Star Trek: The Original Series - 147 - Devil’s Bargain by Tony Daniel Page B
Authors: Tony Daniel
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afraid.”
“He speaks the truth,” put in Merling. “It’s a strong movement, perhaps a tenth of the people. It’s the twisted offshoot of a legitimate political faction. Exos concerns are represented in the Planetary Council by those who do not believe in their extreme methods. That’s not good enough for the hardcore. We believed we had the threat contained, but evidently not.”
“ I never thought it was contained,” said Faber. “I knew they were biding their time. But there are so many other things to consider, so much to worry about in the coming days, that frankly even now a terrorist attack is a side issue.” A light blinked on the chancellor’s computer and he excused himself to take the call. Hannah Faber followed Kirk and his companions out into the entrance foyer.
“I must go and assess the damage, Captain,” Hannah said.
Her professionalism in the face of utter chaos impressed the captain.
“Of course,” said Kirk. “We can help. I can have the ship transport you there.”
Hannah turned to Kirk, a look of relief in her eyes. “We don’t have transporters. This is why we rely on the sleds.”
“I have a big ship with a very big power plant. My transporter is at your command.”
“You would do this?”
“Of course, Hannah.”
“Then let’s go,” she said.
“You will take your bodyguards, Hannah,” Chancellor Faber said. He motioned to Hox and Ferlein to go and stand beside Hannah.
So that’s who those two goons are, Kirk thought. Apparently the Exos insurrection was quite dangerous, if it meant supporting a security force for the governmental representatives.
“If she goes they must be beamed with her, Captain.”
“That’s fine,” Kirk said. “But let’s hurry.” Kirk wasted no time calling in the coordinates and having him, Spock, and Hannah transported to the number seven tunnel entrance. Doctor McCoy stayed behind to tend to the wounded at the government complex.
They materialized in the foothills of the mountains. Tunnel seven proved to be the same underground complex they had toured. Before them was a scene of devastation. The enormous door had been blown partially off its hinges. The ceiling had collapsed within. Hanging electrical wires were sparking, adding what light there was to the smoking darkness. Rescue crews were only now arriving, and Hannah began immediately to direct them.
While Kirk watched the young woman take charge, Spock stepped up to him and spoke: “Captain, if this was a terrorist attack—and there is every indication that it was—then it would be logical to assume that there may be a secondary strike.”
“Someone may have planted another bomb to go off once the cavalry is here.”
“Precisely,” said Spock.
“Check for whatever the signature of explosive devices might be and I’ll notify the ship to perform a sensor sweep.”
“It could be very difficult to isolate the reading.” Spock worked the controls on his tricorder.
“What do you suppose set off that series of explosions? We felt one over a hundred kilometers away. If they were pre-timed, there would have to be a signal. Do you have anything from just before the explosion on the tricorder’s passive records?”
Spock quickly scanned the device’s memory bank. “I believe I have isolated it, Captain. There was a strong electromagnetic pulse at 694.29 gigahertz.”
“They probably won’t use the same frequency to set off a secondary device, but bomb makers frequently rely on the same methods.”
“It stands to reason that a broad-spectrum pulse of sufficient strength would set off any remaining devices. An even stronger electromagnetic pulse would burn the activating circuit out. My tricorder is not powerful enough to achieve this aim, however.”
“No,” said Kirk, “but the Enterprise is.” He flipped open his communicator. “Scotty, I have an unusual request.” He then relayed the details to his chief engineer. “Can you do it?”
“Easy as a
“He speaks the truth,” put in Merling. “It’s a strong movement, perhaps a tenth of the people. It’s the twisted offshoot of a legitimate political faction. Exos concerns are represented in the Planetary Council by those who do not believe in their extreme methods. That’s not good enough for the hardcore. We believed we had the threat contained, but evidently not.”
“ I never thought it was contained,” said Faber. “I knew they were biding their time. But there are so many other things to consider, so much to worry about in the coming days, that frankly even now a terrorist attack is a side issue.” A light blinked on the chancellor’s computer and he excused himself to take the call. Hannah Faber followed Kirk and his companions out into the entrance foyer.
“I must go and assess the damage, Captain,” Hannah said.
Her professionalism in the face of utter chaos impressed the captain.
“Of course,” said Kirk. “We can help. I can have the ship transport you there.”
Hannah turned to Kirk, a look of relief in her eyes. “We don’t have transporters. This is why we rely on the sleds.”
“I have a big ship with a very big power plant. My transporter is at your command.”
“You would do this?”
“Of course, Hannah.”
“Then let’s go,” she said.
“You will take your bodyguards, Hannah,” Chancellor Faber said. He motioned to Hox and Ferlein to go and stand beside Hannah.
So that’s who those two goons are, Kirk thought. Apparently the Exos insurrection was quite dangerous, if it meant supporting a security force for the governmental representatives.
“If she goes they must be beamed with her, Captain.”
“That’s fine,” Kirk said. “But let’s hurry.” Kirk wasted no time calling in the coordinates and having him, Spock, and Hannah transported to the number seven tunnel entrance. Doctor McCoy stayed behind to tend to the wounded at the government complex.
They materialized in the foothills of the mountains. Tunnel seven proved to be the same underground complex they had toured. Before them was a scene of devastation. The enormous door had been blown partially off its hinges. The ceiling had collapsed within. Hanging electrical wires were sparking, adding what light there was to the smoking darkness. Rescue crews were only now arriving, and Hannah began immediately to direct them.
While Kirk watched the young woman take charge, Spock stepped up to him and spoke: “Captain, if this was a terrorist attack—and there is every indication that it was—then it would be logical to assume that there may be a secondary strike.”
“Someone may have planted another bomb to go off once the cavalry is here.”
“Precisely,” said Spock.
“Check for whatever the signature of explosive devices might be and I’ll notify the ship to perform a sensor sweep.”
“It could be very difficult to isolate the reading.” Spock worked the controls on his tricorder.
“What do you suppose set off that series of explosions? We felt one over a hundred kilometers away. If they were pre-timed, there would have to be a signal. Do you have anything from just before the explosion on the tricorder’s passive records?”
Spock quickly scanned the device’s memory bank. “I believe I have isolated it, Captain. There was a strong electromagnetic pulse at 694.29 gigahertz.”
“They probably won’t use the same frequency to set off a secondary device, but bomb makers frequently rely on the same methods.”
“It stands to reason that a broad-spectrum pulse of sufficient strength would set off any remaining devices. An even stronger electromagnetic pulse would burn the activating circuit out. My tricorder is not powerful enough to achieve this aim, however.”
“No,” said Kirk, “but the Enterprise is.” He flipped open his communicator. “Scotty, I have an unusual request.” He then relayed the details to his chief engineer. “Can you do it?”
“Easy as a
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