It was all going rather smoothly. River Tam had predicted accurately that the Klingons were too preoccupied shooting at the Enterprise, they didn't see the small shuttle from the Serenity slip out through a rather small door, more of a trash exit then for ships. Two space suits and they dropped onto the Klingon ship, already damaged and distracted, like stones sinking through air. He could see in her stance she had been trained for this, but then she had said something among those lines.

Khan had been confined to the Serenity for the last two weeks, River Tam never not knowing where he was or what he was up to. She and her crew had been social with him over that time, her brother making several worried statements trying to explain how his sister was special. Jayne had been intrigued to hear war stories of olden days, Zoe even swapped a few. Inara was cordial but rarely interacted, and the Captain Reynolds seemed to like the fact that Kirk had a distaste for him. Kaylee was a little more wary of him, but she'd also been spending more time on the Enterprise with Simon. He was certain both of them had heard more of him.

However it had been River who was usually lurking on the sides of the ship, never leaving him alone on the Serenity. He had been intrigued how fast she caught onto the occasions he had moved to secure a weapon. Of course his intent was to secure his crew and escape, however notably was the time he had contemplated taking Jayne's prized "Vera". No sooner had he gotten up to enact the plan then he was rended unconcious, later revealed to him by a tin of peaches River had richocheted off the sides of the room and into his head. He was rather impressed by he math and strength behind the action, and ammused she seemed to be completely unafraid of him. The rest of her crew was wary, even if they were friendly.

What was more was he observed her movements. As she shed her space suit on the Klingon craft, several of the other species appeared. They questioned her and River tilted her head before speaking, once again in perfect Klingon.
"I understand you have issues with the crew of the Enterprise, a History. However my crew is also on board, and by extension the Enterprise is under my protection. I will protect them until I die, and if you continue your attack that will mean until there are no Klingons left on this ship, one way or other. Do you agree to a cease fire?"

They had exchanged glances and Khan thought he heard one of them laugh, and observed River's expression shift in annoyance.
"Do you agree to a cease fire? There is no dishonor in deciding not to fight an opponent you have no hope to defeat." That seemed to offend one of them as Khan lifted his helmet.
"I would not doubt her abilities." Khan commented calmly. One of them tensed upon seeing him and began to shout. River groaned audibly as they lifted one of their weapons and combat began.

Each of his shots was precisely aimed, but watching River fight was a deadly dance. Careful lithe movements dodged swings and shuts at her, and each of her own strikes range true. When she acquired one of their deadly bat'leths, Khan knew the battle would be won. She is distracted. Khan contemplated and parted ways from her, moving toward the control room. If he could take the bridge, then he would be the one who could prove power over the Enterprise. They would not be expecting him...

"Who the hell is firing at us?"

Kirk was ready to kill Scotty by the time he reached the bridge. Scotty had given him reason after reason that they could not warp near Miranda-most of them focusing around space zombies or something. For his defense Kirk had made up some reason ot make it seem like his pride that stopped them. With the exception of Spock everyone believed it was Kirk refusing to play nice. At this moment however he was only thinking that if they had warped, they would not be under fire.
"Klingons, sir." Spock reported as he looked up from his seat. "They recognized Lieutenant Uhura and I in a video conference and opened fire. We've lifted our shields, but it would seem they've ceased fire for a time."

"Klingons ceasing fire is not normal." Inara answered as she entered the bridge beside Malcolm. "Their honor wouldn't allow it."
"Which is what I find odd." Uhura agreed as she looked up. "Captain, we're receiving another transmission!"
"Well, answer!" Kirk snapped in annoyance.
He truly hadn't expected what came on the screen. Not a Klingon with odd piercings, but Khan's mug specked with blood.
"Hello, Captain Kirk. It seems we find ourselves in a similar position as we have before."
"...Hey, Khan, question."

As Kirk and his crew all felt the looming terror fill them, Mal approached the screen with an ammused expression. Kirk stared at him, trying to figure out why it was the other captain was so calm about a psychopath behind a Klingon Ship aimed at them.
"Captain Reynolds. You and your crew should seek the shelter of the Serenity." Khan answered calmly. "I mean no issue to you, but if you could return my crew..."
"Yeah, yeah. Just one quesiton."
"Ask."
"Where's River?"

"She decided we two should come across and deal with the Klingon threat. She has no idea where I amm, or what I'm up." Khan answered calmly before turning back to Kirk. "As I was saying..."

Now Jayne was guffawing in his corner, and Mal was struggling not to laugh.
"Do you find something funny about this?" Spock glanced at them as Kirk glared.
"We are in a seriously bad situation!"
"Indeed, Captain Kirk, you are..." Khan raised a brow. "And yet one they find ridiculously funny."

"Its just..." Mal quieted himself before speaking again. "There are universal truths. I don't listen to most. But a great man once old me it didn't matter what I believed in. As long as I believed." His smile was sad before looking back to Khan on the screen. "And over the last two years I have found something I believe. I believe if a leaf falls six planets away, River Tam will mourn it in her own small way. If a woman gives birth to a child a galaxy away, she will strap on a party hat no matter how people look at her. I believe in River Tam, and I know how this is going to end."
"And how is that, Captain Reynolds?"

Kirk's eyes widened because as Mal kept Kahn talking, he saw a single figure coated in red emerge from the vents behind the super human. He could tell it clearly wasn't Klingon. The form was too short, too slim, and lacked any armor. In this slim person's hand was a bat'leth. Before Khan could turn to see his attacker, she had knocked him with the flatside-twice.

"That." Mal chuckled as the blood coated figure pulled Khan out of the chair and sighed.
"Sorry about the delay, Captain!" River's voice spoke and Kirk's eyes widened.
"...Is that your pilot?" He flipped around as Jayne guffawed and Mal sighed.
"River, get him back on the Serenity. And get cleaned up before your brother sees."
"Yes, sir!" She saluted and turned off the feed then.
Kirk turned to Mal with an annoyed look.
"Your pilot let Kahn loose."
"Naaaah, she used him more like," Mal snorted, "It was never out of her control."
"So you're willing to bet she can keep control of him."
"If I had, I would have won that bet." Malcolm countered.
Kirk frowned before turning to Bones as he stood up.
"Tell Scotty he and I will be having words..."