A/N: Okay, so I'm back! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy and working on my video (it's really coming along!) Besides that, I needed to think up of where to go after that last chapter. I was still fresh out of ideas when I sat down to write this, but figured if I just started typing something would magically appear. And something has! As a result it may be a little rough, but the end is now in sight. Enjoy!

"Should you contact your command, Carimend?" Tornilv began smoothly as they settled into the admiral's tent. "Let them know that this is occurring?"

"Word spreads quickly. We'll see how this turns out and then go from there." The admiral's voice was tight.

"Very well." Tornilv smiled charmingly as he looked across at the Nekati. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were seated on a third side, between the two. "We shall lay down terms first, and proceed with negotiating from what we offer."

"Alright."

"The advance on Pentarii will cease as long as the Demetrian border is drawn at its city limits," Tornilv stated simply.

"Unacceptable, the border between Demet and Nekat stays where it is," Carimend said.

"But the border has been moved since the war," Tornilv countered. "It is now closer to Vilsa. We have lost some of our land."

"So you want to give Demet more land while making Nekat lose some?" Carimend scoffed.

"If you'll recall, Nekat is the one that started this whole affair," the Demetrian said dryly. "And it isn't much to move the border slightly." He leaned forward. "You have to admit, I am making a very small, reasonable offer."

McCoy raised his head. Suddenly the whole situation sounded wrong. Carimend glanced at the Starfleet men. "I would like to… confer in private for a moment. To think."

"Very well," Tornilv purred.

The four of them moved to the back of the tent. "My hands are tied for much negotiating," Carimend confessed. "The bomb destroyed our main communications back at command so you're the closest I have to authority higher than me. If we settle the battle between Vilsa and Pentarii it could lead to declaring armistice throughout all fronts. But he's right in his demands… it's not that bad to give Demet a little more land…"

"Bullshit," McCoy said, surprising everyone. "This isn't out of Tornilv's good will. He's probably got his high command breathing down his neck to settle this truce. Carimend, you can keep pushing for the borders to stay where they are, or where they were before this started. Push until it gives, Tornilv will have to accept, if he gives a damn about command central!"

"Doctor, we do not know if Tornilv is operating under orders," Spock said.

McCoy leveled him with a look. "I bet the odds are well over 90% that he is."

"More like 61.2 %," Spock informed him.

"For now, Spock, but you don't have all the factors!" McCoy whipped back to Carimend. "Don't back down. Believe me when I tell you Tornilv ain't doing this out of the goodness of his heart." The last part was practically spat.

"Are you sure?" Carimend asked.

McCoy's face was stony. "Definitely."

Kirk watched all of this silently. He filed it away for later.

Carimend returned and remained standing, glaring down at Tornilv. "The borders will stay where they were before the war. That is the final offer. We will accept nothing else."

"But surely, this hardly seems fair," Tornilv started.

"Shut up!" McCoy snapped. Heads turned. "It's fairest and you know it! Or don't pretend that you don't have commanders hassling you to close this agreement."

Tornilv's calm façade finally cracked. "Don't concern yourself with those matters," he said hotly, rising.

"But it was a fairly important detail to leave out, wasn't it?" McCoy took a step forward, fists clenched and Kirk vaguely wondered if he was going to hit him. "You probably knew if the Nekat officials heard of a deal they'd be pressuring Carimend to accept it and get your first offer. Now, it's known that Demet is riding behind all of this and not just two cities of opposite countries. The borders will stay!"

"They can't!" Tornilv shouted back. "They must change!"

"Dammit, man!" McCoy thundered, temper boiling to full force. "This isn't about what you friggin' want! Both nations are tired of this jazz, so just close the deal!"

"NO!" Tornilv was shaking visibly. "Nekat must pay for all its unwarranted atrocities! We need to repay all that it did to us! This can't be over! We need to destroy them!"

Everyone in the tent was on their feet now. Some members of the Demetrian delegation started shouting at Tornilv and creeping over to whisper with Carimend's men. Tornilv suddenly shrieked and launched himself at McCoy-

-who quickly landed a deadly right hook across Tornilv's face.

Kirk visibly winced, but the blow served to shake him out of his shock at the situation. The two men were fighting openly on the floor. The roar from shouting people was a ringing din around them, but suddenly Spock appeared and delivered a quick pinch to the juncture of Tornilv's neck. He instantly collapsed and McCoy took a step back, chest heaving.

Two Demetrians instantly appeared and dragged their unconscious leader away. A third stepped forward and approached Carimend and the officers.

"Our apologies," he said. "This was quite… unexpected. He will be dealt with most severely. As for the offer to maintain the original borders, the rest of us are fine with it. We are sure that our command officials will agree. It will be nice to have things back the way they were."

"Yes," Carimend said, still a bit dazed at the sudden turn of events.

"With your permission, we will head back to Vilsa and transmit the good news."

"Of course, naturally," Carimend returned to his senses. "I shall inform my troops and continue trying to contact Nekat command."

The Demetrian grinned. "Thank you." He bowed, and turned back to where the other members were handling Tornilv. A look of intense distaste crossed his face.

Kirk approached McCoy. "Bones," he said, looking around the busy tent where people shook hands and signed papers. "I'm always amazed at your diplomatic powers."

McCoy snorted. "Yeah." He flexed his fists and checked the knuckles on his right hand. A few were bleeding from cracking open against Tornilv's face. Still, he relished the satisfaction. "But that idiot had it coming."

Kirk was well aware that they had both come across several idiots in their time. He also knew that McCoy had enough self-restraint to not deck every one of them. He was definitely curious why Tornilv in particular had the doctor so riled up.

Spock approached them, surveying the former battleground. "Doubtless, Starfleet will need to be informed of the occurrences here."

McCoy groaned. "Spock, is that all you ever think about? Reports? Oh, this won't be good for my record…"

"Perhaps, Doctor." Kirk suddenly caught a glint in Spock's eye. "Some details can be left out… provided that you duly inform us of your experiences earlier on Shekk."

McCoy looked between them. Spock looked smug. Kirk had on his 'I'm innocent' face.

"I suppose after that show an explanation is a bit warranted," he relented. He didn't miss Kirk's quick grin. "But let's at least finish up in Pentarii and get back to the ship."

Kirk slung an arm around his shoulders as the three of them exited the tent. "Sure thing, Bones."

Well, that takes care of the Adventure, now on to the H/C! I love it when diplomatic problems are solved by punching somebody... slightly wish Congress would do that. You know, fight then make up?

Please review! And happy Veterans' Day! (salutes veterans)