[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

[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."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he nodded. "Gotta admit, it's more than a little exciting, the idea of being there." A little scary, too, somewhere people were trying to rebuild their own species.

The medical community had been abuzz the past year regarding the propagation of the Vulcan race, and how to best create a people. "She said they hadn't set a date, I don't think she was expecting it. Kinda sweet, you know?" he added, still amazed that Spock had taken that step. It was such a statement, not that he didn't think Spock was capable or willing, but - it was a statement.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"...means a lot, between them," Jim's expression was odd for a few seconds, but he grinned later. "Shit, they're gonna get married! That's excited. We'll have to throw Spock a bachelor party. No doubt he'll find it's illogical."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

Bones outwardly groaned, but inwardly - okay, inwardly he groaned too. Jim Kirk, in charge of bachelor party? Fuck, it would be the biggest party this side of Risa, but...

Oh hell, it would be amazing. "We don't have any other married couples on board, do we?" For being on board nearly a year together, there were still people that Bones didn't know by sight.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Jim hesitated, trying to think. "We... we have a few, I think, but not many?" It wasn't a hugely common thing for people in Starfleet to be married and have both on the same ship. "I didn't pay attention too deeply to that..." Which felt a little like a flaw, because he wanted to know his crew.

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Bet that's strange-" Bones was about to mention how strange it was, to be connected, bound to like that to some you had to work with, but. Well. Yeah.

"Well, maybe not that strange," he grinned a little, hoping he wasn't blushing. Fuck, he could feel his face color. Looking at something on Jim's wall, he tried not to think about what it was that he was thinking about. With Jim. Would never happen, but it was a nice idea sometimes.

"Anyway, I thought you'd like to know." Bones stretched, then scratched his neck. "Give him hell when you see him next. Got a busy day planned?"

Bones' code phrase for "Are you working late?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Not really sure how that'll work. I've never dealt with a bonded couple." It was a strange thought, all around. Jim tried to put some of the thoughts out of his head, but when he looked to Bones he saw Bones blushing. ...What was that about?

"Glad you told me. I would have been the clueless idiot then," he grinned wide, "plan to give him shit about not even giving me a hint he'd go that far."

As for the day... "...Too busy. We'll be getting to New Vulcan soon. I've got a lot to prep for it."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Bones said, standing slow. Late day for Jim, then. "Nothing I gotta worry 'bout with Medical, I hope."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Jim hesitated, then said cautiously, "Maybe. Have you talked to Chapel recently?" He asked unsurely, "The one from the other universe."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

Shit. Bones sat back down, slow. "I read the report, Jim. Was waiting to see what you wanted to do before I said something to her."

Medical staff taking weapons off of patients when Security stood nearby. He'd almost stormed down there himself until he caught himself.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Talked to her," Jim shook his head, "Nero tried to kill himself. With a fucking knife. How did he still have a knife?!" He slammed a hand down on his desk, "Someone's going to pay for this. She gave me a name... Hsrris. I'm going to talk to him, and find out what happened to the orders I gave. I told Security to keep that field up, to make sure the Romulans were taken care of and fed, and that they didn't have any weapons on them as I beamed them directly into the ship under my code!"

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Fucking hope so," Bones retorted. He'd been livid reading how she'd been called down, alone, to work on perhaps the most dangerous person in their galaxy, and let her walk into it. Alone. No officers called. Chief of Security nowhere.

What the fuck.

"What did she say?" he wondered. "You didn't get after her, did you?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"No. I didn't at all," He glared just a little at Bones suggesting it, "She did what she had to. Harris should have at least gone in there with her like a man with some balls." He was pissed about the situation.

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Harris or whoever should have had a fucking squadron of redshirts down there with phasers aimed on Nero's ass. If he had hurt her? Fuck, could you imagine?"

Bones could, easily. Having seen first-hand what Nero had done to Jim and George, he put nothing past the Romulan, female-form or not. "Damned straight she did what she was supposed to do. But she shouldn't have been called like that, is my point. Top-secret prisoners in the brig and some security grunt decides to just comm Sickbay and see who answers? Regulations just go flying out the fucking window?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Ever since Alex decided to turn into a drunkard and desert his post..." Jim's fingers clenched. "I need a new chief of security. I even have someone in mind but... fuck if he'll even agree to it. Damn, even if Harris had just stunned Nero before she went in I would be less pissed."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"Gonna replace Security chief?" Bones nodded, frowning. Had to be done, but carefully. Didn't want to fuck with morale, people didn't like drama and stress within their departments - but fuck, they've been having Security issues from the beginning, when the mirror people arrived and messed with one of his Ensigns.

Speaking of... "We've got a couple months to think about it, but I gotta start planning for a new Head Nurse when I lose Chapel." Bones hated the idea of losing Tina, but rules, regulations, all that bullshit. "I was thinking about asking the other Chapel if she's step in, until they figure out a way to get home."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"What choice do I have? I need someone competant in that role, someone I can trust to do their job." It was that simple, no matter the cost it could have in other ways.

"What if they've found a way by then?" Jim pointed out, sighing. "I don't want to lose Tina either... she's a damn good second for you."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"So, who you got in mind?" Bones wondered. "You said you didn't think they'd agree?" That was strange - if there was one thing that united most people on board a starship like this, it was ambition.

Bones sighed. What was the point in arguing? "Then I'll look for someone else," he growled, pushing that problem aside. Fuck. "Point is, Chapel's been a Head Nurse, there isn't a learning curve I have to worry about, other then the technology and layout, and she's got that down already. My biggest worry is she won't want to leave researching. She's been trying to get some of her own shit done when we haven't been overrun with problems, like doctors turning into children."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Jim waved a hand, "Sorry, I didn't mean it like you shouldn't pick her. She'd be perfect for the job.. I mean, hell, she is Chapel." Hopefully Bones knew what he meant. "I know you'll pick the right person."

He rubbed a hand over his eyes as he spoke, "I was thinking about John to be head of security."

[dctr-mccoy.livejournal.com]

"John Grimm?"

Bones sighed, watching Jim carefully. "Jim, how much do you know 'bout John?"

Not that John wouldn't be a great head of security - but it wasn't like Starfleet was going to let him just move into the roll without wanting to know more about him, and Bones wasn't sure even he could manufacture that much fake information.