In the Family
Chapter 4
"Family isn't something that's supposed to be static, or set. "
Sarah Dessen
"Lock and Key"
"Spock! How wonderful to see you again," Dr. Stemple exclaimed. "I heard that you were serving on the Enterprise as First Officer. Your mother is so proud of you! I congratulate you, Spock!"
Spock inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Cousin Doris."
Jim saw a woman of early middle years, probably a few years younger than Spock's mother, her cousin Amanda. Dr. Stemple was tall, very slender, with dark hair untouched by grey. Whether the color was natural or by artifice, the dark hair, worn in a long thick braid down her back, set off her rosy complexion devoid of any makeup, large grey eyes, dark eyebrows and refined features. She, too, wore a long tunic over her cream linen pants, this one though, had deep pockets in the front and was a deep crimson in color. With it she wore a wide contrasting yellow girdle tied around her slim waist. Like her cousin, Amanda, she was very attractive, but Jim saw very little family resemblance to the dignified, stately Lady Amanda.
Dr. Stemple smiled at Spock. "Amanda told me you had turned down a place at the Vulcan Science Academy and instead went to Starfeet Academy. It caused quite a ruckus on Vulcan when you turned them down. She also told me you and your father became estranged as a result of your decision. Those hide bound Vulcans," she added, her lips curling in disdain, "think they always know better, and Sarek is one of the most stubborn and hide bound of all of them. Don't know how Amanda has stood him all these years, although I was happy to hear the two of you have since reconciled. The experience was probably good for him and the Vulcan Council too. Bet it brought them down a peg or two when you tuned them down," she added, her amusement now clearly evident.
Jim heard Bones give a soft snort of agreement. The doctor shared Dr. Stemple's opinion about Vulcans. Elitist, no sense of humor, proud, stiff, supercilious know it alls, was Bones' considered and vocal opinion of the lot of them.
Dr. Stemple went on. "I'm very happy you've come to visit Nara, Spock, and, of course, me as a result of your coming. I think you were 6 or 7 years old the last time I saw you. Yes, I know it was," she added thoughtfully, "because you hadn't undergone the Khas-Wan at the time. That was also the last time I visited your mother on Vulcan, although we saw each other several more times on Earth before I came to Nara."
"I remember your visit well, Cousin Doris. It brought my mother great pleasure, and I remember how kind you were to me. Now then, let me introduce you to my shipmates. This is Captain James T. Kirk, Captain of the flagship, Enterprise."
"Captain, wonderful to meet you. Even here in Nara we've heard of the extraordinary exploits of your mighty ship and her young, handsome, heroic Captain."
Leonard was amused to see a faint pink tinge Jim's cheeks. "A pleasure, Dr. Stemple."
"And this is Dr. Leonard McCoy, our Chief Medical Officer."
"Charmed, ma'am," Leonard gave her a slight courtly bow, his southern accent and manners in full display.
Spock quirked an eyebrow at the drawled accent and bow.
"Dr. McCoy, I've read many of the research papers you've published in various Federation Medical journals. Your body of work is quite impressive. Perhaps while you're here you would like to visit our hospital and research facility. We are extremely proud of both."
"Indeed I would, Dr. Stemple, whenever it's convenient for me to do so. Always happy to tour new medical facilities, see somethin' new."
"I'll see to it." She turned to her assistant, "Mayri, please set up a visit for Dr. McCoy to visit the hospital and our Terra Forming Research facility."
Mari hastily swallowed her pie. "Yes, Dr. Stemple, right away." She beamed at Leonard and hurried out, practically running, carrying her pie plate with her.
Dr. Stemple looked after her fondly. "Mayri never walks when she can run. That's why she is an admirable assistant, although a bit exhausting at times," she added ruefully, chucking.
"We noticed," Jim grinned.
"Why don't we take a walk outside, gentleman. You can see the University grounds while Spock and I catch up on family news. Follow me please. Classes have started this period so the lift won't be crowded." She led them out of the conference room past her office and waved at Mayri. "We're going outside, Mayri. My cousin, the Captain, and Doctor McCoy would like to see the University grounds. Hold all my comms please."
"Of course, Dr. Stemple. Enjoy your walk." She gave them a cheerful wave.
There was silence while the lift took them down. Jim looked over at Dr. Stemple and could now see signs of strain and worry on her face. She sighed softly as the lift doors opened and they stepped out into the sunny glass enclosed foyer then to the green space outside.
Leonard looked at the area appreciatively. It was bright and sunny, the temperature mild, and reminded him of the cool autumn days of Georgia. "Beautiful day," Leonard murmured. "Y'all have done wonders here, Dr. Stemple. Everythin' looks lush, green, and healthy."
"It's been a team effort for 85 years, Dr. McCoy. It's taken a lot of hard work by many of our citizens, but it may all be undone if the mining company has its way." Dr. Stemple glanced around. No one was in sight or within hearing distance. "I wanted us to speak out here, because I'm not at all sure my office is secure."
Jim gave her a sharp questioning glance.
Dr. Stemple nodded. "I'm not being paranoid, Captain. My very vocal opposition to the mining company is well known throughout the colony. The mining company has launched an aggressive PR campaign against me, trying to discredit and dismiss my concerns, intimating I'm old fashioned, not progressive, set in the old ways, etc. So far they've had little success, everyone here knows me, knows our work, and how it's benefited Nara, but their efforts will no doubt escalate, and I'm very dubious about their ethics. I have no proof, but I believe I'm being spied upon and that my conversations are being listened to. For that reason, I only conduct university business or student conferences in my office. For any other business, including small gatherings about the mining situation, I endeavor to speak outside of my office. I, and those who agree with my stance are trying to be cautious and discreet."
"What about your home security?" Jim asked.
She shook her head. "I don't know, but there, too, I now use caution. I play loud music when we meet, and we speak softly and exchange texts. I've searched my home, but have found nothing."
Jim looked at Spock who nodded his head. "I will have Mr. Scott do a remote sweep of your home, cousin Doris. That way we will know for sure if you are being targeted for surveillance. Of course, I will make sure your office sweep is done before or after office hours, so as not to attract attention." He moved slightly away from them and flipped open his comm. "Spock to Mr. Scott."
"Scott here, Mr. Spock."
"Mr. Scott, there is a small task I would like for you to undertake. The Captain has given permission to use ship's resources for it. Perhaps it can be done quickly."
"Of course, Commander. What is it you want me to do?"
Spock explained the situation.
"Aye. It can be done easily enough, Sir. 'Tis easy enough to scope out the wee beasties."
Spock gave an internal sigh at Scotty's description of listening devices. "I will send you the coordinates of my cousin's domicile, Mr. Scott. You may undertake the task as soon as you receive them. Please report to me if you find anything, and if so, inform me if you can disable the device or devices from the ship, or if I must do it manually from here."
"Will do, Mr. Spock."
There was relief on Doris Stemple's face. "Thank you, Spock." She got out her comm and typed her home coordinates on the screen. She passed it to Spock who copied it and promptly sent them to Scotty.
"We should hear from Mr. Scott shortly," Spock told her. "He is most efficient."
Leonard's eye brows rose. A compliment from Spock for Scotty? Wait until he shared that rarity with the CE. "You really think the mining company is spyin' on you, Dr. Stemple?"
"Call me Doris, please, Dr. McCoy, you too, Captain. And yes I do. They'll do anything to get approval from the Federation Council committee members for that mining contract. Discrediting me and my objections would be the first and easiest first step of their plan."
"When I spoke with Admiral Boyce, he told me your concerns were shared by Ambassador Sarek, Doris." Jim looked keenly at her. To his captainly eye, Doris Stemple looked dispirited and weary.
She nodded. "I confided in Amanda, who in turn shared my concerns with Sarek. I believe the weight of my concern convinced both Amanda and Sarek that something was amiss. Amanda was concerned on my behalf, because of the attempts to discredit me, but Sarek was concerned because the Federation Council's subcommittee's decisions must be seen to be above reproach and based solely on empirical evidence. Rest assured my concerns are quite valid, Captain. We are all for progress here, we couldn't have accomplished what we've accomplished on Nara in a scant 85 years, if we didn't believe in progress. However, not at the expense of our ecology. We've worked tremendously hard to strike a delicate balance between progress on Nara and preserving what we've worked so hard to achieve with our terra forming."
"Let's find a quiet spot and you can share your concerns with us, Doris."
"I think that would be best. There are table and benches not far from here where we can sit and talk. It's a picnic area. The students are all in class, so the area should be pretty well deserted."
The picnic area was completely deserted. Jim noticed that Dr. Stemple picked a table a bit separated and out of the way in spite of the fact they were the only ones present. Spock sat beside her, his shoulders a bit stiff, his eyes scanning the perimeter. Jim and Bones sat directly across from her.
Dr. Stemple sighed and clasped her hands tightly together. "The discovery of ryetalyn was a complete and utterly unwelcome surprise, gentleman. We were not aware that the mining company had sent surveyors to look for mineral deposits here. Apparently obtaining permission to search a planet for minerals is not at all difficult. However, getting permission to mine them is a different story. There are many hoops mining companies must jump through before permission is granted. The Federation Council discovered long ago, that planets rich in deposits of all kinds: minerals, precious metals, fuel, dilithium, ryetalyn, precious gems, readily gave permission to mine without understanding the possible consequences.
The lure of large amounts of credits paid into a planet's coffers, meant that permission was too easily obtained. The Federation Council soon put a stop to that. Now permission for any type of mining must go through the Federation Council's Planetary Rights and Permission Subcommittee. Every mining company has to undergo onerous and complicated scrutiny by the Federation subcommittee before permission to mine is given. As you can imagine, intense lobbying is rampant by the mining companies in order to acquire those rights and permissions."
"Are you sayin' those committee members are wined and dined by the mining corporations?" Leonard asked. "Or," he added, darkly, "are they doin' more than just winin' and dinin' the committee members?"
Doris Stemple nodded. "I am saying that, Dr. McCoy. And the corporations are not too subtle about what they're doing," she added. "At least the wine and dine part. I'm sure the mining companies would be much more discreet if actual credits were involved."
She sighed unhappily. "Unfortunately as soon as the Antares Mining Company completed its survey, the results were deliberately leaked to the Council. There are huge deposits of ryetalyn all over this planet. It's lacking in other minerals, but not ryetalyn. The mining company, Antares Incorporated, is a conglomerate with very deep pockets. They're willing to split the revenue from the mined ryetalyn 60/40 with the Federation Council…to spend as they wish. The deposits are so enormous it will mean many billions, maybe even trillions of credits for both entities. Of course Nara would also be compensated, but that amount hasn't been discussed thus far."
"And the Federation is always looking for more credits to build more ships, infrastructure, medical facilities, schools, research," Jim murmured.
"Exactly. And we have a very tight Terra Forming budget, so additional revenue for us would be wonderful. But at what cost?" Dr Stemple asked somberly.
"Cousin Doris, what is your objection to the mining of the ryetalyn. I understand you're concerned about possible negative consequences to the ecology of the planet and to your Terra Forming goals."
Dr. Stemple nodded. "I am. So far Antares has not explained the process they would use to extract the ryetalyn. Understand, gentlemen, even though presently Nara's ecology is thriving, in reality, it's always on a knife's edge. It's only because of our constant vigilance and trouble shooting that things are as good as they are, that we can maintain an ecological balance on the planet. Nara's Terra Forming group has hundreds of colony volunteers scattered all over. They keep a constant watch over our natural resources, our plant and animal habitats, our wetlands, fisheries, agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, the growth of our population, the size and growth of the villages and towns. We keep a close eye on all species' genetic diversity and how this diversity affects the complex ecological processes that are constantly going on on Nara. Our terra forming computer algorithms and models are constantly updated thanks to these reports by our volunteers."
Leonard nodded. "All are complex and delicate ecosystems which can be easily disrupted or destroyed."
"Yes, and the Antares company has a long history of dubious mining practices. However, none of the Antares mines I have researched were in ecologically fragile areas, and three of the governments where they mined, played hardball when Antares wanted to leave the sites after mining was exhausted there. They had to repair the site, and replace what was destroyed. Mind you, this happened only after they were taken to a Sector High Court where they lost. Antares has very deep pockets and high priced lawyers, but thankfully there are some judges who cannot be coerced or bribed. I can't say the same about some of the members of the Federation subcommittee, though."
Jim cleared his throat, remembering what Gavin had told him, and feeling more and more appalled at the possible scope of the favor they'd undertaken at the behest of Dr. Boyce. "Doris, wait. Are you saying there may be Federation Council subcommittee members who would accept credits for a positive vote, that they would be open to bribery?" Jim sounded a bit shocked.
"I don't know, Captain, but I have my suspicions. Why would the subcommittee even consider granting permission after the report I and my team compiled about Antares' mining practices that would most certainly have a catastrophic impact on parts of Nara?"
"Could you give us a shortened version of your report? We don't know much 'bout mining, Doris," Leonard told her."
"I didn't either, Leonard, but I do now," she said ruefully. "As you can imagine, I educated myself rather quickly about Antares and their current mining practices. And yes, I can give you a shortened version. My team has done extensive research on mining processes because Antares has not deemed to tell us which method they want to use to extract the ryetalyn."
She looked somberly at Jim and Spock. "I assume the Federation subcommittee who is studying the Antares application wouldn't approve the prospectus unless the company makes it clear which method they plan to use. You must understand that no matter what methods are used, mining is an inherently invasive process that can cause damage to a landscape in an area much larger than just the mining site itself.
What we worry about is that the ecological impact and the effects of the damage can continue for years after a mine has been depleted and closed down, the damage of greenhouse gasses, the destruction of flora and fauna, and the erosion of land and habitat. Let me share with you just one example of an extraction method.
Most modern mining techniques have high water demands for mineral extraction, processing, and waste disposal. Wastewater from these processes can pollute nearby water sources and deplete freshwater supplies in the region surrounding the mine unless the mining company implements waste-water recycling technologies. Also, this kind of extraction results in the destruction and contamination of the natural water system. Unique plants and animals then lose access to groundwater and watering holes. There have also been reports from other planetary mining sites of their freshwater becoming salinated due to extensive acidic waste water poured into freshwater sites during mineral mining."
Doris Stemple's voice had risen in her agitation. Spock looked around uneasily. There were people in the park now. Not too close, but still close enough that they may be overheard.
"Perhaps we can continue this conversation later at your domicile, Cousin Doris. Mr. Scott will have completed his work by the time we arrive."
As if Scotty had heard Spock's words, his comm signaled an incoming communication.
"Spock here." He lowered the volume of his comm and leaned in closer to the other three so they could hear Mr. Scott.
"I have completed the sweep, Mr. Spock. 'Tis as you thought, Commander. I found three of the wee beasties. I could not disable them from the ship, though, our distance is too great. I will send you and the Captain their location inside the house."
Jim leaned forward and spoke softly. "Good work, Scotty. We'll disable them from inside the house. Thank you, Mr. Scott."
"Aye, you're welcome, Sir. Scott out."