STAR TREK - TOS - 38 - The IDIC Epidemic

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Star Trek - TOS - Idic Plan
CHAPTER 1
Captain's log Stardate 4235.60
.....After our hostile contact with the unidentified vessel which tried to destroy us - and succeeded in
damaging irreparably all our dilithium crystals,in use and reserve, by an as yet unexplained,...
Kirk glanced at Spock, who was concentrating on analyzing the readings that were recorded
automatically during the attack
..energy field, we are cruising at 0.2 light speed to the nearest planet that Mr. Spock has detected up by
the long range scanners as being plausibly a rich source of dilithium minerals. At present we do not know
whether the planet has been charted by the Federation and we do not know if it is inhabited.
Jim paused, as he reflected on how often his log entry contained those words - if it is inhabited?. The
vibrations of the Enterprise, leisurely cruising at such a slow speed seemed unnatural to him; it just didn't
feel right. He noticeably missed the hum of the warp engines.
The noise of the turbo lift doors shook him out of his reverie. He would finish his log later, he decided
when he saw that it was an unusually grim Dr. McCoy that entered the bridge and made his way towards
him.
"Well?" Captain Kirk asked
McCoy shook his head wearily, but remained silent.
"Bones..!" Jim's voice pleaded
"I just don't know, Jim." Dr. McCoy looked even more miserable " He is stable, but..."
Chekov, who up to now was sitting quietly at his station, trying not to listen to the conversation going on
behind him, could contain himself no longer. With anguish in his voice he turned round and demanded:
"Dr. McCoy, will he live?"
At his station, Spock, his face hidden from view by the computer hood, winced slightly at the strong raw
emotions emanating from the normally reserved bridge crew. He tightened his mental block, preventing
further physical discomfort that he inevitably felt at such times. Then, composed again, he too looked
inquiringly at the doctor.
McCoy wished he could transport himself light years away. Away from these people he cared so much
about, away from all the responsibilities he carried as Chief Medical Officer aboard a starship. "Damn it I
am no magician!" he thought to himself, then realised that he MUST be one - that was part of his job.
"Chekov....he is stable, but the energy beam that hit him disrupted his cell structure pretty badly, and I
don't know how much of that can be recovered in time before permanent deterioration sets in."
" Stasis field?" Kirk asked
"That would delay deterioration, but it would also stop regeneration, Jim." McCoy paused, then
continued, while looking at Spock for confirmation. "If we could get him to Vulcan on time, the nerve-cell
regeneration field developed by Dr. Corrigan and healer Sorel(1), would help him recover."
Spock inclined his head in agreement.
Jim swore under his breath; 'On time! - They had no warp drive, at this rate Vulcan was over 60 years
away!'
"Keptin, may I wisit Sulu, pleaze?" The strongly accented voice of Mr Chekov broke the heavy silence
after McCoy's last pronouncement.
Jim looked at Bones, who nodded slightly.
It was highly unusual for an on-duty bridge personnel to request to leave his or her station for personal
reasons. But this was an unusual situation, and an over-emotional crew member was not going to perform
up to standard either.' Kirk thought as he got up and approached an apprehensive Chekov.
"Now, Mr. Chekov?" the Captain queried.
A thoroughly miserable looking Chekov nodded, then quietly added, " Yes Sir." He suddenly didn't care
whether this would compromise his career in Starfleet. Not when his best friend might not live.
"Very well, Mr. Chekov. Call Mr. Daniels to take over from you. Then you are relieved of duty, until
further notice."
Chekov felt a chill running down his spine "..till further notice.." So the Captain was not happy with him,
oh well, he had already made his decision... These unhappy thoughts kept running through his mind as he
paged his relief- officer. Then, with Dr. McCoy, he left the bridge for sick- bay.
---
Jim sat at his desk, a small glass of untouched brandy in his hand. He looked up from the golden brown
liquid in his glass into the deep dark brown eyes of his First Officer sitting opposite him.
"What do we know about this planet, Mr. Spock?."
"The information available to us is not very accurate, Captain. The Federation's first log of this planet is
from approximately 50 years ago. The planet, designated Pl1265, was then in a state of protracted
destructive war between its many tribal-like groups. It was decided then that the peoples of this planet
were not ready for contact with the Federation ,and the planet has been placed on interdict status 6b/sa.
Since then, the planet seems to have been forgotten by the federation authorities. There have been
unconfirmed contacts with the inhabitants of this planet by various free-traders."
"Didn't anyone stop these contacts, if an interdict status was in force?" Jim interrupted.
"Negative. When Star Fleet did not intervene in the first instance, the number of contacts increased in
frequency. It is known that even Vulcan merchants have been to Pl1265, which is now evidently at
peace." Spock paused, raised an eyebrow and continued, "No one, however, who has been there seems
forthcoming about the planet."
"So we have to break General Order 1, if we go there, Spock."
"Negative, Captain."
"What? How so?"
"The order of no contact has expired 13 months ago, and has not been renewed. As I said before, it
seems to be a forgotten planet, at least by Star Fleet."
"Well, at least that's one thing in our favour, Spock. Have you seen Sulu recently?"
"Forty five minutes ago. I initiated a mind meld."
Jim looked surprised at that information.
"Dr. McCoy wanted to know how aware Mr. Sulu was, Captain." elaborated Spock at Jim's surprised
look.
"And...?"
"He is quite aware, Captain." Spock said softly.
"You mean, he is fully conscious, but can't communicate?" asked Jim with concern in his voice.
"Yes, he is awake and fully conscious but he cannot hear, see or feel anything. Apart from within his
brain, all neural transmission has ceased. He is undergoing total sensory deprivation." At the anguished
look on his Captain's face, Spock hastened to add, "He does not feel any pain. And I will mind touch him
every day, Jim, to prevent insanity."
"Won't that be uncomfortable for you, Spock?
"Jim, it is not a full mind meld like we have...occasionaly....shared. It is sufficient to touch Sulu
telepathically, to ease his...alonness." Spock finished and wished that this conversation was over. He
knew that Jim was distressed by the occurrences over the past few days however, and therefore let his
personal shield slip a little, acknowledging openly his friendship to this special human.
Jim Kirk was aware of Spock's support and appreciated it. He was about to take advantage of this rare
openness when the terminal beeped for attention. At the beep, Spock's demeanour changed and his calm
efficient First Officer replaced the deep and sensitive friend the Vulcan could be to his Captain.
Jim flicked on the communications on his console. The face of Mr. Yehudy Offer, the replacement
helmsman appeared before him.
"Yes Lieutenant Offer, what is it?" Jim tried to keep the annoyance from his voice at the illogical
disappointment he felt at being interrupted and not seeing Sulu at the helm.
"Captain, you asked to be notified when we come into visual contact with the planet."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Offer, we'll be on the bridge momentarily." With a flick of the hand Jim switched
communications off.
"Well, Spock, let's hope we have something to trade with these people." He said, raising from the chair,
regarded the untouched brandy for a moment and, followed by Spock, hastened to the bridge.
---
Lieutenant Offer frowned as the communication with his Captain was cut off. Although Sulu was his
superior, he was also his friend. And it felt unfamiliar to be on duty on the bridge during the main shift,
without Sulu's and Chekov's presence. He glanced surreptitiously at the navigator seated beside him,
Ensign LaPierre. A woman of great beauty, but also of inflexible convictions that have often led to heated
disagreements between the two of them. It was Sulu who would, in his cheerful manner, quieten things
down between them, before they could get out of hand. Now they had to work side by side. He hoped
that they both were professional enough, to do that without the near hatred that LaPierre felt for him
surfacing. No, not hatred for him as such, but for what he believed, and did not hide. He could not
understand that LaPierre had managed to get into Starfleet, with her inflexible outlook on things, her
belief that all other but her own ideology was inferior. Her belief that any beings but her own were lower
on the scale.
He had asked her once, what she was doing on a Starship, with its multi-racial complement, and its
ideology of contacting new races. He was rendered speechless by her reply: I am here to observe the
unfortunate inferiors, like you, and where possible to show them The Way.
The bridge doors opened and closed behind him. He felt, rather than saw, the presence of the
commanding and executive officer on the bride.
"Status report, Mr. Offer."
"We are 22.07 minutes from attaining orbit, Captain."
Captain Kirk settled himself in his chair, and regarded the approaching planet on the screen. Most
planets looked tranquil and calm from space, regardless what was happening on their surface, but this
planet looked different. Spaceships of varying designs, colours and sizes were in orbit round the planet, in
a rather disorderly manner.
"Mr. Spock?" Jim looked towards the science station.
"There are 34,..." Spocks eyebrow rose, he hesitated then turned round to face his Captain "point-36
ships in orbit, Captain, and two approaching, including the Enterprise."
Jim looked with consternation at his Science Officer.
"Point 36 ships!?! Mr. Spock, is that a joke?"
"Captain, there is no need to be insulting." Spock said levely. "Sensor analysis shows that the mass of
orbiting debris is equivalent to.36 of an average space-ship."
"You could have said so in the first place." Jim Kirk looked at Spock, frowning, until he recognised a
humourous twinkle in Spock's eye.
"Captain, I believe I just did."
"So what happened to the other 0.64 of the ship?"
"Unknown."
Jim looked pensive, then shrugged his shoulders and turned to his communications officer.
"Uhura, communications?"
After a few seconds in which Lt Uhura depressed and flicked a large number of switches on her console
with a musicians precision, she answered; " Incoming, Captain." And before Kirk could ask to relay it,
she continued, " They are giving us co-ordinates for orbit, Captain." She turned to look inquiringly at the
Captain.
"Acknowledge and relay to navigation, please."
"Yes sir."
"I have them, Lieutenant." acknowledged LaPierre.
"Sir," Uhura looked startled at her Captain.
"Yes Uhura, what is it?"
"The K'S'vaits, that's what they call themselves, have informed us that it will cost us 4589 mofeds, or the
equivalent thereof per planet rotation, for our parking space!" Uhura looked confused as she relayed that
information.
"Interesting," commented Spock.
"Sir, what is a Parking-space, and how can they charge us for orbiting their planet?" asked a somewhat
irked ensign LaPierre.
Jim heard a soft chuckle behind him. He turned round to see that McCoy had arrived on the bridge and
had taken up his usual position.
"Clever people," commented McCoy and continued to explain to the ensign what a 'parking space' meant
and the ancient use of 'parking meters, clamps, tickets' and so on.
"I never knew you were such an historian, Bones," commented Kirk somewhat dryly. Then turned to
Spock. "There must be something worthwhile on that planet if they can charge for orbit and their parking
lot is so full."
"Uhura, can you raise someone to communicate with?"
"Just a moment, Sir....."
The view of the busy planet changed to show two humanoid but radically different beings.
"Welcome to our humble world. We, K'S'vaits greet you. I am K'L'sak and this is my secretary,
K'L'trok. What can we trade?" K'L'sak ended in a particularly non-grammatical form of Standard.
"Greetings, I am Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise, we inde...." He was cut short at a strange
sound origination from K'L'trok.
"You are of the Federation Police force?" demanded K'L'trok.
"We are of Starfleet, which is not a police force, although we do help in enforcing Federation Law."
"You are, then, here to stop traders coming to our world?"
"No, not at all, that resolution is not applicable any longer. We are here to trade." Jim said somewhat
impatiently.
"Aah, then greetings once more, what is it that you wish?"
"We need some dilithium crystals."
"That will be no problem. Tell us the quantity. Beam down to following co-ordinates and we will tell you
our price," finished a satisfied K'L'trok, abruptly ending the communications.
"Well...that seemed relatively straight forward," drawled McCoy from behind Jim.
"Hmmm, yes, but...no, never mind," Jim half mused.
"Captain, the two beings said - we the K'S'vaits - yet they seemed of different origins," Spock said as he
stepped down to Kirk's side.
"Yes, peculiar, but we do not have time to spend in idle speculation. Let's get the crystals and get to
Vulcan."
"Hardly idle, Captain," Spock protested gently as he followed Kirk and McCoy to the turbolift.
"Mr. Sulu you have the...." Jim stopped in mid track. Damn! He thought, looked round the bridge and his
steady gaze settled on Uhura."Lieutenant Uhura, you have the conn." He said and escaped into the
waiting lift.
CHAPTER 2
They materialised into a glass-like, icositetrahedral, dome. The clear material allowed a full view of their
immediate surroundings. McCoy gave a gasp in amazement, while Spock's eyebrow climbed up and
under his fringe. Their dome was surrounded by other similar domes, translucent, but each a different
shade or colour. In and around the domes were peoples of all different colours, sizes, shapes and
features.
"Welcome," the voice of K'L'trok interrupted their observations.
"K'L'trok, excuse my curiosity, but are all these people from your planet?" asked a fascinated McCoy,
ignoring Kirk's warning look.
"You are?" K'L'trok stared at him.
"Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise."
" You and Kirk are humans, yes?" queried their host.
Jim inclined his head and the K'S'vait looked puzzled.
"You are not humans?" he said disbelievingly.
"Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy are both from Earth, they are indeed humans. The forward inclination
of the head indicates an affirmative state," the Vulcan officer elaborated.
"Yes, of course, forgive me, I had forgotten." K'L'trok looked excited, " Humans, we indeed have
Crystals and we now know you have what we want." He turned to address McCoy: "Yes, most of the
people you see around you are K'S'vaits. We relish diversity."
At this Spock's eyebrow again performed a rapid ascent, while K'L'trok now turned his attention to the
Vulcan, with what looked like a mischievous grin.
"Come to my chamber, and I shall explain. That will make our request also possible."
He led them through a maze of corridors, passing large numbers of various humanoids. They came to a
smaller and opaque dome that provided total privacy from the outside world. In the dome was a round
table-like structure around which were arranged a variety of chairs taken from many different cultures.
Spock instantly recognised a typical Vulcan chair, with its high straight back, and flat seat, yet decorated
with pleasing simple ornaments. When K'L'trok indicated that they should be seated, Spock seated
himself on the Vulcan chair with (he admitted wryly to himself) some pleasure. Kirk and McCoy found
chairs that resembled those of earth-type seats. The K'S'vait sat on a four-legged parabolic structure.
When all were seated, offered and declined refreshment, K'L'trok began his explanation.
"Many years ago our world was divided into numerous states, each with their own laws, beliefs and
culture. Each state thinking that it was most important, and the others somehow inferior to it. There was
little if any contact between the states. Misconceptions about each other thus arose. This state of affairs
culminated into a global war in which we nearly became extinct. One man, who had travelled off-World,
before the war started, -oh yes, some of us ventured out of our system in visiting ships - spent some time
on Vulcan." K'L'trok inclined his head towards Spock, who listened with interest. "He returned, during
the fiercest most destructive era of the war years. This man, whom we call Master, started teaching the
way of peace and most importantly the pleasure in diversity. Our world was war-weary and he quickly
had a large following. War ended and it was decided that the Master would become chieftain of all the
nations."
K'L'trok paused, looked at each of his listeners, and then with pride shining through his orange eyes
continued.
"The Master postulated a brilliant solution to our problem, one that ensured that no more war would be
fought in the name of difference. He made a Law: that no person was allowed to mate with another from
the same nation. We, subsequently, built on the Master's Law, and now we must increase diversity by
mating with off-worlders whenever possible," Finished K'L'trok with a triumphant sweep of his hand.
The officers of the Enterprise sat in stunned silence. After a few moments Dr. McCoy muttered "This is
taking IDIC a bit too far," then cleared his throat and asked:
"But surely, not all beings can produce viable offspring?"
"We have the most advanced genetic labs in the whole Universe. We can produce offspring from any
type of paired peoples," boasted K'L'trok, while Spock's eyebrow rose sceptically and he murmured
softly: "Indeed."
"How do you get the variety of beings, when you yourself are not yet space travellers?" asked Jim, still
trying to digest the concept.
The K'S'vait produced a noise resembling a cough, his mouth was open, showing light-blue sharp teeth.
'He is laughing', Jim realised.
When K'L'trok calmed down somewhat, he blurted out:
"Oh, Captain, we do not need to go anywhere, we have people coming to us. We trade!"
"Trade?!?!" McCoy asked
"Yes, gentle-human. We trade our resources for Beings, often for those that others refer to as Slaves.
We find these Beings are happy to stay, mate, and rear their offspring here. But we also get ships who
bring volunteers who stay, and we reward them, or their ships commanders with gifts of their desires." A
light pause. "That will be the category you fall in my gentle-captain. You need dilithium crystals. We need
Humans."
"WHAT?" McCoy spluttered, "We do not deal with lives! This is ridi.."
"Bones!" snapped Jim, enforcing his command with a look.
"Is there no other way we can pay you?" Kirk asked.
"No. We will not accept any other form of payment for the dilithium, and for your parking space."
"I was under the impression that you asked for 4589 mofeds, or the equivalent thereof and not humans,"
stated Spock calmly.
"Well, yes, but do you have mofeds, gentle-Vulcan?" When Spock declined to answer, K'L'trok
continued with a rueful grin: "Our equivalent consists of beings."
"Beings ain't got price-tags on them!" fumed McCoy before Jim could stop him.
"How do you propose to prevent us from leaving your orbit?" queried an annoyed and worried Captain
Kirk.
"We have our ways, Captain, rest assured. No vessel leaves without paying their parking fees."
"Does that account for the large number of vessels in your orbit then?" Jim asked soberly, remembering
Spocks 0.36 of a vessel. He stood up ready to leave.
Again the K'S'vait laughed.
"No, it is not necessary, most ships find that there is a price-tag as you called it, Doctor, on most beings,
and a relatively cheap one. We offer a good life. I myself am the product of a K'S'vait and Vulcan."
At this two pair of eyebrows rose, Spock's and Dr. McCoy's.
"You do not seem to posses any characteristics of a Vulcan, sir," stated Spock.
K'L'trok merely shrugged, "Obviously Vulcan characteristics must be coded for by recessive genes. I do
however possess limited telepathic abilities."
McCoy was forced to smile at this statement, knowing that Spock, although it was not apparent, was
irked.
"We must go back to our ship, and consider your terms," Jim said whipping out his communicator.
"Two humans will be enough to cover six dilithium crystals and all your parking fees," K'L'trok stated
with finality in his voice.
Silently the three Starfleet officers dematerialised from the opaque dome, leaving a thoughtful K'L'trok
behind and rematerialised on the Enterprise a few micro-seconds later.
"Call a general meeting in 30 minutes of all current bridge officers, including Mr. Chekov, Mr. Scott, and
the xenopsychologist, what's her name?" Jim ordered Spock.
"Lieutenant Kronika, Sir."
"Yes, her," and Jim Kirk strode out of the transporter room indicating to McCoy that he was to
accompany him.
McCoy started to follow Jim, but then stopped and gave Spock a mischievous look.
"Something wrong, Doctor?" Spock asked, although he suspected that it would have been more prudent
to remain silent.
"There does not seem to be anything recessive about those pointed ears of yours, Spock."
"Why, thank you, Doctor," Spock answered levelly.
CHAPTER 3
The soft humming and clicking of the life support systems and an occasional quiet beep from the
overhead diagnostic control was the only noise breaking the silence of Sulu's room in sickbay. Spock
rose from the edge of the bed. He had quickly and efficiently passed the current state of ship-affairs on to
Sulu, and ordered the lieutenant to consider the problems. He knew that this would keep the helmsman's
mind occupied, thus helping to prevent mental imbalance from setting in.
Only ten minutes left to the briefing, he noted as he left Sulu's room. Passing the door to McCoy's office,
he saw that the doctor was sitting, bent over his desk with his head in his hands. Spock paused.
"Sulu has indicated to me that his medications are making him ill. Obviously it is not only my recessive
genes that are affected by your potions, Doctor," Spock said trying to sound argumentative.
When McCoy only lifted his head and nodded, Spock became concerned. This emotion - desperation -
was obviously critical in McCoy. He stepped into the doctor's office.
"Doctor, we have the meeting...soon," he said gently.
"What's the use Spock, we can't trade people, so now on top of everything, we are stuck here, in this
God damn hell hole! While I can't do anything for Sulu!" McCoy banged his fist against his desk. A pile
of stacked data- chips quivered and spilt onto the floor.
Spock stooped down to retrieve them.
"Doctor, there are always alternatives. And you should know that the Captain will formulate a plan. As
for the parking fee, our replicators can produce enough mofeds for a life time of parking."
McCoy only glowered at him.
"Yeah, but we still need Dilithium, and even then it may well be TOO LATE for Sulu," he growled.
Spock realised that there was nothing more he could do to alleviate McCoy's desperation at not being
able to help his patient. Therefore, as he put the neatly stacked data- chips back on McCoy's desk and
started for the door, he said:
"We will be TOO LATE for the briefing if we do not go now, Doctor."
---
Captain Kirk looked round at the people present in the briefing room. Spock was seated at his usual
place, beside the computer's main controls. Next to him a withdrawn Chekov, then McCoy, looking
totally despondent, Scotty, and two people that normally would not be there, Mr. Offer and the beautiful
ensign LaPierre who seemed to be keeping a hold on her obvious anger. Uhura was minding the bridge.
They were silently digesting Spock's concisely delivered report of what had happened planet side.
"Well, gentlemen, any suggestions?"
"It's utterly disgusting! This should not be allowed to go on!" Ensign LaPierre was outraged.
"Why? For you everything that is not your personal religion is disgusting." Lt. Offer exploded before he
remembered where and with whom he was. "It seems to me that the very idea of what we say we seek,
in other words, Infinite Diversity, is on trial here. What is so wrong with what these people are doing?" he
finished with a gesture of exasperation.
"Mr. Offer, the actual concept is, if strange, not condemned. It is rather the trade in living-sentient beings
that concerns us," Captain Kirk answered, although to himself he silently admitted that the idea of so
much forced inter-species breeding unsettled him thoroughly.
"There are a number of issues that have to be analysed, before we can accept or reject their definition of
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations."
Spock steepled his fingers thoughtfully, and when he noticed that there was a marked interest in his
statement he continued.
摘要：

StarTrek-TOS-IdicPlanCHAPTER1Captain'slogStardate4235.60.....Afterourhostilecontactwiththeunidentifiedvesselwhichtriedtodestroyus-andsucceededindamagingirreparablyallourdilithiumcrystals,inuseandreserve,byanasyetunexplained,...KirkglancedatSpock,whowasconcentratingonanalyzingthereadingsthatwererecor...

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