CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
.
.
"How are you feeling today?" McCoy asked, entering Ramsey's room. "Any more bad dreams last night?" He stopped when he noticed the small pile of black hair on the floor next to the bed.
Ramsey fluffed the bangs now covering her forehead as she turned to face McCoy. "No more dreams, Doctor, but I do feel like I'm going stir crazy. Can I get out of here? I'm not asking to return to duty, only to be released from Sickbay. I'll be good."
McCoy grinned at the plaintive, begging expression on Ramsey's face as he ran the scanner over her and checked the readings. "Commodore, I've been a medical officer in Starfleet long enough to not trust that particular promise. I trust it even less when it comes from a starship captain. As a group, they have a tendency to not obey orders to rest unless they are confined to Sickbay. You've already said you're going stir crazy here. You'll have the same problem being stuck in your quarters. You're staying here," he said.
McCoy studied the scanner for a moment. "Your internal injuries are healing fine, but I'm still concerned about the genetic changes occurring."
Ramsey reached up and combed her fingers through her bangs, then glanced at the security officer standing by the door.
"Lieutenant Gehrett, would you step out please," McCoy asked.
"Yes, Sir. I'll be right outside," Gehrett said, leaving the room.
"Well?" McCoy asked, after Gehrett had left.
"The changes which are occurring are a part of the normal life cycle for a Klingon, Doctor," Ramsey said.
"And, just what are these so changes?" McCoy asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Keep in mind you're half human so what's normal for a Klingon may not be normal for you."
"The most obvious is the development of the cranial ridges. Other changes include an increase in muscle mass and a slowing of the aging process."
"Slowing of the aging process? Just how old are you then?" McCoy asked.
"Thirty-six standard years. I was born in twenty-two thirty-three by the Earth calendar."
"Then Starfleet Medical missed by six years when they estimated your age at twelve when you were found. That's a significant amount to be wrong by."
"Klingon children mature at approximately three times the rate of Terran children. At five standard years, a Klingon child would appear to be fifteen, both in physical and psychological development. During puberty, Klingons age at approximately the same rate as their Terran counterparts. At full maturity the aging process slows to approximately half that of a Terran. Aging slows again, when a Klingon reaches thirty-five to forty standard years, this time to roughly one third of Terrans. The cranial ridges and the other changes occur this time. Because of my mixed blood, my aging cycle doesn't quite match the Klingon or the Terran." Ramsey carefully picked the strands of long black hair off the floor and dropped them into the disposal unit.
"It's too bad the Empire has never shared any medical information with us, so I could verify what you've told me. Based on my scans, it's possible that is indeed what is going on, but I'm still going to keep you confined to sickbay until I'm satisfied your explanation is correct," he said, standing up.
"Very well, Doctor." Ramsey nodded her head politely, but McCoy still saw the anger in her narrowed eyes.
He returned the nod then left the room.
#
"Good morning, Bones," Kirk said, as McCoy entered the office. "How's your patient doing?" He stood up so McCoy could sit at his desk.
"She's in quite a mood. Says she's going stir crazy and wants to be released from Sickbay." McCoy leaned back in his chair.
"What did you tell her?" Kirk asked.
"That she was confined to Sickbay until I decided otherwise, because I don't trust promises made by starship captains regarding medical rest. I also told her I wasn't sure what was going on with the changes in her genetic structure. Changes she assured me were normal for Klingons." McCoy told Kirk about his earlier conversation with Ramsey.
"For someone who claims to not have any memories of the Empire, she certainly knows a lot about Klingons," Kirk said.
"That was my thought, also. Have you noticed how much her knowledge touches on areas Starfleet can't verify?" McCoy said.
"Do you have any objections to me talking to her this morning?" Kirk asked.
"No. Just don't push her too hard. She's close to a breaking point, and I don't want you to be what she breaks."
Kirk glanced down at the thin scar on his hand and frowned. "Doctor, I'm going to push as hard as it takes to get the answers I need. This has gone on long enough."
"Be careful." He heard McCoy say as he left the office and headed for the security ward.
"Lieutenant, you're relieved. Go get some breakfast or something. I'll page you when you're needed," Kirk said, entering Ramsey's room.
"I want that explanation now, Commodore. There is something going on, and you know what it is. Based on what Commander Hilte and I have found in the course of this investigation, I believe it's possible Admiral Cartwright may be trying to set you up. Having spoken to Commander Moore, I think I may even know why he would want to do that. I need to know the truth and I need to know it now," Kirk said, after Gehrett left the room.
"What makes you think I know more than I've already told you?" Ramsey said softly, closing the book she was reading.
Kirk pulled the second chair over so he was sitting directly in front of Ramsey. He noticed she was avoiding his gaze. "Ever since you came on board, you've demonstrated extensive knowledge of the Klingon Empire, knowledge Starfleet doesn't even have," he said. "Then you become the target of an assassination attempt by one of the Klingon Ambassador's aides. A computer tape, that same aide had in his property, contained a set of orders for him to kill K'Lyssia of House Lynsia. A picture of this K'Lyssia looks remarkably like you did when you came to the Federation. On top of the resemblance, Ambassador Kaphil told me your Klingon name was K'Lyssia and you are a member of House Lynsia."
"Captain...Jim, this is not a good time." Ramsey kept her eyes downcast and Kirk noticed her tightly clenched fists resting on her lap.
"For someone who knows so much about the Empire and acknowledges she's Klingon, you're not acting like one," Kirk said. He felt his muscles tensing as he waited for her reaction to the insult. He locked his gaze with hers as she snapped her head up.
"I've been talking to Ambassador Kaphil, and he has told me a little about how Klingons feel about honor. You gave me your word as an officer you would tell me what was going on. Are you breaking that word? Considering you've ignored the insult to your honor Cartwright has made with his allegations, it wouldn't surprise me to find out you lied to me."
"Are you deliberately trying to get yourself killed, Kirk?" Ramsey hurled the book she was holding across the room.
"No, but I needed to get a reaction out of you. Looks like it worked. I'll ask again, are you breaking your word?"
"No! All I'm doing is asking for more time." Ramsey closed her eyes and turned away. "Please?" she whispered.
"I'm sorry, but time is something you're out of. I realize you're concerned about losing your career if Starfleet finds out your memory has returned. Right now, if you can't prove the accusations are false, your career is ruined and probably over anyway. Cartwright's accusations will keep surfacing for as long as you try to hide whatever it is you're hiding."
"Where do you want me start?" Ramsey dropped her eyes, again refusing to meet his gaze.
"How about with your supposed memory loss and who you really are. We'll see where it goes from there."
"My memory loss when I came to the Federation was real. It wasn't until after Warren's death that my memory returned. Yes, I was born in the Empire as K'Lyssia, daughter of Raynia of House Lynsia and raised as a warrior. I am not now, nor have I ever been a spy for the Empire." Ramsey looked up, looking directly at Kirk, her green eyes wide and absent of wariness for the first time since he had met her.
"How did you come to the Federation?" he asked.
"I was kidnapped and my memories blocked. I still don't know what actually happened to me from the time Kang began using the mind probe and the time I woke up on Starbase Sixteen."
Kirk felt himself tensing again as he prepared his next question. Ramsey was already angry; it wouldn't take much to push her past the boiling point. "You say you've never been a spy for the Empire, yet you've had communications with people living there, including the Emperor."
Ramsey sat perfectly still for about two minutes. Kirk watched her carefully, but the only evidence he could see of her fight to control her anger was the drop of blood that squeezed out of her right fist.
"I have friends and family within the Empire," Ramsey finally said. "Lord K'Lyion is one of those. When I was First Officer on the Excalibur, I was involved in a rescue on a disabled Klingon vessel. K'Lyion was among those rescued. I guess I impressed him."
Ramsey smiled softly. "Those that know me within the Empire would never ask me to pass information. They know the oaths I swore when I joined Starfleet. For me, as an initiated warrior, to completely disregard those oaths, would have brought dishonor on my name and my family. They would have branded me a traitor and disowned me."
"Why did Kaphil try to kill you?" Kirk asked.
"I'm guessing he was hired by a rival house. My uncle, the...head of House Lynsia, has a high position within the Empire and has designated me as his successor. Several would like to claim his position for themselves. By eliminating me, they move closer to being able to do just that."
"Are you sure?"
"By the Fek'lhr, what is that suppose to mean?" Ramsey asked.
Kirk was surprised by the lack of anger in her voice. He had never been able to bring his temper under control that quickly. Of course, she's had thirty years of learning to control a very volatile temper, he thought.
"Kaphil told me a mind probe could be used to plant false information and subconscious commands. Is it possible you've been relaying information to the Empire and don't even know it?"
"How can I prove my innocence against an accusation like that? All I can tell you is what I know."
"Would you be willing to consent to a mind meld? I would accept that as conclusive proof. And, I believe I could convince Admirals Cartwright and Nogura to accept it as well."
Ramsey stared at him for several seconds and swallowed hard before answering. "A mind meld? That's not a good idea. During my time on Vulcan, I learned to fight mind melds and mind probes." Her voice was still calm.
"I need conclusive proof. Even if you're not working for the Klingons, Admiral Cartwright's allegations have been heard by a number of people, both here on the Enterprise and at Starfleet Command. You'll have to deal with that accusation for the rest of your career."
"I have to think about it," Ramsey said softly.
"We'll be reaching Khitomer in three days; you have until tomorrow morning to decide. If I can't present Intelligence with conclusive proof, there will be a team waiting to take you into custody when we reach the conference." Kirk stood up and returned the chair to its corner. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Kirk stumbled as the Enterprise suddenly lurched.
"That felt like a phaser hit," Ramsey said. "Let's get to the bridge." Ramsey pushed past Kirk as the Enterprise rocked again.
#
"Commander Decker, report!" Ramsey demanded, as she and Kirk stepped out of the turbo-lift.
"Commodore, we're being fired on by three Klingon ships," Decker said.
"Open hailing frequencies!" Ramsey stepped down onto the command deck as Decker stood up.
"Channel open," Uhura said.
"Attention Klingon ships, this is Commodore Kelli Ramsey of the Federation Starship Enterprise. I demand to know the reason for your intrusion into Federation space and for intercepting this vessel." Ramsey assumed full command posture as she faced the viewscreen. She hoped Kirk would follow her lead in dealing with the Klingons. After all, whether I'm a Klingon agent or not, I'm still the resident Klingon expert, she thought.
"You are in no position to demand anything, Commodore Ramsey." The swarthy face of the Klingon Captain appeared on the screen. "I believe you know the reason why I'm here. You have two minutes to surrender your vessel, or I will destroy it." The screen went blank.
Ramsey collapsed into the command chair, her body trembling. "Kang," she whispered.
"Kelli, are you okay?" Commander Moore placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Just a few bad memories." Ramsey sat up a little straighter and reached for the intercom button.
"Mister Scott, what's our status?" she asked.
"We've taken heavy hits, Commodore. Deflectors are down to eighty-five percent. Phasers are rigged through several by-pass systems. We've also lost several engine circuits."
"Thank you. Priority on deflectors and weapons." She closed the intercom and stood up. "Mister Chekov, I want the phasers brought up to full power. We need to target the weak areas in their shields. Don't try to knock the shields out, just punch some holes in them.
"As soon as you have an opening, widen the beam until the breaks are large enough for a photon torpedo to pass through. Then fire the torpedoes, set for detonation inside their shields.
"Let's give Kang our answer. Mister Chekov, lock phasers on target and into a continuous cycle. Fire when ready." Ramsey didn't miss Chekov's glance at Kirk for his authorization. Damn it, she thought. Back me on this, Kirk. I know what I'm doing. She refused to look at Kirk, and was relieved when she saw Chekov setting up his tactical board as she ordered.
The phasers began firing then stopped abruptly. "ghuy'cha! What happened?" Ramsey demanded.
"All weapon systems are dead," Chekov said, checking his panel.
Ramsey slammed a fist down on the intercom. "Mister Scott, what happened?"
"I told ye, we had the phasers rigged through several by-pass circuits. Locking them into a continuous firing cycle blew those. We lost the torpedo systems in the process as well."
"Get on the shields we can't afford to lose them, and get those phasers back up, Commander."
"Commodore, we have incoming torpedoes. Full spread from all three ships," Chekov announced.
"All stations brace for impact! Shield status?"
"Holding," Chekov said.
The Enterprise rocked as she was struck several times in rapid succession by the Klingon weapons.
As Ramsey helped Sulu back to his seat, she heard Scotty's voice come over the intercom. "Commodore, we've lost the shields and the engines. We're dead in the water, lass."
Ramsey looked around the bridge as the crew returned to their various stations. "Uhura, open a channel to the Klingons," she finally said.
"Channel open," the communications officer said.
"Kang, I'm willing to talk about a deal," Ramsey said, after the Klingon appeared on the screen.
"What kind of deal? As you Terrans would say, I seem to be holding all the cards."
Ramsey clenched her fists tightly then sighed. "I guess it would be more of a request."
"I'm listening." Kang grinned.
"If you will give me your word as a warrior to let the Enterprise and her crew go; I'll beam over to your ship without further trouble. You'll have what you came for."
"Kelli, no! You can't!" Moore said, jumping up from his station.
"My word as a warrior." Kang saluted. "Warrior to warrior, I allow you one hour to make any good-byes you wish to make, Lady K'Lyssia. A security escort and I will beam to your bridge at the end of that time. Be ready to transport." The viewscreen went blank before Ramsey could reply.
Ramsey stared at the blank screen, listening to her pounding heart for several beats. She struggled to present a calmness she didn't feel as she turned to face Kirk.
"Captain Kirk, I formally give command of the Enterprise to you," she said, snapping a sharp salute.
"Accepted." Kirk returned the salute.
"Computer," Ramsey said.
"Working."
"Effective this date, I, Commodore Kelli Jolynda Ramsey, transfer command of the USS Enterprise to Captain James Tiberius Kirk. All command codes and functions which are currently locked under authorization code, K'Lyssia-one-echo-november-one-zero-three-one-dash-kilo are to be transferred to Captain Kirk and locked under his authorization codes." Ramsey's voice trembled as she gave the order.
"Acknowledged, all command codes and functions have been transferred," the computer said.
Ramsey took a long look around the bridge. "I'll be in my quarters. Page me when Kang and his personnel beam over. I want extra security posted to the bridge. Let's make sure this is the only place they go." She held her head high as she walked to the turbo-lift.
"Aye, Sir," Ramsey heard Kirk say before the lift doors closed.