Requiem - Michael Jan Friedman [1]
Somewhere in between, Picard knew, was Kirk’s solution. Somehow, the captain of that early Enterprise had altered the game. The rules that the Metrons had set down were simple: the two captains would face each other in single combat, for their lives and the survival of their ships. The game had, in fact, only one rule … survive. That much, it was clear, Kirk had done.
Yet, apparently, the Gorn ship had been spared as well. Kirk had found a way to win much more than his own life and the lives of his crew. Somehow. It was an intriguing problem.
Picard’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his officers, led by his exec, Ben Zoma—the first officer’s dark gaze already fixed on the captain, indicating his concerns about their situation.
Ben Zoma was followed by the very tall, imposing Dr. Greyhorse and then by the equally imposing blue-skinned figure of Lieutenant Vigo.
Science Officer Jack Crusher was the last to enter and the first to speak. “We’ve run a number of computer checks, sir, and the message was indeed from the Gorn. It originated from the dead center of Gorn space, and the rendezvous coordinates will place us a short distance from the conjectured position of the Gorn homeworld.”
Picard felt the excitement rise in his face. The possibilities.
“It would seem,” he said, “the Gorn are very serious in their overture—which means we could become the first Federation citizens to see their world.”
Weapons Officer Vigo frowned. “They are certainly serious, but not necessarily friendly. After all, we don’t know what they want.”
Most of the others nodded in agreement, Picard among them. “True, Mr. Vigo, but we can guess. Mr. Crusher?”
Jack Crusher stood and walked toward the conference-room viewscreen, where Captain Kirk was facing the Gorn in a still image. With his characteristic half smile, Crusher began, “Captain James T. Kirk’s encounter with the Gorn nearly seventy-five years ago is well documented, up to a point. In what is commonly known as the Cestus Three massacre and officially known as the Cestus Three incident, the Gorn attacked an innocent Federation outpost.
“The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 then engaged the Gorn, but the fighting was stopped by a powerful alien race called the Metrons, who arranged for Captain Kirk to face the Gorn captain in single combat. Of course, we don’t know what Kirk’s solution was, but we do know that he saved his ship. We also know he came to an arrangement that spared the Gorn ship as well.
“At that time the Gorn had technology and weaponry roughly equivalent to Starfleet’s—phasers, comparable warp drive, and so on—and the Gorn ship was a fair match for the Enterprise of the day. But I’m not telling you anything that you didn’t learn in the Academy.”
Crusher gave an uncharacteristic frown. “And three-quarters of a century later, most of what we know or can deduce about the Gorn is still based on these records from the Enterprise. After that encounter, the Federation ceded Cestus Three to the Gorn, recognizing that it resided in Gorn space. Then the Federation and the Gorn negotiated a border via subspace communications. Since that time, the Gorn have declined repeated efforts to establish formal diplomatic or trade relations. What contact we’ve had has been through neutral free traders who tend to operate on the fringes of Federation space.”
First Officer Ben Zoma gave the Gorn on the viewscreen a cool appraisal. “They have offered a meeting, and I don’t want to ignore the historic implications here, but I recommend caution. They could be hiding something.”
Vigo nodded his agreement. “They could be preparing for another encounter, something that will give them an advantage over us.”
Dr. Greyhorse shifted his large body in his chair and raised his deep, resonant voice. “Could they be afraid?”
Crusher shrugged. “Maybe they’re merely keeping to themselves. We simply don’t have enough information to make an informed guess.” Crusher returned Picard’s steady gaze. “I’m sorry, sir.”
Picard waved off the apology. “What do we know about the Gorn themselves,