The Equus Encounter

Captain’s log; Stardate 1428.6: Captain James T. Kirk commanding NCC-1701 Enterprise.

After the recent discovery of a formerly unknown, inhabited planet, Equus, we have received orders from Starfleet Command to proceed to that planet where we are instructed to begin covert observation and study of that world and its inhabitants.

Data received from robotic probes sent to that world indicate that the sentient, horse-like creatures that live there have an industrialized pre-warp society therefore the Prime Directive will be in full effect.

“Standard orbit, Mister Sulu,” ordered Captain Kirk from his command chair on the Bridge.

“Aye, sir, standard orbit,” replied the navigator.

“Mister Spock, report,” Kirk said, turning to his science officer.

“Scans indicate the planet, itself, is unremarkable. It is a class M world, its size and geology comparable to Earth. It has an oxygen nitrogen atmosphere with a slightly higher oxygen content,” Spock said as he continued to gaze into the eyepiece of his scanner, “the Equusians have an industrialized society comparable to that of late nineteenth, early twentieth century Earth.”

Rising from his scanner, Spock turned to look at Kirk.

“However,” Spock continued,” I have detected several technological anomalies.”

“Explain,” Kirk said.

“Scanners have detected a world-wide network  of towers comparable to early to mid twenty first century cellular communication devices,”  Spock said before turning back to his scanners, “And Captain,” he continued, “scanners also indicate that the planet is enveloped in a consistent field of energy I am entirely unfamiliar with and which also appears to be previously unknown.”

Kirk raised his eyebrows in surprise at Spock.

“Indications and explanation, Spock?” Kirk asked.

“At this time I have no explanation,” said Spock, raising an eyebrow before returning to his scanners. “Fascinating!” he could be heard to mutter as he continued to scan the planet, “It appears that the unknown energy is concentrated around many of the Equusians, themselves, as if they were a focal point or locus of that energy.”

“Any indication that they have technologies that would allow them to find the ship?” Kirk asked.

“None that my scanners can detect, Captain,” Spock answered.

“Thank you, Mister Spock. I think a closer investigation is warranted,” Kirk said as he slapped a button on the command console on the armrest of his chair and spoke.

“Doctor McCoy! Report to transporter room two!” Kirk Ordered.

“On my way!” came the doctor’s voice through the con speakers.

“Mister Spock, you’re with me,” Kirk said as he rose from his seat and headed for a turbolift door, “Lieutenant Uhura, you have the conn.”

In the transporter room a moment later, Kirk and Spock, pocketing phasers and communicators and shouldering tricorders, were joined by Doctor McCoy and a team of red-shirted security officers.

“What’s this all about, Jim?” the doctor asked, as they all stepped up onto the transporter platform and took their respective places upon it.

“It appears you have an opportunity to study some very unique life forms and increase your medical knowledge, Doctor,” smiled Kirk enthusiastically.

“I’m always up for that but I wish just for once we could take a shuttle. I hate having my atoms scattered all over the galaxy,” McCoy said with sour apprehension.

“I assure you, Doctor, we are in no danger as transporter technology is well proven to be quite safe,” said Spock in his typically calm and stoic manner. McCoy frowned at him.

“Relax, Bones,” Kirk smiled reassuringly, “we’ve been through this a thousand times. You know it’ll be fine.”

“Why is it every time you say that I get more nervous, not less?” McCoy said sourly. Kirk chuckled then faced the Lieutenant standing at the transporter console awaiting orders.

“Energize!” Kirk commanded. A moment later they all disappeared in beams of sparkling blue light as the transporter  engaged.

A moment later the landing party materialized in a remote, wooded area far from any habitations.

“Phasers on stun,” ordered Kirk as the security team took up positions on their parimeter as Kirk, Spock and McCoy,  tricorders in hand, began scanning the area.

“Fascinating!” muttered Spock as soon as he’d started scanning.

“What is it, Spock,” Kirk asked.

“If my tricorder is functioning properly then it appears that the flora of this world is identical to that of Earth,” Spock said, turning toward his captain.

“Identical?” asked Kirk.

“Yes, sir! Take for example that tree,” Spock said, pointing toward what appeared to be a broad and thickly leaved oak tree, “it shows on my scanner as being Quircus Alba or The American White Oak, a common tree that grows in the Eastern and Central portions of Earth’s North American Continent.”

“So, you’re saying the plant life here is uncannily similar to that of Earth?” Kirk asked.

“No, sir!” Spock answered, “it is identical to the plant life found on Earth, even down to its genetic structures.”

“How’s that even possible, Spock?” Kirk asked.

“I am at a loss to explain, Captain,” Spock said as he raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t know why you brought me along on this mission, Captain,” said McCoy, stepping over to the duo, “so far I haven’t scanned anything that’s made it worth my coming here.”

Kirk was about to answer when they all caught the sound of something moving in the undergrowth beyond the small clearing in which they stood. Taking Phasers in hand, they all watched as a tall, graceful figure stepped into view and stared at them.

The creature appeared to be some kind of snow-white horse but with large wings. A long, tapering horn stood out from its forehead, its flanks bearing a large, stylized sun symbol.  On its head sat a tri-pointed, gold tiara that appeared to serve the function of a crown and around its neck a golden collar. Both crown and collar were embedded with what appeared to be large, precious gems. Diamond shaped and lavender, they sparkled with glints of sunlight. Most remarkable was the creatures mane and tail. Multi-hued, those flowed out from the creature like smoke carried on the softest of breezes, the thick strands sparkling in the light.

“I am Celestia, the ruler of this world,” said the creature sternly as it took several steps closer to the landing party, “and you can put your weapons away, they will have no effect on me! Now, who are you and what are you doing here?”

Kirk looked at his crew and nodded, proceeded to holster his weapon with slow caution, the others following suit.

“I am Captain James Kirk, commander of the United Federation Starship Enterprise and I assure you we mean you no harm. We’re here simply to explore your world and study it,” Kirk said, doing his best to reassure the creature and help to put it at ease.

The creature's face darkened as it took several more steps toward the group and its horn began to glow with an eery green aura. It was then that Kirk was able to clearly see the creatures large eyes as those eyes glowed with a sickly green, disturbing light, a strange, dark vapor oozing out from the corners.

“You have come to this world  unbidden!” said the creature curtly angry, “that makes you trespassers and I do not like trespassers!”

Kirk, Spock and McCoy barely had time to leap out of the way as a powerful beam of energy shot from the creature's horn, striking and exploding the ground just behind them.

Tearing his communicator from a pocket, Kirk flipped it open.

“Kirk to Enterprise! Emergency transport!” he shouted into it.

A moment later the red-shirted security team vanished in sparkling beams of light leaving Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Just then another powerful beam of energy struck the ground and exploded close by as the creature began moving quickly toward them.

“Kirk to engineering! Scotty! What the hell is going on? Why didn’t you beam us out with the security team?”

“Somethin’s disrupted the transporter pattern buffers, Captain! I can beam you up only two at a time!” came the Chief Engineer’s thick Scottish brogue a second later.

“Hurry, Scotty!”, growled the captain, “we need to get out of here now!”

Just then another blast hit the nearby ground, closer to them this time. Nodding to Spock and McCoy, the three leapt to their feet firing their phasers at the creature as they quickly moved away toward the seeming shelter of some nearby boulders.

The creature advanced steadily toward them unaffected by the blasts from the three phasers.

Again kirk shouted into his communicator.

“Come on, Scotty! Get us the hell out of here!”

“I’ll have you back aboard in a minute, Captain!” Scotty said.

“We don’t have a minute!” Kirk shouted back as he and the others fired off another round at the still advancing creature. Again, it had no effect.

Just then the self-proclaimed ruler, Celestia, reared up on her hind legs.

“Attack!” she shouted. A moment later hundreds of strange, black, flying creatures with glowing green eyes swooped in and swarmed Kirk, Spock and McCoy, literally burying the trio under them.

As quickly as the swarm had attacked it was over and all was deathly silent and nothing stirred save the snow-white alicorn ruler and her strange, dark minions.