Алан Дин Фостер - The Unsettling Stars

“I do.” The doctor smiled affably. “I’m just practicing the query because I ‘predict’ that I’m going to have opportunities to use it a lot.”

Having risen from his seat at the science station, Spock walked over to join them. “Captain, I must point out that given the specifics of our mission, we are not authorized to intervene in a distress situation that does not involve Federation citizens or property. This is plainly a hastily composed distress call, and one that is being propagated from outside Federation boundaries.” He eyed McCoy, who glared back but said nothing. “In my ongoing and apparently never-ending research into the arcane dimensions of human metaphor, it might be called ‘sticking one’s nose into someone else’s business.’ ”

Kirk inclined his head slightly. “Mister Spock, I bow to your growing familiarity with human language. However, we’re still going to try and find out what’s going on in the Marr-i-nul system.”

For a second time in the past few moments, an eyebrow rose slightly. “Rationale—for the record, sir?”

Kirk nodded. “For the record, as captain I consider sticking my nose into someone else’s business part of my job description.” Returning his gaze forward, he raised his voice. “Mister Sulu, warp factor eight.”

The Enterprise immediately leaped forward at many multiples of the speed of light.

Behind Kirk, McCoy repressed a grin as he murmured, “A captain is allowed to use his discretion, isn’t he, Mister Spock?”

“That is so, Doctor. Unfortunately, in my limited experience ‘discretion’ is a term I have yet to learn how to apply to James Kirk.”

The massive alien ship sat in a high orbit around the second of three large moons that traveled in majestic procession around a gas giant twice the size of Jupiter. Its design was functional and unlovely. From the base of six joined spheres arrayed around a central locus, half a dozen huge conduits tapered to the point where the enormous warp engines were located.

Appearances, however, proved deceiving.

“Science, report.” Kirk stared intently at the image hovering forward of his position. While notably larger than the Enterprise , the appearance and design of the peculiar alien vessel seemed to hold none of the Narada ’s menace. Externally it was almost featureless.

“Type unknown, Captain.” Spock’s full attention was directed to the science station’s readouts. “Origin unknown. While presently putting forth a minimal amount of power, there are indications that the vessel is capable of generating a good deal more energy than it is presently deploying. As alien aesthetics are of course unpredictable, at first glance the design would appear to be an interesting amalgamation of the advanced and the purely utilitarian.”

Kirk indicated his agreement. “Straightforward and functional.” He looked to his right. “Mister Sulu?”

The lieutenant was assiduously scrutinizing his readouts. “They have shields up, Captain. The energy signature of their defenses is unique. Ever since our arrival I’ve been trying to get an analytical handle on the subatomic structure of their defensive deployment, and so far it defies the norms. The vessel appears to be maintaining considerably more powerful shields than the Enterprise while utilizing a good deal less energy to do so.”

“Fascinating,” was the single responding observation.

Kirk did not have to look around to identify the source of the one-word commentary.

“Never mind the shields,” muttered McCoy. “What about their weapons? And if they have them, where are they pointed?”

“Not at us.” Sulu’s fingers manipulated the controls in front of him swiftly and assuredly. “Other than the fact that they have shields raised, I can detect no hint of antagonism.” He calmly added, “We also have our shields raised, and phasers on standby.”

“So everyone’s being careful. Fair enough.” Kirk turned his head slightly. “Lieutenant Uhura, are we certain this is the source of the distress signal you picked up?”

“It’s not just the distress signal any longer, Captain. They started hailing us the moment we arrived. I’ve been running through thousands of possible variations on record, but as yet it’s a mess of unidentified codecs. I just about have it narrowed down.” She fingered several contacts. “I think I’ve got it now.” Together with everyone else on the bridge, she gazed expectantly in the direction of the main forward viewer.

Tension gripped each member of the young crew. The last time they had dealt with an unpredictable and unknown communication, it had originated from a ship whose commander had declared his intent to destroy the entire Federation. Though like the now-destroyed Narada this strange vessel was also of unknown origin, unlike the Romulan craft it had made no hostile gestures in their direction. That did not lead to a lessening of caution on board the Enterprise . Everyone was well aware that a distress signal could be a ploy, a lure to coax unsuspecting good Samaritans to a waiting doom. Hence the captain’s well-considered decision to energize phasers and approach the unknown supplicant with shields up.

A human from an earlier, more naïve age would have been disarmed and reassured by the first sight of the creature that finally appeared on the viewscreen. Present-day explorers, however, did not suffer from the distractions proffered by seemingly innocent visuals. The old saying that appearances could be deceiving held true as much in deep space as it had when humanity had been confined to a single planet. What a sentient looked like had nothing to do with how it might act, nor what the social and cultural underpinnings of its civilization were, or its potential reactions to the presence of others different from its own kind. Something that looked benign could hail from a society founded on periodic orgies of communal homicide, whereas a giant fanged arthropod might be interested only in the peaceful advancement of mutually beneficial commerce and cultural exchange.

The being that gazed back at Kirk was comfortingly bipedal and bisymmetrical; it appeared to stand a good head shorter than the average human. It was slight and smooth of build, with double-jointed arms and legs that doubtless allowed for great flexibility of movement. There were seven similarly double-jointed fingers on each hand. Instead of keratinous claws or nails, each digit terminated in a soft spatulate pad lined with close-set parallel ridges. The face was angular, with large rectangular ears that swept backward and flexed perpendicular to the side of the skull when listening intently. There were no visible nostrils, though Spock theorized that a slightly prehensile fleshy organ dangling from each ear might possibly perform a similar function. The mouth was small, round, and lipless. Opposing horny plates took the place of teeth. Oversized eyes that peered out of the flat face featured slitted gold-hued pupils set in startlingly bright-yellow sclera.

The alien was clad in a single spiraling strip of muted material tinted shades of brown and ochre that appeared to have been wound around its body rather than slipped on. Where it was not covered by clothing, there was revealed thick beige centimeter-long fur that had been trimmed and shaved into intricate patterns. When the creature shifted its stance, iridescent highlights shimmered within its pelt.

It was not exactly cute, Uhura decided as she joined the others on the bridge in contemplating this newly contacted species. The angular skull mitigated against that. But its outward appearance was certainly anything but threatening.

It was left to McCoy to voice what everyone was thinking. “Goo-goo eyes or not, whatever that thing is, it represents a species capable of building a mighty impressive starship protected by powerful shields of an unknown type. Maybe they have equally powerful weapons.”