The senior and bridge officers were in the ready room, discussing the evacuation of T'karis. Scotty was only giving the conversation half-his attention, as he monitored the progress on the engine repair on a data pad.

" My preliminary readings of the anomaly show that it is a piece of universe that is similar , but isolated and it experiences a periodic expansion and contraction about every 195.67 years, temporarily allowing it to interact with our universe " Spock pressed a button and causing the holographic image in the middle of the table to change configuration and continued speaking. " I would postulate that the anomaly pulls whatever is near it when it contracts into its gravitational field causing the object to occupy a congruent trajectory. The Enterprise was near the anomaly at an inopportune time ."

"Could you speak god-damned English for the rest of us who lack the stiffness necessary to understand your Vulcan technical gibberish" McCoy said irritated, glaring at the Vulcan science officer.

Uhura stared angrily at the doctor and was about to open her mouth when somebody said. "Mr. Spock means that the anomaly is a pocket uniwerse that pulled the planet along vhen eet expanded into our uniwerse temporarily and eet pulled us into eet also."

"Precisely, Mr. Chekov, simply put" Spock said

McCoy rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath sarcastically "well, why didn't you just simply say that at first."

Spock ignored the doctor's comments and continued "according to the sensors the planet T'karis is under severe gravitational stress, and will experience such an increase in gravitational stress that it will be unable to support life within approximately two days. Currently the planet is only marginally M-class."

"The information they transmitted indicates that have around 1343 people on the planet. A small number of Vulcans factoring in population growth and the original number of Vulcans that left" Spock continued "However, we can't possibly evacuate them all using the Enterprise. The logical plan would be to let them—"

"What the hell is wrong with you, you cold green-blooded bastard" McCoy said interrupting "you're saying that we should leave the rest of your own race behind to d—"

Kirk, gave the doctor a sharp glare, and cut him off before he could say any more incendiary comments, noting the furious look Uhura was giving the doctor. " Nobody's suggesting that we leave them on the planet. According to the information they transmitted to Uhura, they have around 5 ships that were used to bring the original colonists to the planet. With our help they should be able to get a few of these operational."

"I'm beaming down a group of crewmembers to help them out," he continued.

"There's a wee problem with that Captain and I've got some lads working on it" Scotty said glancing up from his data pad to join in the conversation. "but I canna make the transporters work correctly there's too much activity by that anomaly. If I risk beaming anybody, they might be scrambled. Ye'll have to use shuttles" he finished almost apologetically.

"The communications are also going to be a problem, we can't get a consistent signal to the planet or them to us" Uhura added

"Similarly, Sensor readings of are vague due to the interference of the anomaly. Our shuttle's and the ships on the planet especially will have difficulty navigating, however it is possible that we may be able to devise a method of counteracting some of the interference.," Spock said

"So we're going into this mission severely crippled" Kirk summarized, not liking his options.

"Since we're only going to be able to send a limited number of crew. Uhura we're going to need you, so the communications have the best chance of getting through. Spock, you, Chekov, and some of the science crew can work on making the sensor arrays on the ships down there work so they can navigate. Dr. McCoy and a few of his staff can help stabilize the colonists and if Scotty can spare a few engineering crew they can help repair the ships." Kirk said reaching a decision.

The officers assembled nodded, and then as the meeting adjourned, they started off to their assigned duties to prepare for the mission. Kirk stopped Dr. McCoy before he could leave, and waited until everybody had left the room. "What was that a few minutes ago Bones?" Kirk said looking at his friend.

"That was me trying to show that emotionless green, robot that being a soulless "logical" perfectionist, is a bunch of bullsh-"

Kirk cut him off before he could continue "what do you have against Spock?"

McCoy began angrily "I've got nothing against Spock; I've got a problem with his entire lying, cheating, rac-"McCoy broke off abruptly aware that he was saying too much.

"You don't like Vulcans" Kirk summarized cutting to the heart of the matter. "and you don't want to be down there on that planet taking care of them."

"I have no problem taking care of anybody" McCoy said heatedly "I don't like self-righteo-"

"I'm friends with both you and Spock I'm can't to allow you to keep saying these things about Spock or Vulcans in my presence. " Kirk said firmly cutting off the doctor's newest rant of insults.

McCoy looked at Kirk, his face angry. "You don't understand what—"

"I understand that your behaviour undermines ship authority and morale and Starfleet has a clear policy on Xenophobia" Kirk could see the words weren't having an effect on McCoy so he continued. "Bones you've been there for me more times than I can count. Even when I didn't deserve it, but Spock is my friend also. And even if he won't admit it having somebody criticizing him and belittling him for everything he does, for some goddamn reason even I can't figure out bothers him and more than that it bothers me." McCoy was uncomfortable, he shifted his weight and looked away from Kirk.

"You don't know Vulcans like I do. They are a bunch of heartless bastards, that will—" McCoy began

Kirk cut him off "You don't know them. I've known several Vulcans before Spock, one saved my life and -." Kirk broke off thinking of the child in question and the circumstances of the event. McCoy watched as a litany of emotion crossed Kirk's face.

In a deadly serious voice the young captain continued. "Doctor, if you can't keep your views to yourself. I will report you." Kirk added in response to the somewhat defiant look on McCoy's face. "Understood?"

"Perfectly captain" McCoy said stiffly, and then he turned and walked out the room.

Kirk looked at McCoy's retreating back as the doors to the ready room slid shut behind him. Why did McCoy hate Vulcans so much? McCoy tended to wear his heart on his sleeve and Vulcans were a lot more reserved. The two opposites presented by the doctor's emotions and Vulcans emotionless behaviour created an opportunity for conflict, but not with the vehemence the McCoy showed. Kirk hoped that McCoy could get over whatever it was or at least avoid public displays of his hatred, or Kirk would be forced to do something he really didn't want to do. He would have to choose Spock or McCoy and either way he would lose an excellent officer and a friend. Kirk knocked his head against the wall and thought.

At times like these he wished he wasn't the Captain.