CHAPTER 38:
Khan was surprised to find that Kirk wasn't seated at the head of the conference table, like most any captain would do on his own ship in some display of power and control. Instead, he sat on one side of the table to Spock's right, Lt. Uhura on the Vulcan's left. The opposite side of the table was left for Khan and his people. Equal ground was maintained and the truce was being honored thus far.
Joaquin was the only one of his crew that he brought to the briefing room along with Marla, who wore her own civilian clothes. She wasn't dressed to impress anyone, her attire purely practical for the circumstances of comfortable trousers, boots up to her calves, and a loose jacket over v-necked top. Khan was unused to seeing her in anything that wasn't Starfleet issue, and with her hair freed from any regulation style, he found this new look more befitting to her true nature than color-coded uniforms.
Her presence at this meeting was not necessarily for his own sentimental reasons. It was because she was knowledgeable of both sides of this conflict and understood the augments more thoroughly than any other Starfleet member could ever hope to. Kirk understood Khan on a command level, but could not know where and when the ex-prince's soul was born.
Kirk outstretched an inviting hand to the unoccupied side of the table. He looked much more competent after the rest, having gotten a fresh shave and uniform. Khan, too, had cleaned up well, considering the excursion that his shower had become with Marla. And yet, it left him more revitalized than any sleep or meditation.
Khan took his seat directly across from the captain. Joaquin sat on Khan's left, Marla on his right. Sitting proudly, Khan propped one elbow on the table to regard Kirk, whom he expected to be the facilitator of this session, even if Khan designated himself to have the final decision in all matters.
"Here's where we stand," Kirk began, speaking to everyone. "We have about twenty hours until the Volumnia arrives. We have a fully stocked store of supplies that were meant to last a crew of a few hundred over the course of five years in deep space. We also have a continuing flow of data coming in through our sensors of Ceti Alpha V. I'm willing to give you enough provisions to last the seventy-four of you twenty to one hundred years, including food, power cells, tricorders, survival materials, and medical supplies. What I won't give you are communicators or any other devices that could draw any ships to your planet, either by accident or your own design…"
He paused to eye Khan with scrutiny. Khan suppressed a smirk at Kirk's forethought and gave one, low nod of concession. The intention was, after all, to find a permanent residence for the exiled augments. However, there was one more thing he wanted addressed.
"And weapons?"
Kirk looked at him steadily, completely unsurprised with the inquiry and obviously having a ready answer.
"One phaser pistol," he said with finality. "And three charges for it. That will be enough for you to use it productively, I hope."
A single phaser divided between 74 people. It was a given that Khan, the leader, would take possession of such a weapon. But the insult was still there. Marooned sailors in the days of yore were always given one pistol with one bullet, and this didn't feel much different.
"Is this a friendly negotiation or a tribunal for exile?"
Kirk's brows rose with theatrical surprise. "You mean a race of superior men and women need to rely on advanced weaponry? More primitive humans have survived on less…"
"The Botany Bay penal colony in Earth's eighteenth century, for example," Spock added crisply.
Confusion suddenly glazed over the captain's eyes at what must have seemed a random reference and he looked to the Vulcan questioningly.
"The SS Botany Bay," Khan explained, "was the name of our ship when we left Earth." His eyes flickered to Spock coldly, to let him know he didn't appreciate the cheeky allusion. "One pistol will be enough," he concluded the matter himself.
"Good," Kirk nodded in agreement. "Now I think we should discuss just how we'll make you vanish…" He linked his fingers together atop the table, his blue eyes narrowed with deep consideration. "A lot of it'll depend on my report. What I put down will probably determine how deep of an investigation is made into the ship's records. Fortunately, we have a lot of wiggle room. First of all, Marla's first sabotage of the computers could account for a lot of documented discrepancies…" He looked to her, his expression softening just slightly. "The best way to make this work is if we report truthfully on everything you've done. Sabotaging a starship is bad enough, but you also forged your way onboard impersonating a member of Starfleet, were an accomplice to a prisoner of the Federation, and were indirectly responsible for most of my crew's injuries."
Khan watched her in his peripheral as the charges were listed against her. She didn't so much as shrink or bow her head with shame, but he could sense the weight it put on her. But then, she smiled.
"I don't mind being the scapegoat, captain. Especially if it can be benefit everyone else."
Not a teardrop or a second thought. An excellent woman… No, a superior woman.
"My report's going to be honest about it, then." Kirk continued. "I'm going to record what you did, how you did it, and what it caused. Up until the point when we had you in the brig, that is. From what I understand, Spock erased the technical data off the ship's computers, but the security footage is still intact. That'll be the main source for any investigation if it gets that far. It'll show you, Khan, and your newly revived crew in the cargo area. With all the tampering that's been done to the ship's systems in the past day or two, I don't think anyone will notice if we add our own touches..."
Khan gave his undivided attention. He was more and more intrigued with Kirk's mind and how easy it was for him to cheat the system to cover up a crime. The man was a master at improvisation.
"After a drawn-out manhunt throughout the ship, and the revival of the other seventy-two augments, I was forced to make a command decision," Kirk described the hypothetical scenario convincingly. "With my own crew incapacitated by the neuro-gas, and unable to wait for help to arrive, I had no choice but to override the system and jettison Khan and his crew into space to prevent a takeover and any potential threat that would be posed to Federation space by their control of a starship. Unfortunately, Marla McGivers, who had allied with the augments, was also present in the cargo bay and perished as well. Along with a large percentage of our supplies and materials. There won't be any mention of Ceti Alpha V, either. Once you and your people are safely on the planet, the Enterprise will be as far away as possible to wait for the Volumnia to find us. You can trust that all the details in the ship's records that need to be added or removed can be done by Mr. Spock and Dr. Marcus."
It was methodical. It was clean. It was conniving. Had he not witnessed the true events, Khan may have believed the elaborate tale. Khan stared for a moment and finally let the edge of his mouth pull into the subtlest smile.
"You are extraordinarily thorough, captain." Khan wasn't ashamed to let his sincerity vocalize. "I am quite impressed."
Some pride beamed on Kirk's face, even as he tried to hide it. "I have assets to protect, too," he replied dismissively. "Now, the sensor data of the planet…" He glanced to Spock.
The cool first officer interpreted the silent command and reached a long arm to turn on the computer. The information poured across the large screen for all to see, its data endlessly updating and changing enough for a picture to be drawn of Ceti Alpha V.
"The planet is largely populated with indigenous species of plant and animal," the words rolled robotically off the Vulcan's tongue. "According to the minimal sensor data we have amassed so far, there are no intellectually advanced species, humanoid or otherwise. On the right of the screen are shown the most habitable biomes for humans on the planet, each ideal for all necessary resources for optimal survival and prosperity…"
The more information that Khan received of his new home, the less daunting it became. The data combined with the images of Ceti Alpha V's lush surface from orbit filled him with hope and ambition. This could easily be turned into Paradise for his war-weary family.