too tired to own star trek
Episode 1-10 The Corbomite Maneuver.
Saya was studying the workings of star mapping as they worked. It was fascinating to get to see how they mapped a part of the galaxy that no one had been to before. Sulu had informed Spock that there was an object moving towards them. Spock took the Captain's chair as Kirk was busy elsewhere. They tried to avoid the object but it came at them and came to a full stop.
On the viewer was a cube of sorts with different colored sides twirling like a die on one of it's corners. Everyone was perplexed by the object and Saya was overwhelmed. "That does not look like it belongs in space…" she muttered as Spock commanded Sulu to steer a course around it slowly.
The object moved with them again blocking their path and Bailey exclaimed that it was blocking the way. Spock in his usual calm manner said "Quite unnecessary to raise your voice, . All engines stop. Sound the alert." The alert was sound and Kirk was called to the bridge.
Kirk finally replied, shirtless and sweating on the viewscreen. Saya raised an eyebrow but refrained from making any of the number of smart alec comments she had thought of. She was aware the Captain was finishing his physical. Spock transferred the image from the main viewer so that Kirk could also see it.
Kirk was on the turbolift when he next used the com to contact them. Saya could hear the sound from it. Kirk asked if there were changes or indication of danger. When Spock informed him that there were not and it just seemed to want to hold them Kirk said he would change then get to the bridge. Saya suddenly wondered what Spock's physical was like and colored slightly as she pushed the thoughts from her mind.
Spock reminded Bailey of the need for a full report and Bailey said "The cube's range and position. I'll have it by then. Raising my voice back there doesn't mean I was scared or couldn't do my job. It means I happen to have a human thing called an adrenal gland."
"It does sound most inconvenient, however. Have you considered having it removed?" Spock replied and Saya snorted.
She heard Sulu say "You try to cross brains with Spock, he'll cut you to pieces every time." Saya wondered who would be able to cross brains with Spock. Kirk again contacted checking again if there was any change. When Spock informed him there was none Kirk requested the department heads to meet him on the bridge. Spock informed him they were already standing by. Saya smiled at Spock's efficiency.
Kirk made it to the bridge and Spock, Uhura, and Bailey reported in one after the other. Kirk asked Scotty who replied "Motive power? Beats me what makes it go. That's a solid cube. How something like that can sense us coming, block us, move when we move, well it beats me. That's my report."
Kirk asked McCoy who said "Same report." Bailey spoke up and voiced his vote to blast it and Kirk replied "I'll keep that in mind, , when this becomes a democracy." Saya smiled and wondered what they would do. Beta shift took over the bridge controls and the Alpha shift heads of departments met in the briefing room. Saya was there with Spock as usual.
Saya looked around, they had sleep some but most had come back quickly to keep researching and trying to answer the question of what it was so they could figure out what to do with it. Spock had allowed no argument for her getting a proper nights sleep so she had and returned bright eyed and bushy tailed. She brought with her a much appreciated batch of coffee for them.
Sitting quietly in the corner she listened and absorbed what she could so she could learn. "I believe it adds up to either one of two possibilities. First, a space buoy of some kind." Spock said. Kirk requested the second "Flypaper." was Spock's simple reply.
"And you don't recommend sticking around." Kirk surmised.
"Negative. It would make us appear too weak." Spock answered and Saya softly added "or make us seem like easy food." Kirk determined it was time to take action and Bailey preemptively contacted the phaser gun crew. Kirk reprimanded him and commanded a spiral course away from the cube to try and leave it.
Everyone returned to their stations and Saya watched as they tried to pull away and the cube wouldn't let them go. The cube started coming closer and projecting radiation that was dangerous to them. They tried backing up but it kept with them, spinning faster and the radiation entered the lethal zone. Finally Kirk determined the only option was to fire on it. Thankfully the phaser blew the cube up and dealt with that small problem but they had to consider what sent it.
During the turbulence from the cube being blown up at point blank range Saya managed to whack her head on the console table she was at. She had a mild headache but ignored it. Most of the others were thrown about pretty badly but seemed fine. Saya tried to help with whatever was needed even though it was mostly holding tools for others. Kirk asked Spock if he cared to speculate on what they would find if the forged ahead.
"Speculate? No. Logically, we'll discover the intelligence which sent out the cube. Probably intelligence different and superior to ours, and if you're asking the logical decision to make" Spock answered. Kirk cut in saying he wasn't as the mission of the Enterprise was to seek out and contact alien life. "Has it occurred to you that there's a certain inefficiency in constantly questioning me on things you've already made up your mind about?"
"It gives me emotional security. Navigator, set a course ahead." Kirk said with a smile and Saya saw the almost smile Spock had in return. Kirk reprimanded Bailey on the sluggish responses during the emergency and Saya handed the next tool to the crewman she was helping. Kirk left with McCoy and Spock kept doing his research. every so often he would glance at Saya and one of those times she looked at him "Somethin up?"
"You responded well to that situation however it seems you obtained slight bruising. You will need to have McCoy examine it as soon as possible." Spock informed her.
Saya grinned "I'm glad i did well. I don't know if it's just that I don't know enough to be really scared. As for the bruise, I just hit my head. No biggie."
"Cranial injuries are always a concern. You will stop by sickbay within the hour." Spock informed her.
"OK, if it's that important sure." Saya smiled and went to sickbay as instructed. Her head was checked out by one of the other doctors and they determined that though it was a good knock there was no damage. It would just be sore for a few days. Saya returned and smiled at Spock "They said it was just gonna be sore for a few days. No real damage."
Spock nodded and returned to his work and Saya started helping a crewman who needed a few extra hands. Suddenly another object appeared on the sensors and Spock called Kirk to the bridge. "Exceptionally strong contact. Not visual yet. Distant spectrograph. Metallic, similar to cube. Much greater energy reading." Spock informed him.
They again tried to evade it but this time it caught the Enterprise in a tractor called an all engines stop to prevent an overload. Spock commented on it being massive, and Kirk had Uhura try to hail it. "This is the United Earth ship Enterprise. We convey greetings and await your reply."
A message came over the navigation beam "And trespassed into our star systems. This is Balok, Commander of the flagship Fesarius of the First Federation. Your vessel, obviously the product of a primitive and savage civilisation, having ignored a warning buoy and having then destroyed it, has demonstrated your intention is not peaceful. We are now considering the disposition of your ship and the life aboard."
Saya wondered why she felt like laughing instead of being scared and realized that she had already gone through multiple life threatening instances and fear did nothing to help. She just wished that there was something she could actually do to be productive.
Kirk tried to explain "This is the Captain of the Enterprise speaking. The warning nature of your space buoy was unknown to us. Our vessel was blocked. When we attempted to disengage"
Kirk was cut off by Balok saying "No further communication will be accepted. If there is the slightest hostile move, your vessel will be destroyed immediately."
Spock informed Kirk "Captain, we're being invaded by exceptionally strong sensor probes everywhere. Our electrical systems, our engines. They're shutting off some of our systems, Captain. Brilliant. Extremely sophisticated in their methods." Kirk asked if the recorder marker had it all on tape and Spock confirmed it would be enough to warn other ships. The recorder marker was launched and soon destroyed.
"Your recorder marker has been destroyed. You have been examined. Your ship must be destroyed. We make assumption you have a deity or deities or some such beliefs which comfort you. We therefore grant you ten Earth time periods known as minutes to make preparations." Balok told them.
Saya wondered if they would get some kind of countdown but doubted it. Spock was interested in what the voice came from. McCoy came to the bridge and informed the Captain that Balok's message was heard all over the ship. Kirk addressed the crew. "Captain to crew. Those of you who have served for long on this vessel have encountered alien lifeforms. You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But there's no such thing as the unknown, only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood. In most cases we have found that intelligence capable of a civilisation is capable of understanding peaceful gestures. Surely a life form advanced enough for space travel is advanced enough to eventually understand our motives. All decks stand by. Captain out."
Kirk tried to leave as a sign of goodwill but the ship would not reply. Spock managed to get a visual of the life form. Saya wondered at the odd appearance of it and wondered if it felt smooth like it looked. She also wondered if the little gray aliens myth from her time had merritt. "You are wasting time and effort. There is no escape. You have eight Earth minutes left." Balok said and Saya wondered why it seemed so robotic.
Bailey started losing it "I don't understand this. Spock's wasting time. Everybody else just sitting around. Somebody's got to do something. What do they want from us? Let's find out what they want us to do. We've only got eight minutes left." Sulu cut in saying 7 minutes 45 seconds. "He's doing a countdown! What, are you all out of your minds? End of watch? It's the end of everything. What are you, robots? Wound-up toy soldiers? Don't you know when you're dying? Watch and regulations and orders What do they mean?"
Kirk finally relieved Bailey and McCoy walked off the bridge with him. Kirk again tried to talk "This is the Captain of the Enterprise speaking. It is the custom of Earth people to try and avoid misunderstanding whenever possible. We destroyed your space buoy as a simple act of self-preservation. When we attempted to move away from it, it emitted radiation harmful to our species. If you've examined our ship and its tapes, you know this to be true."
Balok ignored them and Kirk and Spock went back and forth for a bit on what could be done. "In chess, when one is outmatched, the game is over. Checkmate." Spock told the captain.
Something about that spoke to Saya and she tuned out the back and forth between McCoy and Kirk. Suddenly she looked up and said "But in cards even if you have a bad hand you can bluff to a win! What about a bluff… it seems the only shot left."
Kirk looked at Saya and smiled then demanded ship to ship again. "This is the Captain of the Enterprise. Our respect for other lifeforms requires that we give you this warning. One critical item of information that has never been incorporated into the memory banks of any Earth ship. Since the early years of space exploration, Earth vessels have had incorporated into them a substance known as corbomite. It is a material and a device which prevents attack on us. If any destructive energy touches our vessel, a reverse reaction of equal strength is created, destroying."
Balok interrupted saying they only had 2 minutes left but Kirk continued "Destroying the attacker! It may interest you to know that since the initial use of corbomite more than two of our centuries ago, no attacking vessel has survived the attempt. Death has little meaning to us. If it has none to you then attack us now. We grow annoyed at your foolishness."
"However, it was well played. I regret not having learned more about this Balok. In some manner he was reminiscent of my father." Spock said as he approached the captain.
Scotty commented "Then may heaven have helped your mother."
"Quite the contrary. She considered herself a very fortunate Earth woman." Spock said. Scotty and Saya looked at each other and grinned.
Soon the timer ran out and Balok determined they would not destroy the ship if they could have proof of the corbomite device. Kirk denied the request and Balok replied "We will soon inform you of our decision regarding your vessel. And having permitted your primitive efforts to see my form, I trust it has pleased your curiosity. And now, another demonstration of our superiority."
Balok started again after a smaller ship came from the large spherical one and the spherical one left. "It has been decided that I will conduct you to a planet of the First Federation which is capable of sustaining your lifeform. There you will disembark and be interned. Your ship will be destroyed, of course. Do not be deceived by the size of this pilot vessel. It has an equal potential to destroy your vessel. So that you may sustain your gravity and atmosphere, your systems are now open. Escape is impossible since you are being taken under our power to your destination. Any move to escape or destroy this ship will result in the instant destruction of the Enterprise and everyone aboard."
They were again pulled in a tractor beam. Kirk waited it out until the smaller ship started to show signs of lower power. Kirk ordered a right angled course away from the ship and max acceleration when he gave the word. Soon the moment was right and Kirk said "engage."
"We're superheating. Intermix temperature, seven thousand four hundred degrees. Seven five, seven six, eight thousand degrees." Spock said and Saya held onto her seat to avoid being jolted out by the turbulence. "Two thousand degrees above maximum. Eight four, eight five, eight six. She'll blow soon!" Kirk ordered impulse power 2 and they managed to break away. The engines needed work but they were free.
"That may not be wise. He got a signal through to the mother ship." Spock said. Saya wondered if it was as hard on that ship as it was on them.
"A signal, Captain. It's very weak. It's Balok. It's a distress signal to the Fesarius. His engines are out. His life-sustaining system isn't operating. The message is repeating, sir. The signal is growing weak. Sir, I doubt if the mother ship could have heard it." Uhura notified the captain. Saya was mildly worried about it but knew they had to help the alien.
When questioned about the wisdom of it Kirk replied "What's the mission of this vessel, Doctor? To seek out and contact alien life, and an opportunity to demonstrate what our high-sounding words mean. Any questions? I'll take two men with me. Doctor McCoy to examine and treat the aliens if necessary, and you, ."
Saya looked at Spock as Kirk denied his request to go as well. Saya figured Spock must be quite curious about it. Spock was anxious while Kirk was away but did his best to appear his normal self. Saya doubted that anyone actually noticed. It was surprisingly long before Kirk returned but he had quite the story to tell. In the briefing room he went over all the details including why Bailey did not return with him.
Once everything was recorded Spock and Saya convened to the mess hall for a late dinner. "I see you have your ever present dinner date ." McCoy said coming up to join them.
"I just don't like eating alone and obliges me on that matter. Besides it's a good time to test my retention of knowledge." Saya said with a smile.
"I'm sure you could find much more appealing dinner dates than that hobgoblin." McCoy said with one of his playful smiles.
"His company suits me fine. Besides it's better company than a cantankerous old man." Saya shot back with a grin.
"OH! You got me!" McCoy jested. "On a different note, I believe your last session is today?"
"That would be correct." Spock injected. Once dinner was finished Spock went to his room to prepare and Saya went to hers accompanied by McCoy.
Saya started her reading but felt McCoy's eyes on her. Looking up she asked if he wanted something and he indicated the bruise. "Yeah, hit my head on my console. No biggie. And before you go there, Spock already made me get checked over in sickbay. They confirmed no damage, just gonna be sore."
"And why is it still there?" McCoy asked. "We have the ability to heal it."
Saya cut him off with a smile "I'd rather not. I know we have all this medical stuff but I prefer good old nature to heal me." Spock entered and raised an eyebrow as he caught the tail end of what she said. Choosing not to comment he took his seat and Saya hers. This mind meld was much easier for both than usual as it was the last reinforcement to help with her fear of humans.
The next day Spock had her go with him to the gym. Once there he had her take position in one corner and without warning another crewman attacked her. She quickly flipped out of the hold and fought back. After a few moves with her speed, dexterity and will she managed to have the crewman in a hold against the mat and looked up to Spock. "These tests will come at random to aid you in your preparedness." He told her.
Saya let the crewman go and they walked back to their quarters. At her door Saya asked Spock quietly "What will happen to everyone when the 5 years are up?" Spock contemplated her for a moment before Saya ruffled her hair saying "Never mind. Good night and thank you."
Spock contemplated her a moment more before wishing her good night as well in his even baritone and returning to his room. He attempted to calculated what would happen to Saya in the 5 years and after and determined that though she was logical, she was also unpredictable because she had strange reasonings for her choices. Before bed he used his mental powers to sense her mind asleep in her room, checking on her, before going to sleep himself.
*END*