After beaming back onboard the Enterprise, the young female Captain Kirk ran towards the bridge of the vessel of which in the absence of the original James Kirk, she felt duty bound to assume command after the approval of Commodore Whitely until the arrival of James Kirk himself. With his combined knowledge and experiences, she was perhaps the perfect choice to take over.
Upon entering the bridge, Spock stood from the command chair as he called out the words she had so desperately wanted to hear at this moment 'Captain on the bridge!' as he surrendered the chair to her with a nod.
"Report!" She called out as she sat down in the big chair.
"Captain, eight Romulan vessels have entered Federation space and on their way towards this location. Three Starships under the command of the USS Yorktown are currently in pursuit. The USS Potemkin has been alerted as to the current situation and underway at maximum speed along with two other vessels… so far, the Romulan ships have neither cloaked nor attempted communications with the pursuing Starships"
"Thank you Spock. ETA?"
"At their current speed, they shall enter weapons range in 32 minutes. The USS Yorktown and her fleet are two minutes behind them" Spock replied.
"Captain, I am receiving a hail from Commodore Whitely" Uhura called out.
"On screen"
Almost instantly, the face of the Commodore appeared on screen with a worried look upon his face.
"Kirk, one of our listening posts along the Zone has intercepted a transmission from twelve Romulan ships heading this way. They have orders to cross into Federation space and destroy the Romulan fleet"
"WHAT?" Kirk called out in disbelief.
"Apparently, the orders to destroy the fleet has come from the Praetor himself. They have been declared renegade under the command of Admiral T'Karus. Intel reports that two years ago, she failed in a military coup d'état and was not seen of since…"
"Until now!" Kirk sighed.
"Indeed Captain! According to reports, since the failed coup… she and her followers disappeared, possibly into Klingon space. She has been declared a Rogue element. If she is successful, she could start a war between the Federation and Romulus during which time she could gain more followers and take over he Empire itself. I have sent many coded transmissions into Romulan space to let them know we are willing to assist. Our primary goal is to capture the Admiral and followers… and hand them over to the Romulan fleet, unharmed if possible"
"Understood. Mister Scott will beam back with an engineering detail, your weapons and shields need to be operational ASAP. I'd suggest you recall all small craft to dock immediately" She said firmly.
"Already underway. Thank you for the assistance, we cold also use Doctor McCoy if he is available… our Medical staff is limited at the moment"
"Done!" She nodded.
"Good luck Enterprise. Whitely out!"
As the screen went blank and returned to the view of the large complex under construction, Kirk slowly turned and looked at each of the bridge crew in turn as she spoke with force in her voice.
"Uhura, notify Scotty to assemble an engineering detail for transport. and let Bones know he will be needed"
"Aye sir!" She called out.
"RED ALERT! All weapons to maximum, shields on standby!"
Screaming through space as fast as their engines could push them, the USS Potemkin warped towards the dangerous situation which was quickly developing. Designed as an intermediary between the Constitution Class and the smaller dedicated science vessels, the Miranda Class had served with distinction with Starfleet in what ever roll they had been placed in. However, limited in the way of weapons and shields, the Science ship version of this class of which the Potemkin belonged could not linger long in a fire fight with the Romulan vessels as its primary goal in this situation was deliver James Kirk back to the Enterprise before running fast attacks against the Romulan fleet. Almost recovered from his injuries, James T. Kirk had assumed temporary command of the small vessel due to the limited combat experience of the Captain and crew itself.
Although the bridge of the vessel was smaller in design then what he was used to, it was similar in many ways to that of his own bridge, making it easier for him too look around during his orders to an unfamiliar crew.
"ETA?" Kirk yelled out.
"Five minutes Jim" Called out the Captain at the helm of his own ship.
"Not good enough Bill. We need more speed!"
"Jim, we're already beyond Warp 7. This isn't a Constitution Class… the nacelles will rip apart!"
"Push her HARDER!" Kirk yelled. "Contact the Enterprise… I want a status update"
Seconds later, the image of Kirk's own bridge appeared on screen with the young woman sat in his chair, yelling out orders. Shock echoed through him as he looked at his opposite self as she looked up with a slight smile.
"It's about time you got here!" She called out.
"We're a little further out. Status?" Jim said, still in shock.
"Shields are holding, they are attempting to pierce a hole in the Starbase shields. The Miranda has taken damage and forced to withdraw… Sulu, they are trying to outflank us. Hard about, bring portside weapons onto that heavy cruiser. Jim, the OTHER Romulan ships are fast approaching. ETA Eight Minutes… get here soon. We could use the extra firepower"
"We're on our way… Miss, the Starbase?"
"They appear to be targeting the outer rim, her weapons are not functional in that section. I have Scotty and an Engineering team down there now. We have you on our sensors now Jim… make it fast"
"Keptain err Keptains… the shields on the Starbase are weakening. A small hole is appearing…" Chekov called out.
"THEY WANT THE STARBASE!" Both Kirks called out in unison.
"Sulu, full impulse, bring us up and over that lead ship, we have too protect that whole!"
"Captain, we're pinned in. I can't get around the two ships on our port flank!"
Cursing to herself, she placed her left hand on Sulu's shoulder as she spoke and relieved him from the helm with gratitude. Shocked, Sulu looked up at Jim Kirk on the view screen as the young woman slipped into his seat and started to call out orders which seemed almost incredible to the young helmsman.
"Engineering, give me all the power you can to impulse engines… power up the warp nacelles, we could use the extra boost. Lower the inertial dampeners by 10 percentile. Attention all hands, prepare for extreme acceleration. Anyone not holding on to anything had better sit down now, that includes you Sulu. This is going to get rough people… Kirk, if we fail this, pick up the pieces"
"What are you doing with MY ship?" Jim Kirk yelled.
"Something that will seem incredibly stupid at first… Attention Yorktown, Pegasus and Helin, form up around us but give us some space, this will get a little weird!" She smiled as she input her commands into the helm.
"Captain, the fleet is responding!" Uhura called out.
"The three ships are moving into formation as instructed" Spock reported from his console.
Finally entering the battle zone, onboard the USS Potemkin, James T. Kirk looked on in shock as the four vessels maintained a tight 'V' shaped formation as they screamed through space. With her limited weapons and shields activated, the Potemkin formed the rear portside of the 'Flying V' as they had called it as the Romulan ships engaged them in a fierce battle. However, it almost appeared as if the Enterprise was not firing her weapons, but leading the formation. Anger swelled in James Kirk as he watched his ship repeatedly hit by weapons fire, yet refusing too do anything but lead the formation of Starships.
"Get me the Enterprise… NOW!" Jim Kirk screamed.
"Captain, they are not responding to our Hails" The Communications officer called out.
With most of the Romulan ships concentrating on the unusual formation led by the Enterprise, the command cruiser broke the attacking formation and head straight for the small hole which had begun to close in the Starbase shields. Shock overcame the battle hardened James T. Kirk as he watched his own ship far exceed its design limits by pulling a maneuver which could in theory tear the warp nacelles from the struts themselves. Instantly, the Starship nosed upwards 90 degrees and turned onto its back before spinning on its axis 180 degrees as it's main weapons where directed towards the closing hole of the semi completed Starbase. Shock overcame the bridge crew of the Potemkin as two large beams of energy streamed from the Enterprise and sliced a gigantic hole into the attacking Romulan cruiser, ripping their port warp nacelle from it's strut, causing secondary explosions inside of the command ship itself before it exploded and the Enterprise screamed through the separating debris and ball of burning plasma which remained behind.
"What the hell did they just do?" Jim Kirk said in shock.
"Unknown sir, picking up two more Starfleet vessels entering the battle zone sir, they are taking formation"
"Get me the Enterprise… NOW!" He yelled.
"Enterprise is already hailing US Sir. On screen now captain Kirk"
Looking up at the screen, Kirk saw Lieutenant Sulu sat in the command seat as if holding on for dear life as the unusual female Kirk sat at helm as she looked up and spoke quickly.
"Jim, the Romulan flagship is destroyed, however they beamed ten onboard the station before we could respond. You'd better get over here now, my orders are to go after them. Once onboard Enterprise, you will assume command of the fleet and hold off those Rommie Bastards until help arrives from the Romulan Empire"
"More Romulans?" Jim Kirk sighed.
"It's a long story, Spock will fill you in. Make it fast Jim, I got Bones and Scotty over there assisting…"
"What the hell is going on?" He said once again with confusion.
"Jim, shut up and listen. Get down to your transporter room, we need you here now… I'm heading down to the Transporter Room 1 now…" Standing quickly, she was instantly relieved by Sulu as she reached onto her belt line and flipped open a communicator as she spoke while on the move. "… Once I'm ready, Spock will lower the shields for 2 seconds, the fleet will move in around us for protection while you beam over here and I beam onto the station. Understood?"
"Who the hell are you?" He said in shock.
"You in a different life!" She smiled.
Quickly running through the corridors of the Enterprise, she continued to give her orders too Spock and Jim Kirk, as she reached the transporter room, she placed the open communicator inside her green wrap around slightly as she spoke while checking the weapon placed in her hands by one of the large security guards who would be escorting her.
"Jim, we're almost ready here… Spock, Shields!"
"Aye Sir!" Spock said over the communicator.
"Jim, NOW!"
Instantly, the image of James Kirk appeared on the front transporter pad and materialised before her. Slowly, he looked around the room as a voice called out to him as he stepped off the platform.
"Jim! Good luck!"
Shock over came him as he saw the young female version of himself dematerialise before his eyes as she winked slightly and waved with what could only be considered as Kirk's almost trademark one-sided smile.
"Ohh my god!" He said to himself as the four person team disappeared off the transporter platform. Quickly breaking into a ran through the corridors, he instantly stepped into a Turbolift and called out his destination before arriving on the bridge moments later as Spock relinquished the command chair with a slight nod as he spoke.
"Captain Kirk, I presume"
"Good to see you Spock, status?"
"All systems functional Jim… lead Romulan ship crippled and adrift, the remaining ships are regrouping"
"Is it my imagination Spock, or does it feel a light on gravity around here?"
"Away team… to Enterprise, we're onboard and making our way towards the central complex…" The Female Kirk whispered over the bridge speakers. "So far we've counted fifteen bodies all killed by Romulan weapons…. They never stood a chance, shit! most of them didn't even draw their phasers. It's a massacre Jim, but we're right… they're after the station, judging by the firing patterns"
"Recognise any the dead… umm?" Jim Kirk said, carefully choosing his words.
"No Jim, not Bones or Scotty… and since I am you, more or less… it might be easier to refer to me as Kirk, at least for the moment" She said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Very well, Miss Kirk… proceed at your own discretion. We've got enough to deal with out here… Phaser Crews! Continue firing pattern Alpha-Nine. Target the larger ships, Yorktown… proceed as directed"
"Away team to Enterprise, we're going radio silent… contact you when possible. Kirk Out!"
Slowly walking through the half semi-constructed Starbase, the small infiltration team led by the young female version of James Kirk swiftly and silently moved through the corridors as they stepped over the bodies of their fallen comrades with an eerie chill down the spine of the seasoned officers while the young Kirk reached down and handed out the Phasers and charge packs from the dead as she hinted 'They will not be needing them any longer'. Pushing past a large half open door, they finally entered what would be known as the central corridor of the station, a long and wide corridor which encircled the station itself leading to many turbolifts and access tubes too all areas of the station including the medical facilities and the crew quarters. Staying close to the inner wall of the corridor, Kirk raised her hand and clenched it slightly to indicate for her team to stop and hold position as she raised the weapon in her left hand and carefully walked towards two bodies on the floor.
"Romulan" She whispered.
"Security must have gotten their act together Ma'am" A security officer whispered.
"Agreed. Killed by Starfleet Phaser fire…"
Instantly, her eyes looked up the corridor as the sound of footfalls on the deck plating alerted the team, singling for the security team to lay on the deck plating as if part of the dead around them, she stepped into a darkened room as to hide the command green shirt she was wearing while the footsteps gained in volume until two Romulan officers passed her location before she leap out of the darkness instantly striking one of the two Romulans at the base of his skull with the butt of her phaser. As he fell to the deck hard, the second instantly turned towards her as and knocked the weapon from her hand with a powerful punch.
"Who are you, Human?" He growled.
"Just a pissed off Starfleet Officer" She laughed as he reached for a weapon at his side. "Ohh come on little-man, put down the gun"
Slowly, he moved his hand away from the deadly disruptor at his side as they circled each other. The Romulan stood tall as she looked up into his eyes with a smile on her face yet, studying him in intricate detail as she assessed her chances against the Romulan before her. Teasing her, he jabbed with his left hand as she avoided the deadly fist of the man who was at least 2 - 3 times stronger then the average Human. Since she held the knowledge of James Kirk, she knew that the Romulan species held one fatal flaw since they believed that Humanity was a weak sub-species, they underestimated humanity at each turn and a flaw she could exploit against the man before her.
Slowly standing, the infiltration team stood ready with their weapons as she smiled and shook her head slightly while avoiding each almost playful punch from the Romulan before her. Raising her fists almost a boxer, she ducked and weaved around his fist while he watched in shock at the tiny and young human female moving around him while his anger grew with each punch.
"Well, this has been fun. But I really must be leaving" She smiled.
Stepping backwards, the young Kirk leapt into the air with a powerful right kick towards the incoming punch before she swung her left leg around mid-air, catching his jaw and sent him to the ground hard. As he fell to the deck plate hard, she landed at his side while he looked up at her with shock as she grabbed his tunic, lifted him off the ground before punching him twice in the face hard before he went limp in her hand and she slammed his head into the deck plating hard with a satisfied smile on her face.
"How the hell did you do that?" One of the security officers said with shock.
"Ensign Jones is not only security, she's a martial arts expert… it seems it's not only Kirk's knowledge I have" She laughed. "We must leave… Grab that other one, I have a few questions for it"
Activating the communicator in her tunic, she smiled as she spoke softly on the scrambled frequency.
"Kirk to Enterprise, all quiet here. We have reached the inner core… we'll check in when we have more. Kirk out!"