The Hunting Game
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Mission : The Hunting Game


Art by Adrienne Paradis 1999

The contents of the Ship Logs are considered to be a "compilation" under the provisions of Title 17, U.S. Code (known as the Copyright Act): that is, "A work formed by the collection and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that is selected, coordinated or arranged in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship." As such, it is the property of the ship’s Captain; however, automatic transfer of ownership to STARSHIPS OF THE THIRD FLEET is effected upon publication of this mission by the ship’s Captain ipso facto.

As outlined in Circular 1 (Copyrighted Basics, Library of Congress, Washington DC, USGPO 1989-262-309/12), "copyrighted in each separate contribution to a periodical or other collective work is distinct from the copyright in the collective work as a whole and vests initially with the author of the contribution."

This mission may not be reproduced in any form without the express, written authorization of STARSHIPS OF THE THIRD FLEET.

Prologue
Adapted by A.J. Dunning (Chandra Tahl)

From the Ship’s Log of USS STARQUEST (NCC-2894), November, 2313

Captain's Log: Stardate 2313.15.08

Our first contact mission with the Koko Nor is proceeding better than anticipated. We were not only greeted with open arms, but the Koko Nor have declared a system wide celebration, insisting the entire crew participate. They've been at it for a month, with no signs of stopping. Games of all sorts are important to the Koko Nor. Besides entertainment and education, the games seem to their method of settling differences, even on a national scale. Many are blood sports, but on the whole tend to be non-lethal. The planetary ambassador has requested through LT Kosnox, our Diplomatic Services Officer, that some of my officers be allowed to participate in the "Hunting Game", a game the Koko Nor considers a test of sportsmanship, character, and honor.

LT Kosnox and LT White both agree that not participating in the game would insult, and damage further relations. It appears the Koko Nor won't deal with anyone they consider dishonorable, by which they mean anyone afraid of honest competition.

I've approved the request, stipulating only that the individuals be asked first. So far there have been over two dozen volunteers; though I suspect the large quantities of alcohol they've been consuming at the celebration may have a lot to do with that. I've been informed that anyone who wants to participate will get the chance. From what I've seen of the Koko Nor, they could be a priceless addition to the Federation. A staunch ally or a bitter enemy. Despite their fledgling warp technology, war with the Koko Nor would shift the balance of power in the Koko Prime system in the Third Quadrant. That must be avoided at all costs.

End Log.


Captain A.J. Dunning materialized in the reception area. She was immediately surrounded by a crowd of intoxicated revelers who shouted happy greetings and tried to give her drinking horns brimming with ale. The Koko Nor ambassador, an apelike being about 5 feet tall, shoved his way to the front of the crowd followed by CDR MacGiver, CDR Mitchell Pyle and LCDR Natarajan.

Gartos bellowed a greeting and gave A.J. a bone-crushing hug. "Come Captain! We have seats set aside for us!" Seemingly from nowhere he produced a horn of ale and pressed it into Dunning's hand. "This is cause to celebrate! The Koko Nor are eager to see what matter of beings you are."

Ambassador Gartos grabbed Dunning's hand and almost dragged her to a plush couch in the top row of an enormous theater. There was a large screen in the center and three smaller ones to either side. They seated themselves while food and more ale was brought. The theater filled with happily drunken beings, hooting with excitement, eager to see the game begin.

"In ages past, we could not all watch the "Hunting Game," Gartos said to A.J. "It is the most honored game. A "rite of passage" I think your Commander T'al Syn called it. It's how we will judge you to be worthy allies or enemies."

The ambassador grinned eagerly. Dunning returned the smile. A.J. had faith in her crew, but couldn't keep from feeling a bit of apprehension. The screen flickered to life. LT Kosnox sat down beside her with a very worried look on his face.


A hairy apelike being howled and threw himself at CDR Stevens. He stepped to one side and the Koko Nor smashed into a tree. He bounded backwards and turned to attack again. Stevens brought his foot forward in a powerful kick, hoping his attacker's testes were in the same spot as a human. Apparently they were. The Koko Nor wheezed, his eyes crossed and he slyly toppled to the ground. A smile spread across Steven's face as he moved on.

"Not bad," commented Sabrina Earp. She had just finished pummeling another hunter unconscious and had sat back to watch the show.

"Why in the nine scarlet hells did I let you talk me into this?" Stevens demanded.

"You've been drinking," she shot back. "All we have to do is stay alive 'till morning. How hard can that be?"

"Every time you do this, I wind up in the brig or sickbay."

"You like it, and you know it," Sabrina replied.

A yelp of pain sounded in the distance. Without a word, they took off in the direction of the noise.


The area they've been tossed into was 20,000 meters on a side, and every 2,000 meters the climate changed. Since meeting up, Surak and Aaron Williams had walked through grasslands and high desert. They had also left over a half dozen Koko Nor hunters scattered about with a large variety of broken bones, bruises and concussions.

The desert changed to softwood forest with golden, aspen-like trees. K'nra, Tal S'yn and Quin emerged into a clearing to see LCDR Wharton struggling with a hunter. Klingon blood seeped from a cut on his forehead. There were two other hunters there as well. One was draped over a low branch, unconscious, and the other was sprawled out on the ground, groaning and mumbling incoherently. Wharton's hand shot forward and seized the hunter at the base of the neck, only to find the Klingon maneuver didn't work on the Koko Nor.

Stevens and Sabrina ran into the clearing and watched as Wharton shifted his stance and drove an elbow into the hunter's temple. The apelike being went down like a pole-axed meat-beast. Sabrina whistled in appreciation. Wharton dabbed at the cut on his head.

"When, they said this was a hunt the Koko Nor would use to judge our character, they neglected to mention we were to be the prey."

"Left out intentionally, no doubt," Tal S'yn added.

From a thicket at the opposite side of the clearing came a bloodcurdling shriek. A moment later, a Koko Nor arched gracefully over the tops of the bushes, landing in the clearing with a sickening thud. The hunter lay completely still. Another Koko Nor burst from the thicket. A maroon uniformed arm shot out from the bushes, catching the hunter by the ankle. The apelike being screamed, clawing at the dirt as he was dragged back into the undergrowth. A wet, fleshy smack echoed from the thicket, making all of the officers’ wince. CDR Scar emerged from the thicket, brushing leaves and dirt from his uniform jacket.

Stevens was going to ask him what she had hit the Koko Nor with, but decided he didn't really want to know.

"Now what?" Scar demanded.

"I recommend we stay together," Jonic La Vad suggested. "There is strength in numbers."

"No one said we can't make weapons," White said. He watched as Surak experimented with a heavy club. "Though I was going to suggest spears."

Quin grinned. "A little low tech, but a kinetic impact enhancement has its own virtues." He thought a moment. "The hunters haven't' used anything but blunt instruments so far. It may be another of their unspoken rules. I don't think we should break it, just in case. We shouldn't kill any either if we can help it, though I don't rule out great bodily harm."

They all agreed and began to look for suitable clubs.

A roar sounded from the trees a hundred meters off. Over two dozen Koko Nor charged, waving sticks over their heads and howling their blood lust.

"All right!" Scar growled eagerly in anticipation of the coming brawl. He turned to see his comrade's backs retreating through the woods. "Shit!" he grumbled. Deciding there was no dishonor in avoiding this particular fight, Scar took off after his friends.


The terrain abruptly changed from airy woods to a snow-scape. The hunters were gaining. The crewmembers soon came to a frozen river.

"We'll never make it across," said Charles Smith, Starquest's newest crewmember

"Then we stay and fight!" yelled Scar.

"The hell you will!" yelled Quin back. "Get out of here!"

Sabrina, Williams and Scar made it across, but as Tal S'yn made it to the middle of the frozen ice, it cracked open sending him into the icy water. Quin, Stevens, Smith and Wharton all jumped in to help him. The ice began to crack underneath everyone else.

Running Wolf and MacGiver ran out of the woods toward the river. There were fourteen Koko Nor right behind them. They made a dive for the water but one of the hunters reached Running Wolf. Her left arm stiffened, shot out and flattened the lead hunter. Two murderous blows to their heads left two more Koko Nor crumbled in the snow. She looked up to see more Koko Nor coming back to help. There was nothing she could do but make a jump into the frigid water. A Koko Nor caught a handful of her jacket, stopping her in midstream. Three more hunters piled on top of Running Wolf in a tangle of flailing fists and thrashing limbs. Seeing more Koko Nor entering the river, other Starquest crew came back to fight. The river looked like a school of piranhas at feeding time. All of a sudden everyone vanished beneath the water.


Captain Dunning stared in horror at the screen. She felt sick as she looked at Gartos, who hooted his appreciation and slugged back more ale. To interfere might be a cause of war, and A.J. knew it.

The camera was still trained on the large hole in the ice. The water was already beginning to freeze over. Drifting snow stuck to the thin crust of ice, and the opening no longer appeared.