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Thanks to the universal translator protocols Uhura already had engaged, everyone on the bridge was treated to the Tholian’s posturing as it said, “This is not over. You have meddled with forces you do not understand—and you will all pay for your interference.”No sooner did the Tholian finish speaking than the transmission ended, returning to the screen the view of multicolored streaks of passing stars as the Enterpriseplunged through space at high warp.
“He doesn’t sound very happy, does he?” Sulu asked.
Kirk said, “I don’t care what he sounds like, as long as they keep heading home.” Even with the Endeavour’s comprised condition, it, along with the Enterpriseand the Sagittarius, would be able to hold its own against even a dozen Tholian vessels. Abandoning a potential firefight and ru
“Aye, sir,” Scott replied. “We’ll take good care of them.”
“It’ll have to be fast,” Kirk said as he turned to look at Sulu and Chekov. “Start computing a new course to Aria
Once again, the chief engineer nodded. “Not a problem, sir.”
Kirk turned his attention back to the main viewscreen. “All right, then. Lieutenant Uhura, hail the Endeavour.Let’s see what kind of shape they’re in and get this over with. We all look to be in a hurry, after all.”
Though he knew his own mission to Aria
Whatever they’re up to, it’s something big. Damned big.
SIX
Stardate 5829.6
Starbase 12
Leaning back in his chair, Kirk studied Nogura’s face as the admiral sat in silence, listening to the recounting of events. The older man had said nothing during Kirk’s recollection of the encounter, most of which already was recorded in the official report the captain had filed after the conclusion of the Enterprise’s role in the incident.
“After rendering assistance to the Endeavour,” Kirk said, “and escorting it and the Sagittariusto our rendezvous with the Buenos Aires, we proceeded with our mission to Aria
His hands clasped before him and with both index fingers extended so that they joined at the tips, Nogura looked almost Vulcan as he regarded Kirk. Then, in a ma
Kirk returned the smile. “I imagine it’s a bit of both, sir.” The temporary delay in the Enterprise’s journey to Aria
Such a waste.
Kirk leaned forward until he could rest his forearms atop the desk. “The Sagittarius, sir. What was it carrying?”
“Our salvation,” Nogura said without hesitation. “And, as it happens, our doom. The system I sent Captain Nassir to investigate, Eremar, contained thousands of crystalline artifacts created mille
Kirk’s brow furrowed. “Such as?”
“Such as blowing up planets,” the admiral snapped. “We learned that one by accident. The damn thing blew up eleven planets just from us trying to scan it. Thankfully, none of them were inhabited. How the hell we managed not to kill anybody, I’ll never know.”
“Good Lord,” Kirk said. Even imagining that level of devastation, unleashed with such ease, disturbed him. He had known—or surmised—that one of Starfleet’s primary motivations in seeking out any remnants of the Shedai and their technology was to prevent its being found first by one of the Federation’s enemies. What he had not dared to consider was the true immensity of that threat in this context.
“We’d already lucked ourselves into finding a couple of the things,” Nogura continued. “Xiong actually came across the first one, while he was a . . . guest of the Klingons on Mirdonyae V. When we rescued him from that, we also retrieved the artifact. Xiong and his staff were studying the thing, which contained a Shedai entity he’d managed to trap when it attacked the station. He and a team from the Corps of Engineers from the Lovellwere trying to communicate with the Shedai inside when it broke loose.”
“The Lovell,” Kirk said, putting it together and recalling the all-but-ancient Daedalus-class ship that for a time had been assigned to Starbase 47. “The official report said it was destroyed due to a failure in its warp engines.”
Nogura nodded. “A plausible enough cover story, considering the ship is older than I am.” He waited, as though expecting Kirk to be so reckless as to offer a joke or other observation on that point. When Kirk held his tongue—despite being unable to prevent just the slightest hint of a smile—the admiral said, “Your restraint has earned you another glass of my brandy.” Without asking, he refilled Kirk’s glass and slid it back across the desk.
Taking a pull from the glass, Kirk closed his eyes, relishing the warmth of the brandy as it coursed down his throat. He and Nogura had been savoring the spirits as they talked, and Kirk was begi