Walking the Stars

Eyes in the Stars

Stardate 2259.56

It was not long before the shuttle landed in the shuttle bay on the USS Enterprise. And almost immediately after they had gotten of the shuttle, Jim had been notified that there was an, issue, down in engineering.

"No! I'm not signin' anything!" Scotty protested, "Now, get these bloody things off my ship! Captain!"

"Is there a problem, Mister Scott?" Jim asked as Scotty approached him.

"Aye, sir. I was just explainin' to this gentleman that I cannae authorize any weapons on board this ship without knowin' what's inside of them."

"Mister Scott raises yet another point that we-," Spock started.

"Report to the bridge," Jim said to Spock while handing him a PADD then looking at Sala, "Both of you."

"Captain," Spock and Sala both said quietly in acknowledgement before making their way towards the bridge.

"I worry, Spock," Sala said as the two Vulcans walked.

"About the parameters of this mission?" Spock asked.

"That, and about Jim. He did not speak much about what occurred last night while I was with him. I worry that his grief and anger are clouding his judgement at this time"

"I have come to a similar conclusion myself, which is why I have been voicing my opinions against this mission."

"I inferred as much," Sala said as they entered the Turbo-lift.

Spock pressed a button, telling the Turbo-lift to go to the deck which housed primarily the cabins of the Senior Officers.

The two Vulcans would need to removed their protective uniform outer-coats before reporting to the bridge, as they were instructed to by their Captain. Sala would circuit the bridge while Spock was prepping his station.

It was a while before Jim arrived on the bridge.

Jim and Uhura arrived onto the bridge through the Turbolift, seemingly beginning a rather emotionally tense conversation.

Spock had started to pace the bridge when the two arrived, and was in front of the Turbolift doors when they opened.

Uhura wordlessly passed Spock and made her way towards her station.

"Your ears burning?" Jim muttered as he walked past Spock, and then Sala, on his way to the front of the bridge.

"Keeptain on ze bridge!" Chekov announced.

"Captain," Sulu said with a nod as he moved to his station.

Jim returned the nod before approaching Chekov.

"Mister Chekov," Jim started, bracing his posture on the console in front of the Ensign and on the back of his chair, "You've been shadowing Mister Scott. You are familiar with the engineering systems of this ship?"

"Affirmative, sir," Chekov answered.

"Good. You're my new chief. Go put on a red shirt," Jim said before lightly clapping his hand on Chekov's shoulder, then walking towards the Captain's seat.

"Aye, Keeptain," Chekov said in a weary tone before getting up from his seat.

"Retract all moorings, Mister Sulu," Jim said once he was sat in his seat.

"Yes, sir," Sulu said, facing his console and doing as he was instructed.

Sulu then navigated the ship into launch position. While he was doing this, Lieutenant Boggs took over Chekov's position on the bridge.

"Lieutenant Uhura, open a ship-wide channel," Jim said as he kept his gaze fixed ahead of himself.

"Yes, sir," Uhura said in answer.

Jim then pressed a button on the Captain's chair to open the channel to engineering, "Mister Chekov, how are we looking down there?"

"All systems nominal, Keeptain," Chekov answered.

"Copy that."

"Wrap awailable at your command."

"Thank you, Mister Chekov," Jim said before closing the channel, "Alright. Let's ride."

"Yes, sir," Sulu responded before putting the ship into warp.

It was a few moments before anything else was said on the bridge.

"Channel open, sir," Uhura relayed.

Jim gave a nod before he started to speak, "Attention, crew of the Enterprise. As most of you know, Christopher Pike, former Captain of this ship, and our friend, is dead," Jim paused, "The man who killed him has fled our system and is hiding on the Klingon homeworld, somewhere he believes we are unwilling to go. We are on our way there now. Per Admiral Marcus, it is essential that our presence go undetected. Tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been high. Any provocation could lead to an all-out war."

Jim paused again, this time moving his gaze to look at Spock and Sala, who were watching him carefully, but not saying a thing. His eyes moved from Spock, to Sala, then to the ground somewhere between himself and the female Vulcan. Jim then turned forward again, drawing a deep breath.

"I will personally lead a landing party to an abandoned city on the surface of Kronos, where we will capture the fugitive, John Harrison, and return him to Earth so he can face judgement for his actions," Jim continued, before taking another pause, "Alright. Let's go get this son of a bitch. Kirk out."

With that, Jim closed the channel, ending the mission brief.

Spock was the first to approach Jim once the channel was closed, standing to the right of the Captain's chair.

"Captain, I believe you have made the right decision," Spock shortly praised, "If I can be of assistance, I would be happy to accompany you on the away team."

Jim looked up at Spock from his seat.

"You? Happy?" Jim asked with the air of a laugh.

"I believe he was simply attempting to use your venacular to convey an idea," Sala explained, standing on Spock's right.

A soft smile found its way to Jim's lips for a moment before he spoke again, "Thank you, Mister Spock."

With that, Spock returned to his station.

"Captain, if there is anything you may need, of which I can provide for you, please do not hesitate to notify me," Sala said in a soft tone.

A smile once again graced Jim's lips, though there was still a touch of sadness in his eyes, "Thank you, Sala."