Bonds of Change (Star Trek 2009/RPF Xover)

12. Emergency

Jim was just pulling on his dress uniform for what he expected to be his last day as a Starfleet captain when red alert sounded. He barely hesitated, merely sending a glance at Nyota where she was coming out of the bathroom, and then he was out of the door and jogging towards the turbo lift. Ignoring the fact that his jacket was hanging open, he set his sights on the bridge and then hit the comm panel.

"Kirk to the Bridge," he said efficiently, "report."

"Station security have found a device attached to Deep Space 5's secondary reactor," Spock's even voice came back all but instantly. "We are awaiting details."

"I'll be there in twenty seconds," he replied and then shut down the connection.

As he walked onto the bridge everyone was at their stations, including Spock who was in his dress uniform just like Jim. His lover had left their quarters early that morning to catch up on some of the work they had missed because of their situation. Now Jim was beginning to wish he had asked Spock to stay in bed for possibly their last morning together as things were.

"The device appears to be Romulan," Spock reported immediately, "and is turning the reactor into an explosive mechanism. It is protected by what appears to be a new style neutrino energy field."

A chill went down Jim's spine.

"They are requesting engineering assistance and evacuation of personnel," Spock finished the report.

Of course they were requesting assistance, neutrino fields were cutting edge and Jim knew of only a few people in Starfleet who knew anything about them. Two of them happened to be on his ship.

"I would like to remind the Captain that I have studied neutrino fields extensively," Spock said.

"Yes, Spock, I know," he snapped back, that was his dilemma.

He was torn. He knew what he should do, it was obvious, but he was loathed to send Spock into such danger. For a moment he was frozen in indecision as his conflicting thoughts fought with each other. He could send Philips, the woman was qualified to do the job, but Spock was far superior with his Vulcan intellect. This was exactly why Starfleet wanted to relieve him of command. In the end all he could focus on was what Spock had said in the hearing; his bondmate did believe in the needs of the many and he knew exactly what Spock would say. He also knew his duty.

"Mr Spock, head the away team, take whomever you deem necessary," he said succinctly. "Mr Scott, I want full power to the transporters, get as many people over here as you can, but be ready to switch to shields if we need it."

"Aye, Captain," came back instantly and Spock was already on the way to the door.

"Just make sure you come back, Spock," he said, unable to help himself as his lover and first officer walked into the turbo lift.

Spock simply nodded once and that was it. Jim shared a glance with Nyota as she slipped into her duty station and then turned back to the situation at hand.

"Mr Checkov, I want immediate updates if anything over there changes," he said and tried to keep his mind on the job rather than the danger Spock was in.

A terrorist attack this far into Federation space was not completely unheard of, but it had to have been a huge risk for whoever had planted the device.

"Mr Sulu, plot us the fastest course out of here in case we need to leave in a hurry," he instructed. "Mr Rogers, find me anything unusual in the system, anything from space junk to an ion trail. If the perpetrators are still anywhere nearby, I want to know."

It was a long shot, but at least it gave him something to think about.

"Enterprise to Mr Spock," he said after ten minutes of looking for indications he was pretty sure weren't there.