Chapter Seven
Twenty Minutes Later…
Taking a brief pause from his duties onboard the ship, Captain Kirk allowed himself a few minutes peace while his crew attempted to ascertain what had happened to the once infected world. Almost close to panic, Kirk sat back in his ready room as he held his head in his hands.
The piece and serenity of his ready room was rudely broken by the chime on his ready room door. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he sat up and took a deep breath as he called for whoever was stood on the opposite side of the door too enter.
"Captain Kirk, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Of course Doctor Selana… what is it?"
"I want to offer my personal condolences on the death of Leonard, he was a fine Doctor, he spoke of you quiet often and with high regard"
"Thank you, he was a good friend. What have you found out?" He said taking a deep breath.
"May I enter your office sir? I wish to speak with you alone"
"Very well. Crewman, wait outside please"
"Aye sir!" Called out the large guard at her side.
Slowly stepping inside, Selana took a brief moment to look around the ready room before she turned to the young Starfleet Captain.
"I have received an encoded transmission from the Romulan High Command, they are demanding I return to Romulus…"
"I see. I will have Uhura contact…"
"I wish to stay Captain…"
"What?" Kirk laughed. "I wasn't aware that you had a sense of humour"
"It is not a joke sir. I request diplomatic asylum within the United Federation of Planets… in the hopes that I can continue the work left by David and Leonard McCoy"
"You what? Selana, do you realise what is happening out there?"
"Yes sir, I do. I have spoke with Commander Spock on the subject… he has agreed to speak with his people on my behalf, pending your approval of course"
"Spock? I knew he wanted this office…"
"Captain Kirk… James, I can be very useful to Starfleet Medical during this time. The Romulan Empire's work ethic is… less then desirable. If a cure is to be found, it will not be from the Empire… The Federation is our only hope… let me prove to your people that I can be of some use. Who else in your Federation knows the Plague better then I do?"
"No one!" He sighed.
"You'll consider my proposal?"
"Do you realise what will happen once your people find out? You'll be an outcast… isolated"
"I know Captain… I know. I have considered all of my options… this is not easy for me, my family will bare the stain of my deception for generations to come. Some, may even be punished… but a cure must be found Captain, it has to be. Please, allow me sanctuary within your Federation"
"I can't believe I'm going to say this… I'll consider it!"
"Thank you Captain Kirk" She smiled.
"What of the Romulan crew still onboard this ship?"
"Sir, I have an idea on that…" She smiled once more.
Personal Log… delayed recording.
A large explosion has ripped across the surface of the planet Langara, as a result… the Romulans have called for our surrender. However, they have given us one hour to attempt to figure out what happened on the planet below. With all communications to Starfleet cut off by our Romulan friends outside… we have little choice but to continue alone.
On a personal note, the away team on the surface has been killed by the explosion… including my old friend, Leonard McCoy. Doctor Selana has decided to remain onboard the Enterprise for the moment to continue the work begun by David McCoy and his son, Leonard.
Forty Minutes Later… (Deadline)
Pacing up and down the bridge, Captain James T. Kirk's heart pounded in his chest after the lengthy report by the First Officer, Commander Spock. The revelation of what had happened on the surface was overshadowed by the looming threat of the ever growing Romulan Fleet surrounding his ship.
"Time?" Kirk said.
"Deadline sir. One Earth Hour as stated" Spock replied.
"Uhura, anything?"
"Nothing sir… wait, the Romulan lead ship is hailing us"
"Of course. Mister Spock, what are the odds of us surviving an attack?"
"Zero percent Captain" He said slowly.
"I see. Sulu, lay in a course to take us out of this system…"
"We're leaving?" Sulu replied in shock.
"Not yet, just stand ready. Listen up, I've got an idea… it may sound a little… strange, but follow my orders and we may survive this. Chekov… standby all weapons, target the lead ship with the new cannons… power up the Photons… All hands this is the Captain, Standby for maximum emergency speed. Scotty, I want everything you have in one full burst of speed"
"You bet your ass Captain, we'll beat those Rommie bastards, even if I have to get out and push!" Scotty called over the intercom.
"Space suit on standby Mister Scott. Uhura, open channel"
"Channel open sir"
"It has been one earth hour Captain Kirk" Tamara said quickly.
"Really? Wow, time flies when your having fun right Spock?"
"Indeed"
"Is this some form of a joke to you Kirk?" The Romulan said with anger.
"No… on the contrary… I find your arrogance amusing. Perhaps you should reassess your position… Tamara. Since you have a rather impressive fleet now targeting my ship, I feel it is fair to alert you to a little… upgrade Starfleet has made to our ships, including this one"
"What upgrade?" Tamara sighed.
"The funny thing is, the war with your people ended over a century ago, since then… Starfleet has made an impressive discovery in the self defence of a Starship. Remember this, no Federation Starship has been lost to enemy fire in over a century… Mister Chekov, activate the Corbomite Device"
Confusion ran over the face of the young Lieutenant as he turned slowly towards his Captain, seeing the look in Kirk's eyes, Chekov responded in such a way that the made the Romulan commander almost second guess his decisions.
"Keptain, are you sure of this. It would be doubtful that anyone would survive… including the Enterprise"
"We have no other choice Lieutenant. Uhura, stand by a record buoy for Starfleet Command, inform then that no Starship, Federation or other… should approach this system for the next one hundred years"
"Umm… Aye sir?" She said slowly.
"We grow annoyed at your arrogance Tamara, challenge us at your peril" He smiled darkly.
Kirk's heart was pounding in his chest, yet on the outside, he maintained his usual cool and calm exterior as he stood before the helm with his arms firmly folded before him and a dark and twisted smile on his face.
"What is this… Cobra…Mite Device?"
"Corbomite… Device. It's a rare element found on Uranus, when detonated in a controlled explosion, it destroys sub-space itself. No warp capable vessel will be allowed to enter this system due to exposure to an incredible force… any ship left behind after the explosion will find their warp drive… Neutralised… permanently. Your Warp Drive will be little then a decoration on your ship"
"If you detonate such a device, you will be crippled also" Tamara replied slowly.
"Hardly. You see Tamara… 75 years ago, we found a way to shield our ships from the effects for a while, we could simply… ride out the shockwave. Now, order your ships to back the hell off!"
"You are still out numbered Captain Kirk. We could destroy your ship before…"
"Chekov, this guy is pissing me off… on my mark… Tamara, you have sixty seconds. I grow annoyed at your arrogance. Uhura, close the channel"
"Aye sir?"
"Fascinating" Spock declared.
"Poker Mister Spock. Bluff and double bluff!"
"If you hold the winning hand" He replied.
"Sometimes, you have to play the hand given. Sulu, escape course. Use the planet for a slingshot boost out of here"
"Captain, to do so would take us dangerously close to the atmosphere, the stress on the ship would be… intense"
"On my mark Sulu. Spock, position of the enemy ships?"
"They are backing off slowly Captain"
"Sulu, wait until they are at a safe distance. Scotty, we're gonna need everything you can muster mister!"
"Full power at you're command Jimmy-Boy!"
Smiling with satisfaction, Kirk once again sat in his command chair as he looked up at the viewscreen.
"Wait for it… NOW SULU. Full Power!"
Leaping forwards at almost full power, the USS Enterprise scrapped the atmosphere of the doomed planet below, screaming through the upper atmosphere like a large fireball, the ship was eventually thrown out of the opposite side of the planet and behind the large Romulan fleet before she went into warp and disappeared towards Federation space. Spinning around on their axis quickly, six Romulan ships entered high warp as soon as possible as the screamed towards Federation space at maximum warp in pursuit of the Enterprise herself.
Almost shaking apart from stress the Enterprise tore through space as Kirk smiled slightly at the sight of the Romulan ships in pursuit, for he knew that awaiting them at the new location for Outpost Four was a space station with the most advanced weapons systems ever placed on a stationary installation, a weapons system which matched the new variants on the vessel he now commanded. Kirk was so engrossed in his work with the command console before him, he did not hear the sound of the number two turbo lift doors opening and sliding shut.
"Captain Kirk?"
Almost jumping out of his skin, Kirk turned in the direction of the voice as the Romulan defector stood before him.
"I'm very busy Selana, what is it?"
"Those ships, Warbirds am I right?" She said slowly.
"Yes… and one Battle Cruiser" Spock replied.
"Excellent. Captain Kirk, what speed are they at?"
"Warp 7.5 and slowly increasing…" Sulu replied.
"Captain Kirk, those ships have a maximum speed of Warp 8.4, the Battle Cruiser should be at maximum speed"
Smiling slightly, Kirk leaned forwards as he gave his next command.
"Scotty, we need more power. Sulu… take us to 9.5!"
"Aye sir" Sulu smiled.
Much to the shock of the Romulan Defector, the Enterprise increased speed with ease as the vibrations continued to increases steadily. From the outside of the ship, the large powerful warp nacelles began to glow bright blue as they tilted slightly outward as the nacelle struts also altered their angle to a slightly more extreme angle to increase the shape of the warp field which dragged the ship through space. On the main viewscreen, the Romulan vessels began to loose ground against the highly powerful Federation Starship as Spock looked up from his console and reported.
"Captain, they are falling behind"
A large bump could be felt through the ship as finally the vibrations stopped and the ride smoothed out, almost as if they where cruising.
"Incase you don't know Captain, that little bump you just felt was warp nine. 9.1... 9.2... 9.3... 9.4... 9.5 sir, and holding comfortably"
"Amazing" Selana called out. "We had no idea your ships where so fast"
"Well, you live and learn Doctor. Thanks for the Intel on those ships"
"Anytime sir" She replied with a smile.
"ETA Outpost four… ten minutes" Chekov smiled.
Eventually slipping out of warp over the large asteroid where Starfleet Outpost Four was located, the USS Enterprise contacted Starfleet and informed them of the situation on the Romulan planet of Langara. The destruction of the colony itself due to a large explosive devise, the declaration of war by the Romulans against Starfleet and the death of Doctor Leonard McCoy and the away team sent to help the victims of the deadly plague.
Although several scans of the surface indicated no life signs whatsoever, it was also noted in the ship's log that not even bio-matter existed on the surface. Even the hundreds of thousands of patents sent to the planet to die had been vaporised by the deadly explosion and subsequent shockwave that tore through the planet surface.
For two months, the USS Enterprise NX-300-A remained the vicinity of the Neutral Zone, patrolling the area under the ever present threat of a new Romulan War. Although several skirmishes between Starfleet and Romulan ships had been recorded, no official declaration of war had been delivered to Starfleet Command and after two months the Romulans once again disappeared back into their territory almost as if they where testing the Federation for weaknesses, something which made Starfleet Command very nervous as they ordered a large fleet of vessels to patrol the Neutral Zone.
As for the unknown ship which attacked the Romulan vessel sent to escort the Enterprise. It was spotted in different locations over the next two months also as if it was testing Starfleet and its detection grid as well as the Romulan Empire.
Under the Command of James T. Kirk, the USS Enterprise returned home to Earth after three months of patrols, given the official seal of approval for his first command, James T. Kirk took on his first Five Year Mission as Commander of the Enterprise. However, before the ship was launched, he delivered a eulogy for Doctor McCoy at the Jonathon Archer Memorial Gardens at Starfleet Command. Two days later a coffin containing Leonard McCoy's duty uniform was buried in his hometown next to the graves of his mother and father, the service was attended by his ex-wife, daughter, his family, friends and the Enterprise crew along with Doctor Selana of Romulus before she was taken into custody by Starfleet Security.
Two Years Later…
Captain's Log: 2624.01.
We've been on full patrol for the past eight months now, we're exhausted. Yet, for some reason… we have been called back home for reasons as of yet unknown. Admiral Pike… well not say, only that it is of top priority and we must push our almost exhausted engines and crew past their limits… we're now eighteen hours from the Sol-System…