Jim's eyes returned to the PADD in front of him as the transport shuttle purred through the open bay doors. A few minutes later the shuttle touched down lightly in its designated spot. Well done, ensign, he thought.

Over the speaker, the shuttle's pilot, Ensign Ricktor, spoke. "We're here, Captain. It'll just be another couple minutes while the bay doors are locked and the chamber is pressurized."

"Thank you, ensign," Jim said into the comm next to his seat. "And nice landing," he added as afterthought, his eyes already back to the PADD in front of him.

The specs for the Enterprise's overhaul had been incredible the first he'd seen them on Spock's tablet more than a month after Starfleet had begun work on the ship. He'd begged his friend to see them and Spock had actually complied even though the specifics were strictly confidential, especially to someone whose reinstatement to duty was up in the air.

Starfleet had thought of everything for the ship's upgrade. Well almost everything. He'd managed to contact a couple of the admirals at headquarters and convinced them to refit the transporters with the warp transport technology they'd been further developing in their labs. Smiling to himself, he wondered just how long he could leverage saving the world and Starfleet again before higher ups would put their foot down.

Jim looked up as the shuttle doors hissed open and the ensign's voice crackled over the comm," Captain, it's now safe to disembark."

"Great," Jim answered. "How long until we take off again?"

"We leave at eighteen hundred hours, sir," Ensign Ricktor said as he stepped out of the pilot compartment and stood next to the shuttle door. "That gives you about four hours."

Jim smiled as he stood and stretched in front of his seat. "Just enough time. If anyone needs me, I'll be down in-"

"Aye, Cap'n. I'm glad ya made it," Scotty's jovial tone echoed through the landing bay.

Jim smile broadened and brightened as stepped out of the shuttle to meet his Chief Engineer. "Scotty, its good to see you. You haven't been planet side much in, what, eight months?"

"Aye. Ever since starfleet insisted on the refit. I canna leave when there's so much that needs ta be done. An' the brass are sayin she needs to be ready to go in four months when there is at least six months of work left to be done."

Jim patted the older man's shoulder and commented, "And if I know you, you'll have the ship ready with time to spare."

Jim listened carefully as they began walking to the lift that would take them both to main engineering and Scotty chattered on about what he had and hadn't yet been able to complete in the last eight months. Both men stepped onto the lift together and Jim requested main engineering as their destination. He was just looking back down at his PADD when Scotty jammed a finger into the emergency stop button.

"Cap'n. I need ta know. Are the rumors true?"

"Huh? What?" Jim's eyes flicked from the PADD to the Chief Engineer, startled.

"The five year mission. Are the rumors true that she... The Enterprise has been selected?"

"Scotty," Jim began.

"Because it would make sense, with all of the crazy upgrades and refits Starfleet has insisted on..."

"Scotty," Jim interrupted. "The truth is I... I don't know. I've only just been given back the ship. I still have a million briefings that I have to go to before I know anything about what the plan is for our future missions." Jim paused seeing Scotty's crestfallen look. "Look. The Enterprise is the best ship in the fleet. If I could put money on it I'd bet we're chosen for the five year mission. And not only is this the best ship, but the best crew Starfleet has. I will fight tooth and nail to get this mission."

"Aye," Scotty said, after a moment of thought. He stood aside and released the emergency stop button. "I don't doubt that for a we moment," he said, with a satisfied smile. "If there's anathin I know about ya, Cap'n, is that you're persistent. I have a feelin within a month, you'll have Starfleet beggin us to take this mission."

Jim laughed softly at his friend. "I hope so," he answered lightly squeezing Scotty's shoulder. "This crew... My crew deserve it."

"Not just us, you deserve this too."

Jim smiled even wider. He might not be perfect, but he couldn't help but feel content knowing that the love he felt toward his crew was mirrored back to him in moments like that. As the doors to the lift hissed open, Jim murmured, "Thank you."