Title: An Equitable Trade
Rating (both art/fic): Art – PG | Fic – PG-13
Genre/Pairing: Gen, Angst, mild H/C, Humor. Kirk/Spock/McCoy friendship, background Sarek/Amanda, cameos by M'Benga, Chekov, Uhura
Word Count:
Warnings: AU. Spoilers for Operation – Annihilate! Warnings for conspiracy, mentions of political cover-up. This is epistolary fic; I don't know why, that's just how it demanded to be written. Take it up with the muse, if it doesn't eat you first. Title comes from Spock's words during the episode in question.
Fic Summary: A disastrous scientific experiment has far-reaching consequences for the command crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Since a starship captain is a more valuable commodity than a now-blind Science Officer, First Officer Spock becomes a political scapegoat in addition to a victim of the tragedy. But as his sight begins to return in a supposedly civilian medical facility, Spock discovers that the world of politics is dark and dangerous, and that his captain has unwittingly landed them all smack in the middle of the biggest cover-up of their careers.

Chapter Nine

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.3
Subject: It's Over

Mr. Chekov, Doctor McCoy:

I'm afraid you may want to see these transmissions; I intercepted them ten minutes ago on the secure channel to the First Officer's Quarters. The game's up.

Fw: Private Communiqué
Starfleet Command
Headquarters San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3338.2

Commander Thelin:

You are hereby ordered to relieve Captain Kirk from duty, effective immediately, and to proceed to Earth, where he will be indicted before the Federation Council for a court-martial offense. If you meet resistance, proceed as you see fit. Do not allow any external communications from the Enterprise until after the trial is concluded.

Komack
Starfleet Command, Operations

-0-

Private Communiqué
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.2

Admiral Komack:

I have my orders, and I will obey them; but don't you think you're being a bit harsh on Kirk? Can we afford to lose the 'Fleet's finest starship captain, the Federation's poster boy, and half the crew of the Enterprise? Because if he goes, then so does his crew; I've never seen such a close-knit bunch. Also, can we really afford to lose the support of one of the most prominent Vulcans in the Federation?

Thelin
U.S.S. Enterprise

-0-

Private Communiqué
Starfleet Command
Headquarters San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3338.2

Commander Thelin:

We expect you to follow your orders to the letter, without questioning what does not concern you, is that understood?

And don't let any of Kirk's crew into contact with him or anyone else until you get to Earth; the last thing we need is some child prodigy rigging a transmitter and getting word of the court-martial to Outpost 11.

Komack
Starfleet Command, Operations

-0-

Options?

Uhura

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.3
Subject: Re: It's Over

Lieutenant,

Please to tell me you got something out before they blocked communications?

P. Chekov

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.3
Subject: Re: Re: It's Over

What kind of Comms Chief do you take me for, sir? Just keep your fingers crossed that the transmission was masked well enough to make it to its destination. And, Science Officer, please don't tell Scotty that I used his precious transporter circuitry to re-route and disperse the signal.

Now, we need to get Sulu and Chapel on spreading the word to the crew: no resistance, no problems, no anything, is that clear? We make Command even more angry by not accepting the situation, it makes the captain look even worse. We're going to do nothing to further endanger him.

N.U.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.3
Subject: Re: It's Over

Oh, we are in so much crap right now.

L.M.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3338.3
Subject: Re: Re: It's Over

Not so, Doctor; the captain is the only one they are after, and everything that's happened has been done without his knowledge. The only thing they will be able to pin on him is his own transmissions and his slight belligerence toward Command (which is nothing new, let us be honest). We've been very careful to purposely keep all knowledge of what's been going on away from him for that very reason; he can't testify about what he doesn't know. You never told him Mr. Spock's eyesight is returning, and the rest of us never breathed a word of our plans. He may suspect, but he doesn't know; and that is what will save him in court.

N.U.

Captain's Log, Stardate 3338.7

I've been relieved of duty by my – and this is the worst part – First Officer, Commander Thelin. I told Spock at the time I thought he was watching me a little too closely; should have paid more attention to my instincts. I never thought, never even dreamed, he was here as a spy from Command central, though. That makes it twice that a First Officer has betrayed me, isn't that some sort of record for one year?

Computer, strike last two sentences from record; that was hardly fair to Spock. He didn't betray me so much as act rashly to help a former captain; how can I fault him for absolute loyalty? (1)

Oh, Spock…I could so use your company and dry wit right now, and your unwavering loyalty. I have a bad feeling I know what this is about, and it's going to get ugly. I can't see any outcome but losing the Enterprise. Though I doubt they're going to dishonorably discharge me just for telling Spock the facts, I can't see them doing less than what they've done to Spock, an enforced retirement and observation for the rest of my life.

Maybe the two of us can convince them to let us go help rehabilitate Deneva? It would be the least I owe those poor people, and Spock is the most unselfish person I know; he'd never turn down the request. I could take Peter with me and try in some way to be the family I was too late to save.

Thelin seems a little apologetic about the whole thing, so I guess I can't really fault him for doing his duty. I wish he hadn't enforced the no-communication rule, though. It's going to be six days before we arrive at Starbase Twelve, and to have no communication with my crew or anyone outside is…not a pleasant prospect. I hope Spock doesn't get wind that something's wrong if he doesn't hear from anyone for a week. The last thing we need is for him to do something foolish out of a sense of responsibility for this mess to end all messes.

Perhaps if I'm a 'good boy' Thelin will let McCoy come over and chat in the evenings…

Outpost 11, Facility 49
Disability Adaptation Ward
Stardate 3338.9
Encryption Level: Highest. Scramble and re-route via medical freighter intra-comm network, decryption only upon voice recognition Sarek, Vulcan Ambassador to Terra.

Sarek:

Emergency transmission from Enterprise. Court-martial imminent Terra, six Standard days. All further communications blocked. Dr. M'Benga already en route to Vulcan.

It may also interest you to know that I am able to distinguish shapes and colors by this time.

Spock

Private Internal Instant Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3340.2

[McCoyL] Jim?

[KirkJ] You're not supposed to be talking to me, remember? I'm in solitary, for the crime of sending my blind former First Officer a letter.

[McCoyL] Don't take your irritation out on me, Jim-boy. And if Thelin wants to get on my case about it, he'll find himself with a nice case of Andorian mud-measles, and he darn well knows it. Besides, the damage's been done; to completely isolate you from your crew is just a ridiculously cruel and medically unsound gesture from that pompous jackass Komack – and I'll go on medical record to say so if I need to.

[KirkJ is typing]

[KirkJ] Thanks, Bones.

[McCoyL is typing]

[McCoyL is typing]

[McCoyL] Look, Jim…I want you to do something for me.

[KirkJ] Brush up on corn and soybean farming techniques? Because that's probably where I'm headed, Doctor. Straight back to Iowa without my stripes.

[McCoyL] No, I want you to not lose hope here, Captain. It's not as bad as it looks, I promise.

[KirkJ] No? Because from where I'm sitting, Doctor, it looks like it can't get any worse without someone dying. My whole ship, over four hundred people – and no one's made any kind of move protesting the fact that I'm being kept in my quarters without communication from anyone, all over one letter I wrote in the heat of emotion to Spock! So you'll forgive me if I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel here, Doctor.

[McCoyL] Funny you should use the phrase see the light, Jim, but –

[KirkJ] Save it, Doctor.

[McCoyL] Jim –

[KirkJ is no longer online]

[McCoyL] Jim, you're such a child!

[ChekovPA has entered the conversation]

[ChekovPA] Not good, then.

[McCoyL *is fuming*]

[ChekovPA] Is just as well, Doctor; we cannot tell him the news about Mr. Spock, because he must be able to tell complete truth under oath. He must know nothinguntil after the fact.

[McCoyL] I know, I know…I just hate that he thinks everyone's abandoned him, Chekov. We all know how much he loves this crew and hates separation from them.

[ChekovPA] We love him too, Doctor, but disregarding orders from Starfleet Command will only make Captain look worse when it is all over. Is only for four more days, Doctor. It will not be pleasant, but is necessary.

[McCoyL] I guess so. Look, you'd probably better get off this thing unless you want Thelin breathing down your neck.

[ChekovPA] I am best navigator on ship; he cannot afford to keep me off Bridge during computations for an asteroid belt such as the one outside the Sol system. I am not worried.

[McCoyL] I am, and not just about your scrawny neck.

[ChekovPA] Sir, I am still Temporary Chief Science Officer, until Mr. Spock is reinstated. As such, I do not much like being referred to as 'scrawny.'

[McCoyL] Comes with the territory you inherited, kid; I can't break the habit of giving the CSO a hard time now.

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Repairs needed?

Lieutenant Commander Scott:

Sir, are you aware of the glitch in the circuitry of the Bridge's Engineering station's motherboard?

Lt. N. Uhura

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Re: Repairs needed?

Lassie, what glitch?

M.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Re: Re: Repairs needed?

Scotty, it will have taken us six days to reach Terra from our previous destination. While it will only take a private craft one day from Vulcan, it will take at least seven days for a medical transport from Outpost 11, and that is assuming the craft can leave without...detention.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Repairs needed?

Ooh, aye, lassie. I think we'd better take the motherboard apart and find that glitch you speak of. Of course that means slowing to Warp One instead of Six, but it can't be helped, now can it? Nothing Commander Thelin or any of us can do about it.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Repairs needed?

I'll make it up to you, sugar.

-000-

Private Internal Message
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3342.5
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Repairs needed?

I am counting on it. )

M

-000-

Official Communiqué to Starfleet Command
U.S.S. Enterprise
Stardate 3343.9

Sirs:

We will be arriving on Terra approximately thirty-two hours behind schedule, having been forced to decrease our speed to Warp One so that the Chief Engineer can run diagnostics on one of the major Bridge stations. The problem at hand is a programming glitch, which could malfunction at any time and rupture half the conduits for the life support systems. I regret the delay, but I agree with Engineer Scott; to refuse to address the problem could be hazardous to the workings of the Enterprise.

Once the issue is resolved, we will proceed with all speed to spacedock above San Francisco.

Thelin
Acting Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise

Private Communiqué
City Shi'Kahr, Planet Vulcan
Stardate 3344.6
Subject: Godspeed

My Husband,

I understand that you will have little time for frivolous communications during the events to follow in the next few days, but I would be more at ease if you were to at least tell me that you arrived safely, and keep me updated as to how the tide is turning.

However illogical it may be, perhaps it will bring you some measure of peace to know that I love you, and that it gives me great joy to know what you are about to attempt for our son and his friend.

Always yours,
Amanda

-000-

Private Communiqué
Vulcan Embassy, San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3344.8
Subject: Re: Godspeed

My Wife,

To ease your mind is not a frivolous matter. I have arrived safely and without incident; and, admittedly to my surprise, evidently a full twenty-four hours ahead of the Enterprise. I suspect Kirk's crew of duplicity in the matter, as they should have reached Terra a full six hours before I. This may work in our favor as well as Spock's; we shall soon see.

I shall keep you as informed as possible, though that may not be feasible until after the hearing before the Federation Council. It is there that this battle must be fought, for if it is permitted to go to court-martial we will have lost before we have begun.

If Dr. M'Benga is in need of anything, he has been given instructions to contact you rather than myself, for security purposes.

Be well and at peace, my wife.

Sarek

United Federation of Planets Council
Headquarters, San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3347.9

File Contents: Transcription of Council Hearing CLXII, Stardate 3346.4. Verbal record CLXII-A. Exhibits CLXII-a and -b.
Transcriptionist: Decker, William; Lieutenant, Operations
Classification: Highly Classified, Security Clearance Alpha-One-Alpha only
Hearing Status: Closed

Transcription, Council Hearing CLXII
Stardate 3346.4
Condition: Unedited Transcription

[Formal declaration of charges against Kirk, James Tiberius, Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise: see attached record. W.D.]

Federation President: Captain Kirk, your service in Starfleet is already legendary, and despite current events we wish to offer every courtesy to you during this hearing. Have you any opening remarks or questions before this hearing begins?

Kirk: [stands] A clarification, Mr. President.

President: Which is?

Kirk: I'm not exactly sure what the purpose of this hearing is, Mr. President. If I am to be court-martialed and dishonorably discharged, I do not understand why I am not in a courtroom at the present moment. If I am to be quietly discharged from Starfleet, I do not understand why the Council is present to function as jury; surely the verdict has already been handed out.

President: [clears throat] Captain, neither of those situations is necessarily the outcome of this meeting. This is, for all intents and purposes, an informal hearing, and one which will hopefully never be publicized.

Kirk: [dryly] With all respect, that's hardly the clarification I asked for, Mr. President. Why am I here, and why exactly isthis an informal, basically off-the-record hearing?

President: [sighs] Because, Captain, due to recent events, this matter has now become an interplanetary dispute; and as such, it legally must be resolved within the Federation between planetary diplomats. You are the representative for Starfleet in this matter.

[Council murmurs amongst themselves until order is requested]

(Personal note: Enterprise crew look innocently around room. Suspicious, but inconclusive. W.D.)

Kirk: I beg your pardon.

President: Captain, the charges currently against you, and the events surrounding the mission to Deneva, have been contested as an interplanetary offense, bringing our jurisdiction from the military down into the world of diplomacy. The Federation is legally and ethically bound to resolve any interplanetary conflicts by diplomatic means. That is the reason for your current location, and for this informal hearing; this matter must be resolved before leaving this council hall.

Kirk: Contested by whom? Surely not the governing body of Deneva?

President: (Personal note: Was that really an eyeroll? W.D.) By the Vulcan High Council, Captain.

Kirk: The what?

President: I did not stutter; do you require further clarification, Captain?

Kirk: No, sir.

(Personal note: nobody can tick off the Federation President like the Vulcans, bless their logical hearts. W.D.)

President: Will the mediation between the Vulcan High Council and the Federation organization of Starfleet stand.

[Sarek, Vulcan Ambassador to Earth, rises]

(Personal note: if Kirk doesn't close his mouth he's going to inhale a passing insect. W.D.)

President: Ambassador Sarek, do you accept the responsibility of negotiating a peaceful agreement between the wronged parties on both sides of this dispute?

Sarek: I do, Mr. President.

President: Take your place at the negotiating table.

[Sarek assumes position at head of table, Captain Kirk remaining at one side]

(PN: Kirk still doing his goldfish impression is the highlight of my day… W.D.)

[Admiral Komack raises hand]

Komack: Mr. President, I wish the record to show that I object to Ambassador Sarek's involvement with this interplanetary dispute.

(PN: Love the old goat, but he can be so annoying when he's pitching a tantrum)

President: On what grounds, Admiral?

Komack: The grounds that, as a Vulcan, and the father of one of the parties involved, he can hardly be a neutral party.

Sarek: [stands] Admiral, my son and I have not been on speaking terms for fifteen years; that portion of your suggestion is invalid. As to the rest, are you suggesting that a Vulcan is incapable of emotional detachment from human affairs?

(PN: LOL, Vulcan burn)

Komack: [subdued] Negative, Ambassador. I only wanted to point out that Starfleet Command would prefer an entirely uninvolved third party.

President: Duly noted; but as the Ambassador stated, he is both Vulcan and the most proficient diplomat in the quadrant. Unless you have a more valid reason upon which to base your objection, it will remain unsustained, Admiral?

Komack: [grudgingly] No, sir.

President: Then the record stands. Will the diplomatic representative for the Vulcan High Council stand.

[small pandemonium erupts; full two minutes before the President can contain outbreak]

(PN: Kirk looks like he's about to faint, Enterprise crew looks far too smug for this to be a surprise to anyone else)

President: Spock of Vulcan, former First Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, do you accept the responsibility of representing the wronged parties on the opposing side of this dispute?

Spock: I do accept, Mr. President.

President: Take your place opposite the accused at the negotiating table. Are you in need of any assistance, Mr. Spock?

Spock: [looks around, eyes linger on Kirk for a fraction of a second] The reports of my incapacitation were greatly exaggerated, sir. I am in full use of all my faculties, including my eyesight.

President: We are relieved to hear this news, Mr. Spock.

(PN: Komack doesn't look relieved, he looks ticked off. W.D.)

[Spock assumes seat opposite Kirk at table]

(PN: I take it no one told Kirk that Spock was no longer blind; the Enterprise crew are all grinning, and the captain's as pale as paper, poor guy. Oh ye gods, there goes Komack again… W.D.)

[Komack raises hand]

Komack: Mr. President, I must protest! This is becoming an obvious farce!

(PN: He's probably right there, actually, but who cares? W.D.)

President: Admiral, Starfleet originally assumed jurisdiction over this matter almost two months ago; if the results of your decisions are being contested by a higher power there is little the Federation Council can do but acquiesce. Do you have a valid reason to claim by which to stop these deliberations?

Komack: [fists clench] Negative, Mr. President.

President: Very well, then. Ambassador Sarek, the charges being placed against Captain Kirk and thereby the entity of Starfleet are thus: Insubordination, by means of passing Starfleet operations information on to a non-Starfleet third party. Treason, Level Four, by means of passing classified mission directives on to an ex-Starfleet officer. Direct insubordination, by means of directly disobeying Starfleet Command injunctions to cease and desist. Abuse of power, by means of appropriating official Starfleet communications channels for the aforementioned and for personal use. And, the charge of which is yet in debate – gross negligence, by means of giving the order to blind the entire population of the planet Deneva, despite recommendations by his command staff to the contrary.

(PN: Yikes. W.D.)

President: Do you dispute these charges, Captain Kirk?

Kirk: [stands] I do not, Mr. President, though the last is not yet clear on the records; this hearing will decide that.

President: Acknowledged.

Spock: [raises hand] Mr. President, a clarification.

President: Proceed, Mr. Spock.

Spock: Sir, the Vulcan High Council has not contested these charges; they are irrelevant to this interplanetary dispute.

(PN: Kirk looks like someone just kicked him in the stomach…I thought these two were supposed to be best friends or something? W.D.)

President: Acknowledged, Mr. Spock. However, the outcome of this dispute will have a definite effect upon those personal charges against Captain Kirk, and as such the planetary intermediary must be aware of them at the beginning.

Sarek: So noted, Mr. President. The charges against Starfleet by the Vulcan High Council, then?

President: [reads] The charges being brought against the United Federation of Planets organization of Starfleet are as follows: Invasion of privacy, four counts, by means of tapping private communications channels; invasion of privacy, one count, by means of tapping official communications channels without knowledge of both parties; conspiracy and intent to deceive, by means of informing First Officer Spock he was residing in a civilian rehabilitation facility, when in actuality he was being held in a Starfleet high-security detention facility; gross negligence, by means of giving Captain Kirk the ultimatum of destroying the planet Deneva, or proceeding on an ill-tested light spectrum test, resulting in the aforementioned blindness of the entire planet; and conspiracy to conceal, by means of covering the aforementioned gross negligence by blaming the actions and their consequences on the Enterprise's innocent Chief Science Officer, Spock of Vulcan.

(PN: Holy crap.)

Sarek: Quite a damning list, Mr. President.

President: The charges are most serious, gentlemen. And (this directly to Komack, because the guy looks like he's about to spit nails.) though these matters should be cared for within the bounds of Starfleet Command, this Council has no choice under Federation law but to permit jurisdiction to fall into diplomatic channels.

(PN: The Admiralty looks fit to be tied over that lovely bit of grudging agreement. And if the Enterprise crew doesn't stop grinning while they watch Kirk and Spock together, they're going to make someone awfully suspicious… W.D.)

President: Captain Kirk, both personally and as the official representative of Starfleet in this matter, how do you plea to the charges leveled against you?

Kirk: [stands slowly] Personally, I plead guilty, Mr. President. As to Starfleet…

(PN: He shoots a glance at the Admiralty, and I've never seen such a scary row of don't-you-dare looks coming one direction)

Kirk: [looks at Mr. Spock for a minute, nods slightly, then looks back at the President] As to Starfleet…also guilty.

[hall breaks into excited murmurs as Kirk sits, order called three times]

President: (PN: He looks a bit like he's swallowed a bee, poor old fellow. And if looks could kill Kirk would be skewered by now. W.D.)So let the record show. Mr. Spock, as representative of the Vulcan High Council, what are your expectations by way of resolving this dispute?

Spock: [rises] Mr. President, Federation Council Members, Admirals: the Vulcan way is that of peace, of sacredness of life. For an organization such as Starfleet Command to have taken it upon itself to give one human – even one such experienced captain as Captain Kirk – the injunction to either destroy or handicap an entire planet, is abhorrent to our way of thought. The idea of placing the fate of over one million sentient beings in the hands of one man – or one organization – is not an action the Vulcan people wish to be party to or even indirectly support, as a member of the United Federation of Planets.

(PN: Vulcanese for we-saw-wat-u-did-thar. W.D.)

Spock: Then for that organization to in essence cover up their ill-advised and disastrous mistakes by conspiracy, placing the blame upon an innocent party, is only one more in a line of errors which violate all Vulcan principle. While I was not discontent to bear the brunt of the consequences for the Deneva disaster, as I am aware that someone must – the principle of shifting blame is at stake here, not a personal grievance. The Vulcan High Council does not wish to support an organization which would condone such things as have been discussed in the charges to which Captain Kirk has pled guilty.

President: What, exactly, are you saying, Mr. Spock?

Spock: To continue would change my role as representative of the Vulcan Council, sir. I merely state facts, not make demands nor negotiate.

(PN: Smart move; he starts making demands and the whole thing shows up on record to be a big fat kangaroo court to get him what he wants as a victim of the tragedy. W.D.)

President: [slightly exasperated] Be seated then, Mr. Spock. Ambassador Sarek.

[Sarek stands]

President: As a charter member of the United Federation of Planets, the planet of Vulcan has primary power and jurisdiction over the Federation Council. Please address the Federation Council regarding what demands are being made, and what resolution is necessary.

Sarek: Resolution is simple, Mr. President. All charges against Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock must be dropped, if the Federation wishes Vulcan to remain as an integral part of this organization.

(PN: What the heck is he playing at?)

[chaos erupts, at least several minutes until order can be restored]

Komack: This is preposterous! You have no authority, ambassador or not, to make such demands – and no authority as a diplomat to even threaten secession, not without official backing from your government!

(PN: Point to Komack. W.D.)

President: I will have order! That will do, Admiral. Ambassador Sarek, out of order as the remark was, it is nonetheless correct. You have no authority as intermediary here to make this demand, and no authority at all due to neutrality in this matter to threaten the Federation with the secession of Vulcan.

Sarek: [unperturbed] That is true, Mr. President.

President: Then –

Sarek: And yet I believe you will find that, officially or not, my statement is accurate.

Komack: [glares] And just how do you propose to do that, get your government to side with you over a petty human dispute, with no official proof of anything?

President: That will do, Admiral. Ambassador, he is correct; you have no official proof of anything involving this discussion, and as such you have no leverage with your people.

Sarek: [walks slowly forward to face the Council] Admirals, Mr. President, Council Members: at this moment, an acquaintance of mine stands before the governing body of Vulcan, together with the High Council and the Medical Council of the Vulcan Science Academy. In his possession is a complete record of the Deneva mission disaster, including official logs and records of the decisions made and the options given. Also in his possession are records showing the amount of duplicity that Starfleet Command is guilty of in this matter of harming one million innocent people, against the – again, recorded – better judgment of the command crew of the starship Enterprise.

(PN: Someone get the President an antacid… W.D.)

Sarek: [continues] Should the Federation Council – and this is of course your prerogative, gentlemen – decide in favor of permitting the charges to stand against Captain Kirk and Starfleet, then my colleague will let those records be known to the entirety of the Vulcan governing body. And gentlemen, do you really suppose all of Vulcan will not rise up in outrage against such a partial-genocide as your Starfleet permitted to occur on Deneva?

[silence for three seconds, and then widespread exclamations]

(PN: Ohhhh, they're never going to get order restored in here now… hey, was that Vulcan blackmail? Note to self: never get on any of those three's bad side. W.D.)

Private Communiqué
Vulcan Embassy, San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3348.8

Mother:

I had informed you that once I had news, you would be the first to know; I am pleased to report that all charges against both myself and the Captain have been dropped, and the mission in question classified as not marking either of our careers for the worse. I will be reinstated to the Enterprise as First and Chief Science Officer at the turn of next month; I am making use of Dr. McCoy's offer of medical leave at the moment in the wisely diplomatic move to allow matters to, as they say, cool down. I have persuaded Captain Kirk (who is currently reading this over my shoulder; he does not apparently trust my eyes yet enough to believe I am capable of spelling correctly) to put into effect his bereavement leave for the same time period.

I know you can spell, Spock; I just like watching you keep erasing things and rephrasing them to sound more stuck-up Vulcan. )

As you can see, Mother, he is in much better spirits.

Thank you for extending the invitation to me to visit your home, Lady Amanda. I am looking forward to it. I owe your family a great debt that I hope someday I may make some headway in repaying.

You could begin by ceasing to hang over me for the purpose of approprrrrafdrrrdting my keypad, Jim.

You do know you misspelled appropriating, right?

I did not misspell the word; you refuse to type with more than your two index fingers, as a normal ten-fingered being does, and as such the remainder of your hand pressed down multiple keys when you were attempting to interject into my typing.

Look, just because I can't type a hundred words per minute like you Vulcans doesn't mean I'm a substandard human being!

I hope you are prepared for an emotional, hyperactive –

:P

- ten-year-old, Mother. Sarek should already be en route to you; we shall follow once the formalities are cared for here on Terra and aboard the Enterprise.

I remain,
Yours respectfully,
Spock

-and Jim :)

-000-

Private Communiqué
City Shi'Kahr, Planet Vulcan
Stardate 3350.6
Subject: Vacancies?

Leonard,

I've done a bit of research on your Enterprise, given the events of the past few weeks, and I have to say I'm a bit dismayed to find that you have no real Xenobiologist aboard who's expert in extreme alien physiology. I hope you don't in any way think I believe you to be incompetent; far from it. But you know as well as I that it is always wise to have a particular expert in small fields, as well as the more general experts in all fields. I'll talk more about it to you when we meet up over this miniature leave of yours, but for now, I'd like you to think about it.

I'm trying to ask, I suppose: would your captain be at all interested in taking on a new physician? Right now I know Mr. Spock is basically your only extremely non-humanoid crewman, but I foresee an influx in future due to the publicity of your dynamic captain and mission. You may find yourself in need of another set of alien-oriented eyes. I would be interested in filling such a vacancy if it exists.

If you like, I am certain I can provide satisfactory references.

Until we meet,
J. M'Benga

Private Instant Message
Starfleet Transport Central, San Francisco, Sol III
Stardate 3365.4

[Spock] Permission to come aboard, Captain?

[KirkJ] Permission granted, my friend; they're already lining the corridors to see you.

[Spock] …perhaps I should wait until a less emotional reception committee is in place?

[McCoyL] JUST BEAM UP ALREADY YOU POINTY-EARED DRAMA QUEEN!

[Spock *is grateful Dr. McCoy did not come with them for leave*]

[Spock is no longer online]

[KirkJ] I may never forgive you all for the stunts you pulled for this, Bones, you know that.

[McCoyL] I know. And it's so, so worth it, Jim.

(1) Reference to the TOS episode The Menagerie

Finis