Two Days Later
Docking Perth Alpha-Seven, Starbase 10

As the Miranda-class USS Nautilus slowly moved to complete the docking process, Admiral Christopher Pike and the Senior Staff of the Enterprise stood beside the biobeds containing Captain James T. Kirk; who was now sleeping, and Eviess i-Iuruth t'Hwaerianh. The female Romulan who was carrying the unborn Kirk was surrounded by several security guards.

James and Eviess would be transferring to the Nautilus since it was under the command of Starfleet Medical and its Captain Lisha Maxwell had offered to come pick them up since she was in the area. The only reason the Romulan was even going was because Starfleet Intelligence had some questions for her.

The Enterprise would be leaving, joining the Nautilus on it return trip to Earth. The simple fact was they needed some R&R after the rescue mission. It also gave SFI a chance to debrief them in person instead of via subspace communication. Pike knew Rear Admiral Thelashr zh'Rena, the current Director of Starfleet Intelligence, wanted to talk about any scan they had gotten of the Romulan ships during the mission and from the database on the base.

"Doctor, how is Kirk doing?" Pike asked as he watched the docking umbilical secure in place.

McCoy turned to look at the readouts on the biobed. "He is doing much better; in fact I may be able to wake him once he's on the Nautilus. So Admiral, how did your talk with his mother go?"

Pike looked at the man before suppressing a shiver that ran down his spine. "It went well."

"She threatened to remove your manly parts huh?" a rough voice asked before anyone could speak.

Everyone turned toward Kirk who now had his eyes open. As he looked at the Admiral, he was trying to smile, but it seemed that he was in pain. That resulted in Bones hitting him in the neck with a hypo-spray.

"Damn it Bones," Jim yelled. "Do you have to do that while I'm lying in bed?"

"Quit belly aching. I saw your face and at the moment you are too weak to put up a fight," McCoy replied. "So allow me to enjoy this moment when the famous James T. Kirk cannot run and hide from medical personnel."

"All it took was a squad of pissed off Romulans," was Jim's comeback. He raised his bed before looking at Eviess. "So it seems we both survived EnArrain t'Hwaerianh."

Eviess looked at him before nodding. "So it would seem Captain, although I have lost my home because I now carry your child."

"You speak Federation Standard?" Pike asked as he looked at her.

"It is a second language for me. When I'm under stress I will revert back to Rihannsu," she replied. "You are Admiral Christopher Pike, Chief of Starfleet Operations?"

"That would be me," Pike responded as he looked at the Romulan.

A smile tugged on her face.

"The Tal`Shiar has noted that you're a hard man to kill Admiral," she replied as the doors to the docking area opened. "The same could be said about Jim, but we shall see."

"Why would this rogue faction capture a Tal`Shiar agent?" Pike asked as they moved toward the docking port.

"I cannot speak on that as it is an internal matter," Eviess replied.

Shaking his head, Pike turned his attention to the line of officer in front of the airlock. Captain Lisha Maxwell was an impressive woman for someone in both the Command and Science Division. At the tender age of 45, she had been the youngest Captain in Starfleet before Kirk. She stood at 5'1'' and looked to weigh around 180 pounds, Kirk could also see from gray hairs among the red.

As soon as Pike had crossed the threshold a voice yelled out, "Admiral on deck!"

The clicking of heels hitting together vibrated across the deck as Maxwell walked forward. "Admiral Pike, it's a pleasure to have you aboard for our trip back home."

A smile came across Pike's face as he shook hands with the Captain. "Thank you, Captain. May I introduce Captain James T. Kirk, currently on medical leave and EnArrain Eviess t'Hwaerianh?"

"Thank you for having us aboard, Captain," Jim said as he turned looked at the older female.

Lisha smiled at the young man, "No problem, it helps me get my Chief Engineer off my back. Admiral, Commander Kirk has requested to speak to you in the officer lounge. I'm told she wants to talk with you about your last message. She will meet with Captain Kirk after talking with you."

Both Pike and Kirk looked at each other; they didn't know that Winona Kirk had been assigned to the USS Nautilus as the Chief Engineer. Pike was so not looking forward to seeing Winona, especially since he had been putting off seeing her after Kirk had been kidnapped.

"Ah, well Admiral I don't want to slow you down," Kirk said as he turned to McCoy. "I believe McCoy wants to get me in sickbay, best not delay."

"You actually want to go to sickbay?" McCoy asked in disbelief. "Well, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth, Admiral, Captain."

Pike watched the younger group of officers as they walked away from the older generation of officers, "Where is the lounge, Captain?"

"B Deck, sir" Maxwell replied. "If you don't need me anymore, sir, I need to prepare for our departure."

Pike shook his head as he headed toward the nearest turbo lift, "B Deck."

It took the lift a few minutes to get to the requested deck. Pike may have been a flag officer, but Winona Kirk was the toughest officer he knew. He knew it was because of what had happened to her and her son out in the black. He was at the door to the lounge before he realized it, and took a few moments to collect his thoughts before raised his hand to open the door. When he walked into the room, he noticed that the lights were dimmed, but was able to make out the female standing in front of the window.

"When you asked me four years ago if I would allow you to sponsor my son for admittance into the Academy, I never imagined the danger he would face," she said as he stared out at the space station. "He saved the universe while he was just in the Academy. What I don't understand is why it took you six months to get me my boy back, Admiral."

"We had to wait for Romulan Intelligence," Pike replied. This was something even he had trouble with. "The Council and the President didn't want to risk a war even for a hero like Jim. When we found out that a rogue faction of Romulans had access to a ship, we were ready to send in the entire Fifth Fleet to get him back, but to do so would put us in a war that the quadrant is not ready for."

"That doesn't matter," Winona replied. "Starfleet left my son in the hands of Romulans that used a female to rape him! It's like the damn Romulan Empire is a curse on my family since his father died."

"We got him back Winona! We sent in the Enterprise since it was the closest ship, but the Fifth and Third Fleets were on hot standby a sector away, just waiting for the call if we needed them. Starfleet does not leave its people behind, no matter the cost," Pike replied as he looked at her.

Winona shoulders slumped as she turned around. "So now I'm about to be a grandmother again, this is so exciting. If you would excuse me Admiral, I need to get back on duty and then think about what I'm going to do."

Pike nodded as she walked out of the room and turned his attention to admire the view as the ship pulled out of its docking berth. There was going to be hell to pay for this. He prayed that they had gotten all of the Romulans.