Chapter 9

14 July 2293.

Silently the crew of both Starship Enterprise's took their places either side of a central large rostrum. Everyone sat in a semi circle facing the stage. The air was still and sticky warm. Not even a bird sang in the sky or the trees.

Over two hundred people, many of who were members of Starfleet, took up the grounds of Starfleet Academy but a few were civilians. Close friends of James Kirk.

Situated in the middle of the grassy lawn was the United Federation of Planet's logo displayed in the typical colour combination made up with flower blooms. Each side of the stage stood flowers on tall stands. At the balcony in the middle hung a coloured silken piece of cloth marked with the Federation logo.

In the distance stood the flag of the Federation positioned at half-mast. A symbol of morning. Suddenly a gust of wind blue the still flag from it's hung position and it lightly swayed with the almost non-existent breeze.

Nothing would disturb the sombre atmosphere surroundings.

Everyone wore their dress uniforms as a mark of respect. Even a group of seventeen-year-old cadets stood silently at their posts. It seemed that the age one could enrol at the Academy was getting younger and younger.

To the right of the stage a band assembled in dignified single file carrying traditional instruments. They too wore Starfleet issue dress uniforms. Quietly and serenely they began to play the UFP's international theme in honour of the dead.

Uhura sat down. She nursed the pamphlet she had found on her seat. She was seated between McCoy and Spock. She peered at the Vulcan. Uhura had never seen him act so Vulcan. McCoy even took on a passive expression. Gently Uhura touched Spock's arm. He turned his head and caught her concerned gaze. She saw sadness in his dark eyes, but his face never wavered.

"Are you all right?" She whispered.

"Yes, Commander I'm fine." Uhura new he was obviously hiding his pain from her, but there was nothing she could do to help him. He had to get through this on his own and in his own time.

McCoy listened in on the conversation. "You sure?" Spock raised a Vulcan eyebrow disapprovingly.

"Yes doctor. I assure you I am quite satisfactory."

Up front, a commanding admiral took his place along with a number of dignitaries. He sat down beside the president. Everyone waited in silent wonder. Chekov mumbled something to the Scotsman sitting next to him. "Where is Sulu?"

Scotty shook his head. "I've no idea lad. I received word last night he said he was comin'."

"Isn't the Excelsior on a survey mission to the Neutranium system?" Said McCoy. As he said those words, Sulu the Japanese ex helmsman of the original Enterprise sprinted across the green towards his chair with remarkable grace.

Somebody pointed. "Look!" Just behind him strolled Commander Rand. Finally she caught up with him and they took their places beside their comrades.

"Thought you weren't going to make it Hikora," said Chekov.

"Nor did I," he said panting hard. "As you could see Rand and I had to run."

"Thought we were going to be late," she said pleasantly. "Captain Spock?" The Vulcan nodded at her direction. "Congratulations on your promotion to Captain of the Stargazer." Janice smiled at him. "Doctor McCoy told me the other night. We arrived on Earth just last night. And Uhura..." said the communications officer of the Starship Excelsior.

She turned in African woman's direction. "I believe congratulations are in order for you too. I'm sure Captain Kirk would be very proud."

Uhura nodded. "I'm sure he would," she said.

"Aye, and the laddie may even be watchin' down at us this very moment," said the Scotsman.

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long time Jan," Uhura said.

"Have you seen Christine?" Rand asked.

"I think I spotted her over there," said McCoy pointing across to the other side.

"I'd like to speak with her. Catch up on old times."

Up front the president took his place in front of a lectern. The Rian president wore his ceremonial robes. He cleared his throat and lightly smoothed his white beard with his fingers. The musicians ceased their playing.

"Good afternoon everyone. We are gathered here to honour the memory and the career of one of our most famous and driven individuals who served and gave his life in the name and honour of duty," he said.

"Captain James T. Kirk was a determined individual. He strove forward to do what he felt was right." The president beat his hand down on the wooden surface with determination and caused the lectern wobble slightly.

"Despite a number of offences in the name of the Federation, Kirk was a gallant, brave, but a stubborn individual who stuck at his own beliefs and followed his own rules. Yet through all of this he gave his very life to the career he most believed in.

"Let me tell you a bit about Kirk's history. Captain James Tiberius Kirk entered Starfleet in twenty two fifty. At the age of nineteen and still as a young cadet he served aboard the Federation Starship Republic.

"In twenty two fifty four he graduated from the Academy and to this day was the only cadet who beat the no win 'Kobayashi Maru' training scenario. Ensign Kirk was assigned aboard the USS Farragut.

"Later in twenty two sixty four Kirk was promoted to the rank of captain. The youngest person ever to reach that position at a humble thirty-one years. He began his heroic five year mission aboard the Starship Enterprise." The president stopped momentary as if waiting for everyone to absorb what he was saying.

"Stardate 2947.3 Captain Kirk was accused of the murder of Ben Finney. The trial was established aboard the Enterprise; on the grounds that Kirk had the right to face his accuser, the ship's computer. Kirk's defence attorney proved that the computer was malfunctioning, deliberately caused by Finney and the verdict revealed Kirk innocent.

"Stardate 3141.9. The Starship Enterprise discovered the now famous sleeper ship, 'Botany Bay' adrift for more than two hundred years. Khan Noonan Singh and his crew were revived and took over the ship. Successfully Kirk unleashed anaesthetic gas throughout the Enterprise. Khan and his people were taken to the planet Ceti Alpha five for colonisation. Near the Mutara sector.

"Following the Enterprise's successful five year mission Kirk excepted promotion to admiral and started a new career in the Starfleet command offices on Earth." The president cleared his throat again.

"In twenty two seventy one Kirk's space career was reactivated and he took command of the Enterprise during the V'ger crisis. The following thirteen years he resumed his post as admiral at Command centre under Admiral Nogura's lead."

Suddenly the birds began to sing. The sky remained its distinctive blue colouring. The weather did not alter. It was surprising that today of all days it didn't rain. It was the usual way when such ceremonies took place outside and on Earth the weather was somewhat unpredictable.

"In twenty two eighty four, Kirk once again took command of the Enterprise, now a training vessel under the supervision of acting Captain Spock. Khan Noonian Singh and his followers escaped from Ceti Alpha five. Captain Spock was also killed in the line of duty."

The president's eyes gazed intently at Spock who sat at the front row with the Enterprise bridge crew. The Vulcan looked away suddenly. The president continued his speech despite McCoy becoming more and more restless by the minute.

Would Jim really go for this? He thought. This is bloody sick. God knows what my Vulcan friend is thinking. If I had the nerve, which I haven't I would walk out right now.

McCoy caught the tail end of the conversion about Kirk stealing the decommissioned USS Enterprise and had travelled along with the crew of the Enterprise to the out of bounds Genesis planet. And then destroyed the ship. The doctor sighed dramatically and Spock glanced at him. The president continued his ramblings.

"In twenty two eighty six Kirk and his crew travel back in time to nineteen eighty six and brought back a pair hump back whales in an attempt to successfully save the Earth from an alien probe which had been attempting to destroy the Earth of the twenty third century.

"Following the success of his mission, all violations were withdrawn all except one, ignoring a direct order by a superior officer. Admiral James Kirk was demoted to the service rank of captain and was given command of a starship. The USS Enterprise Alpha.

"This year Kirk successfully helped retain the Klingon peace conference on Khitomer despite being condemned with Doctor Leonard McCoy to spend the rest of their lives on the Klingon penal colony Rura Penthe," The president paused for a fraction of a second, "...and saved my life from the hands of a number of Klingon terrorists."

"As we know James Kirk life resolved around his beloved ship the Enterprise. We all must agree that there will never be another captain with the exuberance and determination that Captain Kirk had.

"Finally, last week we received the terrible news that Kirk was reportedly killed on the maiden voyage of the Enterprise Beta."

In the crowd Captain John Harriman bowed his head. Beside him Sulu's daughter Demora wept silently.

"There will never be another man like him." He turned toward his aide, Admiral Morecroft who sat beside him. "That will be all." The president said in a low voice.

Another admiral got to her feet. "Everyone please remain in your seats until the appropriate moment for departure," she said clearly. Someone indicated the cadets to move and they marched away as solemn and quiet as they did when the arrived. Next the band left then people in the rows.

Chekov wiped his brow and breathed out heavily and muttering just under his breathe, "Thank god that's over."

It wasn't just McCoy who felt the same. Surly Kirk would have disapproved of this. It wasn't exactly a triumphant send off was it, he thought.

They stepped down. Beside him Spock was as quiet as ever. He seemed withdrawn as if in another world. "It would have been better if he hadn't come," breathed the doctor just under his breath to himself. Luckily the Vulcan did not hear him.

They made there way up and across the field towards the main building. Spock stopped. "Doctor I will see you Friday."

"What...where are you going?" Asked McCoy who naturally assumed that the Vulcan would be attending the reception with him?

"I have some matters to which I must attend to. Please give my regards to the others."

"You're not coming to our private reception then?"

"No Doctor McCoy I am not." McCoy shrugged.

"Oh fair enough, have it your way if you want to be alone. Fine by me." He tried to sound pleasant, but the words came out harsher than he had meant them to be. McCoy couldn't be bothered arguing with the Vulcan.

"Good day Doctor McCoy," said Spock. He crossed the small bridge with the waterfall and was gone.