Title: New life and New Civilizations

Summary: Six months after the destruction of Vulcan, Captain Kirk and crew are given their first real mission aboard the Enterprise. When long-range sensors pick up a faint distress call in the Neutral Zone, no expects what they find…

Rating: T for language. There will be a pre-slash relationship built here, but there will be NO overt sex, I just don't do that.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek. All non-OC characters, sets, ships, etc. are property of Gene Rodenberry, J.J. Abrams, or someone who isn't me.

"They have sinned against the Empire," Tellar said, never turning his gaze from the holoscreen; it now showed the Enterprise and the Klingon ships, "the only way to purge this sin with fire." The helmsman cut in before Kirk could reply.

"Dropping out of warp in five…four…three…two…one…"

Spock was, rather ironically, reminded of an ancient human idiom: hindsight is twenty – twenty. It had truly seemed like a good at the time; the Enterprise had narrowed its sensor detection range in an attempt to locate an energy decay trail from the unknown shuttle; this had the unfortunate side effect of blinding them to the approaching Klingon vessels. The crew became aware of the three battlecruisers when disruptor fire slammed into the ship. The Enterprise had been able to raise her shields in time for the second volley, but the damage had already been done. The crew fought valiantly, meeting the Klingons shot for shot, but the numbers were not in her favor. As the minutes ticked by, the situation grew more dire; round after round weakened her shields and sent her crew sprawling throughout the ship.The Enterprise pitched violently as another round of disruptor fire slammed into her shields.

"Shields collapsing Captain, we can't take another hit like that!" Sulu shouted over the din of alarms and crew.

"Helm, bring the ship about, heading two-two-one mark zero-nine-two. Ready all phasers and fire on my command." Spock spoke quickly, and then activated his internal comm. "Mr. Scott, what is the status of our warp drive?"

"She's taken quite a wallop Captain," Scotty's voice was scratchy and nearly drowned out by the background noise. "The starboard nacelle's received a direct hit; we won't be going anywhere until I can get a look at her." Spock deactivated the comm link and turned to face the main viewer. One of the Klingon battlecruisers was closing rapidly and preparing to fire.

"Captain, they're opening fire!" Sulu shouted. Bolts of green energy erupted from the Klingon ship.

"Incoming vessel, heading one-eight-seven mark two-two-six!" Chekov shouted.

"On screen." The alien vessel screamed past the Enterprise; the disruptor fire slamming into her shields, scattering across them in a bright arc of lightening. The ship spun in a wide arc, giving the stunned crew of the Enterprise their first real look. She was tall, much taller than she was long, with a large black sphere at her center. The sphere was held by a large, four-pronged cage tapering back to a long, rotating lattice structure. Its height came not from the size of the sphere itself, nor the cage that seemed to hold it in place, but rather two pairs of long, dagger-like fins extending dorsally and ventrally. From wide bases nearly encasing the sphere and its cage they swept up to fine, sharp points at their ends, cutting through space like a knife. Each fin was close to its mate, no more than a few meters apart, and, as the ship finished its long, swinging arc with the grace of a dancer, it bored down on the Klingon ships like a falcon in a dive; and fired.

Lances of electric blue energy roared out from between the fins of the alien vessel, slamming into the nearest Klingon ship. The battlecruiser pitched violently as fire rained down upon it. Round after round slammed into the stricken vessel, its shields buckled under the onslaught and disruptor fire crashed into the hull of the crippled ship, tearing it apart.

"Mr. Chekov, what is that vessel?" Spock said, not taking his eyes from the screen. The two remaining Klingon ships turned their attention from the crippled Enterprise to this new interloper.

"Unknown Captain, she doesn't resemble any ship or design archetype in our database." Chekov replied, turning to face Spock. "Their weapons are unlike anything we've ever seen. They appear to be disruptors, but they use some form of gravimetric energy rather than nadions; they're literally tearing the Klingon ships apart."

"Mr. Scott, what is the status of our shields?" Spock activated his comm link.

"Give me five minutes Captain, I'm remodulating the emitters and they should be back on line, but I can't promise you full power." Scotty's voice crackled through the intercom.

The remaining two Klingon ships closed in on the alien vessel, the bridge crew watched the battle unfold with detached fascination. Round after round of disruptor fire slammed into the unknown vessel, arcing across its shields in bursts of fire and light. The interloper returned fire, clawing another battlecruiser apart with its disruptors. The last ship turned away from the new ship, attempting to flee the destruction, but for naught. A bright flash of light exploded from each of the horizontal claws holding the sphere; the two torpedoes raced through space and slamming into the fleeing battlecrusier's aft, destroying it in a massive explosion. The craft sailed through the debris of its vanquished foes, taking a long, leisurely route before coming to a dead stop before the Enterprise.

"Shields Mr. Sulu." Spock ordered, eyes fixed on the unknown threat in front of them.

"We have minimal shields Captain, twelve percent."

"Ready phasers and torpedoes, prepare to fire on my command."

"We're being hailed." Uhura's head snapped up from her battered comm station.

"On screen." Spock replied.

"Hi Spock!"

Jim looked up expectantly at the main holoscreen. Spock's stunned face took up most of the screen, though he could see Chekov and Sulu's equally startled expressions and he was almost positive he heard Uhura curse in the background.

"Captain…Captain Kirk."Spock stammered, clearly surprised. In the years to come this moment would go down as one of Jim's favorites; something few humans would ever see: a Vulcan lost for words.

"Yeah Spock, it's me." Jim's grin grew even wider.

"Captain, we have been attempting to ascertain your –" Spock started rambling before Jim could cut him off.

"Yes, yes, I know Spock. There's been a huge misunderstanding; get the Enterprise out of the neutral zone and we'll talk."

"Captain, the Enterprise is unable to achieve warp speed at this time. However, Mr. Scott assures me this is only temporary, all engineering crews are currently assigned to damage control."

"Captain, if I may?" Tellar interrupted, fixing Jim with a questioning look. The Captain simply nodded in reply. "The Devos Illaria has taken minimal damage and has a full engineering compliment. If you would permit it, I would be willing to send several of my own men over to assist in getting the Enterprise underway." Kirk turned from Tellar to face Spock. The two men seemed to have a kind of unspoken conversation using only raised eyebrows.

"Very well," Jim finally said aloud, "your assistance would be most appreciated." Jim turned from Tellar to face the holoviewer. "Mr. Spock, prepare for transport." Kirk ordered.

"Aye Captain, Spock out." The bridge of the Enterprise disappeared, replaced by an image of the ship itself hanging in space.

"Tanna," Tellar activated his comm link. "I need you to assemble an engineering team in Transporter Room Two to beam over to the Enterprise. I need you to get her underway again; it isn't safe here." Tellar waited for an affirmative response and then stood, walking towards the back of the bridge, motioning Jim to follow him. "Commander, the bridge is yours. Do not let anything come between the Illaria and that ship." He pointed at the projection of the Enterprise that currently filled the main holoviewer.

"Aye sir." The Commander replied. Tellar and Jim left the bridge as he began to bark orders. The two men walked down the corridor, about half way down Tellar stopped and walked through a door on his left, Jim followed. The transporter room was small, most of it taken up by the large pad. Half a dozen Myrrshan engineers in black and gray jumpsuits were manhandling several large containers onto the pad. A woman, Jim assumed it was Tanna, stood atop the pad, barking orders at the rest of them. Soon enough, though apparently not for Tanna, the engineering crew had moved their equipment and now stood assembled on the pad.

"Ready to transport, Sir." Tanna said.

"We'll be directly behind you Tanna, do not leave that room until I arrive, understood?" Tellar replied, standing beside the console.

"Aye, Sir." She nodded curtly before turning towards the crewman manning the transporter controls. "Energize!" she barked. In a flash of blue light the crew and their equipment were gone. Waiting but a moment, Tellar stepped up onto the platform and motioned Jim to the open spot beside him. The two men exchanged a single look before standing still, waiting.

"Energize."

A/N: Here's another one for you folks, though it's a bit shorter, this seemed to be a natural stopping point. As always, comments are much appreciated.