Chapter 9

When the transporter beam released him, Doctor McCoy stepped off the transporter pad, hands clutching his med kit nervously.

Beside the operator, there was no one else in the room.

"Doctor, Commodore Gordon expects you on the bridge."

McCoy left the transport room without a single word. He moved along the corridors without really looking around. His mind was whirling around other things. The layout of the ship was so very similar to the Enterprise in so many ways that stepping into lifts and walking along the corridors was like a mental torture. He felt like suffocating. Every corner reminded him of the home he had just lost and the friend that had come to be his family.

He got the impression that Statder was considerably smaller than the Enterprise, yet the design indicated a newer technology.

He didn't want to think about the ship. He forced his mind not to notice the similarities. He just wanted to get to the bridge and have a few words with that Commodore. In an uncivilized way, preferably.

The corridors were empty. Since he had left the transporter room, he had not seen another officer. When he reached the bridge, except for a few essential stations, almost all the consoles were dark and unmanned.

A man, whom the Doctor assumed was Commodore Gordon, was sitting in the center seat and conversing with another man. Gordon turned with the whoosh of the doors and stood up as he saw the Doctor.

"Doctor McCoy, how are you?" McCoy didn't answer. His mind refused to function properly. Gordon noticed, and after a second of hesitation, chose to try again to get the doctor's attention. "I'm commodore Gordon and this is my first officer lieutenant Russ. Now that you are here, I have a few questions for you."

McCoy went a few steps closer. He couldn't answer. As if he had forgotten how. He noticed Lieutenant Russ and commodore Gordon's concerned stares. Gordon continued. "I have spoken with some of the crew of the Enterprise on our way. We have little information about the incident that led to the evacuation of your ship. You were there. Tell me what happened exactly?"

As is something finally clicked into place, McCoy looked at him with uncovered enmity for a few seconds before speaking. "They sent you to take Jim's place, didn't they?"

"Captain Kirk was severely endangering the mission. His actions were completely out of character. The admiralty had no option but to remove him of command. Unfortunately I can see that we arrived too late."

McCoy took a threatening step closer. "He tried to avoid this disaster, dammit! He tried to protect innocent lives! He tried to tell the admiralty they were wrong! Admiral Tirusia must take the responsibility for this disaster!"

"Doctor McCoy, I know you're in shock still," Gordon's voice became gentle, "But I need you to pull yourself together and behave like the Starfleet officer you are." A pause. "Now try to think clearly. Was captain Kirk exhibiting any signs of stress lately? Depression? Lack of attention? Short temperedness? Or changes in behaviors? "

It took the doctor a good five second to understand Gordon's question. And when he did, he was livid.

"Are you implying that Jim was crazy? Did you even bother to read his reports?" he took a shaky breath. "Jim knew this would happen. He was not sure, but he was right. He was right all along..,"

His voice trailed off as if he was talking to himself. Gordon narrowed his eyes. Something didn't sound right here.

"Captain Kirk knew what?" McCoy slowly turned toward him, trying to focus his mind and understand the question.

"He knew that stupid governor wouldn't budge. Now I'm beginning to think it was all planned before. They were goading the Federation to take a harsher step so they could take benefit from it and revoke the treaty..."

An ensign shouted excitedly, preventing any reply from the Commodore. "Sir! I'm picking up the ship… warp core critical… no life support … and sir, another ship too… It's Klingon!... I can also detect considerable amount of debris… it seems like the remains from bird of preys!"

Gordon had whirled toward him and was by then at his side. "Status on the remaining Klingon ship!"

"She is also drifting powerless, sir. But they have life support."

"Scan for life signs aboard the Enterprise."

"Sir, we will be in sensor range in another one minutes thirty seconds. There has been no answer to our hails."

'Come on Jim. Where are you?' McCoy pleaded internally.

Long seconds passed in silence. McCoy was staring at the screen, heart thrumming in his ears. "Sensor range reached, sir but I can't get a reading. There is too much interference."

His breath caught. Not fair. To hope so much just to watch as it crushes in front of you

"Sir, we have now reached the minimum safety distance. We can't get any closer."

"Thank you lieutenant."

"Now what?" McCoy faced him, voice low with despair. "Nothing, Doctor. What do you want me do? If we cannot use our transporter, then there is nothing else we can do. I cannot endanger my ship and crew for…"

"Sir, I think I'm picking up something else." The ensign occupying the science station shouted. Both Commodore and the Doctor were beside his console the next moment. He looked up from the reading, an uncertain look in his eyes. "It's small. Looks like a pod. It came out of the Enterprise."

McCoy and the Commodore looked at each other for a second before Gordon started ordering his crew. His voice slightly high pitch with the excitement. "Tractor beams! Pull it in now, ensign. Shuttle bay one."

McCoy was already in the turbo lift before the order was fully out of the commodore's mouth. His heart was pulsing fiercely with dread of what he would find in the shuttle bay.

Suddenly, the red alert sounded. The bridge was enlivened with activity. Before the lift doors were fully closed, McCoy heard an ensign's panicked shout. "Three Klingon vessels heading toward us. ETA ten minutes-"