NOTE: Yeah, I know. This Act is very short. But it needed to be. Trust me. You'll figure out why that is

by the end of the fic. Take care gang. AND PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

Act Two: "Jackpot"

"Who knew?" wondered Leonard McCoy.

"What's that laddie?" asked Scotty.

"That all those years ago, that one mission would turn into this. One little mission."

"I would not describe that mission as 'little,' Admiral," corrected Spock. "Nothing we did back on the Enterprise was minor."

McCoy looked to Spock with a little surprise. "That sounds very human, Spock."

"On the contrary, Admiral. The work the three of us did on the Enterprise influenced the lives of the entire Federation."

"Aye," agreed Scotty. "But I think we agree that we owe it all to one man."

"Jim," Spock spoke softly. "Yes. He was a pioneer. To one we owe him our lives to."

Spock paused in thought and remembered stepping down the long steps on Vulcan many years ago. Dr. McCoy had restored Spock's katra to his body, but at the cost Kirk's ship and own son.

"That we do, lads," Scotty returned, taking a quick swig of his Scotch. Synthahol had grown on him. He suddenly remembered the time that Kirk had helped him escape local law enforcement when he was accused of murder.

"God bless ya, Jim," McCoy muttered. His mind raced back to when there was an alien that lived off of salt found in human beings. The alien had disguised itself as an old lover of McCoy's, but Jim had saved his life by killing this creature. McCoy was close to dying there and was blind to see it if not for Jim.

Scotty poured all three a glass and handed them over. "To Jim," McCoy toasted.

"To Jim."

Spock was a smidge disgusted with the scotch but nodded. "He was a good friend."

"Aye," Scotty said, bottling up the unreal Scotch. "Now, let's do things the Jim Kirk way, eh?"

***

A little later, Spock, Scotty, and McCoy followed T'Pol, Janeway, Tuvok, Martok, Quark, Shakaar, and the other diplomats into the Kelvans main chamber.

Janeway immediately stepped up to the podium. "You're at war."

The entire chamber erupted into chatter. "ROJAN!" shouted the High Commandant, A'ra.

"These life-forms discovered this on their own. When they asked me about it, I informed them that it was the truth. My vow of silence was shattered only when they shattered it."

A'ra looked towards the diplomats. "Then we must begin to end this invasion. This Council agreed that if the truth were to be told, then all invasion plans would end."

"Very good, High Commandant," returned Janeway. "But our allies in our galaxy inform us that your forces are responding to the cease fire."
"Tomar," uttered the High Commandant.

"TOMAR!?" exclaimed Rojan. "That is who is behind this?! You have damned an entire galaxy because of his mad thirst for revenge!"

"We needed a scapegoat, Rojan. The war has turned against us."

"If I may," spoke up Spock. "I believe I may have an solution to both your problems. But we must communicate through telepathy. The concepts at which I speak are far too complicated for words."

The High Commandant nodded and moved forward. Spock strode up to him and placed his fingers on A'ra's face. Immediately, Spock's mind was being wrapped up into the exotic and bizarre images. They came at him a thousand fold more than the last time he had Mind Melded with a Kelvan.

Just then, T'Pol walked next to him and placed her fingers on Spock's face. "As your strength helped me," she barely whispered into Spock's ear. "Let my strength help you."

T'Pol mind touched with Spock and pushed Spock's mind against A'ra. The two mind touched and Spock released information and thoughts and concepts into A'ra.

After what seemed like hours - but was really seconds - A'ra pulled his mind away from Spock's.

"I understand."

"What? What is it?" asked Janeway.

McCoy turned to her. "The radiation is being caused by the destruction of stars in the center of the galaxy. Spock believes he can help stop the destruction of the stars by creating what's called Dyson Spheres. But the problem is, they don't have the resources."

"The warring aliens do?" Janeway wondered.

"Aye, lass," Scotty answered. "With both races working on ending the threat, an alliance can be formed. But the Dyson Sphere isn't gonna be enough, though. They're going to need Trillithuim."

"And," finished Spock, stepping over, "information regarding a project called Genesis."

Janeway sighed. "We're going to need to contact the Federation immediately."