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'What's taking them so long?' Dr McCoy muttered, from where he was pacing across the back of the bridge and Kirk suppressed a smile. With his dark hair and almost permanent scowl, it was surprising to some that he was the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer. However, while his bedside manner did leave something to be desired, his skills were as good as any doctor in Starfleet.
'They've been keeping us waiting for hours,' he added, Spock swivelling in his chair to face him.
'On the contrary, Doctor, it has been 1 hour and 57 minutes since we arrived in orbit...'
'Thank you, Spock,' McCoy drawled, just as Uhura spoke up from the communications station.
'Captain, we're receiving a hail from Carussa...'
'About damn time,' McCoy muttered as Kirk sat forward.
'On screen,' he said, the viewer flickering as the image of General Bughra appeared.
'General,' Kirk said, standing up and straightening his uniform jacket.
'Captain Kirk,' Bughra replied, inclining his head. 'The Security Council has agreed to allow you to speak with President Kusen...'
'Thank you, General,' Kirk said. 'However, Starfleet regulations require that all flag officers are accompanied by a security officer. It's...tedious, but I'm sure you understand...'
'...very well. We are launching a transport. It will rendezvous with you in 5 minutes...'
The screen went dead and Kirk turned back to McCoy.
'Bones, Spock, let's go and greet our guests. Sulu, you have the conn...'
'Aye, sir...'
###############
Kirk, Spock and McCoy stood behind the hatched yellow line on the hanger floor as the boxy military transport was guided into land. Behind them stood Ensign Meyer, young and fresh-faced, his phaser on his hip. As they watched, a ramp lowered from the aft with a harsh grinding noise and a Carussan descended, dressed in a dark grey military uniform with two silver concentric circles on the shoulders.
'Captain Kirk,' he said, striding over to them and coming stiffly to attention. 'My name is Lieutenant Bextiyar. I have been ordered to convey you to Carussa.'
'Thank you,' Kirk said, turning to Spock.
'You have the Enterprise, Commander. Maintain our position until I return...'
'Aye, Captain,' Spock said and Kirk turned back to Bextiyar. 'Let's go, Lieutenant...'
'Yes, sir...'
###############
'Report, Mr Sulu,' Spock said, as he and McCoy returned to the bridge.
'The transport has cleared the shuttlebay, Commander and I have a lock on the Captain's communicator...'
'I don't like this,' McCoy muttered and Spock glanced over at him.
'This is a diplomatic mission, Doctor...'
'That's what I mean...'
###############
Kirk watched from the viewport of the transport as it descended towards a domed glass building. As they got closer, he could see that it was made up of hundreds of hexagonal panels supported by a metal framework. They entered through one of the panels, setting down in a small hanger where a Carussan woman in a pale blue tunic was waiting, flanked by two soldiers. They landed with a jolt and Kirk glanced at Ensign Meyer, before unbuckling his harness and leading him down the ramp.
'Captain Kirk,' the woman said. 'Welcome to Carussa. My name is Mahinur Mashirovai, personal aide to President Kusen. He's expecting you. Please follow me...'
###############
Mashirovai escorted Kirk and Meyer into a richly decorated office whose windows offered a panoramic view of the city, metal towers stretching to the sky. Standing by the window was a broad-shouldered, heavyset Carussan, his arms folded behind his back.
'Mr President,' Mashirovai said, bowing her head. 'Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise...'
'Ah, Captain,' he said, walking towards him with a warm smile. 'President Kusen. Welcome you to Carussa...'
'Thank you, Mr President,' Kirk said, extending his hand towards him and Kusen shook it firmly.
'Allow me to offer you some refreshment,' he said, picking up a curved bottle from his desk and pouring two glasses of golden liquid, passing one to Kirk and keeping the other from himself.
'This is Kirrli nectar,' he added and Kirk took a sip, finding it pleasantly sweet.
'This is excellent,' he said. 'If nothing else comes of our visit here, I'll need to take a bottle back with me.'
'Of course,' Kusen said, taking a sip himself. 'We have long suspected that there were other civilisations in the void beyond our world, but we did not expect to have if confirmed quite so soon. You say you represent the United Federation of Planets...?'
'Yes, Mr President,' Kirk said. 'The Federation includes over 50 planets and cultures that have agreed to co-operate in scientific development, space exploration and mutual assistance in times of need...'
'I see. And, what are your intentions...?'
'Officially, my duty is to make formal contact with you on behalf of the Federation. Informally, I'd hope that my crew would be able to visit your world while we're here. We've not had the opportunity for shore leave in the last few weeks...'
'Very well. Naturally, I will need to discuss both these requests with my security council. However, permit me to extend an invitation for you and your senior officers to attend a formal reception this evening in celebration of the Valor's successful test flight...'
'We would be honoured...'
'Excellent. Landing co-ordinates will be transmitted to your vessel. And now, I'm sure you have duties to attend to. Mashirovai will escort you back to your transport...'
'...thank you, Mr President...'
###############
'Captain Kirk's transport approaching from the surface, Commander,' Chekov said. 'ETA in 5 minutes...'
'Inform Shuttlebay control,' Spock said, standing up and heading for the turbolift with McCoy. 'Mr Sulu, you have the conn...'
'Aye, sir...'
###############
'Anything to report, Commander?' Kirk asked as he descended from the transport.
'No, Captain,' he said as he and McCoy fell into step next to him.
'So, how'd it go, Jim...?' McCoy asked and Kirk turned towards him.
'Pretty good. They've invited us to a formal reception this evening...'
'...oh...great...'
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticism very welcome.
