In the Family
Chapter 7
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
"Hey, Jim. Leonard, this is a nice surprise! Good to see you."
"Gavin, good to see you too. It's been too long. How are you, Violet, and Davy?"
"Good, we're all doing great. Planning a visit to Winona and Peter, Violet said Joanna and her kitten were coming for a visit, and you know how Davy loves to play with the children and the cats," he grinned, his eyes twinkling. It was well known fact by everyone who knew Davy, that Sorrel, Peter's cat was terrified of Davy's "love and attention" and as soon as he heard the toddler coming he ran and hid under Peter's bed.
"Joanna will enjoy seeing him, Gavin. He's such a sweet little guy, and Joanna loves babies."
"He is that," Gavin agreed. "Although he's not much of a baby any more, Davy's running everywhere. You know, Len, I love that little guy so much, I think of him as my own."
Leonard nodded. "And he is, Gavin, for all practical purposes he is. You're his father now, as much as his own flesh and blood would have been. I'll leave you now to talk with Jim. Just wanted to say hello. Give Violet and Davy a big hug for me, and tell them to enjoy my little girl."
"Will do, Len." Leonard waited for Jim to unlock the door and left them to it.
Jim settled back in his chair. "What do you have for me, Gavin? I know you haven't had much time to delve deeply into things, or Sonnai either for that matter."
"Sonnai and I have only scratched the surface, Jim, but I can already tell you the Antares Corporation is known far and wide across the sector for shady dealings and unscrupulous mining practices. They're sneaky too. They've been known to begin work even before permission is granted, they're that sure of themselves, that sure of getting any contract they're after.
My advice to you is don't take anything at face value from these people. They have a large team of high priced shark lawyers who are on permanent retainer and seldom lose when they've been brought to court for shady dealings. There's a lot of scuttlebutt about coercion, bribery, and down right threats, but nothing has been proven yet. That Federation court case you told me about where the judge ruled in favor of the planetary governors was a rarity. Thankfully, there was no jury in that case, and the judge was unimpeachable," he smiled grimly. "He is a Vulcan magistrate and judge. The Antares lawyers like jury trials, because they can try to bribe members of the jury, and they've often succeeded. There's also a long list of out of court settlements, which means they've bought off land owners and local or planetary governors so the plaintiffs wouldn't proceed to an actual court case." His voice tight, Gavin added, "it would give us a great deal of pleasure to being these crooks down!"
"I had a feeling as soon as you and Sonnai started digging you'd find dirt on them. This is good to be going on, Gavin. Now we know the kind of things the Antares corporation is willing to do and has done, and we'll be on our guard. They've started here already." Jim went on to tell Gavin about the listening devices placed in Dr. Stemple's home.
"That's outrageous, Jim, not to mention illegal. It's conclusive evidence Antares will do whatever it takes to get that contract. Too bad you don't have proof it was one of their employees who hacked Dr. Stemple's security shield and planted the devices."
"We've only started the investigation, Gavin. We'll find out more tomorrow when Spock and Scotty do a search of her offices and we tour Nara's possible mining sites. Dr. Stemple is anxious for us to see them. You and Sonnai keep digging. I won't take up any more of your comm time. Give my love to Violet and kiss Davy for me."
"Will do. Talk to you soon. Bradford out."
Jim left the briefing room and went to check in with helm and navigation. Enterprise was "parked" in a geosynchronous orbit around the planet directly above Nara's University complex. If any emergencies arrived while they or the crew were down planet, the ship was close enough and ready for Jim's commands.
Lt. Hannity was in the chair for Beta shift. Chekov's shift had ended and the Alpha crew were at dinner or as was usual, enjoying some recreation time. "Lieutenant Hannity everything quiet?"
"Aye, Captain." She's smiled at him. "Did you enjoy your visit with Mr, Spock's cousin, Sir?"
"That I did. Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock, and I had an outstanding dinner. Dr. Stemple is an excellent cook. Tomorrow we're invited on a tour of Nara's terra forming accomplishments. By the way, Mr. Spock's cousin is celebrating a mile stone birthday in a few days, so we'll be staying in orbit for the command crew to celebrate the occasion with her and her staff, with, I may add, the full approval of Admiral Barnett." He smiled at the young Hannity. "The Admiralty always likes good PR, and making new friends across the quadrent, remember that when you make Captain. Also, it will be a nice break for the crew, Nara is a beautiful place. As for me, I'm having an early night for a change. Good night, Hannity. "
"Good night, Captain." Her eyes followed him into the lift. It was good they were getting a break for a few days. The Captain worked so hard, long hours, massive amounts of paper work, difficult orders to follow, hazardous missions to fulfill, and he shouldered the responsibility for the welfare of all the beings on his ship. Hannity deeply admired, almost hero worshiped Jim Kirk. She had followed his career since her Academy days. When she was posted to Enterprise, it was a dream come true for her to serve on the best ship, under the best Captain in the Fleet. It was her fervent hope that someday when she had a command of her own, she'd be at least half as good a Captain as Jim Kirk.
Jim took a quick sonic and changed into his sleep pants and warm t-shirt. He'd read his 'Master and Commander' book for a while, he thought, but first he went to his port window to look out and below, one of his favorite things to do.
He could see the features of the green-blue-and-white swirled planet. The objects below were indistinct, slightly diffused, but still somehow infinitely beautiful when seen with the naked eye instead of on the bridge view screen.
While Nara was a Class M planet, it had less water on its surface, so it looked less blue than Earth and more green. However, to Jim's eyes, it was similar enough that it evoked the sense of his home world. Many planets they had visited were so different, so alien in appearance, that they never gave Jim that sense of looking like his Earth home.
According to Dr. Stemple, Nara's climate was mild year around, with a long growing season, a lack of violent rain, snow storms, or severe drought. That had made the process of terra forming the planet much easier, and these characteristics would also facilitate the mining processes as well. There would be no mining days lost due to inclement weather. Another reason Antares was so determined to get that contract.
Jim sighed and went to his bed, got his treasured book from his small bookcase, puffed up his pillow and settled in to read.
It was very early in the morning when Jim met Bones in the mess for an early breakfast and afterward they made their way to the transporter room. Spock had checked in and he and Doris Stemple were on their way to her office. Also, he told Jim, last night he had sent an encrypted message to his father to ask that he get a copy of the Antares mining prospectus. Sarek agreed it would be a good idea to have that available and would ask for a copy right away. Scotty was waiting for Spock's comm to do a sweep of Doris' office, her main computer, her comm center, and Mayri's too.
Jim and Leonard transported directly to the university. The main doors were open, probably for the teaching staff who sometimes came in early for last minute class preparations or for something they forgot, so the two men walked in to the foyer and made their way to the lift. They exited the lift and made their way to Dr. Stemples's office. It was still too early for the students, so there was not the constant noise of rushing feet or excited conversation from the usual crush of students. It was barely sunrise, and their booted feet echoed on the hall floor as they walked.
They met Spock and Doris coming out of her office.
"Captain, Doctor." Spock held out his hand. Nestled in his palm were four listening devices. Jim gave him a nod, and he placed them on the floor. One by one he crushed them with his booted foot, grinding them into the marble like surface until only debris was left. "With his usual efficiency, Mr. Scott found them quickly, Captain. He assures me there are no more devices in Cousin Doris' office, Mayri's comm station, or the meeting room."
"You see now what I've been up against," Dr. Stemple commented bitterly.
"Yes, but we're here now, and we'll soon get to the bottom of this, " Jim assured her. "It's a good thing you were cautious, Doris. Your instincts were correct." He glanced around. "Let's go in your office and I'll tell you what Commander Bradford has found out so far."
Jim reported on Gavin's preliminary findings. "I'm sure he and Sonnai will find more the deeper they dig. Spock, I think it best you send an encrypted report to your father. The Admiral asked that we keep the Ambassador updated since it's at his behest that we're here. After our tour of the possible mining sites, I'll comm Admiral Boyce to give him an update."
Spock, his face grave, nodded. "I am certain my father will tell mother what has transpired here, Cousin Doris. She will be most concerned, as will my father, at the harassment you've experienced and the Antares Corporation's clandestine activities we've already found here."
"I can't tell you how relieved I am to have you gentlemen here, supporting me through this. I hope your report doesn't worry Amanda too much, Spock."
For the first time since they'd arrived, Jim could see a touch of fear in Doris' grey eyes. He thought actually finding out that both her home and her work place had been violated, had brought home to her, in a very real way, how ruthless and determined the Antares Corporation was.
"Jim, do you think that with what we've already found out about what Antares has done that Sarek would be able to convince the sub-committee to vote against the mining prospectus?"
"I think so, Bones." Jim said. "But I don't think it's enough."
"What do you mean, Jim? Isn't that why we're here?"
"What the Captain means, Doctor, is that it is not enough to stop Antares from mining just here."
"Spock's right, Bones. We must do everything in our power to bring down the Corporation so that when they pack up their tents and leave here, they'll not go on to find another vulnerable planet to exploit. We've got to bring down the whole house of cards. Make sure they're completely put out of business, the corporation dissolved, their reputation ruined, so that even their high price lawyers won't be able to do a thing to save them."
"Jim!" Doris sounded shocked. "Do you really think it's possible to do that?"
Spock was quick to reassure her. "The Captain and crew of Enterprise have been able to bring down bigger tyrants, charlatans, and even demi-gods, than the Antares Corporation, Cousin Doris. I have no doubt we will succeed in this instance as well."
"Spock is right, Doris. Jim and his crew regularly perform miracles on very difficult landing missions."
"It's absolutely a group effort, Doris," Jim hastened to add. "My crew is the best. I can always count on them to do their best, to go the extra mile, and it will be the same here on Nara." He glanced around the University complex area. "Before we go anywhere let me check in with the ship. I want to know how the shore leave process is going. Kirk to Enterprise."
"Enterprise here, Captain."
"Lieutenant, how is shore leave going? Is the crew being transported here in rotation?"
"Yes, Captain. Department heads are rotating their people in 12 hour shifts so as not to overwhelm the area with too many crew members. And, Captain," Uhura lowered her voice. "I'll have a brief report for you when you get back about that other assignment you gave me. Nothing urgent, Sir, but there are a couple of things you'll be interested in."
"Very good, Lieutenant. We'll meet when Bones and I get back. Uhura, please tell Mr. Sulu to transport to this location. We'll wait here for him. I want him with us for a tour of possible sensitive ecological locations. As our Botanist I'm sure he'll be very interested in the sites," Jim said, carefully avoiding any mention of possible mining sites keeping in mind Dr. Boyce's injunction that this was a highly classified mission.
"Aye, Sir. Mr. Sulu says he's on the way to the transporter room."
"I'll check in with you again when Dr. McCoy and I get back to the ship. Kirk out."
With the usual bell like jingle Sulu appeared before them.
"Mr. Sulu. Welcome to Nara." Jim smiled at him.
"Thank you, Sir. Happy to be here," Sulu said, looking around curiously."
"Dr. Stemple, let me introduce you Lt. Hikaru Sulu, my Chief helmsman on Enterprise and our resident Botanist on the ship. He has an eagle eye, homed by his position as helmsman and I've invited him as another pair of eyes on our tour of ecologically sensitive areas.
"Mr, Sulu, this is Dr. Doris Stemple, Chief Botanist in charge of the Nara Terra Forming Department on Nara."
"An honor to meet you, ," Sulu nodded at her politely. "I've heard of all you've accomplished here and I'm eager to see the results."
"I'm happy you could join us, Mr. Sulu. It's always a pleasure to show visitors what we've accomplished on Nara," she smiled at him. "And your eagle eye is a welcome addition to our tour. "
Her office door opened and Mayri came bounding in. Her hair color was no longer pink, bright sunshine yellow braids were wound around her head like a crown. "Good morning, all! It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" She caught Leonard's stare at the bright yellow hair and giggled. "Don't worry, Dr. McCoy, it's a water soluble hair color. It washes right off every might. I like to brighten up the front office by using a different hair color every few days. Dr. Stemple doesn't mind, do you Dr. Stemple?"
Doris laughed. "Not at all. The Botany department has a good time trying to guess what color Mayri will come in with. Mayri, we're off to tour the ecological sites. Hold my comms, please, and how are we coming along with the party plans?"
"Invitations are sent, catering taken care of, cake ordered, decorations pending. We're ready for day after tomorrow." She looked expectantly at Doris.
"Now, Mayri, Don't go overboard. It's a small party, so just a few decorations." Mayri's happy face fell, disappointed as a child at that injunction.
Dr. Stemple sighed. "Oh alright, do what you want, Mayri, but keep the decorations tasteful."
"Oh, I will, Dr. Stemple. You'll see it will look beautiful!" She beamed.
Doris shook her head looking after her affectionally. "Captain, shall we go? I have a small ground transport all- terrain vehicle at my disposal. It's open on all sides, so you'll all be able to see everything. It seats 8 people so I think we'll be comfortable. It's easier to tour the ecological sites on it as there is some rough terrain to cover. It's parked across the street."
"Lead the way, Doris."
"Bye, Dr. Stemple, have a great time," Mayri called waving them off.
"I'm putty in that child's hands," Doris murmured to Leonard, voice resigned.
He laughed. "Pretty hard to resist her," he agreed. "I've got one just as difficult to resist back home in Georgia.
As they walked Jim could see some of his crew had already transported down. They saluted the Captain and senior officers as they passed them. Jim was pleased to see the quiet, relaxed smiles on the faces of his crew, that they were sharing his experience enjoying this beautiful peaceful planet. Jim had made sure the crew was dispersed to several locations, so as to not overwhelm any one area of the inhabited sections of Nara.
As they rode in the ground car, they talked about what had been accomplished in the 85 years since colonization and planetary terra forming had begun. Nara had built small towns according to pre selected successful Earth township plans, and they'd used, and still used, a fairly simple, low rise style of architecture in their buildings and homes. All the structures were primarily made of local stone. Sidewalks and green spaces were plentiful and adequate road systems had been constructed, which made transportation by ground car easy. There was, Doris proudly explained, already a good amount of trade and local commerce with shops opening on a regular basis. However, she told them, out of necessity, their technology and credits were mostly concentrated in the areas of agriculture and education, and not retail.
"We are at the point where we can grow and distribute our crops, and we keep a very close eye on that. Up to now, our Nara satellites have picked up no evidence of any pockets of underdeveloped areas of population, or the opposite problem of overcrowded areas. So far, by being extremely vigilant, we've achieved a well organized society for this stage of our social and ecological development."
"And you've managed to avoid the hunger phenomenon that affects many colonists at some point or another, and you've done it without asking for additional help from the Federation. We've really got to hand it to you and everyone here on Nara, Doris, you've all worked so hard and it shows," McCoy allowed.
"Thank you, Dr. McCoy. It was well before my time here, but there was excellent planning and allocating of resources, credits, and man power that got us to this point." With sure hands she led the small transport out of the parking area, the University grounds, and then out to the vast green spaces to the west.
"It's beautiful," Sulu murmured. "Everything looks as it should."
"It is beautiful," Leonard agreed.
Jim's hazel eyes gleamed with deep appreciation as he gazed at the beauty around them.
As they went from site to site, Sulu's keen and knowing eyes would sweep the area, and he would nod to Jim, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. Every area Doris took them to was pristine, tranquil, peaceful, beautiful.
"We're almost finished, only three more sites to go, we've traveled to the most far flung areas the department has worked on," Doris said, as she brought the ground transport to a stop.
Sulu glanced around, then stood suddenly and pointed. "Captain, look! Someone has been digging over there! The ground has been disturbed, and very recently from the looks of things!"