Chapter Text
Stardate 3385.7
Orbiting Altair 6
Dear Irina,
I’m very sorry that it has taken me so long to write you. When I finally got my orders, I had to report to my ship immediately and since then, I've had no time to even catch a breath. Irina, I got my first choice: The Enterprise. Actually, she was my only choice. Everyone told me that it was a huge risk to apply only to the flagship of Starfleet, but I've always been a risk taker, as you well know. Remember that time we sneaked out of the Academy dorm to watch the lunar eclipse and…?
I certainly do and the memory still makes me smile.
As you can imagine, being one of the last cadets in my class to receive orders was really nerve-racking, but this ship was worth waiting for. Who would have believed that Pavel Andreievitch Chekov, middle of his class at the Academy, and fairly average in just about everything, would find himself on the most talked about Starship in the fleet?
Not only did I get posted to the Enterprise, but also I am part of the BRIDGE CREW! I was on the Enterprise
for less than two weeks when Captain Kirk called me up to the bridge during alpha shift. I had been working as the navigator's aide on beta shift and was very happy to have the job. Suddenly, I found myself on the bridge with Captain Kirk himself calling out navigation problems. I guess I did well enough, because I've been alpha shift navigator ever since. They say that Captain Kirk has an eye for spotting hidden talents in his crew. Modesty forbids my wondering just what talent the captain might see in me. However, as they say in Russia, never look a gift horse in the mouth. So, here I am, on the ship of my dreams, serving under the captain that I have admired more than anyone in Starfleet.
Well Irina, now that I have everything I wanted, I have to admit to being more than a little nervous. I wake up every morning, afraid that I'll make a mistake and the ship will end up plunging to its doom, caught in a gravity well. Or, that I'll misplace a decimal and burn us up in some alien sun. The navigator's nightmare!
Or, maybe Starfleet will decide that this posting was really meant for someone else, and I'll get transferred to some ore freighter. So far, I've managed not to make any major mistakes, and the captain is pretty patient with me. Still, I don't want to disappoint him, so I'm working harder than I ever have before.
I haven't had time to make any real friends yet. I try to do my job and not stick out too much, but I work with our Vulcan first officer and it's impossible to fade into the woodwork with Mr. Spock as your boss. He is brilliant, as fast as lightening on the computer and he never forgets anything. He expects me to meet those standards, but he's never cruel or impatient with me. I find myself doing things faster and better than I would ever have imagined. Mr. Spock is the first Vulcan I have spent any time with. I know that Vulcans aren't supposed to have emotions, but Mr. Spock reminds me of a Russian winter, very cold and frosty on the outside, but with the promise of summer always there beneath the surface. Every once in a while, that warmth peaks through his Vulcan mask. This may be my romantic Russian soul imagining things, as you so often accused me of doing at the Academy, but I don't think so.
My neighbor at the helm is Hikaru Sulu. He's an academy grad, a few years older than we are. I think he and I could be friends, if I ever have any free time to make a friend. Sulu is a great partner. He has helped me over some of the rough spots and he's really good at his job. He is very quick and has an imagination second only to the captain's. He's a fencer and he thinks in three dimensions. They say fencing is physical chess, and his reputation suggests that Mr. Sulu has checkmated more than a few of our opponents at the helm already.
Everyone, (except me, of course) is in love with our chief communications officer, Nyota Uhura. She's fantastic at her job, and it's one of the most demanding on the ship. She controls and organizes the flow of information into and away from the Enterprise, and does it with great calm and efficiency. Uhura is beautiful inside and out and has the voice of an angel. When you hear her speak over the ship's systems, even in the middle of a crisis, somehow, you feel that everything will be all right.
I am trying to settle into a routine but on this ship, nothing is routine. I am beginning to see why Captain Kirk is considered a bit of a maverick by some at the Academy. He does seem to make up his own rules as he goes along. I am not one to be a stickler, as you know. Remember how we rigged the entry computer at the dorm to set back the curfew time? That was great. Irina. We were a terrific team. I can't help wishing that you had stayed at the Academy. I know it wasn't the right thing for you, but I miss you.
About Captain Kirk. I really don't know how to describe him. I guess the first thing to say is that he is so young. He's only a little more than ten years older than I am and already he's the captain of the Enterprise. I can't imagine what those ten years must have been like. Most of the time, he's kind and patient, with a really good sense of humor, but I've also seen another side of him. A cold and unbending side that plunges ahead, breaking rules and ignoring regulations to get what he wants. Sometimes he's just a little bit frightening. Still, he has not done anything to make me admire him less. And, the crew who know him better that I do idolize him.
Right now, we're orbiting Altair 6. The captain, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy, our ship's surgeon, have just beamed down to the planet for the inauguration ceremonies for the new president and we are waiting for them to report. The ship was two days late for the ceremony because we diverted to Vulcan and I think the captain is in trouble because of the delay. On our way to Altair 6 we kept changing course. I plotted the course to Vulcan and then to Altair so many times I almost got space sick. I think the captain diverted the ship to Vulcan on his own authority and that made some of the Starfleet brass pretty angry.
I don't know what happened down on Vulcan, but it had something to do with Mr. Spock's wedding. The captain, Dr. McCoy, and Mr. Spock all went to Vulcan to attend the ceremony, but at the last minute the wedding was called off. I heard that it was because the captain had some kind of accident on the planet. Actually, the ship's scuttlebutt was that he was dead. Thank all the bears in Russia, that wasn't true. Captain Kirk did end up in Sickbay, but no one's talking about it. As you can imagine, all this secrecy is very hard for someone who is naturally curious, such as myself.
Anyway, the captain was released from Sickbay, and we headed to Altair 6 at maximum speed. It was pretty grim on the bridge for the two days it took us to get here. The captain seemed preoccupied and Dr. McCoy, who by the way is a really great guy, was hardly on the bridge at all. He usually spends a lot of time up there. He and Captain Kirk are very good friends. His relationship with Mr. Spock is a little harder to understand, but, although they seem to argue a lot, you get the feeling that it is a kind of game between them.
There were no games on the bridge on the trip to Altair 6. The atmosphere was really serious, very tense.
Mr. Spock barely spoke, and I think the captain wasn’t completely over whatever happened down on Vulcan. I don't know why I think that. He just didn't seem the same to me. But then, I hardly know him. It's probably just my imagination.
Irina, dear, I can't finish this. I've been ordered down to the planet. I can’t believe it. Even thought it's probably just to some boring diplomatic function, I'm really excited. I've never been to Altair 6, and I get to be with the command crew on the planet. I'll write and tell you everything that happens.
Please write me back soon. I know these messages take forever to get delivered, but I'd really like to know how you have been doing since you left the Academy. I know that somehow we'll see each other soon. I feel it in my Russian bones.
Much love,
Pavel.
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Stardate 3388.9
Orbiting Altair 6
Dear Irina,
It has been three days since my last letter. I haven't had a chance to sit down and finish this until now. I want to send it from Altair 6 before we leave, since we are heading into deep space to search for a cruiser that is late in reporting in to Starfleet.
Irina, I had no idea what kind of people I signed up to work with. I guess I should have known something because of the notoriety of this ship and its captain. They have already made quite a reputation for themselves in the first year of their mission. Underneath that reputation is the truth. James Kirk and his command crew are the most ruthless, reckless, and frightening people that I have ever know. I know I wanted to be on this ship, but now I'm not so sure that this is the right place for me. Irina, remember the old Russian saying, "Be careful what you wish for"? Well, I think some of those old sayings were very wise.
I will tell you what I can about what happened on Altair 6 and perhaps you will see what I mean. I beamed down to the planet with two security guards. I thought we were going to participate in the inauguration, but instead, Mr. Spock met us at the beam down site. He informed us that the Altairians had arrested Captain Kirk. They accused him of deliberately sabotaging the inauguration of their President.
Apparently, the President refused to go through with the ceremonies without all three Federation vessels in place. Since the Enterprise delayed this for several days, the opposition party filed an objection to the election. The election was declared void and the entire planet was thrown into confusion. The President went into hiding, and all of Altair blamed Captain Kirk and the Enterprise for the chaos. Mr. Spock gave us those details on the way to the prison. He suddenly seemed to me to be as cold as a Siberian ice storm. I wonder if I imagined his warmth on the bridge.
I was filled with all kinds of questions. How could Starfleet have allowed this? The Captain had delayed the Enterprise's arrival, that was true, but accusing him of sabotaging the election seemed a little extreme. I've since found out that some important Vulcan official named T'Pau embarrassed an Admiral Komack, and that Admiral blamed Captain Kirk. He persuaded Starfleet to look the other way at the behavior of the Altairians. Politics! I will leave that to the lawyers and diplomats. We in Starfleet carry out the law; we don't try to understand it.
Mr. Spock informed me that I would have to make a statement to the authorities that it was he and not the captain who ordered me to alter our course to Vulcan the first time. Since this was true, I didn’t see any problem in making the statement. That might help convince the authorities that the captain did not delay the Enterprise to influence the Altairian elections.
There was a long wait when we got to the prison. After about two hours Dr. McCoy was brought into our waiting room. He had been trying to see the captain, but the Altairians would not permit it. Dr. McCoy wanted the security guards posted at the captain's cell, because the Altairian prison had a very bad reputation. Prisoners were known to disappear without a trace and a highly visible prisoner like the captain was in particular danger. Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock had a private conversation. The doctor seemed furious with Mr. Spock, but the Vulcan remained so calm. I could not help wondering whether the first officer cared anything for the captain. They had seemed to like one another on the Enterprise, but Mr. Spock seemed unmoved by Captain Kirk's situation.
After another hour, several Altairians came into our room. One of them, I think he was a lawyer, informed us that the captain had been taken to the infirmary wing of the prison. The doctor demanded to be taken to the captain, but the Altairian refused. They also refused to allow the security guards to be posted to the infirmary. The doctor argued that they needed to see Captain Kirk. Mr. Spock was silent. Doctor McCoy threatened to go to the Federation Council. That seemed to get through to the Altairian lawyer. He left the room without a word and returned a few moments later.
Dr. McCoy questioned him about the captain, and demanded again to see him, but the Altairian insisted that the rule of law had to apply. He couldn't make special allowances simply because Captain Kirk was a Starfleet captain. That made sense to me but it seemed to enrage Dr. McCoy. The lawyer then proceeded to take my statement. I tried to be as clear as possible, but the situation was very confusing. When I started to say something about Mr. Spock's wedding, the doctor jumped in and said that I was mistaken. He said that there had been no wedding and the ship had gone to Vulcan with the authorization of T'Pau, on her private business. Spock gave the doctor a long look but didn’t contradict him. The Altairian tried to follow up, but I took the hint and didn't say anything more.
Irina, I must admit to a very selfish feeling of annoyance. I could not help feeling angry that my experience of Altair 6 was of sitting in a prison waiting room, and not attending a diplomatic reception. There are some things that one is not prepared for by the Academy. All those command scenarios are fine, but nothing at the Academy prepared me for the bureaucratic nonsense on Altair 6. The whole thing seemed like a silly misunderstanding to me. That is until the Altairians brought in the captain. Then bureaucracy gave way to madness.
Captain Kirk had to be supported by two Altairians because he could not walk on his own. He looked like he had been beaten up. His uniform was ripped and covered in filth. His face was bruised and he carried his right arm as if it were broken. He also looked sick. He was pale and sweat coated his face. He looked at us but his eyes didn’t seem to focus. The Altairians placed him on a chair and would not allow Dr. McCoy near him. Captain Kirk was shaking so hard that he nearly fell off his chair. I must admit to being shocked by the captain's treatment, but different cultures follow different rules. That is one of the first things that we learned at the Academy.
I thought the doctor was going to have a stroke. He argued with the Altairians who would not let him near Captain Kirk. The security guards tried to help the captain, but they too were kept away. I think the Altairians thought we might try to do something to get the captain away from them. I thought that highly unlikely. After all, we were guests on the planet and had to observe their laws, as Starfleet officers. That is what we were taught at the Academy. I thought we would leave and take up our case with the Federation Council as the doctor had suggested. Then I took a look at Mr. Spock.
Irina, I swear I'm not making this up. Our Vulcan first officer looked furious, guilty and close to murder, yet not a muscle in his face moved. I don't know how this could be, yet I am certain that he felt those feelings. Captain Kirk must have sensed something as well. You could barely hear his voice, but he said something to Mr. Spock that made him freeze in his tracks. It sounded like he told Spock that he shouldn't blame himself for what happened, but I can’t be sure. I can't imagine why the first officer would think he was responsible for the captain's difficulties?
After that, I don't really understand what happened. I think I heard the first officer say something about not allowing the captain to die again, but that made no sense. Without warning, Mr. Spock put his hands on two of the Altairians and they collapsed. The two security guards jumped two other Altairians. The captain pulled himself off the chair and launched himself at the last remaining Altairian who was about to hit Dr. McCoy with his fist. I am a little ashamed to admit that I just stood there, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A Starfleet captain and his first officer attacked the lawful representatives of another planet.
Mr. Spock put an arm around the captain to support him. He looked as if he wanted to carry him, but I could see the captain struggle to walk on his own. He is a stubborn man. The first officer ordered us all to follow them. We ran through the prison building, pushing confused people out of our way until we arrived at an unshielded area and Mr. Spock ordered Mr. Scott, the chief engineer, to beam us all back on board the ship.
They hustled the captain off to Sickbay. I am still waiting for a debriefing, but when I called up to the bridge, I was told that Mr. Scott had the conn and no one was available to debrief me.
What kind of ship is this?
I went to Sickbay, where I knew I'd find the doctor, and Captain Kirk. They wouldn't let me in. Apparently, Mr. Spock was there too. One of the nurses whispered that the captain was suffering from some side effect of an injury that he got on Vulcan as well as from a bad beating on Altair 6. I know I'm just a very junior officer, but I was on Altair 6 with them. I don't like being left in the dark. And, I don't think that I like being a part of what when on.
Captain Kirk seems to write his own rules and his officers are willing to support his disregard of the law. He was legally detained on Altair 6 and his first officer essentially kidnapped him, aided and abetted by security and the CMO of the Enterprise. I'm sorry that he's sick and I hope he recovers soon. When he does, I think I may request a transfer off this ship. I really am not sure that I can fit in here.
I will write again and tell you what I decide to do. For now, we have been ordered to leave Altair 6. I guess the Federation Council will straighten out the mess we are leaving behind. The Enterprise will shortly be on its way to search for a missing star ship. Commodore Matt Decker's Constellation is late in reporting to Starfleet. Commodore Decker has a fine reputation as a commander who plays by the rules. Perhaps, I can get a field transfer. I'll let you know what happens.
Please write me and tell me how you are doing.
Yours always,
Pavel