Chapter 7 Ambassadorial Abilities

"Captain, when time allows, I would like to speak to you about previous assignments and how they relate to performing the function of Star Fleet's Ambassador."

"What about it?" Kirk looked up from where he was reading and signing requisitions in the conference room outside the bridge.

"In keeping with the Star Fleet review, Ambassadorial duties are required of its Captain's. You are most likely to be the first contact new planets will encounter with the Federation. When we were up against the First Federation, the Fesarius, and Balok this came into play.

"And?" still looking down at his PADD.

"And, you left Lieutenant Bailey to continue a friendly, learning relationship between them both. This will allow the Federation not only to have a possible new member but also to gain information about the First Federation, however..."

"You have a problem with that?" Kirk glanced up from his work.

"Not so much but I do have a problem with the Corbimite Maneuver, which does not exist."

"It does now. What else do you have?"

"Jim, Corbimite does not exist."

"I know, that's why I bluffed. I had to do something or we wouldn't be having this conversation right now, would we?"

"No we would not, however…"

"So help me Spock, if you say however one more time I will fill this room with tribbles and lock you in here for a week," he paused tapping his finger to his lips, "No, that might be considered tribble cruelty."

Spock raised his brow in response. "I also recall the incident on the Shore Leave planet and our first encounter with the Keeper."

"So what did I do wrong there? You do realize that every assignment holds different circumstances and I did what I thought would work the best with each one. What's wrong with that?

"There's no way that you can fit first contact into a set of parameters to follow. You can't say, 'Shake hands with the new contact', what if they don't have hands or if they are offended by touch? Talk about an insult. Way to go! First contact with Vulcans would have gone very badly. Okay I'm done. Where were we?"

"Shore Leave planet."

"Ah yes. Go for it."

"When the Keeper finally appeared, you were able to establish a relationship with him to allow the Worlds of the Federation to experience all the wonders that the planet had to offer."

"Right, I did."

"That is what Star Fleet feels is the function of its Ambassadors."

"Good, I finally did something right."

Jim gave Spock a sly look adding. "You know, the trip to Babel is a prime example of being an Ambassador.

"I would agree."

"You didn't like the report I sent to Star Fleet after the Babel assignment?"

"Correct."

"Admit it, you just don't like my memos."

"I do not."

Jim snickered. "Maybe I should let you read over my reports and memos before I send them."

"I would be honored to proof read your reports."

"And they say Vulcan's have no sense of humor," he grinned. "That was sarcasm if ever I heard it." he scoffed. "What would be the fun in letting you edit my memos? Admiral Pike would have nothing to laugh at and he'd have me committed after reading just one of your approved reports."

"The Babel conference."

"Do we really have to discuss Babel?" Jim sulked. "It's just one I would rather not be reminded of; oops too late. Spock, the orders were to get the delegates to Babel, I did that. Even the dead Ambassador made it to the conference.

"The fact that I got stabbed, your Father was having a heart attack and we had a ship load of, very grumpy delegates, made the trip so much easier," he snarled. "In fact, I would love to do it again; just kidding. Can you feel the sarcasm?"

Spock's brow went up a little. "I believe that the successful completion of the assignment was proof enough of your abilities to fill the role of Ambassador. One of the other roles of being an ambassador is maintaining order, which you did as well"

"Great, thanks…"

"However."

"Oh no, here it comes, and what did I say about using that word."

"Please accept my apology," he gave a slight bow with his head, "The memo did state a colorful concept of one way to settle a confrontation. I believe Star Fleet will not make the same mistake again.

"The portion of the report that reads, 'If it had been my choice I would have locked the offending parties in the same room and let them work it out with phasers, but that would have been to quick, so I'll have to settle for marshmallow wrestling. I do not wish Enterprise to be a part of this adventure when it is time for these stimulating delegates to return to their home worlds, I would just a soon toss them all out an airlock.' Leaves me to wonder what might have happened if you did lock the opposing parties in the same room."

Jim grinned saying, "I kind of liked my recommendation."

"Jim…"

Jim rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Here we go again."

"I believe that you showed exceptional reasoning in your restraint. You were a true Ambassador even more so than some of the passengers. At every chance you succeeded in keeping the outbreaks to a minimum as well as getting the delegates to the Babel conference as ordered."

"Wow, was that a complement?" he grinned.

"It was."

"Thanks."

"You are quite welcome."

"So what else do we have?"

"The Horta on Janus VI."

"Oh yeah that's a good one. I have to tell you I don't think I have ever been that scared before. With your help we were able to understand what the problem was and negotiate a treaty that was beneficial for the miners and the Horta. The creatures do the drilling and the miners clean out the minerals that are left behind."

"It was an exceptional perception on your part to take the moment needed to trust the creature not to kill you. I do hope that you will not put yourself in a similar position."

"You mean risking my life?" a nod from Spock. "I do that all the time."

"Exactly. That is another discussion for a different time."

"Oh goody, I can't wait for that one," he scoffed.

"Neither can I."

Kirk scowled in disapproval. "You don't get it Spock, nearly every planet we go to is a First Contact planet. From the time we reach orbit, meet the inhabitants, have dinner, and return to the ship this entire crew has become an Ambassador. I'm just the instigator, to a lot more things than just contacts, but that's for another time.

"I could be stopping a war like on Capella IV, Ardana, and Omega IV, to name a few. My point is that I wasn't the only person there, it wasn't just me. Almost every planet we have been to you and Bones have gone with me, and the crew on the ship have always been there as my backup."

"Those are still instances of being an Ambassador. Not only did you stop the wars and point out the mistakes in interpretation but you also guided the inhabitants to make their own changes. Time and time again, whether you realize it or not, you are always an ambassador, a leader in one form or another. The crew follows your guidance."

"Then I guess I am doing the job I was sent out here to do. So how can Star Fleet go wrong with my review?"

"Jim, there are several other instances where your actions would not be deemed favorable."

"Oh really!" he scoffed sitting back in his chair and placing his feet on the top of the table. "Name one."

"The first and foremost that comes to mind is Deep Space Station K7."

"Do we always have to go back to that one."

"Yes. You were not on your best behavior through any part of that assignment."

"I had a headache, Spock. Ever had one of those?" he looked up at Spock rubbing his forehead at a ghost headache. "No I suppose not. I wasn't in the best of moods."

"Obviously. Sherman's planet was a very important opportunity for the Federation to show what it can do to help improve the planet's welfare."

"Yes and I uncovered the Klingon spy, found out that the grain…"

"Quadrotriticale."

He threw up his hands in exasperation. "Whatever. The grain was poisoned and would have cost the loss of Sherman's Planet for the Federation."

"You forget the fact that the crew started an altercation with the Klingons."

"Oh yeah there was that," he tapped a finger to his lips. "You are correct in the fact that I was trying to forget that incident."

"That could have cost us the planet."

"Oh come on Spock, haven't you ever wanted to deck someone that would not shut up or just was really making you mad or…" Kirk looked up, realizing who he was talking too, and seeing the look of skepticism on Spock's face adding, "No I don't suppose you ever have.

"I don't blame them for fighting back, I just wish it had not been Scotty that threw the first punch, not a good image at all. Nor was the black eye." Kirk grinned at the memory, and that he wouldn't let Bones remove the bruising. After a glance at the, not so amused, look on Spock's face, he got serious again. "Never mind. So what else do you have?"

"I believe that we have sufficient information to supply them with when the time comes. Your abilities as a Captain are astounding."

"Meaning, you didn't think that I could Captain a ship, any type of ship, well maybe a dingy, much less a Starship."

"When I first made your acquaintance you had changed the outcome of the Kobayashi Maru scenario. I was fascinated on how you accomplished that."

Jim looked up at Spock to gage his next reaction. "Spock, just admit you were pissed that I had done the unexpected." Only a raised brow from Spock.

"Spock lets end this discussion for now. Can we pick it up later tonight after dinner? We can drag Bones back into it too?"

"Of course, Captain. I will allow you to return to your reading."

"Gee thanks, Spock. Oh I can't wait. Did you get the sarcasm there?" He slid his legs off the top of the table.

"Yes, Captain I did. If you require my assistance I shall be on the bridge."

"Thanks, Spock. I'll see you tonight about 1800."

"Very well." He left the room to return to the bridge.