Disclaimer
I'm not making a cent from this story.
Kirk, McCoy, Thelin, Arex and M'Ress all belong 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.
When I read the series I was fascinated with the entire premise because it opened up a whole universe
of new stories and possibilities. This story is my take on Kirk accepting his new command. I've written
it with Neferit's kind permission.
Notes
Other stories in this universe are, in chronological order:
Dreams to Nightmares
Prologue
Chastise
A New Start
A New Season
Amethyst Skies
Parallels
Final Flight
Unforgiven
Request
If you fave or follow please leave feedback! I live for it!
GOD bless
John 3:16
Captain's Log
Stardate 2260.12.1
The Saratoga has concluded its three week stay on the planet Astrana. This was a productive mission; we studied
a beautiful new world, made a successful First Contact, learned many things about an incredible culture and made
new friends, both for ourselves and the Federation.
We are now on-route to the Volanis Nebula. After three weeks of acting as a planetary research station I know
that the chance to study a nebula will please Stellar Sciences.
James T. Kirk
Captain's Ready Room
2:00 PM
Kirk completed his log and sat back. Things were quiet now and he'd decided to catch up on reports, of which there
were a lot. The Saratoga was six months along into its five year mission of circumnavigating Federation space.
In that time there had been a lot of triumphs and a lot of tragedies.
The past two months had been a whirlwind of activity. At first the Saratoga had kept well within Federation territory
but very quickly they'd began 'peeking over the edges'. Recently they had traveled into the little known A-20 sector.
While charting there they had discovered two new planets: T'Lee and Astrana, and had made First Contact with each
of their civilizations.
During their two week stay on T'Lee, the Saratoga had remained in orbit, in effect becoming a research station.
During their three weeks on Astrana they had been allowed to land and temporarily turn the Saratoga
into a research base.
But now it was time to turn the Saratoga back into a research vessel. Something that he knew Stellar Sciences
was looking forward too. Well, their next mission was certain to please them; the Volanis Nebula was well known
for its beauty and unusual fluctuations. After that they would head to Starbase Delta for a lengthy shore leave.
As he began going over reports, he received a comm from his Chief of Communications.
"Captain, I'm receiving a message from Starfleet Command. It's Admiral Garcia."
"Thanks M'ress. Patch it through to my Ready Room."
An instant later a female Admiral appeared on his private viewscreen. "Admiral Garcia," he said politely.
She had spoken to him a few times during their time on Astrana. The Astraei used plants as an energy source
and this was of great interest to many back in Starfleet. Garcia who had a deep interest in agricultural and
environmental issues, was one of them.
She nodded and smiled. "Captain Kirk, it's good to see you again. Back from your visit to the far edges
of known space?"
He smiled. "For now anyway."
She chuckled. "For now is right. This wasn't your first time peeking over the edges of known space and I doubt
it will be your last. Pike says that exploration's in your blood and I tend to agree. But to business, Captain."
Her face grew serious. "I understand that your next stop is the Volanis Nebula."
He nodded. "That's correct. We'll be arriving in five days."
"I see. Are you familiar with Dr. Maxwell Golden?"
Kirk thought for a minute. Yes, he had heard the name. Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez, the Head of the
Saratoga's Botanical Department had mentioned him from time to time. "Yes. Isn't he the Federation
Under-Secretary of Agriculture in the Otral Sector?"
"The same. Of late the Federation has not only been increasing exploration of space but expanding as well-
establishing outposts and colonies. The Otral sector is in a strategically important region of space and if we're
able to successfully develop it, it will help strengthen the buffer between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
"The sector has three M class planets, all of which have Federation colonies. The largest of the colonies is Urgel II
and its main focus is agriculture. The other colonies are Casteem I, whose main focus is mining and industry
and Plima whose focus is ship building. The Federation is investing heavily in Plima and we're hopeful that in time
we'll be able to establish a major shipyard there.
"Unfortunately Urgel has recently begun experiencing periodic crop failures. Tests have revealed that some kind
of natural occurring element in the soil prevents all but certain types of foreign plants from growing there. Urgel
has a population of over 80,000 and more importantly it acts as a bread basket to the other colonies, Nobody is
starving yet but you can see how this can cause serious problems in the long run for the whole sector.
"A possible solution to the problem might lie on the world Tkara. Golden has recently discovered that Tkara
has similar elements in its soil and yet foreign plants are able to grow there without any problem. He's hopeful
that studies there may provide a solution to the problem on Urgel. He's put together a coalition of Federation
ecologists, botanists and agriculturalists. With the Tkarite government's approval, they're running a series
of agricultural experiments in the Vonemer region."
Kirk nodded. "Volanis isn't far from the Tkara System. Do you want us to divert there to assist with the project?"
"No. This project is scheduled to last for several months and we're confident that the coalition has all the personnel
it needs for the duration. However, as you may be aware, Golden is a long time associate of the Head of your
Botanical Department, Lieutenant Commander Pablo Rodriguez. Golden has nothing but praise for his work
and would greatly appreciate his opinion and expertise for their current stage of experiments. Since you're going
to be in the neighborhood we agreed to it. You'll beam Rodriguez, and any department members he feels will
be helpful, down to Tkara, go on to study the nebula and pick them up on your way back. Their stay should
be about five or six days."
Kirk nodded. "Understood, Admiral."
After the Admiral signed off, Kirk commed Rodriguez and asked him to come to his Ready Room. He then sat
thoughtfully, going over in his mind what he knew of Tkara.
Tkara. The center of the Tkara Freehold. A long time trade partner with, but not an actual member, of the Federation.
Homeworld of one of his crewmembers: Lieutenant Z'Rol. (He would definitely need to speak to her later.) The planet
was well known for its dark, mysterious beauty. And its inhabitants were even more well known for...other things.
Five or six days on Tkara, he thought ruefully. "Rodriguez's team will certainly not be bored."
He frowned as he considered whom Rodriguez would likely select. The Saratoga was a small ship and consequentially
its Departments were small as well. The Botany Department only had four members, Rodriguez included. He might
very well decide to take all of them. The Saratoga's next mission would be stellar-based, there wouldn't be much
for them to do onboard and Rodriguez would probably feel justified in taking all of them along to help with an
important agricultural project.
It would be a peaceful mission on a friendly planet. But Kirk still felt a prick of worry. Especially since one of the
members of the Botany Department was his Soul Sister.