"Well, Scotty," Dr. McCoy said, taking some final notes on his PADD, "you've aced your physical again. I guess running the ship must keep you pretty fit."
"Aye, that it does sir," Scotty said, getting up from the exam bed. He started to head out of sickbay but Bones held up a hand.
"Hold on a sec," the doctor said. "Since you're here already, I gotta ask you something."
"Fire away, Doctor."
"When the captain issued that general order or whatever he told you to do, you weren't... actually going to follow through, were you? With bombing the planet?" It had been a week or so since the Enterprise's encounter on Eminiar VII, and the question still bothered Bones. When he'd asked Kirk about it, he'd been fairly evasive and said something about how they didn't have to worry about it anymore since Fox was negotiating a peace treaty now. That answer wasn't really good enough for the doctor.
Scotty shook his head. "No, sir. I played along as it was an direct order, but I know the captain. Two hours was a window large enough to give us time to figure out a solution that wouldn't result in mass bloodshed." The engineer clapped Bones' shoulder reassuringly. "Dunna worry, Doctor. Even if the captain hadn't been bluffing, I would never do somethin' like that."
Bones just sighed. "Well, I gotta say, that takes a load off my shoulder."
Scotty winked. "Glad to be of service."