Chapter 4
The Source of the Images
Over the next two days, the tribunal viewed the images from thirteen years earlier.
The images, supplemented by Kirk's narration, told a strange tale. Included in the images were private conversations, subjective viewpoints, things that were not subject to being recorded. It was as though the images included dreams and fantasies, presented as reality.
Kirk let the images tell the story, offering explanation as needed. The images showed how the Enterprise had been diverted to Talos IV by distress signals from the survey ship Columbia, which had been lost in that region nearly two decades previously. When Captain Pike investigated, he found to his astonishment that some of the crew of Columbia had survived a crash landing on Talos IV.
But it was all an illusion. The survivors, their encampment, and the wreck of their spacecraft were nothing more than figments of the imagination. Whoever was responsible for creating these elaborate illusions used them as bait for a trap. Captain Pike was suddenly taken captive by a race of Talosian beings, who possessed a power of illusion that was most impressive. These Talosians could make a person see or experience almost anything, and the illusions would all seem to be as real as reality itself. Even if Captain Pike knew to a certainty that what he saw and experienced was unreal, that knowledge could not help him to ignore what seemed to be happening. He was going to experience stimulating situations and intense emotions, whether he wanted to or not.
But the powers of these Talosians seemed to have limits. Once Pike was captured, the illusion of crash victims was discontinued. Kirk explained his understanding that maintenance of elaborate illusions could be difficult or draining to the Talosians, especially if the illusions had to be maintained for long periods of time, or if the illusions had to be projected across long distances, or if a large number of minds had to be deceived or controlled.
Curiously, one of the supposed survivors seemed to be an illusion that was more elaborate than the other illusions. She was manifested as a young lady called Vina, and she was made a companion of Pike in his illusory experiences. It was as though she were a prisoner of the Talosians, just as Pike was. But there was also a disturbing undertone to Vina's presence, namely, that she was sexually attractive to Pike, which suggested that she and Pike might breed more humans in captivity, much like animals breed in a zoo.
The images were so astonishing, and at times so disturbing, that the tribunal could not watch them for extended periods. The tribunal took frequent recesses, and occasionally the images would be paused so that the members of the tribunal could confer, or so that Kirk could offer additional explanation of the events being presented.
During a recess near the end of the first day of the hearing, Lt. Commander Leary approached Commodore Mendez, and reported that his staff had tentatively identified the source of the images being shown in the courtroom.
"These images are not coming from this starbase, sir. They are, without question, coming from deep space, from the direction where the Enterprise would be. My people thought initially that the transmissions were coming to us from the Enterprise itself. But now we think the transmissions are not coming from the Enterprise, but from the planet Talos IV."
Mendez was astounded. "What?! Are you certain?"
"I cannot say so with certainty, sir; I can say only that Talos IV is the most likely source. My people are looking into this further, but it appears that the signals resemble subspace fractal packets. To everyone else, they seem like random noise. But somehow, Captain Kirk has incorporated into his records a virtual receiver that receives, and demodulates these transmissions, and that is how we get them."
"Mr. Leary, block those transmissions immediately."
"Sir, I am sorry, but I cannot do that. I cannot block those transmissions any more than I can block all of the random subspace noise that makes its way to this starbase. Further, I am unable to access Captain Kirk's virtual receiver, which continues to accept and decode the transmissions."
"General Orders clearly prohibit contact with Talos IV. Tell your people to find a way to stop those transmissions, or prevent Kirk from using them. Make it a top priority."
"Sir," Leary sounded apologetic, "I already have ordered my people to look into this. They tell me that we might not be able to stop the reception of the data. And, sir, things may be even worse than that."
"Worse!?" Mendez was anguished. "How could they be worse?"
"The transmissions embed high-level control codes for our facilities, sir. Whoever is transmitting can take control of our monitor screens and display the images even if the tribunal does not wish to see them. My team is trying to come up with work-arounds, but we haven't had any luck yet."
Mendez covered his eyes with the palm of his hand. "Keep at it. Say, if we are receiving the transmissions from Talos IV, would the Enterprise be receiving them as well?"
"Very likely, sir. Long-range scanners would so indicate."
"Is the Enterprise still refusing to acknowledge our messages?"
"Yes, sir, when I last checked with Lt. Tree and Lt. Piper, they said that the Enterprise was maintaining silent operation. She is receiving us, but she is ignoring us."
"How far is the Enterprise from Talos IV?"
"She ought to be about a day away, now."
A few minutes later, Mendez reconvened the hearing, then announced: "I believe we should adjourn for the day and reconvene tomorrow. Before we adjourn, however, there are some questions that I would like to put to Captain Kirk." Mendez composed himself for a few moments, then said, "My communications staff have learned that the images that we have been seeing in this courtroom have been, and are being, transmitted to us from Talos IV. Captain Kirk, can you confirm my communication staff's report?"
"Yes," Kirk answered immediately and with a tone of resignation. "Your communication staff's conclusions are correct. The images we have been seeing are indeed coming from Talos IV."
Chang and Ramkumar were stunned. Chang blurted, "That is a violation of General Orders!"
"Yes, it is," Mendez agreed. "It is a very serious infraction, and I fully expect that additional charges against you will be forthcoming, Captain Kirk. Moreover, my communication staff further informs me that we are technologically unable to prevent further reception of these prohibited communications. In effect, we are going to be shown these images whether we like it or not. Captain Kirk, any comment?"
"Yes. You have an excellent communication staff. These conclusions are correct, as well."
Chang and Ramkumar sat, open-mouthed. Mendez harrumphed, then adjourned the hearing. Mendez asked the other members of the tribunal to remain, and further directed security to remove Kirk from the courtroom.
For the next two hours, the tribunal conferred privately and off-the-record, to discuss whether the images shown so far ought to be expunged from the record. They also debated whether any further images from Talos IV ought to be presented, and taken into evidence.