STAR TREK - TOS - The Brave and the Bold - Book One

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TheBraveAndTheBoldBookOne This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents

are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or

locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon amp; Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York,

STAR TREK is a Registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures. This book is published by Pocket

Books, a division of Simon amp; Schuster, Inc., under exclusive license from Paramount Pictures.

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POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon amp; Schuster, Inc.

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On 11 September 2001, I was in the midst of writing Part 1 of this book when the World Trade Center

and the Pentagon were brutally attacked. The WTC was destroyed, killing thousands, and scarring the

skyline of my hometown forever.

This book is sadly but emphatically dedicated to those whose lives were lost on that awful day.

Prelude Discovery

2151

This portion of the story takes place shortly before the Enterprise first-season episode Breaking the Ice.

Chapter One

C APTAIN , I believe you should come down to see this.

The captain of the Enterprise smiled at what almost sounded like enthusiasm coming from his Vulcan

science officer, filtered through the intercom speakers in his quarters.

See what, TPol? Captain Jonathan Archer asked. He was currently kneeling on the floor, scratching his

beagle Porthos behind one floppy ear.

I believe that we have found evidence that this planet is, in fact, the homeworld of the Zalkat Union.

The planet to which the Vulcan sub-commander referred was Beta Aurigae VII. Enterprise, the still

largely experimental flagship of Earths nascent Starfleet space service, had been given a mandate to

explore new worlds, and the Beta Aurigae system was full of them. The seventh planet even had an

oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere (what the Vulcans referred to as a Minshara-class planet), so Archer had

authorized TPol to lead a team to explore the surfaceafter a thorough scan, naturally. Archer had made

the mistake of not making sufficient preparations for visiting an Earth-type world once, and several

members of his crew almost paid for that with their lives. Jonathan Archer liked to think that he learned

from his mistakes.

They had not detected any sentient animal lifeindeed, the largest animal theyd been able to detect was an

insectnor anything especially dangerous to humanoids. There was plenty of plant life, and the probe and

sensor readings indicated a scattering of refined metals and the remnants of a system of roads.

Let me guess, Archer said, standing upright, thus prompting a hurt look from Porthos, the Alley Cat

Unions another one of those races were not meant to know about yet? He reached for the cup of coffee

on the nightstand as Porthos started sniffing his boots.

Zalkat, not alley cat, Captain, and hardly, TPol said in the tone that Archer had come to recognize as the

one she used when he was being annoyingly human. As far as he could tell, those times were roughly

whenever Archer was awake. Sometimes, however, the teasing was impossible for him to resist, hence

his deliberate malapropism.

She continued Archaeological evidence of the Union has been found on several worlds throughout the

sectorand all of it indicates that the Unions heyday was over ninety thousand years ago.

Archer almost sputtered his coffee. Ninety thousand?

Yes, sir.

Wow. It took Archer a moment to wrap his mind around the number. Ninety thousand years ago, Homo

sapiens didnt even exist. What have you found?

The remains of a building that, as best I can tell, was recently unearthed. Ive been extrapolating the

weather patterns, and it would seem that erosion has been caused

TPol, he said with a smile, please tell me you didnt call to talk about the weather.

Excuse me? she said archly.

Archer sighed. Just give me the basics of what you found. Save the details for your written report.

A noise that Archer chose to interpret as static rather than a tcha of disapproval preceded TPols next

statement. We have found several items containing markings consistent with other Zalkatian artifacts, as

well as humanoid bone fossils that are consistent with those found at other Zalkatian sites. Ensign Sato

has also discovered a box.

A box? Archer prompted when no further details were forthcoming.

Yes, sir. Mr. Reed has been attempting to gain ingress to the box, thus far with minimal success.

What, blasting it open with a phase pistol didnt work? Archer said with a laugh.

No.

Archer blinked. TPol, I was kidding.

So was Mr. Reed when he first made the suggestion. However, after all other avenues were exhausted,

he did attempt to, as you so eloquently put it, blast it open. That proved as fruitless. The box is made of a

material impervious to coherent phased light.

After gulping down the remainder of his coffee, Archer asked, Whats the big deal about this box

anyhow? At Porthoss pleading look, Archer disposed of the coffee cup and then knelt down to scratch

the canine behind the ears some more. Youre not getting any cheese, so stop giving me that look, he said

to the puppy.

Sir?

Nothing, he said quickly. What about the box?

Ensign Sato has concluded, based on a very limited linguistic database that I provided, that the box

contains critical documents relating to Malkus the Mighty.

Dare I ask what Malkus the Mighty is?

Was, Captain. Several of the documents that have been recovered from Zalkatian sites have made

reference to Malkusapparently a tyrant who ruled for many years. Accounts have chronicled his reign at

anywhere from ten years to a thousand yearsthe former is more likely, though the latter more prevalent in

the accounts. The box is probably of the same tenor as most other documents relating to Malkus tributes

to his glory, accounts of his greatness, and other such emotional outpourings.

Grinning, Archer asked, Is that distaste I hear in your tone, Sub-commander?

Certainly not, TPol said indignantly.

In any case, youve sold me.

Sir?

Sounds like this is a major archaeological find. He cradled Porthos in his arms and then stood upright.

The dog made a happy bleating noise in response and licked Archers hand. Id like to get a good look at

it. Mr. Tucker, Porthos, and I will be on the next pod down.

Sir, I dont think its necessary for you to bring

Archer sighed as he interrupted. Are we going to start this again? Porthos is a beagle. Hes spent most of

his time sitting patiently in my cabin when every instinct in his little canine body pushes him to run yapping

all over the ship. Id say hes earned another chance to run free in the great outdoors for a while.

After a brief pause, TPol said slowly, If youd let me finish, sir, youd have known that I have no objection

to bringing your animal downassuming he is kept out of the main archaeological site we have established.

My objection was to the presence of Mr. Tucker.

I cant see whyyou two havent gotten into an argument for hours, Archer said dryly. You must be

suffering withdrawal.

I simply do not see what Mr. Tucker can contribute to the landing partyplus it would place Enterprise s

four seniormost crew members off-ship.

Travis can handle the conn while were gone. And Trips an engineer. Theyre good at opening things that

dont want to be openedin fact, thats a particular talent of Trips.

Really? The dubiousness practically dripped from TPols voice.

Really. Well be down within the hour. Archer out. After cutting off that connection, he opened another.

Archer to Tucker.

Tucker here.

Howd you like to take a little trip, Trip?

There was a pause, then a snort of what might have almost been laughter. Capn, however long you been

waitinto use that lineyou shoulda waited longer.

It took Charles Trip Tucker all of forty-five seconds to open the box.

Malcolm Reed stared daggers at him. How in the hell did you do that, Commander?

Sorry, trade secret, Tucker said with his toothy smile.

Look, I went at that thing for the better part of an hour, Reed said, his normally dry face looking

positively sour. I think

Forget it, Malcolm, Archer said with a grin. Trips not one to reveal a trade secret.

As his security chief continued to regard his chief engineer with disdain, Archer looked around the dig

site. One of Reeds people had been detailed with keeping an eye on Porthos as he ran around a bushy

area. Archer, meanwhile, looked admiringly at a pile of stones that vaguely resembled pictures of Greek

ruins hed seen. The architectural style was completely different, of course, but it evoked the same feeling

of treading on ancient ground. Ninety thousand years, he thought, still in awe of the number. Once, this

barren, brown kilometer-wide patch of dirt was probably a thriving metropolis. Now there was nothing

but an assortment of rocks and broken trinkets. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair, he

thought, recalling the Percy Bysshe Shelley poem.

TPol had collected several itemssome seemingly ordinary pieces of rock, others that appeared to have a

particular shapeinto a sample case, each tagged with a notation written in the severe Vulcan script.

Archer instinctively wanted to rebuke her for that Enterprise was an Earth ship, so to Archers mind the

documentation should have been in an Earth languagebut he realized immediately how foolish that was.

The two people who were going to be spending the most time with the artifacts from this dig were TPol

and the ships linguist, Ensign Hoshi Sato. It mattered only that those two could read the notes. Their

reports would be in English in any case.

Speaking of the young ensign, she was now kneeling down in front of the box, pawing through its

contents, her hands clad in sterile gloves. I was right! These have the same markings as the box. She held

something up to TPol, who stood next to her. Archer leaned in close to see a very small cubebarely two

centimeters on a sidewith surprisingly elaborate markings, given its size. Sato easily held the cube

between her forefinger and thumb. See? That glyph is definitely the symbol for mighty, she added,

pointing to a marking on one side, then pointed to the opposite side, and thats the one for story. Its got to

be more of those Malkus Chronicles.

TPol, her hands also gloved, took the cube. The evidence does seem to point to that conclusion.

The word mighty shouldnt be a clue all by itself, Archer said. I mean, this Malkus guy cant have been the

only person to whom that word would apply.

Actually it is, Sato said sheepishly. See, that, she said, pointing to one corner of the glyph, indicates that

its a proper name, and belongs to a great personage.

TPol added, The word mighty written in that particular style has thus far been exclusively found in relation

to Malkus. It would seem that Ensign Satos hypothesis was correct.

Smiling, Sato stood up. Told you.

This is an even greater find than you might think, TPol said. These are a type of data storage. Other such

items have been foundmany of them fragments of the so-called Malkus Chronicles. Until now, however,

we have not found any units in such pristine condition.

They were certainly well preserved in that damn box, Reed muttered. Then, louder, he added, Actually,

thats probably why that box was so bloody hard to get into. If it was related to such an important figure

TPol nodded. That is a logical deduction.

Pristine or not, Archer said, it doesnt do us any good if we cant read it. I dont think we have anything on

board thatll interface with that thing.

Tucker walked over to the box. Lemme take a look at that.

Sato grabbed the box and moved it away from Tucker. Not until you get some gloves on.

Whoa there, Ensign Squeaky Clean, I took a shower fore I came down.

I dont care if you dipped yourself in a vat of decon gel, youre not touching my artifacts without gloves on.

Your artifacts? Tucker said with a laugh. You said they had this Malkus fellas name on em, not yours.

Malcolm, give the commander a pair of gloves, Archer said before the argument went on.

Fine, fine, gimme the damn gloves, Tucker said with a look at Sato. For her part, Sato continued to look

defiant. She had obviously taken a personal interest in this find.

Reed smiled as he went to the supply box, and said in a perfect imitation of Tuckers drawl, Keep your

shirt on.

Archer managed to maintain a straight face, as, naturally, did TPol. Sato had somewhat less discipline,

and burst into a giggle.

Tucker turned to Archer. Yknow, if I wanted abuse, I coulda stayed home. Next time, open yown damn

boxes. However, he took the gloves Reed profered a moment later, put them on, then looked at Sato.

May I?

Presenting him with the box, Sato said with a smile, Knock yourself out, Commander.

Tucker studied one of the cubes for several seconds, then said, I think I might be able to modify one of

the readers. Itll take a couple hours, thoughand Ill need to take one of these with me.

All right, take them back up to Enterprise, Archer said. TPol, go with him and give him a hand.

Captain, Sato said, request permission to go back

Deniedfor now, he added at the ensigns forlorn look. Once theyve rigged the reader up, then Ill want you

in orbit translating whats on these cubes, but until then, with TPol going back to the ship, I want you

down here cataloging what we find.

Yes, sir.

You will be remaining as well? TPol asked Archer.

The captain nodded. Not quite a first contact, but close enough for me. Id like to learn more about this

Zalkat Union. Besides, he added with a smile, Porthos could use a little more running-around time.

Five hours later, Archer took a pod back up to Enterprise, along with Reed, the rest of the

archaeological crew, a crate full of samples, and a very content beagle (who spent the entire trip from the

surface asleep in Archers lap). An hour prior to that, TPol had sent a pod down to fetch Sato, and by the

time Archer had settled back onto Enterprise, the two of them had a preliminary report for him.

The captain sat behind his desk. TPol stood calmly on the other side of the desk, while Sato was pacing

around the cramped space, seemingly ready to burst. Archer found it an amusing contrast.

TPol said, This chronicle is somewhat different from the others that have been unearthed.

It was written after Malkus was overthrown, Sato added excitedly.

I have to say, Ensign, Archer said with a smile, youre remarkably enthusiastic for someone whod never

heard of the Zalkat Union two days ago.

Its a fascinating culture, Captain, Sato said, now sounding a bit more sheepish. I could spend days just

listening to their languageit has so many layers and nuances. They took their words very seriously. And

their sculpturewhat we were able to unearth and what the sub-commanders shown me in some other

recordsits just amazing.

Smiling indulgently, Archer said, Continue your report, Sub-commander.

After a brief nod, TPol said, Ensign Sato is correct in that this chronicle was written after Malkus was

overthrown. In addition, it also provided the first evidence of how Malkus was able to rule for so long.

How long?

Apparently, and here, it seemed to Archer, TPol spoke with the greatest reluctance, he truly did reign for

the rough equivalent of one thousand years. Malkus had four items constructed which served as the

instruments of his rule. They were devices of impressive powerfar in excess of the Unions baseline

technology level.

Did he steal the technology from another spacefaring power?

Unknownand unlikely. Based on the descriptions that Ensign Sato and I have translated, it is in keeping

with the Unions technology curve, simply farther along on that curve than the rest of the Union of that era.

To give an Earth analogy, the creator of these devices was the Zalkatian equivalent of Leonardo daVinci.

Unlike da Vinci, however, who could not construct the ornithopter he designed, Malkus was able to

provide the material for these devices to be created.

So what do they do? Archer asked, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

One was capable of controlling the weather, one imparted a fatal virus, one served as an immensely

powerful energy weapon, and the final device could be used to channel telepathy.

Archer sat up. Mind control?

Yes, sir.

Basically, Sato said as she paced back and forth past the images of other, older ships named Enterprise

on the office wall, he could force people to do what he wanted, and if they still didnt obey, they had their

choice of dying by disease, tornado, or being blasted into oblivion.

Thats quite a combination. Archer knew his words didnt do their meaning justice. He thought back to the

tyrants of human history, and imagined what Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf

Hitler, or Colonel Green would have done with even one of those devices, much less all four. Hell, he

thought, any sufficiently crazed Japanese shogun or Russian czar would have a field day. So what

happened to the devices after Malkus was overthrown? He snorted. For that matter, how was he

overthrown?

We havent found that part, yet, Sato said. She had moved to stand next to TPol. Captain, each of the

cubes we found had different things on it, but the information were giving you about Malkuss devices is

on all of them. I think thats why the box was so well preservedthe Zalkatians wanted someone to find

these chronicles in the future.

Why?

TPol said, As a warning. The devices proved impossible to destroy. According to the chronicle, they

tried every method they could imagine, including dropping the devices into a sun.

That didnt work either? Archer asked, surprised.

No. The devices were able to resist the gravitational forces of the sun and drift back out, unscathed.

However, the Zalkatians could not risk another possessing even one of them, much less all four.

Smart move. So whatd they do?

Spread them to the nine winds, Sato said with a grim smile. She started pacing again. The Zalkat Union

was huge, Captain. It included parts of the galaxy were probably never gonna see in our lifetime. And the

rebels buried them in four different places on the outskirts of their territory.

Where?

That information was deliberately withheld, TPol said, in order to keep anyone from finding them. The

only definitive information is that they are in four separate locations and that they are simple black boxes.

A wry smile played across Archers face. The Zalkatians have a thing for ordinary-looking boxes, dont

they?

Sato also smiled.

TPol, of course, did not, but simply went on as if Archer hadnt commented. This rather generic

formmakes recognizing the devices visually difficult. However, the devices do give off a distinctive energy

signature when theyre active. That signature is encoded into all of the cubes we found, and can easily be

programmed into Enterprise 'ssensors.

Archer stood up. We need to do more than that.

Sato frowned. Sir?

Think about it, Ensignwere not the only ship out here. More to the point, were not the last Earth ship to

explore; were the first. If someone comes across one of these devices when its active, they need to know

what it isespecially if theyre so unassuming looking.

The look of trepidation on Satos face showed that she was thinking about it now, and understood the

potential danger.

Ensign, prepare a message to Admiral Forrest. I want him to know everything you just told mealong with

my strong recommendation that the information about these devices be programmed into every Starfleet

ship and also be made available to any civilian ship.

TPol nodded what Archer guessed was an approving nod, and said, I would like you to prepare a similar

message to the Vulcan High Command, Ensign.

Archers eyes widened as an idea hit him. Actually, I think the recommendations to both Earth and Vulcan

should come from both of us, Sub-commander. And we might want to provide this information to the

Axanar, tooas a goodwill gesture to our new friends.

Another approving nod. An excellent idea, Captain. Enterprise had made first contact with the Axanar

only a couple of weeks earlier. At last report, diplomatic relations with them were going well.

Sato headed toward the door. Ill start preparing the message right away, sir.

One other thing, Ensign, Archer said. Sato stopped, her arm hovering over the door control. I also want

to recommend to the admiral that a general order is created that requires any Starfleet vessel that does

encounter this energy signature be ordered to confiscate the device immediately.

Yes, sir. Sato touched the control to open the door and departed.

Another excellent idea, Captain, TPol said.

Twice in one lifetime, Sub-commander, Archer said with a wide grin. When youre hot, youre hot.

Archer waited expectantly for some kind of comeback. When none was forthcoming, he realized that

TPol knew that Archer was expecting some kind of rebuke, and she had decided not to give him the

satisfaction of rising to the bait.

Well, I did bring her along to keep me on my toes. What say we head belowdecks so you can take a

look at the other goodies we dug up down there? Archer asked, heading for the door.

TPol nodded in acknowledgment. After you, Captain.

Part 1 The First Artifact

2266

This portion of the story takes place shortly before the Star Trek first-season episode Balance of Terror.

Chapter Two

S HE WAS PRETTY SURE the vacation sounded good when Alvaro suggested it. As the wind sliced

through her thermal suit and snow obscured her goggles, however, it didnt sound nearly as appealing at

the moment.

Pirennes Peak had gotten warm enough to be habitable to humans only in the last few years. It was

almost virgin territory. She had always liked hiking and climbing, and finding a new mountainous area of

Alpha Proxima II to explore was certainly tempting.

And it wasnt like she had anything better to do now.

Of course, habitable to humans was a relative term. Proxima was a colony world, after all, and, though it

was Class-M, no sentient life had ever evolved on it. That was, many felt, because it was so hot on most

of the surface. There were exceptions, of course the parts of the northern continent where the colony had

been founded and now, almost a century later, thrived; and the mountaintops, above the cloud layer,

where temperatures plunged to well below the freezing point.

After spending so long in the oppressive heat of Sierra City, she had thought she would welcome the

cold. It matched her mood.

Damn them all to hell.

Its normal, they said. This sort of thing always happens when someone new takes over, they said.

But someone new shouldnt have taken over, didnt they understand that? That job was hers, by every

right. Hers, dammit, and they had no right to take it away from her.

Take a vacation, they said. Youll feel better, they said.

Right now, she didnt feel better. She felt cold and miserable and like she was being attacked by wind and

snow and she wanted it to stop.

The path she was on would lead to the top of the peak. It had been cleared by the tourist bureau as a

way of encouraging hikers like herself to come to the peak. Unfortunately, the path made things too easy.

If she had had to work a bit harder to get up to the top by navigating the natural crevices and

outcroppings, she might have been able to actually accomplish what Alvaro had suggested keep her mind

off her recent misfortunes.

Misfortunes? Hell, it was thievery. That job was mine, dammit, mine ! They had no right!

She touched a control on the lining of the glove of her thermal suit. A display appeared on the inside of

her goggles, showing the route that would take her to the top. She then had the image pull back and

expand to show the entire region.

As she had hoped, there was another way to the top. It would take twice as long, and involve clambering

over ground much more treacherous than this pathincluding at least one section that, according to the

map, was covered in ice. But she was hardly in a rushit wasnt as if she had a job to go home toand shed

been in far more dangerous climbs when she was a child. This would be easy.

Half an hour later, sweat poured down her forehead, staining her goggles (which obediently cleaned

themselves), her arm and leg muscles ached from the exertion of climbing in the bulky suit, and she hadnt

thought about the misery her life had turned into for the entire time.

She paused, having found a small rock to sit on. Using one control to call up the map, she used another

to activate the water dispenser. As refreshing water poured through a straw into her dry mouth, she

looked over the display. Only about another twenty minutes or so, she thought. Had she taken the beaten

path, as it were, she would have been there ten minutes ago. She preferred this.

Ill just wait here for a few minutes, get my breath back, then go on.

The cold and the snow and the wind somehow didnt matter as much now. Finally, she had found

something to distract her. To make her forget her misery and what they took from her.

You can do better.

She sat up. Who said that? she asked aloud, not sure that anyone would even be able to hear her in the

fierce wind.

You can get revenge.

Now she stood up. Who is this?

I can help you.

Almost against her will, she found herself looking between the rock she sat on and the one next to it. She

squinted, and saw a faint green glow.

You can have your revenge. Just take me with you and everything you want will be yours.

Her arm just barely fit between the two rocks. She reached in, felt around near where the green glow

was. She felt the metal shape, which was warm even through the protection of her gloves.

Unfortunately, she couldnt fit it through the small space between the rocks. Indeed, she could barely fit

her hand through.

Consumed suddenly by an all-encompassing need to get the whatever-it-was out from between the

rocks, she clambered off the rock, got on her knees, and examined the space. The rocks were close

together, but the gap between them widened closer to the ground. They were also buried in snow.

Maybe if I dig down a bit, theyre farther apart!

No. Not maybe. They were farther apart. She just had to dig into the snow. Somehow, she knew this.

On her knees, the peak, the vacation, the climb, everything forgotten, she started to dig with her hands,

clearing away the snow at a great rate.

She had no idea how much time passed before she cleared out enough room to reach in between the

rocks and grab the item. But as soon as she had, she did so.

It was a black box. It felt amazingly warm in her hands.

Now you can have your revenge.

She smiled.

Yknow, I really hate the night shift, Dad.

Sitting in his quarters on the U.S.S. Constellation, Commodore Matthew Decker laughed at the image of

his son set in the desk monitor. Commander Willard Deckerwhom his father would have sworn was only

a child a week agosat in the operations center of Starbase 6, where he served as Admiral Borcks

adjutant.

Its space, son, its

always night, he finished, I know, I know.

Both father and son laughed. It was an old joke dating back to when Will was four. His parents had told

him it was time for bed because it was night. Even then, Will had been thinking about following his fathers

footsteps into Starfleet, and he had said, Mommy, Daddy, when I go to space Imna have to sleep all the

time. Cause, in space its always night!

Cmon, son, its only for another day.

I know, I know. I just prefer to be in the thick of things. Will leaned back in his chair and sighed. He

looked, his father had to admit, good in his gold shirt. Wont be long before he has a command of his

own.

Something on the console behind Will beeped. He brushed a lock of blond hair off his forehead and

checked the console. DamnIve got to take care of that. Ill talk to you later, okay, Dad?

Thats Commodore Dad to you, mister! Decker said with mock authority.

Will saluted sloppily. Yes, sir, Commodore Dad, sir ! Then he nodded. Starbase 6 out.

The monitor on Matt Deckers desk faded to black. The commodore leaned back in his chair. He was

proud of his son. The boys record was spotless. Truth be told, it was cleaner than his old mans, which

had enough reprimands to choke a sehlat. Matt Decker had clawed his way through the ranks. His

Academy professors had deemed him not fit to be command material. He came up through security, and

wasnt expected to advance all that far. Most of his commanding officers considered him to be

insubordinatethough never to the point of court-martialand overly opinionated.

No one was more surprised than he when Admiral Fitzgerald gave him his captains braid and command

of the Constellation all those years ago.

Will, though, was a Starfleet poster boy. Although Decker hadnt told his son this, the next high-level

starship first officer position to become available was probably going to go to Willard Decker.

The commodore got up and pulled his golden uniform shirt over his head. As he did so, he felt like all the

energy drained out of his bodyalmost as if the shirt had been keeping him awake. It had been another

long day on their two-week scientific mission examining the emissions from the neutron star in the Beta

Proxima system. His second officer, Lieutenant Guillermo Masada, had been pushing his people pretty

hard to get all the readings that they could before their next assignment three days hencethe

oh-so-exciting hosting of a diplomatic conference in the Crellis Cluster. Even as Masada had been

gathering enough sensor readings to challenge the storage capacity of the Constellation computer,

Deckers first officer, Commander Hiromi Takeshewada, had been working with security to get all the

details ready for the conference.

Bleary-eyed, Decker looked at himself in the mirror, scratching his rough, stubble-covered cheek.

Bridge to captain.

It was Masada. Decker was about to ask what he was still doing up, then realized it was a silly question.

Guillermo has hardly slept since we warped into Beta Proxima.

Thumbing the intercom on his desk, he said, Decker here. Then he winced, realizing how slurred his

words were. He wondered if he had sounded that bad when talking to Will.

Sir, were picking up a distress call from Alpha Proxima II.

In an instant, he was wide awake. Alpha Proxima was almost literally the star system next door to the

Constellation 'spresent location, so they were ideally situated to respond to the call. Specifics?

Medical emergencysome kind of plague has broken out. Thats all weve got.

Thats enough. Set a course, maximum warp, and have Commander Takeshewada and Dr. Rosenhaus

report to the bridge. Ill be right up. Decker out.

Sir, I

Decker thumbed the intercom off before Masada could finish the sentence. He knew that tone in his

science officers voice. He was going to try to talk Decker out of changing course until they had more

information so he could squeeze more sensor readings out of the neutron star. But the star wasnt going

anywhere, and he had a duty to respond to the medical emergency immediately.

Throwing his shirt back on, he went out into the corridor, rubbing the sleep that had already started

collecting in his eyes. I havent even gone to bed yet, and I feel like I just woke up.

He approached the turbolift just as Hiromi Takeshewada did likewise from an adjacent corridor. Decker

nodded down at her by way of greeting. Decker was a tall man, relatively broad shouldered, and starting

to get the inevitable paunch that all the men in his family got after they hit fifty-five. In complete contrast,

the slim Takeshewada only came up to Deckers shoulder. Where Deckers lined (and, at the moment,

stubbly) face had all his years etched on it, Takeshewadas porcelain-like features probably allowed her

to still pass for a cadet. Some had even been foolish enough to not take her completely seriously because

of thatthough never twice.

Right now, she looked as tired as Decker felt. I take it you were roused out of bed, Number One?

Decker said with a smirk.

Not quite, she said. I was heading for bed. I could see my bed from where I was standing when

Guillermo called me. But no, I didnt actually make it to the bed. As the turbolift doors opened and they

entered, she looked up at Deckers face. So you gonna grow that beard, or what?

Decker chuckled as he grabbed the turbolifts handle and said, Bridge. Takeshewada had been on him to

simply grow a beard. Decker hadnt been entirely comfortable with the idea, but he also hated shaving.

Still thinking about it.

As soon as the doors opened to the bridge, Decker noticed that any signs of fatigue were erased from

Takeshewadas smooth features. Nodding his approval, they both entered the Constellation 'snerve

center. Report, Takeshewada said to Masada, who had been sitting in the command chair, and vacated it

for Decker.

Masada, whose normally well-trimmed beard was now thick enough to obscure his lips, ran his hand

over his receding salt-and-pepper hair as he moved to the science console. Alpha Proxima II reports that

a plague of some kind has broken out and they need medical attention. Like I told the commodore, thats

all the detail weve gotten so far.

As Decker sat in his command chair, Yeoman Guthrie appeared at his side with a cup of coffeemilk, no

sugar. Decker accepted the cup with a grateful smile.

Takeshewada walked to the console directly behind Decker, where the night-shift communications

officerwhose name Decker could not for the life of him remembersat pushing several buttons. Before the

first officer could say anything, the young ensign said, Ive been trying to raise Proxima since we received

the distress signal, Commander. They have yet to respond.

Have any other ships answered the distress call?

He nodded. The Enterprise.

Decker turned around. Isnt that Chris Pikes ship?

No, Jim Kirk has her now, Takeshewada said. Has since Pike was promoted to fleet captain.

Grunting, Decker turned to the navigation console. ETA to Proxima?

The helm officer, another fresh-faced young officer Decker didnt recognize, said, Twenty minutes, sir.

Something wrong, Ensign? Takeshewada said.

Decker turned to see that the comm officer looked vexed, which had prompted the first officers question.

The communications officer touched the receiver in his ear. Im not sure. The comm traffic on Proxima is

tremendous, but none of it is on the official frequencies. In fact, the official government channel is dead.

As he spoke, the turbolift doors opened to reveal the smooth, unlined face of Dr. Lewis Rosenhaus. Only

a few years removed from his graduation with honors from Starfleet Medical, Rosenhaus had been

something of a prodigy. After Deckers previous chief medical officer retired a month ago, Admiral

Fitzgerald had all but forced Rosenhaus upon the Constellation, claiming he was one of the best. Deckers

sole impression of the young man so far was that he was a bit too eager. He also hadnt had to do much

beyond routine physicals to acquaint himself with his four hundred new patients. I suspect, Decker

thought with some trepidation, that this will be a test for him. Lets hope to hell he passes it. Idly, he

wondered who the Enterprise CMO was, and hoped it was a more experienced hand.

His presence led to some chuckling around the bridge, as the doctor hadnt bothered to change into

uniform, and his wavy red hair was sticking up in all directions. He was still wearing his pajamassilk,

Decker noticed, or something similar.

Whats happening? the young man asked. Lieutenant Masada said it was some kind of medical crisis.

We dont have any details yet, Doctor, Takeshewada said. So far, all we know is that Alpha Proxima II

has been hit with a medical emergency of some kind.

That could be anything, Rosenhaus said prissily.

The word plague was used, Doctor, Decker said. Does that help?

Not especially, no. Hard to prepare sickbay when I dont know what to prepare it for.

Takeshewada turned to Masada. Talk to me about Proxima, Guillermo.

Masada reached behind his head and yanked on his ponytail, which he always did right before giving a

report. Your basic Class-M planetpart of the big colonization push after warp drive was discovered,

made part of the Federation, gobby gobby gobby. Nothing particularly notable.

Decker could hear the undercurrent in Masadas voice, and knew he was dying to add, Unlike, say, a

neutron star. Guillermo, knock it off.

Sounding nonplussed, Masada said, Sir?

We know youre angry about cutting the neutron star survey short. Get over it and give a proper report.

Straightening in his chair, Masada pulled on his ponytail again. Yes, sir, he said quickly, and peered into

his sensor hood. Blue light shone on his features as he read off the data contained therein. Alpha Proxima

II was colonized in 2189 by the S.S. Esperanza. They set up two cities, both on the northern continent.

In fact, the northern polar regions the only place thats really comfortable for humansrest of the planets

either too hot or covered in water. Current population is about one million four hundred thousand. The

government consists of a planetary council run by a chief speaker, and they also have representation on

the Federation Council. He looked up. You want their chief exports?

Chuckling, Decker said, Ill pass, thanks.

Then Masadas console beeped. What the?

Report, Takeshewada said.

Masada peered back into the sensor hood. Thats weird. He looked up at Takeshewada, who was now

standing behind him. Were picking up an energy signature from Proxima, one that triggered a flag in the

computer relating to Starfleet General Order 16.

Decker frowned. I dont remember that one.

Neither do I, Takeshewada said, sounding ashamed at the lapse.

Masada snorted. Honestly, if the computer hadnt just shoved it in my face, I wouldnt have remembered

it, either. But if this sensor reading is accurate, we may have stumbled across a deadly weapon.

What kind? Takeshewada asked.

Not sure, Masada said, shaking his head and starting to work his console, but Ill have something by the

time we get there.

Decker turned away from Masada and smiled. Now that he had a problem to solve, Masada was

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TheBraveAndTheBoldBookOneThisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareproductsoftheauthorsimaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualeventsorlocalesorpersons,livingordead,isentirelycoincidental.AnOriginalPublicationofPOCKETBOOKSPOCKETBOOKS,adivisionofSimonamp;Schuster,I...

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