[Discovery] -- [Kirk's Office] -- [Open for Official Business]

[kirktastic]

It was so heavily backlogged. Messages, paperwork, reports, news - all of it was backlogged. Kirk had holed himself up in his office, trying to get through it all. Okay, the paperwork was at least not seriously backlogged and he saw Spock's hand in that. Spock was good at that sort of thing, even if Kirk wasn't entirely surprised to see some things hadn't been done. The internal complaints and notices were personal touches that Kirk liked to do himself instead of shuffling it off to someone else and Spock wasn't the sort of person to do that.

So he sat at his desk, chewing on the end of a stylus as he read the latest complaint. It was someone going on about the lack of space on the ship and having to bunk up with someone else. He groaned to himself, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Grow up, he thought at the officer in question and gave a quick reply back that was the professional version of 'suck it up'. The officer, Kirk had to admit, did have a point. There were just too many people on the ship now. They were over their short-term limit of crew, and he had already gone through several complaints from Starfleet itself about the rising cost of keeping the over-crewed Enterprise in food, supplies, and pay.

It was a choice he had to make. The stylus slid from between his teeth and he tapped it on the desk, staring down at the console in front of him. He nudged aside a report with a swipe of his finger and drew up a new document. This one would be going straight to the big wigs in Starfleet. He kept it short and sweet, without going into serious details.

It was a request to lighten the crew of the Enterprise by removing crew and transferring them to other ships. In a way, Kirk hated to do it. He knew people had signed on with the ship because of its fame, of him, of Spock, of Bones... and had stayed despite some serious issues already with the time-whatever was happening. There was just no choice. He figured the smallest amount of people he could get away with was about 80 people. It would free up a huge chunk of space and let people spread back out into single rooms instead of being forced to bunk up. It would also leave some more spare rooms, along with the twenty or so that were regulation to keep open for emergencies (which they seemed to be one giant emergency half the time anymore).

Sent, Kirk switched to the next document. One thing that he hated to do but he had little choice was in dealing with leave requests, either it was a straight out 'no' until they dealt with Nero and Ayel, or it was a 'request granted, but'. He wanted to be able to give them an 'of course, go ahead, you deserve it' but it was impossible right now with everything happening.

He had saved one set of documents for last, and with a sigh got to those. It was all stuff having to do with the Romulans.

What he started reading just about stopped his heart in his chest. What the fuck!? Nero had hurt himself (tried to kill himself!?) in his cell with a knife. How did the Romulans have any weaponry!? Kirk's fingers flew as he pulled up his orders to the head of security (dammit, Alex...) and he re-read it. There, down in the second paragraph. The Romulans were supposed to be searched, if security had to stun them to do it. Either Security had issues with knowing what a weapon was, or no one had gotten the balls together to search them.

Chapel had ended up going into the cell to save Nero's life (or heal him...). Kirk's eyes narrowed and he felt his teeth grind together. Immediately he sent out a message.

To: Christine Chapel (headnursechapel)
Nurse Chapel,

I need to speak to you in my office immediately unless you're in surgery.

Captain Kirk

He had to get more information on what had happened down in that cell. If he thought that was bad, it just got worse. He read about the Narada being on board, talking to her masters. Shit, shit... As if all of it couldn't get worse. He read Starfleet's orders for them to go straight to the New Vulcan Colony, and his brows vanished into his hairline. It made sense, of course, as the Vulcans were the ones the most hurt by Nero's actions.

There was someone on the colony he needed to talk to. Wanted to talk to. It made his heart beat flutter in his chest in a strange mixture of knowing, wanting. Spock, the one that had started it all, had never fully left him. Too many memories, emotions... left behind too many questions. Maybe he could get answers to them.

It would also be the site of Nero's trial, Kirk could only assume. He wondered how it would be worked out to try someone like this. Note, go back and read any history I can get on any sort of similar situation. He wanted to go into a trial prepared with what might happen, what they could ask of him, the story he would have to tell (again, with tons of additionals).

He already started to schedule a meeting with security for after his talk with Chapel. Heads would roll for what happened down in the brig. He saw a mention of Jim going down there with the Narada - he'd have to talk to Jim too.

To: James Kirk (original_fine)
Jim,

I need to speak to you in my office immediately about the Romulans.

JTK

He was going to find out what the hell was going on with his ship, before they got to the Vulcan Colony. How does a week as a kid end up with everything breaking down without me there? ...I think I need to talk to Spock.

To: Spock (cso_spock)
Spock,

As soon as you can, I need to talk to you in my office about what happened while you were acting captain.

JTK

Comments

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

In a strange blast of synergy, Jim had been on the point of sending a message to Jim. He went immediately, dressed in a gold command uniform and no pants. Crazy, what girls got away with calling a dress.

He buzzed for entry.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk had thought about it once before, the concept of the two of them sharing something a little more than what was normal. He had known it was at least somewhat true... something had definitely happened when he was on the Narada and only semi-conscious.

Kirk looked up from the console, "Come in."

When Jim came in, Kirk's mind had to work to keep from thinking at least a few perverted thoughts. He didn't let it show - this was strictly professional. "Jim. Have a seat. I have a few questions for you."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim sat, crossing his legs. Kirk was all business, which was fine, except for the part where they hardly ever spoke anymore. Ah well. Jim would find out what he wanted, and go from there.

"Sure," he said.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like Kirk didn't want to talk to Jim about non-business, but... well, sometimes there were things more important than that on the table. Part and parcel of being captain. There were questions definitely outside the range of their captain-ness that Kirk wanted to ask.

"First..." He gave a small grin, "Not that I'm not enjoying it, but with Starfleet coming, when are you and Spock getting yourselves fixed? Scotty's got it figured out how to turn you back to your normal selves." He hesitated, "...Someone's told you that, right?" Fuck if he knew anymore what people were telling each other. "I feel out of the loop a little," his grin turned sheepish.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"They... he did?" Jim's surprise was obvious and genuine. Then his eyes narrowed. "I think someone's playing a dirty trick," he said. "I guarantee that whoever was supposed to tell me will swear up and down they did. But mysteriously, I never got the message."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk.... facepalmed. "I end up a kid, and somehow the communication around here breaks down... who was supposed to tell you it was fixed?" He had to know, so he could go chew them out.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Jim said. "I know Scotty was working on it, and I thought Spock was helping. It doesn't matter--it hasn't impeded what function I have here, and we'll get it squared away. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Confused, Kirk tilted his head, "As far as I knew, Spock was helping..." He gestured to wipe the thought away, "Yea, you're right. Probably just everything happening... well, it's fixed. Turns out something was corrupting the information the computers were holding when people were beaming up, but not down. Scotty managed to find old transport records and you'll be good as new."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

Deep down, Bones was a just gossipy old woman. Maybe it was the heat that brewed something extra meddling curious in Southerners, that they loved to be the purveyors of information. 

So when Bones finished his  lunch with Nyota (http://just-uhura.livejournal.com/9615.html), the  first place he headed was Jim's office. 

Bones practically bounced into the familiar room and flopped down into a chair.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Bones was never denied entry unless he set a specific code to lock the door (used for when he was meeting with someone in private), so Kirk just raised an eyebrow as his CMO practically skipped into his office.

He had to contain a laugh, "Can I help you?" As if trying to be professional about it with a huge grin on his lips.

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Your chief communications officer is sporting some new jewelry." He could barely contain the smirk.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

...Silence.

"...and?" Was there something he was supposed to say to that?

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

Fuck, that clueless expression got him hot every time... "On her left hand." Bones wiggled his ring finger.

He waited to see his second favorite look on Jim's face, the 'lightbulb' moment, to use an archaic expression his grandma loved.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

It took a second to put two and two together. Slowly his eyes went absolutely huge and he stared at Bones. "...No way." He started to grin, "Spock didn't. You're yanking my chain."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Sneaky bastard, didn't let on to you about it then?" Bones wondered if they had talked, though he couldn't imagine Jim not telling him. "Its a big one, too. Musta cost a credit or two."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

A full blown grin, now. "Bastard hadn't even mentioned it. Hadn't even hinted it to me." He laughed, leaning back. "Wonder if it's a long term engagement or they'll want to--"

His eyes just about lit up, and he leaned forward over the desk as if letting Bones in on a secret, "Do you know where we're on our way to?" Since only a few, he knew the answer to that already. "The New Vulcan Colony."

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine had, at first glance, assumed that it was her Captain Kirk who had sent the message. The native one had never contacted her like this before, after all, and certainly not about anything urgent. But - in my office.

There was really only one thing this could be about.

She was not, in fact, in surgery, and she headed down to the captain's office, pressing the chime to be admitted.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Come in," Kirk said, stylus being pulled somewhat guility away from his mouth. Have to stop chewing on it.

He smiled warmly when he saw Christine enter. She was a beautiful woman, and from Bones' reports, an excellent nurse. Jim was lucky to have her on his crew. "Have a seat. Just a few things that I want to ask you about."

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine smiled back as she sat down across from Kirk.

"Of course, Captain," she said, smoothing her skirt down and folding her hands in her lap. She wasn't exactly looking forward to this conversation - whatever form it might take - but she'd have been foolish not to expect something.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"I have no doubt you know why I called you up here," Kirk leaned in his chair, watching her, "So we'll get to business. Starting from when you first found out anything... what happened with the Romulans?"

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine's expression sobered, and she nodded in agreement, taking a deep breath.

"Well," she said, "I was the ranking officer in Sickbay when we got a call from the guard down in the brig - Lieutenant Harris, I think, although that'll be in the report."

"One of the Romulans had held her knife up to the forcefield to heat it, and subsequently held the knife against her forearm, burning the skin away." She met Kirk's eyes. "Her knife, Captain - she still had it. They both..." She was getting ahead of herself, and stopped. "I believe the one who harmed herself was Nero; my captain thought so, when I told him what happened."

"I went down to the brig, and Lieutenant Harris - after expressing some concern for my safety - agreed to lower the forcefield so that I could treat the prisoner. Which is what I did. I healed the arm as much as was possible without the equipment in Sickbay, scanned her, and sedated her to check for weapons. I gave the knife to Lieutenant Harris."

She paused, giving Kirk a chance to ask questions before she continued. Treating Nero had been the easy part.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Was he in the farther part of the brig? Piece of his ear missing?" Kirk drew a line across his own ear, "Tattoos crossed on the bridge of his nose?" He'd spent too much time staring up at Nero's face not to know it intimately.

"Did he say anything to you?" Already he was writing. Harris... was in deep shit. In fact, all of security was. He would be going down there and checking it out himself.

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine nodded. "Yes, she was in the cell farthest from the door. That's her." She paused, trying to remember. "She said a few things...but I don't think they were directed at me. It was all in Romulan."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Nero, then. "Security will have it on record..." He muttered to himself, writing a note to pick up and see what Nero had said. "Did Harris enter the cell with you? Did Nero do anything threatening towards you?"

Private Communication to Dr. Helen Noel

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

To: Dr. Helen Noel

The Romulan that caused the destruction of Vulcan, and a lot more, by the name of Nero and his first officer, Ayel, are in the brig. Their capture, and what will become of them, is a mix of the unknown and highly classified, as is this message and what I'm about to ask you.

I would like you to go down into the brig and do your best to see what information you can get on Nero's mental state before we arrive at our destination. This will be going to Starfleet's report about the situation.

You will be under guard at all time. Do not dismiss the guards or enter the cell with the prisoner. I will be forced to relieve you of your post here on the Enterprise if I discover either of these two protocols are broken. This man is just too dangerous.

Captain James T. Kirk