I love how uneasy and fragile Kirk feels about his command, how he struggles to earn both loyalty of his crew and respect for himself. He badly wants to get the things right and has every capacity for that. Your Kirk, as you described him, is truly an admirable person, and he deserves all the sympathy he can get - both from his officers and your readers.

And, of course, the interaction between him and Mr. Spock is just fascinating. They are so vulnerable to each other that it makes my heart ache, in a good kind of way.

Thank you for this piece of perfection.

I have sort of lost interest in stories that basically become all about Kirk getting hurt, having to get better, his trials and tribulations, everybody pampering him, feeling sorry for him, and so on...we know, unless the Writer is in to Killing Off Main Characters, he is going to survive, return back to the Enterprise...etc...so? Maybe it is because since the 2009 Movie, the New Kirk just seems like such a real...sissy! And like all fragile and such, the character turns me off, when he is placed into a “hurt Jim” story line.

Sorry, you write well, just this is not my kind of story.

Well written scenes between Kirk and Spock. Looking forward to reading more of your fan fic.

I LOVE IT!

This was an incredible insight into the beginning of their friendship. Well done.

Wow. You capture all those tries, instinctive probing, feeling out people~ the difficult dance between them; but Jim's persistence wears Spock down enough to let him in. Persistence is a trait of the successful. I enjoyed how Jim comes to guess accurately about the attunement and gets Spock to consider, then accept its likelihood. And realize this human isn't buying his schtick. I liked how you gave Jim growing insights as to his female crew members, his frustration, and how can he make that happen. I would go on and on, but I loved how I could see everything, feel it, smell it and experience the story through your writing.

Love your story!

This is an amazing story, that is so well done and so enjoyable to read. This story feels so real. You write the characters perfectly. I love the leadership aspect of what Kirk is thinking and how he is always thinking about how to command better. I also love the friendship aspect that you address in such a unique and fantastic way. You writing is so excellent that I don't even feel like I'm reading - I'm just there in the moment with what you've created. Thanks for sharing this story!

Absolutely love your work.

An excellent old-school feel with an angle I've never seen. Great work on the early Kirk&Spock relationship, and a fantastic exploration of Kirk's dealings specifically with his female crew. I don't think I've read anything else that's ever looked at that particular aspect of his command.

I've been afraid that no one was writing quality original ST fic anymore. Thanks for proving me wrong. Can't wait to read more from you.

Very good. Thanks.

Interesting ponderings throughout about how the way people see us can affect our interactions even if we don't realize a) it's happening, and b) we're seen that way. Good thoughts on how difficult it can be for us to grow into ourselves...

good chapter. love the full life support collar! if only it existed now!

this was awesmeness

I enjoyed this story. Nice touch with it being at the very beginning of the 5 year mission. It would be nice to see a bit more of how the friendship between Spock and Kirk developed. There are so many stories about the friendship of the 3 after they've been together a while, but not many about how it started and progressed. Thanks for writing!