Chapter 1
Abduction and Chase

Commodore José Mendez handed Captain James Kirk something, which Kirk recognized at once. It was a red-covered highly confidential file, bristling with security features. The cover read simply: "TALOS IV TOP SECRET FOR EYES OF STARFLEET COMMAND ONLY."

Kirk found himself reading part of the cover aloud: "For eyes of Starfleet Command only." He hadn't been cleared for whatever was in this report. He wondered what was being given to him, and whether he ought to be looking at it at all.

"Oh, I'm certifying I ordered you to read it," Mendez assured Kirk. "Know anything at all about this planet?"

"Just what every ship captain knows," Kirk answered hesitantly. "General Order Seven: 'No vessel, under any condition, emergency or otherwise, is to visit Talos IV."

"And to do so is the only death penalty left on our books," Mendez intoned. "Only Fleet Command knows why. Not even this file explains that."

Kirk sighed. He remembered the fleet-wide orders issued recently, suspending certain punishments pending formal review; but there was a notable exception made for General Order Seven, and no explanation for that exception had been given.

Mendez smoothly deactivated the file's security features. "But it does name the only Earth ship that ever visited the planet."

Kirk opened the file. He had suspected the answer, and the words on paper immediately confirmed it. "The Enterprise. Commanded by Captain Christopher Pike."

"With a half-Vulcan Science Officer named Spock," Mendez nodded.

It didn't add up for Kirk. Okay, so Pike and Spock visited Talos IV over a decade ago, and they subsequently persuaded the Federation to order everyone to stay away from that planet. And Talos IV was only a few days away from Starbase 11 at high warp. But what could Talos IV possibly have to do with Captain Pike or Spock now?

While Kirk pondered, two things happened in rapid succession. The first was a surprised exclamation from the commodore's assistant: "Commodore! Captain Pike, he's gone!" Mendez's assistant, Lt. Piper, had been observing Captain Pike intermittently, and she suddenly realized that his ward in the medical section was empty.

A moment later, an emergency alert appeared on Lt. Piper's display. Mendez saw the alert on his own display as well. Mendez tapped the response controls. "Mendez here! What is it?"

"Starship Enterprise, Commodore," answered Lt. Wheatley in operations, the urgency in his voice was unmistakable. "It's warping out of orbit, refuses to acknowledge our signal!"

When Wheatley indicated the Enterprise's apparent course, Kirk put the pieces together immediately. There seemed to be no question about it. First, Spock had directed the Enterprise to Starbase 11 under false pretenses; Spock then abducted Captain Pike—actually kidnapped him. And now Spock was making his getaway. For Spock, such actions would be malfeasance of the highest degree, and it could only indicate that Spock had more malfeasance in mind, and that the purpose of the malfeasance seemed to be... what?

The most obvious answer was that Spock's intent was to violate of General Order Seven, by taking Captain Pike to Talos IV.

Kirk's mind raced as he tried to seize upon any logical, innocent explanation for what Spock seemed to be doing. His mind came up empty.

Kirk stood. "I've got to go after him."

Mendez checked his display. "The Exeter is three days away. I'm ordering Exeter to come here on the double."

"Can't wait that long!" Kirk grumbled. "Do you have any warp-capable shuttlecraft?"

"We have some F-class vessels, but they can't outrun the Enterprise. The Enterprise would be at Talos before we could catch her."

"Maybe. But we'd arrive a few hours after the Enterprise, instead of days, and maybe that would be enough..." Kirk paused, "... to stop Spock from doing... whatever it is he plans to do."

"Which would be what, do you think?" Mendez asked.

"I don't know," Kirk answered. "What is on Talos IV, José?"

Mendez closed the red file and re-secured it. "The answer is not in these pages," he said. "All these pages say is that Talos IV offers 'no practical benefit' to the Federation, to Star Fleet, or to any sentient life forms. Has Spock ever talked about Talos IV?"

"No, not a word. He hasn't said much to me about his service with Captain Pike, beyond what appears in his personnel records."

"Any chance Spock may have confided in someone else, the ship's doctor, for example?"

Kirk felt an impulse to smile. "Spock, confide in McCoy? I can't see it, not for this." Kirk suddenly switched gears. "José, I have to go after my ship; could you clear me for a shuttlecraft?"

"Actually, I'm not sure I can, Jim, we have several craft out on assignment and several more down for maintenance, and..."

"I just can't sit here!" Kirk grunted with exasperation, then he turned to the door. "That's my ship, and that's my first officer, and I have to find out what options I have! You must excuse me!" With that, and without waiting for the commodore to dismiss him, Kirk left.

Minutes later, Kirk was at the shuttle port. He gently collared a technician, who was surprised to see a starship captain craving attention. "Who do I see about an emergency shuttle?" Kirk demanded.

"Lt. Commander Gussell is Port Master today, sir. Her office is right there."

Kirk strode to the door where the technician had pointed. The door opened automatically. A red-jumpsuited officer behind a desk sprang to attention when she saw him. "Captain! What can I..."

"I need a warp-capable shuttlecraft right away, it is an emergency."

"I'm sorry, sir, all the craft I have here are down for maintenance. I can recall the shuttle Escher for you, sir, but it would be about five hours before it could be ready."

"Isn't there anything I could use right now? It is an emergency!"

"Well, the shuttle Picasso is warp-capable, sir, and as long as you don't have too far to travel..."

"How far is 'too far?'" Kirk wanted to know.

"Oh, the Picasso ought to be able to travel for about two days, perhaps three. The Picasso's fuel systems are being overhauled, so a longer journey than that would be risky."

Mendez's voice erupted from behind Kirk. "Going somewhere, Captain Kirk?"

Kirk turned to face Mendez. "I am. I'm going after my ship."

"You won't catch up to the Enterprise."

"That's as may be, but I have to go after my ship."

Mendez sighed. "I understand completely. And I know arguing with you is not likely to be productive." Mendez turned to Gussell and asked, "Commander, is there any warp-capable ship that could be placed at Captain Kirk's disposal?"

"Yes, Commodore, shuttle One—the Picasso—could be made ready for immediate departure, and may serve the captain's needs, provided the trip is a brief one."

"All right, Commander, now listen carefully. This is an order. Prepare shuttle One for immediate departure."

"Yes, sir," Gussell responded, as she entered Mendez's orders into her station. "Captain, could you tell me your destination?"

"That's classified!" snapped Mendez, before Kirk could answer.

"Can you provide an estimated time of return?" Gussell asked.

"Also classified," Mendez answered sharply.

"Understood," said Gussell. "Cargo and personnel?"

"No cargo," Kirk said, "and the only personnel..."

Mendez finished Kirk's sentence: "... will be Captain Kirk and myself. Now listen carefully, Commander. Captain Kirk and I need to make a short journey and it is highly classified. This flight is not to be logged. You will process all clearances, but in all other respects, you will not tell anyone what we did or where we went. You are to mark all security recordings of our presence here as classified. In fact, as far as you are concerned, we were never here. Do you understand?"

"Aye, sir. The Picasso is ready at your convenience. Oh, Commodore, one more thing. We've been having trouble with that shuttlecraft's atmospheric cleaners, so you will want to make sure you get where you are going. You don't want to run out of fuel... or air."

"Of course. We do not expect to be in space for very long." Mendez spun and made a beeline for the readied shuttlecraft. Kirk was close behind. "We're taking a hell of a risk," Mendez muttered to Kirk. "Not enough fuel. Might run out of air."

"Spock will take note of us. He'll have to stop and let us catch up. He'll have to."

"And if he doesn't?"

Kirk was somber. "There is always a logic in anything Spock does. He would certainly understand that I would try to follow, and he must be aware that I might take some significant risks in order to pursue: Spock must have planned for this contingency. "

"I hope you're right," Mendez replied. "Otherwise we might be stranded in space, with slim chance of a rescue."

Five minutes later, the Picasso was in space, on its way to Talos IV. Within minutes of the shuttle's departure, the Port Master received a communication from Lt. Piper, aide to Commodore Mendez.

"Port Master Gussell," Piper began, "Captain James Kirk of the Enterprise may try to contact you about taking one of our warp-capable craft. Has Captain Kirk contacted you?"

"No, he has not," Gussell lied.

"It is unlikely that Captain Kirk will contact you, but if he does, notify the commodore's office immediately."

"Acknowledged," Gussell responded. "If Captain Kirk decides to contact the Port Master, we will let you know immediately."

"Thank you. By the way, you don't have any available warp-capable vessels at this time, is that correct?"

"Correct; if Captain Kirk were to come to me right now, I would tell him truthfully that we have no warp-capable vessels available at this time for his use."

"Just as we thought," replied Piper. "And are all vessels accounted for?"

"Yes, they are."

"Nevertheless, if Captain Kirk makes any inquiry, let the commodore know right away. Commodore's office, out."

Gussell hoped that her prevarications would not cause trouble. She was following her orders, after all, and those orders were given to her by the commodore himself. Even so, being deceptive made her uncomfortable.

From her interaction with the commodore's aide, Gussell surmised that Commodore Mendez had not notified his own staff of his intention to accompany Captain Kirk, and this was most strange indeed. Yet her duty, as she understood it, was clear: avoid all speculation, follow her orders, and keep quiet.