Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek it is all property of Gene Roddenberry, J.J. Abrams, Paramount, and whoever else owns rights to the franchise. I am not making any profits off of this so please don't sue me.

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Chapter 17

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The main bridge of the the USS Enterprise was functioning within a comfortable almost silence. All personnel were doing their specific duties with quite efficiency. Sitting at the very center of the Bridge in total command of it all was Captain James T. Kirk. He sat in the Captain's chair relaxed but still keenly aware of all the happenings of the main bridge around him. In front of him Lt. Hikaru Sulu and Ensign Pavel Chekov sat at the ship's helm both working together to skillfully pilot the star ship as she flew through Space. Behind him over his right shoulder Jim knew that his communications officer, Lt. Nyota Uhura was diligently working at her station monitoring and translating communications frequencies that were constantly streaming into the ship. A few feet away from the woman to the left of the Captain sat Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery Scott, the ship's chief Engineer who was up here on the bridge today instead of down in the ship's engine rooms. The Scotsman was pressing buttons here and there at his station monitoring the ship's systems with a keen eye. And finally, sitting a little ways ahead of the Captain to his right was the Enterprise's First Officer, Commander Spock. In his silent and stoic manner the half-Vulcan officer was calmly monitoring the ship's scanners at his station.

Jim's pale blue eyes discreetly went to the form of his First Officer and lingered on him for a long moment. It had now been almost five whole months since Jim's life had been turned upside down and shoved straight into Limbo, all because he had been unfortunate enough to cross paths with a perverted alien delegate at a meeting to negotiate an agreement to obtain a much needed vaccine.

Since that horrifying incident Jim had slowly but surely begun to rebuild both his own life and his relations with the others on board this ship. His relationship with Sulu was solidified by their numerous sparring sessions together. Jim was fast on his way to becoming a pro with the fencing sword, with Sulu being their to teach him the ropes. And an easy camaraderie had returned between the Captain and the Lieutenant. As for Ensign Chekov, the kid had seemed to make it one of his missions in life to make sure his Captain always had at least one full meal a day, in addition the young man was often a constant source of conversation for Jim, always asking him things like how he was doing or what his opinion was on ship's gossip or the place they were headed for. The young man, still a kid but a brilliant one at that had managed to worm his way into a special place in Jim's heart. Jim's relationship with Lt. Uhura had returned to one of respect, with just a little bit of fieriness to it because wherever Jim Kirk was involved there would most definitely be some sparks. Like they had agreed, the communications officer was teaching her Captain the language of the Segrams, the intellectuals who bore a striking resemblance to tuna-fish and also incorporated shrill squawks into their language. Needless to say while learning this language Jim had had several full belly laughs until he himself was asked to speak it, in that case it was Uhura to had to hide the giggles at her Captain's expense. And yeah she taught him some minor Seram insults, but not the serious ones that would get him into deep trouble. The Captain and the Chief Engineer's relationship was mended with the help of fresh, Enterprise engine made Moonshine. Jim and Scotty got thoroughly smashed together on many occasions, off duty of course. The Scotsman was back to his bouncing self and at times his upbeat manner was infectious to Jim, who would get excited about things as well.

The Ship's Chief Medical officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy or Bones as Jim would call him still jabbed the young Captain with hyposprays, but since when would that ever change? Jim welcomed the Doctor's gruff nature and trademark grump-filled scowl. Bones would get on his Captain about everything from his health to his personal life, nagging him like he always did all the way back to their days at Starfleet Academy. Jim would have to admit to himself that it was good to have his best friend/ personal mother hen back to banter with and try to escape on a regular basis.

This left Jim with one member of his senior crew, his First Officer Spock. After the talk they had shared late one night in one of the observation decks, things had thawed considerably between them. Their conversations became easier and Jim had actually begun teasing the half-Vulcan every once and a while like he used to. They had even tentatively begun taking up playing chess again in Jim's quarters like they had done before the incident. However, there was still a small gap between them, but now it was there not because of animosity and anger but because they were still madly in love with each other. They had agreed to be friends again first and Jim knew that it would still take him just a little more time before he was ready for an intimate relationship again. Spock being who he was had better control of his own faculties and remembered to keep his distance from what was clearly their between himself and Jim. He had promised to wait and he would because if anything he was a patient individual.

Jim blinked and returned out of his musings, he quickly tore his gaze away from where they had been staring at the back of his First Officer's head. The Captain quickly turned his gaze back to the main view screen and shifted in his seat for a moment. Then one of the Ensigns walked up to him with some PADDs for him to review and sign off on.

And so for the rest of the day, everyone worked and made sure that it was smooth sailing through Space.

Two weeks later however, new orders from Starfleet Command and some time after a private message would both come in and send Jim Kirk in for a loop.

It was a new morning and Jim had just arrived onto the bridge with Bones and Spock in tow. They were having an easy debate between the three of them over a rather mundane fact brought up by the CMO. It was mostly Jim listening to the humorous banter between his First Officer and his Chief medical officer. Spock and Bones were still going at it while Jim smoothly sank into the command chair. About ten minutes passed before Uhura spoke up.

" Captain new orders have just come in from Starfleet command Sir." Began the Lieutenant, who was now looking like she was back to her old self with her trademark eyeliner and big earrings proudly adorning her ears.

" Finally, so what are we meant to do next Lieutenant Uhura?" Asked Jim with a warm smile to Uhura.

Uhura returned Jim's smile with one of her own but when she streamed the message from Starfleet into her ear piece she froze and the smile fell completely off of her face for a moment. She quickly schooled her features and regained her composure but when she looked back up at her Captain her eyes conveyed her nervousness and her concern as she spoke.

" Sir, we have been ordered to Star Base 89 in the Nerosi system to over see peace talks between two warring clans from the planet Siade V. It's a negotiations talk Captain Kirk." She said softly, her face filled with barely veiled dread as she looked to her Captain.

The best way to describe the effects of Uhura's words was simple really. Everyone on the main bridge seemed to just stop all at once, from Chekov and Sulu at the helm, to Spock and Bones who were standing by the Captain's chair, all the way to Yeoman Rand who paused mid step with Jim's mug of morning coffee in her hands. Jim himself sat frozen in his seat for a moment with his eyes locked on Uhura's. What was seconds in actuality seemed more like decades in the silence that had taken over the bridge as all eyes went to the Captain sitting in the center of the main bridge.

These orders were so jarring because during these months the Enterprise had been receiving orders that were tailored to ensure as little contact with foreign alien delegates as possible. Now the Enterprise had been ordered to preside over peace talks, which meant that Captain Kirk himself would have to serve as the mediator between the two opposite parties.

The last time Jim had been part of a negotiations process had ended with them getting a much needed vaccine but Jim himself nearly loosing his very life. So naturally these new orders now had everyone on edge.

Jim was the first to snap out of the collective freeze that had befallen the main bridge. With a blink and a light clearing of his throat Jim spoke.

" Thank you Lieutenant." He said with a nod to the woman before he turned around to his two helmsmen.

" Mr. Sulu, Mr. Chekov, you heard the Lieutenant, please plot a course for the Nerosi system." Ordered Jim, satisfied when the two men in question both nodded and turned around to their station and began carrying out their orders before he looked around to the rest of his crew.

" People c'mon snap out of it, we got ourselves a job to do." He said loudly.

Everyone instantly came back to the present and began moving again, the main bridge unfroze and began functioning but there was a hint of tension in the air now and maybe just a little bit of worry as well.

Bones and Spock still stood beside where Jim sat, both men eying the young Captain. Bones's concern was more visible than it was from Spock. It was Bones who took the small step forward and spoke.

" Are you sure about this Jim?" He asked in a hushed tone.

Serious pale blue eyes looked up at him as Jim spoke.

" It's not like I can keep avoiding it Bones, it was gonna happen sooner or later. I'll be alright and besides, I gotta make sure my negotiating skills haven't completely rusted over." Said Jim with a small hint of a smile.

Bones nodded and smiled sadly as he reached out and gripped Jim's shoulder for a long moment before drawing away. Jim nodded to Bones and then to Spock before focusing his gaze to the main view screen, carefully not meeting their gazes.

From where he stood Spock could tell that it was forced, and from Jim's posture and body language he could see that the human was not at all thrilled and every bit as apprehensive as the rest of the main bridge crew was about the assignment. But before Spock could voice anything Ensign Chekov's voice sounded.

" Kepten, coorse haz bin laid in Sir." Said the young man looking not so cheerful as he had been earlier in the morning.

" Thank you Mr. Chekov; Mr. Sulu, take us out here warp factor five." Ordered Jim.

" Aye sir." Acknowledged Sulu before he set to work pressing buttons on his console.

Within seconds the Enterprise was entering warp speed with Star Base 89 as her intended destination. From where he sat Jim accepted the mug of coffee from Yeoman Rand and tried to focus his mind on enjoying it. Bones took his leave at headed down to Sickbay but Jim could still feel certain dark eyes lingering on him. But when he finally turned to where Spock had been standing he found that his First Officer had gone to his station. But his silent reassurances still lingered with Jim and for that he was grateful.

It would be many hours before the Enterprise would reach the Nerosi system, Jim decided that he would use that time to get a tentative grasp of the situation and also strengthen his own nerves against the instinctive uncertainties that had manifested themselves in him. He would use the time to prepare himself as best he could to face a situation that the last time he had been in had nearly destroyed all of him.

But this was part of the job and he was going to do it.

Six hours later the Enterprise smoothly dropped out of warp and went to impulse power as Federation Star base 89 came into few in the not too far off distance.

" Alright, let's take her in and get her docked." Said Jim.

" Aye sir." Came the near perfectly synchronized responses of Sulu and Chekov as they piloted the ship smoothly towards the Star base.

When the Enterprise gracefully reached the Star base, Sulu and Chekov skillfully guided the ship through standard docking procedures. Within ten minutes the Enterprise was securely anchored to Star base 89.

With a nod to the two helmsmen Jim rose from his seat and turned to his First officer.

" Let's go and meet with the Commander of the base, we can get filled in on the current situation." He said neutrally.

Spock nodded wordlessly and rose from his station. Walking side by side with Jim the two highest ranking officers of the Enterprise walked off of the main bridge and into the turbo-lift. All through the short ride up Spock discreetly kept an eye of his Captain and gaged his state, taking in expression and body language. But even a blind man would've figured that Jim was feeling tension regarding this mission. And he had every right to feel so considering the events of the last mission that involved negotiating with a foreign alien party.

The two men wordlessly stepped out of the lift when it's door slid open and headed down the corridor that would lead to the airlock that serves as the anchor between the ship and its place of docking. Jim pressed the button that would open the circular door that stood as a final separation between the Enterprise and Star base 89 and when he and Spock made their way through this door and set foot on the Base they were greeted by a raven haired woman in her late thirties to early forties, dressed in a gold Starfleet uniform who looked just the slightest bit bedraggled if one where to look closely.

" Captain Kirk, welcome a board Star base 89, I am Natasha Goldstein, Commander of this fine establishment." Said the Woman as she held out a hand to Kirk.

" Pleasure to meet you, and this here is Commander Spock my First Officer." Said Kirk as he gripped Goldstein's hand and gave it a hearty shake.

When the woman's gaze went to Spock she held up her hand in tradition Vulcan greeting, a gesture which Spock returned with the barest glint of surprise in his eye.

" Pleasure to meet you Commander Spock." Said Goldstein with a warm smile.

" We come to serve." Said Spock in traditional Vulcan reply.

Goldstein nodded and then gestured for Jim and Spock to come to her office. On the way the Commander began addressing the situation that the Enterprise was here to diffuse in whatever way she could and a soon as possible.

The conflict was between to rival prominent families, each with a claim to rule over the people of Siade V. It was sort of like clash of the Titans with the rest of the population either taking sides or caught smack in the middle. If something wasn't done soon then there was a possibility of full on civil war. Jim felt his own nerves about this mission itself fade to the background for the time being. He had a job to do and dwelling on the past that had already happened was not going to get this important job done.

He was here to try and settle the dispute between the Kar-unish clan and the Huzore-ain clan and he was going to do his best. But he knew there were no real guarantees on what the outcome of this conflict was going to be. And so Jim and Spock sat down with Commander Goldstein in her office and got down to business getting debriefed about the who situation from what some of the arguments were to the key players themselves. Jim would be able to meet the members of both clans later on in the early evening hours when the preliminary talks would hopefully begin barring anything from happening before then.

After a good half an hour being told of everything that had been happening between these two clans by Cmdr. Goldstein, Jim and Spock took their leave of the woman and headed back to the Enterprise to prepare for the talks. On the way they lightly discussed some tentative strategies to get these two groups to call off the animosity but nothing really seemed to hold much hope at this stage, they would have to meet and greet a little first before a good plan could be formed.

When Jim and Spock were back on board the USS Enterprise the two of them headed back to the bridge. Jim had barely taken a seat when Uhura called out to him.

" Captain, there is a message for you on a private channel, I'm not authorized to know who it's from, only that it is a secure channel Sir." She said.

" I'll take it in my ready room then." Said Jim as he got back up out of his chair and strode off into his ready room to take the message.

There was mild curiosity around but no one thought much of it, their Captain received private messages on nearly a regular basis. But when almost half an hour passed by without Jim emerging from the ready room the personnel on the main bridge began to feel the inklings of worry. Spock himself would cast many discreet glances to the door while he worked on a report at his station.

When the door to the ready room opened all eyes went to it, expecting to see their Captain fine and well. So it had several stomachs dropping when instead of an upbeat Jim Kirk walking back out they all instead bore witness to a pale and haunted looking man walking out in almost a dazed states. The private message had definitely not been the best of news to say the least. The color was all but gone from Jim's whole face. His equally pale fists were clenched tightly to his sides as he walked towards the turbo-lifts.

" Captain, are you alright?" Asked Uhura as she stood from her station and eyes the blond man with concern. Spock had risen from his own station and was making a b-line for the two of them as well.

" I'm fine Uhura." Said Jim quickly and then he turned his gaze to Spock.

The look in those pale blue eyes was one of warning and it had Spock instantly coming to a smooth stop, but his eyes never left those of the Captains.

" I am going to go and prepare further for the peace talks you have the bridge Mr. Spock." He ordered softly.

" Yes sir." Said Spock.

With a mute nod Jim made quick work of getting onto the turbo-lift and all but fled the main bridge leaving behind his very confused and deeply concerned crew behind.

Something was terribly wrong, and it was quite obvious that the private message Jim had received earlier had full part in it.

Spock's eyes lingered on the lift door through which Jim had all but fled for a long moment before he shared a silent look with Uhura and then followed through with his Captain's orders, taking up the Conn.

Something was very wrong here with Jim and as he sat in the Captain's vacated chair Spock made a silent vow to try and get to the bottom of it.