The Rings of Tautee Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Dean Wesley Smith
never seen before. The lines and ridges in KerDaq's face were more pronounced than those of most Klingons Kirk had met. He and KerDaq had crossed each other's path only once before, without problems, at a Federation/klingon conference. For a Klingon, KerDaq was reasonable. If he belonged to any other species, he would be considered truculent.
Unfortunately, KerDaq was as good as Klingons got.
"Captain Kirk," KerDaq said, his speech slow and slightly accented. It was also tinged with sarcasm. "I should have known you'd be involved with this."
"A pleasure, as always, Commander," Kirk said, not letting himself be baited. He knew Klingons.
They always came on strong and didn't respect weakness of any kind.
"Save your pleasantries," KerDaq said.
"I do not discuss small things with people who would destroy an entire star system."
For a moment Kirk didn't totally register what KerDaq had just said. Then it sunk in. KerDaq was blaming the Federation for this destruction. Kirk couldn't let that stand.
"If you believe that the Federation had something to do with the destruction of this system," Kirk said, "you are wrong. Check your own records. We just arrived."
"A ploy," KerDaq said.
"Is it?" Kirk asked. "Or is this all a ploy on your 41 Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch part to cover your use of that secret weapon we've heard so much about?"
KerDaq looked stunned for a moment; then his face colored. Before he could say anything, Mr. Spock said, "Another wave, Captain. Five seconds."
"I would suggest," Kirk said to KerDaq, "that you hang on to something solid."
The subspace wave struck the Enterprise as Kirk sat down in his command chair and held on. The thin padding bounced against his already bruised back. He'd been on an old roller coaster back near San Francisco on Earth. This felt a lot like it, only with grinding and tearing sounds. For just a moment the lights dimmed, then they came back up strong.
"Hold it together, Scotty," Kirk said too softly for anyone to hear.
On the screen Kirk saw KerDaq stumble as the wave hit, then grab on to one of the huge support pillars running through the Klingon bridge. He held on there, sneering at Kirk until the wave had passed, then let go.
"Kirk," he said, moving a step closer to the camera so that his face filled the screen. "If you and your Federation destroyed this system, you will pay. I will be watching."
With that the screen went blank.
Kirk tilted his head slightly, a bit bemused that he had ever thought KerDaq reasonable. Then he turned to Spock. "I don't think that went very well."
"Obviously," Spock said. 42 THE RINGS OF TAUTEE "The Klingons have moved a short distance away," Chekov said. "They are holding positions."
The screen once again showed the destruction throughout the Tautee system. The rings were expanding slowly, the rocks and asteroids spreading in an ever-lengthening band that would eventually encircle the sun.
Kirk clenched a fist. It was time to get on with what they were here for. The Klingons could watch all they wanted, as long as they stayed out of the way.
"Mister Spock," Kirk said. "I need to know what's causing those subspace waves. And I need a way to rescue those survivors."
Mr. Spock glanced at him. "That will take some time, sir."
"We don't have time, Mister Spock." Kirk glanced at the destruction spread out in front of him. "And I doubt those survivors do either."
Chapter Seven FOLLE DIDN T COME BACK.
Prescott released the restraints on her chair, but kept a grip on one arm. She had sat in the semidarkness for hours waiting for him. She had expected him to return, telling her that the signal wouldn't work, or that the attempt was in vain.
Instead, he was gone.
On a deep level, one she didn't want to examine, she was afraid that something had happened to him. Strange that the thought of his death disturbed her so personally. He would be one more body, one more corpse on her head.
Nothing more.
But he was Folle, and
Unfortunately, KerDaq was as good as Klingons got.
"Captain Kirk," KerDaq said, his speech slow and slightly accented. It was also tinged with sarcasm. "I should have known you'd be involved with this."
"A pleasure, as always, Commander," Kirk said, not letting himself be baited. He knew Klingons.
They always came on strong and didn't respect weakness of any kind.
"Save your pleasantries," KerDaq said.
"I do not discuss small things with people who would destroy an entire star system."
For a moment Kirk didn't totally register what KerDaq had just said. Then it sunk in. KerDaq was blaming the Federation for this destruction. Kirk couldn't let that stand.
"If you believe that the Federation had something to do with the destruction of this system," Kirk said, "you are wrong. Check your own records. We just arrived."
"A ploy," KerDaq said.
"Is it?" Kirk asked. "Or is this all a ploy on your 41 Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch part to cover your use of that secret weapon we've heard so much about?"
KerDaq looked stunned for a moment; then his face colored. Before he could say anything, Mr. Spock said, "Another wave, Captain. Five seconds."
"I would suggest," Kirk said to KerDaq, "that you hang on to something solid."
The subspace wave struck the Enterprise as Kirk sat down in his command chair and held on. The thin padding bounced against his already bruised back. He'd been on an old roller coaster back near San Francisco on Earth. This felt a lot like it, only with grinding and tearing sounds. For just a moment the lights dimmed, then they came back up strong.
"Hold it together, Scotty," Kirk said too softly for anyone to hear.
On the screen Kirk saw KerDaq stumble as the wave hit, then grab on to one of the huge support pillars running through the Klingon bridge. He held on there, sneering at Kirk until the wave had passed, then let go.
"Kirk," he said, moving a step closer to the camera so that his face filled the screen. "If you and your Federation destroyed this system, you will pay. I will be watching."
With that the screen went blank.
Kirk tilted his head slightly, a bit bemused that he had ever thought KerDaq reasonable. Then he turned to Spock. "I don't think that went very well."
"Obviously," Spock said. 42 THE RINGS OF TAUTEE "The Klingons have moved a short distance away," Chekov said. "They are holding positions."
The screen once again showed the destruction throughout the Tautee system. The rings were expanding slowly, the rocks and asteroids spreading in an ever-lengthening band that would eventually encircle the sun.
Kirk clenched a fist. It was time to get on with what they were here for. The Klingons could watch all they wanted, as long as they stayed out of the way.
"Mister Spock," Kirk said. "I need to know what's causing those subspace waves. And I need a way to rescue those survivors."
Mr. Spock glanced at him. "That will take some time, sir."
"We don't have time, Mister Spock." Kirk glanced at the destruction spread out in front of him. "And I doubt those survivors do either."
Chapter Seven FOLLE DIDN T COME BACK.
Prescott released the restraints on her chair, but kept a grip on one arm. She had sat in the semidarkness for hours waiting for him. She had expected him to return, telling her that the signal wouldn't work, or that the attempt was in vain.
Instead, he was gone.
On a deep level, one she didn't want to examine, she was afraid that something had happened to him. Strange that the thought of his death disturbed her so personally. He would be one more body, one more corpse on her head.
Nothing more.
But he was Folle, and
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