The Stars Above Us

Chapter 25

"Sir, get down," one of the officers near her, Hendricks, said.

Jim took cover behind a short wall and started doing a visual scan. "There are a lot of Klingons between us and the civilians down here."

"Should make it interesting. Hendricks and T'Cel with me on the right, Bradley and Glinak with the Commander on the left," Gaynor told the group. They all gave him nod before he counted them down. "Alright, ladies and gents, in three... two… one… go." The team of six officers entered the area and started taking out the Klingon warriors.

"Jack, on your three o'clock," Jim said into her comms.

"Copy," he said. "Watch your nine."

"Got it," she chuckled as she turned to shoot the Klingon coming up on her left flank. "Bradley, duck."

The woman did what Jim told her, shooting the Klingon next to her head. "Thanks, sir."

"Anytime. We gotta get a move on," the young commanding officer said.

"They just keep coming," Glinak, a Tellarite Lieutenant said. "There's no way to fight them and get the civilians."

"It's hopeless," Hendricks muttered.

"Computer, pause simulation," Jim ordered. The computer complied and Jim stood from where she was kneeling. "Say that again."

"It's hopeless, sir," Hendricks said so that everyone could hear.

"Nothing is ever hopeless. There's always an answer, a solution. You may not like the choice you get but you do have a choice. I don't ever want to hear you or anyone else say something like that again," she told him. "Now, what are the variables and what are our options?"

"We're outmatched by the squadron of Klingons pouring into this area," Bradley said. "We also have a group of civilians holed up in a building on the other side of this courtyard that we need to extract."

"The Klingons are approaching from the south and the east. We came in from the north, so the west side might be clear," T'Cel added.

"Maybe… Maybe we can split up," Hendricks said. "Have a team hold this position and sneak a team to the civilians."

"Okay, say that works, how do you get the civilians out?" Jack asked.

"Maintenance tunnels. There's an outlet near the base," Glinak told them. "We get the civilians out that way."

"Boom! Gaynor and I just got caught in an explosion. Glinak's the ranking officer. What are your orders for your men?" Jim asked.

"T'Cel and Bradley, get to the civilians. Hendricks, we need to hold this line no matter what," the Tellarite said.

"Computer, move Kirk and Gaynor to observation mode and resume simulation," Jim said. The computer acknowledged and the four officers got back to their training.

"Are you sure about these four?" Jack asked after pulling the comm out of his ear.

"No, that's why they're training," she sighed. They'd been assigned to the Bay for nine months and these four officers were the least combat ready. They were also the newest transfers in, so Jim didn't hold it against them too much.

"I just wish HQ would send someone with some combat experience every once and while," he chuckled.

"Where's the fun in that, Jack? Training all the newbies means we have an excuse to gear up and play around in the simulators," Jim reminded him.

"Might not be playing around anymore," Dex said as he walked into the room with them. "Brass is on comms for you, sir. Doesn't look good."

"Thanks, Dex. Jack…"

"I got these guys," her XO told her before she and her yeoman left the room.

"How bad?" Jim asked as they walked down the corridor.

"Bad," Dex said. "It's Admiral Kane." Jim looked up at Dex with wide eyes. "Yea." Kane was the head of Starfleet Tactical Command and some people call him the Harbinger of Death. He was the last person you wanted to see, especially if you're anywhere near the Klingons, it meant that the s**t was about to hit the fan.

"That is bad," she muttered as she walked into her office, sat at the desk and activated her console. "Admiral."

"Kirk, you have trouble coming."

"Sir, we just lost subspace communications," Dex said. "Transporters aren't working either."

According to the brass, there was a scrimmage in the system, the Starfleet vessel that was there on patrol, the USS Aeolus, was heavily damaged and the Klingons were headed their way within the next few hours. Starfleet was sending them some back up but the Klingons had a head start. For now, all they could do is hunker down, prep to leave but be ready to fight.

"Jammers," Jim said.

"Most likely," Gaynor said. "That's actually not a bad thing."

"How do you figure?" Bones asked as he joined the small group.

Jim looked at her husband, "Means that even though we can't leave, we can still talk to each other locally and the Klingons can't beam us off the planet. Looks like this is gonna be a ground fight."

"A ground fight with a bunch of pissed off Klingons sounds bad to me, Jim," Bones said.

"Of course it does, you're a lover not a fighter. Fighting's my job," Jim said with a wink. "How's the evac of the colony going?"

"The teams are finishing up their sweep. I got the section leaders doing a head count now," Jack told her. "What's the plan?"

"We need to know what we're dealing with out there," she said with a sigh.

"I can take a team," Gaynor told her. "See if we can find out what the Klingons are up to and report back."

"Sounds like a plan," Jim nodded. "Don't do anything stupid and get your ass back here in one piece."

"Can do."

"Can we boost that?" Jim asked as she stood behind Dex at the communications console in the control room.

"One second," he told her. Dex pulled up the feed from the small imager on Jack's tactical gear. Dex muttered something in his native language. Jim didn't know what it was but she was pretty sure that it was a curse.

"Get them back here, now," Jim ordered. She didn't stay in the room long enough to hear Dex's reply, she knows he'll do his job. Jim went into the main room, jumped up on a table and let out a whistle. Everyone looked at her. "The Klingons are moving in on this base. My people, you know what your roles are so I don't have to get into that. Everyone else, if you can be of any help defending this base until our backup gets here, let us know and we'll find a place for you. If you can't help, please follow whatever instructions are given and stay out of the way. We're all gonna get through this, together. As you all were."

How the Klingons breached the main gate of the base so fast, she'll never know. Gaynor and his team made it back just in time to help fight the advancing warriors off. Fortunately, the ship Starfleet promised showed up and they were giving the Klingons hell from orbit, all Jim had to do was get her people and the colonists to the ship. Jack disabled some of the jammers on his way back, so they were being beamed out but almost eight hundred people took some time.

"I really wish you would've gone with the rest of the medical staff," Jim muttered to her husband.

"I'm not leaving here without you. Deal with it," he replied before popping up next to her and shooting a Klingon.

"You're infuriating," she told him. Jim shot a few more Klingons, then returned to cover to let her weapon recharge. "You hate this shit."

"True but I'd hate to bury my wife more. I can get over this, not that," Bones said.

"Stop being adorable right now, it's distracting," Jim muttered.

Bones chuckled before he moved to shoot again, but he didn't get a chance when a hand grabbed him. Jim didn't even think, she just jumped on the Klingon. The guy let Bones go, win. The guy now had Jim, not a win. She could fight with the best of them but this guy was huge and angry and it hurt like a b***h when he hit her. Jim pulled the small knife out of the sheath the Klingon was wearing and stabbed him in the shoulder with it just as he took a phaser blast to the face.

"You almost hit me," she sighed.

"But I didn't. You're welcome," her husband pulled her to her feet.

"Hey, I stopped him from killing you first," Jim said. "Gaynor, status?"

"Could use some help," her XO replied over comms.

"Heading your way, sir," Dex said.

"Kirk to Yorktown," she called to the ship.

"Go ahead, Commander," her dad's voice was a welcome thing. Something about hearing him and having Bones with her made Jim feel like she could take on the universe by herself.

"How much longer?" she asked. There was silence on the other end for a moment.

"Thirty seconds," another voice said. Jim checked with her officers to make sure that they heard, which they did. As promised, they were beamed out half a minute later. "Welcome to the Yorktown," the officer at the console told them. "Someone will show you to the bridge, sir."

"It's okay, I know my way around," she said before looking at her officers. "Everyone get checked out. Jack, go check on our people. Dex, check on your family." He moved to argue. "Whatever it is, don't worry about it now. They're more important, go. Bones…"

"I'm going with you."

"Figured as much," she said as they left the room and went to the turbolift. "He's gonna kill me."

"No he won't, darlin'," Bones told her. She gave him a look. "He won't. He might fuss over you though."

"That's just as bad," Jim chuckled as the doors to the lift opened. "Permission to enter the bridge."

"By all means, Miss Kirk," her dad said from the command chair.

"What are they doing?" Bones asked as he looked out the view screens.

"We have disabled their warp drive," Spock told him.

"They're trying to decide if it's worth it. They already lost," Jim muttered.

"How do you figure?" Robbins asked.

"They don't have the advantage they thought they had. They expected my base to be an easy win but it's not. My officers are too well trained, the system was wiped clean and the whole station is wired to blow. They just don't know that last part yet," Jim said. Everyone on the bridge looked at her. "What? 'Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.'"

"A quote from Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Most appropriate," Spock said.

"I try," Jim smiled.

Bones rolled his eyes, "Oh, God. Don't encourage her."

"We blew up the station and they're still not leaving," Bones said.

"This planet has a tactical advantage in their war against the Federation," Spock said.

"It's not the planet," Jim muttered. "They could've come after this place a dozen plus times in the last year. Why attack now? They obviously want something." She thought about it for a moment. "Where was this ship before you were diverted to us?"

"Aldebaran. Why?" her dad asked. Jim ran the Yorktown's schedule for the last year through her head.

"Kaaj," she said.

"You know about Kaaj?" Robbins asked. Jim nodded.

At the same time, Bones looked at her, "What's a Kaaj?"

"Kaaj is a very unstable Klingon who has an issue with me," her dad said.

"By issue he means Blood Debt," Jim told her husband.

Her dad looked at her, "You honestly think that he would…"

"Attack a planet where your daughter is the CO of a Starfleet Station right next to Klingon space the first time your ship is anywhere near the system. Yea, I do," she told her dad. "If they really wanted this place, they could've taken it when Broad had command. The station was a mess when we got here, Gaynor and I worked our asses off to get the station and colony in the best tactical condition they have ever been in, our evals prove it. The Yorktown hasn't been out this far in sixteen months. The first time you're within a few hours of us they attack my station. It's doesn't take a genius to figure this out and I happen to be a genius."

"So, it's not about Ajilon Prime, the Bay or even the people, it's about who the fleet sent to rescue us," Bones said. "The Klingons used Jim as bait knowing full well that you'd rush over here to protect her." No sooner had he said the words did the ship get hit with a heavy duty weapon.

"s**t," Robbins said has her hands flew over the helm. "Hull breach on deck three."

"Sir, we have two more ships dropping out of warp," one of the officers behind her dad called. "One of them is the IKS Varchas."

"That's Kaaj's ship. Looks like you get a gold star, kid," her dad said. "D'wara, turn over your console to Miss Kirk." The young officer hopped out of his seat and Jim took over the weapons/tactical station. "McCoy, you might want to hang on. Ladies, if you'd be so kind."

Jim and Robbins didn't have to be told twice, they got to work taking out as many of the Klingons ships as they could while taking shots at Kaaj's vessel. All they had to do was hold out until the other ships that Starfleet sent their way actually got there. Even though Jim never served with her dad's first officer, they both had the advantage of knowing how her dad thought and anticipated his orders with ease.

"I kinda feel bad for this Kaaj guy. Jim and Chris are scary enough by themselves. Putting them in a position to work together is just stupid," Bones whispered to someone but Jim heard it.

"Indeed. Kaaj was unwise in his choice to use Jim as bait, it will not end well for him," Spock replied.

Jim couldn't help but chuckle, "Massive understatement, fellas."

"I don't have to pick," Bones said when they were finally alone.

"What?" she asked him.

"Orders. I don't have to pick."

"Uh… why not?" Jim asked.

"I watched you today taking out the Klingons both on the ground and from the weapons station. Hell, I don't think I'm ever gonna forget that big exploding ball you made outta Kaaj's ship. You're in your element out here and I can't take that from you."

She smiled, "You know that I have more than one element, right? Do I love being out here? Yes. Will it bother me to be on Earth or something for a while? No. I made you a promise and I'm gonna keep it. You get to pick the next orders. I won't argue or complain because it doesn't matter where I work as long as I have you."

"You're so annoying. I'm trying to be selfless here and you won't let me, darlin'," Bones grumbled.

"You were already selfless when you packed up and followed me out to the edge of Federation space during a war," Jim reminded him. "So, you get to decide where we go next."

Jim moved as fast as she could through the complete and utter blackness. She could hear the other people with her and Bones, some talking, others laughing and even a few screamers as the sounds and smells got to them. Jim thought it was hilarious because they were all perfectly safe inside this room.

True to her word, Jim let Bones pick their next orders. Fortunately, Larry Marvick still wanted to work with her and there were some teaching assignments at the Academy, so those are the assignments she took, Bones is working out of the Starfleet Medical Center.

Today, they weren't working at all. She doesn't know which one of them came up with it but they decided to spend a few hours at the Exploratorium. So far, they tinkered with some projects in the south gallery, examined a bunch of microorganisms in the east gallery and now they were making their way through the Tactile Dome.

"Somebody had their hand on my ass the whole time," Bones whispered as they got to the end.

"That was me," Jim chuckled.

"Was it?" he asked with a smile and pulled her into his arms.

She nodded, "It was. Can you blame me, it's a nice ass?"

"Not one bit, darlin'," Bones told her. "What do you want to do next?"

"Well… you hungry?"

"A little. How about the burger place you love so much?"

Jim smiled, "You know me so well."

"I can't believe you put me up for a promotion," Jack said.

"I didn't," Jim told him. "I almost did but my dad told me not too. Robbins takes over as Captain of the Yorktown in November. She's been looking for an XO since Spock was her first choice but he's taking a programming spot at the Academy. She asked me about you and liked what she heard, obviously, because you're her pick. The promotion comes with your new billet. Don't tell anyone I told you, you're not supposed to know yet. Just like I'm not supposed to know that I made full Commander."

"What the hell did you tell them?" he asked.

"That you're a good officer and a good XO and that I'm proud to have served with you. All true," she said.

"I don't get it. I mean, I don't even understand why you took me with you to the Bay in the first place."

"Did you know that Bones and I didn't like each other at first?" Jim asked.

"What? You two are so in love it's sickening."

"We're like that now. But, back when we first met, he thought I was annoying and talked too fast, I thought he was a grumpy asshole. We're both still a little like that but that's a conversation for another day. Anyway, we were forced to interact, my dad and his aunt have been close friends for decades and they were serving on the same ship, as they are now. Stuff happened, some good and some bad but we learned that we were better together. We became friends, then best friends, then fell in love and now we're married. You and I will never get that far but over the course of the last almost three years, you went from hating me to trusting me with your life. We grew, as people and as teammates. You learned that being a Kirk wasn't my whole identity. You realized that I was a much better officer than you gave me credit for and you were man enough to admit it. That, combined with the fact that you were always brutally honest and you kick ass, is why I took you to Tananda Bay with me."

"And here I thought you were just doing that whole friends close, enemies closer thing," he chuckled.

"At first, I was," she admitted. "Now, I'm just glad it was you backing me up down there. I don't think we could've gotten everyone off the planet without you."

Jack smiled, "I'm really glad I don't hate you anymore."

"I'm really glad I didn't let my husband hypo you with the vaccine for Melvaran mud fleas. Those symptoms suck."