The USS Enterprise found her self in the middle of a potential conflict between two different outer-space alien factions. It was a shame that much of human exploration had led to battle, and many times, between more than one vested parties. It appeared to Captain James Tiberius Kirk that the exploration of space would, unfortunately, follow along that same path for mankind.
The damage done to the Enterprise by one of the three oval shaped space ships had been minor. The blast had knocked out some of the thruster controls of the Enterprise, but there was no loss of life, which was more important to Kirk, at this point. And as the three alien ships were motionless, a second group of six alien craft, which looked totally different, and with strange appearances that invoked the image of some of earth’s a bird of prey, now closed in on the Enterprise.
“I don’t like the looks of this at all,” McCoy stated, as he stood to the right of Kirk’s command chair.
Scott chimed in. “It’s almost as if they’re fighting over us.”
Although it is a worthy observation, logic suggests that both factions are in a contest over the unidentified object orbiting the fifth planet of this system.
“Well, what ever,” McCoy said, “I think we should just get the hell out of here.”
“I agree doctor.” Kirk said, “Mr. Sulu go ahead and…” Kirk continued to say, but he was cut off.
Suddenly, First officer Chakotay spoke from his ops post.
“Captain,” Chakotay said quickly, “the three oval ships that attacked us are moving back towards us.”
At that moment Uhura spoke from her post.
“Sir,” Uhura reported, “I am receiving and audio signal from one of the six ships from the second group. It is translated and they are telling us to change our course towards them and that they will protect us from the,” She paused, “they call the aliens from the oval ships the Gorn.”
Captain Kirk was about issue an order to Sulu, and then McCoy cut him off.
“Be careful Jim,” McCoy said to Kirk, “the Gorn attack didn’t damage us very badly, and for all we know their attack was a misunderstanding. Now if we suddenly move towards the second group, we will be appearing to ally ourselves with them, which could open a can of worms for years to come, and in the here and now, justify another attack from the Gorn ships.”
“I understand the situation,” Kirk said, “but, as of now, we have no other choice. Spock what do you think?” Kirk asked.
I concur with the Doctor, Captain. It would be wise to have a command discussion about the course of action to be taken. I suggest that this meeting among yourself and your senior crew should not last longer than two hours and fifty minutes, at which time a logical decision could be made.
“Well,” Kirk said to Spock and Mcoy, “we don’t have that kind of time. Mr. Sulu, plot a course towards the Birds of Prey and engage.”
“Yes sir,” Sulu replied as he followed Kirk’s orders.
The Enterprise pivoted slightly and, at best sub-slight speed, headed towards the Birds of Prey. The Oval ships followed, and were now closing in on the Enterprise.
“Sir,” Chakotay said moments later, “I am detecting a build up in one of the oval ship’s weapons plat-form, they are firing at us again!”
The view screen changed to show the closing oval ships. The one in the middle fired its energy weapon again! A burst of red energy streaked out from the oval ship, but miraculously a strange green hued translucent energy bubble appeared around the Enterprise, shielding the Enterprise from the blast.
“How did that happen?” Kirk asked.
Chakotay looked at the data on his screen, and then he turned back toward Kirk.
“The energy shield is being projected by one of the Birds of Prey.” Chakotay reported.
“They’re protecting us,” Scotty said, “that has to be good.”
“For now,” McCoy added ominously.
Five of the Bird of Preys streaked past the Enterprise and engaged the oval Gorn ships, exchanging volleys of energy blasts as they did . One of the Bird of Preys altered course, and came to position along side the Enterprise. The Bird of Prey was roughly the same length of the Enterprise, but more massive.
“Captain,” Uhura said excitedly, “we’re receiving a visual and audio transmission from the Bird of Prey.”
“On screen,” Kirk said.
The instant the alien’s image came on the screen, Captain Kirk, and the entire bridge crew who saw it as well, knew that their known theories of humanity and history had just been obliterated. Although the alien wore a helmet over part of his head, it was clear that the alien was; human.
--
The Surface of Mars;
A violent red sandstorm swept across the battered remnants of the doomed colony. Lt. Chekov was holding one of the new life signs detectors, a device which was called a Tricorder, looking for any signs of life.
She looked over to Captain Terrell, who she could barely see through the sandstorm, and shook her head in a negative motion. There was no sigh of life, however, they were aware of the effects of the sandstorm, and that it could have been causing false readouts. Terrell, with the two security men behind him, pointed toward the door of one of the large warehouse structures in the distance.
The landing party of four made their way towards the warehouse, struggling to stay on their feet as they walked through the wind blown sand. They reached the door, and the two security men used all their strength and were able to open the door. They held the door open, letting Terrell and Chekov enter, and then they followed them into the warehouse, closing the door as they did.
The sound of the violent sandstorm could be heard on the outside, but the inside of the warehouse was surprisingly clean, and tidy. Several rows of tables with benches, which were for eating on, were still set in perfect formation, and the lights were even working as well.
Chekov game them all a thumbs up, and then she took her helmet off. Terrell and the two security men did so as well, and the sound hissing sound of their helmets sounded like a chorus of snakes.
“The air filters are still working,” Terrell said as put his helmet down on the table nearest them. “That’s a good sign.”
Chekov was about to say something when she saw, over in the far area of the warehouse, in the window, a figure looking in at them from the outside.
“Captain,” Chekov said pointing at the window.
Terrell looked toward the window, and saw the figure as well. The person was wearing some kind of cloth mask which was wrapped around their face. Suddenly the person in the window turned around, and walked out of view.
“Who was that?” Chekov asked.
“I don’t know,” Terrell said. “But headquarters said nothing about any survivors.”
“What do we do?” one of the security men asked.
“Well,” Terrell said, “I don’t like surprises, “So, I say we get the hell out of here, for now, and tell them to send a more numerical search party.”
“I’m with you sir,” Chekov said.
The landing party put their masks back on and opened the door to leave. Once they were outside, and prepared to head back to the landing pad where the shuttle was, they saw that they were not alone at all. Nearly two dozen humanoid figures, wrapped in the heavy cloth wraps, which were dark in color, stood between them and the where they had to go. It was clear to Captain Terrell that neither he nor his landing party would be leaving so soon.
Continued….
