but they
are
definitely present. I have not been as restrained as you have been. I care deeply for you. You must realize how I feelâthe bond between us has gone beyond my sharing your pain."
"True," Spock replied, "the mental link has gone further. There was no need for words, Julina."
"There is one more thing, Spock. If you should survive me, I want to be sure the Romulan Empire is warned of the Tomariian threat. Will you contact the Empire for me if our escape attempt fails and I should die? I know I am asking you to help an enemy of the Federation â¦"
"We have formed an alliance for these special circumstances, Julina. You have my word. If I am able, I will inform your empire of the danger. I feel obligated to inform the Klingons as well. We did pledge to ally ourselves during this period of mutual danger."
After a long glance between them, cementing what had just been expressed verbally, Spock took up his spear and they prepared to go into battle.
IIob and Scott achieved a relationship which was much closer to friendship than could be imagined between a prisoner and his captor. The Tomariian general in charge of the launch complex found a kidndred spirit in the engineer. Under other circumstances, Scott might have called him friend. Even so, their relationship was amicable and Scott's life was not entirely unpleasant.
For Scott, the main inconvenience, once he became accustomed to the discomfort of the Tomariian cold, was the lack of alcoholic beverages. Liquor, a plant product, was unknown. The enterprising Scotsman salvaged a number of metal parts from the launch complex and in record time had distilled a dandelionlike brew with a formidable kick. He made a flask for his concoction out of an animal bladder which he attached to his waist on a leather thong. IIob thought his prisoner's diversion interesting, but not dangerous, and continued to permit Scott the opportunity to collect plants and run his still.
It wasn't long before the Tomariian, with his race's penchant for imitation, was sharing Scott's moonshine. Since he had become Scott's drinking companion, it was increasingly difficult for IIob to think of Scott as his prisoner.
Scott had even assisted in the launch of the attack force before he was required to board the last craft. Unlike Spock, Scott was not only allowed in the control room but he helped in directing operations as well. Once again he marveled at the lack of advanced technology used in the takeoff but was impressed with the sophistication of the ship's mechanics once airborne.
He had independently come to the same conclusion as Spock: The technology was borrowed. It was clear that the Tomariians didn't completely understand the principles which ran their ships. He concluded they must have more knowledgeable support crews elsewhere, and he was in part correct. When the ships needed repair, the resourceful Tomariians would bring the true inventors of their machines to maintain them. It wasn't efficient, but that seemed not to concern them. As long as things worked, they weren't concerned with procedural detail.
IIob, in addition to his duties as head of the launch complex, was assigned a battle mission. He was to capture the small planet of Paxas on the border of the quadrant nearest the Klingon domain. The planet was strategically important but held no other interest to the Tomariians. With the command ship
IIlan
, named for the Tomariian sun, IIob had a fleet of two other large ships. One Romulan captive was placed on each of the ships in IIob's convoy with the Tomariians who had been responsible for his training.
They dropped to the surface of the planet in an isolated region and disembarked. Scott was handed a spear with a flag attached; in addition IIob placed a belt around Scott containing a sheathed knife and a weapon resembling a phaser.
"Montgomery," the general boomed, "I like you. These weapons were not to be given to you, but I will give you a fighting chance. I do not
are
definitely present. I have not been as restrained as you have been. I care deeply for you. You must realize how I feelâthe bond between us has gone beyond my sharing your pain."
"True," Spock replied, "the mental link has gone further. There was no need for words, Julina."
"There is one more thing, Spock. If you should survive me, I want to be sure the Romulan Empire is warned of the Tomariian threat. Will you contact the Empire for me if our escape attempt fails and I should die? I know I am asking you to help an enemy of the Federation â¦"
"We have formed an alliance for these special circumstances, Julina. You have my word. If I am able, I will inform your empire of the danger. I feel obligated to inform the Klingons as well. We did pledge to ally ourselves during this period of mutual danger."
After a long glance between them, cementing what had just been expressed verbally, Spock took up his spear and they prepared to go into battle.
IIob and Scott achieved a relationship which was much closer to friendship than could be imagined between a prisoner and his captor. The Tomariian general in charge of the launch complex found a kidndred spirit in the engineer. Under other circumstances, Scott might have called him friend. Even so, their relationship was amicable and Scott's life was not entirely unpleasant.
For Scott, the main inconvenience, once he became accustomed to the discomfort of the Tomariian cold, was the lack of alcoholic beverages. Liquor, a plant product, was unknown. The enterprising Scotsman salvaged a number of metal parts from the launch complex and in record time had distilled a dandelionlike brew with a formidable kick. He made a flask for his concoction out of an animal bladder which he attached to his waist on a leather thong. IIob thought his prisoner's diversion interesting, but not dangerous, and continued to permit Scott the opportunity to collect plants and run his still.
It wasn't long before the Tomariian, with his race's penchant for imitation, was sharing Scott's moonshine. Since he had become Scott's drinking companion, it was increasingly difficult for IIob to think of Scott as his prisoner.
Scott had even assisted in the launch of the attack force before he was required to board the last craft. Unlike Spock, Scott was not only allowed in the control room but he helped in directing operations as well. Once again he marveled at the lack of advanced technology used in the takeoff but was impressed with the sophistication of the ship's mechanics once airborne.
He had independently come to the same conclusion as Spock: The technology was borrowed. It was clear that the Tomariians didn't completely understand the principles which ran their ships. He concluded they must have more knowledgeable support crews elsewhere, and he was in part correct. When the ships needed repair, the resourceful Tomariians would bring the true inventors of their machines to maintain them. It wasn't efficient, but that seemed not to concern them. As long as things worked, they weren't concerned with procedural detail.
IIob, in addition to his duties as head of the launch complex, was assigned a battle mission. He was to capture the small planet of Paxas on the border of the quadrant nearest the Klingon domain. The planet was strategically important but held no other interest to the Tomariians. With the command ship
IIlan
, named for the Tomariian sun, IIob had a fleet of two other large ships. One Romulan captive was placed on each of the ships in IIob's convoy with the Tomariians who had been responsible for his training.
They dropped to the surface of the planet in an isolated region and disembarked. Scott was handed a spear with a flag attached; in addition IIob placed a belt around Scott containing a sheathed knife and a weapon resembling a phaser.
"Montgomery," the general boomed, "I like you. These weapons were not to be given to you, but I will give you a fighting chance. I do not
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