Disclaimer
I'm not making a cent from this story.
Kirk belongs to Star Trek.
The name U.S.S. Saratoga is from Neferit's story, but everything about the ship's class/design I made up!

Acknowledgment
Those of you who have read Neferit's works may have come across her 'This is the End' trilogy.
In it Kirk is raped during shore leave. Instead of supporting him his crew, with the exception of Dr. McCoy,
assumes that he was just fooling around and basically turn their backs on him. This betrayal, added to
the already devastating trauma of the rape, leads Kirk to step down as Captain of the Enterprise.
Several months later he accepts command of a different ship, the USS Saratoga.

This series is my take on Kirk accepting his new command. I've written it with Neferit's kind permission.

Request
If you fave or follow please leave feedback! I live for it!
GOD bless
John 3:16

2240
Nlia
The Southern Lands: Western Continent
The Glowing Sands Region
A few kilometers north from the city of Khasha

Shylea gazed up at the night sky entranced. "There're so many stars, Grandmother!"

Faroma Cavee smiled down at the five year old. "That there are, my little flower."

The night skies of the Great Deserts were always striking, but city lights could still dim them.
Cavee had taken her granddaughter for one of their regular long treks and now a few kilometers
away from Khasha, the sky was stunning.

"How many stars are there?" Shylea asked.

"No one knows. Scientists estimate that there are 100 billion in this galaxy alone."

Shylea's large, sea green eyes grew wider with wonder. She watched the sky in silence for a moment
before turning back to her grandmother. "Do all the stars have planets with people living on them?"

"Many do."

"Have you ever been to any of them?"

"No, child, I haven't."

Shylea's eyes widened in surprise. Her grandmother was one of the most canny scouts of the Southern
Lands and had guided caravans to every city in them. She had a hard time believing that she hadn't been
everywhere.

Her gaze went back to the sky "Has anyone ever been to all of them?

Cavee chuckled. "Not likely, little one."

"I want to be the first one to see them all!"

Cavee smiled and affectionately tousled her granddaughter's hair. "You just might, Shylea. You just might.
I've always been an explorer and wanderer but I've confined my wanderings to the deserts of Nlia.
I've always loved the stars, but I've enjoyed them from afar. Perhaps it will be different for you."