Star Trek: The Prime Directive
Day Two
Starfleet Command.
Stardate: 6236.3
In the 23rd Century
Courtmartial hearing. Day Two:
James T. Kirk.
The revelations of Kirk's testimony given too the board of Admirals the day before had caused a stir amongst the Admirals before the defendants, the involvement of the Romulan species in the incident in question was known in advance as it was mentioned in lengthy detail from the reports of all officers involved in what had become known as the Koreshian Incident. Being one of the most respected Starship Captains in the fleet, Kirk was given many chances too explain his actions and those of his crew which resulted in Cultural Contamination of a Primitive species on the planet in question. Returning too the hearing room from the guarded quarters in which both he and Commander Scott were being held, Kirk yawned as he once again took the stand.
"This hearing is now in session, may I remind the defendant that you are still under oath"
"I understand Admiral Marriot" Kirk said firmly.
"Please continue with your statement"
"Very well sir. Where was I? Ahh yes, McCoy's report"
Leaning forwards in his seat slightly, he took a sip of the water before him as he continued with his report.
"Well, we where all shocked by what Bone's had found. Koresh III was deep inside Federation Territories, although close too the Neutral Zone. Orbiting the planet, we had our Deflector Shields set up in a way as not too alert the inhabitants below, as Ensign Chekov pointed out, anyone with a telescope could spot us… but that wasn't the main concern at the moment, the presence of Romulans on the surface was…"
Two Weeks Earlier…
Stardate 6149.8
Starship: USS Enterprise NCC-1701.
McCoy's words echoed around the briefing room as they all looked on in shock at what he had said. Romulans where interfering with development of a species deep inside Federation space, but for what end? No one could say.
"Are you sure Bones?" Kirk sighed.
"Of course Jim, the scans I took of some of the Doctors are undeniable, they are Romulan. The girl, Yuri… shows several enhancements with a Romulan Signature as does the boy, Aris"
"They are using Romulan D.N.A?" Spock said slowly. "Fascinating"
"Keptain, should we not inform Starfleet?" Chekov said slowly.
"Of course, Uhura?"
"Yes sir" She nodded.
"Jim, there's more. Some of the D.N.A is Beta Klingon, we all know what happened there"
"I wish I didn't" Kirk frowned slightly.
"Wait, you said they where Romulan?" Uhura said slowly.
"Yes, it appears as if the Romulans are experimenting with Augment Technology on a similar level too what the Klingons did a century ago"
"I'm not familiar with history, what happened?" She mumbled.
"Left over from the Eugenics Wars, Doctor Arik Soong stole several embryos and raised them as his own children, when fully grown, these Augments attacked and stole a Klingon vessel. Eventually, and with the help of Arik Soong, Enterprise NX-01 stopped them, they ship was destroyed. Several months later, Klingons abducted a Doctor from Starfleet and dispatched the NX-01 too find him, he was eventually found alive on a Klingon Colony…"
"Sulu is right!" Chekov smiled. "With the assistance of Columbia NX-02, Keptain Archer was able too stop the Klingon's research… however certain changes where made too several thousand Klingons. The Beta Klingon, as we called them"
"Exactly" McCoy laughed. "The Klingons are still suffering from the effects of the Augment Virus generations later. If the Romulans are working with them…"
"That does not seem likely Doctor McCoy. I have reviewed your data, the Klingon D.N.A is minimal, I believe this is a purely Romulan endeavour" Spock said slowly .
"Who ever is running this program, we must tread carefully, The Prime Directive is still in effect" Kirk said firmly.
"Aye sir!" Sulu nodded.
Courtmartial hearing. Day Two:
James T. Kirk.
Leaning forwards slowly, Admiral Forrest sighed as he spoke with a complete sense of dissatisfaction at what he had heard from the officer before him.
"Captain Kirk, this is not a history lesson, please stick too the facts at hand"
"Admiral sir, these are the facts. The Romulans had learned of the Klingon experiments and somehow gained access too their research. When they learned of the Koreshian experiments it would be very simple too slip in several agents too assist them, for the needs of the Empire of course"
"Very well, continue Captain Kirk" Forrest nodded.
"Thank you sir. Anyway, with the briefing over, we returned too the bridge before we where to beam down too the planet below and that's when we received a distress call from a ship in a nearby system… they had engine trouble and needed immediate help. Before we returned too the surface, I placed Mister Scott in charge of the Enterprise…"
"Mister Scott?" Forrest nodded.
"Aye sir, I was the only one with the experience sir" Scotty said with respect.
"Of course, continue Captain Kirk"
"Changing once more into native clothing, we returned too the planet in order too investigate the possible Romulan Presence, however. Mister Sulu had requested too remain behind on the Enterprise as acting First Officer, a request that was granted…"
Two Weeks Earlier…
Stardate 6150.4
After beaming the away team down too the planet below, the USS Enterprise warped away towards the distress signal. Stood once again the empty field, Kirk looked up at the skies above as he smiled slightly and spoke.
"Déjà vu, right?"
Smiling slightly, McCoy rubbed the implants on his forehead as he looked around and nodded slightly while Spock raised an eyebrow as he spoke with his ever stoic response.
"Captain, you have been here before"
"That's not what he meant you pointy ear robot!"
"Bones, take a look in a mirror!" Kirk smiled.
"I know, and it annoys me too look like you Spock!" McCoy moaned.
"Bones, give it a rest!" Kirk laughed.
Once again boarding the efficient public transportation system, the away team finally reached the Capital City of the planet. Slowly walking through the streets, Kirk and McCoy kept an eye on the inhabitants of the planet while Spock surreptitiously scanned the natives from under his long cloak.
"Amazing isn't it Bones, just like home…"
"If home is 21st Century Earth, then yes" McCoy smiled. "It is like being back home though. We don't get back enough Jim"
"Someday soon, not too soon I hope!" Kirk smiled. "It is a Five Year mission"
"I know!"
"Captain, detecting a Romulan life sign… directly ahead. 100 metres"
"Spock, don't call me that. I see him, move carefully" Kirk replied.
Carefully moving towards the Romulan, the Enterprise away team followed the Romulan male into a retail store. Looking at the stock on the shelves, Kirk kept one eye on the Romulan as Spock and McCoy circled around behind him slowly. Almost sensing the men surrounding him, the Romulan slowly placed an object on te shelf and walked towards the counter with a slight smile on his face. Bowing slightly, he looked at the owner of the store as he spoke.
"Good day too you sir. I was looking for something specific for my mate, Jade in the shape of a Graylag"
Slowly walking towards Spock, Kirk whispered in his ear.
"Graylag?"
"Something similar too an Earth Dolphin Jim, considered to be a symbol of fertility"
"I see, are you sure that's him?" Kirk said quietly.
"Yes sir"
"Alright, we do this by the book" Kirk nodded slightly. "Defensive stance only, do not draw your phaser!"
Courtmartial hearing. Day Two:
James T. Kirk.
"So Captain Kirk, you ordered your away team too not fire upon the Romulan?"
"Yes Admiral. Unfortunately, the Romulan had other ideas!"
Two Weeks Earlier…
Stardate 6150.4
Stood in the store, the Romulan looked out of the corner of his eye at the Starfleet officers. Turning slightly, he looked directly at Kirk and bowed with respect as the store owner stepped into the back room of his store. Slowly, he circled around the counter and looked directly at his left hand as with his right hand he reached for a standard Romulan disrupter. Quickly raising his weapon, he fired at the closest person. Slicing through the air, the beam passed mere inches from McCoy's left ear as he dropped too his knees, purely on instinct. Reaching for his phaser, McCoy looked at Kirk as he shook his head instantly in warning.
The deep green beam sliced through the air from the Romulan weapon, shattering the items on display the beam impacted the glass window causing it too explode while the beam passed through it forcing the pedestrians too scatter in all directions in fear as the beams continued too explode from the Romulan weapon.
"Bones, stay hidden. Spock, Delta Three-Six!" Kirk nodded.
Nodding slightly, Spock reached up onto the shelf before him and pulled down a small crystal orb. As he threw it too his left, the Romulan instantly fired in the direction of the sound of shattering crystal as Kirk leapt over the counter and grabbed the weapon from the Romulan's hands and deactivated it instantly before he slammed the weapon into his jaw with all of the force he could muster. The sounds of sirens echoed through the streets as the local law enforcement officers entered the store with weapons raised and aimed at the Enterprise away team.
"Put it down sir, put it down!" One man said calmly.
"Okay, take it easy. I'm lowering the weapon!" Kirk replied, calmly.
Courtmartial hearing. Day Two:
James T. Kirk.
"So Captain Kirk, you maintain that the Romulan fired first?"
"Yes sir!" Kirk nodded with respect.
"And what happened next?"
"Well Admiral Forrest, we where arrested, all of us. The owner of the store agreed that we acted in the interests of public and personal safety, all charges where dropped against us. However, by that time… we had been discovered"
"Discovered how Captain Kirk?"
"Our equipment sir. I believe that our Phasers had been taken by officials after one man accidentally activated it and stunned a Deputy"
Two Weeks Earlier…
Stardate 6150.5
Sat in a darkened interrogation room, Kirk sighed and shook his head slightly as he looked up the ceiling. The Romulan firing his Disrupter in full view of pedestrians was not the main problem, but the discovery of their mission equipment created a major problem for the away team. He could almost hear the words of the Admiralty yelling at him as he could see his career inn Starfleet slipping away before him, possibly even imprisonment in some Federation Penal colony not just for him, but for McCoy and Spock also. NO! he thought too himself. It was my command and my choice too bring them along. He thought quietly. Light spilled into the darkened room as two men entered and stood by the door while a third, and elderly woman walked towards him and sat at the small metallic table facing him. The silence between the two of them seemed too last for hours before she spoke finally. Translated by a new Universal Translator located hidden in his clothing, she spoke quietly.
"Mister… Kirk, that is an unusual name"
"I would not know Miss, I have had it since birth" He smiled slightly.
"Humorous… Do you know why you are here?"
"The weapon used by…"
"Not entirely…"
Slowly, she reached into a bag she brought with her and pulled out a small Tablet Computer, placing it on the table before them both, the device activated as she spoke while three pictures appeared on the screen.
"This equipment is very sophisticated, how did you come by it?"
"As I said too the last person in here, it is classified"
"Ahh yes, your… government work. What if I was too tell you that the Government refuses any knowledge of you existence?" She said slowly.
"Do you think the Government would tell anyone of our existence Miss?"
"Interesting" She smiled slightly.
Using the computer tablet before her, she activated a video file of two men studying the phasers they brought with them. Smiling slightly she looked up at Kirk as she spoke.
"Then how do you explain this piece of equipment, it appears to be a some form of directed energy weapon, far beyond any level of technology we possess. Even government officials deny all knowledge of this device… perhaps if you observe this file…"
As the video file played, the two men faced a large wall and aimed the weapons in their hands. Activating the device, a thin blue line of energy emitted from the weapon and exploded onto the wall. As the beam stopped, one of the two men wearing white coats turned the dial on the weapon and fired again. Slamming into the wall, the wall seemed too vaporize before them as they looked on with shock and excitement at what they had discovered.
"Still nothing too say? Hiding behind official secrets? those appear to be weapons, the smaller devices are some form of communication devices and the larger equipment, some form of highly advanced scanners… possibly medical. Although we are unfamiliar with the symbols on the displays, we will find out who and what you are mister Kirk. That much is certain. Make it easier on yourself, tell me your orders. My supervisor believes that you have been sent by one of our enemies too spy on our Eugenics Experiments. Are you here too gather information, or too simply destroy the laboratory?"
"It is… Classified. However, I can tell you that we have no malicious intent towards you or your experiments" Kirk smiled slightly.
"Then you are here for the experiments. We have recently spoken with a young woman named 'Yuri' I believe you are familiar with the name?"
"Yes, she offered myself and my companions a tour of the facility"
"As it was…" She nodded with respect. "… She also explained that you seem to be in charge, your two companions are medically and scientifically trained. Yet an air of silence surrounds them as it does with you. In the light of recent events, you and your companions will be taken towards a more secure facility. Believe me Mister Kirk, we have ways of finding out what we need"
Courtmartial hearing. Day Two:
James T. Kirk.
Sighing deeply, Admiral Forrest looked towards the Admiral too his left as he whispered slightly before turning towards Kirk and speaking out loud.
"Captain Kirk, do you mean too tell me that you where all detained and that your equipment was being studied by a less advanced species?"
"Yes sir!" Kirk said slowly.
"This is new information Captain Kirk. This court will be adjourned until 0900 Hours tomorrow morning!"
Gasps came from the gathered crowd behind them as the three Admirals stood and left the room, leaving Kirk sat in the chair before the large bench with a shocked look on his face. As the doors slid closed behind the Admirals, Kirk turned towards Spock sat in the front row with a questioning look on his face.
Slowly, Spock stood. Nodding slightly towards Kirk he stood and left as Kirk snarled slightly as he turned back towards the large bench before him. Everyone on the USS Enterprise knew that Kirk had bent the Prime Directive many times, he also had the backing of his senior officers every time, however this time, the damage too the culture on the world in question was undeniable. Advanced Federation weapons in the hands of a primitive species as well as communicators and tricorders and this incident could not be tolerated by the Command Council in anyway, not too mention the sudden appearance of a Federation Starship engaging in battle with a Romulan cruiser above the planet surface.