Kirk paced around her chair as she waited for the message from Starfleet to arrive.  She’d mastered the art of walking in these chunky boots with their four inch heels and inch thick sole.  At least they added some height to her slim figure; she still didn’t make it past Spock’s shoulder though, even on a good day like today.  However she had other means of attracting attention and the force of her personality was more than enough to convince any doubters that she was the captain.  Spock was right; she had to stop thinking about what she might have done if she were still male.  She was female now and she had to think and act like a woman, she sat down on the chair, crossed her legs and waited for them to come to her.  “They know how to keep us waiting.”  She looked at Spock.  “Patience is supposed to be a virtue, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.  However I find myself wondering if the delay is motivated by human emotions.”

“I’m sure they’ll let us know when they’re ready, I don’t have anything planned.  Do you have anything planned Lt. Sulu?”

“My diary’s all clear, captain.”

“Mine too.”  Chekov added.  “It is the waiting that is the most unsettling part.”

“We’ll know soon enough Ensign.”  Kirk held her hand out and looked at her fingernails.  “It’s Starfleet’s time to waste after all.”

“Captain.”  Uhura spoke quickly.  “I’m getting the signal now.”

“On the main viewer please Lieutenant.”  Kirk looked into the ruggedly handsome face of Admiral Jellicoe.  “Admiral, how may we be of service?”

“It’s been a long time Kirk, I must say the change has done you the world of good, if I weren’t married I’d give you these orders in person.”

Kirk laughed.  “I won’t tell Hester you said that if you don’t.”

“Indeed not, no-one wants a war on two fronts, the Romulans I can deal with.”  He laughed nervously.  “Here are your orders Janice.  You’re to take the Enterprise into Klingon space, there you will meet up with Captain Koloth and join his strike force to enter Romulan space and launch a strike on Romulus and Remus as soon as the Romulans make their move.  I’m sending the USS Rowan Oak along with you as well.  I understand that you know Captain Connor.”

“We were at the academy together, he was an excellent pilot, he almost passed over the captaincy because he thought he’d never get to pilot again, I understand his helmsman only gets her hands on the controls when he’s needed in the centre seat.”

“She’ll get all the time she wants now.  We’ll be officially at war soon enough, the Romulan ambassadors just left on their shuttle.”

“We’ll make best speed for the Klingon homeworld and see Connor there.  Kirk out.”  The transmission ceased and she looked at Spock.  “I should address the crew.”  She pressed the communication button on her chair that activated the speakers all over the ship.  “This is the captain speaking; we’ve received orders to make for the Klingon homeworld.  Once there we will join a joint Federation/Klingon taskforce to strike at the heart of the Romulan Star Empire.  The USS Rowan Oak will meet us there so we won’t feel lonely.  If you have any last messages for loved ones back on earth then please send them within the next few minutes as we’ll be leaving communications range of earth shortly and from then on we’ll be running on radio silence until we reach our destination.”  She cut the connection and looked back at Spock.  “How many wars have we called ‘the war to end all wars’?”

“On Earth?  47.”

“That many?”  Kirk sighed.

“I guess today will be number 48 then.”

“My ancestors were a violent people, always in a state of war and conflict.  We’d fight over the smallest of reasons, a diplomatic sleight, a scrap of land, meagre fuel resources, even just because one leader saw the worst of themselves reflected in another and feared the competition.  It was a long and brutal chronicle.”

Chekov was enjoying his meal.  He’d just come off of a long shift and now he was looking forward to spending some time with Ensign Yin Li.  Li was unlike any other ensign, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met and she had a very Russian outlook on life which he found very appealing.  She’d let him sit with her, which was a good sign and the bright red uniform brought out the dark brown of her eyes perfectly.  “This chicken, it is very good.”

Li nodded and wondered why Pavel was being so coy.  She liked him, he was her type and she wanted him to show her more affection but he just couldn’t read her signals, so maybe she’d have to resort to more blatant actions?  She began to slowly rub the inside of his leg with her foot.

“Perhaps we can skip this meal?”  Chekov said.  “I feel like a walk, have you seen the arboretum?”

Li had, but she didn’t want to put him off after he’d finally taken the hint.  “I’d love to.”  She took his arm and he led her out of the door.  “I am so worried about the future, I worry that we’re all going to be killed.”

Chekov put his arm around Li’s waist and held her close to him.  “It will be alright, you have me to protect you now.”

Li smiled to herself as she’d finally got her man.

Koloth was eating fresh gach when Kirk and her first officer entered the room.  “I see you’ve made the trip on time.”  He nodded to a seat.  “Why don’t you dine with us?”

Kirk sat down.  “Just a small portion for me, I’m watching my figure.”

Spock raised an eyebrow at the foot.  “I am a vegetarian.”

“We have suitable foods, Vulcan, although the flavours may be a little…intense…for you.”

“I shall endeavour to try them none the less.  After all one would not wish to create a cultural misunderstanding at such a crucial moment in the history of our two philosophies.”

“No.”  Koloth replied.  “One would not.  Luckily I had a small supply of Vulcan foods imported just for this occasion.”

Kirk put a few bits and pieces on her plate.  She was shocked to see that some of it moved, but she tried not to show it.  “It smells delicious.”  She looked around for a knife and fork.  “I don’t see the cutlery.”

“We eat with our hands.”  Second officer Lar’sar hissed at the human female.  “We are warriors; we have no need of utensils.  We kill our food and eat it with our bare hands.”  To emphasise she scooped up a handful of gach and ate it nosily before burping.

“Manners maketh the lady.”  Kirk joked, before picking out one of the less mobile food worms and eating it like a strand of spaghetti.  “This is nice.”  She said after chewing 25 times and then swallowing.  “I could use a glass of water though.”  Someone slammed a tankard of wine in front of her.  “Ah, I don’t normally drink before I go on duty but in this case I can make an exception.”  She took a sip.  “Smooth, very smooth.”  In truth it tasted like what she feared was paint remover but it didn’t do to upset the Klingons.

Koloth stood up and lifted his drink in the air.  “A toast, to our Federation allies, may they fight well and die with honour.”

Kirk stood up.  “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll fight side by side with you, but I intend to live through this and see the Romulans defeated.  As an old Earth monarch once said: ‘And therefore I am come amongst you all, as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust.’  She’s been an inspiration to me of late.”

Koloth applauded.  “Fine words Kirk.  They rouse the blood for battle.”

The USS Rowan Oak pulled up by the USS Enterprise.  Captain Connor had a vital message to tell his old friend.  However before he could transport across his ship exploded.

Scotty watched as the USS Rowan Oak exploded in a ball of light and debris.  “Scan for survivors.”

Acting science officer Troi found nothing.  “Just reading bodies sir, and traces of an explosive.  It’s trilithium sir.”

“Romulans!”  Scotty snarled.  “Only they’ve been able to synthesise trilithium in any measurable quantity.  It’s a good job we had the shield up after we transported the captain and Mr. Spock onto the Klingon ship.”

“We’re lucky that the Klingons insisted on it as a standard tactical procedure.  Otherwise the blast would have torn us apart and many of the Klingon ships too.”

“Aye lad, lucky.  Lieutenant Uhura, get me the Captain.”

“Yes sir.”  Uhura said and tried to contact the captain on her personal communicator.

“Kirk here.”  Kirk’s soft voice filled the bridge.

“Captain.  Are you aware of the situation?”

“Yes, were there any survivors?”

“None.  I have a bad feeling about this.”

“A possible leak of information?”

“Aye, it seems to me that the Romulans knew exactly where we were and sabotaged that ship to explode the moment it heaved to.”

“I see.  Well I don’t think this changes anything regarding our plans.  We’ll proceed as planned, Janice out.”

Scott sat back in the chair.  “We’re launching now Mr. Sulu.  Set course for the secondary target and go to flank speed.”

“Aye sir.”  Sulu replied.  “Course set, flank speed engaged.”

“The secondary target?”  Uhura said aloud.

“Aye lass, in case the Romulans found out about our main plan, Starfleet and the Klingon high council met in secret session to plan a secondary target as a back up in case things went fubar with the main objective.  We’re going to take out their military outposts at Enceladus 3.”

Koloth looked at his two guests.  “It looks like you’ll be our guests for longer than we thought.  I’ll find berths for you both, although you may have to share.”

“The captain can share with me.”  Lar’sar said quickly.  “My roommate died in combat last month and we haven’t received another female warrior to replace her yet.”

“Thanks for the offer.”  Kirk said to Lar’sar and then punched her hard in the face, knocking her to the ground.  “I’m a captain; I don’t share with subordinates, have your things taken out of my room and find somewhere else to sleep.”

Lar’sar laughed.  “I like you captain, you truly have a warrior’s heart.”

Kirk looked at Koloth.  “I can see brushing up on Klingon etiquette was a wise move this morning.”

Koloth nodded.  “Lar’sar will find her way into someone’s bed.  Tonight is the last night before we go to war; our male and female warriors seek companionship together for what could be their last time.”

“I could have done without the scary visual thank you.”  Kirk replied.  “I shall be in my cabin until we reach the stopover point.”

Bones wandered around the sickbay in a daze.  Luckily there was only one patient, Ensign Philippa Lovecraft and she had a bad knee that Chapel was attending to.  “I can’t get used to it, one day we’re just friends and the next everything’s changed.”

“You’re not the first man to be in love.”  Chapel said to Dr. McCoy.  “And she’s not the first woman either.  People have been falling in love with one another for millions of years.”

“Is it that obvious?”  Bones asked.

“She’s my friend, we talk about everything.”

“Everything?”  Bones wanted urgent clarification.

“Only the juicy details.”  Chapel said teasingly.  “Apparently she thinks you’re quite the gentleman.  Don’t worry, she’ll be back.  You don’t get off her hook that easily.  She’ll reel you in alright, as soon as we’re at the stopover point.”

“She’s worth the wait.”  Bones said wistfully.

“Yes, well some of us don’t want to hear about other people’s love lives right now.”  Chapel said smartly.  “Some of us can’t get a guy to notice us, not even after six years.”

“My roommate is on a date right now, with Walter Chekov.”  Philippa said to Nurse Chapel.  “She’s been after him for three months.  Luckily I did sprain my knee or I’d have to fake this injury to give her some quality time with her new boyfriend.”