Waywardness of a Vulcan Heart Chapter 26: Going Native Part 13 - Our of the Box Thinking
Kirk could not stop the rapid fire comments peppered at Spock, mostly filled with objections.
"Those devices are massive. It will only make things worse on the planet."
"We have none of those on board. Where are we going to get one of those bombs?"
"You might freeze the core in a chain reaction. A planet with no magnetic field is a death zone for all life."
"The explosion's radiation levels will destroy the species and us too. They are too close to ground zero."
"We can't transport something like that into the volcano. Only the Enterprise can carry something of that size and emplace it. They'll see us for sure. You just said that we can't do that."
Uhura came to his defense, "Let him explain his idea, everyone."
Captain Kirk weighted in, "This is brilliant Spock. Tell us what you have in mind."
He showed a video simulation of his cold fusion design. Uhura wondered how in the world he had time to create this. He must have never slept last night after their time together. He narrated as the video animation progressed.
"From the available technology resident in parts and components around the Enterprise, we can create a device that is precisely tailored to the task at hand of neutralizing the volcano and the new fault line. I have devised a miniature version of a traditional cold fusion device that can be transported within a shuttle. Its blast radius will focus only on the volcanic activity in the confines of the caldera and all the subterranean lava tube system that feeds the continental faults, minimizing the risk to any sentient life."
The crew was impressed.
He showed the deployment scheme, "Implanted in the volcano at the center of the caldera, it will be tuned to only immobilize the molecular composition of the magma infusing the volcano and planetary crust. It will freeze the magma streams only within the volcanic system, and its effects will cascade into the fissures and faults throughout the continent downstream. It would be like fixing a windscreen by plugging the initial crack and filling the rest so there is no more propagation and it fuses with the rest of the glass without breaking it. I have the ability to construct it myself, with Ensign Chekov's and Mr. Scott's expert assistance."
"Aye, Commander, that may just work," Mr. Scott said, scratching his chin in appreciation of the engineering elegance of the finely tuned solution.
Uhura smiled at Spock's amazing idea.
"Vhy a shuttle, Mr. Spock?" quizzed Chekov, "Can't ve do a short-range transporter?"
"Negative Mr. Chekov. The transporter is too inaccurate, despite your considerable skills, Ensign. We could accidentally beam the device directly into the magma and it would not last but a few seconds, even with the thermally insulated outer shell. A shuttle, with a terrain following radar calibrated to see through the ash, can lower the device into the caldera, and remain safely 200 meters above the magma and the device. We would deploy it, retreat to 500 meters, and remotely activate the device – the ash will not attenuate the signal over that distance, especially if we use a subspace radio link."
An animation of the shuttle was played, depicting the device being lowered on a cable into a solid rock island in the caldera, releasing the cable, backing off, and a radio signal concept igniting the device with its specifically tailored blast zone. The volcano and the long magma-laced fault line were shown to freeze in place. The tribal locations were conveniently shown along the animation, showing that they would survive.
Spock added, "There are collateral advantages. Deployed at close range from the Enterprise, a shuttle can penetrate the ash cloud, hiding from the view of the indigenous species."
"Define 'close range'." Sulu said skeptically.
"It has been pointed out by my colleagues that there is risk that the Enterprise could be seen if in close proximity flight to the temple and volcano. There is one nearby place the Enterprise cannot be seen at all."
Spock called up a three-dimensional topographic map of the area including the volcano, the temple, the oceanside cliff and nearby small beach. It expanded to include an undersea view. It showed all the sight lines drawn from the temple of a full scale Enterprise hovering and in flight over the area all the way to the volcano, but showed a blind zone below the cliff lines, a place where the Nibirans would never see the Enterprise.
"Note that just away the cliff 312 meters, 1642 meters from the temple, there is a deep sea trench extending 9,300 meters deep - not a normal coastal surf zone. It is populated by very large fish. The Enterprise can enter the water at night unseen and submerge. Shuttles and personnel can deploy from the flight deck and air locks, surface unseen, using the darkness, cliffs, dense treelines, and ash cloud for obscuration. This provides safety for our rescue operations. If a shuttle needs to ditch, it can be abandoned over the sea chasm, and the crew members, in swim gear, can cover the short distance from the surf to the submerged Enterprise."
The crew was stunned. As unorthodox as it was, it all made sense, and utilized existing capabilities of everything they had, all within safety margins. It did get personal though, to a certain Chief Engineer's traditional sensibilities about flying machines, and his 'wee bairn' - the Enterprise.
"Are ye daft, man? The Enterprise is a star ship, not a submarine!" warned Scotty, slipping deeply into his brogue.
Spock responded calmly, "Are we not fully capable of undersea travel, as a design mission for the Five Year Mission, should we encounter an aquatic species?"
"Aye, Spock, but… we could simply hover at about 1000 meters beyond the horizon line from the cliff near the village so the Nibirans couldn't see us. We don't need to submerge."
"I have taken that into account, Mr. Scott. We would need to place the Enterprise 12 kilometers offshore to be safely hidden under the horizon and out of view of the indigenous species. That would put us more than a minute flight time at subsonic speeds and expose us to direct line of sight views of the shuttles flying in from offshore, even if they skim the surface. Submerging in the trench would provide us just 15 seconds nominal flight time and put us only 3 kilometers from the volcano summit, and the cliffs and tree lines will maximize our obscuration. Note that the maximum swim gear range limit after ditching is only 2 kilometers before the boot-mounted propulsor power gives out. There would be great risk to the crew if they had to abandon the shuttle in the water and return to the ship if it was 12 klicks offshore. Being in close in the sea trench, we could react to any emergency, especially crew water rescue."
"It appears you have this all figured out Mr. Spock. Mr. Scott, do you agree we can do this?" smiled the Captain.
"Aye, Captain, but just because we can, doesn't mean we should," the proud Chief Engineer pouted.
"Can the Enterprise enter the ocean undetected?" Kirk continued to press, to drive the solution Spock's way.
The First Officer replied, "Yes, Captain, as long as we conduct a nocturnal approach and entry. The indigenous species never leaves the temple after 2000 hours."
No one in the room challenged that. They all understood that Spock and Uhura knew that fact explicitly. McCoy also knew 2000 to 2200 hours was the peak of group sexual activity between the Nibirans most nights. Spock and Uhura nearly always forgot to disable their eye sensors.
Spock further stated, "We will be in a moonless night phase for the next 3 days. By 0000 hours, there is usually a total obscuration coastal fog. By 0100 hours we could submerged unnoticed."
Seeing general agreement, Kirk underscored the point with an order, "Then Mr. Scott, I would ask you to make sure all the leaks are plugged with chewing gum and make the Enterprise ready to submerge offshore."
"Aye, Captain," fumed Montgomery Scott.
Spock continued his scenario description, "From our underwater location, we only need to launch a single shuttle to emplace the device, further reducing our potential exposure to the indigenous species."
He showed the shuttle leaving the submerged flight deck of the Enterprise, staying under the cliff until the last minute, using nap of the earth flight techniques to stay below the line of sight of the temple at all times, going into the foothills and around the back of the volcano, and entering the ash cloud from behind and emplacing the device in the rocky peaks in the center of the caldera.
"The shuttle would enter the ash cloud, lower and activate the device, exit the area, and head back to the Enterprise in the same stealthy fashion as its mission to the volcano."
Sulu, as helmsman and chief pilot of the Enterprise, accepted all but one of aspects of the flight, "Captain, I object. The shuttles are not built for flight into dense, abrasive volcanic ash. The ash will destroy the engines. And the lava bomb ejecta will impact and damage the shuttle."
Spock countered, "For our purposes of a 125-180 second flight into the ash cloud and exit, it will suffice. I calculate the shuttle will fly nominally with double layer of M Class planet 'dry world subtype' filters and a particle separator we brought for desert flying. To minimize damage from volcanic ejecta of the most likely size and velocities, we add 155 millimeters of armor plating to the bottom of the shuttle and its engine pods."
Sulu knew it was useless to argue with a human computer. Spock was right again, having calculated exactly the right amount of protection with the minimum weight impact.
Still the Helmsman had concerns, "I admit it will work but that will lower our payload capability. While I agree that it will take only two or three people at best need to attend the device, fly, operate the radar and winch, it will strain the engines immensely. We may get an hour flight time at best for contingencies. In the worst case scenario, we may have to ditch in the ocean and swim back to the Enterprise."
The Captain weighed in, "I'm willing to trade a shuttle and a swim in the ocean for the Nibirans' lives."
Silence pervaded the room. The Captain made a compelling point.
"Can it be done as he says, Mr. Sulu?" the Captain asked.
The Helmsman reluctantly agreed, "Aye Captain. As long as those parameters are maintained to the letter."
Kirk grinned with confidence, "I would expect the ship's helmsman to provide that kind of degree of discipline for the success to this mission."
Realizing he'd just been ordered to fly the shuttle, Sulu said, hiding any remaining misgivings, "Aye, aye, Captain."
Spock was not done yet, "We have one final issue. The safety of the indigenous species in the face of a very active volcano yet to come."
He showed a debris trajectory path from the caldera to the temple. The temple was ground zero. If the Nibirans stayed in their village, they were all dead. The beach and the edge of the cliff were Just out side of the kill zone of any ejecta. He showed a lava bomb trajectory path, showing the natural bombs' flight distances. This volcano was deemed negligibly capable of a massive explosion leveling its summit, which would indeed destroy everything for hundreds of kilometers, as Mount Rainier had done to Seattle in the late 21st Century.
And if the volcano did catastrophically explode, no one knew that Kirk was prepared to throw the Prime Directive in the trash can, blast out of the water, beam the villagers aboard before the pyroclastic flow overwhelmed them, and take them to safety in the north. It would all be on his head, but it would be worth it for preserving the Nibirans' regeneration ability. What Kirk didn't know is that Spock had entertained the same thought, but was trying every way possible to stay the consummate Star Fleet Officer. So far, so good.
Spock recommended, "We must create a seemingly natural distraction that will attract the indigenous species to exit the temple and travel to the safe zones."
"I can handle that, Spock," noted the Captain.
"Sir?"
Jim smiled, "This old Iowa farm boy has lured many a deer away from their nest undetected for the hunt, Mr. Spock."
"I must have details, Captain."
"I need to work on that and get back to you, First Officer."
"Do you have a concept, sir?" asking Spock skeptically without challenging his authority.
"Thumpers, Spock. It will draw them out. An electronic 'duck call'. They'd be programmed to make noises of the animals they like to eat. Bones has the details."
The Doctor startled at that, but thought fast, "Uhh... yes, Spock. I have recorded the indigenous animal sounds and can program the thumpers..." he stammered, hoping he said something that was actually believable to the First Officer.
Spock could only think of a few species they hunted and ate, but trusted his Captain. He did need to concentrate on the cold fusion device.
Nonetheless he warned, "May I remind the Captain in the development of those plans of the utmost need to not contact the indigenous species in any way as to reveal our technology or existence."
"Got it Spock. Is that everything, First Officer?"
"Yes sir."
"Then do it, Spock. Gentlemen and lady, please give Mr. Spock every bit of assistance he needs. This meeting is dismissed."
They all exited. Some had grim faces, but one was nearly ecstatic. Nyota.
As they filed out, Bones lingered with the Captain for a moment, and asked, "Jim, what do you have in mind to lure the Nibirans to a safe area? How do you make a thumper?"
"I have no idea, Bones, but we'll figure it out how to get them to follow us."
"Us? What's this us crap?"
"I'm going to need you on planet."
"As a doctor or as bait? Dammit, Captain, I'm a doctor, not the Pied Piper," the Doctor complained. Kirk just rolled his eyes.
"Let's talk later, Bones. Over a Saurian brandy."
With that as a peace offering, Bones withheld any further objections. Just outside of the meeting room, with everyone gone, Uhura pushed Spock up against a bulkhead and kissed him full on the mouth.
"You brilliant, caring Vulcan. You've been planning this since we left Nibiru, haven't you?"
"Yes. I admit that I have."
"You never slept, did you?"
"No Nyota. I can sleep later. Besides you stimulated my thought processes last night. After our relations, I was incapable of sleep. So I set about my task. I admit that I would have been more effective in that task had you been covered and clothed in our bed."
Nyota smirked, knowing this was about as close as the Vulcan could ever get to 'talking dirty' to her, and also knew he was fully capable of pulling the covers over her, so she teased back, "So… Just how time did you waste just staring at me, husband?"
"1.67 hours…"
"Is that all? Then you weren't paying enough attention to me, Spock," she smirked in fake scolding.
"But I had to turn my attention to the design and animation of the cold fus…."
She shushed him and grinned, "It's a joke, Spock. I think you're returning to normal faster than we thought."
"Oh…I understand…."
"Then get to it, First Officer," and sent him on his way with another kiss which he hungrily returned – an intensely human kiss.
...
Author's Notes: In this chapter you see how Spock, with Kirk's support, set the stage for what should have been a risk free cold fusion device mission plan, done remotely. All the things you see in the opening scene of the sequel movie are postulated and rationalized here. Of course, Kirk takes his normal course of making things up as he goes. But as always seems to be the case. Plans don't always go the way you want them to, even for the crew of the Enterprise. And so far the young couple is functioning 'normally' still under the influence of the pheromones, but balancing their connections with The People with their real jobs as Star Fleet officers.