As Jim got down to the lowest floor of the building, he found that he had plenty of officers to guard that building, and some to help with the fight as well. "Captain Kirk, I'm Lieutenant Clark," a woman in the crowd said as she saluted. "Admiral Carson sent out a message saying that you are our commander now. We're ready, Sir."

Jim just stared at her a moment. "I want some of you to get up to that suite up there," he said. "Protect Chancellor Gorkon. And I want some to stay here. The rest of us are…going to war. I don't know how many Klingons are out there, but they have transported down to this planet. They'll try to overwhelm us by sheer numbers, but we're not gonna just give in."

"Aren't there reinforcements coming, Sir?"

Jim did not want them to know those reinforcements were two days away. "Yes," he said. "They're on their way. We just have to do our best till they get here."

"We will, Sir."

"Separate everyone and let's get moving."

Jim went over to the door, and his three crew members were with him. "Jim, we can't go out there into this war!" Bones said.

"Bones, you should try to help the Admiral," Jim replied. "You don't need to be out here anyway."

"I didn't mean…"

Jim looked at him. "I know. Just do what you do best."

Bones did not like the idea that they were going without him, but he supposed the Admiral needed him worse. "If you need me just call me," he said. Then he turned and headed back up to the Admiral's office.

"What is your plan, Jim?" Spock asked.

"All I know to do is fight," Jim said. "There is no other plan."

"We are not experienced in fighting such as this."

"We're probably more experienced than anyone else around here."

Lieutenant Clark had the officers separated now. "You stay here and keep this building safe," Jim said. "All those with me…let's go!" He paused a moment and looked at Lieutenant Clark. "Remember, someone poisoned Admiral Carson, and it wasn't those Klingons. You understand?"

Lieutenant Clark was shocked at this news but she nodded. "Yes sir."

"Be careful."

Jim went out the door, and they could definitely hear the noise of battle. "Why aren't they bringing the war birds down?" he asked.

"Perhaps they are waiting," Spock said. "They may not know which building holds the Klingons they seek."

"Well, let's not give them any hints. Let's move!"

They got out into the central part of the city. "Spock, take half the troops and spread out that way," Jim said. "I'll take the rest and go out this way."

"Captain, are you certain that we should be separated?" Spock asked. "If I am to be in a battle, I would rather be fighting beside someone I know."

"We have a lot of inexperienced people around here, Spock. I need you to do what I say."

"Yes, Captain."

"And don't forget why we brought knives and swords. Eventually, we're gonna be hand to hand."

"Something that we have faced many times."

"Right. Good luck, Spock."

"To you as well, Jim."

With that, they both turned separate ways and headed out to rid the city of Klingons. Jim would never have thought he would be in a situation like this, but it was happening…an all-out battle. He and his followers fanned out between the buildings looking for their enemy. Jim finally saw some Klingons coming that way, and they were definitely carrying knives and bat'leths.

The Klingons stopped when they saw Jim and his followers. The lead Klingon yelled something at them in Klingon. Jim aimed his blaster at the Klingon. "Stop this attack now!" Jim yelled. "You will not win this battle!"

The Klingon yelled something else at him that Jim thought was probably the worst insult he had ever heard…or the worst threat. He thought everything in Klingon sounded like a threat or an insult. "We may die, but we will die fighting!" Jim yelled. He took another breath and yelled, "Fire!"

They all began firing at the Klingons, and they yelled a Klingon charge and headed straight for Jim and his bunch. They got some of the Klingons but not all, and they had armor on as well. As they got closer, Jim put his blaster away and drew the sword he had. His blade met up with the Klingon's blade with a clang. The Klingon glared at him through the faceplate he wore and said something that sounded like an even worse threat. Jim shoved him back only a step or two, and then they began their sword duel. Jim certainly did not consider himself a swordsman. It reminded him of the time they space jumped onto that platform, and Sulu had told him that his combat experience was "fencing". It turned out to be the best thing he could have been trained in. He wished Sulu was there now.

Jim was trying to drive the Klingon back, but he was not making much ground. He finally got a chance and kicked the Klingon backward. With that, the Klingon drew his bat'leth. Jim remembered dodging one of those things as well. They met again, but this time, the Klingon swung the bat'leth at him. Jim barely avoided getting something cut off, and then the Klingon connected the back of his other hand and arm, clad with armor with the side of Jim's head.

Jim hit the ground, but he managed to roll back up to his feet in time to counter another attack. This time, he swung his own sword and cut across the Klingon's face. That was enough to back the Klingon up, and then Jim plunged his sword into his chest right between the ribs of his armor. The Klingon fell and died right there, and Jim took his bat'leth. He could see dead Starfleet officers, and dead Klingons everywhere, but there were many still fighting as well, and he was about to have another opponent.

Spock and Uhura were trying to stay together as they fought their battle with the Klingons. Spock had managed to get a bat'leth from one of the Klingons and he was wielding it with precision. Uhura was still using a blaster and a sword. She did not know how many Klingons she had shot or slaughtered with a sword. She was trying not to think about it too much. They only had one goal, and that was to stop the Klingons from taking over this planet.

Scotty and the others on the Enterprise were in a hot battle with Klingon war birds. However, the shields on the Enterprise were holding as they were taking a beating from the Klingons, but they were giving it back to them as well. Scotty sat in the captain's chair as they were all trying to stay ahead of the Klingon attack. The patrol ships were doing what they could, but their weapons were not very formidable against a Klingon war bird, but others from down on the planet were arriving as well.

"I'm taking my ship down to the planet!" Solan said to Scotty. "I'm going down there to help the captain and the others. There's no reason for me to be here."

"I don't have time to deal with you right now!" Scotty replied. "Can't you see we're in the middle of a battle?"

"Yes, I sure can. I'm not asking you. I'm just telling you!"

"Fine, Laddy!"

Solan headed for the shuttle bay where his ship had been stored since he came in contact with Jim Kirk and his crew. Scotty took the time to inform them that Solan would be leaving. He hoped Solan could help the captain. He had not heard from him since this battle started. They did not know what was going on down on the planet, except they knew several Klingons had beamed down, and there was a battle going on there as well.

Solan boarded his ship and left the Enterprise. He managed to get by the Klingon war birds which were more interested in the Enterprise than his ship, and he headed straight down to the planet. When he came into view of the city, he could see smoke rising, fires burning, and there was a battle going on between Klingon fighters and Starfleet fighters. It was times like this that he wished he had a co-pilot again. "Alright, Baby, we've gotta give them some help," he said. He saw an explosion that took out half of a building.

Solan made a pass over the back part of the battle and took out some Klingons that way. "Good bye, my one-time friends," he said grimly.

Jim saw Solan's ship as it passed over the battle, and he was definitely glad to see it. He had almost been cut open by a bat'leth in his last encounter with a Klingon, but he managed to get out of the direct path of it and got a cut across his abdomen. He was using his blaster and the sword too. He was not even sure how much time had passed, but it seemed like forever. He had been fighting his hardest and not thinking about anything else. He could see that the light of day was starting to fade slightly already, and he hoped maybe they could end this battle before it got dark.

Suddenly, a Starfleet officer ran over to him. "Captain, some of the Klingons have reached the government building!" he said.

"That's why I left a regimen there!" Jim replied.

"They set an explosive that took out the lower floor of the building."

"What do you mean? Is the building destroyed?"

"No, but the fighters who were protecting it…"

Jim knew what the Lieutenant was trying to tell him now. He was heading away from the building, and had been hoping that they could keep the Klingons away from the building, but they had gotten to it anyway. He grabbed his communicator. "Spock!"

Spock was leaning back against a wall when he heard his communicator. He flipped it open. "Captain. I'm here."

"Spock, they've reached the government building! They took out the lower regime! We have to get back there!"

"I will turn back at once, Captain!"

"Let the others keep up this fight! We have to get back there!"

Jim looked at the Lieutenant who looked very young, and whom he did not even know his name. "You keep going!" he said. "Solan will help you from the air! Keep everyone going!"

"Yes sir," the Lieutenant replied.

Jim could see the fear in his eyes. "You're going to do fine!" He turned and ran back toward the government building, and he could hear the young Lieutenant yelling orders behind him.

As Jim neared the government building, he was horrified at what he saw. He could definitely see that the lower level of the building had been blown out. Spock and Uhura ran up beside him. "Bones is in there!" Jim said. He looked at the others. "Let's move!"

They ran for the building, and met up with Klingons before they got to the door. Jim thought he was getting used to this combat now as he swung that sword. He ducked under the bat'leth and swung the sword at the same time and sliced into the Klingon's legs. Then he fired his blaster at the next one.

Spock was right behind Jim making his own path through the battle, and Uhura was with him. He thought the Klingons hated more than anything that he had taken a bat'leth from one of them and was now using it against them. Some in the building had survived because they were still firing at the Klingons.

Jim finally got into the building and continued his onslaught of shooting and slicing. "Captain! Duck!" someone yelled.

Jim fell to the floor as two shots took out a Klingon that he had not even seen. He looked around to see Solan coming through one of the broken windows of the building. "Thanks," he said.

"Don't mention it!" Solan replied. He joined Jim and they continued fighting the Klingons.

"I have to get in that turbo lift and get up to the suite!"

"Go! I'll cover you! Are you sure it still works?"

"One way to find out!"

Jim ran for the turbo lift, firing as he went, and Solan kept the Klingons busy. As he entered the turbo lift, Jim could see that it had no power, so he would have to take the stairs. "I have to take the stairs!" he yelled to Solan.

"I'll be right behind you! Go!"

Jim ran for the stairs and when he got to the next floor, there were Klingons there too, but there were others there engaging them, so he continued on up. He had to get up there and see how the others were. He knew the impact of that blast had to affect the floor up there as well.

Spock and Uhura, along with the other officers still inside the building finally took care of the last Klingons in the lower floor. "Guard this area!" Spock ordered to the ones still there. He and Uhura headed up the stairs.

Jim reached another floor, and suddenly, there was a Klingon right in front of him. He swung his bat'leth at Jim, who ducked, and the bat'leth clanged on the metal stair rail. He tried to swing his sword, but the Klingon grabbed his arm and jerked it so hard, Jim wondered if his shoulder would leave the socket.

Jim watched in horror as the Klingon raised his bat'leth to slice him in half, but he was stopped by a laser blast. Jim heard that sickening frying sound that happened when someone was shot like that, and he smelled burned flesh. The Klingon grunted with pain, but then he glared at Jim and started to continue his swing with the bat'leth, but then a bolt hit him in the face. His grip on Jim's arm slacked off, and Jim stumbled backward as he watched the Klingon grab his face. However, another blast hit him, and he fell backward.

Jim looked around, thankful that Solan had stayed close. Jim swallowed hard and grimaced as his shoulder wrenched even with the weight of the sword. "You alright?" Solan asked.

"I'll live," Jim said. "Thanks to you. Let's get moving!"

They ran for the next set of stairs. As they were going up this flight of stairs, suddenly, a blast hit the building and they were knocked off their feet and fell back down the stairs, landing in a heap. Jim lay there a moment looking up at the ceiling feeling like he could not hear, and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Solan leaned over him, shaking him, and saying something, and then Spock and Uhura arrived.

Jim realized he was lying on his back, and then he could hear them. "Captain, are you alright?" Spock asked.

"We have to get up there!" Jim said as he was scrambling to his feet and the others were helping him.

They all headed up the stairs as more explosions rocked the building. When they reached the floor that the suite was on, there was glass and concrete strewn all over the hallway. Jim ran to the door of the office and tried to open it. He, Spock, and Solan had to push together to get the door open as there was a large piece of concrete against it.

"Bones!" Jim yelled. He finally was able to get through the door. "Bones!"

"Jim!"

"Bones!"

They got over the piece of concrete, and Jim looked up as he could see half the ceiling of the office was gone. "Bones!" he yelled again.

Jim ran to the other door and shoved it open. He stopped as he saw that the office was gone. He turned around as they all looked around the room. "Bones!" he yelled.

"Jim! I'm over here!"

Jim hurried toward the sound and he stopped in shock as he saw that Bones was lying under a large piece of concrete. "Spock!" he yelled.

"Jim, I can't feel my legs," Bones said.

"Help me!" Jim said as he grabbed hold of the concrete.

Spock and Solan grabbed hold and they all started trying to lift it off Bones. "Uhura, get him out from under it when we lift it!" Jim said through gritted teeth.

Uhura got over to Bones. Jim strained trying to lift the concrete. "Jim!" Spock said. "Jim! We cannot lift this!"

"We have to!" Jim replied.

"Captain, we must get help! Where is the Chancellor?"

Jim looked at Bones who was looking very pale and like he was just about in shock. "Bones, where's the chancellor?" he asked.

"I don't know," Bones said. "The whole place shook, and I thought it was gonna come down. I couldn't help the admiral."

Jim looked around them for something that would help them get Bones out. Suddenly, there was another blast that shook the building. Bones cried out with pain, and the others were knocked off their feet. "Jim, you need to get out of here before this place comes down on all of you!" Bones said.

"I'm not leaving you in here!" Jim declared.

"I will go and get help!" Spock said and ran out the door.

Jim knelt beside Bones. "We're gonna get you out of this, Bones," he said. He knew they would not be able to beam Bones back to the Enterprise while the battle was going on.

"I didn't think I would die in the middle of a battle," Bones said. "I thought I would…die of some virus."

"You're not going to die!"

"It's hard to breathe."

Jim got over to the end of the concrete again and tried to get under the edge of it as he pushed up with a yell of strain. Solan tried to help him. "We have to move it!" Jim said.

"We can't!" Solan replied. "It's too heavy, Captain."

Jim panted from the strain, and then he tried again. "Captain!" Uhura yelled. "You can't move it."

Soon, Spock returned with more help. They all got hold of the concrete slab and pulled. As soon as Uhura saw the slab move, she pulled Bones from under it. He groaned with the pain that was now spreading to his legs, and his chest.

"We have to get out of here," Jim said.

They got Bones up, having to ignore his cries of pain. "I sure wish that turbo lift was working," Jim said.

"I would try to find out why it is not working, Captain, but I am afraid we do not have time," Spock replied.

"We don't."

They headed down the stairs, carrying Bones between them. "I think my legs are broken," he said.

"We just have to get you down from here, Bones," Jim said.

Solan and the others went before them to make sure there were no Klingons coming up the stairs. "Bones, did the chancellor get out? Jim asked. "What happened to the admiral?"

"I don't know," Bones said. "I just don't know. I woke up under that slab of concrete."

They did not meet any Klingons on their way down. Instead, they met Starfleet officers who were guarding the way and joining them as they went. Bones was glad when they got to the bottom floor. He was just about whimpering.

Jim looked out the broken doors and windows at the destruction. He thought he had failed in this mission. "What are we supposed to do now?" he asked.

"We should try and contact the Enterprise," Spock said.

"They can't beam him to the ship. They're in the middle of a battle."

"I'll take him," Solan said. "We can get to my ship."

"You can't get him to the ship alone."

Bones was wishing they would hurry and figure out what to do. "You could always take me to the hospital here," he said.

Jim looked at the two officers who were always around there. "Where's the hospital?" he asked.

"About three blocks that way," one of them said pointing.

"There's no way to know if it's even operational. Take two officers and go find out if the hospital is operational. If it is, bring a transport to take Doctor McCoy down there."

"Yes sir."

The officer hurried out, calling two others to go with him. Jim looked up at the ceiling. "We should probably get out of this building," he said. "One more hit could bring the whole thing down."

"Since there have been no more explosions, it is not likely that there will be more," Spock replied. "The Enterprise must have gained the advantage over the Klingons…or perhaps help arrived."

"I don't know, but we need to get out of here." Jim looked at the others around them. "Let's move out of this building! We'll find another place for shelter."

They moved out of the building and moved to the building across the street. Jim called one of the other officers over to him. "Do you know where the chancellor is?" he asked. "What happened to Admiral Carson?"

"We don't know, Captain," the ensign answered. "They weren't there."

"How could they get out without anyone seeing them?" Jim stopped as he realized the only answer to his question. "They were either killed in the explosion…or they were beamed out."

"Why would the Klingons want Admiral Carson?" Spock asked.

"Someone tried to kill the admiral," Jim said. He looked at Bones whom he and Spock were still holding up between them, and realized that he was passing out. "Bones."

"We should get him into shelter until the medical transport arrives," Spock said.

They went on into the building which did not have much damage to it. There was a lounge in the front room that included a couch, so they put Bones on that. He groaned, feeling like he was going to be sick. He looked at Jim and saw the cut across his abdomen. "Jim, you're hurt," he said.

"So are you," Jim replied. "It's just a cut."

"I'm sorry, Jim. I don't know what happened."

"Don't worry about that. Did you find out what was wrong with the Admiral?"

"He had definitely been poisoned. I had some medical supplies brought up there, but that blast hit while I was working. The whole wall came down."

"Did you see anyone?"

"No. I don't know how long I was out."

"The whole office was blown off the building. It's a good thing you were in the outer office."

Bones closed his eyes. Jim looked at Spock. "I believe he will be okay, Jim," Spock said. "He is simply exhausted."

"He could have internal injuries."

"Something that they can fix at the hospital."

Jim sat there beside Bones wondering what was going to happen. He figured this was the first of many battles. He grabbed his communicator. "Scotty?"

"Captain!" Scotty replied with relief in his voice, and tension as well.

"How are things up there?"

"The Klingons have left, Captain. What happened down there?"

"War, Mister Scott."

"Is everyone okay?"

Jim looked out the doors and windows at the destruction. "Not everyone."

"Do you need us to come down there, Sir?"

Jim thought he would love to see some members of his crew, but he did not think they should leave the Enterprise. "No. Just stay with the ship and stay on red alert. How's the ship?"

"She did fine, Captain. She's a tough old bird. Repairing the shields now."

"Did you take out any war birds?"

"Two."

"We lost the chancellor and the admiral. We think they were taken by the Klingons. I'm not certain of that, but…get in touch with Starfleet headquarters and tell them. And tell them we need help here."

"Yes sir."

"Bones is hurt, Mister Scott. We're waiting for a medical transport."

"Severely?"

"I don't know. I just wanted you to know. Is Carol okay?"

"Yes sir. Everyone here is fine."

"Tell her I'm fine."

"Yes sir. She's listening now."

"I love you, Carol."

Carol was just glad to hear his voice. "I love you, and I want to come down there."

"You don't need to see this."

"Jim."

Jim thought he might as well not argue with her, although he knew she would not come if he told her not to. "Fine. You can beam down to where we are now. Kirk out."

Jim found himself waiting anxiously for Carol to show up, but before she did, the medical transport arrived. Two medics came in to collect Doctor McCoy. As they were taking him out, Jim saw a swirl of light, and then Carol was there. She could not help but notice his sweat and dirt streaked face, but he smiled when he saw her. She hurried over to him as they were following Bones out.

Another medical transport arrived. Jim knew there were many injured, even himself. He just hoped Bones would be okay. Right now, he had to help get all those injured to the hospital so they could be treated, and he had to figure out what happened to Chancellor Gorkon and Admiral Carson…even if they were lying dead in a pile of rubble from the building.

The lieutenant whom Jim had met during the battle came into the building. He definitely looked like he had been in a fight and a war. "Captain, I suppose you know that the Klingons retreated," he said.

"Yes I do," Jim replied. "We have to figure out what happened to the chancellor and the admiral now." He looked at the lieutenant. "What's your name?"

"Lieutenant Jeremy Taylor, Sir."

"You did well, Lieutenant. Get over there and get those wounds tended."

"Yes sir."

Carol stepped closer to Jim then. "I was worried about you," she said.

"I was worried about you too," Jim replied. "I didn't have much time to think about the Enterprise though."

"You fought hard. You're wounded too."

Jim knew he was wounded and his muscles ached from all that activity too. "It's not that bad," he said. "I have to…I have to go and search that rubble, and try to get things back in order here."

"Jim, you can let someone else search. You can't do everything."

"I know."

"There are crews here who can search. You get yourself tended."

Jim looked at Spock who was standing within earshot. "Spock, get crews busy searching that rubble," he said.

"Yes Captain," Spock replied.

"Are you wounded?"

"Not severely."

"What does that mean?"

"I have a few bruises, and maybe a cut or two, but I am functioning adequately."

Jim thought no one could describe their physical condition quite like a Vulcan. "Good. We have to get everything straightened out around here." Jim frowned. "Why would Admiral Carson put me in charge of this…I would have never thought he had enough confidence in me to put me in charge of his dog."

"Captain, sometimes the ones who are the most critical are the ones who see the most of our potential."

"Maybe in your world. Just get the search started. I have to get some wounds tended."

"Yes, Captain."

Carol walked with Jim to the medical transport. They both knew the Klingon war had begun, and they were in the middle of it. No one knew what the outcome would be, but it was certain that it would be a bloody war…this had only been the first battle, and it had definitely been bloody.