Of Two Worlds
By
Pat Foley
Chapter 2
A Tinker, A Soldier, A Sailor, A Spy
Kirk paused in the corridor outside the transporter room as his first officer joined him, with McCoy not far behind. "Spock. I don't expect --" he hesitated. "Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Quite, Captain." The Vulcan avoided McCoy's discerning, sympathetic glance.
"All right," Kirk said reluctantly. "But don't push yourself. Vulcan controls or not, you --" he swallowed words he suddenly knew he shouldn't say, and growled softly. "Let's go."
The three men entered the transporter room where the Captain nodded stiffly to the transporter technician.
The Federation Intelligence officer they picked up was a perfectly ordinary sort of human who could easily disappear into any crowd, and his team were all cast out the same mold. Even when not bent on disappearing, he had a reserve that suggested he concentrating on subliminal cues everyone else was missing. And disturbingly unlike most people, he registered no presence or aura in a room. Even after they beamed him up, Kirk still would have sworn, that except for the evidence of his eyes, there was no one in the transporter chamber. He supposed it was a wonderful trait for a spy, but it made Kirk uneasy. The spy's name, at least for the moment, was Art Fellows. Who knew what it really was.
Kirk introduced himself, welcomed the agent on board, and introduced his senior officers. Fellows glanced over Kirk and the others briefly, but his eyes lingered on Spock, studying him with an intensity Kirk found uncomfortable. "Perhaps we should adjourn to the briefing room, gentlemen."
Once in the briefing room, Fellows moved to the computer station, casually usurping Spock's usual place. Spock glanced at Kirk, and slid into a regular seat. Fellows had already inserted a data cartridge, and sent the readouts to the screens.
"The Defenders of Human Superiority, or DOHS. First founded in the late 21th century, mobilized against the movement to grant certain rights to the non-human, sapient mammals of Terra, the dolphin, the whale, the apes, and the elephant. Went under during the Eugenics Wars, and reemerged when Terra and the Terran colonies admitted the first non-Terran humanoid race into the Federation. Has steadily grown in membership and support, more or less proportionally with increasing non-human membership in the Federation, and increased inter-species interaction. They've mostly been talk and propaganda up until the last few years, when they were taken over by radical new leadership.
Fellows displayed a holo on the screen. "Josiah Hawkins. Formerly president of the Terran Defense League, and left after a losing in a power struggle to its somewhat less radical board. DOHS is larger, with a surprising amount of assets, but a much less organized leadership. Hawkins moved in, took control, rewrote their constitution, and reset their game plan before the majority of them knew what was up. We'd been hoping to discredit him by leaking some of his more violent history and plans to the DOHS board and ranking members, but unfortunately, it had rather the opposite effect. Their membership numbers 800 billion, and the majority of them were disgruntled with what they saw as the weakness of their leaders in the face of an ever stronger non-human threat.
"Hawkins is anything but stupid. We know now he's spent several years training his own agents, vigilantes and terrorists. Last month DOHS published their 34th list of enemies against the Human state. You'll notice it lists their names, crimes and the punishment."
"The 34th list?" McCoy said skeptically.
"That's right. They've never acted upon them, and regrettably the Federation Intelligence Agency didn't realize the seriousness of Hawkins' intentions. It's not an excuse, but it's a big galaxy, and it's almost impossible to keep track of all the crazies. And of course, DOHS did have a long history of being all talk and no action.
"Candidate one: Arthur Dreyfuss. He was president of the Federation council when it accepted the first non-human member. That was almost eighty years ago. Dreyfuss was 122. He was assassinated last week by DOHS agents at his beach home on the California coastline."
"Candidate two: Richard Dyson, M.D. Inventor of the cross-species immunity factors that saved billons of Andorians from the Blue Death. He was scheduled to speak at a Federation Medical Conference last week, but unexpectedly cancelled when his daughter gave premature birth to his first grandchild. That probably saved his life. We managed to pick up one of the DOHS agents assigned to terminate him. They mistakenly took out the speaker who took his place.
McCoy raised a brow. "They assassinated a physician?"
"For crimes against humanity. Andoria won a significant sector of space that some Terran colonies long coveted. If Andoria had been decimated by the Blue Death, the sector would have gone to Terran interests."
The physician looked stunned.
"Which brings us to our assignment," Fellows said. "Candidate three: Amanda Grayson."
Spock shifted slightly in his seat as the agent brought up a montage of holos reflecting his mother at various stages of her life. He felt his captain's eyes on him and forced his body and his expression to immobility. Fellows didn't seem to notice the interchange, going on with his dissertation.
"She's made the DOHS hit parade every year it's been issued, generally in the top twenty. News of her latest breakthrough, and her nomination for another Zi evidently spurred DOHS to move her up to her current third ranked position. She's long been found guilty, according to DOHS of three counts of high treason against the Human race. The first count: Heresy, the research and publications in her field that accord common values and ethics, formerly considered purely human in kind, across broad species lines, which according to them resulted in a changed policy that allowed a flood of inferior beings to be granted equal membership in the Federation. The second count: Treason: Providing Aid, Guidance and Assistance to an alien government in achieving prominence in Federation affairs and subversion of human interests, that government obviously being Vulcan. The Third: Miscegenation with an alien, resulting in a dangerous pollution of the human race. Her sentence: Death."
Kirk frowned. "Mr. Fellows, please remember we all knew the Lady Amanda."
Fellows glanced at his audience. "Forgive me, Captain." He nodded distantly at Spock. "I didn't intend to be personally offensive."
"Go on, then," Kirk growled.
Fellows sat back, twirling a stylus. "Fortunately, as only a few presently know, the sabotage of Dr. Grayson's flyer, due to a little resourcefulness on her part, merely slightly injured her."
Spock's sharp intake of breath was audible to everyone in the room.
"What did you say?" Kirk demanded.
"She's only injured?" McCoy exclaimed.
Fellows looked searchingly from one to another. "You didn't know?"
"Amanda is alive?" Kirk questioned.
Spock stood abruptly. "If you will excuse me, Captain." He turned and left the conference room.
"Bones," Kirk nodded after his first officer, and said, rising himself, "Excuse me, Mr. Fellows." He headed after McCoy.
Both men paused in the doorway of the empty conference room Spock had retreated to. The Vulcan was standing stiffly, his hands lifted slightly and gripped the back of a chair. His shoulders rose and fell irregularly.
Kirk edged into the room, allowing the door to close behind him. McCoy crossed the room and moving carefully, put a hand on the first officer's shoulder, guiding him around the chair. "Sit down, Spock," he said, as he pushed the Vulcan into it.
Spock sat woodenly, his expression turned inward, his breathing irregular.
"Deep breaths," McCoy was saying. His hands massaged the stiff shoulders comfortingly. "It's all right."
Spock suddenly shuddered hard, and his lungs filled and contracted, expelling the air in a deep sigh. He shrugged off McCoy's hands. "I am all right, Doctor."
"Of course you are," McCoy said, easily. "But you just sit there another minute or so. That was one hell of a shock, Vulcan controls or not."
Spock looked up as Kirk settled into a seat at the conference table, and he flushed a delicate shade of chartreuse. "Forgive me, Captain. That was inexcusable."
Kirk waved it away. "Don't think of it. I'm just glad your mother is all right." He hesitated, looking at McCoy.
"Slightly injured," McCoy repeated soothingly. "I'd wager that means she'll be just fine."
Kirk nodded, holding back his own indignation that Sarek had allowed his son to be as ignorant as the rest of the Federation regarding his mother's true condition. "Provided Mr. Fellows gets to do his job and catches those responsible, before they try again. I think I had better get back."
Spock rose. "I can accompany you."
"Are you sure?" Kirk looked to McCoy, who shrugged. "Probably the best thing for him. But Spock, don't think you're not still in shock from this. I want you to take some downtime when this briefing is over."
"As you wish, Doctor," the Vulcan said neutrally. But his black eyes were glittering and Kirk suspected he was only too eager to work on the problem of tracking down who had attempted his mother's murder. He followed Kirk back into the conference room, and sat down at his former seat as smoothly as if he had never left it.
"Forgive us, Mr. Fellows," Kirk said smoothly. "You can continue now."
"You didn't know." Fellows stated.
Kirk glanced at Spock, then shrugged and answered honestly. "We were given orders that the Enterprise was to take Commander Spock to Vulcan, under standard Condolence Leave. And possibly to serve as a Federation representative --" his voice trailed off, not wanting to add that it was to have been a representative at what could only be considered a state funeral. But Fellows seemed to understand.
"That is the official line on the Enterprise's purpose. Forgive me, Commander," Fellows nodded to Spock. "I had thought you had been informed through private channels, or I would have told you myself."
"No matter," Spock said tersely. "If you would continue?"
"Certainly. DOHS has already claimed responsibility both for Amanda's and for Dreyfuss' death. Following the crash of your mother's aircar," Fellows said, "Vulcan reported an attack on a government official, blacked out information transfer, and shut down all ports throughout their sector of space. For the duration of the crisis, they've reclaimed full autonomy over all civilian and military traffic. They're not letting any individuals in without lengthy and extensive security interviews, and it's almost impossible to get off planet. They've also tripled security at all Vulcan embassies, and issued warnings to all off-planet Vulcan citizens. They've filed legal charges against the FIA of criminal negligence for failure to act upon a known security risk. They refused to accept FIA clearance for anyone wishing to move in or out of Vulcan space, and they've moved their own fleet out to garrison it."
Kirk whistled soundlessly. Fellows tipped his chin in acknowledgement.
"Yes. Since Vulcan controls a significant portion of this quadrant you can imagine what this is doing to information transfer, shipping, and Federation security. Simply put, gentlemen, Vulcan has the DOHS agents corked up and isn't letting them loose. DOHS may know Amanda is alive, or they may not. Either way, Vulcan isn't taking any chances in letting them have another chance at her, letting them loose, or letting any others in to have another try."
Kirk glanced at Spock, and said hesitantly. "With all due respect, isn't Vulcan's reaction a little extreme? You can't hold an entire quadrant of the Federation hostage trying to bottle up a few assassins."
"That depends on your perspective. If this were merely an isolated assassination attempt, without political overtones, that might be the official Federation response. Unfortunately, the Vulcans seem to be taking this as a direct attack on non-human factions by human protagonists. As the Federation's lack of concern for non-human interests has long been a point of contention among many alien worlds and systems, Vulcan will have all the support behind them they could want. Indeed, those groups have been courting Vulcan's support to secede."
"Vulcan has long attempted to persuade the factions long holding those views to remain in the Federation, against sometimes violent opposition," Spock agreed. "An attack by such a human vigilante group against a non-human world leader will fuel those holding that viewpoint. And this time, Vulcan …may not oppose."
"Yes. How the Federation deals with this will be closely scrutinized by the non-human contingent. At present, the Federation can't afford the charges being leveled against it. It's been barely able to hold together without them. And the Federation needs Vulcan more than Vulcan needs the Federation."
"How is that?" McCoy asked. "I wasn't aware that Vulcan had that much of a economic impact on the Federation. Surely, they don't import or export enough to make much difference."
"True, if you consider imports and exports to be only material goods. But there is also political influence. Vulcan has always been very careful to retain its self-sufficiency, Doctor, having joined the Federation with considerable reservations. Their old alliance with their member worlds is still functional, and the Federation is more of a thorn in Vulcan's side than, at least at times, an asset. The political climate on Vulcan continues to weigh the benefits of Federation membership, another reason for Vulcan's weight in Federation affairs. Where Vulcan goes, a surprising number of non-human worlds will go as well. Even the Tellurites prefer Vulcan to Terra."
"Indeed." Spock said dryly. "A questionable ally, but essentially correct. And even most of the human seeded colonies who've developed significant esper sensitivities will side with Vulcan. The …breach…would be a largely even one. And not a clean one, in terms of simple spatial geography. It would be a …chessboard. "
"Yes. How the Federation responds to this threat, not just the threat to Amanda, but this perceived attack on non-human interests by pro-human factions, will affect that climate adversely, and on far more than just Vulcan. If Vulcan leaves the Federation, not only would they take a huge sector of space with them, but they'd take their old alliance of worlds, and probably take the majority of non-human worlds that have aligned behind Sarek and Vulcan's power in other sectors of the Federation. It would split the Federation along human - non-human lines. It would tear the Federation not in two, but in dozens of pieces. And this will weaken the Federation in the face of any number of incursive elements. Klingons, Romulans, and others."
"That's quite true," Spock said evenly.
"So, for the duration of this crisis, the Federation is not about to challenge Vulcan's actions. They can't. Vulcan has the Federation by the short hairs, and we have to let them call the shots. And not just politically. Vulcan also exports a considerable amount of technology. Fortunately, while the technology Vulcan exports is critical to the Federation, the technology already exported is viable, at least temporarily, without Vulcan's intervention. At best, we estimate six months before Vulcan's garrison will seriously threaten the viability of the Federation.
"All because of one woman," McCoy said softly. "Who knew she was such a Helen?"
Fellows raised an ironic eyebrow. "Certainly she'd deny the role. There's been debate for years on Amanda's relative political importance to Vulcan, and thus to Federation politics. Officially, she keeps a very low profile, partly for security reasons, partly out of preference. She handles the press brilliantly," he commented, his irony touched with more than a trace of envy. "Gives them just enough tidbits and anecdotes to make her a press darling without ever compromising security, and she always solidifies and legitimates Vulcan's position very credibly with both human and non-human media." He shrugged reflectively. "As we all know, most of politics, gentlemen, is public relations. There's no question at all that her media skills have contributed solidly to Vulcan's position, and thus to a certain extent, it's prominence in Federation politics. Officially, however, she holds no government position. She isn't listed anywhere on Sarek's staff, even as an advisor. She's just…" he drawled the words. "A teacher. That's her line. That's the official line."
Kirk glanced at Spock, but the Vulcan did not even raise a brow, refusing to be drawn.
"Privately, her security clearance has climbed till it is now equivalent to Sarek's, a High Council level. That's not something handed out to Ambassador's wives. There are those who compare Sarek's early career with the incredible success he's achieved since he's married Amanda, and try to make something of it. It could be his experience in marrying a human gave him incredible insight in dealing with humans on a political basis, and that he and Amanda never hold any political discussions or strategy sessions." Fellows eyes slid across Spock's face lazily, but the Vulcan first officer's expression didn't flicker. "But then there's the matter of her security clearance. It could be, as DOHS has suggested, she's calling all the shots, helping Vulcan succeed at the expense of the human race, in effect, a Mata Hari, atraitor. But then, it's common knowledge she has a career of her own, and a successful one, to which she devotes most of her time. And that she …seems…to have little overt interest or influence in her husband's career. Other than as a wifely supportive one." Fellows shrugged. "It goes over well in the press."
"In Federation political circles, though, it's generally accepted, if never acknowledged, that she's a high level advisor, with influence in some respects equal to T'Pau's. Or a little less. Certainly, Sarek rarely goes anywhere without her. However Amanda may be regarded, and whatever her function, Sarek is head of the Vulcan High Council, leader of the wealthiest and most politically powerful clan, and T'Pau's heir. With T'Pau's death, Sarek will take over her position as ruler, or clan leader, for all the Vulcan clans. Not just for Vulcan but for all its colonies. And as she's his bondmate, his life is …tied to hers. At least in some respects. And she's also considered, at least by marriage, to be of high importance in Vulcan politics, in the clan hierarchy. Vulcan will protect Amanda, if for no other reason, then because Sarek can't be risked. The alien worlds allied with Vulcan, particularly the telepaths, will be outraged at such a blatant attack against a fellow telepathic race. The non-humans will be outraged at an attack against an alien political figure. The fact that it's by an pro-human faction against non-human factions will polarize the Federation."
"But there are more active political leaders than these top ten." Kirk objected, looking over the list Fellows had displayed on the computer terminal. "Why not go after them? Why bother a diplomat's wife, advisor or not, kill a retired politician, go after some medical researcher? They aren't important targets, per se."
"Security, for one thing. It's difficult to get to the Federation High Council members. Sarek himself would be damn hard to pin down. Amanda, on the other hand, has always been a terrible security risk. She hates being shadowed by any security service, Federation or Vulcan, and hasn't made a secret of it from day one of her marriage." Fellows shrugged, "And then revenge, for another reason. The anger these fanatics have against those who they believed originally betrayed them is extreme. Terrorism. What human will lightly vote against DOHS policies, with DOHS actively assassinating such traitors? And finally, expediency. With only a missed attempt to assassinate one diplomat's wife, they've polarized Federation alliances, shut down half a quadrant, and made considerable progress towards the dissolution of the Federation as we know it. Why not go after her? They don't need official political figures." He sat back and eyed the Starfleet officers.
"If the Federation can't find out who attempted her murder, and assure Vulcan the threat is over, then Vulcan might well secede from the Federation and take an entire block of worlds, sectors of space, whole planetary systems throughout the Federation with it. This has the entire Federation is at risk. Exactly as DOHS wished. She, gentlemen, is what is known as a perfect catalyst."