All characters and concepts are the property of their respective creators. No copyright infringement is intended, or profit made, from this work of fiction.

Kirk woke as his alarm chimed, rolling over with a groan and he heard a murmured complaint. Opening his eyes, he saw Miryam'm lying in bed next to him, her golden hair splayed on the pillow like a halo. As he watched, her eyes fluttered opened and she sat up, holding the sheets against her.

'Morning,' Kirk said, with a grin.

'...morning,' she said. 'What time is it...?'

'Almost 0730...'

'I've got to go,' she said, throwing back the covers and slipping out of bed.

'What's the rush?' Kirk said, with a frown. 'I thought we could get some breakfast and I could give you a tour...'

'I need to be on duty in an hour,' she said, grabbing her underwear and slipping them on. 'Have you seen my boots...?'

############

'Sorry I couldn't give you that tour,' Kirk said, as he lead Miryam'm into the transporter room.

'Some other time, Captain,' she said and Kirk turned to the Transporter Operator.

'Ensign Lattii, Captain Yüknäki will be beaming down to the surface,' he said. 'She'll provide the co-ordinates...'

'...aye, sir,' Latti said, stepping back as Miryam'm tapped a sequence into the console, before stepping on the pad.

'Energise,' Kirk said and she disappeared in a column of light as Latti manipulated the controls.

'Transport complete, sir,' Latti said as the intercom sounded.

'Captain Kirk to the Bridge...'

############

'Captain,' Spock said as Kirk stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge. 'We are being hailed by Starfleet Command on priority channel...'

'Onscreen,' Kirk said, taking his seat in the command chair and straightening his tunic as the viewscreen came to life, revealing a dark-skinned man with a serious expression.

'Admiral Cartwright...'

'Captain Kirk,' Cartwright said. 'I've just received your latest report. What's your opinion of the Carussans...?'

'They're..very reticent, sir,' Kirk said. 'They've been under the threat of war for over half a century, so it's not surprising that they're distrusting of outsiders...'

'I don't need to remind you how important an alliance with Carussa is,' Cartwright said. 'With the tensions growing within the Klingon Empire, as well as the Romulans expansionistic outlook, we need all the allies we can get...'

'We won't let you down,' sir,' Kirk said and Cartwright nodded.

'I'm sure you won't, Captain,' he said. 'Cartwright, out...'

'Captain,' Uhura said. 'We're receiving a hail from Carussa. President Kusen is requesting your presence...'

'Looks like we might have an answer,' Kirk said. 'Spock, you have the conn...'

############

'Good morning, Captain,' President Kusen said, as Kirk was escorted into his office. 'I'm sorry to disturb you so early, but the Security Council closed session this morning and I thought it best to communicate their recommendation immediately...'

'Yes, Mr President...?'

'Their recommendation at this time is that the situation with Mantoa is too...unpredictable and that opening formal relations with a foreign government would not be in Carussa's best interests. Unfortunately, as President, I must agree with their recommendation on security matters. However, when our...relationship with Mantoa has been stabilised, we may reconsider...'

'...I understand,' Kirk said. 'Good day, Mr President...'

'Good day, Captain...'

############

'Mr Sulu,' Kirk said, as he stepped off the turbolift onto the bridge. 'Plot a course to the edge of the Carussan system. Lt Uhura, prepare ship wide communication...'

'We're leaving?' McCoy asked. 'Jim, what happened...?'

'One moment, Bones,' Kirk said. 'Uhura?'

'Shipwide ready, Captain...'

'Attention, all hands,' Kirk said. 'The Carussan government has decided not to open formal relations with the Federation and we will be breaking orbit in a few minutes. For those of you who were looking forward to shore leave, I'm afraid that will have to wait for another day. For now, we have our mission to continue. Kirk out...'

'So, that's it?' McCoy asked. 'They just cut us off...?'

'Welcome to diplomacy, Bones. Mr Sulu, take us out...'

'Aye, sir...'

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticism very welcome.