10 THE KLINGON CONFLICT

A STAR TREK STORY

Juanell Hopper

Jim Kirk and his crew cannot seem to get away from the Klingons. While the peace talks are going on, the resistance attempts to take Kirk for a bargaining chip. However, they underestimate Doctor McCoy. The Enterprise crew's peril is not over as they confront the Klingons once again in a ruse to trap Kirk for a klingon hunt, while Bones is battling an illness. "Little" Kirk arrives

"Fire at will!" Jim Kirk yelled as the Enterprise was being shaken by laser fire from the Klingon Warbirds that had surrounded them without much warning.

Jim was almost thrown off his feet as he stood between his chair and the front console which he had a habit of doing when he was completely overwhelmed by the situation. He got back into his chair just as the ship was rocked again. "When can we get away from them?" he asked.

"They're working hard at keeping us from doing that, Captain!" Hikaru Sulu replied.

"Captain, they are targeting our shields," Spock said from his station.

"They have sent several transmissions, Captain," Uhura said. "They're definitely trying to capture the Enterprise, not destroy it."

Jim was even more alarmed at that news. "Get us out of here as soon as possible, Mister Sulu!" he said.

Sulu did not have time to answer that as the ship was rocked and thrown off its course again, but he was quickly compensating and trying to get in a position that they could go to warp. "The shields are at fifty-five percent, Captain!" he said.

Jim was not sure what to do. They were already firing, but the Klingons seemed to be anticipating their firing. However, they had caused some damage to some of the Klingon Warbirds. "Just keep firing, and keep trying to get us out of here!" Jim commanded.

Jim did not want his crew to know how nervous he was about this situation. The Klingons were targeting the shields for a reason. He did not know what that reason was, and he did not want to find out. However, the Klingons were also desperately trying to keep them right here and prevent them from getting out of this area of space. They had gotten into this mess when they received a distress signal from a ship that said they were experiencing catastrophic failure and would soon die if they were not rescued. Of course, Jim and his crew had responded to the distress call, but when they arrived, there was no ship there…until the Klingon Warbirds decloaked.

"Shields at forty percent!" Sulu exclaimed after they were rocked by another shot.

"All security personnel be ready for anything!" Jim said over the intercom.

Unbeknownst to Jim, Carol's delicate condition was not being helped by the rough ride. She had gone to the medical bay. "Just calm down," Bones said. "Maybe this will be over soon."

Carol grimaced as she rubbed her belly. She screamed slightly when they were hit by another blast. "I don't want my baby to be born in the middle of a battle!" she exclaimed.

"Well, in my experience the woman never gets to choose when it will happen, but don't worry. If you go into labor, you'll be fine."

"That's easy for you to say. My husband is on the Bridge!"

"You can scream at me then."

"I would rather scream at him!"

"I know. I know."

Suddenly, they went to warp and everything was silent. Bones sighed with relief. He helped Carol to settle down on the bed. "Now, just calm down. We've known for a long time that this day was coming," he said.

"Don't tell me to calm down again!" Carol replied.

Bones got his communicator. "Doctor McCoy to the Bridge."

"We're a bit busy right now, Bones," Jim replied. "Give me your report later."

"Uh, I think you're going to want to know about this…"

Carol grabbed the communicator. "Jim Kirk, you better not ignore this transmission," she said.

Jim stopped what he was doing. "Carol? What are you doing? You're not injured, are you?"

"No. I'm about to have your baby!"

Jim was not sure what to say. He looked at Spock. "I will take charge of the situation here, Captain," Spock said. "If any more problems should arise, I will inform you."

"Thanks, Spock," Jim replied. He almost gave Spock his communicator but then he headed for the turbo lift. "I'm on my way."

Jim hurried down to the medical bay where he found Carol lying on a medical bed, and Bones was doing scans. Jim went over to the bed. "You alright?" he asked.

"Yes," Carol said as she was taking deep breaths.

Jim sat down in the chair beside the bed as he was a bit overwhelmed. Bones looked at him. "Now, don't get all lightheaded on me," he said. "I don't need another patient while I'm delivering a baby."

Jim shook his head. "Bones, you still have no bedside manner," he replied.

"I also don't want you puking all over my floor."

"I don't intend to do that. We just went through a battle with the Klingons, Bones. I guess I'm still a little nervous."

Bones grabbed his medical scanner and went over to Jim. "Your vitals are always way off after a battle," he said. "I can give you something for anxiety."

"No," Jim said. "I don't want anything making me sleepy." He rubbed his face. "If I just sit here and…"

Just then, the ship shuddered. Jim jumped to his feet and grabbed his communicator. "Scotty, what's going on?" he asked.

"We have to drop out of warp, Sir," Scotty said. "There's a leak in the warp drive. I don't know what caused it yet. We have to stop."

Jim considered that a moment. "If we keep going, what will happen?"

"We could have a warp core breach! You can't keep going like this!"

"Okay, okay." Jim switched frequencies. "Mister Sulu, take us out of warp."

"Yes sir," Sulu replied.

When the ship was stopped, they were in empty space. Jim leaned over Carol. "I promise, I will be back as soon as possible," he said. "I have to…"

"I know," Carol replied.

Jim kissed her. "I promise I'll be back before the baby comes."

Jim hurried out the door. Bones looked at Carol who was trying not to cry. "He'll be back," Bones said. "Don't worry."

"I know he'll try," Carol replied.

"Have a little faith, will ya?"

Jim went to the Bridge. "Mister Sulu, are there any planets nearby?" he asked.

"Not nearby," Sulu replied.

"So we're just stuck here until that warp drive is fixed."

Sulu and Ensign John McCoy looked at Jim. "Are you worried, Captain?" Sulu asked.

"I don't like being stuck anywhere," Jim said. He could not help but think of the condition Carol was in at the moment. "I'm afraid this was just the Klingons' idea."

"You mean you think they're tracking us?" McCoy asked.

"They could be. Let's keep this ship on yellow alert."

Spock came onto the Bridge. "Captain, there were no hull breaches," he said.

"What about the shields?" Jim asked.

"They are being repaired." Spock paused a moment. "Do you believe the Klingons will attack us again?"

"We certainly can't just dismiss that possibility. Make sure everyone is on their toes. I have to get back to Carol."

"Yes, Captain. I will let you know if anything happens."

"I know."

"Do not worry. You should be enjoying the birth of your child. It only happens once."

Jim scowled at that a moment. "You're right."

Jim hurried back to the medical bay, and when the door opened, he heard Carol yelling. He stopped a moment but then went on to where she was. "It's about time you got back here!" Carol exclaimed. "You care more for this ship than you do anything!"

"Don't pay her any mind," Bones said quietly as he passed by Jim. "Just get over there."

By the time the baby was born, Jim thought he had heard more insults than he knew existed, but in between all of those, Carol was telling him she loved him. He supposed it was just because she was in pain. However, they had a healthy baby boy. Bones stood beside Jim looking at the baby in his arms. "I think he actually favors you," Bones said. "I guess you know everything to tell him to avoid doing when he's a teen."

Jim glanced at Bones. "Do you have to be cynical right now?" he asked.

"Yeah. You gonna tell him to call me Uncle Bones?"

"Maybe. He's probably going to think you're the most critical uncle he has."

"Me? He'll probably listen to me more than he will you."

"Why?"

"Cause you're his father."

"Bones, go away."

Bones laughed at that and finished making Carol more comfortable. "You just rest now," he said. "We'll take care of this little fellow for a while."

"Thank you," Carol replied.

Jim looked at Bones. "I have never taken care of a baby in my life," he said.

"Well, you're about to learn," Bones replied.

"Yeah."

"You don't have to be so nervous. You just be gentle and quiet and he'll be happy."

Jim looked at the baby, and thought about Bones' situation. "I don't ever want to be where I can't be a dad to him," he said.

"Don't worry," Bones replied. "That doesn't happen to everyone."

"I'll give up this ship first."

"Yeah. Love does that to you."

Jim thought he should call his mother or something. He was far out in deep space, stranded, and now they had this little helpless being on this ship. "Bones, I have to go and see how things are going," he said.

"Well, we'll take care of the little tike," Bones replied. "Just go be the captain."

"Tell Carol I'll be back soon."

"Just go."

Jim left the medical bay still feeling a little stunned, but he went down to engineering. "Scotty! Solan!" he called. He did not see them, so he got his communicator. "Scotty?"

"Captain," Scotty answered.

"How's everything going? And…where are you guys?"

"Where do you think we are? We're in these access tubes!"

Jim could not help but smile. "I take it you have found the problem?"

"NO! There's more than one problem!"

"How long before it's fixed?"

"Don't ask me that! I cannot answer that right now! Oh, by the way, is the little bundle of joy here yet?"

"Yeah. He's here."

"Oh, it's a boy. Congratulations, Captain!"

"That's from me too, Captain!" Solan said.

"Thanks," Jim replied. "Just, let's try to hurry and get out of here. I have a bad feeling."

Scotty looked at Solan. "When the captain has a bad feeling, we better be working hard," Scotty said.

"Don't I know it," Solan replied.

"We're working as fast as we can, Captain."

"Kirk out."

Jim just stood there a moment. He wished he could help but he did not know anything about repairing a warp drive…or whatever other problems they had found.

As Jim started to go to the Bridge, suddenly an alarm began blaring. "Captain!" Spock said over the intercom. "Several Klingon ships have decloaked!"

"Evasive maneuvers!" Jim yelled as he was running for the Bridge. "Get that warp drive going!"

Jim was knocked off his feet as he was going down the corridor toward the turbo lift. "Shields are Down!" Sulu exclaimed.

Jim got back to his feet, but then three Klingons appeared in the corridor. He almost froze with terror but he turned the other way and started to run. However, there was another Klingon that way. "Spock! There are Klingons down here!" Jim yelled. He ran toward the one Klingon and grabbed a blaster from the weapons array as he went by it. He fired at the Klingon who deflected the shot.

It was enough distraction for Jim to get past him and turn down the next corridor. He could hear weapons fire behind him so he assumed Spock and probably some other security officers had engaged the Klingons. Jim could hear footfalls behind him as the Klingon obviously was coming after him. He hid around the next corner and fired at the Klingon to slow him down.

"Come out and fight, puny human!" the Klingon yelled.

"What are you doing on this ship?" Jim demanded. "You've invaded our ship and you're under arrest! Give up now!"

The Klingon laughed. "Why should I give up?!"

"Because we'll take you dead or alive!"

"You are a coward! You hide from battle!"

"I don't like the idea of dying!"

Jim fired around the corner again and moved to another position. Spock came around the other corner, catching the Klingon off guard. He fired at him, but the Klingon fired at the same instant. Spock barely avoided getting hit. He looked around the corner but the Klingon fired at him.

Jim could not see the Klingon from where he was now so he ran down the next corridor to get around to the other side of the intruder. However, before he could get around to another position, another Klingon grabbed him as he was passing by another corridor. He slammed Jim into the wall and disarmed him. Jim tried to fight back, but the Klingon jerked his arm so far back, he wondered if the shoulder came out of the socket.

The next thing Jim knew, something very hard hit him on the back of the head. He knew he fell to his knees but he could not seem to feel anything, and then everything went black…

The Klingon hoisted Jim up over his shoulders. "I have the captain!" he said into a communication device.

Spock heard the communication. "What do you want with our captain?!" he demanded.

"Grab the ship's doctor!"

Spock got his own communicator. "Doctor McCoy!"

Bones took his own communicator out. "Yeah," he answered.

"I believe the Klingons are coming for you, Doctor! They have the captain!"

"What?!"

Spock fired down the corridor again as the Klingon was running now. Other security officers were also pursuing him. "I will attempt to find the captain!" Spock said and turned down the corridor where he assumed Jim had gone. Two officers went with him, and one of them was Solan.

They soon came to the corridor where the Klingon had the captain. The ship was rocked with another blast as Sulu was trying to maneuver them out of the area. It was definitely not easy with the Enterprise already crippled. "Let our captain go!" Spock demanded.

"He will be coming with us!" the Klingon declared. "As will your doctor!"

"You cannot take our doctor! He is needed here!"

"Would you rather we would destroy your ship?"

"What have you done to the captain?" Spock could see that Jim was bleeding from his nose, but he was still unconscious.

The Klingon said something into his communicator and then he was transported from the ship. Solan was horrified. "They're gone!" he said and looked at Spock.

"Mister Sulu, can you get a lock on the captain?" Spock asked into the communicator.

"I'm not getting a reading, Sir," Sulu answered.

"He has been kidnapped by the Klingons!"

"Mister Spock, the Klingons have taken the doctor!" one of the other security officers said.

"The Klingons are pulling out, Sir!" Sulu said.

"Follow them if possible!" Spock replied.

"We've lost the captain," Solan said. He could hardly believe they just came onto the ship and took him. "What do they want him for?"

"He cannot follow them, Sir!" Scotty declared. "We have to get this thing repaired! I'm sorry, Sir, but we are in no condition to chase anyone."

Spock could not believe that there was no way. He looked at Solan. "What about your ship?" he asked. "We could take that. They must be taking him to Klingon space."

Solan nodded. "I'll have it ready in a few minutes!" he said and ran for the shuttle bay.

"Mister Scott," Spock said into the communicator. "Continue to repair the ship. Mister Sulu, you are in charge of the Bridge. I will be departing with Solan on his ship to try and find the captain."

"Spock," Uhura said. "Shouldn't we try to contact the Chancellor and let him know what's happening?"

"You do that, and let me know what he says. We are going after the captain."

"They could have kidnapped him to try and disrupt the peace talks again."

"It is logical that that is their reasoning. However, I do not believe it will accomplish their goals."

"Neither do I, but maybe the Chancellor will know where they could have taken him, and maybe he can talk them into letting him go."

"It is worth a try, but we must try to track them down."

"I'll get busy."

Spock arrived at the shuttle bay where Solan had his ship ready for launch. "Take us out, Solan," Spock said as he sat down in the co-pilot's seat.

"You really think they took them into Klingon space?" Solan asked.

"It is only logical. It is the only place they could hope to keep him out of the reach of the Federation."

"I'm not so sure of that."

Sulu sent Solan an analysis of the warp particles left by the Klingon ships. "Well, that's not going toward Klingon space," Solan said.

"We will follow it and find out," Spock replied. "Perhaps they are trying to be evasive."

"I think it would be a lot better if they didn't go to Klingon space."

"You could be right. However, if they did, they would be under the charge of the Chancellor, and it might be easier to find them."

"Right…unless we get caught ourselves."