The Original Series
Morning Star - Part 16
by Dave K. Jones
(sonirj1@yahoo.com)

Morning Star

Chapter 53

In Science Lab Three aboard the Enterprise, Lieutenant Nathan Jones carefully slipped the strange piece of material given him by Dr. McCoy into the Phaseron Microscope and settled it into place. McCoy had told him the previous day that the captain wanted to find out what the stuff was, in a hurry as usual. However, ship routine and other duties had kept Jones from getting around to it until now.

Jones was tired, he'd just completed a full work shift in the lab and should be stretched on his bunk sleeping. His blonde hair was tussled, sticking up in back, and his brown eyes, normally bright and attentive were clouded with fatigue. His curiosity, however, was as strong as ever. He wanted to find out what the stuff was, too, especially since it might help answer questions concerning the fate of an entire civiliztion.

He mentally chided himself about getting too melodramatic about all this, the material was probably some synthetic fabric or something common from its world and nothing to get excited over. Still, anything from a new planet was worth investigating. Jones yawned and took a sip of his coffee. The lab was darkened now, except for a single light over his work station. He set the focus of the analyzer and switched on the computer. He yawned again as he waited for the analyzer to run an analysis of the material. The wait was a short one. Data began to flow across the computer screen as the analyzer disclosed the cellular makeup of the material. The data was purely technical so after transferring it to a cassette for the captain Jones punched in a query for interpretation. Words formed on the screen and Jones felt ice run down his spine. The fatigue that shadowed his mind was wiped away instantly.

Turning to a com set he quickly called one of his friends who, Jones knew, was now asleep in his own bunk after a full work shift. That didn't matter now, he had to have the guy take a look at this data. Jones remembered that Mallory, his friend since the academy, had taken courses on Entomology.

Jones waited impatiently while the com set at the other end beeped repeatedly for what seemed an eternity before the screen lit up and showed Mallory's sleepy and irritated countenance. Jones, not waiting to hear the words of complaint one would expect under such circumstances, went directly to the point. "Mallory, sorry to wake you but I've got something here in the lab and you just have to take a look at it!"

Mallory, as young as Jones, worked in the Zoological section of the science division aboard the Enterprise. "Dammit, Nathan, what the hell could be that important? I was sound asleep!"

"Listen to me! I just analyzed a chunk of material they found on the surface of the Morning Planet and the analyzer identified it as microscopically identical to the cellular makeup of an insect wing! Before I send this to the captain I want you to take a look at it and see if you can identify just what kind of insect it is! This can't wait!"

Mallory stared blankly at Jones for a second, then nodded. "Okay, I'll be right there!"

Chapter 54

"Far Voices?" asked McCoy.

"Yes!" said Satariano. "There must not be a definite term for us in their language, so the translator is giving us their concept of us."

For Jim Kirk, the first contact with the People of Morning had been much more, and much less, than he'd expected. He felt shakey from the flood of emotions, and the adrenaline, that had so recently gone through him. His uniform was sticky with perspiration despite the even temperature maintained within his suit.

The man holding the journal stopped weeping and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. His tear streaked face held a mix of elation and disbelief. His lips moved without sound for a moment, then he said, "H-How far? How long?"

Kirk felt his impatience begin to rise again. "Be brief, Commander, we haven't got all day!"

Satariano thought for a moment, then said, "From the points of light in the night sky! Your ship traveled long enough for a father to become a grand father!"" He hoped the analogy would be clear enough for the man to understand. More elaborate explanations could come later-especially with an impatient captain breathing down his neck!

From the look on the man's face it was obvious he was giving this new information some thought. Finally he said, "How did it take to reach us after you discovered the ship?"

Satariano felt a little shocked at the sophistication of the question. He'd wondered if the man could understand and it was obvious that not only did he understand what he'd been told, he was eager for more! Spock suddenly spoke on the suit radio. "This is a classic demonstration of the operation of the translator! The man's mental concepts are already adding much to the translator's ability to construct a precise vocabulary!"

Finally Satariano answered, "Less than the time to eat an evening meal!"

A look of incredulity crossed the man's face, then he seemed to shake it off, smiled, and said, "I am Plixton, the Leader." He motioned toward the hatchway where a second man was now peeking through. "That is Aplixta, my son. On behalf of those who reside here I welcome you with honor!" Then he bent over as another spasm of pain went through his midsection. He threw up violently and filled his trousers with diarrhea.

* * * * *

"Well, Bones, how bad is it?" asked Kirk.

McCoy turned from the side of the bed in the shelter's dispensary on which Plixton now lay. "He's got Asiatic Cholera, to be precise. And no wonder! The conditions in this place are ideal for something like this! The smell is unbelievable!" He looked in Kirk's direction. "It's very bad, Jim. If we don't do something, and quick, we could lose this man and most of the others to boot!"

The doctor was no longer in his environment suit. After a short, violent, argument with Kirk he'd removed the suit to better discharge his duties as a doctor. Not even Kirk's threat to have him court marshaled for disobeying a direct order was enough to stop him.

There were fifty beds in the dispensary, twenty occupied by patients in the same condition as Plixton, or worse. According to Aplixta, a man of about thirty years, the malady had begun a short time before and had multiplied rapidly. There were already a dozen deaths.

"And there'll be plenty more deaths if we don't get some Enteromycin into them in short order. They've been administering Propantheline Bromide, which sometimes mollifies the symptoms, but too much will probably do as much harm as good!" said McCoy. Finished for the moment with Plixton, he turned to Aplixta. "Didn't anyone have the foresight to store some medical supplies?"

The man shrugged, a gesture that evidenced amazing similarities between these people and the Humans of Earth. "Of course, but we did not have the time to adequately supply all we would need before it was necessary to close it off from the outside. We exhausted most of our medications a long time ago!"

"What about your doctors? Where are they?" asked McCoy.

"Our last remaining doctor was one of those who died. His assistants have been busy doing what they can, but most of them are also sick!" Aplixta motioned toward one of the beds that held the sleeping form of a man.

McCoy's face was troubled. Kirk had seen that expression on the doctor's face in the past. It usually heralded an approaching storm of disapproval. "Weren't there provisions made for sanitation and waste disposal?" McCoy indicated the squalid conditions that existed within the dispensary. Kirk had seen some of the rooms on their way down from the entrance. Conditions were worse elsewhere!

Aplixta did not need a translator to recognize McCoy's tone. The Morning Person gave the doctor a paitent look, but the patience was beginning to run a little thin. "I'm afraid you're going to have to appreciate the situation here! Provisions were made, but unfortunately there was little time for or thought given to them during the panicky rush to get here. The careful plans, made when our enemy was distant, fell apart when their attack smashed through our defenses far more quickly than was expected. In the resultant scramble, many things were overlooked!" Aplixta was obviously quite tired, his face pale and dark circles around his eyes.

Spock intervened. "Mr. Aplixta, are there any records available for study?"

Aplixta looked a little relieved by the interruption and nodded. "Yes, in the equipment room. There are memory banks which hold our entire history, including all data concerning our discovery of and our fight with the Ebu!" A shadow crossed Aplixta's face and he shuddered. "At first we thought you might be the Ebu despite the fact that we received radio transmissions from you!"

Kirk frowned. "The Ebu?"

Aplixta nodded. "Yes. An abbreviated form of the word Ebulestee, which was what we called the invader."

Spock turned to Kirk. "With your permission, Captain, I would like to visit this equipment room!"

"Good idea, Spock." Replied Kirk. For a moment there was something else he'd been curious about, but it slipped away before he could pin it down. He mentally shrugged. There was enough to worry about!

"And Captain?" said Spock. "I believe it would be best if I were able to proceed without the encumbrance of a suit! All Star Fleet personnel are given inoculations that which render them immune to all forms of Cholera!"

"That's correct, Jim!" said McCoy. "There hasn't been a recorded case on Earth for almost two hundred years. And that's why it's going to be difficult to find the Enteromycin. I don't think we have any on the Enterprise!"

Kirk gave McCoy a wry grin. "Didn't anyone have the foresight to store adequate medical supplies?"

McCoy nodded, his mouth turned up at one corner. "Okay, okay, so I got a little carried away!"

"What do we do first?" asked Kirk.

McCoy looked around the dispensary, his face already showing fatigue. "Well, we have to clean this place up. We need antispetics, clean linen, purified water and good food. Everything in this pest hole has to be burned. Star Fleet should send a hospital ship to provide the personnel and resources just in case this isn't the only shelter on the planet. I just hope the Exeter or Lexington have some Enteromycin!" He stopped talking and stared intently at his medical tricorder for a moment, then looked up at Kirk as if surprised to see him still standing there. "In a hurry, Jim!"

* * * * *

Kirk's message to Admiral Karle set in motion a rush to gather the necessary supplies and personnel to aid the survivors on the Planet of Morning. Kirk, having beamed up from the surface, listened as karle brought him up to date on what was being done.

"Exeter is coming to join you with medical personnel from both ships to help out. We had far more volunteers than we could handle! You can use Exeter's transporters as well as your own to beam everything down. We dug up most everything McCoy listed, most importantly that antibiotic he needed. At least enough to keep things going till the hospital ship Ontario arrives in about two days. I've also ordered the Riga to drop everything and proceed to your location so engineers can begin building a pressure dome for those people. We'll have to find a location somewhere on the planet where they can live till Star Fleet comes up with something permanent." She thought for a moment, then asked, "Can you think of anything else you need?"

Kirk shook his head. "No, I think that covers everything." He held up a cassette. "You'll have to see this report my lab people just gave me. It's an analysis of that piece of material we found lodged in the door jamb on the planet. I think you'll find it disturbing to say the least!"

"Oh?" Karle felt a ripple of apprehension run down her spine. "Give me the specifics so I don't have to wait!"

"Well, I thought it was some kind of manufactured fabric. It isn't. It sounds fantastic, but the computer identifies it as a piece of an insect wing. Entomology further identifies it as part of the wing of a wasp, or hornet!"

"Must be quite a bug!"

Kirk nodded. "Computer projections of the size of the thing sounds incredible. About four feet long and weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of forty pounds!"

Karle swallowed. She hated bugs, especially the wingy-stingy kind! "Okay, sent the report over and I'll forward it to Star Fleet."

Kirk, watching the admiral's face in the viewer, could see the same willies he felt himself at the thought of forty pound wasps buzzing around. "Well, maybe the people at Star Fleet can tell us something to cheer us up. The report does fit the picture we've been piecing together from our own data and that of the Morning People. The Ebu must be some kind of parasitic insect life!" He decided to change the subject. "Hear anything from Kang?"

"No, and I'm almost afraid to! I want the Exeter to return as soon as they deliver the supplies and personnel. There might be some surprises in store for us, if I know Klingons! You be ready, too!"

* * * * *

In the shelter below, Spock showed Dennis Grimes the equipment room where the computers of the Morning People were located. One look at them had told Spock that Grimes would be their best man for the job of accessing the ancient machines for the data they were sure to hold. "Some of these primitive systems are still functioning, but some have either been purposely shut down, or have failed due to a lack of maintenance. Aplixta tells me that specific sections of the memory core cannot be accessed without security codes, which have since been lost or forgotten. We need that data as soon as possible!"

Grimes nodded but remained silent. He stepped forward to run his fingers down the front of one of the consoles, his eyes taking in the tall, square, housings with large spools of recording tape set into the fronts of the cabinets. He felt as if he'd just stepped out of a time machine! He didn't notice as Spock left the room. Finally he smiled and said, "hello computer, my name is Dennis Grimes!"

Chapter 55

An ensign sitting at the deep space monitoring station at Star Base Ten was suddenly shocked out of her state of advanced boredom by a rush of data across one of her screens. After studying the data for a moment she opened a direct com circuit with Commodore Coplen's quarters. "Commodore! Deep Probe L-21 is picking up warp signatures in the area of the Klingon Battle Base. They indicate multiple ships leaving the Balarian System!"

Coplen tossed the book he'd been reading at a nearby table and began tugging on his tunic. "Sound the alert!" he ordered. "All personnel to stations! Get me Admiral Karle on the Lexington!"

Chapter 56

"A message from the T'Gotha, My Lord!" reported the K'Reth's communications officer. "Senior Commander Khurik sends his compliments. The squadron is on its way!"

As the communications officer awaited his reply, Kang continued to lounge in his command chair chewing thoughtfully on a chunk of fresh Targ heart. The meat was almost raw, the way he liked it. Blood dribbled down his beard as he ate. The timing for what was coming had to be right. Looking in the direction of the helm, Kang growled, "Increase speed to warp six!" At that speed the K'Reth would arrive back in the Morning System with enough time to make preparations.

Pulling another hunk of meat from the Targ heart on his plate, Kang mused over the reaction he would get from the Human admiral. Now he would see how fast the vaunted Star Fleet could move their cowardly butts!

Chapter 57

Admiral Karle was talking to Commodore Coplen on the main viewer screen on Lexington's bridge when the call signally the K'Reth's return came in. "Open up a second channel! I want Coplen to listen in!" she ordered.

Kang's image now occupied the com screen with that of Coplen. "Greetings!" said Kang with a wide grin. None of the Humans returned the grin. Karle always irritated by the arrogance of Klingons, was also instantly apprehensive when she saw Kang's grin. In her experience a Klingon never smiled unless they were getting ready to, or were in the actual process, of killing something.

"It's about time!" said Karle. "I suppose you can explain why eight of your battle cruisers have left Balarian and are heading in the direction of Federation Space! Are your people out to start a war?"

"The war has already started, Admiral! As we speak, numerous enemy ships are also heading in this direction. I took the liberty of calling for the Balarian squadron to assist in the coming battle, but I fear their help will not be in time!" Kang's face beamed as he spoke, watching dismay bloom on the faces of most of the Humans on the Lexington's bridge.

Karle was one of the exceptions. She was not dismayed, she wasn't even surprised. She suspected something like this from the moment Kang and the K'Reth had left in pursuit of the alien ships. Not wishing to give Kang any more satisfaction than he undoubtedly already felt, she kept her face calm as she asked, "Can you tell us how many ships are chasing you?"

"We didn't take time to count them, but take my word for it there are plenty. We did as much damage as we could to their base of operations!" said Kang, still enjoying himself hugely.

"Very well," said Karle in as calm a voice as she could. "I expect you to beam over at once when you get within transporter range so we can plan the defense of the system. I am relying on your complete support!"

Kang's grin slipped a little. "I thought you would find it more prudent to retire temporarily until our ships from Balarian arrive to reinforce you!"

Now Karle wore a grin. "Yes, I can easily believe that's what you would expect. Sorry to disappoint you, but there are far too many Federation personnel now involved on the Morning Planet to abandon the system. No, we'll finish what you've started, Kang, and we'll do it my way! Understand?"

Kang nodded, somewhat grimly. "We will be in transporter range in thirty minutes!"

Karle snapped off Kang's channel and grinned at Coplen. "I think Kang is disappointed in me. Weakling Humans always run when outnumbered! Well, this time we break the mold and act like Klingons!"

Chapter 58

STAR FLEET HEADQUARTERS
San Francisco

When Star Base Ten reported the movement of the Klingon Balarian squadron in the direction of Federation Space Admiral Nogura set a fleet-wide Condition Yellow and called in the staff. "Okay, let's get this sorted out!" said Nogura in an attempt to get his officers settled down. Everyone was excited, keyed to the max, and expected the Federation to be in a shooting war with the Klingons and Romulans within a few hours.

The officers in the room quieted, took their seats. "Does anyone know exactly where these Klingon ships are heading other than just in our direction?" asked Nogura.

Commodore Fletcher shook his head. "Other than the fact that they will reach the border of Federation space in approximately two hours, unless they change course, we have no data on their exact destination. It could be anywhere!"

"Will their present course bring them close to Star Base Ten?" This from Bill Parks.

Fletcher shook his head again. Nossir, they will pass into Federation space about thirty light years from the star base!"

Nogura settled back into his chair and puffed a cloud of cigar smoke into the air. The smoke was immediately sucked away by the ventilation system. "If they're invading it seems funny they'd bypass the star base since it's the single military installation in that quadrant. At least, it seems so to me!" He tapped cigar ash into a tray. "Know what I think? I think they're on their way to the Morning Star System, and I also think we should let them go! In fact, we'll send them an open message thanking them for their assistance!"

It had become common knowledge the past couple of days that a large number of Klingon clans had opposed the alliance with the Romulans. It was now obvious what the Klingons were doing. By aiding the Federation they threw a monkey wrench into the agreements between their council and the Romulans, which at best had been tenuous and fraught with mutual suspicions. The Romulan reaction had been a storm of protest. This was now a state of affairs that Star Fleet, and the Federation, were compelled to nurture!

Admiral Parks, as usual, was the one who was compelled to complain. "But sir, if we're wrong and the Klingons are part of a combined movement against us, we're doing all we can to make things worse!"

"We'll take precautions, Bill, don't worry. There has been no reports of any movement by the Romulans in our direction. Quite the contrary, they seem to be consolidating their War Bird close to Klingon borders! That's got to be in response to this sudden cooperation with us by elements of the Klingon military." Nogura held up a cassette. "And then there's this, the report from the Morning Star System. We can use this as an excuse to put everything we have into that quadrant, which will thwart any possible treachery!"

"What about these aliens that are suspected of attacking that planet? Do we go after them as well? Asked Fletcher.

Nogura shrugged. "Maybe, it depends. Our main focus is the disruption of the Romulan-Klingon alliance. Beyond that we can make no plans as yet. Karle has requested the Riga and Ontario to proceed immediately to the Morning Planet. Lets follow up with an Environmental Recovery team to do a study on what it will take to get that planet livable again. That will add credence to our presence in that sector. In addition, I want some fire power out there just in case. Get our closest ships into that area as soon as you can!"

Everyone at the conference table made ready to adjourn but Nogura held up his hand. "There's one more thing, and I think it's necessary under the circumstances. I want to promote Karle to Vice Admiral! There are going to be too many ships out there for anyone of lesser rank!"

"But," protested Admiral Parks, "She's no where near the top of the promotion list! Besides, you have to have the approval of the Federation Council!"

Nogura nodded. "Yes, and we'll get their approval, Bill. We're dealing with a possible war zone and under those conditions I have the authority to make this kind of decision. Besides, it's the way I want it!"

Chapter 59

USS YORKTOWN, USS HOOD, USS POTEMKIN
On Patrol
Four days, ten hours, from the Morning Star System

Captain Stan Clark, commanding officer of the USS Yorktown, was senior by two months to Captain Niles Benning of the USS Hood, and by six months to Captain Angelo Batista of the USS Potemkin. That was why he got the priority message from Star Fleet Headquarters first!

The Yellow Alert klaxons were still sounding and station reports were coming in when the communications officer turned from his console to face Clark. "Star Fleet orders are confirmed, Captain," said the lieutenant. "A personal note from Admiral Nogura, himself, says to make all possible speed!"

"Damn!" Clark was too surprised to guard his verbal reactions. Never in his career had he gotten such a message direct from the fleet commander!

"Sir, both the Hood and Potemkin are contacting us!" said the com officer.

"I'm not surprised!" said Clark. "On screen!" A split image of Captains Benning and Batista appeared. "Gentlemen," said Clark with feigned jocularity, "suppose you're curious about the priority message we just got!

Benning grinned. "I was getting bored! How fast do we run?"

"Nogura said to get there as fast as we could," put in Batista. "That leaves only one question: how slow do we have to go so the Yorktown can stay with us!"

There was laughter, but it was a veneer covering deadly seriousness. "Very funny, guys, but I think warp seven is sufficient," said Clark. "I don't want to arrive in a possible hostile environment without a reliable warp core!" He gave his subordinates a hard stare. "This could be rough, guys! Stay frosty!"

As one the three star ships swung onto a new heading, then they were gone. Behind them they left rainbow trails to point their way toward the Morning Star.

Chapter 60

Kang, during his many years as a Klingon warrior and commander of a ship of war, had come to believe he was immune to surprise. He was wrong. Kirk watched the Klingon's face as the emotions warred in Kang's mind. First there was surprise, then disbelief, then the Klingon seemed to settle into a slow burn of anger, his normal state of mind. "You're out of your mind if you think I'll allow my ship to be part of this!" seethed the Klingon through clenched teeth.

Sonja Karle, newly promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, just shrugged, a bland expression on her face. "I assure you, Commander, I am in full possession of my faculties! My orders will be followed!"

Kang shook his head, his eyes flinty. "I will await the arrival of the Balarian Squadron, then rejoin my own kind. You have no authority to restrict my movements!"

Karle nodded, a slight Mona Lisa grin on her face. "Oh, I see. I was under the impression you joined with our ships voluntarily and agreed to submit to my orders when it came to strategic decisions. In fact, I remember that you insisted on entering Federation space uninvited for your own purposes." She held up a restraining hand as Kang started to get out of his feet, his boney and brutal face twisted with rage. "And at that time, Commander, you gave me your word as a Klingon Warrior to follow orders. Am I to believe the word of a Klingon Warrior is not to be trusted?"

Kang slowly settled back into his chair, his face now changed from anger to a look of startled wonder. Then, visibly collecting his wits, he said, "The word of a Klingon Warrior is a bond that cannot be broken." He took a deep breath. "I will also remind you if your own agreement that if your orders brought dishonor to the Klingon code of honor I would turn upon you and destroy you!"

Karle nodded. "I remember. You are ready, then, to follow my orders?"

Kirk had never seen a Klingon in such a state. Kang appeared about to be sick from the torturous necessity to bow to Karle's rule. It sparked a feeling of sympathy for Kang in Kirk's mind, something Kirk would never have believed possible. However, ever since the discovery of the alien ship by the Enterprise it was increasingly common for the unbelievable to happen.

Finally Kang got control of his seething emotions and nodded reluctantly. "I will follow your orders, Admiral. I wish to state, for the record, that your plan of battle is nothing more than the ravings of a lunatic!"

"So noted," said Karle. She slipped a cassette into the computer console in front of her position at the head of the conference table. "Now we'll quickly review what's happening on the surface of the Morning Planet, and the latest information from Star Fleet."

The Riga had arrived and the hospital ship Ontario was due in a few hours. Star Fleet shuttles were rush to and fro over the surface of the planet searching for more concealed shelters, of which two had already been found. Tragically, these shelters were empty and showed clear evidence of having been forced open and the residents and contents taken. A huge computer center was located from data downloaded from the computers shown to Spock by Aplixta. This new center was thought to contain all the data known by the Morning People of their nemesis, the Ebu.

"What about the Cholera?" asked Karle when the tape ended.

"Dr. McCoy reports that everything is proceeding well, and will be totally under control when the Ontario gets here!" said Kirk. "The Enteromycin is doing its job. Thank goodness we had some, and thank goodness Star Fleet is finally beginning to take all of this seriously!"

Karle smiled, somewhat ruefully. "Yes, well, let's not read too much into Star Fleet's actions. I've been around the hallowed halls of headquarters for a long time and I know how they think. I believe Star Fleet's focus is still elsewhere, that the situation here at the Morning Planet is just a means to an end for them!"

There was a silent moment at the table as everyone considered Admiral Karle's words. Kirk felt a little irritated at Karle for speaking in such a way in front of the Klingons, but then he supposed it really wasn't such a revelation. He, himself, had always maintained a somewhat na‹ve view of the workings of Star Fleet, and even an intimation that the organization of which he was a part was not as puritanical as he made himself believe did not go down so well.

Karle broke Kirk's train of thought. "Okay, let's get on with it. You've all heard Kang's report on his activities since he departed after the two alien ships. It was fairly certain we would be fighting these beings sooner or later. If everyone will pay attention to the nearest com screen I will run the tape that explains our battle plan. Be sure to acquaint your staff with this plan as soon as you can!" She glanced at her watch. "If Kang's conclusions are correct we have just under four hours to get ready!" The tape ran and Kirk took notes. He tried to fix in his mind the specifics of the operation, but in doing so his fears also were aroused. Maybe Kang was right! This was more than putting all their cards on the table, it was going to be like riding an unshielded warp core!

* * * * *

In the shelter located in the north polar region of the Planet of Morning the survivors were slowly being prepared for movement to a small town in the temperate region of the planet'' largest continent. Engineers from the Riga were busy constructing a pressure dome over the town so the poisoned atmosphere could be pumped out and replaced with fresh air, and the effects of the radiation could be eradicated prior to the arrival of the people who would call it home. In all, there were twelve hundred and thirty men, women, and children who, it was feared, were the sole survivors of a planetary population estimated to have been in excess of two billion.

For the Star Fleet personnel involved in this work there was more than a deep feeling of sympathy for the Morning People, there was also a pervasive sense of guilt that their help had come too late for so many.