CH 11 WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?
.
SICK BAY
"Hey you," Kirk says as she is waking up. "You've been a sleep a long time kiddo. Almost 24 hours. You must have been exhausted." Kate sits up trying to get her bearings. Except for her head, Kate feels fine. Jim sees her rub a spot on the back of her head. "Bones said you have a bump but no concussion. How are you feeling other than that?" He waits for a response but she doesn't say anything. "I was worried about you. You were told to stay in Sick Bay young lady. We will talk about this later when you are feeling better but next time you need to listen to me." Jim regrets lecturing her but Kate needs to understand there will be consequences for her actions. Kate looks through him not saying a word. "Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat if you want," he asks.
Kate just stares at him saying nothing. "Fuck you and dinner. I'd rather starve. You think being trapped here is the least of my worries Kirk? You don't even know me," Kate fumes silently. Kate cannot even find comfort in the thought that some of their rescue party is returning home. "Do you know how many people you are killing with these petty games?" Kate wishes she could tell him everything she is thinking but needs to hold her tongue. Since the Sith have left, she is utterly alone.
"Silent treatment?" Kirk asks reclining back in the chair matching Kate's icy gaze. "Not a problem with me. I am glad you are safe and unhurt but I have a lot to say and since you're not talking it should be easier for you listen. You and I," Jim points back and forth for emphasis, "have a LOT of issues to work out but don't you ever hit an adult in anger again. That spanking threat was real. If you EVER raise a hand to another adult when they are looking out for your well-being," Kirk leans forward making sure he has her full attention, "I will show you how real. This is your first and only warning."
Kirk's attempts to play father set her off. "I have been on my own for…" Kate fumes.
"And you're not now," Jim sharply cuts her off. "It may take a while but you will understand that. In the real world, there are adults and children. As previously mentioned you may not have had to listen to adults before; however times are changing for you little girl. Kids do not run wild on my ship. Adults make the rules and children follow them around here." Kate rolls her eyes but Kirk continues with his lecture. "As adults our jobs are to look out for your best interests and help you," Kate rolls over facing the wall not looking at him. "Don't ignore me Katherine," Kirk's tone increases.
Bones sees the situation spiraling out of control at warp nine. "Jim a word," Bones says and pulls Kirk into his office closing the door. "You need to improve your bedside manner," he says sitting down behind his desk.
"McCoy in the past 24 hours I've had a ship invasion, two gun battles, found out that my dead wife may not be so dead, became a father, and had to delegate every…single…decision…to someone else. I cannot do my job with her aboard. I am not ready for this. I am a ship's Captain. It is not fair to…" Jim rants but quietly enough for Kate not to overhear. His knuckles have gone white he is gripping the back of the chair so tightly.
"You arrogant son of a bitch. Fair to who? To you? To her? You are in here bitchin' that life's thrown you a massive curve ball but what has it done for her?" Bones seethes. "Maybe Lauren was right not telling you she was pregnant."
"Excuse me?" Jim can't believe what he just heard from Bones. "Did you know Lauren was pregnant?"
"No but she and I talked. We talked about a lot of things," Bones leans forward. "She was my best friend's wife. You are not the easiest man to live with or care about. In fact she came to me six months before she left crying about you telling her a family was not in the cards."
"Not at twenty," Jim defends himself. "And I NEVER said I did not want a family with her. I only said we both had dreams and children were not the best idea at that time." Jim sits back in his seat remembering that fight.
"You fucking prick," Bones does not hold back. "And IF she had come to you instead of leaving and told you she was pregnant would six months have changed anything. No," Bones answers before Jim can. "Back then you were hell bent on a career and nothing was going to stop you. You would have loved her but been like every other Captain. You would have seen your kid on shore leave. I am not saying she was ever right but maybe I see why she left." Bones tries to soften the blow by adding, "even if it was an incredibly shitty thing to do."
"God he's right. I'm a fucking asshole." Jim thinks and walks around to sit in the chair.
Before he can say anything Bones lets loose again. "Finally the mighty James T. Kirk finally has a problem that can't be solved by sex, booze or running away and it scares you to death."
"I am scared Bones," Jim admits hotly in a whisper. "I am scared to be around her. I am scared of fucking her up any more than she probably already is. My childhood was stellar." He continues condescendingly. "I had so many great role models to draw inspiration from. My father died. Winona left me. Frank beat the shit outta me. Those are some fantastic memories to try and connect to Kate with." Kirk suddenly goes pale as he realizes how much they do have in common: Lauren probably dying, her dad leaving, and the Jedi emotionally beating the shit out of her. "Bones I don't know how to do this," Kirk rubs his jaw in defeat.
"You will learn like the rest of us do. Maybe your kid is more fucked up than most but you'll get through it. Go on take her home. Let her pout there." Bones gets up from his desk heading for the door.
"Whoa whoa whoa. You're discharging her?" Jim asks panicking. He blocks Bones from leaving.
"Physically there is nothing wrong with her. I can't keep her here forever," Bones tries to reason with Kirk. "From a psychological stance the quicker, you two can get into a normal routine the better for both of you. Now get out and try to find a way to entertain yourselves that doesn't involve guns or hostage situations." Bones says semi-joking semi-serious. This brings a small smile to Jim's face. Bones claps a hand on Jim's shoulder for support. As Jim turns to leave Bones adds, "Be patient. She'll come around. Remember she is a kid and not one of your crewmembers. She is not going to blindly follow your orders. Kids never do. Don't take it personally."
Kirk walks over to the bed. He ignores the nauseous feeling growing in his stomach. He has faced down, Khan, Nero, and Admiral Marcus but his twelve-year-old kid scares the shit out of him. "Time to go sweetie," Kirk sits down on the edge of her bed.
"Where?" ,she asks not caring about his answer.
"Well I thought I'd show you to our quarters, get some lunch, and then tour the ship." Jim lays out the plan for the day.
"They are discharging me," Kate looks to Bones for support getting none. She asks somewhat stunned but also sounding pissed, "I'm supposed to live…with you?"
"Yah. Typically kids live with their parents until they become adults." He jokes. Kate lets out a deep sigh. This was bound to happen. At least leaving Sick Bay, Kate will be able to search the ship for the Holocron. Fear runs through Kate's body. She is not scared of Kirk but more the idea that she could like him the more time she spends with him. Kate needs to keep him at arm's length. "Come on. I know you wanna see the ship. We have places way cooler than the Brig and security," he encourages rocking her back and forth on the bed.
.
O'NEILL QUARTERS
Jack is wearing a trench in the bedroom carpet with his pacing. "Dammit I hate this Samantha. I mean I trusted her," Jack rants.
Samantha hopes she can talk some sense into her husband. "Jack calm down. It is over. She is a kid. You said yourself she was going to do it until she was successful. Thank god she wasn't but YOU saw it coming."
Jack gives Sam a WTF look. "Yeah and I knew the boys would test me one day but that doesn't mean I was ready for it at the exact second they did it. I was also able to correct them for their misstep. How do I do that with someone ELSES kid?"
Sam analyzes her husband's actions and words. "You don't blame her for what she did," Sam thinks. Jack is acting as if he has to discipline the boys for a mistake that isn't entirely their fault. Sam needs to get his head on straight. "Are you pissed at her or yourself?"
Jack looks at Sam stunned. "Her! She took out two of my people and laid waste to the weapons room. A group of marauding Vikings couldn't have done a better job pillaging."
Sam laughs but quickly gets herself under control. "Is she is that good really?"
"Yes," Jack quickly replies but changes his answer, "and no. She was lucky more than anything. My issue is she fights like a trained soldier but is their age." Jack points to his son's room. "What the hell am I supposed to do about that?"
"You are going to have to figure out something to do with that unless Jim plans to resign or send her to boarding school," Sam uses her no nonsense wife/mother voice.
Jack paces more not having a response. Sam is correct. They burden is on him to come up with a plan to keep everyone safe. "Do what? I can't confine her to quarters for the next six years." Jack stops and stares at Sam, "Have a security detail follow her every move. Whoop her ass? Ground her?" Jack laughs not in humor but at the ridiculous idea that grounding and a spanking is an appropriate punishment for mutiny.
Sam tries to get Jack to think. "Can you do any of that? I mean she is Jim's kid not yours," she says softly. Samantha wishes she had an answer for Jack. She looks at it from a different perspective. "Okay so what would you do if she was your kid?"
"Give her the spanking of a life time. Ground her all the way back to Earth. Make her live with Jacob. Send her to Grand Mountain Christian Academy until she learned some manners," Jack gets a scowl from Sam telling him to be serious. "Okay so maybe I wasn't all for the Jesus school thing but our boys have never attempted a hijacking."
Sam raises her eyebrows sarcastically, "and that would work?
"Hell I don't know," Jack throws his arms up disgustedly.
"Mom...dad," Ronin knocks on the door to their bedroom.
"I mean it's infuriating," Jack rants as Sam opens the door. Jack never wanted a 6000 square foot house but he would give his right arm for 1000 more square feet right now.
Ronin can see his Dad is agitated looking at Jack's posture. "Um John says he needs ice," Ronin snickers. He still finds it incredibly funny a girl took down John.
"See what I mean. She broke John's nose and McCoy's too," Jack gestures his point. Ronin laughs at his dad's comment.
"Give me a minute," Sam stops the conversation to help John.
"She is what… 80 lbs.?" Jack yells after Sam. Jack notices Ronin trying to stifle his laughter. "Is it that funny son?"
Ronin flops on the bed. "Yeah," he laughs getting a sharp glare from his dad. "Oh come on. You are saying it is not just even a little bit funny?"
"NO it is not," Jacks exhales sitting on the bed next to Ronin.
Ronin becomes very serious. "Dad, can we talk?"
Jack needs to talk about something other than his current problem. "You know we can. What's on your mind son Simpsons or hockey?"
"It's about Kate. You got to cut her a break," Ronin quickly blurts out before he loses his nerve.
Jack was not expecting the topic shift. "Say again," Jack leans in like Ronin just whispered something.
"Dad it is not like she killed anyone," Ronin's black and white view of the situation concerns Jack.
"Cut her a break? Are you serious? After what she has done," Jack can't believe no one sees the huge issue except him and Jim.
Ronin looks frustrated, "What did she really do except get caught?"
"Well let's see. She helped the Jedi escaped, derailed my security, attacked Bones and John, broke into the weapons locker," Jack states the litany of offenses Kate committed.
"And I have been thinking about it. She is doing exactly what I would do," Ronin shrugs while speaking as if it is no big deal.
Jack stops dead. "Oh this had better be good," Jack can't believe Ronin is falling for the 'Kate is a defenseless kid' theory. "So tell me, what makes it okay for her to do anything she just did."
Ronin can't believe he has to connect the dots for his dad. "Think about it. You and mom are my only parents and always will be but, you never found my dad. So what if this happened to me. What if this Solo guy had me? Told me his was my real dad and I was going to have to live with him. Am I supposed to forget you and mom?" Jack is stunned by how logical Ronin's statement is. Ronin presses his point. "So why should she? I mean if I thought the Enterprise was in trouble I would do anything to save it. I guess I am confused to why you think she would be any different."
Ronin is growing up but still a kid. Jack helps him to see the gray area. "You're right. You would probably act the same as Kate but there is more to it. Ronin the evil bast...people are using her. She knew this but still tried to help them escape."
"Okay so look at it this way. I have to get home and they are the only ones who can get me back to you. Would you expect me not to take that chance?" Ronin is having trouble understanding what Kate did wrong from an escape point of view. "I don't think Kate will be as much trouble once she knows she is safe here."
"Ugh…you sound like your mom. The quintessential voice of reason," Jack falls back on the bed. A long pause settles between the two O'Neill men. Jack presents his dilemma to Ronin. Maybe a kid's perspective will help. "I am thinking I am confining her to her quarters over this," Jack presents his idea.
"Can you do that," he laughs. "I mean really ground someone else's kid?"
"I going to try," Jack admits.
"Maybe Mr. Jim already did that as a punishment. Grounding totally sucks dude," Ronin flops back on the bed beside his dad.
"I hope that is the least he did. Maintenance said it will be at least two days before they can re-weld the doors back on the security lockers," Jack says dismayed. Ronin breaks out laughing. "None of this is funny," Jack flings a pillow at Ronin.
"So will you tell Mr. Jim what I said," Ronin asks hopefully. He and the other kids have talked at length about Kate. Each one of them would do the same as she has. They all agreed to make the adults understand this. "Go easy on Kate. She is just scared."
"I'll pass it on," Jack murmurs getting up.
"Maybe with more conviction than "I'll pass it on". She is not a report," Ronin encourages.
"Are you mocking me son," Jack smiles at Ronin who shrugs with a grin.
.
CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS
"These are our quarters. Deck E, Room 3F 121," he says opening the door. Kate looks around the room. It is sparser than she imaged it. The walls are painted a soft gray that match the carpet. A black leather couch and two matching chairs face a large telepresentor. Behind the living room is a small table next to a kitchenette with a wall replicator and table. The walls are barren except for a few framed awards above Kirk's desk, which sits caddy corner next to his bedroom. A single tall plant and several red throw pillows are the only things that break up the monotone color scheme. The two shelving units on either side of the telepresentor hold a few holos, some random knick-knacks and rows upon rows of paper bound books.
Kate walks over trying to read the titles on the spine. "Tally off Twoe Kities…sities," Kate tries to read the titles quietly to herself.
"It was the best of times it was the worst of times," Jim quotes the famous line from the book Kate is looking at. "Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens," he reads over her shoulder. "I love that book. Ever read it?" Kate shakes her head. "It is about a revolution in a country called France. The main characters are the Darney Family and Sydney Carton. Sydney falls in love with Lucie Darney and," Jim stops the book summary finding the irony in its plot and Kate's real life. He pulls the book from the shelf handing it to her. "It is right up your alley. Love, family, dedication to ones cause. You will love it."
Kate takes the book not knowing what to say. She breaks her gaze from Jim looking at the holos on the shelf. "Are these holos of your family?"
"Yep that is my mom Wynona and my brother George," he points out everyone. "And this is George's family. That is Aurelan, Peter, Alexander, and Julius." Jim reflects on the Kirk children's names. Each one carries the name of a strong historical figure that was viewed as a hero or tyrant: Peter the Great, Alexander of Macedonia, Julius Cesare, Catherine the Great. Each of these figures gave much to their countries but left a trail of blood in their wake. He thinks back to what Zala Tsu said to him in the Brig.
"Your daughter is special. She is one of us. She will grow into one of the most formidable foes your galaxy has seen. Tell me will you stand beside her as her right hand when she rules your galaxy," Zala Tsu told him. At the time he did not think anything of it but now after seeing what the Sith are capable of he has concerns. Jim pushes it to the back of his mind. He needs to get through the next eight hours with her. The future will reveal itself in time.
Kate walks towards Jim's bedroom. Through the door, she can see Jim's room decorated in the same neutral black, gray, and white tones but with green accents. She runs her fingertips along the edge of his desk. On the corner under some PADD's is a picture frame. As Kate moves the PADD's, Jim quickly crosses the room. "Your room is over here. It is pretty basic but you can make it any way you want," Jim offers. Kate looks around. It is a standard room with a bed, dresser, and desk. A dark navy colored wool blanket with the Star Fleet logo is the only decoration. "Okay this totally sucks for a kid's room," Jim scratches his head. "How about when we get to Star Base 11 we go shopping? You need a million things so we can add a cool room to the list." Kate smiles at him. Kirk is trying so hard to pretend he wants her here.
"Does it have to be gray, black, or white," she asks sincerely.
"No why," Jim asks sitting on the bed.
"Cause this entire apartment is gray, black, or white. Are you color blind?" Kate's face is so serious Jim breaks out laughing.
"You know I never noticed that," Jim looks around and sees Kate point. "I spend so little time here. I guess it never mattered much but you are right. It looks like a cadet's quarters at the Academy or the Brig." Kate giggles at his response. Jim likes to see her smile. He hopes that when things settle down she will do it more. "Okay so why don't you take a shower and then we can tour the ship," he suggests. "Jo and Erika left some clothes for you in the closet and dresser. We will get you your own stuff at the Star Base."
"Sure" she says walking into the bathroom. Kate stands in the hot shower and cries. With the water hitting her face she can pretend it is not tears. Kate has to pull herself together. The Jedi have not left her like the crew of the Enterprise think they did. They are waiting for her to find the Holocron. They will contact her soon and Kate needs to have the Holocron by then.
Jim quickly retrieves the photo and hides it in his drawer when he hears the shower start. He doesn't know why he has kept the picture from his wedding day, but Kate definitely doesn't need a reminder of her mom today. While she is showering, the door buzzes. "Come," Kirk orders. Jack walks in looking around. "She is in the shower," Jim tells him.
"You sure you want to do this. Pumping her for information felt wrong when she wasn't your kid but now," Jack begins immediately, "It feels more wrong." This plan has been gnawing at the back of Jack's mind since Jim informed him of it during the staff meeting.
"Yes it does," Kirk says firmly. "It is wrong on more levels than even I want to admit to. I am her father. I am supposed to believe her word, trust her but I don't. She has given us nothing but lies or semi-truth since she arrived. The Jedi are out there right now." Jim leans in close to Jack. "You and I both know this is not over. They will come back for her. When that time comes, I want to be ready so we need information. Monitor us throughout the tour. If she finds what she is looking for I want to know it. If she makes a move to contact them, I want to know it. Once this Jedi business is behind us…then we will start to establish trust."
Jack exhales loudly and shoves his hands in his pockets. "Look Jim this maybe way out of line but Ronin said something that got me thinking," Jack hopes Jim will listen. "Ronin said that we should go easy on Kate over the escape attempt. Cut her a little slack."
Confusion crosses Jim's face. "Slack? Are you serious Jack? She broke into security, shot two of your guys and laid waste to the weapons locker."
"Yeah I know but," Jack finds it hard to find validity in Ronin's argument when he is not talking to another kid.
"Not to mention breaking Bones' and your son's noses," Jim rants quietly. "You think I should just pretend that didn't happen." Jim crosses his arms waiting for a response. "Would you if it was one of the boys?"
"Okay no but my boys would never go on a mutiny spree aboard the Enterprise. The bottom line is she was tricked and used by those evil bastards so a little slack couldn't hurt," Jack tries again. "Just a little." He makes a tiny line with his hands for emphasis.
"You are serious," Jim realizes Jack is not joking.
"Ronin brought up the fact that we would not be surprised if our kids did the same thing in her situation. Kate is scared and fear makes people do crazy things. Things you can't believe you are capable of. I hate to admit it but he has a point. Of anybody on this ship, Ronin probably understands her situation best." Jim sits in a chair prepared to hear Jack out. Jim doesn't always take the advice of other but he does listen to it. "Ronin went from having a family that loved him one day to Sam and me the next. Now he did not have maniacal mad men with weapons chasing him but he did have two people saying we are your parents and you will learn to love us. He was so little then but it still took time. In fact, it was about a month before he would let me hold or rock him. My point is it took time and this will too so maybe some slack is in order."
"I'll take it under advisement," Jim says as sincerely as possible.
"Well I better go," Jack stands hearing the water shut off. "I will monitor from the security office. I assume that is not on the tour," Jack says dryly walking to the door. Before he walks out he adds, "She's a good kid. Tough as hell. She is gonna test you to see who is top dog in the family so be prepared."
"Was that Jack?" Kate asks coming out of the bathroom swimming in Jim's robe toweling dry her hair.
"Yes and it's either Mr. O'Neill or Colonel O'Neill OK," he corrects Kate as she walks into her room. Jim waits until Kate comes out. "You hungry? We can go eat first if you want," Jim offers.
"No I am good for now," Kate stands with her hands in her pockets.
"Okay then let's go," Jim says as happily as possible. He hopes that by showing Kate the ship they will have something in common or at least something to talk about.
.
Engineering
"This is Main Engineering and our Chief Engineer Mr. Scott," Jim takes Kate down a flight of stairs.
"So they finally let you out of the clink lassie," Mr. Scott walks over smiling. "How about a guided tour by the only man that knows every nut-n-bolt on this ship." Scotty leans down to whisper in Kate's ear. "The Cap'n here thinks he knows the old girl but has no clue," he jokes causing Kate to giggle. Jim allows Scotty take over the tour but walks closely behind them. "Engineering houses weapons, power to the ship, and the warp core."
"The warp core is your engine," Kate asks looking around.
"Aye lassie the warp core is the main energy reactor that creates propulsion for the ship. The warp core has a matter-antimatter chamber, deuterium tank and dilithium crystal. You'll learn more in detail later but it is what give the lady her get up and go." Kate is beginning to see that all the adults think they are comedians. It makes her feel slightly better that Kirk is not the only dad who isn't funny. "Now warp engines typically run at warp five but can do to warp nine if the situation calls for it." Kate looks around taking it all in.
"Wow did I finally find something that impresses you on my ship," Jim asks cockily.
"Yeah," Kate admits. "I am stunned that you don't have a million points of failure with a system like this. How do you keep it running? I mean it is huge for such a tiny ship." Kate leans over a rail. "Your energy requirements must be substantial."
"Million points of what," Scotty leans forward needing Kate to repeat her sentence. He knows Kate did not just insult the Enterprise.
"Million points of failure," Kate repeats before going on. "Our systems are sleeker, more compact. In fact, there are only about twenty-five components to a hyper drive system. Makes it easier to plug and go when there is a problem. Now they get larger of course with the ship size but not like this tangled mess you have."
"Tangled mess," Scotty squeals.
"I'm not trying to be rude but you could have an army of Ugnaunts in here and never even know it. I am not saying our propulsion is better but…it is," Kate brushes her hands off on the back of her pants after fiddling with a dial.
"Don't touch that," Scotty snaps adjusting the dial back.
Kirk steers Kate away from Mr. Scott before Scotty can choke her. Kirk holds up a hand indicating he doesn't believe a word Kate is saying. "Of course it's better. Everything is better there. You aren't gonna give an inch honey are you?" he thinks but opts for, "Mr. Scott can get touchy," leading her to the warp chamber. "From what you were saying in Sick Bay, those Star Cruisers are huge compared to the Enterprise. They probably did have bigger engines. How many did Han have on his crew?" Jim crosses his arms and stands next to her looking at the warp chamber. "Come on take the bait baby. Tell me all about how your old life is better than here."
"The Falcon isn't a Star Cruiser," she states as if he should know. "It's an YT-1300 light freighter that Han and Chewie modified with military grade shields, weapons, and sensors. It's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy making .5 past light speed," she imitates a man's voice that Kirk assumes is Han.
"A cargo freighter?" Kirk asked genuinely impressed but raises his eyebrows and looks at her like 'come on'.
"Yeah," she says smiling. "That ship saved us more times from pirates, smugglers, asteroids, the Vong. You name it she did it."
"Pirates? Smugglers? Really? That whole living under a rock thing might have been closer to the truth than I thought" he muses to himself.
"She'd definitely out run the Enterprise," Kate tells Kirk with an attitude.
"Never" he says both baiting her and defending his ship. He knows it's childish but he also is feeling a little pissed off with her comment. "BUT for arguments sake say she would try to out run us. How would she do it?"
"Well we use hyperspace to travel instead of your warp. Honestly, I don't really understand the physics of it but Han tried to explain it to me once by saying it's like swimming in a large pool. The water represents kinda like another dimension. Now above this pool is tachyonic matter and below it is baryonic matter. Does this make sense to you?" She asks like she it tutoring him in a math class. "I get a little confused about this Baryon"
"Fellas we just hit pay dirt. Keep talking Kate," Jim thinks to himself. "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah pool keep going," he interrupts her trying not to sound too eager. The science behind this is starting to make his head swim and he is a board certified genius.
"Oh okay," Kate says. "Well somehow we get the two matters to crash into each other and BAM," she claps her hands together, "these two matters throw you into the pool water. That is where we swim faster than light speed. From what Scotty was saying about your engines they are," Kate says but again is cut off by Jim who is processing the information and its implication much faster than she is.
"About 10,000 times faster than the fastest Federation ship." Kirk turns around to face her with his back leaning against the view port. He has to be careful and not let her know he's pumping her for intelligence but he is fascinated.
"But in a battle the Enterprise could outmaneuver her right. The Falcon I mean, because you don't rely heavily on sub-light engines. You essentially make one big jump and are right there." Kirk bites his lip hoping that he didn't confuse her. This conversations is absolutely blowing his mind. He also hopes he hasn't engaged her in too much conversation. In his experience with Kate so far, too much conversation with him shuts her down.
"Han is an awesome pilot so you couldn't catch him." She ponders absentmindedly biting the inside of her cheek, "but yeah I guess you could out maneuver another pilot. Come to think of it Kirk, you're right. Our frigates and assault cruisers tend to hand back and sling it out with other ships the same size. Our single man fighters get in the thick of it. Do you use single manned ships in firefights?"
Jim in not about to share any tactical information that can't be found openly on the galactic computer network. He rapidly shifts the topic of conversation. "But our shields and guns could easily take out your ships," he taunts. "Come on sweetie. Tell Daddy how to beat these fuckers when they come back."
"I dunno," Kate answers truthfully. "Our Star Destroyers and Star Cruisers have ray shields and you have deflector shields. I don't know whose is better." She pauses for a minute trying to come up with another way to one up him. "Oh we also have ion canons both ground and ship based. They let us take out our enemies from farther way so we can avoid close combat situations sometimes. Guess that solves our maneuvering problem huh." Kirk's mind is racing with all the information she has supplied. If it's true, they will be the proverbial fish in the barrel unless they can figure out a way to take out Jedi ships in hyperspace before they enter real space. Kirk feels a headache growing behind his eyes. Kate mistakes Kirk's expression for defeat. "Told you we were better," she thinks but feels a little bad. "You have replicators and transporters though." She says it like it is a consolation prize. "We don't have that."
"Yeah for us," Jim says solemnly. "Let's go get something to eat."