Spock easily gathered all but one of the cadet's around him. As always Cadet Stephens wasn't about to listen to some know it all outsider. He figured all he had to do was to keep his mouth shut and he would get through this humiliating exercise in stupidity.

Spock watched his fellow cadet move away from the group and towards the garden. "I would be careful if I were you Freddrick." He knew all too well the Lemaytas ventured close by.

Cadet Stephens looked back to the mutt that addressed him. "You talking to me Mutt?" With Sarek not around he was not about to treat the Vulcan bastard like he was anything more than the inferior piece of street trash he was.

Spock's brow drove straight into his hairline. "Indeed, I am, though you can address me as 'chief'." It was the unofficial title the lead cadet was given during any training exercises. "I prefer not pick your bones off the sands of my father because you choose to venture into the desert unarmed. There are creatures out there that make lions look like kittens."

"Whatever." The cadet said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Fred, can you tell me what you bothered to study about Vulcan on the trip from Earth?" Cadet Kirk asked as he moved towards him. "You know we were supposed to complete a report on Vulcan PRIOR to landing." Everyone had to do one. It had to consist of three main elements: Cultural, Geological, and Zoological. Each part must be further broken down into a basic study of how they inner acted as a whole. "IF you would have done your homework, you would know that the desert is filled with all sorts of nasty creatures that just love to eat 'shit cleaners'."

"Jimmy boy, I could give two hoots about Vulcan. I am only here because I have to be. Pass or fail I will still be a member of Starfleet. I, my dear Jim, am a lifer. My family helped to bring Starfleet to the entity that it is today. No matter what I do I will not lose the chance to be at the minimum a Captain. Especially, not because some stupid pointed eared Instructor, who has no pull with anyone." He was proud of his family's rich Starfleet tradition. His father now served as Commodore over the 7th fleet; his grandfather was retired Vice-Admiral, once in charge of the academy itself. So there was no way in hell any damn no account Vulcan instructor could get him kicked out.

Spock felt his blood boil, but in Vulcan fashion he cooled his temper before it was able to boil over the surface. As he was about to correct Cadet Stephens about the pull his 'instructor' had over the Federation itself. "If you would have studied anything about Vulcan you would have found Ambassador Sarek's name mentioned numerous times."

Jim looked at Spock puzzled, "Ambassador?" He had already figured Sarek was Spock's father but he had chosen not to say anything until Spock wanted to talk about it. He did know the relationship the two had was volatile to say the least.

"You mean to tell me a freck'n Ambassador is going to teach us desert survival? How the hell does he know anything about desert survival? He would not have had to fight for anything in his life. No wonder he has that slut of a human wife."

Spock had about all he could handle, he was not about to allow anyone to call his mother a slut. He moved into take the boy on. Instead Jim raised his fist and landed it dead into the left cheek, right below the eye. "Shut up Fred!"

The other boys began to egg on both cadets. Soon it became so loud outside that Sarek and Amanda moved from the house to where the boys surrounded Jim and Fred as they fought. "Cadet Spock, I told you to explain Vulcan etiquette during meals. I instead find your charges fighting." Sarek considered what punishments should be. Then he choose to ask Spock himself, admitting he didn't know how to handle it as Starfleet would. "What would be the form of discipline Starfleet would use in this form of situation?"

"Sir, Starfleet arranges for a boxing match between the cadets in question." Spock explained to his father.

Sarek eyebrow rose deep into his hairline. "Indeed, well perhaps a lesson in a Vulcan discipline would be in order then." He looked over the group of cadets. "Each of you will fast tonight and take a daybreak hike to Shi'Kahr and back. Upon your return you will each state one of the twelve principle Articles of the Federation." He looked to his wife, "For now, since my wife is human, apologize for the meal she had prepared and you have duly wasted."

Spock lowered his eyes, he knew his father enough to know this was not a pleased moment. Sarek's eyes spoke the volumes of discontentment.