Star Trek The Original Series From History's Shadow by Dayton Ward Page A

streaks of light blue, and a large oval pendant hung around her thin neck. Appearing older than Gejalik, this person stood before what Kirk at first thought might be a piece of abstract art. A closer look told him that it was some form of a wall-mounted control panel, a pattern of multicolored swirls not merely decorative but instead lookingto be the layout of controls and monitoring devices. As with the ship itself, its internal components seemed constructed with aesthetic form as well as function in mind.
    I’ll bet Scotty’d have a field day poking around over there .
    “Greetings,” he said, rising from the command chair and making his way around Sulu to stand before the viewscreen. “I’m Captain James Kirk of the Starship Enterprise . Are you in need of assistance?”
    On the screen, the Certoss female replied, “ Greetings, Captain Kirk. I am Minister Ocherab, of the Unified Envoy Vessel Balatir. I apologize for this rather unexpected meeting, but your sensing devices hopefully have determined that my ship carries no weapons, and that we intend no aggressive action toward you. ”
    From the science station, Spock said, “Captain, the library computer verifies that a vessel matching that name and description is in service to the Certoss planetary government. In fact, since formal first contact by the U.S.S. Endeavour, it has been used to ferry Certoss representatives to meet with Federation diplomats.”
    “Stand down from Yellow Alert,” Kirk said, satisfied with the report before returning his attention to Ocherab. “Minister, may I ask what brings you this way, and why you were on a course to intercept us?” It may have been his imagination, but he thought he detected what might pass for uncertainty or even embarrassment on the Certoss leader’s face as she looked down for a moment.
    “ Captain, I must confess that I do not understand all the aspects of my current mission, but the simple answer to your question is that my government directed my vessel to this region of space .” She appeared to falter, as though unsure of her own words, before continuing. “ Our original instructions were to rendezvous with your vessel and to seek out a meeting with you, Captain. At that time, no specific time or location was given, and this information was only relayed to me upon our arrival in this sector. However, it is my original orders that raise the most questions. ”
    Intrigued even though he was sure he understood at least part of Ocherab’s confusion, Kirk asked, “In what way, Minister?”
    As though deciding there was nothing to be gained by delaying any more, the Certoss straightened her posture as she gazed out from the viewscreen. “ Captain, I know this will sound odd, but the reason we are here is because we were directed to this location, at this point in time, in order to pick up a passenger reportedly in your custody. This individual is of great interest to our science ministry, owing to the fact she dispatched a message to Certoss Ajahlan .” She paused, looking to someone or something offscreen before nodding. “ As you measure it, her message was sent three centuries ago .”
    “Three centuries?” Kirk repeated, forcing his expression to remain neutral.
    It seemed the day was not yet done being odd.

SIX
    Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
    April 21, 1952
    Staring at the handwritten letter for the third time, his eyes tracing each character’s curves rendered in a style as familiar to him as his own hand, James Wainwright felt his teeth clenching as sadness welled up within him.
    I know your work is important to you, and you’re driven by your duty. It’s one of the many things I’ve always loved and admired about you, but I’m tired of being the second most important thing in your life. I know this wasn’t always true, and I don’t know what’s changed, but I know that I just can’t tolerate it anymore.
    “Sir?” a voice called out, soft and tentative. “Are you