Disclaimer: Star Trek the Original Series belonged to Gene Roddenberry. The Alternate Original Series is property of J.J. Abrams. Most of this is taken directly from TOS: Season 1 Episode 3: Mudd's Women

Chapter Four

Mudd and his Women

Captain's log, Stardate 2258.259.

The U.S.S. Enterprise is currently in pursuit of an unidentified vessel.


"There he is, ma'am," Sulu pointed. "Centre screen. Still trying to run away from us, ma'am."

Rose frowned, leaning forward slightly. "Don't lose him, Mister Sulu."

"No, ma'am."

Rose turned to her Science Officer. "Earth ship, Mister Spock?" She asked.

Spock glanced back at her from his station. "Difficult to say, Captain," he answered. "We're getting no registration beam from it."

"If it is," Scotty pointed out. "He'll soon overload his engines."

"Ma'am, he's pushing his engines too hard," Spock announced. Rose clenched her jaw as she glanced back at the screen.

"Changing course again," Sulu reported. "He knows we're after him all right."

"Stay with him, Mister Sulu," Rose ordered. "Communication?"

"I've tried all frequencies," Uhura reported. "He refuses to answer. Unless he's not receiving us."

"He's receiving us alright," Rose said darkly, ignoring Uhura's refusal to use her title. As long as she didn't let it interfere with her duties Rose would put off reprimanding her (again), for after the mission was over.

"Approaching an asteroid belt, Captain," Spock called over his shoulder. "Schiller rating three five."

"Deflectors on, Mister Chekov," Rose ordered coolly.

"He's seen the asteroids too, ma'am," Sulu added, Rose nodding as she studied the screen calmly.

"Stay with him," she demanded. "He'll try to lose us in them."

"If one hits him," Sulu began to warn and Spock swiftly him cut off.

"Sensor reading on the vessel. I make it out as a small class J cargo ship, and his engines are super-heating."

"Try to warn him," Rose instructed Uhura quickly. "If he loses power now," her voice trailed off.

"Zere go 'is engines, ma'am," Chekov warned.

"He's drifting into the asteroid belt, Captain." Sulu said tensely. This was hardly the worst scenario they had ever been, not even close but adrenaline was beginning to surge anyway.

"'e's had it," Chekov reported. "Unless ve put our deflector screen avround him."

"Captain, if we try, we'll overload our own engines," Scotty argued. "He's too far away."

Rose ignored him. "Cover him with our deflector screen, Mister Chekov. Scotty, Spock, stand by in the transporter room."

"Aye, ma'am," Scotty agreed as they left quickly.

"Ve're protecting 'im, ma'am. Ve von't be able to hold it for long."

"We're overloading, Captain," Sulu called. "Engine temperatures climbing!"

Gaila's voice came over the comm from engineering. "This is the Engine room. Temperatures are passing the danger line."

"Our deflector screen ees veakening, ma'am," Chekov called urgently. "Ve can't protect zem much longer." The lights flickerered to emphasize their warnings.

"That was one of our lithium crystal circuits, ma'am," Sulu added.

Rose quickly hit the comm. "Bridge to transporter room. If you don't start beaming that crew over soon-"

"They're not answering our signal," Scotty replied. "There's nothing to lock onto."

"Another circuit, ma'am," Sulu warned as another light disappeared. Rose kept any of her concern from touching her face.

"I'm getting a distress signal call from them," Uhura called briskly, pressing various buttons.

"Scotty, we're getting a distress signal," Rose said quickly into the comm.

"We're locked onto something, Captain," Scotty answered.

"Another lithium circuit," Sulu reported. "Now supplementing with battery power, ma'am."

"Scotty, how many of them did you get aboard?"

"Only one, ma'am," Scotty answered. "But we've locked onto three more."

"Zere she goes."

"Asteroid hit him dead centre," Sulu added grimly.

Rose closed her eyes and pressed the comm again. "Bridge to transporter room. Their vessel has been hit by an asteroid. It's gone. Did you get the crew off?"

"Not yet, ma'am, but we've hooked onto something."

Rose frowned after several moments of silence. "Kirk to transporter room. Report." She repeated herself a second later, concern creeping into her voice. "Bridge to transporter room."

Ve're clearing the asteroid belt now, Captain," Chekov told her and she nodded swiftly.

"Deflector screen down, Mister Chekov," Rose ordered. "Save the power." She turned back to the comm, a frown on her face. "Captain to transporter room. Are you reading me or not, Mister Scott? Bridge to transporter room. How many did we get off?"

Scotty was dazed when he finally answered her. "Oh, er, four in all, ma'am."

Rose stood. "If that captain can walk, I want him in my office immediately. Actually," she corrected herself, anger beginning to rise. "I want him there whether he can walk or not. Kirk out."


Rose waited in her office with her arms crossed and a cool look she reserved for idiots or anyone that endangered her ship or crewmen on her face. She called out permission to enter in a tight voice when she finally heard the sharp rap belonging to Spock.

Rose hid a grimace of distaste as they entered. The cargo ship captain had practically no shields at all and his sleaziness made her feel mildly ill. He made no attempt to hide the fact that he was checking her out and she took several subtle breaths to steady her temper. There was also something strange coming from the women trailing after him. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"The Commander of the transport to see you, Captain." Spock told her in his usual calm tone.

"Good," Rose nodded. "Now, what exactly-"

One of the women cut her off and she felt her jaw tense in irritation again.

"Hello."

"And the ladies?" Rose asked the 'captain', ignoring the interruption as best she could. "Is this your crew, Captain?"

The man chuckled slightly. "Well, no, Captain. This is me cargo."

Rose's eyes narrowed. "Your cargo?" She demanded furiously. "Are you confessing to slave trafficking in Federation space, Captain Whatever-your-name-is? And explain why you refused to answer a starship's hails."

The man scowled at her and Rose gritted her teeth at the feelings of disrepect and contempt he had for her.

"Well, how the devil am I supposed to know this is a starship, Captain? Here I am with a cargo of young lovelies, not slaves, just willing passengers. A strange ship comes up alongside. Well. naturally I did my best to evade you. And starship Captain or no, you exceeded your authority when you drove me and mine into a shower of asteroids."

"Your name, sir." Rose demanded crisply, ignoring his disrespect as best she could.

"Walsh," the man huffed. "Leo Walsh. You destroyed me ship, Captain."

Rose briefly wondered if he actually thought she would believe his blatant lies, even if she were psi-null. "Mister Walsh, I'm convening a ship's hearing on your actions. Mister Spock will supply you with any legal information you may need for your defense."

Spock nodded in acknowledgement of her orders.

'Walsh' huffed at her. "You're a hard-nosed one, Captain."

Rose looked back at him coolly. "And you're a liar, Mister Walsh. I think we both understand each other. Security! Escort Mister Walsh to his quarters. Confine him there. Oh," a grim thought occurred to her. "And keep Lt. Gaila away from them."


Captain's log, Stardate 2258.259.

We've taken aboard from unregistered transport vessel its captain and, and three unusual females. These women have a mysterious magnetic effect on certain members of my crew, excluding Mister Spock and a few others thankfully. The supposed 'Captain Leo Walsh' claims they are his 'cargo' and I sense something strange from their psychic waves. Explanation unknown at present. I have ordered a ship's hearing to be convened against Captain Walsh. I'm concerned about the almost-hypnotic effect produced by the women.

The comm buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. "Kirk here," she briskly answered.

"You're needed on the bridge Captain," Spock told her. She sighed and stood, patting her low-twisted chignon to flatten any stray hairs. She hated to look anything less than perfect. It reminded her of, back then.

"Acknowledged. I'll be there in a minute."


"What is it, Mister Spock?" She asked when she stepped onto the bridge and walked over to him and Scotty.

She frowned at the look in his eyes. His face was emotionless but she found his eyes as easy to read as a book. It was a relief that they had gotten past their initial impressions of each other. They made an excellent team, as their counterparts had said they would.

"The entire ship's power is feeding through one lithium crystal." He reported and Rose pursed her lips.

"Well, switch to by-pass circuits," she suggested, tucking a hair behind her ear. This time Scotty cut in.

"We burned 'em all out when we super-heated. That jackass Walsh not only wrecked his vessel, but damaged ours too in saving his worthless skin."

Rose cursed mentally as she answered him. "If it makes you feel any better, Scotty, that's one worthless jackass that we're going to see skinned."

Scotty nodded. "But it's darn frustrating. Almost a million gross tons of vessel depending on a hunk of crystal the size of my fist."

"And that crystal won't hold up," Spock added. "Not pulling all our power through it."

Kirk raised an eyebrow. "Well, what's your suggestion then Mister Spock?"

Spock was quiet for a moment while he considered his answer. "There's a lithium mining operation on Rigel 12. High-grade ore, I've heard."

"Location and distance?"

"Mister Chekov has the course," he replied. "Less than two day's travel."

"The make for Rigel 12, Mister Spock," Rose ordered.

Spock nodded, turning to stride to the helm. "Rigel 12, Mister Chekov. You have the course."

Afterwards, he returned to her side and pulled her slightly away from the others.

"Yes?" She asked him in a low tone. "What is it?"

"I am concerned about the effects of the on the crewmembers attracted to the female species. The women from Walsh's ship appear to have a seductive effect on them."

Rose frowned. "I agree with you," she told him. "But I don't know what to do about it. I don't think they're truly dangerous. I don't sense any violence from them and Walsh is definitely a sleaze but I don't think he has the guts to actually hurt anyone. Still, keep an eye on them."

Spock nodded then hesitated.

Rose looked at him inquiringly. "Is there something else?"

"What is, a sleaze?" Spock asked, an uncertain look in his eyes.

Rose broke into her first smile all day. "It means he's untrustworthy and immoral. Corrupt."

"Ah," Spock nodded. "I see."

"Now," Rose changed the subject. "I want to start this trial and get it over with. I'm going to consider adding human trafficking to the charges, depending on what happens in the hearing. I know he claimed they're willing and I couldn't sense any reluctance from them but something is definitely off about it all."

Spock nodded. "Do you wish me to accompany you?" He asked.

Rose nodded at him. "Yes, I do." She gave the conn to Scotty as they made their way to the lift.


Rose took a deep breath before beginning to preside over her first ever hearing.

"This hearing is convened, Stardate 2258.259, on board the starship U.S.S. Enterprise. Formal hearing against transport Captain Leo Walsh. Start computer.

"State your name for the record," Spock ordered calmly.

"Leo Francis Walsh," the man smirked smugly. His smile faltered at the computer's beep of "Incorrect."

Spock raised a pointed eyebrow. "Your correct name."

The man shifted uncomfortably and Rose hid a grimace at feelings of mocking coming from him. "Gentlemen, surely you're not going to take the word of a soulless mechanical device over that of a real flesh and blood man," he protested.

"State your correct name for the record," Spock repeated, and Rose hid a smirk at the sense of irritation coming from her First.

"Harry Mudd." The captain scowled grumpily.

"Incorrect." The computer beeped again and Rose gave a stern look to the man.

"Harcourt Fenton Mudd," he finally gritted out, an unhappy grimace on his face.

"Any past offenses, Mister Mudd?" Spock inquired.

Mudd looked indignant. "Of course not. Gentlemen, I'm simply an honest businessman."

Rose didn't need the computer's third "Incorrect," or her abilities to know he was lying through his teeth.

Mudd glared bitterly at it. "Blast that tin-plated pot," he hissed.

"Computer," Rose spoke up. "Bring up the full record of Harcourt Fenton Mudd."

"Full data coming on screen," the machine agreed.

"If it can read our minds, too," the dark-haired women hissed at Mudd and Rose narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the feeling of nervousness coming from her.

Mudd gave her a reassuring look. "It can't, darling. It can't. Just what's on the record."

"Offense record," the computer finally began to speak. "Smuggling. Sentence suspended. Transport of stolen goods. Purchase of space vessel with counterfeit currency. Sentences, psychiatric treatment, effectiveness disputed."

"Quite the history you have Mr. Mudd," Rose said dryly. She wasn't about to give him the title of 'Captain', he certainly didn't deserve it. "And you can add this to it now. You're charged with galaxy travel without a flight plan, without an identification beam, and failure to answer a starship's signal, thus effecting a menace to navigation."

"What?" Mudd demanded indignantly. "My tiny ship in this immense galaxy a menace to navigation?"

"You're also charged with operation of a vessel without a master's license," Rose added without paying him any attention.

"Untrue!" Mudd protested. "I have a master's license."

"Incorrect," the computer refuted. "Master's license revoked Stardate 2256.14."

This time Rose didn't bother hiding her rolling eyes as Mudd sheepishly corrected himself.

"All right," he began. "Well, it's like this you see. Very simply, Leo Walsh, who was to be my captain on this trip, passed away suddenly. Well, I had no choice but to take out his ship me own self. I assumed Leo's name out of courtesy to him. In memoriam, as it were. A fine, fine man, alas, gone to his reward."

"Destination and purpose of journey?" Rose interrogated.

"Planet Ophiuchus 3," Mudd told her. "Wiving settlers."

Rose looked up from her PADD to stare at him in disbelief. "Come again, Mister Mudd. You do what?"

"I recruit wives for settlers," Mudd explained. "A difficult but satisfying task."

"Data on witnesses."

"No data."

"Computer, go to sensor probe," Rose shoved down her rising frustration. "Any unusual readings?"

"No decipherable reading on females," chirped after a moment. "However, unusual reading on certain crewmembers, predominantly male. Detecting high respiration patterns, perspiration rate up, heartbeat rapid, blood pressure higher than normal."

"Er, that's sufficient," Rose said hastily, casting a glance back at the embarrassed security guards. "Strike that from the record."

"You see, it's just as I told you," Mudd claimed. "Three lovely ladies destined for frontier planets to be the companions of lonely men, to supply that warmth of a human touch that's so desperately needed. A wife, a home, a family. Captain, Mister Spock, I look upon this work as a sacred public trust. I've devoted me whole life to it."

"Incorrect," beeped the computer yet again and Rose began to seriously consider whether or not the man was a compulsive liar.

"Well, I'm about to start devoting my entire life to it."

Rose turned to glance at the three women, frown deepening at the anxiousness radiating from them. "Did you ladies come voluntarily?"

"Well, of course!" Mudd exclaimed, gesturing at the women. "Now, for example, Ruthie here comes from a pelagic planet, sea ranchers. Magda there from the helium experimental station."

"It's the same story for all of us, Captain," the third woman piped up. "No men. Mine was a farm planet with automated machines for company and two brothers to cook for, mend their clothes, canal mud a foot thick on their boots every time they walked in."

"Fine, Evie. Fine."

"It's not fine!" Eve insisted. "We've got men willing to be our husbands waiting for us, and you're taking us in the opposite direction! Staring at us like we were Saturnius harem girls or something."

"That's enough, Evie." Mudd told her warningly.

"The only charges are against Mister Mudd," Rose cut in sternly.

She felt a surge of distaste though she wasn't sure who she was most annoyed at. Mudd or the three women who seemed to be throwbacks to Ancient Earth. There was a lot more opportunities for women in the galaxy than marrying some man they'd never spoken to before in their lives. Did they even know their fiancés' names?

"Illegal operation of a vessel. Do you have any defence to offer?"

"Only heaven's own truth, which I've just given you." Mudd declared dramatically and Rose scoffed.

"The hearing is closed. Mister Mudd to be handed over to the legal authorities at our earliest opportunity," she announced briskly, rising to her feet.

"And what about us?" Eve demanded indignantly. She scrambled up and rushed to grab Rose desperately. The Betazoid hybrid barely managed to reinforce her shields in time. "What happens to us? Help us, please. All of us."

Rose inhaled. "Miss McHuron, have you properly considered the ramifications of what you're doing? You know nothing about these men you want to marry and will have no support or regular family contact-"

Scotty's voice came over the comm, sounding urgent. "Our last crystal, ma'am! It's gone."

"Captain Kirk," Sulu cut in. "Engineering section reports our entire life-support system is now on batteries."

Rose instantly turned away her attention from the 'passengers'. "Mister Spock, with me. Miss McHuron, would you mind? Mister Spock, will you contact the miners on Rigel 12? Notify them that we'll need the lithium crystals immediately upon arrival."

Spock nodded and they both strode out quickly.


Captain's log, Stardate 2258.260: Position, fourteen hours out of Rigel 12. We're on auxiliary impulse engines. Fuel low, barely sufficient to achieve orbit over the planet. Lithium replacements are now imperative. The effect of Mudd's women on my crew continues to grow, still totally unexplained. Harry Mudd is confined to his quarters under guard.

"I said I wanted a preorbital course, Mister Chekov," Rose ordered again, frowning in disapproval at having to repeat herself.

Chekov's head was lowered sheepishly as he acknowledged her.

"That's to be the last time I have to give an order twice, gentlemen," Rose announced briskly as she stood to walk over to Scotty. "We're down to battery power, and we're low on that." She whispered to him, a wrinkle of concern in her eyebrow.

Scotty shrugged unhappily. "It'll get us to Rigel 12, ma'am, but it'll be a shaky orbit."

"Just hang us in long enough to get six crystals, Scotty," Rose patted his shoulder. "That's all we need."

"Aye," the engineer agreed. "I'll get ya there."
The elevator opened and Kirk quickly left Scotty to head over to her CMO. "It's ridiculous," she hissed at him. "What are we running here? A starship or some sort of stripclub? Did you examine the women?"

Bones shook his head. "They refused."

"Well, come on, you're the doctor," the captain protested. "What is it? There's something wrong about those girls. Are they seriously that beautiful that they can make an entire crew of battle-tested officers fall over themselves with lust? They are quite lovely, I'll admit."

Rose didn't discriminate between genders. Actually, she preferred women most of the time.

"Are they, Rose?" McCoy raised a finger. "Are they actually more beautiful, pound for pound, measurement for measurement, than any other women you've known? On this ship even? Or is it that they just, well, act beautiful. No." He shook his head agitatedly. "Strike that, strike that."

"What are they then?"

"You mean are they alien illusions? That sort of thing?"

"I asked you first," Rose retorted.

McCoy shook his head again. "No, an alien smart enough to pull this could also keep my medical scanner from going beep!"

Rose frowned. "I don't follow you," she admitted, her frown deepening at McCoy's helpless shrug.

"I don't either."


A little under a day later found Rose and Spock waiting in her office for the arrival of the miners. Rose was sorting through some paperwork on Mudd's arrest on her PADD while they did so. She wanted off her ship as soon as they reached the nearest Starbase.

Spock held a ruined lithium crystal in his hand. "Even cracked and burned," he mused. "They are still beautiful. Destroying them was a shame."

Rose shook her head. "Hardly," she responded. "It was ruin a few objects or let four people die. Can't say I'd mourn for Mudd though. His name definitely suits his personality."

A security member Rose recognized as Lt. Latimer knocked and stuck his head in. "Mining Chief Childress and Mister Gossett," he introduced the two gruff looking men who'd entered.

Rose stood, holding out a hand politely. "Much obliged, sirs," she told them. "I'm Captain Rosalind Kirk, this my First Officer, Commander Spock."

She pursed her lips slightly when the chief ignored her hand, skillfully covering her discomfort at both the blatant feelings of lust the two were sending towards her and the feeling of greed she was getting from them.

"Let's get right down to business," Childress declared. "You want lithium crystals and we've got them."

Rose nodded curtly, refusing to be intimidated by the man. "Fine. I'm authorized to pay an equitable price."

Her eyes narrowed at the leacherous smirk on Childress' face.

"We're not sure they're for sale, Captain. We might prefer a swap."

"What did you have in mind?" Rose's voice was cold and anyone who knew her would know she losing what little patience she had left after having Harry Mudd on board for over two days.

"Mudd's women," Childress declared. Rose's scowl deepened when Gossett cut in, preventing her instant refusal.

"If we like them o' course. We want to have a look at them first."

"Right. Trot them out, Captain," Childress agreed with a nod. "Oh, and Harry Mudd. Either way, I've agreed to have him released. Charges dropped."

"Trot them out?" Rose repeated with a scoff. "They're women, sirs." Contempt laced her voice as she stared at the two miners in disgust. "Not horses at an eighteenth century Earth auction. The Federation doesn't sell or swap sentient beings. And Mudd is not being released under any circumstances. I have a responsibility to uphold the law. A law that Mudd was in violation of. Your threats won't work on me."

Childress smirked arrogantly at her and she felt loathing rise inside her chest. If not for her mental training she'd probably have decked him by now.

"You've got no choice, Kirk," he arrogantly declared. "You beam a landing party down, and you won't find one blessed crystal."

Rose shook her head curtly. "No deal. You're a long way out in space, gentlemen. You'll need medical help, cargo runs, starship protection. You want to consider those facts too?"

Left unsaid was the Captain who'd saved the Federation was a helluvalot more important than three replaceable miners.

The door slid open again, Rose's anger increasing at the sight of Mudd sauntering confidently inside, the three women following him obediently.

"Come along, ladies, come along," Mudd sang. "You must be Ben Childress. Come on now, girls, come on."

Ruth strutted over to Gossett, wrapping her arms around his neck. "And you must be Herm Gossett."

Gossett grinned. "Yes, I reckon I am."

"One thing I'll say for you, Mudd, you're not a liar," Childress looked the women over lustfully. "Ladies, you are welcome."

"It's still no deal," Rose denied furiously, glowering at the group. Spock leaned over to whisper in her ear softly.

"Conserving batteries, ma'am. Half power."

Mudd smiled smugly at her. "I'm told they have only three days of orbit left before they start spiraling in. I do hate to see you suffering such a situation, Captain, but truth is truth, and the sad fact is you will deal. Sooner or later, you'll have to."


A day, Eve running into a sandstorm, the Venus pill revelation and six lithium crystals later, Rose was sullenly filling out her report in her quarters.

"Come," she called curtly at the knock. She relaxed slightly when the comforting mental presences of Bones and Spock entered.

"Hey," she greeted them, leaning back in her chair and rubbing the back of her neck. "Any new problems? Don't tell me, I don't want to know."

Spock hesitated uncertainly for a moment while Bones simply snorted. "Nah," he assured her. "Everything's fine. Just came to check on you."

Rose gave a tired smile. "Thanks," she fell quiet for a moment before speaking abruptly. "I just don't get it!"

Spock cocked his head to the side. "Perhaps we can help you 'get it'," he offered. Rose pushed herself to her feet and began pacing.

"They weren't stupid women," she tugged her hair loose from its twist and pulled at the knots. "This isn't nineteenth century Earth for crying out loud! Women aren't property of men. We're all just as capable at doing anything a man could. Heck I'm the youngest person in history to captain a starship and I'm a woman. Not to mention my degrees in Agriculture, Computers and Engineering.

But those three, their biggest dream in life was to leave their families and marry three random men who they nothing about, and basically be their housekeepers! What is the matter with them?"

Her chest heaved as she finished her rant, the two men staring at her. But then, they were men, they had never suffered from accusations of sleeping with higher-ups or using telepathy to get to their positions. Rose heard those comments every time she spoke to half the Admirality.

"I dunno, Darlin'" Bones finally muttered, moving in to hug her. "I dunno."