's hair on the ship…after all, they could not go five years without being groomed. She gave the blue Starfleet uniform a very beautiful shape.

"I came as quickly as I could, Captain," she said.

"I have a very important job for you, Ensign," Jim said. "It involves your love for makeup and making everything look just right."

Ensign Brandon smiled. "I'm ready."

"I knew you would be."

Jim was sitting on the Bridge again when Ensign Brandon contacted him. "Captain, the finished product is ready for inspection," she said.

"I'll be right there," Jim replied. He stood up. "Mister Sulu, you have the con."

Jim and Spock went to the medical bay, and they were surprised at the remarkable job that Ensign Brandon had done on Chekov. "I wouldn't know it was him if I didn't know it was him," Jim said, thinking that sounded kinda stupid but he was amazed.

Chekov's hair was lying down flat and slicked back like the Antarans, and Ensign Brandon had perfectly created the spots around the hairline that were a prominent feature for them. He was dressed in a red tunic with brown sleeves and collars, and it also had what looked like a cape that hung down to the mid-thigh. The pants were brown as well as the boots.

"He's color coordinated and everything," Ensign Brandon said.

"Excellent job," Jim said. "You may have to have a promotion for this."

Jim liked the variety of people he had on the ship. They all had talents for something and one never knew what they would need in a situation. "Thank you, Ensign," he said.

"I'll get back to my job now, if you don't mind, Captain," Ensign Brandon said. "Just let me know if you need any help."

"I will, and you're dismissed."

Jim walked over to Chekov. "Now that you look like one of them, you have to learn how to act like one of them," he said.

"What about my accent, Sir?" Chekov asked.

"That won't matter because they don't all talk the same anyway. At least they don't speak a foreign language. Then I'd have to send Uhura. Now, we're going to start a little education."

Chekov wondered how long he would have to wear that outfit but he supposed it was not too bad. After all, he would be trying to bring peace to a world.

The next day, they were ready to send Chekov down to the planet. "Make sure you keep your communicator hidden," Jim reminded him. "And don't act too aggressive."

"Yes sir," Chekov replied. "I would never be aggressive."

"Right. Just try to act…young. I mean, not so formal as a Starfleet officer."

"Yes, sir."

Chekov walked onto the transporter pad. "I will be in contact, sir."

"I'll be waiting," Jim replied. "Just be careful."

Jim watched as Chekov was transported down to the planet in a secret location so that no one would see. He turned and looked at Scotty. "Do not underestimate that young man," Scotty said. "He's quite a smart one."

Jim nodded. "I know." He could not help but feel guilty about sending Chekov down there alone like that as he was walking down the corridor. He intended to go back down there and try and draw some attention to himself. He went to his quarters and changed into civilian attire. As he opened the door to leave his quarters, Spock was standing there just about to ring the door chime.

"Spock, what are you doing?" Jim asked as he was a little startled.

"I was about to ask you the same question," Spock answered.

"I'm going down there to talk to the Denobulans again."

"You're worried about Mister Chekov."

Jim sighed. "I am."

"Captain, if you show him that you do not have confidence in his abilities, he may feel as though he is incapable of accomplishing anything in this mission."

"I'm not going to the Antarans, Spock. I'm going to the Denobulans. Chekov won't see me."

"Would you like myself or the doctor to accompany you?"

Jim considered that with one of his sarcastic smiles. "I'll take the doctor with me," he said. "You take care of the ship."

"Yes sir."

Bones was not thrilled when Jim told him what they were about to do. "You've got to be kidding," Bones said. "I'm a doctor, not a negotiator."

"You're sure not," Jim replied. "Now, get into some civilian clothes."

Bones went on and changed clothes. "I guess I should take a medical kit in case we get into trouble," he said.

"I don't intend to ruffle any feathers."

"OH, well, you didn't intend to ruffle any feathers the last time, but you barely made it back to the ship in one piece, remember?"

"That was different. I'm only talking to the Denobulans this time. They want peace, remember?"

"Yeah, but what if they're still mad?"

"I think they've had time to cool down by now."

They went into the transporter room. "We're ready, Scotty," Jim said. "Be ready to transport us on my signal if anything goes wrong."

"Aye, Captain," Scotty replied.

Jim and Bones walked onto the pad. "Beam us down, Scotty," Jim said.

They were soon appearing in the city of the Denobulans on the lower levels. One thing about the city was that the older part of the city was on a "lower" level than the newer part. It looked as though newer building sections had simply been built onto older ones, and there were many streets that went between the buildings. As one went lower, there was less sunlight. Where they were, the light was definitely dimmer. It was like a very cloudy day.

"Why couldn't we be up there?" Bones asked pointing to the much brighter upper levels.

"Because we didn't want anyone to see us appearing down here," Jim replied. He pulled his hood over his head as he was wearing one of the "capes" like the other inhabitants wore. "I feel like Dracula in this."

"I don't like this," Bones replied.

"Relax, Bones."

"How do you know there's not some sort of virus running rampant on this world that I've never heard of and there's no cure for humans who catch it?"

"Well, if I get bitten by Melvarian mud fleas, at least I'll know I'm safe. Where's your adventurous spirit, Bones?"

"I just don't like jumping into a place like this that we don't know much about."

"That's the whole point of space exploration."

They wound their way around to the upper levels since they did not want to use a turbo lift. "It's a nice enough city," Jim said.

"Yeah, except there are beings here who want to tear you in half," Bones replied. "I'm not sure I could repair that."

Jim thought he might as well not try to get Bones to lighten up and try to look on the bright side of anything. He had been like that ever since he met him on that transport that took them to Starfleet academy. He remembered him describing Andorian shingles, and something about his eyes bleeding. Although Bones was a cynic, he was a good doctor…and a good friend.

Jim looked around the corner of a building at all the people walking. The city was not entirely populated by Denobulans, but there were others there as well. It seemed that most of them walked wherever they went but there were vehicles that zoomed here and there, and transports as well.

"Well, let's get out there and try to blend in," Jim said.

They got out onto the street and walked along with everyone else. Jim tried to keep his face hidden so that anyone who had seen him before would not recognize him. Everyone seemed intent on getting to their destination, however. He and Bones finally came to the central plaza which had the highest skyscraper of all, and that was the government building.

"Are you sure you want to go in there?" Bones asked.

"I have to work on them to help Chekov," Jim replied. "If we work on them, and he works on the other end, maybe we can get them to meet in the middle."

"I sure hope you're right."

Me too, Jim thought. He did not have much confidence in this meeting himself.

"And I just hope they don't throw us off into the abyss."