Title: An Equitable Trade
Rating (both art/fic): Art – PG | Fic – PG-13
Genre/Pairing: Gen, Angst, mild H/C, Humor. Kirk/Spock/McCoy friendship, background Sarek/Amanda, cameos by M'Benga, Chekov, Uhura
Word Count:
Warnings: AU. Spoilers for Operation – Annihilate! Warnings for conspiracy, mentions of political cover-up. This is epistolary fic; I don't know why, that's just how it demanded to be written. Take it up with the muse, if it doesn't eat you first. Title comes from Spock's words during the episode in question.
Fic Summary: A disastrous scientific experiment has far-reaching consequences for the command crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Since a starship captain is a more valuable commodity than a now-blind Science Officer, First Officer Spock becomes a political scapegoat in addition to a victim of the tragedy. But as his sight begins to return in a supposedly civilian medical facility, Spock discovers that the world of politics is dark and dangerous, and that his captain has unwittingly landed them all smack in the middle of the biggest cover-up of their careers.
Chapter Six
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3318.4
Subject: You all right?
Spock,
All's been a little too quiet on the Vulcan front lately; everything all right with you?
Jim
-000-
Outpost 11, Facility 49
Disability Adaptation Ward
Stardate 3318.5
Subject: Re: You all right?
Captain,
I am quite functional. My apologies for causing you to believe otherwise. I have been extremely busy of late with the medical consultants at this facility, including Dr. M'Benga. When I have more definite news I shall certainly contact you.
Spock
Private Internal Instant Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3318.5
[KirkJ] Bones?
[McCoyL] What now? If you're bugging me again to unlock your meal card so you can overindulge on German chocolate cake, it's not going to happen. I don't care if it's your comfort food.
[KirkJ] Not now, Bones. Have you heard anything from Outpost 11?
[McCoyL is typing]
[McCoyL is typing]
[McCoyL is typing]
[McCoyL] Just the weekly report from M'Benga. Why?
[KirkJ] It took you that long to type one line?
[McCoyL] I'm trying to get Chapel off my back about not sleeping, and drinking too much coffee. You try doing both at the same time.
[ChapelC has entered the conversation]
[McCoyL] Don't even start!
[ChapelC has left the conversation]
[KirkJ] … You wouldn't lie to me about Spock, would you, Bones? In all seriousness?
[McCoyL is typing]
[McCoyL] I'm not lying to you, Jim. I haven't heard a word from Spock since his last note about the socks I sent him.
[KirkJ *is relieved*]
[KirkJ has left the conversation]
[McCoyL *is hating himself right now*]
[McCoyL has left the conversation]
Private Communiqué
City Shi'Kahr, Planet Vulcan
Stardate 3319.6
Spock,
I have recently had extensive (if one-sidedly emotional) conversations with your former captain, during which he has, somewhat without tact, drawn my attention to the fact that I have not behaved as befits a Vulcan in times past, regarding your somewhat ill-chosen career path. I see now that I was mistaken in believing you were discarding all chances you held of becoming the capable scientist you are at present; you merely chose a different path to that destination than that which I would have chosen for you. While I still hold that I was correct in believing such fellowship with humans would not aid you in your task of becoming fully Vulcan, neither am I such a fool as to believe that you have not been enriched by the experience. You must understand, Spock, I have never desired anything but success for you; for you to cast aside your potential as a Vulcan to serve under humans in a mostly-humanoid Starfleet was, frankly, revolting to our family pride. You are capable of much more, and I hold no regret for wishing you had chosen to fulfill your true potential. Nonetheless, as your captain so expressively stated, to fully embrace differences is the Vulcan way, and I have no right to impose my will upon yours, nor to criticize your decisions. My opinion stands unchanged, but my mental regard for the wisdom of your choices has altered.
Your mother was slightly less diplomatic (I use the term in its loosest sense) than your Captain Kirk, but her sentiments were in essentials identical. She can be quite emotional, as you know, but even a boulder can eventually be eroded into dust if the force applied is great enough. You will learn this, no doubt, if you choose to further your relations with these humans; choose wisely if the risk to your sanity and katric balance is worth the effort.
Prevarication and irresolution have no place in mediation; therefore to put it diplomatically, Spock, I would request audience with you, with the understanding that the past decade must remain so – past, and unable to be changed. If you can forgive – or ignore; that is also acceptable – my error in refusing to communicate with you in times past, I would speak with you on equal terms regarding this matter.
I will await your convenience.
Sarek
-000-
Outpost 11, Facility 49
Disability Adaptation Ward
Stardate 3320.3
Sir:
I recognize the validity of your explanation, and am amenable to your proposal. Forgiveness is a human action, not a Vulcan; and yet as I am obviously half-human I do not think it unconscionable of me to offer it freely.
I shall be available all evening, should you prefer a live communication; otherwise, I will await your next message.
Spock
Captain's Log
Stardate 3323.2
Received a reply finally from Command regarding my recommendation that Mr. Spock be re-instated for active duty upon the endorsement of Dr. Jorge M'Benga and Lieutenant-Commander Leonard McCoy. With a sensor net and some minor adjustments to ship technology, I believe Mr. Spock would be capable of conducting the duties of a senior science officer, possibly that of Chief Science Officer, given that the hands-on duties of such are minimal. Whether that be the Enterprise or merely a research and exploration vessel, let the record show that I believe him to be fully capable of resuming his scientific duties once the medical officers in charge of operations are satisfied as to his mobility and ability.
Starfleet Command apparently doesn't see things that way. While this comes as no surprise to me, I have no intention of letting the matter drop. Deneva is over a month behind us; it is time to archive that disaster and allow the Enterprise's five-year mission to continue.
Computer, attach transcription of Priority Three reply communiqué.
Starfleet Command
Headquarters San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3320.2
Priority Three, Non-Encrypted
Message Transcription:
Unable to agree with your projection at this time. Upon complete medical tests and proof of complete mobility and unimpaired faculties, reconsideration may be permissible. Re-institution as Chief Science Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise, out of the question due to reason for discharge. Further action from you in this matter will result in mandatory restriction of communications, possible complete revoking of Starfleet commission. Direct insubordination, I remind you, carries the consequences of court-martial.
Komack, Starfleet Command, Operations
Computer, end attachment.
I got the vibe loud and clear that if I don't back off there's going to be some nasty repercussions from this; that's not my imagination at the end, there's a veiled, very personal, threat there. I don't want to have to blow the Deneva case wide open just to get Spock reinstated; but if something doesn't break I may find myself considering it. They won't put him back onto my ship because the record shows he was responsible for giving the go-ahead on Deneva, which resulted in over one million people being blinded by our premature light-spectrum test. If word got out that I was the one who gave the order despite McCoy' reservations, my career would never recover; but if the truth remains hidden under stigma in Spock's discharge information, he'll never get reinstated – and even if he does, it won't be on Enterprise.
I've never before found a true no-win situation, but this one might just be it. I feel like there's been a net slowly closing up all around me ever since I gave that order for the parasites to be destroyed on Deneva. The fact that Command gave me the ultimatum – four hours to make a decision, or blow the planet into fragments – and that I had no other choice does not negate my culpability. But they are in this as deeply as I, and as such I and Spock and all of us are only pebbles in the street of politics, close to being kicked out of the way or simply run over by the passing vehicles of bureaucracy. The nets are closing around me, and I either surrender and go about my business as a Starfleet puppet, or I stay and fight, and possibly lose everything.
Computer, place entire entry under privacy filter, highest encryption. Decrypt upon voice recognition only, Kirk, James T.
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3321.3
Subject: Re: Vulcan Physiology
Encryption Level: High
Jorge,
I've attached everything I have on file about Spock's physiology, but unfortunately the poor devil's never been sick or injured long enough for me to have a complete workup of schematics for you. I know next to nothing about his physiology except what I've learned by experimentation, because he's closer than an Aldebaran shellmouth with his medical details. I know he's half-human, which throws a wrench into everything, but you're most likely going to be more knowledgeable than me about what makes him tick.
Your tests are coming up with the same results mine are; there is no real damage done to the optic nerves, and my scans didn't pick up anything abnormal in the brain to indicate a reason why he still can't see. I'd be mighty grateful if you can throw any light on it…ugh, definitely did not mean that pun. Sorry.
Anyhow, let me know as soon as you think you've got something.
The captain's starting to get suspicious. Tell Spock he needs to write to Jim more and for heaven's sake act normal. What's normal for him, anyhow.
And make sure he takes his copper supplements, will you? I know all Vulcans look enemic but Spock always did like to be beyond-average.
L. McCoy
-000-
Outpost 11, Facility 49
Disability Adaptation Ward
Stardate 3324.3
Subject: Re: Re: Vulcan Physiology
Encryption Level: Highest
Leonard:
After three days of extensive testing and research, it occurs to me.
Were you aware that Vulcans have a protective inner eyelid?
J.M.
-000-
Galactic Instant Comm-Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3324.5
Scramble Level: High
[McCoyLH] WTH?
[MBengaJ] Not here, Leonard.
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3324.6
Subject: Biweekly Reports
Encryption: Moderate
Mr. Spock,
Attached you will please find a copy of all reports from the science and medical departments aboard the Enterprise; Lieutenant Uhura was busy this week and asked me to compile and send them to you. There is not much of interest to report, sir, other than the carnivorous plant which Lieutenant Sulu brought aboard from the fourth moon of Domo last week. Security managed to contain the thing before it ate its way through the botany lab personnel. It is now under surveillance and being fed excess tribbles.
I am joking, sir! Although Captain did suggest it, I am not certain he was making joke. We have not yet been successful in the neutering process, but Nurse Chapel and I are working on the problem, when we are not trying to keep the crew from spreading the outbreak of Bor'va flu. Half of Labs ten and eleven were down for the duration of last week, though they are much better now and back on updating the research banks with the information from that ancient cruiser we ran into before your…accident.
If I may be frank, sir, we have been sent on some very strange missions since you left. None have been First Contact, Ambassadorial Meetings, or even Planetary Research missions, sir, not according to ship's logs. They appear to have all been, how you do say – busy work? I know that the new First Officer, Commander Thelin, (1) is still becoming accustomed to working with us humans, but after two weeks I should think we would be given something more important to do than courier duty? Is it not suspicious that we have been in limbo for a month, with these pointless missions? All of them traveling away from both Outpost 11 and the entire Denevan star system – and all of them within tracking range of a Federation outpost or Starbase?
Perhaps I am over-suspicious, sir. But here are the charts and official logs; you may judge for yourself. Commander Thelin seems to think Command can do no wrong, and the Captain seems to not care about anything at the present moment. But Commander Scott and I both have noticed the lack of activity and presence of a higher 'Fleet power wherever we go; something is not right, I would stake my commission on it.
Please to let me know if I am over-reacting, Mr. Spock. But as acting CSO and fourth-in-command, I am worried.
Pavel Chekov
Private Communiqué
City Shi'Kahr, Planet Vulcan
Stardate 3325.8
Subject: There are other ways to achieve your goals
Encryption Level: High
Kirk,
You humans have long held in reverence the adage, discretion is the better part of valor. A wise man knows when the course he has chosen makes the leap from well-intentioned and self-sacrificing to foolhardy and dangerous. May I remind you, I have the ear – and knowledge of the internal workings – of the Federation Council.
Stand down.
(1) Commander Thelin is a nod to the short-lived and under-appreciated TOS-era Animated Series, specifically the episode Yesteryear. When using the Guardian of Forever changes their history, Spock is erased from the timeline and Kirk returns to find he has an Andorian first officer named Thelin.