Star Trek: Earth Strike
Episode 4: Data Lends a Hand
“...The weak shall perish.”
Suddenly both Troi and Spock convulsed and were thrown apart. Troi slumped in her chair and Spock was sent sprawling across the deck.
“Doctor Crusher to the Bridge.” Picard ordered immediately, kneeling by Spock’s side.
“My battle station is in sickbay, Captain,” Crusher’s voice replied, “maybe I should send a medical team.”
“Ambassador Spock appears injured Doctor.” Picard insisted.
“On my way.” Crusher replied instantly.
“Deanna seems to be just stunned.” Said Riker. If there was any resentment in the First Officer’s voice over his Captain’s omission to mention Deanna to the Doctor he hid it well. Riker, like Crusher knew the importance of the Ambassador to the Federation. Starfleet had many counsellors, but there was only one Spock.
“‘Allies of the Borg will be destroyed.’ they said,” said Picard, thinking out loud, “it seems we are to be attacked for an alliance that we have not agreed.”
“But we’re not allies!” Insisted Riker. “There’s got to be some way to get through to them!”
Data swivelled in his chair to address the Captain. “Sir, I have managed to isolate the life signals of one of the aliens from it’s ship.”
“Transport it directly to the bridge,” Picard ordered, “establish a level three confinement field around it. Perhaps we can communicate better in person."
The android's fingers flew over his console as he strove to ‘make it so’. Shortly a cylinder of energy appeared in the empty space in front of the viewscreen, shimmering once then fading to invisibility. Seconds later the tell tale sound of the transporter was heard on the bridge and the area inside the confinement field was filled as an alien being materialised.
Fully eight feet tall, bipedal and bilateral, though only vaguely humanoid, the alien towered over them, it’s head whipping around as it strove to make sense of its new surroundings. Its clawtips sparkled as it tested the force-field around it.
“Do not be alarmed,” Picard said, hoping that the universal translator could render his words into a form the alien could understand. “We mean you no harm.”
With a screeching, unearthly roar the alien flung itself at the confinement field, ignoring the searing energies, pushing, straining, and eventually breaking through to burst unfettered onto the bridge! The creature leapt the forward stations aiming straight for Picard, whom it had no doubt identified as being in command.
“Initiate intruder alert!” Said Riker from his position by Deanna before charging the alien who slashed at him with one massive claw, flinging him aside. Snarling a war-cry Worf jumped from the raised tactical station straight onto the alien. The Klingon’s momentum staggered the alien momentarily before it managed to throw Worf over his head. With a crackle Worf bounced off the force-field.
Picard stared up at the alien that reared before him, expecting to die at any moment. He braced himself for the inevitable blow just as the creature arched its back, screeching at the ceiling. The Captain was sprayed with a gout of green and purple ichor as a white hand with long sharply pointed fingers burst through what in a human would have been its chest. The hand withdrew then crashed through again and yet again, each massive exit wound in a different place.
With a final gurgle the alien toppled, Data allowing the arm that he had impaled the creature with to slide out of it’s back. The android held his hand up in front of the Captain, displaying his pointed fingers for a moment before they contracted into themselves, telescoping back with a ‘snick’ sound until they seemed as normal as ever. “One of the new modifications Geordi and I have been working on,” Data explained to the shaken Captain, “intended more for fine engineering work than...”
“They seem very... effective Data.” Picard interrupted.
“Is the alien is dead?” Asked Worf, who had recovered from his impact on the force-field.
“Make...make sure.” Croaked Spock, who had recovered come to and levered himself up on his elbows.
Picard wiped some of the alien’s body fluids from his face. “Perhaps that would be best,” he said, “Mr Worf, if you would be so kind?”
“My pleasure, Sir.” Worf replied, taking a phasar pistol from a storage compartment and vaporising the twitching remains.
“So much for diplomacy...” Moaned Riker from where he still lay, his hands attempting to stem the blood soaking his ripped tunic where the alien had raked his chest. The First Officer’s eyes rolled up into his head as consciousness finally deserted him and he went limp, his lifeblood pouring from his torn body!
