Chapter 25
Starfleet took pity on Kirk, or more like they couldn't take his constant howling over the disregard for his ship and crew. Happy to let him continue the rest of his 10 week journey home, Nogura hypothesized that longer Kirk stayed in command of a fledgling Starship, the shorter time span he would have to get into trouble. However, even Nogura knew how important the Enterprise was and had already cleared the docks and recalled back to Headquarters, all the engineers he could spare. It would be a massive undertaking to refit and rebuild the Enterprise in a much shorter time.
Three tug ships were dispatched to meet up with the Potemkin and Enterprise to aid in the towing efforts. With three other specialized tractor beams, the ships could increase their speed tremendously. The ETA was now pushed up to 6 weeks, and that would still be considered a rush to be prepared for her arrival. It would still take at least much of eight months in dry dock for the refit to take place. Kirk was musing to himself what that would mean for him and his crew. Obviously many would transfer to other ships, while many would be reassigned to planetside jobs. But what would happen after that much time had elapsed? Would his senior staff return after the allotted time or would they elect to stay on their reassignments if given the chance. There were so many what ifs that his head was starting to ache. He thought about calling Captain Lingstrom over for a game of chess.
About that time McCoy burst into the room with an expression that was a mixture of astonishment and jubilee.
"Woah there Bones, your blinding me with a countenance of pure joy. What could be worth that much happiness in this dismal situation please tell? I could use some joy about right now."
"I just got off the line with Christine, and you are never gonna believe what has happened!" he shouted with pure bliss.
Down the hallway, a young ensign was carrying a anti grav unit full of spectrometer plates. He found himself bent over a tipped unit that had sent a dozen or so plates to the ground with a crash. It wouldn't help to explain the fact that he had panicked with fear over the sudden screams and hoots of joy coming from the doorway he had just passed, sending him toppling over the anti-grav unit. Hoots of joy that were coming from the two men, celebrating the most joyous news.
The end..