Hello, my beloved readers- This is the sequel to In Need and Deed and True Friendship. I would recommend reading those first, along with the three oneshots that set up my unique universe, otherwise none of this will make sense. (I realized that all I had to do to add this story was rewrite one line at the end of True Friendship- so I will be editing that in upcoming weeks.)

As you can guess, I am going to be doing a rewrite of Into Darkness. However, like True Friendship, which was a rewrite of ST: 2009, it will be different. Very Different, as I pretty drastically altered the first one … so, only a few plot elements will remain the same. Some mention of TOS events happening in this timeline- or rather, TOS Characters meeting earlier and very different fates happening to them …

Also, I would have had this up sooner, but, well, the death of Nimoy really killed my inspiration. However, as this is fanfiction, Spock Prime, Alias Selek, will still be here for, at the least, a bit longer.

Warnings: This is a FRIENDSHIP fic. That means NO ROMANTIC FOCUS.

"Alien Language translated to English."

"Foreign earth language translated to English."

"Occasionally, a Foreign/Alien word will be in a sentence."

"Speaking through a Communicator will be underlined."

'Telepathic speech.'

Thoughts.

"The best time to make friends is before you need them." ~Ethel Barrymore

In Riverside, Iowa, the sun was shining, the new Academy finally had the dorms completed, and Admiral Pike was suffering a headache.

The cause of the headache was standing in front of him, accompanied by his First/Science officer, and looking unrepentant.

"Kirk, while the story of black cats and transmuters was fascinating, as was the evidence you brought to back it up- one of the betazoid scientists was thrilled to meet this Korob person- that's not the issue here."

"If it's about the Mudd Incident, the security officer that hit him was his wife, now his ex-wife, and it was a family squabble so-."

"Kirk, why do you have an unregistered Alien creature from M113 on your ship?" Pike cut across what was undoubtedly going to be another long and slightly insane story.

"Saline is now the last of her kind, and she begged for asylum. I do have the right to grant such a thing."

"To enemies of the federation that wish to defect."

"That is not outright stated, and in fact, the regulations do allow-."

"Mr. Spock, when I wish to be informed of the technicalities, I will ask." Pike cut across the other, looking annoyed. "You have this, 'Saline' as part of security?"

"All she wanted was salt and company. She proved to be extremely protective of the children onboard."

"And the creature that attacked you, her … lover?"

"Caretaker, was extremely protective of her, and we had to retaliate when he attacked the landing party, and then disguised himself to attack the ship. Saline also turned on him when he almost harmed Dr. McCoy's child."

"I see." Pike picked up the report. "You dumped tribbles onto a klingon ship?" And the Klingon delegates you where hosting allowed this? Was the question that would naturally have followed.

"It seems Kobor had a dispute with another Klingon onboard Koloth's ship. A question of honor, and it seems that duels to death are not the only ways of settling such, disputes. We really couldn't keep all the Tribbles, sir." Kirk explained.

"And what is this about a possible Klingon Civil War?"

Kirk hesitated, before picking a spot on the wall behind Pike's head. "I am sorry sir, that was mere speculation and should not have been included in an official report, please, disregard it."

"Kirk?" Pike frowned.

You must understand, this is a delicate matter, swear to me you will not tell anyone what I will tell you. Kirk took a deep breath. "Chris." He met the other's eyes. "I cannot reveal anything told to me in confidence, outside of my duty as a Starfleet Captain."

"Jim … you do have a duty to inform Starfleet of any danger to it, the Federation, or its interests, regardless of whatever Klingon-honor vow you swore to."

"I can only officially speculate, sir, that this possible dissent in the Klingon Empire, will not be a danger to the Federation." Kirk looked at Pike. "Unofficially, Chris, this is something you might wish to ask Major Worf or the Klingon Ambassador about, without listening ears."

"Your opinion, then, Mr. Spock?"

"My opinion, Admiral, is that the Enterprise did not get much information of this possible, dissent, to form an accurate or precise conclusion. It is, of course, entirely up to Starfleet on how to handle this speculation."

Pike noticed the way Kirk had shifted slightly while Spock was speaking, as if to try and silence him, before stopping. "I take it you did not swear a vow, Mr. Spock?"

"I did not need too, Vulcans do not like speculation."

Pike sighed. "Well, I suppose 'speculation' is not really much to go on, but the instant you get a fact, I expect you to give me that information. This alliance is weak as it is."

"Understood, sir." The two saluted and left, Pike watched them go with a little amusement. Neither had actually agreed to give any future information.

"Captain, the Admiral does have a point." Spock began as they walked to a car. "Things are tense even in the federation due to those who dislike the Klingons, the fact that something similar is happening to them is not illogical."

"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Spock." Kirk took the driver's side with a sigh. "I am also aware that the Admiralty and anyone with half a brain would realize it as well."

"Then why hide the details?" Spock frowned as Kirk started driving to the small room they were sharing while the Enterprise was being checked for damage done to her hull via the transmuter.

"Because the Klingons insist this is a private matter, and don't want the Federation or Starfleet interfering; I happen to agree with that."

"You think someone will use it as an excuse to destroy the alliance, then?"

"Most logical scenario, don't you think?" Kirk sighed. "And that's not forgetting the Romulans. Two of their enemies have teamed up, they won't want us to continue working together."

The chime of a Padd had Spock briefly distracted. "Orders. We're to escort several Delegates and Ambassadors to the planet of Babel once the last checks are done."

"… I'm going out on a limb and guess they want to discuss the alliance with the Klingons?" Kirk knew he was not going to like this mission.

"It appears our neutrality on the issue was the deciding factor on which ship the Klingon Ambassador will travel on."

"Speculation, Mr. Spock?"

"Logical Reasoning, Captain." Spock corrected, studying the mission parameters. "There are two other ships escorting the delegates to Babel, Captain Decker is known to have lost family to the Klingons, while Captain Tracey requested not to transport them."

"Anything else I need to know?"

"… Selek has been requested by the Federation Council to speak on certain events that happened in his timeline. We are to pick him up along with the Organian diplomat on Organia."

"Organia?"

"He thought there was a possibility for them to know a way to get him home."

Selek had wanted to become a hermit, but the federation council had been made aware of the conversation with Nero, and while everyday people weren't aware of the details of what had happened, it was known that the attacker had been a Romulan trying to get revenge on a Vulcan. The council had offered him anything he needed to try and return home, if he wished, and rather than risk being dragged into the spotlight, he'd agreed.

Kirk didn't respond for a moment, pulling into the parking spot outside their room. "So, we've got Klingons, an Older Alternate version of you, and an ambassador from a planet I thought was on the too-primitive-for-contact list. Who else should I be concerned about?"

"Ambassador Sarek and wife for Vulcan, and Admiral Marcus is sending one of his aides, Commander John Harrison."

"Background?"

"Classified for the most part, the only back ground I can find is he's a Special Operations Agent with a background in weapons development."

"… Doesn't sound like someone you want on a diplomatic mission." Kirk frowned.

"Indeed not … shall I inform security?"

"I'll have Lieutenant Rand call a command meeting at 2100 hours. Final Check will be happening then." Kirk looked at Spock. "Meanwhile, see what non-classified information you can get on our guest-list and send it to Giotto."

"Understood." They exited the car, and reluctantly began preparing for what already looked like a difficult mission.

Short opening, I know, just needed to get something out there, will be updated in a week or two, depending on real life and the muse in a blue science dress who is still grieving.

Yeah, Classified files don't 100 percent redact everything, just whatever is above your rank- a civilian and yeoman would just get a name and the word classified. Kirk and Spock are high enough on the chain to get name, rank, and the specialty on file, nothing on the actual weapons designed, or where he worked previously. Naturally, a diplomatic mission, you don't want to hear 'weapons development'.

Or at least that's sort of naturally logical to me, thoughts?