ST:TNG - 'A Kingdom for a Stage' [17th century England. The Globe Theatre. Crowds mill around vaguely in the background, hidden in shadows, while the overhead sun casts beams of light over the dusty wooden stage. The interior curtains part, and a figure steps out wearing Elisabethan dress. He bows to the audience, and speaks. The camera slowly rotates around the theatre, gradually zooming in on him, the crowd quietening as he does so.] Speaker: O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene. Then should the warlike Harry, like himself Assume the port of Mars; and at his heel Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all The flat unraised spirits that hath dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object; can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did afright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest in little place a million And let us, ciphers to this great accompt On your imaginary forces work. [The speaker is now clearly revealed, though shadowed; he takes one step forward into a bright beam of sunlight and slips off his Elisabethan costume, revealing a Starfleet uniform. He is none other than Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He smiles, and speaks directly to the distinguished- looking Klingons and Vulcans seated in the gallery.] Picard: It is an honour to speak aloud the words of William Shakespeare, one of our civilisation's most cherished writers. But, it is a greater honour to have you, Ambassador Senak and Councillor Karg, present at a performance of one of his works. As he wrote in another play, "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy"; and I'm sure even he could hardly have imagined some of the events of the past few years. Some of the finest minds in the Federation Starfleet failed to see any possibility of a lasting peace between humans and Klingons; and yet here we are, about to participate in yet another ground- breaking peace accord. It is to you, Senak and Karg, that we wish to dedicate this performance. This is a story taken from our own history, back in the days of almost constant war. We hope it will interest both of your cultures; for although it is a tale of war, it holds also the promise of peace. [He steps across into the gallery, and Geordi LaForge takes his place] Geordi: That's right. Now, we haven't been idle all these centuries since Shakespeare wrote his plays. We _have_ that "muse of fire" which he was begging for. It's called a holodeck, and you're sitting in it right now. In this small room we CAN fit all those wonderful things he wanted to portray; swords, cavalry, seiges, fire, cannons. We can even give you a running translation in Klingon, Vulcan and Ferengi. So some of the lads from engineering and I have worked up an 'adaptation' of Shakespeare's Henry V. I call this, 'the LaForge version'. Take it away, Mr Barclay! [The lights fall, the Globe Theatre dissolves into thin air. All the background noises and shadows disappear; nothing remains but the Klingon and Vulcan delegations, Picard and LaForge, apparently suspended in a blaze of light. Other actors appear, emerging from the light, and taking up their positions in centre stage. Their uniforms are superimposed with period royal and military costumes. The light subsides, the scene is the English royal court, complete with crowds of computerised extras. There is a sudden commotion from the rear of the holodeck. A swirl of light appears, and materialises into a human figure, wearing a Starfleet uniform. He walks up to Picard and taps him on the shoulder.] Figure: How quaint. Playing with your little computer toys again, John Luke? Picard: [retorts] Q, what are you doing here? Have you no sense of dignity at all? This is a private performance! Q: Privacy. What a human concept. [turns, sees the audience] Well, well, I see. Entertaining some of your Federation friends, eh, John Luke? A brainbox... met any good theorems lately?.. and a gorilla! Do you growl, Klingon? No, too well trained? Sad. You were so much more fun back in the old days. Killing, maiming, destroying, all that good stuff. [Picard makes an impatient gesture] Q: Oh, I'm not interrupting you at all am I? Do go on. I wouldn't want to miss the show for the world. Primitive though it is. [he settles back in a seat next to Senak, materialises a giant box of popcorn and begins munching on it noisily] Here. Have some yourself. Compliments of the house. [he materialises three more boxes for Picard, Senak and Karg] Picard [sarcastically]: Well, since you've brought your own invitation, it seems we have no choice. Be our guest. Q: Don't mention it, John Luke. Any time. [munches some more popcorn] [The show begins] * * * * * Star Trek: The Next Generation 'A Kingdom for a Stage' * * * * * Captain's log, stardate 49723.6. The Enterprise is en route to the Siltorus system, one of the most fiercely disputed colonial outposts on the old Federation-Klingon border. Even before the first Federation scoutships arrived, it appears the system had seen a long and fruitless struggle among the native Siltorian factions. When our colonies were established, we discovered that this apparently virgin system was once the site of two proud warring empires, their home bases situated on the two fertile moons of the main planet. What the conflict was about, and who - if any - won the day, may never be known for certain. All that remains of the Siltorian civil war are abandoned missile emplacements and random DNA fragments. It seems that history was destined to repeat itself, for the Klingon Empire claimed the system as their own shortly after our own probes landed. The years of skirmish warfare and terror diplomacy that followed are familiar to any Starfleet historian. In its own ominous way, Siltorus became the symbol of Federation-Klingon tension at its darkest and most destructive. But now we have a chance to right the wrongs of the past. In a historic agreement, Federation and Klingon officials have voted unanimously to dedicate the Siltorus system as a neutral peace preserve, governed by its own independent council, neither Federation nor Klingon in alignment. The Vulcan ambassador, Senak, has agreed to act as an independent arbiter while we conduct the final negotiations among the human and Klingon settlements on the main planet. There are some, however, who would stand to lose if the negotiations are completed. The Romulans are eager to break up our peace with the Klingons, and it would take little encouragement to stir up our own colonists into a militant frenzy. For this reason, the Enterprise has been chosen to carry out the transfer, in the hopes that such a show of authority will ensure a peaceful transition into the new order. I hope that our mere presence will be enough, but I am aware that there could be complications. We will be on full alert as soon as we enter Siltorian space, yet we must maintain a casual posture. The next few days will be a trying time for all of us. It is at such a time - as always - that the eternally exasperating 'Q' has chosen to reappear. Perhaps he possesses a particular gift for infuriating timing, or perhaps he has some devious scheme of his own to impose on us. Whatever the reason, I resolve to take the utmost precautions while on duty. His antics may seem harmless enough to himself - although I sincerely doubt it - but they could pose a serious hazard to the course of our negotiations. I shall wait and see how events develop. * * * * * [The holodeck. The play is over, Data and Geordi are standing at the 'arch' deactivating the various 'props' from their performance. Piece by piece the scene disappears, finally leaving only the bare yellow-black gridlines of the deck. Data and Geordi leave the room, discussing] Geordi: So, Data, what did you think of our performance? Data: It was most instructive, Geordi. The way you managed to manipulate the holodeck pattern buffers was quite ingenious. I believe I have learned several new methods of backdrop composition and character animation... Geordi: No, no, Data, not the _technique_ of the show! What did you think of the play itself? You know, the message, the spirit of the thing? Data [considers]: Well, I believe there are some factors which are indeed applicable to our current situation. [quotes] "Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confined two great and mighty monarchies Whose high upreared and abutting fronts The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder..." That seems to me to be quite an apt metaphor for the Siltorian conflict. The isolation, the small scale of the battleground, and the intense focus and determination of both parties to conquer and subdue at all costs. It struck me as a comparison worthy of further study. Geordi: Yeah, I suppose it is. You know, I'd never thought of it that way. You have quite a mind for imagery, Data. Data: It is merely the superposition of data from my acquired knowledge of human behaviour and thought processes, Geordi. That does not necessarily imply that I am making value judgements, or creating original ideas. Geordi: What's so important about original ideas, Data? Some of the most powerful ideas in history have been some of the oldest. Just because something has been thought or spoken before doesn't mean it's any less real - or any less imaginative. As they say, "There's nothing new under the sun." Data: Ecclesiastes, chapter one. [pauses] I will consider your comments, Geordi. Perhaps I am more 'human' than I have yet realised. [pause] Geordi, do you understand how exactly the war between the English and the French in Henry V started? Geordi: It was all about the succession of the monarchy, wasn't it? Data: As I recall, the final declaration of hostilities began when the French Dauphin sent the English King Henry a gift of tennis balls. [pause] Does that not seem to you a somewhat - trivial - matter over which to plunge two nations into war? Geordi [laughs]: Data, you're so right. You have no idea how right you are. [they exit the corridor, together] * * * * * [Picard's ready room. He is seated at the desk, scanning some history files. The door warbles.] Picard: Come! [Q walks through the wall] Picard: Q, must you always enter like that? Q [mock horror]: Oh, Mon Capitan! Forgive me! In future I'll remember not to ring first. Picard: [sighs] So, Q, what strange form of punishment to you wish to inflict us with this time? Q [innocent]: John Luke, how can you say such a thing? We are friends. Buddies. Pals. I seek only your highest good. [materialises a bone china teacup for Picard, and a champagne glass for himself.] Earl Grey, just the way you like it. Picard: [accepts reluctantly] Humans are quite capable of creating their own morality, Q. We are not as frail as you may think. Q: Frail... maybe not. Ignorant, certainly. Although, as a species, John Luke, you do possess a sort of backwoodsy charm. You really are an amazing spectacle to watch. It never ceases to amuse me, watching you stumbling in the dark, without the slightest comprehension of where you're going or even what world you've living in. You ought to look at yourself in the mirror sometime. Picard [stiffly]: Q, is this the only reason you've paid us a visit - to trade insults about our race? Q [mysterious]: No. There is - something more. [leans toward Picard] Do you believe in curses, John Luke? Picard: I'm a reasonable man, Q. I believe in anything that can be proved by the weight of objective evidence. Although I am a little skeptical of jumping too rapidly to conclusions. I find that most often, the simplest explanation is the best. Q: Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Do you know what the local systems call Siltorus? 'Planet of the damned', 'The dark place', 'Gate of the night'. Long before your first probes grazed its atmosphere, it was shunned by all the neighbouring trade-routes. There is truth in legends, John Luke. Picard: I am aware of the planet's reputation. I also know that most legends grow in the telling. And certainly, the ancient Siltorian conflict must have provided ample scope for speculation. Beyond that, I'm not sure there is any proof of a 'curse' or anything else we cannot rationally explain. Q: Picard. So logical, even to the end. You're more Vulcan than the Vulcans sometimes. [darkly] You have no idea of the sort of forces you're dealing with, John Luke. That's what I like about you humans, you're so naive, like children. Lambs to the slaughter. Picard: Are you trying to dissuade me from going to Siltorus, Q? Surely you must know that I'm not the sort of captain who is afraid of legends and fairy-tales. We have a mission to carry out, and I mean to see that it is accomplished. Q: No, I can't change your mind, Picard. Neither I nor anyone else can. You're obstinate, that much I've learned about you. No, you've made your choice, and you must live with the consequences. I'm here simply as an impartial observer. Picard: You? Impartial? This is intriguing. Q: It's a Continuum affair. [embarrassed] My superiors have this notion that Siltorus could be the benchmark of humanity. That if you can complete this peace accord, it will demonstrate your value as a species. I can't imagine where they got the idea from. Picard: I didn't know you had superiors, Q. Or that you would listen to them if you did. Q: [abruptly] There are many things about me that you don't know, John Luke. And many that I don't intend for you to ever find out. [changes subject] Anyway, I'm to be the referee, judge of the contest. I'm not to interfere, either for peace or war. You, and you alone, Picard, will be the deciding influence in this little drama. May the best - entity - win. Picard: Can you at least give me some hints as to the nature of this evil force you allude to, Q? Q: Sorry, no can do. That's for me to know and you to find out. You're in this alone, John Luke. I'm sure it's what you've always wanted - a private stage to prove the worth of your race. Well, the curtain is rising and the spotlight is on you, Mon Capitan. Adieu, farewell, goodnight sweet prince. [he vanishes slowly, doing a comic death scene] May flights of angels sing you to your rest. Picard [retorts]: And the rest is silence. [frowns, tries to scan the history file, then sits musing, clearly disturbed] * * * * * [The briefing room. The major officers are assembled] Troi: And then Q told you that the Siltorian peace accord would be the 'benchmark of humanity'? Picard: He used those very words, yes. Whether or not he was telling the truth - well, that's for anyone to decide. He hasn't proved very trustworthy until now. Riker: Although, neither does he appear to have any reason to deliberately deceive us. I suggest we take his statement at face value, at least for the moment. Picard: Quite so, Number One. We have already made extensive preparations for the Siltorian mission, and we are all determined to do our utmost to make the treaty succeed. Whether or not this system is the focus of some larger, cosmic conflict does not directly concern us. We will do our best, there is nothing more we can do. Troi [thoughtful]: I don't know... something feels... I can't explain it exactly, not quite 'wrong' but there's something out of place. [frustrated] I'll put a finger on it soon, I'm sure I will. Worf: I was not aware that Siltorus had such a dark reputation. 'Planet of the damned'? In our culture, it is wise to take such warnings seriously. There have been incidents - Picard: Yes, Mr Worf, but we don't know whether this *is* a real 'curse' or just an embellished legend. I'd suggest that we all try to ignore Q's melodramatics, and act rationally and responsibly unless we have strong evidence to suggest otherwise. Worf: Yes, captain. [he isn't happy] * * * * * [Bridge. Picard enters the room. Data and Ensign Ro are manning the controls.] Picard: How far are we from Siltorian space, ensign? Ro [calculates]: At present warp factor, we should arrive at the outer periphery of the system in approximately 9 hours 50 minutes, sir. Picard: Good. Hold her steady, ensign. I'll be in the ready room for the rest of the shift if you need me. Ro: Aye, sir. [Suddenly Q materialises] Q: Greetings, Mon Capitan. I bring good news and bad news. Good for me, not so good for you. Maybe. Picard: What is it this time, Q? Q: There's been a slight change of plans. Apparently the Continuum wants to see a more spontaneous trial. A snap examination, if you will. So I'm afraid you're going to have to enter Siltorian space a little sooner than your schedule. Don't worry, John Luke, everyone has to cope with unexpected difficulties from time to time. I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job. Some people find they perform best under pressure. Picard: And I suppose I have no choice in the matter? Q: No, not really. [Snaps his fingers. Stars fly past on the viewscreen] The referee makes the rules. Don't you just love modern travel? Ro: Sir, the sensors are overloading... I've lost our navigational position. Engine readout says we've dropped out of warp, but we're still moving! Data: I'm attempting to reroute the diagnostic systems... ah, the sensors are coming back online. [looks puzzled, retries] I have a confirmed lock on our position. Captain - we are now on the border of the Siltorian system. Q: And this, my dear, is where I must leave you. Happy hunting, John Luke - and don't forget, in space, no-one can hear you scream! [vanishes] Picard: One day, Q, you're going to suffocate in your own ego. Ensign, what's our ship's status? Ro: All systems are back within full operational parameters, sir. Picard: Well, I suppose we must make the best of it. Call a full alert. Tell all the crew we've arrived in Siltorian space. That includes Ambassador Senak and Councillor Karg, I need to see them immediately. And I want Riker and Troi on the bridge, from now on. Ro: Aye, sir. * * * * * Captain's Log, Supplemental. We have arrived at the Siltorian main planet, nearly ten hours ahead of our schedule. I'm not certain what effect this will have on the negotiations. We have made contact with both the human and Klingon settlements, and they appear to have accepted our excuse with few reservations. (Apparently Q has become somewhat of a legend throughout the Federation.) The time has now come to assemble an away team, comprising Senak, Karg, and myself. Riker will man the Enterprise. I have instructed him to keep a tight transporter lock on our party at all times, and to run continuous sensor scans of the planet and alert us at the slightest sense of danger. Counsellor Troi expressed an interest in coming, but I am hesitant to introduce yet another alien race - even an empath - to the already volatile mixture on Siltorus' surface. However, if she senses anything particularly unusual or distressing which may concern us, she has my permission to override Commander Riker's orders. Ambassador Senak seems calm and assured, as all high-ranking Vulcans do, so it is hard to tell how he feels about the negotiations. Troi assures me that he is quite at peace with the situation. Councillor Karg is another matter, and much easier to read. Outwardly he remains the cool diplomat, but I have noticed many small mannerisms in the last hour which betray an inner uneasiness. I believe he feels torn between his political commitment to the Federation, and a far greater sense of honour and loyalty to his people. Q's interference has already thrown him off guard, and his natural response is to assume a defensive posture. I only hope that Q does nothing further to alarm him, or he may withdraw from the treaty altogether. The Klingon colonials appear to defer to Karg's leadership, therefore they do not pose us a separate threat. Our Federation colonials, on the other hand, are an unknown quantity. Their elected president, a woman named Marianne Smith, is a veteran of the earlier skirmish warfare, and seems firm in her resolve that the Klingons have no right of claim to this planet. If we - if I - fail to convince her that the neutrality plan will benefit both our races, then the negotiations will inevitably become locked in a stalemate, or worse. But the cards have been dealt now, and it is too late for any of us to turn back. I only pray that I hold a winning hand. * * * * * [The planet's surface. A lush, sub-tropical paradise, filled with trees, shrubs and birdsong. It ends abruptly at a stark fenced compound, beyond which a massive steel and concrete tower rises. A gate in the fence is open, through which can be seen a flight of ancient steps leading downward. Picard, Karg and Senak materialise by the gate. A grey-haired but still youthful woman, her face drawn and tight, steps forward to meet them.] Woman: Colonial President Marianne Smith, welcome to Siltorus. And you must be Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise. Picard: I am indeed. And this is Ambassador Senak, and Councillor Karg. Are we ready to begin the treaty negotiations? Smith: [tightly] Yes. [she leads the way down the stairs] [The stairs open out into a gigantic semi-underground bunker, lined with heavy radiation shielding and inscribed with curious alien symbols. Passages lead out at odd angles. A dim but workable light comes from equally alien globes in the ceiling, supplemented by a set of temporary spotlights evidently erected for the meeting. A single conference table sits in the centre of the room, dwarfed by the artifacts around it.] Picard: So this is the neutral point we arranged to use for the meeting? Smith: Yes. It's one of the surviving Siltorian missile emplacements. We've renovated it a little, but nobody wants to live here. It's officially in the neutral zone between the Federation and Klingon settlements. Karg: Were there no better shelters available? This place seems ill-suited to our present discussions. Smith [snaps]: No, there was nothing else, all the best places have been claimed. You wanted a neutral zone, you've got it. [sighs, recovers] I'm sorry, gentlemen, I've had a very stressful time these last few days. This has been a very difficult decision to make. I'm sure you understand. Picard: But you have come here, Mr President. So you will endorse the treaty? Smith: No. [the room is silent] I've decided not to authorise a neutral Siltorus. [she is pale, but determined] Senak: May I ask why you made that decision, Mr President? It seems to me that a united Siltorian system would be the best way of solving many of your present problems. Smith [stands, walks around]: It's difficult to explain - to a Vulcan, or a starship captain. Anyone who doesn't live here can't possibly understand what it's like; what this planet DOES to you. The Siltorians are not dead, Captain Picard; their life, their example is with us all the time. This planet is a living system, it plays by its own rules. Anyone who doesn't understand those rules gets sucked under. The Siltorians made that mistake, and they paid the penalty for it. Picard: What mistake was that? Smith: This is a one-race planet, Captain Picard. It cannot be divided. For one people, it is a paradise; for two, it is death. I've seen this a hundred times over. When we were alone here, all was well. Our crops were plentiful, our equipment performed beyond specifications, our children were safe, our society melded and flowed together like nothing I've ever seen. It was heaven on earth, Captain Picard, literally. Then the Klingons came. Before their shuttles had even touched the ground, the troubles began. Strange diseases struck our biocultures. Equipment malfunctioned without explanation. Wild animals emerged from the jungles and savaged our children. Grown adults were tormented with recurring nightmares. Many were killed or maimed; some went mad; a few survived. I'm one of the survivors. And I realised that the planet knew something we had overlooked - that two races cannot share the same soil, breathe the same atmosphere, without paying a terrible price. Karg [offended]: Mr President, are you implying that the Klingon race was directly responsible for these incidents? Smith: No; no, I'm not blaming your people, Councillor Karg. They knew no better at the time. I don't hate anybody, I'm just acting in the best interests of the planet. And believe me, the planet will not accept a peace accord. Either make it wholly Federation, or wholly Klingon, but don't try to mix the two. And since our settlers were the first to arrive, I feel it should be a Federation settlement. Senak: Are you suggesting that the existing Klingon colonials should just move off the planet? After they've been living here for generations? Smith: I've been suggesting that ever since they arrived. I'm sorry to sound so blunt, but it's the only way that peace - the real peace - can be preserved. Karg: My people will not agree to your demands, President Smith. We have been living on Siltorus for just as long as you humans; we have grown roots, customs, memories. We cannot simply move because you say we must. It is not the Klingon way. Smith: Then they will die. And so will we. [points at a Siltorian console] Look at this. The Siltorians perished more than 5,000 years ago, and every trace of their culture has vanished, reclaimed by the planet. Except these. Did you know that most of these missile silos are still intact, down to the very warheads and guidance systems? The electronics are still running, the fuel lines still pumping. We have never been able to disarm them, they are too well protected. Many died trying. It is a symbol of what lasts here. We must be ever vigilant; we must never let down our guard. Peace is a mirage, the fatal illusion which would destroy us all. War is the only safe reality. It is tragic, but true. Senak: Then it seems our mission here cannot continue. There is no option but to return to the Federation, and wait for a better time. Picard: There will never be a better time than now. Karg [harshly]: If there is to be a time at all. * * * * * [Enterprise bridge. Riker, Data, Troi, and Worf seated at consoles.] Data: I am reading some unusual radiation fluctuations from the planet's surface. I will attempt to obtain a more precise scan. Troi [suddenly sits upright]: Something's wrong. I can feel it. The negotiations are breaking down. Karg is upset... I think he's on the point of calling the whole thing off. [holds her head, puzzled] And yet; it just doesn't make sense. I don't understand _why_ it's not going to plan. I don't feel what I should be feeling. Riker: If it's any consolation, Troi, I can't figure this place out either. To tell the truth, it gives me the creeps. Worf: Perhaps the situation is more - complicated - than the Federation understood. Troi: You may be right, Worf. Perhaps we haven't paid enough attention to the Klingon viewpoint. [she's still not satisfied] Data: The radiation is intensifying. I have pinpointed it to the exact location of Captain Picard and the negotiation team. Riker [suddenly alert]: Data, give me a visual of that location. [Data puts it on the screen. It is the Siltorian missile bunker.] Data: The radiation is emanating from a point approximately ten metres due south of the Captain's location. [he marks it on the screen] It is mostly thermal and electrical; low levels of ionising gamma and neutron radiation, and some acoustic and seismic vibrations. Riker [slowly]: I think Picard had better hear about this. [taps his combadge] Riker to Picard. We may have a situation. * * * * * [The bunker] Picard: You've detected what?? Commander, are you sure about that? Riker: Positive. We're rescanning, but the signal is increasing. Picard: Run a scan against all known signature files. And make it quick. Riker: Will do. Riker out. Smith: What is it, Captain Picard? Picard: My first officer. He says they've detected thermal and seismic signatures from this building. Smith: Oh, my God! [she looks at the console] Picard: Do you know what it is, President? Smith: It's a missile. The auto-firing circuits must have tripped accidentally. [flashes a glance at Picard] I told you strange things happen here. This could be the weirdest of them all. Karg: If it is an accident. [he looks distinctly hostile] Senak: Is there any way of deactivating a Siltorian missile, President Smith? Smith: None whatever. There were a few accidental launches back in the early days of the colony - that's how we learned not to try to disarm them. [she's worried] We never had one happen all by itself, though. Karg: Indeed.... Picard: Can you at least tell me where the missile might be targeted? Smith: [checks the console] Yes. [glances at Karg]. All the missiles in this emplacement are aimed at the northern hemisphere of this planet. Karg: That is the Klingon zone. [he is really angry now] Smith: Yes. [she's desperately unhappy] Picard [taps badge]: Picard to Enterprise. Riker: Enterprise here. Captain, we have confirmed that the radiation signature indicates a nuclear missile launch from your location. Picard: I know, Number One. It's targeted at the Klingon zone. Can you track its trajectory more precisely? [the ground rumbles] Riker: It's left the silo, rising rapidly. A few more seconds and we should have a target estimate. Do you want me to destroy it? Picard: It seems that's our only option, Number One. Target phasers on the missile and put a tight tracking lock on it. Let me know where exactly it's headed first. [pause] Riker: Captain, the missile is aimed directly at the largest Klingon settlement in the northern hemisphere. It's cleared the outer atmosphere and is preparing for re-entry. Picard: Very well. Destroy the missile at will. Riker: Uh.. [pause] Captain, we have a problem. Our sensors are jamming. We can't get a tight lock on the missile. If we fire phasers now we risk striking some Federation outposts. Picard: Estimate of civilian casualties if you fire? Riker: None, sir. The outposts are automated military stations. Smith: Captain - if you destroy an outpost, it will look like a Klingon attack. The colonials will respond immediately. Karg [angrily]: And the Klingons will not take such provocation lightly. [Picard pauses. He has a very difficult decision to make.] Riker: Sir, the missile is breaking up! If we wait any longer we won't be able to target it at all! Picard: Fire, Number One. [there is silence from the combadge] Riker: We've destroyed the missile, sir. Scanning for damage on the surface now. [Smith's communicator beeps. She answers it briefly, grim-faced.] Smith: Two outposts have been destroyed. Automated alarms are sounding all through the Federation territories. I'm trying to cancel the alert but there's too much data traffic. I'm being locked out. Karg [cynical]: Locked out of your own command chain? You, the President? A foolish ruse, human. A Klingon would never fall for such a cheap deception. [he draws his disruptor slowly] Beware. Call off your troops now, or you will never live to see the wrath of the Klingons. Senak [steps between them]: Karg, think! Do not act hastily! Karg: Out of my way, Vulcan. [knocks him down with a blow, and raises his weapon] Well, Mr President? Smith: I'm trying, Councillor! The command computers are refusing my authentication. [darkly] I warned you the planet would kill us all. [keys at her communicator desperately] Riker: We are picking up heavy data traffic from both the Federation and Klingon networks. Both sides are launching anti-satellite defence systems. We have two confirmed missile launches. [pause] The Federation colonies have just detonated a spread of low-yield nuclear devices in space. The electromagnetic burst is cutting off civilian communications all across the planet. Karg: Fool! [he points his weapon at Smith and shoots. She ducks barely in time. A pillar explodes] You have destroyed us all! Picard: Karg! No! [he draws his own phaser, set to 'stun'] [Senak is getting up. Karg re-aims at Smith, who makes one last-ditch attempt on her communicator.] Karg: Die, traitor! [He shoots at Smith, and scores a hit. She screams and slowly collapses. Picard shoots, but his aim is short. Karg kicks out at him and the phaser flies across the bunker. Karg shoots again, and Marianne Smith explodes in a ball of fire. There is nothing left of her but ashes.] Senak: Karg! What have you done? Karg: I have kept my honour. You have none. [motions with his weapon at Senak and Picard.] And now, you will die like warriors. That is the only treaty I will ever make with you. * * * * * [Enterprise bridge. The viewscreen flashes with scenes of the battle in space, as satellite defense platforms blast each other into laser-burned fragments. Short-range missiles rise from temporary silos all across the planet, lasers slash down from the skies, remote intercepter craft cruise over the surface searching and destroying their targets. The occasional pulse of blinding light sears the screen, as lethal mushrooms rise above military and civilian settlements. Riker, Troi and Worf stare at the scene with horror. Even Data looks taken aback.] Troi [terrified]: It's... like a nightmare. The agony, the futility, the emptiness... Riker: I wish it weren't true. But there's nothing we can do about it. Worf: At least they will die honourably. Data: I have lost the sensor locks on Picard, Senak and Karg. Riker: Are they dead? Data: It is difficult to determine. There is too much atmospheric interference from the nuclear detonations. Riker: I suppose transporting is out of the question? Data: Without a doubt. It will be some minutes before the radiation levels subside enough to allow safe transportation. Even then it is doubtful. Troi: No... it can't be. [Her face is pale, she's shaking under some tremendous struggle]. It's not true... it's not... Riker: I'm sorry, Deanna. [He tries to comfort her. She pays no attention to him. Suddenly her face clears.] Troi: That's it! That's IT! Riker: What is it, Deanna? Troi [determined]: Commander, give me the emergency access codes to the ship. Riker: But why? We can't do anything for them from up here... Troi: Just do it, Will! Put me on the highest computer clearance you've got. Riker [senses it's no time for argument]: Computer, transfer all command functions to Counsellor Deanna Troi, voice authorisation Riker Omega Nine. Computer: Command functions transferred. Troi: Computer, disable all holodeck functions. Computer: Deck 3 is currently in use. All running programs will be terminated without backup. Do you wish to continue? Troi: Continue. Computer [pause]: Disabling holodeck 3. [There is a blinding flash of light, fading to darkness. Everything goes black. After a long moment, an emergency light begins to glow. The yellow and black gridline pattern appears on the wall. The room is filled with shadowy figures. A Klingon curse comes from somewhere. The light gets brighter. Riker, Troi, Data, Geordi, Picard, Senak, Karg and several engineering officers are standing at various positions in the room.] Karg: [something unpronounceable, and certainly untranslatable] What the...? Where are we? Troi: You are in Holodeck 3 on the Enterprise. We all are. Picard [angrily]: This was all a simulation? Who authorised this? Someone could have got hurt! Troi: I think you'll find a Romulan spy among our engineering team. Someone who had access to the holodeck; most probably someone who worked on the production of 'Henry V' with Geordi LaForge. [There is a scuffle from the back of the room. A minor officer attempts to escape, and is quickly pinned down.] Riker: But why? What was the purpose of going to all this trouble? Troi: The Romulans wanted to destroy the Siltorian treaty. If Karg had killed the Federation and Vulcan representatives, it would have spelled certain doom for the negotiations. This entire simulation was aimed towards that one purpose. Picard: What about Q? Was his visit merely a simulation too? Troi: Yes. He is well known in the galaxy, as you know, Captain. It was an easy matter for a Romulan programming team to work him into the holodeck simulation. It gave them a chance to misdirect our attention; his talk of a 'curse' helped explain why the situation on Siltorus was deteriorating so rapidly. And, it gave them one crucial advantage. He advanced the ship's schedule; so that the entire simulation could take place while we were still en route to the Siltorian system. Riker: Then we are still in warp? We haven't even reached Siltorian space yet? Troi: I think so, yes. That was the whole point of it; so that Picard or Senak would be dead, killed by Karg, by the time we reached Siltorus. That's why I couldn't understand what I was sensing all this time. I could feel the genuine distress and danger coming from Karg, Picard and Senak; but the rest of the situation on the planet made no impression on me. I should have felt the emotions of the colonists; but there was nothing there. It was as if I was living in a dream, or nightmare. Because, of course, it wasn't real. Karg: Captain Picard, I offer you my most sincere apologies. I am truly sorry for my actions. They could have destroyed us all. Picard: The feeling is mutual, Councillor. I should have been more alert to the dangers of the holodeck. It is my ship, after all. Geordi: Man oh man, do I feel stupid. How could I have been duped by my own holodeck? Data [muses]: "A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene..." Geordi: Yeah. The old "planet in a box" routine. Data: "And at his heels Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire Crouch for employment." [shrugs] Personally, I would prefer a less traumatic means of entertainment. Geordi [laughs]: Data, that is the understatement of the century. * * * * Captain's Log, Stardate 49725.3. We have been conducting negotiations on the main planet of the Siltorus system for three days. The treaty arrangements are proceeding smoothly and without incident. I am relieved to learn that the real Marianne Smith is only too willing to end the destructive conflict between the Federation and Klingons. The legend of the 'curse' remains, but I am confident that together we can face whatever challenges this beautiful, but tragic, planet brings. The Romulan spy is confined to the brig, and will be taken to Federation headquarters for questioning. I am inclined to ask that he be treated with dignity; as his scheme was by far one of the most audacious, and ingenious, that I have yet encountered - the sort of idea I might myself have attempted, had the roles been reversed. I will refrain from mentioning in this log my own experiments with holodeck programming during my days at Starfleet Academy. Suffice it to say, that I would give this Romulan top marks for enterprise, if not for ethics. End of log entry. * * * * * Star Trek: The Next Generation 'A Kingdom for a Stage' Copyright (C) 1994 by Nate Cull, culln@xtra.co.nz Standard disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction and no breach of copyright is intended. All characters, plot events and trademarks normally associated with Star Trek: The Next Generation are the property of Paramount Studios, all others are my own creation and no connection to any real person, entity or law of physics is to be implied.