A thrilling Star Trek novel starring Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the Enterprise . While exploring the unmapped frontier, the U.S.S. Enterprise responds to a distress call from an unknown ship. Captain James T. Kirk turns first contact into a threat of interstellar war—by saving the life of a man his own people abandoned. Berlis, colony leader of a telepathic race calling themselves the Isitri, claims not to know why those from his homeworld want him dead. Now Kirk must either find a way to wrench billions from the grip of one man, or be responsible for the destruction of two planets. Dave Galanter has authored (or coauthored with collaborator Greg Brodeur) various Star Trek projects, including Voyager: Battle Lines , the Next Generation duology Maximum Warp , The Original Series novels Crisis of Consciousness and Troublesome Minds , and numerous works of short Star Trek fiction. Star Trek: Troublesome Minds ONE Tractor beam.” Captain James T. Kirk spun toward his chief engineer. Montgomery Scott turned from the engineering console and shook his head forbiddingly. “At this distance? Through that atmosphere? Impossible, sir.” “Their shields are failing.” Spock was angled over his science station console viewer, its informative blue glow playing over his sharp features. “At the current rate of descent, their hull will be crushed in four minutes, sixteen-point-nine seconds.” “Mister Scott, set shields for atmospheric running.” Kirk turned back toward the helm. “Sulu, close the distance. I want that ship pulled out of there.” “Aye, sir.” Sulu’s lithe fingers danced impressively across his console. At navigation, Ensign Chekov answered Sulu’s movements. Moments later, the navigator said, “In range, Captain.” Kirk kept his eyes on the main viewscreen. Tension made his shoulders knot up. First contact with a new warp-capable race was exhilarating, but the distress call dampened any enthusiasm and caused concern. “Spock?” “Radiation from the gas giant prevents a detailed scan, but sensors indicate storm currents are pulling them deeper.” Sulu must have felt his captain’s eyes on him because he began reporting the closing distance. “Forty thousand kilometers…thirty thousand…” Scotty positioned his hands over the proper controls. “Almost.” “In range…” Sulu gazed deeply into his scanner. “Now!” “Scotty—” “Tractor beam engaged, sir.” Enterprise’s tractors emitted blue energy beams that encased the alien vessel and pulled it slightly closer. “Reverse course,” Kirk ordered. The engines struggled as Enterprise pulled the other ship through the tempestuous primordial gases. Kirk gripped the arms of his chair and seemed to transfer his will to the tractor beam to help tug the mass behind them. On the main viewscreen, gas clouds eventually gave way to the dark vacuum of space. Kirk watched the starscape intently until the red lights on the helm began to flash. Chekov instantly checked his console, as the captain watched over his shoulder. “Two vessels, incoming.” Chekov looked back at Kirk expectantly but the captain flew out of his seat and toward the rail near the first officer’s station. “Spock?” “Unknown design. Scanning energy signatures…” The Vulcan glanced up, making eye contact with Kirk. “They’re charging weapons.” “Uhura, hailing frequency.” Slender brown fingers made well-practiced motions across the communication console. Uhura nodded quickly. “Open, sir.” “This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. We are responding to a general distress call and engaged in rescue operations—” Uhura removed her earpiece and instead read her console screen. “They’re responding, sir—mathematically.” “Universal replies, Uhura.” Kirk stepped up between his officers, but kept his eyes on the main viewscreen. “Spock?” “Class eleven shields and weak disruptor cannons. And yet…” The first officer turned away from his scanner to impress upon Kirk the irony of the situation. “They appear to be warning us to leave.” “Don’t they have sensors?” If they did, Kirk thought, they were fools. “We outgun them a hundred to one.” “Confirmed, Captain,” Uhura said. “The message is a warning.” “Explain we’re on a rescue mission.” Uhura checked the readouts on her board and shook her head. “I think they understand that, sir. Their message reads: ‘Leave them to die.’” “They’re firing on the damaged ship,” Spock reported. Kirk ordered Scotty, “Extend our shields.” The chief engineer shook his head. “We’ll lose the tractor beam, and they’ll slip back into the atmosphere, sir.” “Another salvo, and the alien ship will lose cohesion,” Spock said. Kirk returned to his command chair and pounded the comm button. “Bridge to transporter room. Lock on alien vessel in tractor and beam all life-forms aboard.” As he watched the small vessel fade into the gas that surrounded the planet, Kirk wished he was at the transporter controls. He looked from th