The Men from the Boys

Even though he would never admit it to his face, McCoy had indeed been right- there were certain risks involved in letting Ensign Chekov take over the navigator position on his first day of duty. After all, they were on a tricky rescue mission and the exact circumstances regarding the Cassiopeia's disappearance were still unknown.

Spock leaned over his viewer at the science station. He was looking for any signs of human life on the surface of Adelous 4 or of any traces of the crashed shuttlecraft, so far without success. Captain Kirk had welcomed Ensign Chekov two hours earlier to his first shift on the bridge and introduced him to the personnel. Spock was last to be introduced. The captain and Chekov had stepped towards the science station where Spock was seated and the young navigator started to beam. He awkwardly expressed his honour to work with Mr Spock. But as he hadn't reacted towards the outstretched Russian hand - shaking hands wasn't a Vulcan custom- the young man had quickly taken his seat next to Mr Sulu at the navigational console. Since then the ensign had been focused and was giving all the correct replies to his own and Captain Kirk's enquiries or orders. Spock was pleased to note, that apart from Chekov's brief display of excitement when he had arrived on the bridge, he hadn't shown any of the exaggerated human emotions McCoy had predicted. But Spock knew precisely what the statistics were regarding human errors committed during a starship's mission. 65.56 % of significant errors were committed by a crewmember during their first year of duty.

Spock reminded himself that it was illogical to ponder the relevance of this statistic, as they had no other choice but to 'throw Chekov in at the deep end' as Jim had described the situation. It was a calculated risk they had to take, as the circumstances didn't allow alternatives. However, Spock admired the captain's ability to view apparent disadvantages in a positive light, as Jim believed that Chekov could only benefit from shouldering responsibility straight away. Kirk had left his chair and put his hand on Chekov's shoulder shortly after he had taken his seat at the navigational console, to share the information they had gathered so far about the Cassiopeia's disappearance with him. With quiet but certain words Kirk had then informed Chekov that he had faith in his abilities unreservedly, without referring to the fact that the young man had just graduated from Starfleet Academy. Like usual, Spock had been highly impressed with the captain's excellent man management skills.

Suddenly, the iron indicator on Spock's sensor screen showed an unusual reading. For a few brief moments he investigated the measurements further until he had gathered more information.

"Captain".

"Yes, Mr. Spock", Kirk turned around quickly in his chair as a subtle change in Spock's voice indicated that he must have made a significant discovery.

"I have identified a large, apparently metallic, object on the planet's surface but due to a thick mass of cirrocumulus cloud that is currently obstructing and interfering with the sensor's measurements, I'm unable to come to a definite conclusion. However, the computer is able to calculate estimates regarding the object's material and structural components: 49 % iron, 26.45 % copper, 25, 99 % dilithium", at this he briefly looked up to give Kirk a meaningful look before he continued "2.04 %..."

"All right Spock, but no signs of human life?"

Spock shook his head. "Not at the moment, Captain".

Kirk sighed and got out of his chair. He took the steps leading towards the science station in a few strides and joined the first officer's side.

"Could this be the Cassiopeia, Spock?"

"Yes, Captain. It is a strong possibility. However, due to the current obstruction and interference of our sensors, only a landing party would be able to confirm this hypothesis at the moment. Furthermore, as Adelous 4 doesn't feature any life, apart from certain bacteria, it would also be necessary to investigate this object, its origins and possible purpose further if it turns out not to be the Cassiopeia."

"Purpose, Spock?"

"If this object is not the Cassiopeia, hypothetically it could be linked to the shuttle's disappearance."

"Another space craft?"

"A possibility. I strongly recommend to beam down to investigate, while continuing our search for life with our sensors on the rest of the planet's surface, that isn't currently obstructed by clouds."

Spock's face was as neutral as ever, but Kirk had to smile at the slight hint of curiosity in his FO's tone. Of course, Spock couldn't resist to investigate such an abnormal finding further if indeed it didn't turn out to be the shuttlecraft they were looking for.

Kirk grinned benevolently at the Vulcan: "I'm happy to give you the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity Mr Spock, and will agree to a landing party."

Spock's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.

"May I remind you, Captain, that curiosity is a human phenomenon?" Spock deemed it necessary to remind Kirk that he didn't approve of being accused of possessing any human character traits. "I merely aim to fulfil my purpose of constantly attaining new information and data, Sir".

"Haven't I just said that?" Kirk replied with a smile, well aware he was using one of Spock's own phrases against him. As the Vulcan looked stubbornly past him and didn't give the impression of offering a reply, Kirk put his hand on the Vulcan's shoulder:

"I'm aware of your purpose, Mr Spock. On Earth we would call a person with such an inclination... curious".

Kirk walked over towards Mr Scott at the engineering console:

"However, as this is most likely the Cassiopeia down there and as the dilithium crystals on board need to be secured in a complex technical fashion only Mr Scott is familiar with, I will send our Chief Engineer and two of his assistants down before I agree to an additional landing party!"

Kirk could detect a hint of disappointment on Spock's face, but he had made it a policy to only send essential personnel on landing party duty. Too many crew members had already lost their lives on previous planetary missions and Kirk always asked himself afterwards if the deceased had really been essential to be part of the landing party in the first place.

"But if this is not the Cassiopeia and Mr Scott deems the circumstances safe for further investigation, I know who I will send down next."

Spock nodded dutifully, turned around and sat back down at his station to continue his scan for human life forms on the planet's surface that weren't obstructed by cloud and affected by sensor interference.

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Mr Scott, and his young right hand men, Lieutenants Brown and Monet, assembled in the transporter room. Brown and Monet were carrying specially prepared containers, which they would use in case the Cassiopeia awaited them on the planet. Scott had instructed them that they would secure the dilithium crystals as soon as they reached the shuttle. The crystals only maintained their energy in an air-locked environment and could under no circumstance be exposed to the planet's atmosphere. Otherwise, they would lose their energy charge and turn into worthless stones in an instant.

With a relaxed smile, Scott turned towards transporter engineer Kyle who was waiting for the coordinates from the bridge. This was going to be an interesting mission, the Scotsman thought. He loved the nitty gritty of retrieving and securing dilithium crystals, a skill he didn't share with too many of his colleagues as it required an extremely still hand and years of experience in handling the precious material. It would be a great opportunity for Brown and Monet to practice their skills. If only the Cassiopeia crew could be retrieved as well...Scott's thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the com unit on the transporter console.

"Spock to Transporter Room"

"Kyle here, Mr. Spock. Ready to receive coordinates."

Scotty nodded towards his assistants to follow him onto the transporter platform. He took the first step onto the platform when suddenly a massive force hit the whole ship. The impact was accompanied by a deafening bang that came from the crunching outer shells. Scott knew instantly that the Enterprise was under attack.

The whole bridge crew was catapulted out of their chairs the moment the ship was hit with magnificent force.

"Shields are up, Sair", Chekov shouted towards the captain with his voice raised a little too much. Kirk was steady on his feet first, helping Lieutenant Uhura back onto her chair.

"Red Alarm! Report, Mr. Spock!"

"Unknown force has hit the ship frontally, Captain."

Sulu: "Velocity down to impulse power, Sir."

"Increase speed to maintain orbit, Mr. Sulu". The helmsman nodded, his fingers quickly flying over the colourful buttons in front of him, "Orbit maintained, Captain." Sulu exchanged a quick look with Chekov to his right: Welcome aboard!

Kirk checked the large viewing screen in front of them that still showed the planet they were orbiting. "Any information from our viewers, Mr Chekov?"

Chekov quickly switched through all the directions and angles the viewers did cover: the front of the ship, back of the ship, above, below, to its right, to its left-without any sign of an alien vessel or power source on the planet that could have targeted them.

"Negative, Sair, our viewers detect no signs of any space vessels or of any abnormalities on Adelous V." Chekov turned around to face his CO with a rather helpless look.

"Keep scanning the planet and our spatial vicinity, Ensign."

"Aye, Sair!"

Kirk looked over to Uhura who just shook her head. With one hand adjusting her earpiece and the other pressing buttons on her station, she confirmed her gesture with words:

"No subspace communication and no communication from the planet either, Captain. Medium damages to outer shells, assessment and repairs in progress, 12 crewmen treated for minor injuries. Mr Scott and landing party still present in the transporter room."

"Thank you, Lieutenant"

Kirk joined the FO at the science station: "Spock, who or what hit us, and from where?"

Spock lifted his head from his sensor to face the captain: "All I can confirm at this moment is that we were hit by a powerful wall of energy at the front of the ship, which reduced our speed by 70% to impulse power. However, it is certain that the ship wasn't damaged by an energy we usually associate with interstellar spaceship weaponry as the outer shell is not burned or melted, rather it is…" Spoke rose one eyebrow before continuing… "crushed."

Kirk gave him a puzzled look: "Crushed?"

"Captain, this yet unidentified power is most fascinating in its direct effect on the ship's exteriors. Any known possible impact on the ship, hostile or from natural causes such as space debris or a meteor shower, would have resulted in the outer shells being burned or radiated to a certain degree. Judging from our damage, we have crashed into a wall of an unknown form of energy."

"A wall?" Kirk took a moment to ponder possible implications. "Could this unknow energy be artificial and this a deliberate attempt to…" Kirk searched for the right words "...to stop us?"

"It is a possibility, Captain. I shall continue my scanning of the ship's outer shell to ascertain more facts on the nature of its damages and the energy that caused them".

"What about the landing party, Spock? Will it be safe for them to proceed?"

Within a second or two, Scotty called the bridge.

"Scott here, Captain."

Mr Scott had followed the events on the bridge during the last 5 minutes or so from the transporter room. The channel was still open since Kyle's communication with Mr Spock had been interrupted by the sudden impact.

"Yes, Scotty!"

"We were following yer conversation with Mr Spock right naw and I can tell ya I dun like it! Our remaining dilithium crystals are already drained as it is and the ship wasn't prepared for combat or whatever this was, but to simply undertake a rescue and retrieval mission! And I know what yer going to say, Captain, but I urge you to send us down to get those crystals immediately as our shields will not be powerful enough for many more of those funny bangs! Ready to beam down, Sir!"

Despite the puzzling and dangerous situation, Kirk gave Spock an amused look, wondering about Scotty's ability to talk like this without taking a breath. Spock replied with a raised eyebrow.

"May I remind you Mr Scott, that we have no definite proof yet if this object on the planet surface is indeed the Cassiopeia. And I won't transport anyone during an attack on the ship."

Chekov exchanged a worried look with Sulu who gave him an encouraging smile that seemed to say: don't worry, we've been in such situations before- and we're still here, aren't we?

"Aye. But we have to take our chances, Captain, because we won't withstand many more of those attackswithout the crystals." Scotty's voice sounded through the com onto the bridge, its personnel exchanging worried looks at the CEO's grave assessment of the situation.

Kirk didn't like the idea of beaming the landing party while being under attack from an unidentified, possible alien, source. Spock read Kirk's thoughts correctly and knew that although his next statement wouldn't ease the Captain's concerns for his crew, it would at least help him to make the right decision. He tilted his head slightly towards the communicator so that Mr Scott could hear as well:

"Even though I have to disagree with you insofar Mr Scott, that 'taking chances' is an irrational way of action, I agree that your argumentation is logical. As I have computed the probability of the Cassiopeia being the object I have identified on the planet to be 85,43% certain, it would be illogical not to beam down in the light of possibly retrieving the dilithium which would then guarantee protection for the ship from any further impacts."

Kirk sighed and managed a nod. Scotty and Spock were right. He couldn't risk the Enterprise remaining vulnerable for much longer. He couldn't just assume there wouldn't be any more of those 'funny bangs' as Scotty had called them.

In that moment the Enterprise was shook by three consecutive massive jolts, stronger than the previous one. Each jolt was accompanied by a loud, high-pitched whinging noise as if the engines were being tortured. The bridge personnel stumbled around, trying their best to keep at their stations, the noise of the third and loudest jolt tormenting everyone's ears.

Scotty and his assistants tumbled away from the transporter console. The CE helped Lieutenant Kyle up who had fallen to the floor.

"We're losing orbit, Captain. Speed reduced further to sub-impulse power", Sulu's professional tone couldn't hide his concern, Chekov wasn't pleased to notice.

"Divert all engines to impulse power, Mr Sulu, maintain orbit!" Kirk reached Sulu's side as if his physical proximity would help the helmsman to follow his command. Sulu's hands flew over his keyboards:

"Negative Captain, the engines are working correctly but...something is in our way".

Uhura was first to realise that the officer who had manned the engineering station next to the doors, had knocked his head on the console during the turbulence and was now unconscious on the floor.

"Bridge to sickbay, medical attention required, one crew unconscious". Uhura instructed before she went over to the injured man.

Kirk directed a swift, grateful look towards Uhura who had knelt down next to her shipmate.

Chekov looked at his hands. To his surprise he noticed that they were sweaty. He quickly wiped them on his trousers and put them back on his console.

"Sulu?" Kirk put his hand on the helmsman's shoulder.

"Our orbit will decay in exactly 44.3 seconds Captain, if we can't resume impulse-power."

"Shields holding at 56 % Keptin", Chekov chipped in.

"Give it all you can to maintain orbit, Mr Sulu!", Kirk spun around to Spock. "Prepare emergency thrusters to catapult us out of orbit!"

Spock rushed to the engineering console, seemingly ignoring the injured engineer on the floor who until a few moments ago had looked after this station.

McCoy arrived on the bridge just as Sulu turned around to face Kirk: "No use Captain, I can't proceed any further without imploding our engines".

McCoy rushed to the engineer on the floor who was bleeding form a nasty cut on his forehead. Unaware that the extent of their predicament necessitated immediate action, the doctor frowned at Spock who stood above the injured crewman, eyes fixed on the engineering computer, apparently ignorant of his shipmate's condition.

"Thrusters ready in 22.79 seconds, Captain. Time to orbit decay 25.67 seconds." Spock reported calmly.

"Captain, it's now or never, giv'us the coordinates before we are out of transporter reach!" In the transporter room, Scotty banged his hand on the console and shouted into the com unit.

Jim Kirk had to make a crucial decision in a split second: keep the landing party on board and thrust out of orbit to only relative safety. They would no longer have the ability to beam men onto the planet to possibly retrieve the crystals as they would be out of transporter range. If they were attacked then, they would have no energy left to maintain the shields.

Or take the chance of beaming down three men while another attack was possible at any moment, for an 85% chance of finding the Cassiopeia and retrieving the crystals. After the landing party had been beamed down, the ship would still have to thrust out of orbit to escape the energy source that was attacking the Enterprise, but the range would be sufficient to beam back the crystals. With the dilithium on board, the ship would be able to maintain its shields. Once the situation had come under control and the Enterprise was safe, they would be able to retrieve the landing party.

But beaming through the shields and another attack possible at any moment, the process could potentially risk the lives of three men. But 427 lives needed saving as well.

"Coordinates, Mr Chekov!"

Kirk had made a decision. With the attacks having stopped momentarily, it was now or never.

Chekov jumped up from his seat and rushed to the science station where Spock had stored the coordinates that would beam the landing party into the direct vicinity of the metallic object on Adelous 4. Without the time to double check the coordinates were still correct, Chekov transferred them directly to the transporter by the touch of a few buttons.

"I'm sending ze coordinates now to ze transporter, Mr Kyle." Chekov shouted into the com. His unnecessary loud voice made his blood rush into his head and to his dismay Chekov realised he was blushing. Kirk stole a tense look in the ensign's direction. A brief moment later, that felt like an eternity to Chekov, Kyle replied:

"Beaming process completed".

Chekov unnecessarily repeated this information to Kirk who had already turned back to Spock:

"Thrusters, now!"

Another powerful jolt made everyone sway. But this time the bridge crew had been prepared for the sudden increase in speed and everybody was holding on to their consoles. Spock turned around to Kirk, an almost inaudible sigh escaping his lips:

"Out of orbit at 44 201 kilometres, Captain. Impulse power..." Spock checked the engineering console.

"...restored."

Kirk looked over to Spock with an undisguised smile of relief.

"So is this man", said an equally relieved looking McCoy at the sight of the engineer on the floor. He had just regained consciousness thanks to his emergency treatment. The doctor helped the man back into his seat.

Lieutenant Boateng held his head but otherwise he looked relatively relaxed as he was blissfully unaware of the tension his shipmates had endured during the last few minutes. Uhura informed Kirk of substantial but not critical damages to the ship's exteriors and a handful of minor to medium injuries amongst the crew. Kirk quickly checked on Boateng and the rest of the bridge crew to confirm their well-being and was relieved to find them unharmed. Keen to get back to his own station as soon as possible, Spock left the engineering station and passed Boateng and McCoy without a word or any sign of relief regarding the man's fate - or all of their fates for that matter. Combined with the stress of the previous minutes, McCoy was infuriated by the Vulcan's reaction, or better, the lack of it. He directed his gruff Southern drawl towards the CSO:

"Oh, it's good to see you are unharmed too, Mr Spock!"

Coming to a halt next to the captain's chair, Spock turned towards McCoy, eyebrows skywards:

"Why, thank you, Doctor".

With amused smiles all around, with the exception of McCoy, Kirk felt that a good old Spock-McCoy quarrel was exactly what the crew needed right now, just to release the tension a little. But then he noticed that Chekov, who was still sitting at the science station, wasn't joining in the laughter. Pale as snow, he looked up from the scanner.

"Keptin, Sair..." he started, lost for words, feeling like the knot in his throat was about to suffocate him. Kirk came up the steps towards him. Chekov was frozen and didn't move an inch.

"What is it, Ensign?" Kirk put the hands on the young Russian's shoulders, imploring him to speak.

"Ze landing party, Sair...is not on ze planet."