""Science Officer Spock," Admiral Locan's voice seemed to echo in Spock's ears long after the Admiral had left the bridge, "You will leave this quadrant immediately or surrender command of this vessel to Captain Wallace. The loss of Captain Kirk and Officer Stennor is regrettable but it is imperative that Captain Wallace and Captain Cransman and I arrive at Starbase Eight as quickly as possible. As you have the coordinates of the asteroid and its projected path after we have arrived at Starbase Eight a recovery team can be sent."

Spock had been aware of the bridge crew watching him as he slowly sat down in the command seat, "Best speed to Starbase Eight, Mr Sulu." and, although he could not clearly see Captain Wallace's facial expression, he sensed the man was grieving as the man and James Kirk had known each other for some time and had what Humans termed a good working relationship although Wallace was a far more cautious man. Jim had only gone to get samples from of an unusual asteroid as Jim had, as

It had been Captain Cranston who had commented how they should get samples from the unusual asteroid and that Jim should go, as Captain Cransman so rightly pointed out, Jim had more experience in doing so.

"Explosion, total loss of craft control. All systems failing. Spock," had been Jim's last words. Spock had been prepared to launch a rescue mission when Cransman had stopped him saying, "As Admiral Locan said, it is imperative we arrive at Starbase Eight as quickly as possible. I think we both know what Kirk meant by all systems failing. I think we also both know he would want no other craft to leave the Enterprise till there had been a thorough check as something had obviously gone wrong with the craft they were in." While Cransman had looked him squarely Spock had seen not only what the man's eyes revealed, how the man swallowed and how his very stance showed a detachment.

Spock was aware of Captain Wallace looking at Captain Cransman as the man turned and walked away and then saw him briefly turn to face him, "He is right, Mister Spock, a recovery team will be sent, later." He looked back at where Captain Cransman had gone and lowered his voice, "And then we will get our answers."

Although he had wanted to argue the waste of time Spock knew there was logic to what Captain Cransman had said Spock had remained silent and just raised an eyebrow at what Captain Wallace had said. There had been so many emotions in the way Jim had said his name. As he looked at the man he realized there had been almost matching emotions when Wallace had spoken of getting answers. Spock was still sorting through the emotional feelings he was sensing radiating from Wallace as he stood next to the man just looking at the view screen ahead when Wallace almost whispered, "We both understand that while Starfleet and Federation matters take precedence over personal wants and concerns, Mister Spock, they do not stop mental preparation for once one's duty to them is done."

For a long time the Vulcan sat in silence then looked at Captain Wallace, "As we will be maintaining a direct course for Starbase Eight and you have pressing business there I would think you would prefer to get ready in your quarters."

They looked at each other for a few minutes and the bridge crew knew that only his dedication to Kirk and maintaining command of the Enterprise was controlling the Vulcan. Finally Captain Wallace nodded, "Yes, yes I should go and get ready for all I am to do next. We are still due to arrive at Starbase Eight in seventy-eight standard hours, is that correct?"

"That is correct, Sir."

Just for a moment as he entered the turbolift to leave did Captain Wallace pause and look back at Spock "Good. Should either Admiral Locan or Captain Cransman want to make contact I will be in my quarters." It was clear to Spock that the Captain was conflicted about something, something to do with the incident.

For the next three days the bridge was not as pleasant place to work as it had been, each of those on the bridge were dealing with the situation to the best they could and there was a decidedly depressed feeling. It seemed, to Uhura, that they were all just robots, all just going through the motions. She had seen how reluctant Spock had been to sit in that chair, how he seemed to spend more and more time at his computer at his Science station. With having seen and known of how close he was to the Captain Uhura did not let herself think of how he would be once they got to Starbase Eight, how he would cope without that major anchor in his life. For the Captain's last word to have been his name showed the strength of that bond that had only grown stronger over the years, the bond that was now gone. She, like the others, had seen how he had sprung to his feet ready to immediately go find the Captain. After hearing that message, hearing the Captain call out his name and had seen how to do nothing was tearing him apart.

Four standard hours before they were due at Starbase Eight, when it was just the bridge crew on bridge, Sulu suddenly sat straighter as though not believing what he was hearing. Things had been quiet and normal up to when Uhura had flashed him a cope they had and he switched channels and watched his screen which showed him a distinct signal of some sort within range. He gave a slight nod and Uhura said, "Mister Spock, we are picking up a faint signal."

"From?"

It was how Sulu turned and looked at him saying, "Behind us, Sir." that made Spock lean forward as Sulu turned back to his consol.

"Rear view on screen now. Maximum magnifications, Sir." All of the bridge crew looked at the screen but only saw the stars they had been among. Spock nodded to himself, the crew knew one another and had known what he would have wanted without being asked.

"Signal on audio, Sir."

At first it sounded like static but then it came, repeated. An old Earth signal of short and long sounds. Uhura smiled to herself, Stennor used to keep her honed on things like that by using his clenched and unclenched fist whenever they had to attend meetings that dragged on and on and they were seated where they could not talk to one another but could see one another: Just barely audible she started to say the letters, "K", "I ", "R", "K", "E", "N", "T", "E", "R", "P", "R", "I", "S", "E", "K", "I ", "R", "K", "E", "N", "T", "E", "R", "P", "R", "I", "S", "E"

For just a moment Spock allowed himself to believe but what he had heard and what he wanted to be true yet it was illogical. It was just distortion of sound waves. He had seen doubt almost covering McCoy yet there was total certainty in how Uhura looked at him.

Looking at those around him he knew he had to say what he had to say in a way that would not offend his friends yet would help them accept the reality of the situation. He started to speak when Chekov suddenly pointed at the screen, "Vat's that just in from the left half way down?"

"Moving too slow to be," Sulu started..

"If it was damaged it could be," Uhura interrupted him.

As calmly as he could Spock said, "Get me StarFleet Command, Lieutenant. Also contact Captains Wallace and Cransman."

A hand gripped his shoulder and he heard the soft voice in his ear, "You think it's Jim, don't you? Despite the silence, it being four days since it happened, you think it is Jim."

"Although it has been ninety-one point two five standard hours since we heard that message, Doctor, I know it is the Captain."

Again the hand squeezed his shoulder. He knew of all the crew that Doctor McCoy was the most likely to understand that special bond he had with James that had developed over the years and through so many mind melds. He had not said how he had felt great pain through the link followed by a strange hollowness then a faint call of confusion from Jim.

"What is the meaning of this? I was planning my speech and you, First Officer, call me back to the bridge for what?" It was clear not only from it words and tone of voice but also how he stood that Captain Cransman was not pleased. Captain Wallace just looked at him for a moment then looked at the screen before looking back to Spock.

Spock was aware Uhura did not turn fully around but did look at him as she said, "Command on audio, Sir."

"Starfleet Command, this is First Officer Spock of the starship Enterprise. I must advise we will be approximately ten standard hours later than the arrival time earlier stated as we have received a distress message from an as yet unidentified vessel. Admiral Locan and Captains Cransman and Wallace will unfortunately be late for their appointment."

"No! I need," Cransman started.

"Captain Cransman," Admiral Locan immediately interrupted him, "you are aware that the Enterprise is the only ship in the area. Surely you would take the same action."

"Enterprise, the delay is only ten hours and is accepted. It is appreciated that you advised us of your delay so promptly as it is easy to reschedule it. Your correct action will be noted and provision made for the delay. We will reschedule your address to accommodate. You will notify us of the details of the vessel."

Wallace looked at Spock and nodded, "As soon as the vessel's status and that of its crew is known we shall make contact. Enterprise out."

The look of fury that had been on Cransman's face had all but vanished when he looked at Spock. "Where is this ship?"

"If you will look at the view screen, you will see what is likely to be the craft. Too far away for verification as to origin and obviously not yet in transporter range nor can we yet lock a tractor beam on it."

Admiral Locan said, "Let me hear the distress signal you have logged."

Just for a moment Spock looked at Uhura, there was a possibility that Locan could quite possibly only hear static as it was difficult to easily hear the tapping but there was a possibility he would. No, there had been something about the way Uhura glanced briefly at him then back at Cransman, something he had rarely seen before, something he could not name even as she depressed a button on her console she said, "This is the distress message I have logged on audio, Sir."

"To any ships in the area, we are in need of assistance. On minimal life support and warp one with failing engines.. To any ships in the area, we are in need of assistance. On minimal life support and warp one with engines failing." It took all the Vulcan's control not to raise an eyebrow as the Communications Officer looked again momentarily at him then back at Locan. "That is the message I logged, Sir."

Admiral Locan nodded, "You made the right decision then, Mister Spock. I will go back to my quarters and revise my plans. I will read your report later. I am sure Captains Cransman and Wallace will also want to think over what has happened."

Once the three had left the bridge Spock moved closer to Uhura's station, looked steadily at her, "Lieutenant Uhura, am I correct in you saying that you logged that transmission?"

Keeping her voice low and not looking directly into his dark eyes she replied, "Yes, Mister Spock, I am saying that I logged that transmission. I deliberately scripted and clearly logged that distress message and transmitted it via a private connection when we were at Starbase Six. It has been logged as such for over two years and was done with Captain Kirk's permission, to be used as a practice drill for new ensigns but it is the distress message I have logged." She lifted her head and looked him directly in the eyes, "If you recall he did ask for the distress signal I had logged." as she looked at him Spock could see a twinkle of mischief in her eyes and satisfaction was in her voice, "I do not believe he asked me for the transmission we had just received, nor did he ask for any particular distress message, only for the distress signal I had logged. As I had no distress signals logged, something I will correct as soon as I have the time, I used that message, one I do have logged. I even stated it was a message while he stated signal and he did not correct me on that."

As they held their gaze Spock realized she was more than a worthy opponent when it came to verbal jousting and that she had shown her loyalty to the crew of the ship. He had, on occasion, seen her confront officers of other ships and of similar rank in the manner she had just done to the Admiral, and was, oddly, not surprised to see her display of loyalty to the Captain using her verbal dexterity as she had.

Keeping control of his Human side's emotions Spock gave her a nod then walked over to the Command seat, sat down, and pressed a button, "Bridge to Mister Scott."

"Chief Engineer Scott here. Sir."