Chapter 2

The mission to Niurex colony could not have been categorized as easy or even a hopeful one. but no one could predict the depth of disturbance that had been going on for too long on that planet. The reports from Starfleet had pointed out disorder in two major cities and chaos in the economical and political state of the planet.

Citizens were enraged by the incompetency of their leaders. Sickness and hunger had a firm grip on every single one of them. Meanwhile, the planet's leaders did everything they could to repress the angry and desperate people, and show things differently to the Federation agents. However, after enterprise's scan, everyone saw the truth behind the appearances. The whole planet was on the brink of a revolt while Starfleet reports described it all under the sole word of 'unstable'.

"Unstable! For God's sake, they are near a damn civil war!" McCoy burst out when Kirk finished explaining the mission plan in the debriefing room. "And they expect us to turn our backs on them? Right now?" Kirk didn't look surprised to hear his friend's complains. He had been preparing himself for exactly this reaction. "No Bones. It's just to… encourage them to change their behavior. We had warned them before, many times. They had been made aware of the consequences of their actions.

"Unfortunately, the governor insists on continuing his unacceptable actions. The Federation had taken other measures too, to no avail. "

McCoy was now livid with anger. "And how do the Federation propose to win their alliance by banning the entire planet? These people need our help, Jim. They are dangerously dependent on the trade with the Federation. Hunger...poverty ...sickness. They are nearly out of hand down there…" "I understand that…" Kirk cut him off not too gently, but the Doctor raised his voice even more as he continued. "…children, Jim. Think about what this would do to them! You of all people should know..." "Enough, Doctor!" Kirk slammed his fist on the table. Hard. They stared at each other with overt anger. Both red at face.

The silence that settled on the room was oppressive. The only sound was of the heavy breathings of the two. No one seemed to want to direct the tangible rage to him. Spock cleared his voice, and he started to speak in his maddeningly calm tone. "Doctor, I must assure you that the Federation had already considered all those concerns and also other things. However, their offenses cannot be overlooked; The unjust behavior towards their people, use of the trade's income for military purposes when they clearly need it more in other areas, increasing rate of poverty in spite of our more than sufficient financial aids, and also repression of their opposers with force and terror. The list is long, Doctor. As the captain pointed out, this cannot continue. Other Federation allies will start to take the Federation as a supporter for dictators. Hence, the Federation is trying to find a mean to avoid that assumption."

By then, Kirk had regained his composure and spoke in his normal, calm tone. But still as he spoke, he did not meet the doctor's eyes. "Mr. Spock is correct. The Federation had sent other ambassadors to resolve the situation. Reports from the ambassadorial ship Patron says that they have already exhausted all sort of possible solutions for this impasse. So far, nothing has worked. Niurex's government had ignored many of the Federation's treaty laws." Kirk sighed and after a pause, added "Severing our ties was always the last resort."

Scotty felt it necessary at that moment to ask, "what about our trades, capt'n? Niurex is one of our important sources of dilithium crystals." "Yes, that is right. Nevertheless, we need to convince them we are ready to stop buying their products, although that may not be the case exactly. Their economy won't stand that. They can't risk losing their first ally, and The Federation is only trying to persuade them to acknowledge the rules. Hopefully, this added pressure will make them decide their next step wiser."

McCoy was still mumbling under his breath when the captain dismisses them. He could not, for the life of him, understand how Kirk had been convinced to deny a whole planet of provisions for their primary needs. He knew his friend and he implicitly believed in his captain. That was why he had been so utterly shocked to see that food and drugs was also in the list of interdicts. For him it meant just one thing; mass murder, the type where a whole civilization would die very slowly and very painfully; From hunger and disease and civil wars. Jim surly knew all that. But why would Kirk, of all people, follow orders that he did not believe in his heart?

He stayed behind after everyone else left the room to talk with Kirk. "Jim, what's the matter with you? It's not like you to accept any nonsense order they give. You really want to embargo food and medicine too? I thought I knew you!" Kirk did not even lift his head to look at the indignant Doctor throughout his tirade. He merely continued to shuffle through his PADD. McCoy could tell he was not even reading those words. Kirk was just too preoccupied to convincingly pretend reading. He was so uncharacteristically silent.

Spock had also stayed behind and was a silent witness. McCoy didn't care if Spock stayed or left. He was pissed at Kirk's inattention. "Look at me in the eye and tell me. You didn't explain anything about the drug in front of the crew. What was it? Shame? You know they can actually read the mission descriptions! Do you know what they are thinking right know? They will feel betrayed, Jim, because this is not what any of them sign up for. None of them want to be part of a - a..." he stumbled for words to describe his deep disappointment. "…Inhuman act like this!" Kirk was still intently trying to ignore the Doctor. McCoy's words were now outright insulting, yet the captain still wasn't reacting and that made the CMO even more irritated. However, the clench in his jaw and his unseeing stare shouted the captain's turmoil.

Spock stood beside the captain's chair and caught McCoy's attention. "The captain is not including medicine and other vital supplies in the embargo." "What? It's in the mission description! He handed it to every single one of us. How he is not…" McCoy glance down at Kirk, who was now staring at an unknown spot on the table, eyes full of sorrow. "Jim …?" "I would've never done that, Bones. I thought you knew me well enough by now..." the voice did not belong to a starship captain. It was resigned, almost a whisper. McCoy was looking at the captain dumbfounded. Realization dawning slowly in his numb mind and he felt his legs shaking, or was the ship tilting? 'Oh God. Jim…!'

He tried to say something, anything, to repair what he knew he had broken in the man in front of him. He struggled to speak, but he was too distraught with remorse to form words for that. Before he could complete his train of thoughts, the captain stood and turned to Spock. "I'll talk again to the admiralty. Maybe I can convince them that the situation is…" he trailed off, his eyes stayed a little bit too long on the table as he gathered his PADD. "Gentlemen." he nodded to both officers in farewell and left the debriefing room.

When the captain was safely out of earshot, McCoy finally found his voice. "Spock, what's going on here?" Spock lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly "I presume it is quite obvious." "Well, not for me, you green blooded…whatever! Why didn't he tell us about his real plans?" "To avoid a court martial for the rest of the crew, perhaps?"

When the Doctor came out of his stupor, he was alone in the room.

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