STAR TREK - TOS - 61 - Sanctuary

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STAR TREK

SANCTUARY

JOHN BORN HOLT

POCKET BOOKS New York London

Toronto Sydney Tokyo Singapore This book

is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and

incidents are either products of the author's

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

tilde W tilde MEMEAM-33 POCKET

BOOKS, a division of Simon and Schuster

Inc.

1230Avenue of the Americas, New York,

NY 10020

StAR TREK is a Registered Trademark of

Paramount Pictures.

This book is published by Pocket Books, a

division of Simon and Schuster Inc." under

exclusive license from Paramount Pictures.

to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any

form, whatsoever. For information address Pocket

Books. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New

York, NY 10020

ISBN 0-671-76994-4

First Pocket Books printing September

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

POCKET and colophon are registered

trademarks of Simon and Schuster Inc.

Printed in the U.s.a.

To jean Reich, who's been our sanctuary in so

many ways. Foreword

I never met Gene Roddenberry, but his

effect on my life has been extremely

far-reaching. I might have struggled several more years

to become a published (not to mention best-selling)

novelist had he and Pocket Books not created the

Next Generation book series. G.r.

personally approved the outline for the book you are

holding in your hands, and for that I am extremely

grateful. I could go on and talk about how much Star

Trek means to me as a whole, but I think you can

judge that for yourself from this book and my Next Generation

novels.

Suffice to say, I miss you, Mr.

Roddenberry. Thanks a lot. Now, prepare yourself

for a blitz of thank-yous. My feeble memory

needed a lot of help to complete a book taking

place during the original five-year mission. First

of all, to those who read it and offered comments along the

way Andrea and Kevin Quitt and the toughest

critic of all, my wife, Nancy. Then

to Judy and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, who

loaned me ix their long-out-of-print Concordance and

offered me plenty of moral support. Thanks to that

fount of Star Trek knowledge, Jim Shaun Lyon, and

my creature researchers Priscilla J.

Ball, Cory Sims, Marte Brengle,

Jon Woolf, Carolyn Kinkead, Jim

Singleton, Anne Davenport, and Matthew G.

Mitchell. Actually, they're all human, but they

know a lot about things that aren't. Special kudos

to Kevin Ryan, my editor, who believed in

Sanctuary and persevered to get it approved.

Thanks to friends and colleagues who helped me in

various invaluable ways Ashley Grayson,

Caroline Meskell, Eric Baldwin, Phyllis

Hirsen, Steve Robertson, Barbara Beck,

Susan Williams, Marilyn Dennis, Jane

Emaus, and Linda Johnston. One theme of this

book is that space travel is a privilege that

can be taken away. In many respects, it's already

been taken away from us after the great hope that was

inspired by the Apollo moon flight more than twenty

years ago. I don't wish to belittle the space

shuttle program, but I expected more from space

travel than the Pentagon plopping a spy

satellite in orbit every now and then. The proposed

orbital space station has been compromised to death,

and NASA is on the ropes financially and

morale-wise. The once proud Russian space

program is apparently gone forever. Thanks

to visionaries like Gene Roddenberry, space

travel exists in our imaginations and popular

culture, but that's not good enough. It's time for the

private sector to pick up the fallen banner.

I speak principally of Japanese companies and

huge multinationals that haven't got anything

better to do with their money than buy expensive

trophies like country clubs and movie studios.

It's time for the Sonys and General Electrics of the

world to return to us the wonder of space travel.

They have the money, reIt

sources, and technology to do it. What about joint

ventures? What secrets does NASA have

anymore?

But I suppose our government will continue to be

xenophobic and continue to guard technology that we

no longer have the will to use.

It's sad that space travel has been taken

away from us, and there is no one who wants to give it

back. John Vornholt Xi Historian's

Note

This adventure takes place during the original

five year mission of the USS Enterprise.

CA-PTAIN Kirk leaned over his

helmsman's shoulder and stared at a tiny dot on the

viewscreen. It was barely distinguishable from the

stars around it, but the stars were moving in relation to the

Enterprise. The blip wasn't.

"Are we gaining on him at all, Mr.

Sulu?" asked the captain.

"Negative, sir," answered the veteran

officer, blinking away the heaviness from his eyes. This

chase had started twelve hours ago, and it was

beginning to take its toll on everyone.

"His top speed matches our top speed warp

for warp."

"How is that possible, Keptin?" asked Chekov

with frustration.

"That ship must be one-tenth the size of the

Enterprise. was "Approximately one

twenty-second the size of the Enterprise, was

responded a voice behind them. First Officer

Spock straightened up from his science station.

"However, size has nothing to do with warp

capability, especially on a ship with low mass

and a small crew. With minimal life-support

needs, ninety percent of a ship's energy can be

devoted to its propulsion system. It would also

appear that the designers of Auk-rex's ship were able

to avail themselves of the latest Starfleet

technology."

"And why shouldn't they?" muttered Kirk.

"They've been plundering our trading vessels for

five years now. Blast that pirate! I thought we

had him."

"Begging the Keptin's pardon," said Chekov,

"but in thirty-eight minutes, we will enter a

sector of space that has never been charted or

explored by Starfleet. Do you wish to continue

pursuit?"

"Absolutely," Kirk replied.

"Auk-rex has attacked three freighters in

the last month, and Starfleet wants an end to it."

He turned to his trusted first officer.

"Spock, you've got to figure out where he's

going. Chart his course."

The Vulcan raised an eyebrow.

"That will be difficult, Captain, since we have

no firsthand knowledge of this sector. But I shall try."

Kirk rubbed his eyes and said, "Lieutenant

Uhura, radio our position to Starfleet and tell

them of our intentions."

"Aye, Captain," answered the communications

officer as her hands moved over her console.

Kirk strode toward the double doors of the

turbolift, and they whooshed open at his

approach.

"You can reach me in sickbay," he announced

to no one in particular.

"Maybe McCoy has some ideas."

Dr. McCoy smiled slyly over a snifter

of brandy.

"So, Jim, he slipped through your fingers. The

trap wasn't good enough?"

"Nothing wrong with the trap," Kirk answered

testily. Perhaps the most irritating thing about

McCoy, he decided, was that Bones liked to see

people act human. And to err was human.

"It was a good idea," he insisted.

"But somehow, that thief sensed the freighter was a

dummy. He got close to the bait, but he

didn't nibble."

"That's why he's been around for so long." The

doctor shrugged.

"I know he's been a real pain in the cahoot,

but you've got to admire Auk-rex a little bit.

It's not easy being a pirate these days, with so many

treaties and regulations. As I understand it, he never

takes life wantonly."

Kirk scowled.

"No, he just cripples a ship and

takes its most valuable cargo. He figures out

what it's carrying by tapping directly into the computer,

then he beams it off before they know what hit them,"

"Hmm. The computer data is worth something too,

I bet. What else do we know about him?"

"Not much," Kirk admitted.

"He's sophisticated but very mysterious. We

don't know if he's human, or Klingon, or

what. He never hails a ship by voice or

visual, always code. And he sticks to trading

routes on the periphery of the Federation. Starfleet

has so many questions for him, they don't want him

killed, only captured."

The doctor shook his head, clearly amused.

"And in order to capture Auk-rex, we are

basically seeing how far and how fast the Enterprise

can go."

"That's about it," answered Kirk. He took a

sip of his lukewarm coffee and frowned.

"I came here to see if you had any ideas, but it

sounds like you're rooting for the pirate."

"Well," said McCoy, smiling, "it's that part

of me that always roots for the underdog. Here we are, a

big starship, and we can't capture one little puddle

jumper

"Hardly a puddle-jumper," Kirk said

evenly.

"That little ship is the equal of anything in

Starfleet." The captain mustered a smile.

"He's fast, but not fast 3 enough. He can't

lose us, and sooner or later he'll have to come out of

warp. When he does, we hit him with a tractor

beam and it's all over."

The doctor nodded.

"But will it be sooner or later?"

"I wish I knew," admitted Kirk.

A high-pitched tone sounded, followed by the voice

of Mr. Spock" Bridge to captain."

The captain crossed to the wall and switched on the

comm panel.

"Kirk here. What is it, Spock?"

"We are crossing into the uncharted sector now,"

Spock answered.

"No change in status, but I have a theory about

where Auk-rex may be headed."

"I'm on my way," answered Kirk, switching

off the panel. He turned to his friend and smiled.

"So, Bones, do you want to come along and root for

your underdog?"

"Wouldn't miss it." The doctor

grinned.

When Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy reached

the bridge, everyone but Spock glanced

expectantly in their direction. The slim

Vulcan stood motionless over his science console,

absorbing data that were scrol ling by too fast for a

human to read. Kirk waited patiently until

Spock turned to face them.

"Where do you think he's going?" asked Kirk.

"I can't be certain," Spock admitted, "but

long range scanners indicate that the course of the

pirate vessel will take it directly into a solar

system with nine planets, one of which may have an

atmosphere capable of supporting humanoid

life. Although Starfleet has never officially

explored this sector, we have compiled a number of

reports and rumors."

"Why, Spock," remarked McCoy, feigning

astonishment, "it's not like you to traffic in rumors."

"Perhaps not, Doctor," agreed the Vulcan, "but

everything we know about this sector is

unsubstantiated. Therefore, we have no choice but

to traffic in 4 rumors." Spock turned

to Kirk.

"Have you ever heard of a planet called

Sanctuary?"

"Sure," answered McCoy.

"It's a mythical planet, a place where

fugitives from all over the galaxy can go to escape

their persecutors. It's one of those places like El

Dorado or Atlantis-sounds good, but there's never

been any proof that it exists."

Spock nodded.

"It does not exist in any area explored

by Starfleet.

However, most of the galaxy has not been explored

by Starfleet. Klingon charts list such a planet in

this vicinity, and the sanctuary planet is mentioned in

the mythologies of numerous spacefaring worlds. According

to legend, Sanctuary accepts all who fear

capture or harm, both the justly and unjustly

accused. It accepts no appeals from pursuers, and

no one who has reached Sanctuary has ever been

captured later."

"What are you saying?" asked Kirk, striding

to his captain's chair.

"That Sanctuary is a real planet, and that's

where he's headed?"

"I cannot say whether Sanctuary is real,"

replied Spock.

"But the Klingons believe it exists, and so may

Auk-rex."

Kirk nodded, gazing thoughtfully at the tiny dot

on the giant viewscreen.

"He doesn't have many options, does he?"

"No, Captain."

James T. Kirk straightened up in his chair.

"We didn't get much of a look at his ship, but

do you think it's capable of atmospheric reentry?

Could he land on this planet?"

"His ship is small enough," answered

Spock.

"It has already proven quite versatile, and

atmospheric reentry would help it elude larger

ships that must remain in orbit, such as the

Enterprise. Even if his destination is not the fabled

sanctuary planet, landing on a 5 planet's

surface would seem to be his only means of

escape."

"Mr. Sulu," asked Kirk, "how long before

we reach this unnamed solar system?"

"Forty-four minutes," answered the helmsman.

Kirk punched the communicator on the arm of his

chair.

"Captain Kirk to shuttlebay.

Prepare shuttlecraft Ericksen for immediate

launch."

"Aye, Captain," came the reply.

"How many in the party?"

Kirk glanced back at Spock and McCoy.

"Three," he answered. He switched off the

communicator and smiled slyly.

"Bones, would you like to make a bet with me that your

pirate won't get away?"

"Sure." The doctor shrugged.

"What have you got to wager?"

Spock raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"If I lose," said Kirk, "I'll take that

physical you've been nagging me about. If you

lose, you quit nagging me about it."

"All right," agreed the doctor.

"But don't you still intend to lasso him with a

tractor beam when he comes out of warp drive?"

"I do," said Kirk, nodding with determination.

"But he'll come out of warp drive slightly

ahead of us, and there may not be enough time. If he

makes it into the planet's atmosphere, we'll have

to follow him to the surface in the shuttlecraft.

Then we'll send his coordinates back here and beam

Auk-rex and his pirates off their own ship,

just like they beam the loot off the ships they attack."

McCoy observed wryly, "You seem to have thought

of everything."

Kirk nodded, the smile fading from his lips.

"I hope

They were still a hundred million kilometers

away from the planet, but the scanners magnified and

stabilized its image until it filled the

viewscreen. The aquamarine sphere was wrapped in

swirling white mists and tied with darker strips of

rain clouds. Where the surface peeked through the

clouds, it revealed the turquoise of endless seas

or the occasional speck of verdant green.

From this angle, there appeared to be only one

good-sized continent, but the seas were speckled with

islands, some of them in long chains that resembled

broken necklaces. One pole was completely

covered with ice, and the system's sun glinted so

brightly off its blinding whiteness that it looked like a

neon skullcap. No one needed a sensor to know that

the shimmering planet brimmed with life. If it was not

named Sanctuary, it would surely be one for any

traveler weary of the blackness of space.

"A pretty planet it is," observed

Montgomery Scott, chief engineer of the

Enterprise. As third in command after Kirk and

Spock, Scotty had joined his comrades on the

bridge in case he had to assume the captain's

chair.

"And I'll be glad to be coming out o'warp drive,

I'll tell you. The engines canna take much more."

Captain Kirk smiled at the familiar

remark, but his good humor was shortlived.

"The quarry has slowed to warp one," announced

Sulu.

"We'll overtake him in two-point-five

minutes, about the same time we reach the planet."

The captain leaned forward tensely.

"Steady as she goes, Mr. Sulu-take us

down to warp one. When he goes to impulse power,

I want to be only a second behind him."

"Keptin," said Chekov, "we are close enough that

I can lock on with phasers."

"That's a last resort," Kirk warned.

"Starfleet won't learn much about Auk-rex if

we blow him to bits. But we don't want him to know

that. Ready tractor beam."

"Aye, sir," answered Chekov in his clipped

Russian accent.

"Uhura?" asked Kirk.

The lieutenant swiveled around in her chair.

"I'm hailing him on all frequencies," she

reported, "but there's still no response."

Kirk nodded.

"I doubt if he wants to negotiate, but

let's keep trying."

"Captain," said Spock, a trace of

curiosity in his voice, "I am receiving odd

readings from the planet. Our sensors are not

registering as they should-was "Captain!" exclaimed

Sulu, cutting off Spock.

"He has stopped completely and is reversing

course, heading toward us!"

"He has launched a photon torpedo,"

Spock announced with no emotion.

Kirk barked, "Shields up!"

Chekov pounded a button on his console, and a

second later the Enterprise was rocked by an

explosion.

"A miss, sid" proclaimed Chekov.

"But a close von."

"He has reversed course again and is headed to the

planet," said Spock, who turned away from his

instruments and looked at Kirk.

"His approach is non orbital I would say

he is preparing to land."

Kirk pounded the arm of his chair.

"Damn him! If he thinks that little stunt will

save him, he's wrong. Sulu, take us

to impulse power."

"Impulse power," said Sulu, sliding down his

trim pot controls. There was a slight whine in the

engines as the ship dropped out of warp drive.

"Activate tractor beam," Kirk ordered.

Chekov plied his controls for a moment, then shook

his head, puzzled.

"Negative reaction, Keptin," he

reported.

"Something on the planet is counteracting the effect

of the tractor beam. It's like an unusual gravity

field."

Captain Kirk bolted from his chair.

"Bones, Spock," he ordered, "follow me!"

The captain paused at the turbolift and motioned

to his chief engineer.

"Scotty, you have the bridge. Take us into standard

orbit and have the transporter room stand by for

coordinates. Get a security team down there,

too. Tell shuttlebay to prepare for

launch."

"Aye, Captain," said the Scotsman. He

eased himself into the captain's chair as Kirk,

Spock, and McCoy rushed out.

"Take us in, Mr. Sulu. I'll inform

security to prepare a little welcoming party for our

visitors."

"Separation successful," Spock relayed into the

radio as the shuttlecraft Ericksen veered away

from the Enterprise. Kirk, in the pilot's seat,

got his first look at the planet through a cockpit

window and not a viewscreen.

It appeared even more serene and inviting in its hazy

blueness. In every other direction, innumerable stars

twinkled with an immediacy not captured by the

electronic imaging of the viewscreen.

"We are gaining on Auk-rex's ship," said

Spock, studying the copilot's instruments.

"It has just entered the outer atmosphere of the

planet. Close to the planet's surface, we will

have far more maneuverability than they have."

Captain Kirk leaned forward in the pilot's

seat, pushing the controls of the small craft

to maximum speed. Behind him, he could hear Dr.

McCoy shifting uneasily in his seat.

"What's the matter, Bones?" he teased.

"I thought you wanted to be right in the thick of

things-to root your pirate on."

McCoy shook his head.

"I don't know, Jim," he muttered.

"Something about this just doesn't seem right. I have a

feeling Auk-rex knows more than we do.

"I would have to agree with the doctor," said Spock.

Kirk blinked with surprise at his trusted

comrade.

"You agree with McCoy about his vague feelings

of unease?"

"Not vague feelings," corrected Spock.

"But I was unable to complete my scan of the

planet, and it possessed some very unusual

characteristics."

"It's class-M," said Kirk, "you can see that

from here."

"Agreed," said Spock.

"However, I would have preferred to complete my

examination."

"Can we delay at all," asked Kirk, "and not

lose their trail?"

"Negative, Captain," came the reply.

"The success probability of our plan

is very high, barring unforeseen circumstances."

"My favorite kind," muttered McCoy.

A voice chimed from the intercom "Scott

to shuttlecraf t."

Kirk hit the switch.

"What is it, Scotty?"

"I don't want to alarm you, sir," came the

response, "but there appear to be at least six

ships orbiting the planet. Three of them are leaving

orbit in order to intercept the pirate ship, or

us, I can't tell."

"What!" exclaimed Kirk.

"What kind of ships?"

""Unable to verify at this time," Scotty

replied.

"They were stationed on the other side of the planet when

we approached. This seems to be a very busy

place.. .." His voice was obliterated by waves

of static.

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STARTREKSANCTUARYBYJOHNBORNHOLTPOCKETBOOKSNewYorkLondonTorontoSydneyTokyoSingaporeThisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareeitherproductsoftheauthor'simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualeventsorlocalesorpersons,livingordead,isentirelycoincidental.AnOriginalPu...

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