Kirk shouted to his men "Set phasers phasers to kill !"

"Captain, is that level of force necessary ?" Spock questioned.

Kirk watched on as in front of him an old bearded man was overrun by the grey beings, the sharpened broom handle he had been using as a weapon falling from his grip as he was dragged from the platform.

"Ask Thompson and that old man, Mr Spock. I believe in this case that it is absolutely justified.", Kirk countered. "it would appear that it is either them or us."

"Everyone, fire at will !" he shouted to the away team.

In between a mass of arms and legs Kirk briefly saw glimpses of a red shirted man, lying on the ground.

He raised his phaser and shot at two figures that were still attacking his crew member. They immediately stopped moving and slumped to the floor.

"It works ! Keep going everyone !"

Having changed their weapon settings, the remaining Enterprise landing party quickly managed to beat the grey skinned attackers back until none were left standing within the loading bay.

The Enterprise crew formed a guard perimeter near the wire fencing.

"This does not sit well with me Captain, our phasers appeared to be vastly overpowered against all of this." Spock said as he stood next to Kirk.

Kirk looked solemn as he surveyed the area "Me neither Mr Spock, but we had no other choice. Whatever these...things...are, they are utterly relentless."

The two men turned as they heard someone running up behind them.

Hooker jogged past them and peered out through the broken gates, searching both sides beyond them for any activity. Satisfied, he walked back into the loading bay.

"Get those gates secured before more arrive!", he shouted as he motioned back towards the crumpled external gates that the horrific attackers had goten though.

"On it Sarg" said Romano as he jumped down from the loading platform and ran towards the gates.

McCoy bent over the fallen security man and although his injuries looked terrible he examined him with his medical tricorder, passing the device over his body. After a moment he looked up at Kirk and sadly shook his head. "He's dead Jim."

Kirk bent down to pick up the fallen officers phaser then he looked around; he could see that amongst the grey bodies several of Hookers group had also fallen, "Hooker!", he said, "l want some answers!"

Hooker nodded to the group "Get inside first". He was still on alert, directing his people in different activities. As he started back up the ramp he called out to the younger police officer. "Romano, take care of these bodies... you know what to do."

Kirk hurried to catch up to him "I..don't understand. What just happened here ? Who...or what...were those things ?" he said, his voice underlying his uncertainty.

"Inside now, we really don't have much time." reiterated Hooker as he motioned them all inside.

As they were nearing the large internal doors that led back into the EZ-Mart, McCoy turned around, taking in the scene one last time.

"Jim... look!'", he shouted.

Kirk and Spock looked to where the doctor was pointing; there, where he had fallen, the lifeless body of Security Officer Thompson was getting back to his feet, his skin noticeably grey, his movements unsteady and irratic.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy watched in amazement as he started to shamble towards the gates where Romano was fastening the gates back together.

"Hey, Romano..." Is all Hooker shouted. Having gained his attention he pointed over to the slowly approaching star fleet officer.

Romano grimly nodded an acknowledgement as he picked up a nearby knife.

"Come on guys. You don't need to see this..." Hooker said softly as he held the doors open.

"My god ! He's undead Jim !" Doctor Leonard McCoy uttered in compete disbelief as he walked through the door behind him.