Chain of Attack Read Free Page A

can."
    "Commendable scientific curiosity, I am sure, Kirk, but rather pointless, it seems to me. In any event, I postponed important business to become a part of this mission, and I strenuously object to having it prolonged unreasonably. That is to say, beyond a point at which useful knowledge can be obtained. A point which, I might add, appears to have been reached some time ago."
    "You are, of course, free to contact Starfleet Command at any time, Doctor. Lieutenant Uhura will be glad to open a channel whenever you wish."
    Crandall's square features hardened as his jaw muscles tensed, and Kirk imagined he could hear the grinding of teeth. Then Crandall slumped slightly, confirming Kirk's suspicions that friendship with the people at Starfleet Command was not the reason Crandall was aboard. He or his political friends had pulled strings somewhere, and Starfleet Command had obliged, as they often did in small matters that did not interfere with Starfleet activities. The string pulling had gotten him aboard the Enterprise , in a position to take advantage of any significant discoveries that resulted from the use of his lab's sensors, but that was all it had gotten him. And even that might be lost if he pushed his luck.
    "I may do that, Kirk," Crandall said. "If this nonsense continues much longer, I may do just that." But both men knew it was an empty threat.
    Kirk remained silent, and finally Crandall turned to leave the bridge. But as he took a step forward toward the turbolift, another shudder gripped the Enterprise . Compared to the two previous incidents, it was almost unnoticeable, not even enough to cause Crandall to miss a step.
    A moment later, however, Chekov's voice, high-pitched with excitement, sliced through the air. "The screen, sir! Look!"
    Kirk spun the command chair instantly to face the viewscreen.
    He blinked, and fingers of ice suddenly gripped his spine.
    Instead of the sparse stars of the edge of the Sagittarius arm, there were stars by the thousands, by the tens of thousands, a star field immeasurably brighter and more dense than anyone on the bridge had ever seen.

 
Chapter Two

    "FULL STOP, MR. SULU," Kirk snapped. "Maintain present position. Mr. Chekov, determine precisely our present position with respect to the point at which we first appeared in this sector."
    The helmsman and the navigator responded instantly, their fingers working the controls even as they acknowledged the commands.
    "Spock, full sensor scan."
    "No vessels in sensor range, Captain. Radiation, though markedly higher, presents no danger."
    "Kirk!" Crandall's strident voice overrode everyone else's. "Would someone please tell me what the blazes is going on!"
    "We'll tell you as soon as we find out ourselves. Spock, any idea where we are?"
    "Not yet, Captain. There is—"
    "Kirk! I demand to know—"
    "Dr. Crandall, please leave the bridge. Return to your quarters."
    "Now see here, Kirk! Who do you think you are? I am, in effect, a representative of the Council itself, and I demand civil answers to my questions!"
    "We do not have time for your demands at the moment, Dr. Crandall," Kirk said sharply, punching a button on the command chair arm as he spoke.
    "Security detail to the bridge immediately. Escort Dr. Crandall to his quarters."
    Crandall's face reddened, and he turned abruptly to the communications station. "Lieutenant, open a channel to Starfleet Command! At once!"
    Uhura looked questioningly at Captain Kirk. "Continue monitoring all frequencies, Lieutenant," he said. "Attempt no communications with Starfleet Command or anyone else at this time."
    "Kirk, I'll have your head for this! If you don't—"
    The turbolift doors hissed open, disgorging a twoperson security detail.
    "Escort Dr. Crandall to his quarters," Kirk said, confirming his order. "Make sure he stays there. I'll inform you when he is to be allowed to leave."
    Crandall resisted for a moment, but then, blustering a final threat, he allowed himself to