Chapter Ten:

Six Weeks Later:

"USS Enterprise, Captain's Personal Log: With most of our battle damage repaired we are almost home. Yet I feel uneasy, and I wonder why... Perhaps it's the emptiness of this vessel? Most of our crew have been reassigned; however many of the engineers from Reliant have remained behind to continue with repairs yet Enterprise feels like a house with all the children gone... more empty even than that. Spock's retirement is like an open wound, I know the Kohlinar ritual my friend will never return to Starfleet"

Slowly Enterprise returned to her home port for the first time in almost five years, Kirk couldn't believe how much the view had changed from orbit, with new larger space docks and repair stations Enterprise looked almost outdated next too the what was in Kirks opinion the largest Federation Starbase he had ever seen, a voice crackled over the bridge speakers.

"Enterprise this is space dock, release helm control and we'll bring you home"

"Understood space dock, Enterprise acknowledges and responds, you have control"

"Confirmed Enterprise, Enjoy the ride and welcome home. Captain Kirk Commander of Starfleet requests you and your crew remain on board for inspection"

With a slight nod Kirk slumped back in his chair as Enterprise silently slipped into space dock with ease, the Interior was like nothing Kirk had seen in years with Starfleet it was huge, three small vessels of various designs lined the far bulkhead, while the closest vessel Kirk could not recognise, it appeared to be of Starfleet design yet completely different to what he was expecting. A large disc upfront with five large warp nacelles, two above and three below, Kirk looked on with interest as Enterprise slowly moved past the vessel.

"I've heard of that, it's a new cruiser pretty much an experiment"

Scotty looked up at the screen and laughed as he replied.

"My god that's an ugly ship captain"

With a slight laugh Kirk sat back and nodded as his engineer explained where the designers went wrong.

Flint stood on the landing pad as the shuttle set down in front of him, exhaust from the thrusters washed over him and almost blew his cape from his neck as the small shuttle touched down. After a moment the doors opened as the form of the pilot appeared, a large smile appeared over his face as he waited for the pilot to exit the vessel however the pilot was first too speak.

"That message you sent out was damned stupid old friend"

"No more then your response!"

Flint grabbed his friend and embraced the pilot with a smile before holding the man at arms length and laughing.

"Something has changed with you old friend… what is it?"

Flint shook his head as he lead his friend into the large building that was his home.

"Nothing, I'm fine!"

"I doubt it, the Flint I met all those years ago would never contemplate this, he wanted too distance himself from the game, not join it"

"Things have changed…"

He closed his eyes as certain memories began to flood back as vivid as they where happening now.

"I am responsible for the deaths of too many you see, I learned of the existence of an old enemy… I sent out a protomatter missile towards the planet but a technical malfunction threw off the guidance…"

"You hit the wrong planet?"

"Yes… but the effects worked in my favour, the shock shifted the orbit of the fifth planet and destroyed al inhabitants.."

"You decimated an entire planet?"

"Either that or Khan is let loose once more, none of us would be safe"

"You're a great one for over stating the obvious old friend"

"And you, what are you going by now? Is it still Adam?"

"No in the company of my own kind it's back to Methos"

With as many of the crew could fit in the large recreation room Kirk and his command entered with a grey haired old man dressed in an Admirals uniform, like thunder the sound of the entire crew stood to attention.

"AT EASE"

Relaxing slowly they watched as the command crew stepped onto the large platform followed by the old man.

"She's a fine ship Jim… and a great crew. All hands attention too orders, effective immediately, Captain James Tiberius Kirk is released from command of USS Enterprise NCC-1701"

A large sigh of disbelief rang around the room as Kirk looked on with shock, why was he being released of command? Eagerly he awaited the Admiral's next words.

"Captain Kirk you will report to Starfleet Command HQ where you take up the position of Chief of operations with the rank of Rear Admiral, as for your crew you will all be elevated one rank and take up various positions around the fleet, Congratulations"

"Admiral, what about the Enterprise?"

"She's to be decommissioned and placed in the Starfleet museum at Charon, Pluto"

"Sir the Enterprise is…"

"Past her date for retirement, It's a new Starfleet Jim… Deal with it"

Shock rang around the room as the Admiral left, the newly promoted Admiral Kirk was the last too leave, taking one last look around, as he got to the doors McCoy was waiting for him slowly he leaned from the wall with his head hung low.

"Congratulations Jim, I meant to tell you earlier but with Spock leaving I thought it would be one knife to many"

"Bones I'm really tired"

"I'm leaving the service Jim, I'm going back to my old practice back home"

"What?"

"I thing it's time. Flying around the galaxy is a game for the young not the old Jim"

Eight Months later.

"And there are two more papers to sign Admiral and we're done for the day"

"Thank you Commander"

Signing the last of the forms Kirk leaned back as his Vulcan attaché left the room, with his hands over his eyes a familiar voice rang threw his office.

"Do ya really think these orders are right Jimmy?"

Uncovering his eyes Kirk looked back at his former chief engineer.

"Scotty"

"These orders sir, are crazy… Two years? Moe like three, not to mention pulling her out of the museum sir"

"That was why I took this job in the first place"

"I heard you had too fight for her sir"

"Almost five months, lucky I got the civilians involved"

"Jim, a full refit of Enterprise on the scale your suggesting could take years"

"What happened to the old Miracle worker I used to know?"

"I grew up, With Sulu off helping to design a new ship, all resources are on that bucket of bolts"

"The transwarp system is an important project for Starfleet, you'll find a way Scotty. I hear Chapel is on her way to becoming and MD now"

"Aye, apparently she's some kind of genius"

"I got a message from Mr Flint three days ago, apparently he's got large colony of his kind now"

"Aye I heard the same message, but apparently he didn't expect Eighteen Klingons, three Ferengi, Nineteen Romulans, over 50 Humans and other species… including something called a Bajoran"

A slight laugh crept over Kirks face as they left the large office for a drink and talk about the old days, six weeks later the Enterprise was taking out of the Starfleet museum to begin a large redesign of all her systems a design that would revolutionise the way all Starfleet vessels will look in the future.

Star Trek: Immortals

Written by G.

Coming Soon.

Star Trek: Immortals - The Eugenics Wars.