Comment on Droplets of Earth, selective pages by thefirstfleet

I'm currently in the middle of re-writing my Cayuga series but I think I can oblige you with a look at one of the stories of the series that involves the Kzinti.


‘Warriors’

By Jack Elmlinger



“’Tom,’ I inquired,’ what did you say to Wilson that afternoon?’ He stared at me without a word and I knew I had guessed right about those missing hours. I started to turn away but he took a step after me and grabbed my arm.’”

Sayvok stood on a stool illuminated by a single light. He had been like that for hours, calmly reading from a hardcover book.

“What’s he reading?,” Polcheny asked as she sat down next to a small cluster of officers. The performance had been scheduled for the last night that the two crews would share together for a while and the Cayuga’s mess hall was crowded with personnel from both ships. Kyla Briannon smiled at her while Survek, the Juneau’s first officer merely nodded before he returned his attention to Sayvok.

Entranced, Leonard Huang didn’t greet her but he did answer her. “I have no idea,” he said, marveling. “He’s incredible. Like no other Vulcan that I’ve ever met.”

“Most of them don’t go for performance art,” she agreed, peering at Survek in the hope that he would offer some insight.

“’I couldn’t forgive him or live him,’” Sayvok continued,”’ but I saw that he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made…
“’ I shook hands with him; it seemed silly not to, for I felt suddenly as though I were talking to a child. Then he went into the jewelry store to buy a pearl necklace – or perhaps only a pair of cuff button – rid of my provincial squeamishness forever.’”

“I met him on Earth,” Huang told Polcheny, his eyes still on the stage,” at the Tokyo R&D facility. A local university was holding an evening of poetry readings and I went for the novelty of a Vulcan reading haikus.” He bit his lip. “Damn.”


----


“Captain’s log, stardate 56826.5;

While Councilor Bokam stays with the Juneau to continue their dialogue with the Tholians, the Cayuga is proceeding on course for a planet in the Gianwu system. Spotted by a Cardassian survey vessel, fifteen years ago, it is home to a pre-warp civilization. It’s my hope that we’ll be able to flesh out the Cardassians’ sparse cultural report.

“In shipboard matters, the time for crew evaluations has come again. This time of year, I was on my way back from Intooine and Commander zh’Tali handled the evaluations on her own. Being less determined than she was, I’ve enlisted Commander Riker and Doctor Moru’s aid. One thing that concerns me is Aimee’s promotion. The most cursory review of her file shows that she has earned a promotion to Lieutenant Commander, even considering her brief stint away from the ship. But… I’m hesitant to bring up the idea myself. I fear that it smacks of favoritism – “

“Bridge to Pozach.”

Riley’s voice jolted her from her thoughts. She closed the log and straightened up in her ready room chair. “Yes, Lieutenant?”

“We’re approaching Gianwu now but our sensors are showing another ship already in orbit.”

The doors at the back of the bridge opened to admit Pozach and she took the center seat from Riker. “Magnify,” she ordered and as Gianwu II expanded to fill the screen, a brown fleck grew into a ship. It was a bolted together collection of basic components: engines, bridge, cargo bays, and very obvious weapons turrets.

“The vessel is warp-capable,” Riker reported from Ops. “Their weapons consist of chemical missiles and plasma blasters. I’m searching out database but it definitely isn’t used by any Federation or Cardassian world.” His panel chimed and he looked up in surprise. “It’s a Kzinti assault ship.”

Riley glanced back at him. “That hunk of junk?”

“Mr. Riker, hail them.”

Riker shook his head. “No response, though they have begun de-orbiting.”

“Keep hailing them. Maybe they don’t realize that there’s a young race down there.”

Riley kept the Cayuga directly above the descending Kzinti ship for nearly ten minutes before the viewscreen revealed a massive feline face.

“What?,” the Kzinti demanded, his slitted golden eyes malevolent.

Pozach smiled charmingly and leaned forward. “I’m Captain Jea –“

“Your device profanes the Hero’s Tongue, ape!,” the cat-like alien spat back at her. “Speak quickly, lest your offence compound itself.”

Pozach frowned back at him. “There is a civilization on the planet below. They haven’t advanced very far technologically and as such, they are protected under the Prime Directive. I respectfully ask what your business is on Gianwu II.”

The Kzinti let out a stuttering hiss almost like an amused chuckle. “The hairless ape dares to give me orders?! Your Prime Directive means nothing to me, human. I am Lrrt-Captain, Warrior of the Karrak House of the Kzinti Patriarchy. I have been charge with harnessing the resources of this world and bringing its people to heed.” He leered at the screen. “Interfere, human. I wish to taste your flesh.”


----


“That ship is eighty or ninety years behind us technologically,” Maguire said, referring to the schematic on the situation room’s display screen. “Those plasma blasters are powerful but in a stand-up fight, we’ll have no problem putting the Kzinti down.”

Pozach accepted the information with a nod. “Be it as it may, I’d like to avoid combat if possible.”

“Naturally,” Riley said dryly.

“Captain,” Riker said,” I’ve studied both Starfleet and Cardassian files on them. The Kzinti were predators well known before they were sentient. They think as well as we do but not like we do. There can be no peaceful accord because the Kzinti don’t believe in it.”

“There’s got to be some way that we can convince them to leave on their own,” Moru insisted.

Riker threw up his hands. “If we don’t challenge them or challenge them and lose, we’ll be seen as prey and attacked. If we challenge them and win, we’ll be seen as a threat and attacked.” He shrugged with a sigh. “The Kzinti fight. It’s what they do.”

“I’d like to think that we’re better than that,” the captain said with a smile. “Here’s the plan. Once the Kzinti disembark, Maguire will sneak aboard and sabotage their ship.”

The chief engineer smirked at this. “Remember what the Cardassian black marketers hit us with? I’ve been waiting to screw someone else with that thing.”

“After that, we’ll tow them well out of the Gianwu system.”

“So what’s to keep them from coming back once they fix their ship?,” Ntannu asked.

“They won’t,” answered Riker, a glimmer of amused respect crossing his face,” because once we insult those Kzinti by making them fail, they’ll come after us before finishing their assignment. They have to. It’s their only honorable recourse.”

“I think we can suffer some harassment for the sake of those down on Gianwu II.” Pozach glanced over at Riker. “I read the reports on the Kzinti too,” she said. “I want you to assemble a cultural survey team and proceed as previously planned. No reason to let the Kzinti keep us from our mission.”


----


The away team materialized into a dark alley. A quick tricorder sweep proved that they hadn’t been seen and Riker led them into the main street.

“It’s been so long since I’ve done one of these missions,” Taylor said, scanning the street excitedly. It was formed with broad stones and filled with milling Gianwuans going about their business. “Four years of working triage has almost made me forget why we’re supposed to be out here.”

“It’s fascinating,” Riker agreed. Irritated, he scratched the feathery prosthetic attached to his cheeks and jaw. “I can’t believe they’re supposed to hear through these things. Let’s get this over with. Taylor and Collier, get your biological information. Hobbes, grab some scans of their technology while I mingle.” The away team dispersed as he muttered,” I don’t want to spend any more time on this dirtball planet than necessary.”

As a cultural anthropologist, it was his job to observe the Gianwuans’ society which was in one word, boring. Half a dozen lords ruled over the impoverished citizenry in comfort. The males worked to gather money and resources while the females raised the children and performed domestic chores. The women weren’t even remotely attractive and that fact irritated Riker more than anything.

A hush fell over the street. Riker took a step closer to Collier, glancing around and at her gasp, he caught sight of them.

Five Kzinti stood at the end of the street, snarling quietly and surveying the Gianwuans. Slowly, they began to encircle the crowd that had formed to gawk at them.

“They don’t have weapons,” Collier said, hypnotized by the grace of the Kzinti.

“They don’t need them,” Riker said, slapping his chest and striking his hidden communicator. “Riker to Cayuga. Why the hell weren’t we told that there were Kzinti in the area?”

There was a pause and then Novack said,” Scanners aren’t picking up any Kzinti lifesigns within twenty kilometers of your position, Commander.”

The lead Kzinti stepped forward, sniffing at a Gianwuan who stood entranced by him. The feline bellowed, dispatching the Gianwuan with a swipe of his claws. Blood sprayed from the alien’s wounds and the crowd dissolved into panic as the rest of the Kzinti dove in, claws and teeth flashing.

Horrified, Collier stepped back into Riker’s hard and for a moment he forgot about the murderous Kzinti. Then frantically, he pounded his combadge. “Get us out of here! Get us out now!”

A voice called out. “And you’re the runts that your mothers couldn’t be bothered to drown!”

The Kzinti turned away from their slaughter as Hobbes’ communicator translated his words and spat them back in the snarls and hisses of the Hero’s Tongue. As they turned to face him, the science officer ran.


----


“I don’t know how they’re avoiding our scans,” Maguire snapped, stepping around the engineering station and crossing the bridge to Ops. Pushing Novack aside, she took over the station, saying,” I’ve got Connelly and Sayvok brainstorming about how they’re jamming us but they aren’t getting anywhere.” She slapped her hands on the panel. “Get me an example and I can figure something out.”

“Until we can track them, I’m having Ntannu deploy as many officers as possible to try to keep the Kzinti away from the settlements. So far, the Gianwuans are staying put but I don’t think that will last.” Pozach stood from her chair, stretching. “I want you to get down there and take care of the Kzinti ship. I suspect that the longer we confound them, the more likely they are to attack the Cayuga directly.” She tapped Polcheny on the shoulder and motioned for her to stand up. “Take Polcheny with you.”

“Me?” The ensign’s eyes widened in joyful surprise.

“Her?,” Maguire asked irritably.

Pozach shrugged, taking Polcheny’s place at the helm. “We don’t have many people to space and while we’re in orbit, a body at the helm isn’t exactly critical.”

“Oh, thank you, Captain,” Polcheny bubbled. “I can’t tell you how much this means –“ Her words were cut off as Maguire dragged her off the bridge.

“An away mission,” the ensign enthused as the turbolift opened before them. “I don’t get on many of those, what with being a helm officer and all.”

“Perish the thought,” Maguire said as she gave directions to the turbolift computer.

“Real soil beneath my feet and a horizon!” She clapped her hands with joy.

They stepped into the transporter room. The chief engineer took a minute to affix her tool kits and phaser to her belts, pinning her braid down close to her head. “Put us within twenty meters from the Kzinti ship,” she told Mbanu.

Polcheny hadn’t stopped talking. “But also I wanted to talk to you.” The world faded to silver and then reappeared as a lush forest clearing. The Kzinti ship sat in the sunlight, silent and alone. “About… y’know… personal stuff.”

Frowning, Maguire opened her tricorder and scanned the area. “Stuff?”

“Yeah,” Polcheny said evasively. “I… I mean, I can’t just say it.”

“That does make it harder.” The engineer headed towards the ship and Polcheny quickened her pace to keep up.

“It’s about Joe and how we’re involved romantically.” Alice took a deep breath and continued,” And I figured since you have the most experience being romantically involved of anyone I know –“

“Maybe you should stop there.” They reached the ship’s airlock. A few quick passes with her tricorder and a disdainful snort from the engineer opened both doors and they stepped inside.

“I don’t think that Joe thinks I’m attractive,” the helm officer pressed on. “For a bunch of nights now, I’ve been sleeping in his quarters and… and…” She trailed off. “He hasn’t noticed… or acted like he cares.”

The interior of the ship was spacious as it was required by the massive bodies of the Kzinti and red light illuminated the quiet corridor ahead of them. Following her tricorder, Maguire traced a power conduit. “Well, Joe’s a pretty religious guy. Maybe he’s got some prohibitions against sexual activity.”

“But that’s silly! Where would you get all the little religious people from then?”

Maguire pulled an octagonal panel off of a bulkhead. “You want to make little religious people?”

“Maybe.”

Maguire examined the power systems and tapped her combadge. “Mbanu, I’m in position.” Instantly before them, the black marketers’ sabotage device materialized on the floor. With deft movements, she attached the device and resealed the panel. “Look, if you really want my advice, I’d say just talk to him about it.” She snorted and led Polcheny to the airlock. “If you don’t do it now, then there will undoubtedly be even more talking la—“

She stepped outside and froze. Three gigantic Kzinti were emerging from the forest and the largest of them with an almost tabby coloration hissed at the other two. “Oh, zh’Tali is never around when you need her,” Maguire muttered as the largest Kzinti moved forward, dropping from two legs to four with liquid grace. His amber eyes narrowed and rasping snarls emerged from between his sharp teeth.

“What’s he saying?,” Polcheny asked, captivated.

“Back away slowly.”

Frowning, the helm officer said. “That seems like a very silly thing for him to be saying.”

“Just run, you idiot!.” Maguire bolted back inside the ship. “Mbanu! Mbanu, get us out of here!”


----


“We seem to spend an awful lot of time running away from them,” Riley remarked with a smirk.

“Because I’m sure that a big man like you would’ve just stood them down,” Maguire scowled from the bridge engineering station. “I swear the damned thing shredded my jacket.”

To Pozach’s eye, the uniform was unmarred but she let the comment slide. “How are we looking on the surface?”

“Lieutenant Ntannu reports no more Kzinti contacts around the villages in the past hour,” Riker said. His skin was still tinted green and he rubbed at his cheeks. “In fact, the Kzinti warship is powering up its engines.”

“Get ready,” Pozach said to Maguire. “Joe see that they meet us quickly. Riker, remind the Kzinti that Gianwu II is protected by the Prime Directive and that they are not to interfere.”

“No response,” he reported,” but they are charging their weapons.”

Pozach leaned forward. “Warn them one more time.”

“Waste of time,” he grumbled.

“We’ve got a bit to spare,” the captain replied before sighing. “I trust that there’s no response?”

Riker glared at her. “They’ll be within weapons range in eight seconds.”

“Aimee.”

With a vindictive grin, Maguire stabbed a button on her panel and on the main viewscreen, the Kzinti vessel stumbled in space as blue electricity flared over its hull. The engineer’s malicious chuckle filled the bridge.

“Kzinti power emissions are at zero,” the ops officer pronounced. “The ship is traveling solely on momentum.”

“Joe, catch them in a tractor-beam and set a course for the nearest Kzinti system.” Pozach grinned. “Good job, everyone.”


----


“Stupid. So incredibly stupid.”

Hobbes turned away from the stars streaking past his window and glared. “Is that all that you’ve came here to say?”

“Well, I think that ‘stupid’ pretty much covers it well,” Riker snapped back at him. “You used to have much more sense than to challenge a bunch of eight-hundred pound killing machines to a game of tag.”

“Like that time that you insulted the mothers of an entire gang of Nausicaans?”

“I was too drunk to know what I was doing and I thought that they were Betazoids,” he reminded him. “I don’t want to see you hurt, Brandon! Is getting yourself killed part of your mission to do good?”

Hobbes stepped away from the window and dropped down onto his bed. The white bandages wrapped around his chest and arms gleamed in the pale light. “I can’t save myself by sacrificing others,” he said, tired. “Not anymore.” He motioned at the computer screen on which glowed a commendation for heroism. “Captain Pozach seemed to approve.”

“Captain Pozach is a naïve little woman who would let you die before she did anything to save your life.” Hobbes stared up at him, too drained to bother with a response. “Damned fool,” Riker said and left.

Long shadows opened again and Riker sauntered down the hallway, reading doorplates as he went. Finding the one that he wanted, he keyed the buzzer. After a few moments, the door slid open and a drowsy Roslyn Collier stared back at him, quickly becoming more awake.

“You want me,” he said. It was a question, a suggestion, and a command all in one sentence.

Collier cocked her head to the side and considered him with a wry smile. Then slowly she stepped aside and let him in.


The End…


Next time on Starship Cayuga… ‘Old Things’

Special notes by the Author

Sayvok is imitating Andy Kaufman by reading The Great Gatsby – all of it.

2. The Kzinti were first created by Larry Niven as part of his Known Space series.