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Acting Captain's Log, Stardate 2259.70:

Nearly one third of San Francisco has been damaged by the U.S.S. Vengeance. One hundred and thirty-two buildings were completely destroyed. Another fifty-six were severely damaged. The death toll was last reported at approximately 393,000 in San Francisco alone and is still climbing steadily.

The Enterprise lost 231 of its 428 crew members. This is 103 more losses than the Enterprise sustained during the fight with Nero.

The damage caused by the U.S.S. Vengeance is severe. The Enterprise does not currently have the ability to dock in space. 8.2 hours ago, shuttles delivered 57 of Starfleet's best technicians to the Enterprise to administer urgent repairs. A second shuttle will deployed within the next two hours to tow the Enterprise to space dock.

The fugitive Khan, who is known on Earth as Commander John Harrison, has been transported to Starfleet command along with the 72 members of his crew. All have been encased in cryo tubes until further notice.

Dr. McCoy has synthesized a serum to repair the radiation damage Captain Kirk sustained in the warp core reactor. When first administered, this caused the Captain to develop a fever of 40.4 degrees Celsius. Further complications forced Dr. McCoy to put the Captain into an induced coma. Consequences of such an action are currently unclear. Both were taken by shuttle to Starfleet Medical 7.1 hours ago. There has been no word from Dr. McCoy since.

The main bridge crew of the Enterprise has not slept in approximately 36 hours. They have resisted all orders to partake of rest and refuse to do so until the Enterprise has safely docked.

Such refusal, though illogical, is nevertheless commendable. Their actions throughout this mission have been exemplary and are worthy of Starfleet's highest honors.


"Spock."

Dr. McCoy's voice sounds gravelly with fatigue, and Spock immediately vacates the waiting room chair to follow the doctor into the ICU portion of Starfleet's hospital. The doctor looks unsteady on his feet, his face pale in the low lighting of the corridors. It is 0322 and the ICU is mostly silent.

"Thanks for volunteering to stay up," McCoy says gruffly as he stops outside a plain door. The window to the left has been obscured by white curtains.

"It was logical," Spock replies as McCoy enters his medical code. "You have not rested in approximately 42 hours, and as Vulcans do not require as much sleep as humans, I am perfectly capable of monitoring the Captain's vitals until you awaken."

"Logical my ass," McCoy mutters, and pushes open the door. Spock follows. Stops. And tries not to stare.

Jim looks frail on the hospital bed, his face turned slightly away from the door. There are dark bruises along his cheekbone. His skin has a faint yellow, sickening tint to it, reminding Spock forcefully of the yellow tint on Jim's face in the radiation chamber. There are charts, graphs, and monitors hooked up in a myriad of places. He is completely still.

"His fever dropped to 37 degrees about forty-five minutes ago," McCoy says, sitting heavily on the cot set up in the corner of the room. "This is the most stable he's been in hours. His lungs and heart are functioning on their own and he's got fairly normal brain activity for an induced coma. But there's a helluva lot of cell damage that's still being repaired. And the goddamn fool had five broken ribs and internal bleeding before he got himself irradiated." He sighs and clumsily pulls off his boots, words slurring as he slumps back in the cot. "It's gonna be a long recovery."

The unspoken if it works still hangs in the air. Spock tears his eyes away from Jim to address McCoy.

"I will wake you if his condition changes. You should sleep, doctor."

McCoy is already asleep.

Spock drags the one chair in the room to Jim's bedside. He sits so he can see Jim's face and sets his communicator to silent. Jim will not wake, but there is no sense in waking Dr. McCoy.

The doctor begins to snore. Spock's Vulcan hearing can still pick up the sound of Jim's lighter, slower breaths.

He sits there, motionless, and listens to Jim breathe as daylight slowly dawns.