Third Son led the group away from the Salortog Den. The female Salortog had a bright Essence, even though it was shaded by fear. She was Friend of Doktor, and afraid.
Doktor was missing. Fledgling was missing. The two were connected. He did not understand why the dark-spirited Salortog would want Doktor, but he was certain they had taken him. Fledgling had been instructed to stay away from their hidden Den in the twisted hills, but if he thought Doktor was in trouble...How would he have known? He or Doktor must have formed some sort of Link. Third Son cast his mind out in an attempt to feel Doktor or Fledgling with no luck.
After a time, he landed next to a pool, partially because he wanted a drink, but mostly to offer Mother a chance to rest. While they were drinking, he told them of his fears and his plan to go to the hidden Den.
They had a short rest, then took flight again, heading into the rough, hilly terrain.
Kirk leaned back, running a hand through his hair and blinking. The relatively low undulating hills had changed into deep crevices, their steep shoulders topped with jagged edges. The viewscreen was filled with shades of white interrupted by the cliff's rough black teeth as they followed Arnette deeper into sensor dead area. Sulu piloted the craft manually, staying just outside unaided visual range with Arnett's flyer visible only by magnification. Giotto sat beside Sulu in the co-pilot position, Kirk and Spock in the next row, and Giotto with two security guards behind them.
They were approaching the two hour mark into the flight, a trip made largely in silence except for some discussion of possible tactical approaches. Spock intuitively refrained from asking about McCoy or T'Phol specifically. Kirk was reluctant to broach that subject in front of others, so the silence was pregnant with unasked and unanswered questions.
"Captain, she's slowing and losing altitude." Sulu cut back on speed to maintain distance.
Kirk sat forward, intent on Arnette's trajectory as her flyer slowed and dropped to a few meters above ground level . "She's going into the crevice. How wide? Can we follow?"
"Maybe in the entrance," Sulu replied. "If it narrows..." he trailed off. They watched as her vehicle entered the mouth between tall, almost vertical walls and disappeared from view.
"Open communication with Columbia."
"Riley here." His voice sounded tinny and full of static.
"Riley, climb Y-axis to maximum visual range. We're going to follow her into the crevice as far as possible. Monitor both our positions and stand by. Sulu, take her as far as you can."
Third Son landed near a swift running stream. He was feeling an urgency foreign to him, but also sensed Mother was tiring. She drank slowly, taking a long drought, finally straightening and looking toward the sky.
"It is not a long wing now." His eyes followed her gaze.
"Salortog." he said, "In a flying machine." He paused. {It is Mate of Doktor,} he sent through their link.
Mother closed her eyes for a moment, summoning her strength. She opened them to Third Son's steady, concerned scrutiny. She sent reassuarance through the link, turning to the others. "I am ready." She ignored the protesting of joint and sinew as she launched into flight with the others.
T'Phol watched intently through the long distance viewer. "They are landing."
Teal throttled back, reaching for the binoculars. "Yes, but this is not their destination. Perhaps a rest stop." He looked at T'Phol. "Do you think they know we're following?"
"That would not surprise me. We have no idea what their capabilities might be. Evidence suggests Piasa can sense at least Doctor McCoy. Perhaps others as well."
Teal sighed. "The event from two thousand years ago weighs on my mind. We could be rushing to meet the same fate. I would feel better if I thought he understands we are friend, not foe."
T'Phol stared as he brought the binoculars to his eyes for a moment, then handed them to her. "We're off again." He paused. "I'm moving within our unaided sight distance. If they don't realze we're here already, they shall very shortly."
Soon the birds were visible dots against the white landscape, in another moment they were identifiable as flying creatures. Teal made some adjustments. "I think this is close enough. They don't seem to pay us any attention."
T'Phol suddenly tensed, bringing the viewer to her eyes. "Peg! There is another ship on the horizon."
Teal cursed and took the binoculars.
"I think more than one," he said slowly. "Too far away to be certain. It's a small craft, I think a flyer." He stared through the viewer for another long minute. "They are on a course a little south of here. The birds are heading that direction too. I'm pretty sure there's a larger craft in the far distance, can't quite make it out. It might be a starship shuttlecraft."
"Can they see us?"
Teal shrugged. "They could if they're looking. This is a heavy magnesite area, so we are invisible to sensors. But not to eyeballs. I don't think we've been spotted.. It seems clear the shuttlecraft is following the flyer circumspectly, they are not within unaided visual distance. I think they are doing the same thing as we, hoping to be led to McCoy." He took the controls again, changing speed. "We will fall back as well. Take the viewer."
"Who do you suppose is in the flyer?"
Teal's lips tightened as he glanced at T'Phol. "I think there is only one person it could be," he said. "Arnette."
Vincent Thompson listened through his earpiece in disbelief. He and his team of five had positioned themselves near the entrance of the secret installation, where they watched as Arnette arrived moments before. He gave a silent hand signal to the others and he and Mike crept down. They did not speak until out of sight and earshot of the hideout.
"Hard to believe," Mike whispered as they moved on at a trot.
Thompson shook his head. "Ive heard of Kirk, his hubris is legendary, it's not all publicity and hype either. What rotten timing. We have to hurry."
They quickened their pace as time slipped away tick by tock.
The fissure was narrow, but passable. The Galileo was several hundred meters into the chasm. The obsidian walls towered above, in places almost forming a roof high overhead. Snow covered part of the floor, with some protected areas relatively clear. The narrow passage consisted of sharply angled turns. The Columbia tracked both the Galileo and Arnette's progress from their position above, making sure the two stayed out of visual contact. At length, Riley reported the flyer stopped, and directed Sulu to a position out of sight behind several twists and turns. The Columbia then executed a vertical landing through a wide opening a short distance behind them. In a few minutes the medic crew had delivered tri-ox boosters to everyone except Spock, who had fastened his coat and stepped down the ramp.
The air was cold, glittering with tiny ice crystals. Spock drew his hood a little tighter as Kirk climbed down beside him.
"We have visitors," Spock said as two dark clad figures rounded the turn in front of them. Kirk drew his phaser as Giotto appeared beside them, phaser rifle in hand.
"Stop where you are. Identify yourself," Kirk barked.
"Federation Intelligence, Captain," the lead figure said, stopping a distance before them. "I am Vincent Thompson. Here are my credentials." He slowly reached into a pocket, withdrawing a badge which he extended to Kirk. Kirk looked at it and lowered his phaser, returning the badge.
"Captain James T. Kirk, USS Enterprise. We're here to retrieve our chief surgeon."
"Yes, I know. We believe McCoy is being held here, if he is still alive. Your arrival interrupted our team's mission."
"Our mission is simple," Kirk said. " First get McCoy. Then apprehend the imposters posing as Kelan and Vartheb of Andor."
"Your presence here puts our months of work in jeopardy. Time is running out, both for us and Doctor McCoy. I must insist you hold your team here."
"No. We'll go in with you."
Thompson opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut on whatever he had planned to say. "Very well, follow my team's lead. There is no time for discussion. I'll fill you in as we go." He turned on his heel as Kirk and Spock fell in beside him. "Their facility is in a natural slot cave just ahead. As far we can tell, there is one entrance and exit, a door at the top of a steep set of rock stairs. If we find it locked, we will use a plastic explosive charge to blow it open. We think there are no more than six currently in the group. We also hope to take prisoners alive," he added pointedly.
"Phasers to heavy stun," Kirk relayed to Giotto. Thompson stopped, peering around the edge of an outcrop, motioning for silence. He gave a signal to his team, then leaned toward Kirk, whispering. Kirk, Spock, and Giotto joined him, crossing the open space that lay in front of a crack in the rock face, big enough for a man to walk through. There were two flyers parked there, one was Arnette's. The other was larger, sleek, very reflective. Kirk stared, it was difficult to tell where the vehicle ended and began.
The three remaining FID team members joined them and they slipped through the opening one at a time, scurrying quickly to the shadows underneath the stairs. Two men climbed noiselessly to the top of the stairs. There was a small landing in front of a large door. Kirk saw one try the handle, then nod at Thompson.
Thompson motioned to Kirk, moving close enough to whisper in his ear. "We will go first for the perpetrators. Come in behind us, you'll get McCoy."
Kirk nodded understanding and they all crowded together on the landing. At Thompson's signal, they thrust the door forcefully open, the first and last act that went according to plan.
