"I hate dealing with dignitaries," Bones groaned. Jamie nodded, she agreed with him but this was the job. After getting Decker sorted and getting the ship fixed, they were assigned to transport a group of diplomats to Babel for an interspecies conference, Spock's dad was among them. The delegates will be attending the conference to decide the admission of the planet Coridan into the Federation, which is rich in dilithium but poorly defended. Jamie didn't mind the extra people, mostly because, unlike her husband, she could understand most of them without translation.

Aside from the Vulcans on the ship, there were also Tellarites, Andorians, Denobulans and a bunch of other races aboard. She knew that Bones also hated wearing his dress grey uniform, which she made him wear for the reception; he wasn't the only one, Uhura didn't want to wear hers either. He grumbled as they made their way to the large rec room that was holding this party, "Dammit Jim, I feel like my neck's in a sling." She smiled, "I quite like you in uniform, Doctor McCoy, it's very sexy." He rolled his eyes but smiled, "You're evil, woman." She shrugged, "But you love me."

Jamie was a little surprised to find that Sarek openly spoke with her. She could tell he missed his wife; Lady Amanda always encouraged him to do what was best for himself and his people and Jamie knew that the women wouldn't be happy if Sarek –or Spock- just gave up. While she was talking with him the Tellarite ambassador, Gav, came over.

"Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan, what are your thoughts on Coridan's admission to the Federation?"

Sarek looked at the man and simply replied, "It will be known at the conference." The young captain smiled at that, Gav wasn't amused and tried to start an argument with Sarek. Glorak always used to tell her that Tellarites don't need a reason to argue, they do it for sport.

"Bridge to Captain Kirk," Sulu was on the bridge.

"Go ahead, Sulu." The helmsman told her that there was something she needed to see on the bridge so she excused herself and headed up.

"Captain on the bridge," Chekov called when she walked in.

"What's up guys?" she asked.

Sulu stood from the chair, "We're being followed by an unidentified ship, ma'am."

Jamie sat in the chair as Gaila looked at her from the science station, "It's not of any known configuration and we're the only ship that Starfleet has authorized to be out here."

Hawkins spoke from comms, "Captain, it appears that there is someone on this ship communicating with them over hidden channels. I'll try to figure out who it is and what their sending." Just one, she just wanted one mission where it all went how it was supposed to.

Jamie nodded, "Carry on, Hawkins. Sulu, let me know if this ship does something and keep an eye on it." He told her that he would so she headed back to the politicians. She walked into the room just in time to see Sarek and Gav in a fight.

"Hey, break it up. There will be order on my ship, gentleman." Jamie jumped between the two men and Hendorff helped her pull them apart. Gav glared at Sarek.

"There will be payment for your slander, Sarek," the Tellarite growled.

The Vulcan looked at him, "Threats are illogical. And payment is usually expensive." Hendorff followed Gav as he left the room and Jamie looked at Sarek.

"What the hell was that about, Ambassador?"

He looked at her, "When I informed him that I would vote for Coridan's admission to the Federation, he became upset. When he could not provoke me, he insulted Spock and Amanda and stared a physical altercation." Jamie nodded, she was very glad that she let Hendorff take the Tellarite because she might've hit him too.

The reception finally ended and Jamie walked into her quarters as Bones was changing out of his dress uniform, "I thought you were gonna let me take that off of you?"

He chuckled, "As much as I would love that, and I do love it, we have work to do, darlin'." Jamie pouted as he kissed her behind the ear, "If you want, I'll put it on later just for you."

Jamie chuckled, "I'll think about it." She was going to say something else when the comm in the room buzzed.

"Security to Kirk." The captain kissed her husband and hit the control for the comm.

"Kirk here."

"Ma'am, this is Josephs, I just found the Tellarite ambassador on Deck eleven, section Alpha-three, he's dead." The security officer told her. Jamie looked at Bones.

"Stand by, Lieutenant. Doctor McCoy and I are on the way." He acknowledged her command and she quickly switched uniforms.

"Well, his neck is broken, Jim." She looked at Bones and motioned for him to continue, "Whoever did this knew exactly where to apply pressure. The break is precise, surgical even."

Jamie nodded, "Who on the ship has the knowledge and the strength to do something like that?"

Spock looked at her, "Vulcans. It's known as tal-shaya. A merciful form of execution, Captain."

Jamie thought about it, "I broke up a fight between Gav and your father. As much as I hate to say it, Spock, Sarek would be the prime suspect." Her first officer didn't even seem bothered by that fact.

"That is a logical assumption, Jamie. However, Vulcans do not approve of violence. It would be illogical to kill someone without reason," Spock told her. He had a point.

Hendorff and Zahra offered to help the medical team get Gav to sickbay while Jamie, Bones and Spock went to see the ambassador. They found him on the observation deck, alone.

"Ambassador," Jamie said. He looked up the sound of her voice.

"Captain," the Vulcan looked at her. He looked... tired. Jamie glanced at Spock but Bones spoke up first.

"The Tellarite ambassador, Gav, was found dead. His neck snapped in what Spock describes as tal-shaya. Have you been in here for the past hour?" Sarek moved to say something but collapsed into the chair. Bones scanned him, "Something's wrong with his heart, Jim." She nodded and looked at Spock as he helped Bones take his father to medical.

Jamie went back to the bridge to find out what they were learning about the communications between the other ship and someone on the Enterprise. Uhura, Hawkins and Gaila were running scans and trying to figure out the language and coding of the messages.

She walked into medical to learn that Bones and M'Banga were considering a surgery to fix the defect in Sarek's heart. She heard Chapel tell the men that there wasn't enough Vulcan blood on the ship and Spock interjected, "My father and I are the same blood type, I will donate."

"But you're half human, sir. Your blood isn't pure Vulcan," the nurse added. Chapel liked Spock, everyone knew it but nobody said it and Uhura didn't let it get to her. Jamie was almost glad she wasn't down here at the moment because she would be agreeing with Chapel. The nurse looked at her, "Captain…"

Jamie shook her head, "If he wants to help his father, I won't object." They all looked at her and she looked at Spock, "As long as you're sure, I'll back you up."

He nodded, "Thank you, Captain. I am sure." Bones looked like he wanted to argue but also knew better, they weren't adding Spock to the 'Dead Dads' club, not if they could help it. Bones gestured towards his office.

"This could kill him, Jim."

Jamie nodded, "Watching his father die could kill him too, you and I know that better than anyone." She watched as he considered her words.

He nodded, "Okay. I"ll do the damn surgery. You go get some rest."

Jamie was almost at her quarters when she realized that she was being trailed. She sidestepped just as the Andorian swung at her. The captain recognized him as Thelev, he was with the Andorian delegation. She didn't know why he was after her but she fought. Jamie would've called for help but there was no one around. She landed some good hits but the knife in her side was draining the energy out of her system. She landed a knee to his face and he went down. She hit the intercom panel, "Kirk to Security."

Hendorff answered her quickly, "Yes, Captain."

"I was attacked by Thelev near my quarters…" She looked at the blood running down her side, "… need Bones…" Jamie doesn't know what happened after that, everything went black.