"Go ahead Mr Scott" Kirk said to his chief engineer.
'Well captain, it's the entity .. The gap seems to be disappearing quicker than we first calculated"
"How long have we got Scotty?"
"Well sir, its starting to move away and Mr Sulu estimates there's no more than five minutes left before it closes for good. We need to beam you back immediately."
'Understood, Scotty. Stand by."
Kirk looked at his men and then spoke to Hooker and Romano. "We have... a way... to get you and all of your people here out of harms way. But we need to move now."
Hooker didn't hesitate "Jim, I can't do that, Officer Sheridan...Stacey. She's still out there somewhere. She's our friend and she could be in trouble."
Kirk nodded "What if I told you we had a way of locating your missing people ? We can transport them directly from where they are now to safety ?"
"You can guarantee this Jim ?" Hooker asked.
"I can. Scotty...are you hearing this ? Perform a sweep of the area"
"I'm sorry Captain, I heard what you said, but the sensors...they are still offline. We can locate you and the team, but no one else..."
Kirk looked at Hooker and Romano in silence.
It was Hooker who spoke first "Don't sweat it Jim. This is not your fault, it's not your fight. You and your team should go, get back to...wherever it is you came from. You belong there. We couldn't have gone with you anyway. No way can we leave any of our people behind...These guys...they rely on us, they need our help."
Kirk had guessed that this would be the answer, for the simple reason that it would be precisely how he would have answered in the same situation. Kirk flipped open his communicator.
"Scotty, prepare to beam back everyone but me', He turned to his landing party, "I'm staying here, Hooker is right, these people need some help, and I don't exactly know why, but I feel like I should stay to help." He looked at each of his men in turn "You should all leave now, while you have a chance. It's been an honor gentlemen..."
He smiled at them as he spoke into the communicator as he continued.
"Scotty. When the party returns, you're to take the Enterprise back though the hole. That's an order."
After a second or two Scottys voice hesitantly returned, "Preparing to beam the party back Captain. but with all due respect sir, I'm afraid there's no way we're leaving you behind."
Kirk looked at Spock and the others, none of whom had moved. McCoy returned his gaze "Same goes for us Jim...we're staying. I think I speak for everyone. You are right. We can help here, really make a difference."
Kirk smiled, proud at the loyalty of his men; he still had the communications channel open "disobeying an order Scotty ?.."
"Aye sir, I guess I am"
"Well mister, when I get back up there your fired"
"Aye sir, Scott out." came a slightly relieved voice, clearly catching the humour in Kirk's voice.
Kirk shook his head. "Well Hooker, looks like we're staying. Why don't you fill us in on what we're dealing with here...?"