Star Trek 6 by James Blish

Author:James Blish [Blish, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780553138740
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1972-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE CLOUD MINDERS

(Margaret Armen, David Gerrold and Oliver Crawford)

“Then there’s been a mistake,” Kirk said.

And he couldn’t afford one, not on this mission. During a routine check of the Enterprise’s operational quadrant of the galaxy, they had been ordered by the Federation to make top warp speed to the planet Ardana, sole source of a trace metal able to arrest a botanical plague ravaging vegetation which made a neighboring planet habitable. It was a mission whose emergency nature was known to the High Advisor of Ardana. Yet his greeting to the Enterprise had contained no reference to the zenite mines. Instead, his welcome specified Stratos as the reception site.

“Stratos is their Cloud City, isn’t it, Mr. Spock?”

“It is, Captain.”

Kirk hit the intercom to the Transporter Room. “Mr. Scott, are you locked in on the mines of Ardana or its Cloud City?”

“The mines, Captain. That’s what you ordered.”

Then this mistake isn’t ours, Kirk thought. The Ardanans understood the Transporter; they had it themselves. Turning to Uhura, he said tersely, ‘Tell the High Advisor we request that the official welcom-ing courtesies be dispensed with. We are beaming down directly to the mines to ensure the fastest possible transport of the zenite to Marak II. The need is desperate. Say we appreciate the honor and look forward to a visit to Cloud City in the future… Come with me, Mr. Spock.”

But no miners were awaiting them at the mine-shaft entrance. The hill by which they’d arrived was deserted.

“I don’t understand it,” Kirk said. “The Troglyte miners were to make delivery when we beamed down.”

“Perhaps there is another entrance,” Spock suggested.

There was none. The other side of the hill was as abandoned, as bleak and forbidding as the rest of their arrival area. It was Spock who put the thought in both of their minds into words. “It would seem that the Troglytes have changed their minds about the delivery, sir.”

Even as Kirk nodded there came a hiss in the air above their heads. Two heavy, noosed thongs were hurled from behind them with an accuracy that pinned their arms helplessly to their bodies. Jerks tightened the thongs, and the two Enterprise officers were pulled roughly around to confront four creatures, obvious Troglytes, their loose miners’ overalls begrimed, their eyes begoggled, their features hidden by slitted masks. One of the Troglytes was slightly smaller than the others; but they all had long, sharp-edged mortae, the honed blades aimed in open threat.

“What is the reason for this attack?” Kirk demanded.

“Interference breeds attack,” the smallest Troglyte said coldly, in a female voice. “My name is Vanna, Captain. I have need of your… services. Move on.” The overalled arm motioned to the mine-shaft entrance.

“We are here by permission of your government Council,” Kirk said. “On emergency mission.”

“Move on, Captain.” Ominous ice entered the voice.

Kirk felt the prod of her sharp blade in his back. Exchanging a swift glance with Spock, they burst into simultaneous action, lashing out with their feet at the two nearest Troglytes. Spock’s kick caught his man in the chest.

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