3

Welcome to Circusia

Lieutenant Nicola grimaced as he suddenly pulled the small communication's gadget from his ear.

"Anything yummy on the channels, Vicente?" Mann asked slyly with a slight teasing tone of voice.

Nicola made a face as he put the gadget back in his ear and shook his head. "I don't know what you're implying but all I heard was a lot of chatter – everywhere."

The tactical officer grinned. "I was not implying anything," she smirked.

"We're all professionals here, are we not?" Lieutenant Amin called out seriously. "No insinuations, on the watch."

"Yes, ma'am," Mann replied with a mock salute and then let her fingers fly over the console to do a few checks.

Jamila Amin shook her head slightly at the comraderies. They had been on the same ship for too long together, the atmosphere on the bridge had started to get too lax at times, and that could lead them all into danger one day. She knew Captain Pike wasn't too concerned about that but she came from a military family, used to order and commands. Rules served as guidance and gave her confidence. She broke into a cunning but faint sly grin all of a sudden, then asked aloud; "So, was there anything yummy on the channels, lieutenant?"

OOOOOO

First chancellor, Ta'Bob Bobba Dus broke into one of the largest grins Pike had ever seen as they disembarked their shuttle. It brought him an uncomfortable reminder of the Denobulan full-face smile.

"I must admit, I have never seen anyone smile with such a pained expression. It is contradicting," Una remarked dryly with a touch of arrogance.

Chris harrumphed slightly.

Ta'Bob Bobba Dus strolled up to them, his colorful long kimono waving in the slight breeze. He was flanked by two other men, dressed in a more military fashion. The men did not appear to carry any arms but the way they moved and scanned the immediate area told Pike they were part of a security detail.

"Greetings with open arms and a few men dressed in black combat fatigue," Una said in a subdued voice. "Isn't that a bit ambiguous?"

Chris made no outward sign to answer her question as they waited for the chancellor to approach them but he agreed with her, one hundred percent.

"Captain Christopher Pike," he acknowledged brightly and bowed politely. "I'm pleased to finally meet you in person, as well as your officers."

"Chancellor Ta'Bob Bobba Dus," Pike acknowledged and returned the slight bow.

"Chancellor Ta'Bob would do just fine," he assured the landing party. "Am I offending you in some way if I call you Captain Christopher?"

"Since that is my rank and name, I don't see it as a problem," Chris replied diplomatically as he nodded Una. "This is my XO, Commander Una and my science officer, Lieutenant Spock."

The chancellor nodded eagerly as he bowed lightly in Una's direction and then Spock's. "Very welcome," he said humbly. "I can't help but to notice some variations in your appearances."

Pike nodded. "Yes, I am human, my origin is a planet called Earth. Una's parents were missionaries at a planet called Illyria, it's situated in a region of space called the Delphic Expanse and Spock is a Vulcan from the planet with the same name," he explained.

"Forgive my curiosity but are there many different species onboard your magnificent vessel?" Ta'Bob Bobba Dus asked.

"Starfleet is an Earth based organization," Una informed. "However, Starfleet is assigned to help protect the people of the entire United Federation of Planets, therefore there are a lot of other species present."

"United Federation of Planets," Ta'Bob Bobba Dus enquired curiously. "You've really come from a faraway distance. This is the first time I've ever heard of it."

"I am sure this all very intriguing but I am a little shy and there is a crowd forming around us which seem to grow for every second," Chris pointed out politely. "We'd like to tour the premises now, if you don't mind. I apologize if I give you the impression that I want to rush things to get it over with."

Ta'Bob Bobba Dus nodded eagerly. "Of course, my apologies, not yours, Captain Christopher," he said and nodded at the guards. "Clear the way for us and keep a slight distance, would you?"

Una's lips carefully, ever so slightly, curled upwards as she turned to her captain and friend. "After you, Captain Christopher," she said amusedly, emphasizing his name.

Pike gave her an undignified look as a dimpled smile flickered over his face. "You like that, don't you?" he replied in a subdued voice for Una's ears only.

"Chancellor Ta'Bob, if you don't mind me asking," Spock began as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You mentioned something called the civilization of Gargantos."

He nodded. "Oh yes, it is a system situated in a faraway region of space and, since you asked, it's obviously not in the direction you came from."

"Can't say I've heard of the place," Una replied smoothly. "Would you recommend us to visit it?"

"It is an interesting sector but there are rough patches. You should interact with some of our other visitors, I am sure they can tell you more about it. I am afraid Circusians never leave the planet – we don't have to – everyone is coming to us. However, if you are looking for extreme adventure or if you truly are explorers you must visit the barren wastelands of Trehelios."

Una gave him a sweet, sarcastic smile.

Spock carefully took notice of everything around them, scanning the crowded square, memorizing shapes and forms, and studied behavioral patterns. He was very aware that he seemed to be in the group that warranted everyone else's attention at the moment. However, in the midst of everything, out of the corner of his eye, he saw glimpse of a Klingon. The familiar alien hurried to get out of sight and Spock pretended he didn't see it.

Unbeknownst to what was going on behind him, Ta'Bob Bobba Dus rubbed his hands in excitement as he looked from Chris to Una and then back again. "This is so intriguing," he said delighted. "Perhaps you'd want to start with the Biosphere?"

Una and Chris shared a look of confusion. "I am sorry, chancellor but I thought this was the biosphere?" Pike said politely.

"Captain, if I may?" Spock began.

"By all means, lieutenant," he replied.

"Chancellor, the biosphere is a relatively thin but life-supporting stratum of a planet's surface. This zone does range from the deep-sea level and all the way up and into the atmosphere. Therefore, to any Starfleet officer, this would be designated as the biosphere on your world," he explained.

"A very logical assumption," Ta'Bob Bobba Dus concurred. "However, on Circusia, the biosphere is the common name for the place where we keep our animals so that they can be studied by the population."

"He wants to take us to the zoo," Una deduced smartly. "Bio stands for animals and sphere stands for the habitat in which they are kept."

"Fascinating," Spock said. "While some member planets of the Federation still have such a place, it was banned on Earth, Vulcan, Andoria and Veloria over a century ago."

Ta'Bob Bobba Dus halted mid-step and turned to the Vulcan with a frown. "But it is such an interesting place. So enlightening and well-managed. The educational bureaus usually take their pupils there to see the real animals. Besides, we have a lot of strange creatures there which have been brought to us from other planets. Some of them are very cute but some of them are also very dangerous."

Pike involuntarily shuddered as he thought back upon his imprisonment at Talos IV. They had treated him like some kind of animal. The Talosians were considered to be a very enlightened species but they knew nothing about the human race. He could only hope that the chancellor's definition of animals didn't include long distance travelers.

Una cast a worried glance at Chris, noticing the dark look. She knew what he was thinking; she had been brought to Talos as well, but only for a short period of time, and that was enough for her to be unsettled.

"Captain," Spock said, mindful to speak in a low voice so that he wasn't overheard. "Please be advised, there are Klingons here."

Chris suddenly stiffened but quickly forced himself to relax again. If they were being watched by possible enemies, he couldn't show any kind of hesitation or cast suspicious glances around the premises. He acknowledged that he'd heard his science officer with a faint nod, his lips pursed together.

Ta'Bob Bobba Dus misinterpreted the situation and the reason as to why the three officers before him looked hesitant and beamed brightly as he clasped his hands together in front of him. "We can start with something else if you like," he said.

OOOOOO

"Starfleet," the Klingon, Karash, spat angrily from a spot where he could no longer be seen by the landing party.

"Impossible," Vasq replied dryly. "This is far from Federation space. They don't usually colonize other words; they are far too weak and diplomatic as a species for that."

"Obviously, talking does win wars nowadays," Karash replied coldly.

The other Klingon, Vasq, gave him a toothy, malicious grin. "Starfleet brought a bomb to our homeworld. The peace-loving organization finally showed its true colors. For that I honor them. They are not as weak as I first thought. But they would have been better off if they'd blown the planet to bits and pieces," he countered.

"They have only prolonged their suffering. One day our people will be strong and united again, and when we are – Earth will be the first planet to be targeted," Karash bragged.

A third Klingon, Katoth, walked out of the shadows and looked at his two companions. "We cannot allow Starfleet to present the Federation to this people. Circusia can be a great asset to the expansion of the Klingon Empire," he said. "When we have learned of all its weaknesses, we can conquer it and bend it to our rules. Then we will further expand throughout the universe."

They jerked back as a fourth Klingon joined them. "Our mothership is still not responding to our hails," Mesh'ba said darkly. "It has been four weeks since they last replied. Something must have happened. We cannot act upon this alone, without backup. Especially not against the flagship of the Federation."

One of the others sneered and another one spat at the words spoken.

"So, it has returned to outer space," Katoth remarked coldly. "It never had the guts to face us in battle yet I've heard tales of how two Starfleet vessels defeated an armada of enemies on their own. A battle said to have saved all of us from extinction."

"They lost that vicious ship that day – the one who planted the bomb in our backyard – but their flagship rose from the ashes of defeat to claim the victory. They are frail beings yet they are persistent and cunning; dangerous in battle," Vasq pointed out.

"USS Enterprise," Katoth said eerily, as if tasting the name. "I would be honored to slice her captain in two and serve his head on a silver platter to the chancellor."

"Then I believe your head will be severed from your body as well," Vasq replied. "Chancellor L'Rell will not take kindly to anyone who harms Captain Christopher Pike. You could probably get away with the head of any other human; but not his."

Katoth walked up to him, invading the little private space the Klingons allowed and grabbed his throat. "If L'Rell is so weak that she cannot stand up for our people and our needs. If she chooses the human's side, then she will perish too," he pointed out heatedly. "Her mother might have been one of us but she chose T'Kuvma's side. She set us up and played us right into the hands of Kol-Sha and when he perished, she chose not to dishonor him. That is sacrilegious!"

"So, we do not act?" Karash pushed. "Captain Pike embodies Starfleet. I want to know how tough he is and I want to know how his crew acts when we kill him. Do they act with bravery and retaliate or do they want to talk about it?"

"We do not act until we once again make contact with our people," Mesh'ba replied. "Then we'll grab Pike as a trophy, blow that federation vessel out of space as a demonstration of our power and conquer Circusia."

The others laughed at the statement, raising their Bat'leth's in the air. "Glory to the house of Mo'Kai."

OOOOOO

3/24

Note: I've googled the Klingon houses and L'Rell does have connections to both T'Kuvma and Mo'Kai. Kol-Sha was the leader of the House of Kor who challenged L'Rell for leadership of the Empire. There is also said to have been internal power struggles amongst many of the houses…