Star Trek - Zombies

Chapter 06: Vigilance

The communicator still in Kirk's hand beeped softly twice. With the device already open, Kirk pressed one of the buttons to change frequencies and answer the incoming transmission.

"Kirk here," he said.

"Captin'," the chief engineer said with his usual accent. "We're mighty glad to hear your voice."

"Scotty," Kirk answered in relief. "What happened? Are the ship and crew alright?"

"As fine as can be expected," Scotty replied. "The storm over the colony started throwing bloody lightning bolts at us. The shields held, and we moved out of range. We were a might concerned you wouldn't make it until we found a way to come back."

"We've had some casualties, but we've neutralized the storm and its effects on the colony," Kirk stated heavily, his thoughts centered on the twelve men he'd lost on this mission.

"Transporters are standing by, waiting to bring you aboard," Scotty told him.

"Three to beam up," Kirk responded. He flipped his communicator closed and returned it to his belt.

Golden sparkles wrapped around Kirk, McCoy, and Spock, starting near their center and gradually spreading out as they were transformed into an energy pattern for transit to the ship in orbit.

  ***  

The turbolift doors opened with a hiss of their mechanics. The three surviving members of the away team exited the turbolift onto the bridge. Spock went immediately to his science station while Kirk took his seat in the centrally located Captain's chair. McCoy stood behind and to one side of the Captain where he could see everything without being in the way.

"Mr. Sulu, lock phasers on the colony science block," Kirk ordered.

"Aye sir," Sulu replied, pressing several keys on his control board. "Phasers locked."

"Fire," Kirk commanded.

An intense beam of blue white energy lanced down from the Enterprise, striking the science block building. The structure was vaporized in the center, but the outer edges were hurled through the air as the building exploded. A shockwave tore through the nearby colony, knocking over or sending flying the undead depending on their proximity to the center of the blast. The undead still on their feet suddenly collapsed, falling to the ground like puppets without strings.

"The science block has been destroyed," Spock reported while looking through the hood of his scope. "Scanners indicate a severe drop in electromagnetic flux levels. The undead hordes are motionless. It would appear the alien controlling them is dead."

"It appears that way," Kirk grudgingly agreed. "Nevertheless, I want a warning beacon placed in orbit. No one is to go to the planet surface until it is checked by Starfleet to be certain it is free of danger."

"Understood," Spock agreed. He pressed a few controls. "Warning beacon has been launched."

"Did he say undead?" Chekov asked Sulu.

"Yes he did," McCoy snapped. "And, that's the last I want to hear about it. Let's get away from this place and forget it ever happened."

"We can't forget it, Doctor," Spock denied. "The alien we encountered probably isn't the only one in existence. We have to warn Starfleet about what has occurred here, how the alien was attracted to the planet, and what to look out for in the future."

"He's right, Bones," Kirk agreed. "We can't allow ourselves the luxury of forgetting the unpleasantness of the past, or we'll leave ourselves vulnerable to a second incident. We need to always remember, so we can make certain it never happens again."

Kirk stood up from his chair and tugged down the edge of his gold uniform shirt. "Set course for the nearest starbase."

"Course plotted and laid in," Ensign Chekov replied.

"Maximum warp," Kirk added.

"Aye sir," Chekov answered.

As the Enterprise pulled away from the lifeless world, Kirk returned to his chair and pressed a switch on the armrest.

"Captain's log, supplemental," he recorded. "We came to answer a distress call and found a world already dead, the corpses under the control of an alien entity. If not stopped, it would've spread its corrupting influence to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, perhaps beyond. I want it noted that security officers Baker, Mills, and the men under their command, gave their lives to prevent this from happening. It is my wish for Starfleet's highest commendations to be awarded to each of them. It seems too little in comparison to the scope of their actions. We only survived because of the dedication and selflessness of those willing to give their all to save the lives of another. The Federation will undoubtedly face many challenges in the years ahead, but if we remain vigilant, constantly on guard against all foes, whoever and whatever they may be, we shall prevail, even in the face of a zombie apocalypse."

Kirk pressed the switch to end the recording and directed his focus to the forward viewscreen and the passing stars. The depths of space held both terrors and wonders. Starfleet had been formed to search them out, bringing the good to all peoples of the galaxy while protecting them from the worst. Although not always successful in their endeavors, this was their mission, and their mission was far from over.