The core group knew, of course, that another meeting so soon after the last was not a good sign. Uhura had a good idea what it was about since she was the one that had patched the message through, but she hadn't so much as hinted to the other. To Spock's great annoyance.

At news that Pike was at the Yorktown station waiting on them, Chekov let out an audible groan and the others wore expressions that showed they also had misgivings about that.

Chekov was the first to speak about his thoughts.

"That is a very long way for the Admiral to have come for a meeting. It must be very important or something he does not trust to transmission."

Sulu looked edgy.

"Do you think the Emperor has figured out what we've been doing?"

As Kirk watched them, McCoy and Spock exchanged a long glance - seemingly communicating with eyebrows alone. After a minute of that, McCoy shook his head.

"Maybe, but my guess would be no. If he was suspicious, he'd want to bring us further into Imperial territory, not be sending us to the very edge where we'd have a better chance at evasion."

Steepling his hands together, Spock spoke after McCoy finished.

"I agree with the Doctor for that reason and one other. Were Admiral Pike aware that we would be arrested upon reaching Yorktown station, he would doubtless have tried to steer us away from that destination. His fate is too closely tied with our own."

Scott snorted.

"You me, if we go down, he goes down with us."

"I believe I said that, Mister Scott."

Uhura ran the back of her thumbnail across her lower lip as she thought.

"We already know that something is not right with this diplomatic mission. Aren't the odds in favor of him being there to pass along a warning regarding what the mission is really about?"

Kirk nodded. His own thoughts had been running along the same lines.

"That would be my guess as well. Perhaps he can give us some names to match up to these actions."

Chekov gave a cold, thin smile.

"That would be excellent. A known target to aim for."

The bloodthirsty tone made Kirk smile as well.

"Regardless of why the Admiral wants to see us, we'll know soon enough. Now that everyone's had a head's up on where we are currently? Dismissed."

All that meant was that the formal meeting was over. Instead of immediately leaving, beverages were ordered and they sat around exchanging ship's gossip and other items of interest. When Spock mentioned a science experiment that he felt McCoy would be interested in seeing, Kirk gave his permission for McCoy to spend some time in the labs as he was feeling the need for a little time to himself.

Once in his quarters, Kirk started up some old Terran music he was particularly fond of before starting his log entry.


Captain's Log - Stardate 2262.267

We will reach the Yorktown station tomorrow, but there is a new complication. Pike is waiting for us there. For him to come all this way, it must be serious. The fact that he would come personally and not even risk an encrypted message? Serious might not be strong enough of a word for whatever's wrong.

I suppose that it's possible that the Emperor has grown suspicious enough to order our arrest, but Bones and Spock believe that if that were the case, Pike would have warned us to avoid the Yorktown.


Turning off the recording, he increased the volume of the music and lowered the lights. Pulling out the bottle of Romulan Ale that had been a gift from the Empress, he tested the contents and poured himself a glass before settling into his favorite chair.

Pike wasn't stupid. Maybe this was about Pike figuring out that Kirk was aiming for the Emperor's throne himself instead of positioning himself to back up Pike's move for the throne. Taking a sip of the ale, he relaxed and closed his eyes. No use continuing to speculate. As he'd told the other, they would know soon enough.