Summary: A week after Kirk is promoted to captain of the Enterprise, he is sent on his first mission. This mission turns out not to be as glamorous as Kirk had hoped, but gets hairy in a hurry for Kirk and his crew.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek.

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The soft sound of the ocean waves graced the shores of the beach in Santa Barbra, California. Captain James T. Kirk sat on the sandy beach and relaxed, not giving the slightest care to the world around him. While places like Los Angeles and San Francisco had been turned into huge futuristic mega cities, the beautiful beach had been left alone, much to the delight of many. Kirk closed his eyes and let the beauty of the beach carry him away. The wonderful, relaxing sound of the waves. The seagulls flying over head. The refreshing breeze. The sound of... an alarm?

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Kirk quickly sat up and jerked his head around taking in his surroundings. He was sleeping in his quarters. His alarm was going off, indicating that is was time for him to wake up and get ready for his shift up on the bridge. Kirk threw his covers aside and rose up out of bed. He walked into the bathroom and took a fast sonic shower. He then went to his closet and put on his uniform. Right as the thought of faking being sick made its way into his head, his communicator went off.

Kirk flipped the communicator open and said, "This is Captain Kirk."

'Captain,' Spock's voice came over the communicator, 'Starfleet is attempting to contact you.'

"Understood. Send the transmission to my quarters. I'll take it here."

'Affirmitive, Jim.'

Kirk walked over to his desk and sat down. The screen on the computer before him lit up revealing Admiral Pike.

'Captain Kirk, I have an important mission for you.'

Kirk leaned forward in his chair. "Yes sir, what is it?"

'The crew of an Oberth class starship carrying experimental technology, the U.S.S. Huron, has apparently mutinied against their captain. A transmission from the ship was received at 0400, saying that several crew members had taken up arms and were launching an uprising. We have contacted the ship and ordered them to stand down. They have ignored our orders, and are en route for Klingon space. If they are allowed to enter Klingon territory, it could spark an interstellar incident. Enterprise must move to intercept and disable the Huron.'

"Understood, sir. We will plot an intercept course immediately," Kirk replied. "And exactly what kind of experimental tech are we talking about?"

'I am not at liberty to discuss that at this point. Remember, you must disable the Huron, not destroy it. The destruction of the Huron must be avoided at all costs. Good luck, captain.'

The transmission ended, and Kirk rose from his desk and began making his way to the bridge.

Man, going after some puny little Oberth ship? What kind of first mission is that? And what's all this about 'experimental tech' on board that ship? What are they trying to hide? And isn't there a mission more worthy of sending the Enterprise on? Kirk thought. He hurriedly made his way up to the bridge.

"Captain on the bridge!" Spock said as Kirk walked onto the bridge.

"As you were," Kirk said and sat down in the captain's chair. "Uhura, please locate one U.S.S. Huron."

"Yes sir," Uhura said and began pushing buttons on her panel. "I have located the ship sir. It is en route for... Klingon space? That can't be right."

"Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Mister Sulu, plot an intercept course for the Huron. Maximum warp. Engage," Kirk ordered.

"Aye aye, captain," Sulu responded.

"Captain," Spock said, "May I inquire why the Huron is headed for the Klingon border?"

"I have received orders from Admiral Pike to intercept the Huron," Kirk said. "The crew has apparently mutinied against her captain, and has set course for Klingon space, probably to try and go out in a blaze of glory. If that ship is allowed to enter Klingon space, it could cause an interspace conflict. Our orders are to disable the ship and bring it back in one piece. We must not destroy it."

"I see. Fascinating..." Spock said placing his hands behind his back.

"I fail to see how that is fascinating," Kirk said.

"Don't you find it strange that the crew of the Huron would simply revolt against their captain for no apparent reason? And why would Starfleet not allow us to destroy her if the need should arise?"

"Pullwing up spechs on ze Huron, sir," Chekov said before Kirk could answer. "Oberth class ship. Six months out of space dock. It is wery wimited in comparison to ze Enterprise, sir. It was constructed as a science vessel, and is under armed as a result."

"And now you see why," Spock said. "An Oberth class ship is of very little value to the Federation to begin with, and this vessel has not had standard equipment installed. It is highly illogical for the crew of the Huron to risk so much to accomplish essentially nothing. The action they have taken will no doubt result in court marshal. Also, upon entry of Klingon space, she will be destroyed, along with all her crew."

"Well, there is one detail I have yet to tell tell you," Kirk said. "Admiral Pike informed me that the Huron is carrying some kind of 'experimental technology.'"

"What kind of technology?"

"The admiral would not elaborate. Said he was not at liberty to discuss anything about the tech on the Huron."

"Obviously, the Federation has developed some new technology, and does not wish to reveal it at this time."

Kirk eyed Spock, his expression that of of impatience. "Obviously."

Spock took the hint and resumed his station on the bridge.

"Sir," Uhura said. "Shouldn't attempt to order the Huron to stand down?"

"No. Starfleet has been ordering them to stand down ever since the mutiny started. That would just be a waste of time."

"That would give away that we are on their trail, as well," Spock said.

"Sir," said Chekov. "Ze Computer estimates that we vill not overtake ze Huron before she enters Klingon space at current speed."

Spock said, "It is essential that we--"

"Stop them before they get there, I know!" Kirk interrupted, agitation evident in his voice. Even though Kirk and Spock had become good friends after stopping Nero, they still had moments where they didn't get along.

"I am sorry, Jim," Spock said.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that," Kirk responded. "Bridge to engineering. Scotty, I need you to give me more speed."

'There a fire we gotta go put out?' Scotty's voice came over the intercom.

"I guess you could say that. We need to catch an Oberth class ship before it enters Klingon space."

'Aye, sir. I'll give ye all the lass has got.'

Scotty and his crew down in the bowels of the ship worked diligently trying to up the pace of the ship.

"C'mon, gents," Scotty said. "Got a little pip squeak ship we gotta go catch! I don't want some stupid little baby piece of shit Oberth class ship to outrun me beloved lass!"

Back on the bridge, Sulu watched the power output go up and the ship accelerate.

"They did it, Captain. We're speeding up," Sulu said.

"At current speed, we should overtake ze Huron within ze hour," Chekov said.

"Miss Uhura," Kirk said. "Send the profiles of the Huron crew to my ready room. Spock, you have the conn. Mister Chekov, send out an intership message updating the crew of our mission."

Kirk got up from the captain's chair and walked into the ready room. He sat down at the desk and activated the computer. The files he requested were there. He looked up the profile of the captain of the Huron first. Captain Donald Alworth. Alworth had a commendation for thwarting a Ferengi attempt to steal a Federation starship out of a ship yard two years ago.

Obviously, a decorated officer like him wouldn't do something like this, Kirk thought.

Kirk then looked up the first officer's profile. Commander Anquan Jones. Jones, a black man, was a tactical officer serving under Alworth when the Ferengi tried to steal that ship. Captain Alworth put in good word for Jones, which caused him to get promoted to first officer.

Captain Alworth wouldn't have put in good word if he didn't trust Commander Jones. I doubt Jones would have taken part in this.

He was about to go over more profiles, but was interrupted when the entry chime sounded.

"Come in," Kirk said. The door opened, revealing Spock. "Ah, mister Spock. Please, have a seat."

Spock obliged Kirk and took a seat across from Kirk.

"Need something?" Kirk asked.

"Yes. I wish to ask you a personal query," Spock said.

"And what would that be?"

"I have observed you body language. You seem rather unenthusiastic about our mission. Why?"

Kirk sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "Well... let me be frank; is this mission really important enough for the Enterprise?"

Spock tilted his head to the side. "I do not believe that I follow."

"The Enterprise is an important Federation flag ship, and were out here chasing a little Oberth class ship whose crew has gone crazy?"

"If you would be so kind as to clarify what you are saying."

Kirk got up and walked over to the window in the ready room. "Call me paranoid, but I don't think Starfleet trusts me."

"And what do you base that upon?"

"They sent us on some pointless little errand. Aren't there more important things for the newest Federation flag ship to be doing?"

Spock rose from his seat. "Captain... Jim, you have made an... asinine assumption based on very little. Starfleet trusts you very much. After all, it was your plan that led to the defeat of Nero. You are merely jumping to conclusions."

Kirk glanced at Spock over his shoulder. "Am I?"

"You are mistaken. This mission has a high degree of importance. If the Huron is allowed to enter Klingon space, it could lead to an interglactic war. Our relations with the Klingons are bad enough as it stands."

Kirk started pacing. "I see your point."

"Futher more, you are allowing your ego to influence your judgement."

Kirk stopped dead in his tracks. "Excuse me, but I went along with the damn mission, didn't I!? If I was letting my ego cloud my judgement, then we wouldn't even be doing this, would we?"

"I suppose so. Still, I would suggest you let go of your pride. While your ego is in check now, it could get us all into trouble."

"Duly noted."

Spock was about to speak again, but was interrupted by the intercomm.

'Captain to the bridge at once.' Uhura's voice came over the intercomm.

Krik and Spock exited the ready room and returned to the bridge.

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