Jim and Solan came back into the city at a gallop. "Take these horses," Jim said as he dismounted. He hurried to find Spock, and grabbed his communicator at the same time. "Scotty!"
"Yes, Captain," Scotty answered.
"Be ready. The Klingons are not done. They intend to wipe us out on this planet and take it over. There are still some down here. They're waiting for something."
"Got it, Captain. We will be watching."
"Still no word from Starfleet?"
"No sir. And no word from Yorktown either."
"Okay. Just be careful, Mister Scott. I'm going to find out if there are any smaller ships on this planet with weapons."
"There should be, Sir."
"Yeah, if they weren't destroyed."
"Good luck, Sir."
"You too, Mister Scott."
Jim made his way to where Spock was. "Spock, we have trouble," he said. He explained the situation to him. "We have to get ready."
"We will prepare, Captain."
"I'm gonna see if I can find us an advantage. There must be fighters around here, ships with weapons."
"I am not familiar with this world, Captain, but I am sure Lieutenant Taylor will know."
"Where is he?"
"I believe he is still at the hospital."
"Alright. I'll go there. I need to see Bones again anyway. I want Bones moved into this bunker."
Spock was silent a moment. "Captain, I know Doctor McCoy is your friend, but showing…"
"It's not favoritism, Spock," Jim interrupted. "He's my best friend, and you know that. Now get it done. I won't be in this place if my friend is out here vulnerable and unable to defend himself."
"I will make it so, Jim."
"Good."
Jim headed for the hospital. He felt a great urgency now, and it made him even more nervous. He was running by the time he got to the hospital. He hurried inside to find Lieutenant Taylor. He asked someone on duty where he was, and he was in a room being treated.
Jim hurried to that room and stopped long enough to knock. "Enter," someone said.
Jim went on in. "Lieutenant Taylor…"
Taylor almost stood up off the bed he was on when he saw Captain Kirk come in. "At ease," Jim said. "I need you to tell me if there are any small fighters around here. Another Klingon attack is imminent."
"Yes sir," Taylor replied. "There are always extra defenses."
"Anything that I don't know about yet? We didn't have much time before the last battle to find out anything."
"I will give you a full run-down, Sir."
"Good. I'm going to see Bones and then we have to move."
"Yes sir."
Jim went on down the next corridor to see Bones who was in a room at the other end. He walked into the room and found Bones asleep. "Hey," he said as he stood at the bed.
Bones was slightly startled but he opened his eyes. "Jim."
"Any better?"
"Not as much pain. They mended the bones, and now they have to do the natural healing."
"Yeah. I'm having you moved to the bunker where my…temporary office is."
"Why?"
"Because it's safer than here."
"Do you think there's going to be another attack?" Bones waited for him to answer. "Jim."
"We're pretty sure there will be. We're preparing for it now."
"What about everyone else in this place?"
"Bones, you're going. And that's an order. We're not supposed to be here anyway. We were dragged into this."
"Well, if you're gonna put it that way."
"I am. I'll be back shortly."
Jim left that room and met Lieutenant Taylor in the corridor. "I want Doctor McCoy moved to my office complex," he said. "And we're going to find out how many fighters we have to work with and how many people we have to fly them."
"Yes sir," Taylor replied.
"I want Doctor McCoy moved first."
"I'll get it done, Sir."
Bones was soon on his way to the bunker. He hated being in a shape like this and could not get up. He did not know what was about to happen, but he would not be able to help. Then again, maybe he could help in the command center if Jim would let him.
Jim was in the bunker checking out the communications array. It all seemed to be working fine. They could contact the Enterprise, and they could keep in contact with everyone in a fighter, and on the ground. He wished he had had something like this before but it would have been impossible at the time.
Bones was brought in on a bed. "Well, I'm here," he said. "What am I gonna do?"
"You're gonna rest," Jim said.
"I can still think, Jim."
"We'll see what you can do, Bones."
"What's bothering you? I know something's bothering you."
"This whole situation is bothering me. We're alone in this, Bones."
"Doesn't anyone know what's going on here?"
"Not that I've heard from."
"It doesn't look good, does it? You're not telling me everything."
"Bones, we have got limited resources, but I'm going to use everything we have."
Just then, Jim's communicator chirped at him. "Kirk here," he said.
"Captain, Ensign McCoy wants to come down and visit his brother," Scotty said. "He doesn't want to go into another battle without seeing him."
Jim considered that. "Alright, Scotty. Beam him down."
"Yes sir. Still no word from anyone. Captain, are you coming back to the ship, or at least Mister Spock?"
"I may send Spock back. You're doing fine, Mister Scott."
"I don't like being in charge during a battle, Sir. I don't mind telling you that."
"None of us do. I have a feeling that we're going to be in another one soon. I'll try to have Spock there soon. We've been working on things down here."
"Aye, Captain. I'll be sending John down soon."
"Alright. We're in the bunker."
Jim looked at Bones. "Your brother's coming," he said.
"I heard," Bones replied. He could see the weight of the situation on Jim. He wanted to be on his ship, but he had to be on the planet. "I think it's a good idea to send Spock back to the ship."
"Probably."
"I'll help you all I can."
"I may have to take a fighter. You can help with all this, keeping us connected, and take care of minor wounds if any come in."
Jim sat down in a chair, and he thought it might have been the first time he sat down since the battle. He sighed as he leaned on his hand. He did not know if he had ever been so tired in his life. He stood up again. "I have to get out there and organize those ships," he said. "Your brother should be here soon."
Bones watched Jim walk out of there. He knew he was exhausted, but he also knew it would do no good to say anything about it.
Jim got outside and Ensign John McCoy was coming that way. "Captain," he said and saluted.
"Ensign. Your brother's down there," Jim replied.
"I'll be glad to fly a fighter, Sir."
"Thank you, Ensign. You'll probably be needed on the Enterprise, but I might just let you stay here with Bones."
"Where will you be, Sir?"
"I'm not sure yet. You best get in there and visit."
Jim walked on and soon came upon Spock. "Mister Spock, I think it would be best if you go back to the Enterprise before another battle," he said.
"Captain?"
Jim could see that Spock was confused about that notion. "We're spread thin, Spock. You need to be on the Enterprise so Mister Scott can take care of her. Besides, he doesn't like being in charge during a battle."
"Captain, I will do as you wish. However, I believe you need help here as well."
"I realize that, but I have a lot of people here who can help. We're gonna use those fighters, and might even get into some of that out there."
"There is one fighter aboard the Enterprise. I'm sure you remember."
"Yes. Is it fully restored?"
"I am not certain."
"I haven't thought about that fighter. It could be very useful in this. Solan will most likely use his ship. Those ships are bigger, more armor."
"Do you believe they will be any match for a Klingon war bird?"
"I believe they'll be better than nothing. Solan can take a squadron of the other fighters, and I'll take one with me too."
"The Enterprise may indeed have more success with backup."
"I agree. Trouble is, we have no idea what they're gonna do. It's like planning something in the dark when you can't even see where you're going. I think I've been around Bones too long. I'm starting to talk in metaphors."
"How is the doctor?" Spock asked.
"He's better. His brother is down there with him now. Just finish what you're doing and get up to the Enterprise. I'll take care of things down here."
"Yes, Captain."
"I need Uhura down here to help with the communications."
"I will relay the message."
"Good."
Jim went on and inspected the fighters that they had. There had definitely been some that had been destroyed or were too damaged to use, but there were several that were fine. He also found that he had pilots for all of them. However, it was a very small fleet to be tangling with Klingon war birds.
Solan walked up beside Jim. "I know what you're thinking," he said.
"No you don't," Jim replied.
"There's not enough."
"We'll make do with what we have. There's a fighter on the Enterprise."
"Yeah. I noticed that. You gonna pilot that yourself?"
"I was considering it. I'll take half this squadron and you take the other half."
Solan shook his head. "That's not very many, Captain."
"Well, let's try to have a little optimism, and try to get some morale going around here. We don't have a choice. We either fight, or we're dead…or Klingon prisoners."
"I'm with you."
"Great. I have no desire to be back in a Klingon prison."
"I don't wanta be in one either, but just in case we don't make it through this…I think you're a great captain, and a great friend."
Jim nodded. "You too, Solan. I'll be back with that fighter soon. Be ready if anything happens while I'm gone."
"We'll be ready."
Jim took out his communicator. "Scotty, beam me to the Enterprise," he said.
"Yes, Captain," Scotty answered.
Just then, Carol walked up beside him and took his hand just before he was transported. They were soon standing on the transporter pad. Jim looked at her. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"You're going to need a co-pilot," Carol said.
Jim could not hide his surprise at that, but she stepped down off the pad. "Now, wait a minute," Jim said as he followed her. He nodded to Scotty as he passed by him.
"Good to see you, Captain," Scotty said.
"You too. Tell them to get that fighter ready for me. I have to catch her."
"Aye, Captain."
Jim went on after Carol who was on her way down the corridor now toward the shuttle bay. "Carol!" he said. "Wait up."
They soon came to the turbo lift and she stopped in front of it. "Why do you want to be in the middle of this war?" Jim asked.
"We're all in the middle of this war, Jim," Carol replied. "If it were Doctor McCoy or Spock, you would have no problem letting them go with you."
"Don't turn this into something like that."
"I'm not letting you go without me."
"Not letting me?"
Just then, the turbo lift opened and they both went in. "Carol, I am still the captain of this ship, and I have also been placed in control of this planet," Jim said. "So…"
"So…what?" Carol asked.
Jim knew he might as well not argue with her. "You've got a little smudge there on your face," he said. "What have you been doing?"
"Working. You haven't taken the time to get the dirt and sweat off your face."
"I haven't had time. We're planning for a battle."
The turbo lift opened, and they went down the corridor to the shuttle bay where the fighter was. Spock was there waiting for him. "Jim, if you would rather command the Enterprise, I will take the fighter," he said.
"No, Spock," Jim replied. "I'm responsible for that planet down there."
"You are responsible for the Enterprise first, Captain."
"Don't argue with me right now."
"I am not arguing. I am simply stating the facts."
"Right, but I want you to take care of the Enterprise. It can't be long now, or they may wait till morning."
"Not knowing is the worst aspect of this battle. I assume that they think they will be catching us off guard."
"Well, they assume wrong. We know they're out there, and they don't know that we know. That gives us a little advantage over their strategy."
"There has been no word from anyone, and there has been no reports of any Klingon vessels heading this way."
"I don't understand why we haven't heard from Starfleet or anyone. What's going on, Spock?"
"I do not know, Captain, but it cannot be anything good."
A lieutenant came over to them. "Captain, the ship is ready, Sir," he said.
"Thank you," Jim replied. He looked at Spock. "Just do what you can."
"I will, Jim."
Jim boarded the fighter and found that Carol was already in the co-pilot's seat. It was quite small according to the cockpit of Solan's ship, or even a shuttle from the Enterprise. Jim got into the pilot's seat and adjusted the seat. He had only been in this ship twice since they captured it. "This thing should be simple enough to fly," he said.
"It's prepped and ready…Captain."
Jim looked at her. "You're quite a woman…Doctor."
Carol smiled. "We'll win this together, or die together."
"I can't think of anyone I would rather die with."
"Thank you…I think."
Jim took the fighter out of the shuttle bay and headed down to the planet. He supposed those Klingons might see the fighter coming down, and he made a quick decision. He turned the ship so that they would fly right over the Klingon camp. He thought they might as well stop hiding the fact that they knew those Klingons were there.
"Jim, what are you doing?" Carol asked.
"I'm playing cat and mouse," Jim said.
He took the ship down further so that they would barely miss the treetops and flew right over the Klingon camp. He could not see the Klingons down there in the dark, but he smiled at the anger, and maybe chaos, that little flyover must have caused.
"Men."
Jim looked at Carol. "What?" he asked.
"You heard me."
"Women."
Carol could not help but smile. "I never said it wasn't a good idea."
"I would have fired a shot or two, but I don't know where the Admiral is."
Jim flew back to the compound and landed the ship close to where Solan's ship was. Solan met him outside. "Well, I let the Klingons know that we know they're there," Jim said. "I flew over their camp."
"You think you stirred them up?" Solan asked.
"I'm sure we'll know soon enough."
Jim opened his communicator. "Spock…"
