Star Trek: "Before Destruction!"*  -  An Original Novel By Michael Rossi

       (Please Read the File "README.TXT" before you begin this story.)

                                  Author's Note:

           The following story takes place immediately after the
      'Vintage' Trek episode entitled "Requiem for Methuselah".  It
      also ties into the entire Trek world, thankfully created by
      the late Gene Roddenberry.  Specific episodes that are referenced
      prominently are: "Requiem for Methuselah", "Whom Gods Destroy",
      "Day *f the Dove" and "Errand of Mercy".  As with all works in the
      Trek universe, this one takes a few liberties... but only a few, and
      maintains the "Character" and "Spirit" that has made Trek my favorite
      world of imagination.  Although this story relies on past episodes,
      it is independent of any other "S.T. Novel" or the contents therein.

           I would like to take this time to thank the writer's of the
      aforementioned episodes, and all the others who have contributed to
      the world of Trek in a positive way.  Specifically I wish to thank
      them for showing me that, although fictional, it reflects hope, truth,
      loyalty, justice, honor, faith, and love.  Trek authors have boldly gone
      where others have feared to tread.  Tackling delicate issues of morality
      and justice unflinchingly, from the very beginning.  Episodic topics
      have ranged from the "Cold War" to the "Bible" and have always spoken to
      current issues with an underlying sense of the "right" and "wrong" of
      them, or the "good" and "evil".  I attribute the success of the series
      not merely to the actors and crew, but to these writers who envisioned
      a hopeful future, but never left the wisdom of the past.

              Thank you.

              Mike

--------------------------------------MORE--------------------------------------

                                    And Now:

                           Star Trek: "Before Destruction"*

             *Star Trek is a Registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures
                          Copyright 1991 by Michael Rossi
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                             ***    PROLOGUE    ***

              Captain James Tiberius Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise,
         yielded finally to the merciful, if often elusive, hand of sleep.
         Dr. Lenard McCoy had helped him on his way.  His cabin was darkened
         as he sat behind his desk with his head down atop folded arms.
         The sleeves of his gold and black Captain's uniform were still
         moist from the tears he was unable to hold back any longer.  Though
         asleep, he was neither at rest nor at peace.  Phantasms of his
         tormented heart were there to greet him as he entered the place of
         his dreams.

              Behind him, like a chiselled monolithic sentinel, stood the
         Vulcanian Science Officer, Spock.  He looked upon his Captain,
         moved with a compassion he had never experienced before.  Not
         expressed on his face, nor seen in the fathomless depths of his
         eyes, the emotion drove him, forcing him to a decision.  His
         logical mind did what it could to prevent him from acting, but the
         force from his half-human heart was irresistible.  The pain of his
         Captain was now inexplicably yet undeniably his own.  And then the
         decision was made.

              Spock, the man, moved towards his Captain, and gently placed
         his fingers upon the troubled brow of his friend.  He closed his
         own eyes and concentrated.  "Forget," he spoke to the heart of his
         Captain, "Forget..."

                                  *         *         *

              "They will be coming..." the voice spoke out prophetically.

              "How many?" came a second voice with a strange sadness in it.

              "Two ships, one from either side.  But only one of their
         'landing parties' will descend," answered the first voice.

              "Should we prevent them from approaching?" came a third voice.

              "No," said the second, "It must be."

              "They are fearful.  They believe we have answers to their
         fear," said the first.

              "Perhaps they are correct but they may not wish to hear
         what we have to say.  For they have heard the truth from the
         beginning, and are still willingly ignorant of it.  The pride of
         their vain imagination, their love of 'self', these are points of
         their blindness.  Nevertheless, we are merely messengers of the
         truth, not creators of it...  Let them come," spoke the second
         voice.

         "Let them come," agreed the third voice.

         "They shall come..." prophesied the first.

                                       PAGE A

                                 ***  ONE  ***

                   Captain's personal log, Stardate: 5845.9.
              "It has been mere hours since we have left orbit around
         Holberg 917g, yet my memory of it seems to fade with our increasing
         distance.  Holberg, was not on our intended agenda but a necessary
         break from our course, for on its surface in crude form was the
         vital mineral "Ryetalyn" which when refined was the main ingredient
         for a cure to Rigellian Fever.  A landing party from the Enterprise
         had contracted Rigellian Fever weeks ago and the virus had swept
         the crew, which made our need one of desperation.  Upon arrival at
         the out-of-the way planet, Myself, First Officer Spock and Dr.
         Leonard McCoy found the dwelling of a most amazing man."

              "We found that the man, Flint, living in isolation from the
         rest of the universe, had no record of ever existing on file in any
         Starfleet or Federation memory banks.  That is, under the name of
         Flint.  However, our observations of his personal possessions..."

              Captain James T. Kirk sat upright in his chair.  To his
         astonishment, he could not recall any of his previous observations
         of Flint's personal possessions.  In fact, he was losing most of the
         thoughts that he was sure he had only moments ago concerning the
         man.  He remembered the floating M-4 robot that gathered the
         Ryetalyn.  He remembered the end result; his crew whole again.  But
         there was much missing... and something painful.  Something that
         could burst his heart, were he able to recollect what that
         'something' was.

              "Captain Kirk, this is Lieutenant Uhura, please respond." The
         communications speaker broke the dark silence of his cabin and
         snapped Kirk's head up.  The Captain blinked twice, hard, to arouse
         himself out of his trance-like state of thought.  He reached for
         the comm button and winced at a small pain in his side.

              "Kirk here; what is it, Lieutenant?"

              "I have picked up a weak distress signal, Sir.  I
         couldn't make out anything vocally but they used the emergency
         frequency with a pulse wave."

              "Were you able to pin-point its origin?"

              "It came from quadrant eight seventy-one, Captain.  No
         specific location as of yet, but I'm trying to narrow it down."
         Her voice was steady, yet expressed her concern.

              "Eight seventy-one?  Then it hasn't reached Starbase Sixteen
         yet?"  He understood her concern.  It was very likely that they
         were the only ones who had heard the distress signal.

              "No Sir.  If it makes it there at all, it won't be for another
         two hours.  It is very weak, Captain."

                                       PAGE 1

              "Two point one three hours, Captain," Spock added, obviously
         standing close to Uhura.

              "Thank you Mr. Spock.  Lieutenant Uhura, contact Starfleet
         concerning the signal.  Inform them that we are going in to locate
         its origin." Kirk switched off his log recorder.  "Mister Sulu?"

              "Yes, Sir!" The deep voice spoke confidently.

              "Set course for quadrant eight seventy-one, warp seven."

              "Aye aye, Sir," replied Sulu.

              Captain Kirk changed the comm channel to the intra-ship
         setting.  "This is Captain Kirk, all hands Yellow Alert, repeat,
         Yellow Alert!"

                                *         *         *

              Captain Kirk strode onto the bridge of the Starship
         Enterprise.  Glancing across the spacious cabin, he noted all were
         at their stations doing what he knew, was their best.  "What do we
         have in quadrant eight seventy-one, Mr. Spock?"

              The tall and lean Science Officer turned towards his Captain
         placing his arms behind his back in a "parade rest" fashion.  His
         shiny black hair gleamed in the luminescence of the overhead
         lighting.  Some time ago, he could state exactly when, Spock had
         committed to memory all Starbases and Federation outposts in all
         quadrants.  "Science Station Copernicus, Elba II, six abandoned
         Dilithium mines, and the Golon Star System, Captain," he stated.
         "It is, however, heavily traversed by Federation cargo barges and
         privately owned freighters," he added in a formal, even tone.

              "Keptin, it is only vun sector avay from the Klingon Neutral
         Zone.  Close enough to make a tribble squeal," said Ensign Checkov
         with a suppressed smile on his face.  Sulu, his companion at the
         helm, didn't bother to suppress his.

              "So noted Mister Checkov.  Uhura, try to make contact with
         Copernicus and Elba II."

         Kirk took the center seat, symbol of both a Captain's power and
         authority.  He stared at the main view screen watching the stars
         unfold.  He leaned forward and rested his right elbow on the arm
         of his chair, placing his chin in the palm of his hand.  The bright
         starscape before him was breathtaking, but even so, his mind began
         to drift back to the Holberg expedition.  'Something painful?'  He
         went over the events again in his mind; Rigellian fever, Holberg
         917g, Ryetalyn, the M-4 robot, Flint, bruised ribs.  'Bruised
         ribs?' Jim Kirk put his hand to his side.  He could feel the Flexi-
         truss under his shirt, and realized he did indeed have bruised ribs,
         but try as he might, he could not recall a single detail about how
         they came to be that way.

                                       PAGE 2

              "Captain," Uhura spoke softly.

              Jim snapped his head up, realizing he was brooding in front of
         his crew.  'They all get paranoid when I brood.' He thought to
         himself, and spoke, "Yes, Lieutenant?"

              "Science Station Copernicus confirms their reception of the
         distress signal."

              "Did they locate the source?" He swiveled his chair to face
         the beautiful, dark skinned communications officer.

              "It's coming through now, Sir."  She placed her hand to her
         ear to block out the various sounds emanating from the bridge.

              "There seems to be some kind of interference, Sir.  I can't make
         out their message.  Possibly they are experiencing a solar flare or
         something releasing a large amount of energy in their quad."

              "Mister Spock?" He turned to his First Officer.

              "Analyzing, Captain." The Vulcan bent over his science
         station's instrument panel.  "Unsure, Captain.  As the Lieutenant
         pointed out, there is a vast dispersal of energy between Copernicus
         and our present course heading.  However, from the effect it is
         having on the subspace channel, I would hypothesize that it is an
         unnatural event."

              "I have it now, Sir," Uhura said. "Copernicus reports they
         have identified the source code of the distress call.  It came from
         a space-vessel named the 'Fringe Ranger', in the immediate vicinity
         of Elba II."

              "The Fringe Ranger?  Spock, search the records and let me
         know what information you can find on it." Kirk returned his chair
         to its foreword position. "Alter course for Elba II, Mister Sulu."

              "Aye, Sir."

              The turbo-lift opened with a 'swoosh'.  Dr. McCoy in his
         blue medical uniform, stepped out silently.  He looked down to the
         man in the center seat.  McCoy had been and continued to be
         concerned with Jim's emotional state.  Deep depression in anyone
         can hinder judgement and cause abnormal actions and reactions.  In
         a Starship Captain, the consequences escalate exponentially.  In
         worst cases, it could jeopardize the safety of the crew.  But it
         was Jim Kirk, his friend, whom he worried about.  "Sickbay is
         ready, Jim." The Doctor rested on the upperdeck's arm-rail.  "How
         soon till we know any more?"

              "Soon.  We are on course for Elba II, Doctor.  I trust you are
         equally prepared to minister to their specific needs as well?"
         Elba II had been the only mental institution in the Federation for
         the criminally insane for nine years.

              "I'm prepared for every contingency.  Which reminds me, I have

                                       PAGE 3

         a special prescription prepared for you in my cabin when you can
         find the time."

              "One of your '100 Proof' remedies?" Jim said, hoping it wasn't
         a sneaky ploy to get him close enough to sickbay to give him a
         physical.  "I'll have to pass until this is taken care of, Bones."

              Spock turned from his station's computer console, "Captain,
         the Fringe Ranger is a decommissioned Yeager-Class cruiser with a
         complement of thirty-seven officers and crew, now carrying supplies
         to frontier colonies and Starfleet outposts.  It was apparently
         enroute to Elba II.  I have also analyzed her distress signal
         with interesting results." Kirk nodded for him to continue.  "The
         signal appears to have been sent prior to the phenomena causing the
         subspace disturbance, and I estimate a 97.43 probability that it was
         being jammed from close proximity."

              "Jammed?"  Kirk rose from his chair and moved to the science
         station.  He observed the readings indicating that it was so.  The
         flattened waves and distorted peaks of the line image looked very
         much like a jammed signal.

              "Who would jam a distress call in Federation space?" the
         doctor asked no-one in particular.

              "As Mr. Checkov pointed out earlier, we are not far from the
         Klingon Neutral Zone, and pirates have been known to be operative
         in this sector.  Mr. Sulu, precautionary Red Alert.  Mr. Checkov,
         Screens up, charge phasers," the Captain ordered.

              The alert claxon sounded, causing the crew's adrenal glands to
         surge in preparation for the emergency tasks they so often were
         required to perform. Ignorance was the greatest cause of fear among
         the battle-ready members. Not knowing the situation causing the
         alert allowed their minds to race in all directions. The Captain
         had been on the other end of command, and understood his crew's need
         for information.

              "Kill the claxon, Mr. Sulu." Jim returned to his chair,
         standing next to it, and again pressed the intra-ship comm.  "This
         is the Captain speaking.  We are on a rescue mission, but have
         cause to believe there may be enemy involvement.  It may be a false
         alarm, but stay sharp. Kirk out."

              The sensor panel by Spock crackled with electricity then
         exploded, to the surprise of everyone.  Before Spock could ascertain
         the reason for this, the Enterprise was hit hard by some powerful
         but unseen force. The ship rocked and vibrated, pitching those
         standing to the floor and causing several more overloads on the
         sensor panel.  Sparks flew and smoke billowed from the unit's side
         vents.

              "Mr Spock, what hit us?" Kirk asked, regaining his footing.
         Another jolt, less in severity, hit the ship.

              Spock, also gathering himself up from the deck replied, "A

                                       PAGE 4

         concussion-energy wave of some magnitude.  Sensor feedback shorted
         out any early warning we might have received,"

              "Lieutenant Uhura?" The Captain did not have to make a
         complete request of the communications officer.  The closeness of
         the bridge officers occasionally circumvented any need of formal
         query in events such as this.

              "Damage to shields 3 and 4, long and short range sensors are
         out, minor structural damage below C deck.  Engineering reports,"
         her report was interrupted by a voice over the bridge speaker.

              "Capt'n, we got a problem with the main energizers. How long
         are ya gonna keep ma engines goin at full tilt?" said the
         definitively Scottish voice of the Chief Engineer.

              "We will be going sublight in a matter of minutes, Mr. Scott.
         Keep us on line until then, please."

              "I'll try Sir, but the intermix reactor to me port nacelle
         just went into the yellow.  I wouldn'a like you to have to jettison
         the whole unit."

              The doctor slipped off the bridge into the turbolift.  No
         matter how little damage there was, you could count on 5 or 6
         patients appearing in Sickbay with bloody noses and minor
         abrasions.  With blood dripping from his left nostril, the doctor
         wanted to get in line before the "Coagul-aid" was used up.

              "Coming up on the Petroski solar system and Elba II, Captain,"
         reported Sulu.

              "Slow to one quarter impulse power, with Mr. Scott's
         permission," Jim Kirk said, looking up at the bridge speaker.

              "Aye Sir, Scott out."

              "Slowing, Sir."

              "Keptin, we are peeking up debris on collision sensors.
         They appear to be asteroids directly in front of us vair there
         should be none," said Checkov.

              "Increase forward viewer magnification to 40.  How are
         the shields holding Mr. Checkov?"

              "Shields at 78 percent, Sir."

              The stars were shining brightly in the distance, but in
         front of them, increasingly blotting out the pinpoints of light,
         were dark spinning rocks growing in size as the Enterprise neared
         them.

              "How much longer before we have short range sensors back?" the
         Captain directed toward Uhura.

                                       PAGE 5

              "Tech crew says we may have short range back in 10 minutes.
         They haven't given me an estimate on the long range sensors as of
         yet, Sir."

              The Captain nodded in acknowledgement, "Mr. Sulu, all
         stop."

              With steady hands on the instruments, "Slowing," Sulu stated.
         "All stop, Sir," he reported. "Thrusters at station-keeping."

              Spock observed the forward view screen with arms folded across
         his chest.  "Captain, the asteroids still appear to be advancing in
         our direction rapidly."  Kirk examined the distant rocks on the
         screen as Spock continued.  "By their angle of trajectory and
         dispersal, I would estimate they originated from some central point
         ahead of our present course.  Possibly from the event point of the
         energy dispersal that has been disturbing our communications."

              "They are getting closer, aren't they." He took a deep breath
         and slowly exhaled noisily, as if he was about to do something
         that he wished he didn't have to. "Mr. Sulu, do you recall what
         regulations state about a Starship entering a field of asteroids?"

              The Oriental officer looked at his comrade sitting next to
         him, and answered in an uncertain voice. "Uh, I believe section
         139, paragraph 62 or 63 states 'Stay the heck away from them
         unless it's an emergency'.  Paraphrased, Sir."

              "Are you willing to make the attempt?" Kirk asked him.

              A wry smile appeared on the adventurous Lieutenant's face,
         still looking at Checkov, who gave him an uncomfortable nod. "I
         think so, Captain"

              "In that case, shields double front Mr. Checkov.  Arm Photon
         torpedoes, we may need to blast our way through a few of them.  Do
         not wait for my command to fire.  That may take too long." He
         pressed the intra-ship communication switch.  "This is the Captain;
         prepare for rough maneuvers.  We will be piloting through a
         hazardous area so take all precautions accordingly.  Captain out."
         Then to the lieutenant with whom he now entrusted his ship, "Take
         us through, Mr. Sulu, and try to save the paint job."

              "Aye, Sir, accelerating to point zero-four sub-light."

              The sleek giant of a Starship moved closer toward the oncoming
         space debris.  The first tiny particles hit the shields, making
         sparks visible on the main viewer.  Although the vacuum of space
         made it impossible, the bridge crew could almost hear the micro
         asteroids hiss, as they came in contact with the ship's protective
         energy barrier.

              The larger asteroids were now approaching.  The collision
         alarm blasted through the silence on the bridge, then ceased as the
         Captain signaled its termination.  The Enterprise suddenly pitched

                                       PAGE 6

         starboard then to port as Sulu deftly navigated her through the
         deadly floating rocks.  The crew was being pulled side to side,
         as the artificial gravity strained to adjust to the inertial force
         changes.  Then their motion changed to up and down as the ship
         narrowly missed a large one cutting across her bow.  It was as
         if they were on some mad man's ride in an amusement park, but
         amusement was not what the crew was experiencing.  Without warning,
         spiraling in from the side, came a jagged asteroid that Sulu
         couldn't move around in time.  Almost immediately upon seeing it,
         it exploded.  It was destroyed by a torpedo that shot away from
         the ship like a fiery dart to obliterate the cold rock.  And still
         the asteroids came.

              Dodging the larger ones was becoming easier, but the smaller
         ones could neither be avoided, nor targeted in time.  They hit the
         ship in a unmerciful barrage, jolting and shaking the vessel until
         she felt as if she was going to come apart.  Flashes of powerful
         energy lit up the viewer as torpedo after torpedo shot from the
         ship's underside and either intercepted, or missed their targets.

              The strain on the ship could be heard over the whine of her
         impulse engines, accelerating and decelerating. And then came...
         silence, as Enterprise sliced through the ebony sky on the other
         side of the asteroids.

              Sulu was the first to breathe a sigh of relief, before the
         rest of the bridge crew realized the danger had passed.  He looked
         over to Checkov, who was shaking a little, then noticed  that he,
         himself, could not remove his hands from the controls.

              The Captain, being just that, would not let his crew know the
         extent of his relief, but he stepped down behind Sulu and Checkov
         and rested his hands on their shoulders.  "Next time we get to
         Aldebaron, I'm buying."

              Spock, apparently unruffled by their ordeal, noticed the green
         light on his science station's short range scanner and gave it his
         attention.  "Captain, Short range sensors are now operational," he
         announced. "We are nearing Jirus, the fifth planet in the Petroski
         solar system...  Fascinating," he stated, looking into the apparatus.
         "Captain, Jirus does not appear to be in its natural orbit."

              "This is... not good." He rubbed his chin slowly.  "Uhura,
         have you been able to contact Elba II at all, or receive any of
         their transmissions?"

              "No contact yet, Sir."

              "Spock?" He turned to his first officer, who was still
         looking down into his station's scanning equipment.

              "One moment, Sir." Spock pressed two buttons without looking
         up from the equipment, pressed another, then straightened himself
         and turned toward Kirk.  "Captain, " he said, "Elba II is not
         there."  He waited for the full meaning of what he said to sink in.
         "I believe we may have just passed through the remains of the
         planet."

                                       PAGE 7

              "My God, Spock, are you certain?" Kirk said in astonishment.

              "It would explain the orbital shift of its neighboring planet
         Jirus," said the Vulcan.  "The mass loss of one planet would effect
         the gravitational pulls of the entire system."

              "Uhura," said the captain, "Contact Starfleet Command.  Tight
         beam, and scrambled.  I want it to penetrate that energy wave.
         Fill them in and inform them we will scan the area for debris.
         Then prepare a warning buoy directing all ships away from this
         area."  Jim Kirk paused, thinking of Governor Cory, administrator
         of the Elba II colony.  A good man, gone.  "Launch buoy when
         ready," he said.

              "Aye, Sir," Uhura said while already beginning to carry
         out the order.

              "Klingon devils!" Checkov murmured bitterly to himself,
         though just loud enough to be heard.

              "Do you really think the Klingons would violate the
         Organian Peace Treaty, Sir?" Sulu asked his Captain.

              "Without a moment's remorse, if they had any reason to and
         thought they could get away with it.  However the Organians, not
         us, are the enforcers of the treaty."

              "What if they have found a way to cloak themselves from
         Organia like the Romulans cloak their ships from us?" questioned
         Sulu.

              "Anything is possible, but I seriously doubt it," Kirk said as
         he glanced over to his First Officer who appeared completely
         engrossed with his scanner. "Opinion, Mr.  Spock?"

              Spock, of course, had taken the conversation in.  And while
         quite busy with his other duties, he had plenty of time to analyze
         the situation and formulate hypotheses.  "It seems unlikely that
         the Klingons would have such technology to do so, Captain.  I
         believe we may also rule out privateers, unless their ship was
         completely filled with anti-matter warheads, which I estimate as
         equally unlikely," said the First Officer, not looking up from his
         scanner.  "There is one more possibility, which I find more
         probable than the previously stated hypothesis."

              Sudden remembrance flooded Kirk's mind.  It had only been a
         few months ago, though their many adventures had made it seem like
         decades, that a once-great Starship Captain, driven mad, had
         battled Kirk and nearly killed him.  His last memory of the great
         man was one of hope and respect born anew, for a cure to the man's
         insanity had been administered.  Jim became angry with himself for
         letting recent events cloud his mind, keeping him from seeing what
         Spock clearly observed.

              "Captain Garth," Kirk said, almost allowing the sorrow of

                                       PAGE 8

         losing a personal hero to become apparent in his voice.  'and
         something painful' the thought seemed to haunt him.

              Finally looking up from his station, Spock faced his Captain.
         "It is a logical conclusion, considering the potency of the
         explosive he created.  However one could only guess as to the
         events that caused its detonation."

              "It was a very unstable material." Jim Kirk choked back the
         strange and sudden surge of emotion that had grabbed him a moment
         ago.  His emotions seemed strangely 'raw' today. "He told me that
         it could be set off just by dropping it to the floor."

              "And tremendously powerful," Spock added.  "Remember the level
         of destruction that one grain caused.  It is little wonder
         Starfleet delayed moving the substance.  With Elba II as isolated
         as it was, there was far less risk in storing it in Governor Cory's
         vaults than transporting it to another location."

              Jim stepped from his chair, "I don't like it Spock.  Something
         doesn't fit."  The Captain caught himself just as he was about to
         start pacing.  Instead he leaned against his command chair.
         "Precautions had been taken in storing the explosive.  It was held
         in the center of a stasis sphere by anti-gravitons, with its own
         power supply, much like we use to contain antimatter."

              "It is possible that some hostile attempt was made against the
         planet causing the containment field to fail and detonation to
         occur.  However that would again indicate the Klingons on several
         counts." Spock placed his hands on the rail before him and nodded
         toward Checkov.  "First, Elba II maintained a constant planetary
         force field around itself, making it virtually impenetrable to
         anything smaller than a military cruiser.  Second, Elba II's
         scanning equipment would have detected any unauthorized traffic
         long before it reached the planet unless it had a cloaking device."
         Keeping in mind that this line of reasoning still lacked any
         cohesive evidence, not to mention the problem the Organian's posed
         in the equation, he relented. "There are actually many scenarios
         that could explain much of what happened. However, until we have
         more facts for our analysis, we can only speculate."

              "Keep scanning, Mr. Spock.  Mr. Sulu, assemble a recon team to
         collect any debris floating out there.  Maybe we can piece this
         mystery together before Starfleet Intelligence gets here."

                                       PAGE 9