Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 1) by Gene Roddenberry

Author:Gene Roddenberry [Roddenberry, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 2000-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

Kirk came onto the bridge to find Spock back at his station again, opaque and unreadable. Decker was in the command seat, which was perfectly proper, of course. The young exec got up and came to give his report, handing over the display readout which showed present efficiency of Enterprise divisions and departments.

“Critical systems status improving markedly, sir,” Decker reported. He was pointing to Chekov’s weapons and defense division which was now rated high—mid-eighties. Communications was equally high. Secondary and auxiliary functions still showed marginal ratings, but, of course, main effort and attention had been concentrated on their most critical needs.

What was this? Decker’s display board showed an interesting power bypass design; in fact, it was the very kind of thing Kirk had just mentioned to the chief engineer! No wonder Scott had suggested that Kirk discuss it with Decker. Clearly, Decker had already been working on an arrangement which would permit the use of their ship’s phasers even with all engine power knocked out.

“Something Mr. Scott and I had been putting together in our spare time, sir,” Decker said, with some satisfaction.

Kirk was genuinely surprised. According to the display here, a major part of bypass arrangement had been installed. It said a great deal about Decker that he had not only been aware of this need, but was also ingenious enough to have this much already accomplished. “A pity there wasn’t time to finish this,” Kirk said.

Decker grinned. “Hoped you’d say that, sir. I think I’ve worked out a way to have these alterations completed and tested an hour before I.P. Permission to proceed?”

Kirk hesitated. It could be disastrous if some unforeseen problem occurred during further alterations—it could end with them drifting helplessly in the path of the Intruder with the work incomplete and both engines and phasers useless. Kirk resisted an impulse to ask him if he were certain of his estimates—Decker was as aware as anyone of their situation. And he knew this ship best. It was Kirk’s moment to indicate how far he trusted his young second-in-command.

“Permission to proceed.” Kirk nodded. “I’m very pleased and impressed with this, Will.”

“Thank you, sir.” Decker hurried toward the turbolift landing. Kirk took another look at the vessel and crew emergency breakdowns. He couldn’t actually boast that they merited a “battle-ready” description, but it was clear that a remarkable job had been done—and it had been done mainly by Decker before Kirk had arrived on the scene.

McCoy had been right; Kirk had come to realize that, too. Getting starship command again had been a secret obsession, hidden even from himself until the Intruder alert occurred. When he realized that this could mean not only returning to space again but also to Enterprise, he had closed his mind to everything else. Retaining command of Enterprise had somehow become for him the purpose of the entire mission. He was genuinely shocked as he realized how close he had come to defiling an entire lifetime’s beliefs.

Kirk had come to the bridge to confront

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