Disclaimer
I'm not making a cent from this story.
The Kirk, McCoy and the Enterprise crew, all belong to Star Trek.

Acknowledgment
Those of you who have read Neferit's works may have come across her 'This is the End' trilogy,
in which Kirk leaves the Enterprise and accepts command of another ship, the USS Saratoga.
This series takes place in that verse. I've written all my stories with Neferit's kind permission.

Notes
Other stories in this universe are, in chronological order:
Dreams to Nightmares
Prologue
Chastise
A New Start
Teacher and Student
Stars' Call
A New Season
Amethyst Skies
Amethyst Skies II
Parallels
Newest Crewmember
Final Flight
Unforgiven
Endeavor

Request
If you fave or follow please leave feedback! I live for it!
GOD bless
John 3:16


Captain's Log
Stardate: 2260.12.19

The Enterprise is currently traveling to the Norayis sector. It has seven systems, six of which are inhabited.
We're on our way to Tkara I in the Droyana System, where we will be dropping
off some Federation delegates,
as well as attending some diplomatic functions.

Tkara is the homeworld of the powerful Tkarite Freehold, which controls half this sector. They've colonized
their own system and the neighboring Vornel System, and
are making plans to colonize a third.
Both the Iskan and C'tek Systems are firmly allied
with and defer to them, forming the Norayis Alliance.

It was largely because of this that when the Nlians of the Revla System applied for Federation membership
fifty years ago, the Federation Council was eager to accept them. At that point
the Freehold was rapidly
expanding their influence and although they hadn't started putting
together their Alliance yet, the handwriting
was on the wall.

The Nlians had had good relations and trade contacts with the Tkarites for nearly two centuries, but weren't
inclined to join their Alliance. By allying with the Federation instead, they enabled
us to gain a foothold
in a distant but strategically important sector. So now the Federation controls
half of the sector, while the
Freehold controls the other. Starbase Alpha, in the Norayis System,
and where we will briefly stop after leaving
Tkara, serves not only as a Starbase but as the home of the e
mbassies of this sector.

The Tkarites are a formidable people - they're highly cultured and sophisticated, but at the same time
they're very cunning and can be utterly ruthless.
Thankfully they've never been interested in military
expansion. If they had been they
could have been as dangerous as the Romulans or the Klingons.

Instead their focus has always been on trade and commerce and they are major players in both; with trade
ties with several different species, both within the Federation and out. That, as well as
the fact that Tkarites
are not the sort of people one would want to have as enemies, makes us
quite happy to remain on good terms
with them.

Jason Morrick


Enterprise Bridge
1:45 PM

"We have entered the Norayis sector and are approaching the borders of Tkarite space, Captain," Spock announced.
"At our current speed and trajectory we should be arriving at Tkara I in precisely four hours, thirty seven minutes
and fourteen seconds."

As if on cue, Sulu spoke up. "Captain, two ships are approaching, bearing 215, mark 8. They're Tkarite."

Morrick nodded. "Onscreen."

Two vessels were indeed approaching. At 350 meters in length they were both smaller than the Enterprise.
Very graceful and elegant, but well armed and dangerous.

"They're hailing, us," Uhura announced.

"Patch them through, Lieutenant."

A Tkarite female appeared on screen. Like all Tkarites she was stunningly beautiful but one could immediately
tell that she was not to be taken lightly.

She's like a blade, Uhura thought to herself. The Tkarites call themselves the People of the Blade. And they are-
bright, beautiful, sharp and deadly.

The Tkarite officer was speaking. "I am Leean of House Nissari, Captain of the Tareesia."

"I'm Captain Jason Morrick of the Federation starship, Enterprise. We're on our way to…"

"We're well aware of who you are, Captain. Knowledge is a basic key to power and we make certain that ours
is considerable." She nodded and a slight smile appeared on her face. "Welcome to the Tkarite Freehold," she
said quietly. "Enter freely."

As she silently gazed at the Tkarite captain, Uhura briefly recalled similar words being spoken in a certain
Bram Stoker novel.

"Enter freely and of your own will."