Star Trek: The Original Series - Bantam Episodes - 010 - Galileo Seven by James Blish

Author:James Blish [Blish, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780553232356
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1974-10-15T07:00:00+00:00

A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR

(Don Ingalls and Gene Roddenberry)

McCoy stretched his back muscles, tired from bending over his collection of soil, leaves and roots. Starfleet had something, he thought. This planet’s plant culture just might be a medical El Dorado. But he was glad when his communicator beeped. This clearing in the forest was lonely.

Kirk said, “How much longer, Bones?”

“About another thirty minutes, Jim. You and Spock find anything?”

“No sign of inhabitants so far. Continue collecting. Kirk out.” As he closed his communicator, Spock pointed to the scuffled stones on the rocky ledge where they stood. “The apelike carnivore of the reports, Captain?”

Kirk inspected the tracks. He straightened, nodding. “The gumato. But this spoor is several days old. No problem. They seldom stay in one place.”

Spock eyed the sweep of trees sloping downhill from their ledge. “Aside from that, you say it’s a Garden of Eden, sir?”

Kirk grinned. “So it seemed years ago to a brash young Lieutenant named Kirk in command of his first planet survey.” He stiffened, hearing a branch break. Then he saw the people below moving along a narrow trail cut through the trees. With a shock of pleasure, he recognized their leader; and was about to shout “Tyree!” when his eye caught the glint of sun on a gun barrel. Guns— on this planet! He seized his phaser and Spock said quietly, “Use of our weapons was expressly forbidden, Captain.”

“Tyree is leading those people into ambush! He’s the friend I lived with here!” He wheeled; and kicking hard at a rock outcropping, loosed it to send it careening down the slope. The ambusher’s exploded from their concealing underbrush and Tyree cried, “Villagers!”

His group broke, rushing for the trees’ shelter. But one of the ambushers, turning, had seen Kirk and Spock. He yelled something to the other two; and all three ambushers burst into a fast run up the hill toward the Enterprise men. Then the first paused to place a flintlock musket against his shoulder. The bullet pinged past Kirk’s ear to strike spray from the rock behind him. The man pulled up to reload—and the second villager fired. Hot metal tore into Spock.

In his clearing McCoy heard the shots. Snatching his communicator, he opened it, crying, “Enterprise, alert! Alert! Stand by to beam up landing party!”

Spock was down. Running to him, Kirk took one look at the wound; and grabbing his phaser, aimed it at their pursuers.

“No … Captain…”

“Spock, they’ll be reloaded in a moment!”

On a surge of agonized effort, Spock staggered to his feet. “No, I… can travel.”

Looking up, Kirk saw McCoy and cried, “Beam us up fast, Bones!” McCoy had his communicator open. “Now, Scotty! Spock’s hurt! Have medics standing by!” ‘

Kirk, supporting the half-conscious Spock, pulled him into a threesome with McCoy. As they dematerialized, the three villagers were left to stare at the sparkle into which they’d disappeared.

An agitated Scott was at the Transporter platform to meet them. “What happened, Captain?”

“Lead projectile. Old-style firearm. Tell those medics to bring the stretcher

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