Star Trek TOS: Ruse - Chapter Nine "Time's Running Out" (standard:Fan Fiction, 3271 words) [10/10] show all parts
Author: Kirk	Added: Aug 12 2006	Views/Reads: 2634/2063	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Damage assessment and plan of attack.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

the Fleet Commander. I'll do it in a heartbeat,” he said to his friend, 
letting him know from the look in his eyes that he was dead serious. 

Kirk thought this over. McCoy was right; besides, he wanted to be here
when Malloy regained consciousness. 

************ 

Security officer and now saboteur Jake Deeds sat in a corner, scared out
of his wits. Malloy had recruited him and two other security men. Their 
job was to take control of and damage weapons control. Most of the 
weapons crews were stunned and were still unconscious, but Chekov 
somehow eluded all three of them and was able to get control of a 
phaser. Chekov had killed the other two men before he realized the 
phaser was set that way. Now Chekov had it leveled at him from across 
the room. Sweat was streaking down Chekov's face from pain. He dared 
not allow Deeds to know that he had broken his leg badly when the three 
men initially jumped him. He heard the Captain call, but couldn't stand 
to reach the Comm. He looked at his thigh, saw blood flowing freely, 
and knew it was a very bad compound fracture. 

“Chekov, I won't move, just lower the phaser,” pleaded Deeds. 

“Shut up, you sick Cossack!” replied Chekov, as his hand began shaking
wildly from the pain. 

Deeds decided to make his move while Chekov was having problems. He
jumped from the corner, crossed the room and knocked the phaser out of 
Chekov's hand. 

Suddenly Deeds felt full of vigor and kicked the young Ensign in the
thigh area where blood was pooling, causing him to nearly pass out. He 
stepped over him and began a series of commands to load and detonate a 
photon while still in the tube. As he finished locking in the order, 
the doors to the room whooshed open and Sulu stood there with several 
armed escorts. 

As Deeds went to hit the button to detonate the photon, he stopped a
moment to say, “Long live The Romulan Star Empire!” Suddenly he was 
enveloped with phaser fire. He turned white and soon no longer existed 
as a coherent physical entity, as his molecules were broken down to the 
smallest level. 

“Who had their phaser set to ‘disintegrate'?” asked Sulu. 

A short woman in the front raised her hand. “Good job. Even if you
killed him, he still could have fallen on the button,” said Sulu, as he 
went to the controls and undid the order. 

The group checked on the dead and wounded. Sulu examined Chekov. He had
now lost a lot of blood and Sulu couldn't wake him. He hit the Comm, 
“Sulu to sick bay. There is a medical emergency in weapons control. The 
injured cannot be moved. Please respond.” 

“M'Benga here Mr. Sulu, we're on our way.” 

“Hang in there, Pavel,” said Sulu, as he held Chekov's near lifeless
hand. 

************ 

Kirk was lying on a diagnostic bed with a healing regenerator hovering
over him. Chekov was on a table next to him. M'Benga and McCoy were 
working on his leg feverishly. Several transfusion units were pumping 
blood into him, even as it was still coming out of his femoral artery. 

“He killed the other two conspirators. He saved the weapons room, Sir,”
said Sulu, as he ended his report. 

Kirk looked at the young officer fighting for his life. “Bones...” 

“Not now, Jim!” McCoy answered, tossing used instruments on a tray.
“There,... there!” There was a flurry of action, as M'Benga wielded the 
laser and McCoy held the severed pieces as they were repaired. 

“Yes, no, no, wait... okay, there, yes! That's it!” said McCoy, as
M'Benga turned the laser off. “Okay, we can set the bone and seal the 
leg.” 

“Bones!” 

McCoy sighed and turned to look at his friend and Captain. “We sealed
his artery. We can now fix the leg and seal the skin wound. He'll live, 
Jim.” 

Kirk closed his eyes and leaned back on the bed. He would have defended
the weapons room exactly the same way. This young officer was worth all 
the measures to save his life. “What is our status, Mr. Sulu?” 

“There have been no other incidents of attempted sabotage, Sir. The
auxiliary bridge is fully manned and Uhura has emergency manual monitor 
staffed and ready. Engineering is fully functional,” replied Sulu. 

“Has Uhura been able to raise the Excalibur?” 

“Yes, Sir. The explosive device onboard went off on the bridge, but
failed to crack the bridge dome. The third shift crew was killed, their 
bridge was damaged and the ship is being controlled the same as ours. 
Repairs are underway on their bridge and it's expected to be repaired 
by the time we reach Earth. Francis Malloy is in custody and he was 
unable to gain any other sympathizers,” explained Sulu. 

Kirk lifted his head to look at Fritz Malloy, who was still unconscious
on a bunk across from him. “Seems his brother was better at both. Has 
any other ship reported problems?” 

“No Sir.” 

“Report back to the auxiliary bridge and have Finney report to weapons.
Tell Spock I would like to see him when he has a moment.” 

“Yes, Sir,” said Sulu as he took one last look toward Chekov and headed
to the door. 

************ 

Captain's Personal Log, Stardate, 1739.2 my ship has been wounded. The
bridge has been destroyed. Six of my junior officers have died due to a 
spy in our midst. Not just a face in the crowd, but a traitor seated at 
the head table. My newest officer nearly lost his life defending 
weapons control. I, for one, am glad that I requested him at Starbase 
12. Carmela's ship suffered the same sabotage, killing six of her 
officers as well. Her traitor is behind bars. We're waiting for ours to 
regain consciousness. 

*** 

ENTERPRISE: 

"Jim?” 

Kirk realized that he had drifted off. His eyes focused on his first
officer. 

“Spock,” he said, waiting for the pain to hit in his side, but found it
to be only a dull ache. “I would like a full report.” 

“That is understandable. Where would you like me to begin?” asked his
first officer. 

“Sulu was by an hour ago and gave me a superficial report.” 

“That was nine hours ago, Jim,” chimed in McCoy, standing off to the
side, filling out a chart. 

“The bridge is uninhabitable. It has been powered down remotely and
sealed off until we can reach Starbase. All other systems and posts are 
operational. The ship is being controlled from the auxiliary bridge and 
Uhura is controlling communications and life support from emergency 
manual monitor. A redundant bridge and communication system is being 
set up adjacent to engineering. Mr. Scott reports all systems energized 
and ready. The Excalibur is reportedly ready and still in the process 
of repairing their bridge,” reported the half-Vulcan. 

Kirk lifted his head and noticed that Malloy was no longer across from
him. “Where's the son of a bitch that's responsible for all this?” 

“We fixed his face and jaw and he regained consciousness. He was sent to
the brig,” replied McCoy, who had joined Spock at bedside. 

“I want to talk to him,” said Kirk. 

Spock looked at McCoy and then cleared his throat. 

“What's wrong? I want to talk to him!” 

“He's dead, Jim,” said McCoy, looking at the floor. 

A look of shock came across Kirk's face. “How?” 

“I went to speak to him, Captain,” Spock said, feeling that the
situation warranted him to return to a formal mode. “He refused to 
answer any questions. I decided to use the Vulcan mind meld, but before 
I could administer it, he died.” 

“He had a level three stroke, Jim,” offered McCoy. “It was brought on by
an aneurysm caused by a kick to the head.” 

Kirk replayed his struggle with Malloy in his mind. “He was sabotaging
the ship!” 

“Jim! No one is accusing you of anything. Calm down!” said McCoy,
pushing him back down on the bed. 

Kirk calmed down and thought for a moment. “Have there been any other
incidents that I don't know about? Any other ships besides the 
Excalibur affected?” 

“Negative, Sir,” replied Spock. 

Kirk closed his eyes a moment and found himself drifting off again. His
eyes snapped open. “Bones, are you giving me something to make me 
groggy?” 

“What's the matter? Your eyes keep rolling up in your head?” asked
McCoy, putting down his clipboard. 

“Yeah, and I keep seeing two Spocks,” Kirk replied, trying hard to focus
on one of the First Officers in front of him. 

“Ones bad enough. Here,” said McCoy, as he gave Kirk a hypo. “That
should do it. I had you on a drug to accelerate the healing and dull 
the pain. It also causes drowsiness. This stuff will fix that.” 

Almost immediately, Kirk found his mind clearing, but also felt the pain
in his side come back with a vengeance. Then it came back to him. 
“How's Chekov?” 

“He lost a lot of blood. He was very lucky that his type is common. He's
in the next room with his thigh in a bone knitter. He should be able to 
leave here in a few days. Your rib has been knitted as well. You can 
leave when you can show me that you can stand the pain of sitting up 
and standing,” replied the doctor. 

“Why does it still hurt so bad?” asked Kirk as he slowly sat up. 

“I can fix the break, but the bruising has to heal on it's own. You have
a badly bruised sternum and rib cage. It's going to hurt for a few 
weeks. I can give you some pain killers that won't impair you, if you'd 
like,” McCoy stated, holding out a small container. 

“Thank you,” said Kirk, taking it and looking at the pills. 

“Just take one when you need it,” prescribed the doctor. 

Kirk opened the container and swallowed one dry. “Bones, do you happen
to know if Komack regained consciousness?” 

“The last report from Captain Diaz stated no change,” answered Spock,
rather than McCoy. 

“How much longer to Earth?” asked Kirk. 

“Five days, six hours, and thirty seven minutes,” replied Spock.
“Captain, I wish to state for the record, that Ensign Chekov should be 
put in for a special commendation for defending weapons control, three 
against one, and doing so while critically wounded. Although he failed 
to stop Deeds himself, he delayed him from finishing the sabotage until 
Sulu and his detail arrived.” 

“I intend to put him in for the Silver Leaf for Heroism.” 

Spock nodded his head. It is what he would have recommended as well. 

“Okay Spock, lets head to the auxiliary bridge,” said Kirk, as he slid
off the bed. Spock and McCoy watched as Kirk made a few tentative 
steps, and then moved toward the door. Spock followed. “Thanks Bones,” 
Kirk said, looking back in the doorway. “Do what you can for Chekov.” 

“You're welcome, and I don't see any problems with him,” answered McCoy,
hooking his thumb into the other room where Chekov was involved in a 
conversation with an attractive young nurse. 

“Humph,” said Kirk, looking in on his young officer. “These young guys
never miss an opportunity.” 

“Yeah, not like us old farts, right Jim?” answered McCoy, as he watched
another young nurse with a rather nice pair of legs walk by. 

“Speak for yourself,” replied Kirk, as he admired the young woman as
well. 

EXCALIBUR: 

Carmela was extremely relieved to learn that Jim was okay. She had just
returned from the brig interrogating Francis Malloy. He was a tough nut 
that refused to crack. It wasn't until the word came of his brother's 
death that he broke down and started to talk. It seems it was all 
Fritz's idea to plan the sabotage. His cousin on the Hood was easily 
duped into participating, but acted prematurely in his own attempt, 
killing himself and several crewmen for basically no reason. Unlike 
Fritz, Francis was unable to convince any of the other security 
personnel on the Excalibur to turn traitor. Francis also admitted to 
poisoning Admiral Komack. 

At one point of her interrogation, Francis had begun crying, wondering
what Diaz was going to do to him. She lost it. She grabbed the 
blubbering traitor and dragged him to the nearest air lock, tossed him 
in, and began the cycle to depressurize it. It took three security men 
to stop her from opening the outer door and jettisoning him into space. 
As she was restrained, and Malloy was lead back to his cell, she told 
him, “You're a dead man, traitor!” 

It was now, sitting in her quarters, that she realized that she had made
a mistake. She shouldn't have said anything to him at all. She was 
going to have him strapped to the first photon torpedo shot at the 
Romulans. She leaned forward and opened a channel to her Comm officer. 
“This is Diaz. Open a channel to the Enterprise.” 

ENTERPRISE: 

“Captain, there is an encrypted signal coming from the Excalibur for
you,” said Uhura over the Comm system, from emergency manual monitor. 

“Pipe it down, Lieutenant,” answered Kirk, still trying to get used to
his make shift chair and the cramped quarters in the auxiliary bridge. 

“Excalibur to Enterprise, Captain Kirk please respond,” said Diaz. 

“Go ahead, Captain,” answered Kirk in front of his crew. 

“I've gotten a full confession from Malloy. There are no other saboteurs
that he knows of. He also admitted to poisoning the Admiral.” Diaz 
lowered her voice. “I'm sorry about your bridge officers and the bridge 
itself.” 

Kirk stiffened. “Yes, I hand picked them for their abilities. They were
part of Star Fleet's future,” he replied, thinking of Chekov as well. 

“Yes, mine were as well,” she answered, reminding Kirk that six of her
own junior officers lost their lives. 

Kirk leaned into his Comm and asked, “Carmela, are you okay?” 

“Yes,” came the one word reply. 

Kirk bristled a bit with the rebuff. “Status report please.” 

“The bridge will be repaired in one solar day. All systems operational,”
she replied. 

“Thank you, Captain,” he replied, and closed the channel. He looked
around the room to see if anyone had noticed the rebuff. No one looked 
in his direction. Good. “Sulu, how long before we reach Earth?” 

“Four days and twenty three hours,” he replied. 

“Captain, don't you think it may be time to let Earth and Vulcan in as
to what may be happening?” asked Spock. 

“No, it's still too early. There may be nothing happening at this point.
They may have detected us and turned back for all we know. I do not 
want to tip our hand,” explained Kirk. 

Spock was feeling nervous. Something he wouldn't admit, even to himself.
He bit his lower lip without realizing it. There were only seven 
starships attempting to defend Earth where there may be dozens of 
Romulan ships. To make matters worse, Vulcan was being defended by only 
one starship. His planet, his Father and Mother, were vulnerable. If 
doctor McCoy were to ask him if he any feelings about that, the answer 
was no. But deep down, he was both worried and nervous. 

Kirk's Comm went off. “Yes, Uhura,” he said. 

“Commodore Wesley is on a secure channel,” answered his Comm officer. 

“Patch it through,” Kirk replied. 

“Sorry to break radio silence, but it is time to talk strategy, Jim,”
said his old friend. 

“Bob, I have it in my head, but I need to put it all down, with all the
contingencies, yet,” replied Kirk. 

“Time's flying, my friend. Soon the Earth will seem awful big in the
window. We need a coordinated plan.” 

“I know, I know. I'll start putting it down in the computer this hour,”
replied Kirk. 

“Okay. I have faith in you Jim. Komack picked you for this with strategy
in mind. Let's send them back to the stone age,” offered Wesley. 

“Thanks, Bob,” answered Kirk, as he closed the channel. 

“Spock?” asked Kirk. His first officer looked up from his display. “I
need you in the briefing room to go over the details of the fleet 
deployment.” 

Spock felt relieved and gratified that Kirk had finally decided to let
him in on his plan. Hopefully it wouldn't consist of the Fleet simply 
standing its' ground. 

************ 

Spock studied the computer graphic of Kirk's strategy. 

Brilliant. 

It was absolutely brilliant. 

It relied on the intelligence that the Enterprise gathered in its
encounter with the Warbird and the other encounters with the other 
ships afterward. 

Now he knew why he lost to his Captain in chess. Kirk knew logic just as
well as Spock. His ability to use emotions and illogical leaps were his 
strengthens. Logic works in a logical universe. As Doctor McCoy 
explained it, the universe is not entirely logical. 

Next: Chapter Ten - "Do You Know Who You're Talking To?"


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