The group chose to retire to the largest rec room, seated at a large table facing a screen they got comfortable.
"You seemed to trust this illusion of the Enterprise's former captain, relatively quick Captain. Is this wise?" Sarek asked Kirk
Kirk couldn't blame the ambassador for his doubt of him, after all knowledge of Talos IV was strictly need-to-know, along with the ultimate fate of Admiral Pike. His quick trust in the situation would seem alarming to most, and very illogical to the Vulcan ambassador.
"I'm afraid I can't reveal much Ambassador, but we have had encounters with the Talosian people before. They wish to remain to themselves, so reaching out in such a way it must be important," Kirk tried to reassure
Kirk sat at the head of the table with Spock on his right and Bones on his left. Beside Spock was his mother, Lady Amanda, and then Ambassador Sarek. On the other side of the table, it was more full, with Scotty beside Bones, followed by Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu
They all settled, and the screen in front of them seemed to turn on
In space as the USS Kelvin comes into view
MALE STARFLEET OFFICER: USS Kelvin, go for Starfleet base
KELVIN OFFICER: Starfleet base. We sent you a transmission. Did you receive?
FEMALE STARFLEET OFFICER: Kelvin, have you double - checked those readings?
KELVIN OFFICER: Our gravitational sensors are going crazy here, you should see this. It looks like a lightning storm.
FEMALE STARFLEET OFFICER: What you sent doesn't seem possible.
KELVIN OFFICER: Yes, ma'am. I understand. That's why we sent it.
Turbo - lift doors split open and reveals Captain Robau and the Bridge
"That's Captain Robau…" Kirk spoke aloud, "I met him once, he came to visit Dad, they served on the Kelvin together…"
"Is it possible captain, that this ship is the Kelvin?" Spock asked
"I'm not sure, I didn't get a good look at the ship. If Dad is there than its a good possibility."
ROBAU: Report
KELVIN OFFICER: Still out of visual range. We'll be there in twenty seconds.
MALE STARFLEET OFFICER (Over Radio): Alert Captain Robau that Starfleet decides to proceed with precaution
ROBAU: Polarize the viewscreen
The view screen goes up and a bright light comes through, Captain Robau moves to sit in his chair
KELVIN OFFICER: Captain, we have visual.
KELVIN LIEUTENANT: Repeat, could this be Klingon?
STARFLEET OFFICER (Over Radio): Negative, Lieutenant. You're 75, 000 kilometers from the…
ANOTHER KELVIN OFFICER: Captain, are you seeing this?
The view pans around to the view screen as an alarm starts up in the background and lights start flashing. On the view screen a big ship starts to come out of the "lighting storm". The ship looks terrifying as it emerges. And the Kelvin appears miniature in comparison to it.
"Oh my god."
"What is that?"
"Good Lord"
Various exclamations were heard through the group as they all got their first look at what this ship, most likely the Kelvin, was currently facing.
Kirk turned towards his Chief Engineer and Chief Science Officer, " Scotty, Spock, have either of you seen a ship like this before?"
"Can't say I have, sir, she looks advanced, but also pretty worn down from what I can see." Scotty reported
"Negative Captain, this ship does not match any description of a Federation ship currently or about to me launched. I am curious as to how it seems to be appearing from the storm. It is very unusual."
Everyone at the table turned back to the screen in interest, whatever was happening was going to be important
ROBAU (To Himself): My God
KELVIN OFFICER: I have a reading
HELM OFFICER: They've locked weapons on us!
ROBAU: Red alert!
The view changes again and George Kirk is shown before it changes to a hologram of the enemy ship
"That's Dad! George Kirk" Kirk felt several emotions run through him. He hadn't seen his father since he passed years before, and now seeing him so young was disorienting. But to know he was in such a dangerous situation set him on edge once more.
GEORGE KIRK: Torpedoes locked on 320 degrees mark 2
ROBAU: Arm weapons!
ROBAU: Evasive pattern delta five
GEORGE KIRK: Incoming frags
The beams hit the Kelvin causing serious damage and various crewmen are shown being killed. Back on the bridge crewmen are being thrown around.
ROBAU: Fire all phasers. Damage report.
ENGINEERING OFFICER (Over Comm): Warp drive has been knocked out. I've never seen anything like it.
[Engineering]
ENGINEERING OFFICER: Weapons are offline. Main power is 38%
[Bridge]
HELM OFFICER: They're firing in our…
ROBAU: All power to forward shields
We see a hole get ripped through a section of the Kelvin and a women get pulled into space
FEMALE OFFICER: Ahh! Ahh! Lieutenant!
[Bridge]
BALDING OFFICER: Are our shields even up?
FEMALE BRIDGE OFFICER: Decks Seven to Thirteen. We have confirmed casualties.
GEORGE KIRK: They're at eleven percent and dropping. Ten percent… sir, it's nine and we're dropping
ROBAU: All remaining power to forward shields. Prepare shuttles for evacuation.
"Evacuation, sir? I don't remember learning about the Kelvin every needing to evacuate," Chekov's question broke through the tension around the table. All eyes turned to Kirk
"I don't remember this either Mr. Chekov. Certainly my father never told me anything about this ever happening"
"Perhaps, he was ordered not to?" Sulu questioned
"That is a reasonable assumption, Mr. Sulu, but until we learn more we simply do not know the answer." Spock spoke up. At this the rest of the group turned back to the screen to see what would happen
A noise is heard behind Robau as the Kelvin is being hailed, a voice is heard and the view screen of the Kelvin shows an unarmed Romulan.
AYEL (On view screen): Hello. My commander requests the presence of your captain, in order to negotiate a ceasefire. You will come aboard our ship via shuttlecraft. Your refusal would be unwise.
ROBAU (to George Kirk): Walk with me.
[Corridor]
ROBAU: If I don't report in fifteen minutes, evacuate the crew
GEORGE KIRK: Sir, we can…
ROBAU: There is no help for us out here. Use auto-pilot, and get off this ship
GEORGE KIRK: Aye, Captain
ROBAU: You're Captain now, Mister Kirk
The tension was again mounting in the room, Bones could see that his friend was getting more and more nervous for his father. He wished there was something he could do, but he knew that whatever happened to George Kirk on screen he would be there for his friend in the fall out. Something in his gut just told him this wasn't going to end well, and he had learned to always trust his gut.
[Kelvin Bridge]
HELM OFFICER (Viewing Robau's Life Signs): His heat rates elevated
[Narda]
Robau is led to Nero. A hologram of a ship is shown to Robau
AYEL: Look at this ship. Are you familiar with this craft?
ROBAU: Who is your commander? Is it him?
Robau looks towards the Romulan that is seated behind Ayel. This Romulan is shown to be holding a spear and looks to be deep in thought.
AYEL: I will speak for Captain Nero
ROBAU: Then ask Captain Nero, what gives him the right to attack a Federation vessel?
Nero finally looks at Robau as Ayel moves to throw another hologram at Robau this time is shown an older looking Vulcan
AYEL: Do you know the location of Ambassador Spock?
Amanda gasped and Sarek stiffened beside her. Spock wasn't a popular name, but it wasn't uncommon either on Vulcan. Still, she couldn't hear it without thinking of her own son
"Ambassador, I'm unfamiliar, but has there been an Ambassador Spock anytime in the past 30 or so years?" Kirk questioned. He figured that since Robau was the current captain of the Kelvin and his father was first officer, what they were seeing had to have happened sometime around when he was born
"Negative captain. While there are those with the name Spock on Vulcan, none so far have ever been known as an ambassador in any capacity." Sarek answered
Spock raised an eyebrow in surprise at this, and the others looked confused as well
ROBAU: I am unfamiliar with Ambassador Spock
AYEL: What is the current stardate?
ROBAU: Stardate? Twenty - two thirty - three zero four… Where are you from?
A look of pure rage comes over Nero's face as he rushes at Captain Robau with his spear
NERO: Arrrrrgh!
Everyone was shocked at what they had just witnessed.
"No, no, I… I met captain Robau!" Kirk was very confused at what was happening, he met Captain Robau as a child, how could he have met a dead man?
[Bridge]
HELM OFFICER: Sir, they're locked onto our signal
KELVIN OFFICER: They're launching again!
GEORGE KIRK: Bravo - six maneuver fire full
GEORGE KIRK: I'm initiating General Order Thirteen. We're evacuating
HELM OFFICER: Yes, sir.
GEORGE KIRK: All decks, this is the Captain speaking. Evacuate the ship immediately. Get down to the shuttle crafts. Repeat evacuate immediately…
The Kelvin begins to take heavy damage. As George Kirk orders the a shipwide evacuation we see a pregnant women being pushed through the commotion in a wheelchair
[Corridor]
WINONA KIRK: That's George's voice. What's happening?
"Mom?"
"If that's your mother Jim, than the baby that's about to pop has gotta be you," McCoy tried to joke
Kirk offered him a small smile, "Well I was delivered on the Kelvin…" the smile dropped, "so then why?"
"Captain, we have already seen changes to what you know to be the truth and what is happening to these men and women on screen, I summarize that the Talosian's machine has the power to look into different events. We have already proven that time travel is indeed possible, it would therefore be illogical to discount the idea of the multiverse. Multiple variations of ourselves changed by actions that happened different from our own." Spock summarized
Everyone took a moment to think about this, it did make sense but it didn't make what they were seeing any easier.
Dr. McCoy sighed, "well if that's the case Spock, I hope that there won't be any complications from a shuttle birth for that James Kirk"
"What do you mean, Doctor? Babes are born on Starships all the time?" Scotty asked
"On a Starship sure, with controlled environments that most of the time are set to replicate Earth's atmosphere. Shuttles don't have that, not even the medical ones." Bones answered
"Ah, I see. You always did have excellent timing Captain," Scotty joked
It got a few laughs out of the group as they turned back to the screen
FEMALE DOCTOR: We'll deliver in the shuttle. Go!
[Engineering]
UNSEEN OFFICER: Let's go!
ENGINEER: We've got a hull breach!
WINONA KIRK (On a communicator): George?
GEORGE KIRK (Over Comm): You're okay, thank god
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: I have a Medical Shuttle Thirty - Seven standing by. Get to it now. Can you do that?
[Corridor]
WINONA: Yes
GEORGE KIRK (Over Comm): Everything's going to be okay. Do exactly as I say. Shuttle Thirty - Seven
WINONA: George, it's coming, it's coming now.
GEORGE KIRK (Over Comm): I'm on my way.
The tension was back in the room, everyone was holding their breath. What made it all worse than when the Enterprise crew was in their own trouble, was the fact that there was nothing they could do for these people. It hadn't even happened in their time, so there was nothing here they could prevent
[Bridge]
COMPUTER VOICE: Auto-pilot function has been destroyed. Manual operation only.
A look of resignation and determination settles on his face.
"Oh no" someone whispered into the otherwise silent room
[Shuttlebay]
ENGINEERING OFFICER: Remove that part now! Get to the shuttle! Move, move, move!
WINONA (Screaming): Oh, it's a big one.
MALE DOCTOR: Just keep breathing. You'll be fine
WINONA: And the baby too, right?
MALE DOCTOR: And the baby too.
[Medical Shuttle 37]
MALE DOCTOR: Right here
WINONA: Ahh! Ahh!
GEORGE KIRK (over comm): Captain to Shuttle Thirty - seven. Is my wife onboard?
PILOT: Yes sir, she is
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: I need you to go now. Do you hear me?
[Shuttle]
PIOT: We're waiting on you, sir.
GEORGE KIRK (over comm): No, just go…
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: … take off, immediately.
[shuttle]
GEORGE KIRK (over comm): That's an order
PILOT: Yes, sir.
WINONA: No, wait. We can't go yet. Please, stop. Agh, agh. (on communicator) George, the shuttle's leaving. Where are you?
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: Sweetheart, listen to me.
[Shuttle]
GEORGE KIRK (Over Comm): I'm not going to be there
WINONA: No
Jim was unconsciously gripping the table in front of him so hard his knuckles had begun to turn white. Bones couldn't do anything to help his friend, he felt so useless in this moment. He leaned over slightly and settled his hand on the back of Jim's shoulder hoping it helped a little. No one in the room noticed that Spock had also subtly shifted closer to his captain
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: This is the only way you'll survive
[Shuttle]
WINONA: Please, don't stay on the ship. You have to be here.
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: The shuttles will never make it if I don't fight them off.
[Shuttle]
WINONA: George, I can't do this without you
FEMALE ALIEN DOCTOR: Okay, I need you to push now.
WINONA: Aghhhhh!
[Bridge]
BABY KIRK: Crying over the comm
[Shuttle]
GEORGE KIRK: What is it?
[Shuttle]
WINONA: It's a boy
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: A boy!
[Shuttle]
GEORGE KIRK (over comm): Tell me about him
[Bridge]
WINONA (over comm): He's beautiful
[Shuttle]
WINONA: George, you should be here
[Bridge]
COMPUTER VOICE: Impact alert
Nobody moved, Uhura and Amanda already had tears on their cheeks and there were a few more with tears shining in their eyes
GEORGE KIRK: What are we going to call him?
[Shuttle]
WINONA: We can name him after your father
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: Tiberius? Are you kidding me? No, that's the worst. Let's name him after your dad.
Let's call him Jim
[Shuttle]
WINONA: Jim. Okay. Jim it is.
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: Sweetheart, can you hear me?
[Shuttle]
WINONA: I can hear
[Bridge]
GEORGE KIRK: I love you so much. I love you…
The Kelvin makes impact and George Kirk is thrown forwards. Winona starts to cry and you can see the explosion through the shuttle window
Everyone sat in a shocked silence, it was broken suddenly when Kirk pushes away from the table and made quick strides towards the door. After another moment, Bones got up and followed after his friend.
Scotty, Chekov, and Sulu, tried to discreetly wipe the tears from the corner of their eyes as they comforted each other and Uhura. Sarek was also attempting to help his wife, he didn't understand her tears over the death of a man from another universe, and a man she had never met even in this universe, but he could feel her pain through their bond and knew that what they had seen effected her differently. He couldn't help wondering about this Ambassador Spock and why they were being shown any of this Spock watched his captain leave followed by the good doctor. He felt like he should follow them, but this was an emotional moment for Jim, something the Doctor would be much better to handle than he could. Instead, he surveyed the rest of the room and noticed that the screen had faded to black before being replaced by Captain Pike once more
"We understand some of the things you will see will be hard to witness, so the broadcast will pause until everyone is back at the table." Pike spoke, he appeared sad himself
"The Captain needs some time. Perhaps we should all take a moment" Spock suggested
Everyone quietly got up and left the room