Planet of Judgment by Joe Haldeman

Author:Joe Haldeman [Haldeman, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781852865313
Publisher: Titan Books
Published: 1976-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

DISTRESS DISTRESS DISTRESS DISTRESS

This is Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the heavy cruiser Enterprise, currently en route to Academy. This recording is being made on Stardate 6136.6; date and time of transmission are COMPUTER INSERT. Our current position is COMPUTER INSERT.

A disaster has befallen the Enterprise. I believe myself to be unaffected by it so far, but have no reason to believe my immunity will continue. Therefore I am putting this recording into “permanent transmission” mode; neither I nor anybody else aboard the Enterprise can alter or end it

Our trouble began when we stopped at the research station on Nesta, to pick up Professor James Atheling. Our normal duties were to be suspended for four weeks, in order to transfer Dr. Atheling to Academy, where he has been appointed dean of Star Fleet’s College of Science.

Several science officers beamed down to the surface of Nesta, because they were interested in seeing Dr. Atheling’s establishment there. In eluded were the three senior science officers, the chief surgeon, and one ensign, who had a professional interest in nonthermal sources of boson radiation.

All five, plus Dr. Atheling, were beamed up dead.

No immediate cause of death was found; but we discovered too late that the bodies were carriers of some disease with both physical and psychic symptoms.

The disease causes a protracted high fever, which has killed about 30% of the crew. Most of these were medical and transporter technicians.

Those who survive the fever (and other relatively minor physical symptoms) fall victim to a uniform, highly-detailed delusion. They all “remember” a fantastic series of incidents involving an Earth-sized rogue planet, inhabited by a race of superior telepathic humanoids.

Even if such a planet could exist, it seems unlikely that we would have stopped there without making any record of the fact Here is the only log entry for that day:

Captain’s Log, Stardate 6133.4:

This is Captain James T. Kirk, Commander.

The bodies of Spock, McCoy, Charvat, Follett, Ybarra, and Dr. Atheling have been placed in the biological stasis chamber, for more thorough analysis on Academy. The consensus of opinion is that some manner of transporter accident killed them. Accordingly, we will not use the transporters until they can be tested under laboratory conditions.

Lieutenant Commander Scott and several other people in Engineering are very ill with a fever. Nurse Chapel has recommended a quarantine of the section, if many more people come down with it.

Morale in general seems very low. Both Spock and McCoy were well-liked by the crew.

Those who’ve fallen prey to the delusion believe that the ones who died on Nesta (or between Nesta and the Enterprise) are still alive, and being held prisoner on the rogue planet. Please ignore any transmissions relating this story, even if they come from me.

Further evidence, in the form of log entries and interviews with crewmen (those with the delusion and without), is here appended.

“Good God in heaven,” Scott said, his brogue shocked completely away.

“I would bet any amount,” Kirk said drily, “that the transmission is getting through.”

“That’s for sure,” Uhura said slowly.

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