Just so you all know I have based Merling and the Water Sharers on people akin to the Nazi. I need pointless bad and they are the universal go to guys for that. I wanted to show Kate that there a bad people for no reason much like Star Wars did with the Vong. Of course the Vong got a soul at the end and I promise Merling won't have a happy ending. I also wanted Kate and Kirk to have something to share (Tarsus & Deneb) that will solidify their relationship. Jenlyn are you following all these side stories. Be honest. I write each one out and they plug them in but don't always know if they make sense to a reader. Co-Authored by Lone Wolf O'Neill. Enjoy and review! Also we have started posted a new story called Enterprise Crew: Extended Family Stories to fill in the gaps about how the some characters got assigned to the ship. It is mostly one shot stories about non cannon characters like the O'Neill's, the Enterprise Kids, Adam Reed and other characters. It will be updated sporadically between our other stories. If you have an idea about how they get here let us know.

CH10 Choices

ENTERPRISE BRIDGE

"Commander Spock," Uhura says bringing up live video feed of the park as the sonic booms begin detonation. Uhura deftly isolates two images of the Kirk's and O'Neill's using the distraction as a way to escape.

"Someone has bought us time and time is our most precious commodity at the moment. Lt Uhura, please contact Admiral Pike and send the comm into the ready room. Coronel O'Neill" Spock gestures forward and the two ranking officers leave the Bridge.

DENEB II PARK AND PHARMACY AFTER SONIC BOMBS

Kirk is running down the alley but realizes this is a bad move. If he was going to try and get the crowd under control the alley is a perfect bottleneck. He scans the area up head and sees a small basement window. Kirk makes his way to the window dragging Kate by the wrist. His grip is iron clad on her arm and never falters even as she is pulled ahead of him by the mass of bodies trying to escape the park. Kirk yanks her towards him and she stumbles into his arms. "Turn your face," he orders and with a swift kick the glass shatters in the window. He clears the sharp edges with his heel. It will be a tight fit for him but Kate can easily get through it. Kirk positions his body to block the flow of people the best he can. "Get in," he says squeezing her against the wall with his body. She has to be quick. He doesn't know how long he can hold this position and she will be trampled if he moves. He also doesn't want to be followed by others.

"You won't fit," Kate says sizing the opening against his body. She tries to push her way back into the crowd. Kate is not going to leave him so the only way out together is down the alley.

"Get in," Kirk says jerking her back to the window. Several bodies shove into him and he can barely stop from crushing Kate against the wall. Kate stares defiantly back at him refusing to leave. "Get in the fucking window Katherine. Now," he roars slamming into her again after being shoved by a large male desperate to get around him. He fights to push off the wall so she can actually move and follow his direction. "I am not telling you again. Move." Kate looks up and sees the fear and anger of the situation reflected in his gaze. There is barely any room to move so she slides down his legs and backs into the opening. She lowers herself into the pitch dark feet first. Looking up she sees Kirk watching her every move and hears a gun shot at the end of the alleyway. She blindly drops into the dark and waits for Kirk to follow. What took only seconds for Kirk to drop through the window and be safe in the basement with her felt like hours. More shots ring out followed by screams.

Kate rushes over and wraps her arms around his waist. "God damn you! Don't ever ask me to fucking leave you again," she says slightly shaking. Kirk allows her a minute to be held by him. This is the first moment they have had alone since the nightmare began.

He tilts her face up to his but really can't see her in the dark of the room. "I am not going to leave you but you need to stop questioning my every move," Kirk says softly but firmly. "For now on you do everything I say the minute I say it understand." Kirk looks for some sort of acknowledgement and feels a weak nod. "Good girl," he says kissing the top of her head. Suddenly the window is blocked by a garbage receptacle plunging them into absolute darkness. Kirk figures it must have been pushed down the street in the melee. The window must be the only outside entrance because with it blocked there is no light at all.

"Don't move," he says heading towards the wooden staircase in the back left corner. He hopes there is a light switch there.

"What are you doing?" Kate demands pissed as she pulls a lighter from her pocket and ignites it. The glow is minimal but at least it is something.

"Where did you get that?" Kirk says taking it from her to check the shelves for some sort of candle or lantern.

Kate huffs standing in the dark. "From the cigarettes I lifted on the moon colony. Found the lighter in your desk drawer and took it back. Tough to smoke when you can't light it up," she jokes nervously watching him scour the shelves and finally finding a box of scented candles. "Also have a small utility knife. Girl needs to be prepared for any situation right."

Kirk ignites the candle and walks back to Kate. "Do you always carry this stuff and where the hell do you smoke on the ship," he says annoyed setting the candle on a shelf.

Kate shifts her weight nervously from foot to foot. "Are we really going to do this now? We have other things that are more important to deal with" Kate reprimands him sharply. Kirk shoots her a scowl that is lost with the low light.

"We are going to have a long conversation when we get back to the ship," Kirk retorts scanning the room. Luck is finally on his side today and he finds they are in the storage area for the small pharmacy store above them. "We need supplies. Food, Water, blanket, flashlight. Anything we might need when we escape into the country tonight," he says walking to the shelves. He finds two backpacks and tosses one to Kate.

"Why are we running and not helping these people?" Kate says standing holding the backpack. Kirk is not listening to her but finds some clothes on the bottom shelf. He grabs a heavy long sleeve sweater for himself and pulls it over his shirt. "Why are we leaving?" Kate repeats as Kirk holds up the smallest sized sweater he can find for Kate.

"Put this on," he commands tossing it to her.

"No," Kate throws it to the floor, "not until I get some answers. I need to know the plan." Kirk continues to look through the shelves filling his bag. "Never took you for a coward. Not so tough when you can't hide behind your ship." Kate's rage with the situation is surfacing. She may not have seen the actual violence of the rapes, murders, and beatings but she has seen it before. When society breaks down it breaks down the same everywhere. Someone has got to help these people. If Kirk doesn't see that Kate will make him see his responsibility here. "Take some responsibility and help these people."

Kate's comments turn Kirk irate instantly. He stops filling the bag and walks over to her. "What do you suggest I do? Take my gun and kill everyone I see until I run out of bullets. Give away our position and watch as they come shoot you or worse take you away to one of those make shift brothels." Kate's face goes blank and she opens her mouth to find words but nothing comes out. Those things can't happen to her. She's smart, fast, a pretty good shot and can street fight her ass off. Kirk's words echo through her head as he continues to talk. "You are my responsibility here not them. When you are safe on the Enterprise then I can help these people but not now. Not like this." Kirk sees that his words are a revelation to Kate. For all her bravado he can see she has never been in this type situation where really bad things besides death could happen to her.

"We just have always stopped this," Kate says getting nervous. Kirk is putting her above everyone else on this planet. He is saying I will protect you and only you if needed and Kate is both thrilled to be in this position and horrified. Kate's life is not worth more than anyone else's. Duty to others before your self has been the Solo and Skywalker mantra not I will love and protect you forever which is Kirk's. In her mind Kate is trying to find a way to merge the best of these two family ideologies into something she can live with. "Han and Luke. They always save the day. I know we can do that too. These people need," Kate's voice hitches and Kirk sees the struggle going on in her mind. Her eyes rapidly go back and for searching her dad's for an answer.

"Come here," he says reaching out to hold her. He folds Kate into his arms. She feels so safe and warm. "I will not let anything happen to you sweetheart but we are not in a game. The Enterprise will come but we have to hang low for a while until they get here so do what I say and fill the bag with supplies." Kate instantly goes about stuffing the bag with the necessary items for short term survival. The sound of footsteps upstairs freezes them in their tracks. "Kate," he whispers signaling her to his side and then blowing out the light. Kirk had planned on being discovered but hoped he would have had more time. He wedges them behind the wooden stairs, pulls his gun, and waits.

"Is there a safety on this thing," Kate says turning the second gun Kirk had stolen over in her hands. Kirk's hand flies to the back of this pants and realized she lifted the gun off him. It scares him how efficient she is at pick pocketing. He is about to pull it from her hands and realizes he can't make her defenseless. He reaches over and flips the safety off. They probably won't survive this but Kate deserves a fighting chance. She has shown she is capable of firing a gun but Kirk doesn't believe for an instant she has ever killed anyone or at least realized she has killed someone up close and personal. The minute she makes her first kill she will no longer be able to go back to who she was before but these rebels won't care about her. "Do not shoot until after I have," Kirk whispers authoritatively remembering how she shot first in the alleyway. Kate nods as the door creaks open and light floods the staircase from above. Each footstep on the stairs makes her heart beat faster but heightens all Kirk's senses. He slides into an eerie calm waiting to act. He knows what he has to do and is ready to defend them with his life.

IN FRONT OF THE MOVIE THEATER ON DENEB II

The Commander effortlessly slips from the back of the movie theater to the front. The Water Sharers know he is one of them and no one second guesses his movements. He glances in front of the pharmacy and sees Kawalski taking up position. He nods silently and both men raise their guns. They both have their targets to protect. When the final sonic bomb detonates all hell breaks loose and everyone runs for their lives. Kawalski keeps his eyes on the tree snipers nearest to him. The Commander picks off his two snipers effortlessly. The newest weapon in their arsenal works better than they could dream. It is a combination micro transporter and relic handgun. The concept was simple but implementation was the hard part. Eventually some geek in advanced weaponry synchronized everything so that you simply targeted the mark, engaged the micro-transporter, and fired the shot. The mark would see a flash of white and then BAM the bullet would strike. This weapon will prove to be quite efficient in stealth and assassination missions. Once the Commander dropped his marks Kawalski took out his in no time flat. The Commander sees Kirk and Kate barrel past him and realizes they will be trapped. The rebels are already sealing off the alleyways and picking people off as they exit. The Commander fights his way through the crowd towards Kirk but stops behind a trash receptacle seeing him entering the basement window. The Commander knows they will eventually be caught or overrun by survivors with the same plan as he had. He pushes the trash container down until it blocks the window from view buying Jim and Kate some time. The Commander turns and begins to shoot people in his way so that he can make it back to Kawalski's position. After the first three people die the others give him wide berth. He arrives just in time to clothesline John O'Neill as he tries to run past him. John goes down hard but the Commander rips him to his feet by his collar dragging him to the front of the store. "Move and I kill your brother," he says icily in John's ear. Ronin has a gun pointed to his head and was given the same threat. "Inside," he orders the boys and once in locks the door behind them.

John turns quickly and throws a punch hitting the Commander square in the jaw. It hurt like a bitch but John is only twelve and he can weather a blow by a kid. "We are trying to help you so knock the shit off John," the Commander says throwing back the hood covering his face. John and Ronin stop struggling and stare bewildered at their newest captors. "Wadda you say we get you to your Captain, hmmm," the Commander motions towards the back of the store with his gun. John and Ronin comply recognizing Jim's brother and their Godfather Kawalski. These men aren't the best option but they are better than the rebels. "Now he is going to have an itchy trigger finger," he says pointing with his gun down the basement steps. "I'd watch what you say."

John takes a deep breath. Either way he may get shot but he trusts Kirk more than the man behind him. "Mr. Jim," John calls out before taking a step into the open. The next step will place him and Ronin in the line of fire for anyone in the basement. Calling out is risky but if the Captain was down here with Kate, he would know John's voice.

"John?" Kate says standing up by Kirk who roughly pulls her back down. This has to be some kind of trick. Jack and Sam had refused shore leave and there was no way in hell the boys were old enough to go on shore leave unsupervised. Even if the O'Neills would let them Kirk would never sign off on that.

"Kate," John says flying down the stairs and signaling to Ronin to come down. John is clearly recognizable to Jim even in the low light and he comes out from behind the stairs. The door closes sealing them back in darkness. Kate lights the candle as Ronin and two other men come down the stairs.

"Don't move," Kirk orders and brings his gun to bear on the men walking behind Ronin. The speed at which Kirk moves shocked Kate. Maybe her dad is a bit more bad ass than she initially thought. "Get your fucking hands up," Kirk orders to the figures behind Ronin.

"Easy their baby brother. Mom would not like us killing each other this close to the holidays," Sam Kirk says walking slowly into the light. They may be brothers but Sam doesn't put it past Jim to shoot him for old time's sake.

Kirk does not lower his gun but recognizes his brother instantly. "You are supposed to be on Deneva Sam being the research scientist with the great family, little league coach, PTA member. What the hell is going on?" Kirk is furious that Sam has lied to him all these years. It pisses him off even more to think that his brother actually tried to convince him Kate would be better off with him. "I seem to recall a few weeks back you saying something about Kate being safer with you," Kirk says snidely still training his gun on Sam.

"Hey I did not drag her into a civil war," Sam shoots back. "And lower that gun. You look stupid and we don't have time for a family chat right now. "Sulu, Michaels, and Paulson have been taken captive by Merling's men and once he realizes that Sulu is not you…..his life expectancy will drop off dramatically."

"How do you know this," Kirk challenges not believing the story.

"We know everything. Star Fleet sent us in several months back when the Dilithium shipments started to get light." Sam leans against a stack of boxes ready for Jim's next question.

"So you are saying you work for Section 31 and Star Fleet sanctioned you to instigate this slaughter over dilithium?" Kirk knows that Star Fleet's primary mission is exploration and humanitarian work but anyone with eyes can see they are one step away from an instant military fleet. As Dax noted, each vessel is armed to the teeth and the Academy courses balance military and the humanities almost class for class.

"Don't be naive Jim. I work for the Deneva Mining Consortium as a research biologist. I find where the dilithium is and report to my superiors," Sam states not admitting he does work for Section 31. Jim laughs at his brother's audacity and use of semantics.

"Seriously Sam! Let's just cut the shit and call a spade a spade," Jim reasons.

Sam Kirk smiles the famous Kirk half smile trademarked years ago by his father. The one that says 'kiss my ass' but passes as photogenically pleasing in newspapers. He continues without missing a beat. "Admiral Marcus may have been wrong in his approach but he was a sound military genius. Hell you spent half your Academy career writing treatises on War with the Klingon Empire. Between them and the Romulan's, we're up shits creek without a paddle. The Romulan's have twice as many dilithium sources as we do and without dilithium your precious ship is a derelict hunk of metal".

"What do you know about my crew?" Jim is sick of hearing his brother justify his involvement in this civil war.

"Your crew beamed down a split second before the EMP went off. I thought it might have been you at first because he had a young child with him but once we monitored the exchange between Breccan's men and yours, I knew it was not you. Prince Duncan took them to his father. From what we can gather Sulu beamed his daughter and two of your crewmen along with the youngest siblings of the Royal Family to your ship." Kawalski recounts the events.

"You have a working transporter," Kirk says lower his gun and grabbing Kate by the shoulder as she started to walk closer to Sam to get supplies again. Her interest in their conversation is quickly waning.

"Hey stop just yanking me around," Kate snaps pulling from Kirk's grasp.

Kirk shoots her a warning look but immediate redirects his attention to his brother. "Did all my people get off planet? Can you take me to the transporter?" This information is a game changer for Kirk. If he can get the kids off the planet he will finally be able to direct all his efforts to making Johan Merling pay for what he has done here.

"No. The room used a backup generator to power the transporter and now it is shot. The rebels found your people and the last remaining members of Breccan's family in the room. They killed the Royals and are taking your guys to Merling as we speak." Kawalski sums up the last few hours for Kirk.

"You responsible for those sonic bombs," Jim says relaxing slightly as his brother nods a confirmation. His brother maybe a cold hearted son of a bitch but Jim doesn't think he would kill him or the kids. Well at least not this minute he wouldn't kill them.

"Couldn't have someone killing my niece before we met now could I," Sam says oozing the Kirk family charm. He sticks his hand out for Kate to shake. "I am your Uncle Sam honey."

Kate stares at him with one eyebrow raised and then looks at Kirk. "Is he fucking serious?" She asks crossing her arms over her chest like Kirk often does when he is thinking. "Do we have ONE family member that is not either seriously fucked up or trying to kill us. Never tell me I lived under a rock again or tell me how dysfunctional my family was with Han." Kate stares back at Sam Kirk.

"Wow," he says smiling and looking at Kirk. "They said she has some," Sam looks for the right word," spirit but I didn't realize how much. Language is a bit strong for my tastes though." Sam looks to his brother who slightly shrugs his shoulders.

"She's a pretty good judge of character and we are working on etiquette," Jim says flatly.

Kate is ready to explode with frustration. "Fuck you both. This is not some family reunion which by the way could have happened on Deneva but didn't. Now let's figure a plan to get out of this hell hole."

"Hey watch your mouth," Kirk says sternly to Kate causing her to roll her eyes disgustedly and huff. How can her father taking his side.

"So how are we getting out," Kirk stares at his brother.

"Through the front door. Merling trusts us which is how we got you all out of the park. Kawalski here can take the kids back to our base and contact the Enterprise. You and I can go get your people." Sam says like everyone is in agreement.

"Whoa. You can take the kids back to camp. I don't know or trust this," Kirk gestures to Kawalski realizing he doesn't know his name.

"Kawaklski."

"Kawalski. Okay so the plan is you take the kids and I get Kawalski," Kirk says tucking his gun back into the waistband of his pants. He pulls the hood of his sweater up to hide his face the best he can. "Sam, give us a three minute head start. We will make sure the entrance is clear and then you bring the kids up. We will provide cover if you need it if Merling is not as trusting of you as you say." He turns to the kids. "John and Ronin take Kate and hide outside the city limits with Sam. It will be safer there. I will find you as soon as I can." Kirk kisses Kate and begins to walk up the stairs after Kawalski.

"Screw that I'm coming with you," Kate bitches grabbing the back of her dad's shirt. One minute Kirk is saying lay low then he is ready to storm the palace. Kate cannot keep up with Kirk's ever changing plans. "Why don't we stick with a plan for more than two minutes okay? You are making my head spin," Kate says walking in front of Kirk mounting a stair. Kirk grabs the collar of her shirt and moves her out of the way.

"Didn't we just have this discussion? Do what I say if you want me to help these people," Kirk firmly says to his daughter. Sam calmly watches the interaction between his brother and niece finding the strengths and weaknesses he might later need to employ to control Kate. "Katie bug go with Sam." He kisses her and glances to his brother for support. Sam nods slightly. "I'll be right back," Kirk says mounting the stairs. Kate tries to take a step forward and Sam grabs her shirt pulling her back. Kirk hears Kate feet slip on the step and knows what is coming next. "Watch your nose," Kirk yells back and closes the door behind him.

ENTERPRISE READY ROOM

"Gentleman, I wish I had better news," Admiral Chris Pike says on the video screen. "My informants have confirmed that Star Fleet has had a presence," Pike draws the last word out dramatically, "for several weeks now on Deneb II. Seems the Water Sharer vs. Water Holder conflict was escalating more than the general population was aware of. Star Fleet didn't even issue travel advisories for Deneb V to avoid the place. With tensions increasing between the Romulans, Klingons, and the Federation everyone just assumes the gloves are coming off and we should be preparing for a war instead of stopping one." Pike sits stiffly as he relays the communication. Spock can tell his former Captain is clearly pissed with the lack of information provided by his informants and the orders of his superiors.

"What are our orders Admiral," Spock cuts directly to the point. Jack has submitted a plan to retrieve the Captain and Spock hopes Pike will approve it. If he does not they will go ahead with it regardless.

"Officially I am to tell you to stand down. The rebel faction will not hurt the Captain for fear of causing a conflict with the Federation. Star Fleet is assured that the Captain and the rest of the crew will be exchanged as part of the new treaty implemented with the side that is in control of the government." Pike speaks stiffly and formally to Jack and Spock. "Commander Spock, you of all people know the rules of the Prime Directive. I trust you will follow them precisely to the letter of the law. I am sending the USS Potemkin and USS Vanguard to assist. ETA on either ship is 24 hours out from now. I will comm if any new information comes to my attention. Pike out."

Spock and Jack sit in silence for several seconds staring at the blank screen. "Colonel O'Neill it is my understanding that the Prime Directive, although infallibly written to protect others, does include certain provisions to secure the rights of Federation citizens." Spock's words are precise and artfully chosen where Jack's are not.

"You're talking about rescue missions and the whole we are in a diplomatic discussion with you but it's going south clauses," Jack states getting a pinched look from Spock. Jack knows the Vulcan doesn't approve of his language and word choice but Spock was going to say the same thing with just a thousand more fifty cent words than he just did.

"Precisely. Are you ready to go?" Spock approved the plan even before the meeting but was giving Star Fleet the benefit of doubt before the Enterprise took action.

"Yep," Jack says heading for the door. Jack was as well versed in the Prime Directive as Spock. Section 31 often used these 'violation clauses' to justify any mission they were involved in often stretching them so far they no longer fit. Jack just never felt the need to show how much he actually understood and respected Federation law.

"Bring our people home safely Jack," Spock uncharacteristically uses O'Neill's given name. The two men rarely see eye to eye but they both have a strong loyalty to the Enterprise and the Captain.

"In time for breakfast," Jack says as the doors snap closed. Jack hears his comm go off but when he tries to access it no one responds. He enters the turbo lift and again the comm chirps with no one on the other end. Silently Jack counts in his head and right on cue five seconds later the comm chirps. "Shit," Jack stays on the lift and re-enters a floor code. He heads to his quarters and goes straight to the locked box in the bottom of his closet. As he suspected the small black comm box is blinking stating a message has been recorded. Jack enters the access code and the following message appears.

CORONEL BOYS SAFE WITH COMMANDER DROP ZONE 83247.714 KAWALSKI

Jack needs to adjust his plan but only slightly. This is actually good news for once. He knows where his boys are and they are with someone less psychotic then Merling. He secures the black comm box in the bottom of his closet and heads to the armory. He has the coordinates and is ready to bring his boys home. Jack comms his wife and has her meet him in the armory. She won't be happy the boys are with his old Section 31 unit but at least they are out of the park and the chance to get them home alive has doubled.

DENEB II PARK WITH JOHAN MERLING

Sulu can barely stomach walking through the death and destruction of the park. The smell of death and blood assaults his nose and the insects have started to converge on the bodies still lying where they fell hours earlier during the initial assault. Women and children's screams and cries can be heard from every corner of the park. Sulu sees groups of men being assigned to clear the bodies into piles along with wood and flammable materials. "Jesus fucking Christ. Do you believe this shit?" Michaels says staring at the blank faces of the Denebian's he passes carting the bodies to one end of the park.

"Why the fuck hasn't Spock rained holy shit on this place," Paulson criticizes as he sees a small girl holding a crying baby.

"Button it the hell up and eyes forward," Sulu commands. He tries to keep his pace strong and purposeful like he is simply late for a meeting at Star Fleet Headquarters. His heart is being torn apart just like Michaels and Paulson's but he is the ranking officer. Sulu must set the standard for his men to follow. Sulu prays he can get this meeting over before they begin to burn the bodies. The stench is already unbearable. They mount the wooden steps to the dais where Johan Merling sits. Sulu keeps his eyes high and focuses on his breathing as a woman is dragged roughly to a standing position from between Merling's legs. The other men laugh and one drags her off the podium and down the stairs.

"I told you I could tell the difference in skill between Holder and Sharer women. They must have so much more time to practice because they don't have to eek out a living every second of the day." Merling laughs lighting a cigarette.

"Five credits I can fool you Sir," a rebel bets Merling.

"Give me thirty minutes and you are on. I like red heads," he smiles taking a long draw on his smoke. Merling has purposefully set the scene with the woman for Kirk to see. He can feel the Captain standing slightly behind him out of his view. Merling hated James Kirk and his self righteous attitude. "Would you like to take part in our little experiment Captain Kirk," Merling taunts still not turning around.

"I am Lt. Hikaro Sulu of the USS Enterprise and you need to understand the Federation will not tolerate the torture and abuse of either my crew or helpless women and children," Sulu may not be able to do much but he has his words. They ring clear and strong throughout the park carried by the amplified voice system designed for Merling to terrorize the populace. Sulu hopes that it at least lets these poor people know help is coming. "You will be held accountable for all your actions on this planet. May whatever higher power you believe in have mercy on your soul. The Federation will not."

Merling flies up from his seat and turns to face Sulu. He draws his projectile gun and points it at Sulu's head. The barrel shakes from the rage coursing through Merling's body. "You are not Kirk," he says pulling the trigger. The only reason Sulu does not flinch as the bullet sails past his ear is that the event happened too quickly. "I want Kirk," Merling shoots another of his lackeys that brought the Enterprise crew up to the podium. Michaels does not have the control Sulu does and jerks to the right as the man behind him falls dead. "Do you need a picture?" Merling picks off a third man from the party who mistakenly brought Sulu instead of Kirk. "He is blonde, tall, and has blue eyes," and as the fourth man falls the final surviving man positions himself directly behind Sulu. "Do you mind Mr. Sulu," Merling says very politely with a nod of his head to the right. Sulu obliges and Merling kills the final man. Sulu does not have an ounce of remorse. These men are just five less he will have to kill later. "I am so sorry for that. I had assumed it was your Captain being brought to me but your courage in not begging for your life is impressive. You got your daughter off planet right. I know you don't believe this but I sincerely do not wish any harm to come to her. Also the Captain's little girl," Merling sits back in his chair and taps the gun to his chin. "Kara, Carrie," Merling searches for her name. Sulu and the other officers remain perfectly still. It never even dawned on them that Kate could be on the planet with Kirk. "Kate," Merling smiles snapping his fingers. "Did she get off with your daughter?" Merling asks. Sulu is struck by how sociopathic the man in front of him is. One moment his is killing randomly and the next has the manners of a gentleman.

"Yes," Sulu lies. It may be a death sentence for him but he might believe it and give Kate a fighting chance if they are not looking for her.

"Pity," Merling frowns. "Fathers are so much easier to work with when they can be properly motivated. Oh well that is why we always need to be flexible." Merling stands and a live video feed is broadcast on every monitor around the city. "Captain Kirk, it appears your valiant crew has rescued the one asset I had to make this process go smoother; however, I will just have to use other measures." Merling begins to randomly shoot anyone in his sights until ten new bodies lay on the ground. "I give you one hour to come to the square or I will do this again and again. If by hour three you have not shown I will add and eleventh victim to the pot," Merling points to Sulu, Michaels, and Paulson while he speaks. The camera turns off and Merling slumps to his seat. "Take them back down to the prison and let's see if golden boy shows," Merling orders.