Copyright © 2025 by Julien Gregg
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The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Star Trek Lexus
By Julien Gregg
Chapter Seven
Kirk Personal Log Stardate 57852.8
It has been seven days since we left New Moon Station for Station NEZ-5. The trip so far has been completely uneventful. I've spent time getting to know the various members of the crew that I hadn't met before and noticed that the holodeck that was added to the ship during it's stay at New Moon Station has become quite popular among the crew.
Ensign Kiernan has created a program that is very popular with the even the admiral. It is a bar from Twentieth Century San Francisco called Murphy's. He'd first created the program at the academy but had downloaded it and brought it along on this mission. The bar is an easy going place with three pool tables, six dart boards and a jukebox. We're all on the young side but a programming code change allows us to order our drinks freely. The characters in the program are fun but sometimes a bit rowdy.
Admiral Janeway says it reminds her a bit of Sandrine's, a program created by Tom Paris on Voyager while they were in the Delta Quadrant. She called it a little time away from the grind. I don't think we've been on the ship long enough for it to have become a grind that needs escaping from but Murphy's is a nice diversion and a great place to get to know the crew.
"Everyone seems to be adapting to life on the ship all right so far," said Kathryn as she sat at a table at Murphy's with Quinn and Chad after alpha shift ended on their seventh day in space.
"They're all so happy to actually be doing something Starfleet that they don't care how small the ship is," said Chad with a smirk.
"I'm sure this place is keeping them happy," she said, smiling wide as she looked around.
"Oh it helps," laughed Jim. "I sure like it here."
"Oh me too!" cried Chad. "Yesterday we had hot wings that were so good I couldn't drink the milk fast enough to stop my mouth from burning."
"We had chips and salsa," laughed Jim. "I didn't even realize how much I missed plain old chips and salsa the twentieth century way."
"Food so hot it burns your mouth for hours?" Kathryn asked, eyeing them hard. "I must have some."
"Did I hear someone ask about hot food?" asked the bar maid as she came to the table to refill their glasses. Her Irish accent was thick. "Why you can order any time you like."
"All right, Maggie," said Quinn with a smirk. "Bring us a round of chips and salsa while we wait for a heaping plate of hot wings."
"Don't forget the ranch dressing, Maggie, please!" Chad cried as she walked away.
"Ranch dressing?" Kathryn asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Of course!" Jim sighed. "You can't have anything that spicy without the ranch. Trust me."
"Well I'll have to," she said. "I suppose we should ask for lots of milk as well."
"Oh we don't have to," said Quinn. "With every plate of Maggie's wings comes a pitcher of milk. Two if there are more than four people at the table."
"That's saying something if they serve the milk with the hot food," she said, laughing as Maggie returned with a basket of fresh baked tortilla chips and a crock of salsa large enough for two baskets of chips.
"These be the good ones, lads," she said, smiling. "Always happy to see you comin' in you know?"
"We love you, Maggie," Jim said, smiling at her. Kathryn was shocked when the woman leaned over and kissed Jim on each cheek.
"'Mind me of me brother, you do," she said before sighing and walking back toward the bar.
"I see you're developing a following at the local hot spot," laughed Kathryn.
"Maggie owns the place," Jim explained. "Kiernan programmed her to be that way."
"Well I'll have to keep my eye on Ensign Kiernan then won't I?" she laughed, taking a chip and drowning it in salsa.
"He's quite a guy," said Quinn.
"These are great," she said, reaching for another chip and chewing noisily but with happiness on her first.
"We told you," said Chad with a grin.
"Bridge to Captain Kirk," came the voice of Ensign Sonya Kemperson over the comm.
"Go ahead, bridge," he said.
"Captain we're picking up a distress call from a Starfleet ship," she said.
"On my way," he said, eyeing Chad and Quinn. "Come on boys. We're on."
Kathryn followed them out of the holodeck, wondering what was happening and how they would handle it as they went. She didn't say anything as she listened to Jim telling his senior staff to be alert and ready and not to panic.
"Report," he said once they reached the bridge.
"Captain, sensors tell us that ship is the USS Ranger," said Sonya from her station.
"That would be Captain Sparks," he said, looking at Chad. The boys had matching worried expressions on their faces.
"Lay in an intercept course," said Jim. "Warp one. Engage. Yellow alert."
The ship came out of warp just in front of the Ranger. She looked dead in the water but there were no other ships visible in the area. Jim asked for a full sensor sweep that revealed no ships anywhere near them.
"This is Cadet Captain James R. Kirk of the Federation Starship Leviathan," he said, using his own console to open a channel. "How may we be of assistance?"
There was no response and he asked for a scan of the ship for life signs. Ensign Kemperson replied that there was a full crew compliment of life signs and nothing wrong with their communications. Then she gasped.
"Sir, the Ranger is charging weapons," she said excitedly.
"Red alert," he said. "Raise shields. Captain Sparks stand down! We've come to offer assistance."
Kathryn was tense as she watched. Captain Sparks did not answer him yet again and they sat there in a stalemate for a few moments. She wondered what Sparks was thinking. She knew that there was bad blood between her and Jim but this was crazy. She had to know there was an admiral aboard the ship.
"Captain they're firing phasers," said Sonya.
"Computer, show me a complete systems diagram of the USS Ranger on main viewer," said Jim just as the ship rocked from phaser fire.
The computer filled with the diagram and Kathryn wondered just what he was doing. She had little time to wait when he punched buttons on his console while looking from the console to the diagram and back again.
"Target the coordinates that I have entered," he said. "Lock phasers and fire!"
The computer immediately switched back to the scene in front of them as the ship's phasers were fired at the Ranger. Kathryn was about to step in when she saw that they hit the ship's shields and there was no damage. However Captain Sparks returned fire.
"Shields at seventy-four percent, Captain," said Sonya. She looked terrified.
"Calm down, Ensign," he said. "Fire on the same coordinates but this time use hyperphasers. I assure you that it will be all right."
"Aye Captain, firing hyperphasers," she said. Then the phasers were fired, penetrating the Ranger's shields. There was a small explosion at the back of the ship.
"Report," he cried.
"Their shields are down, sir, and their weapons are offline," she said breathlessly.
"Captain Sparks prepare to be boarded," he said. "Quinn, take a security team and bring me Captain Sparks."
Kathryn watched him closely. She noticed that he hadn't panicked or even broke a sweat. He seemed angry but his anger was controlled. He'd used force against a Stafleet vessel but it wasn't unnecessary or brute. She was impressed. She hoped she would be equally impressed by Chad and his security team.
"Dodds to Captain Kirk," came Chad's voice over the comm.
"Go ahead Mr. Dodds," Jim replied.
"Captain we're ready for transport," said Chad. "We'll be escorting both Captain Sparks and Commander Porter to the Leviathan."
"Very well," he said, nodding at Ensign T'Zar. "Bridge to transporter room."
"Ensign Miller here, Captain," came the response.
"Beam the away team back, Mr. Miller," he said. "Lieutenant T'Zar please accompany me to the transporter room." He stood. "Admiral?"
They made their way to the transporter room but Kathryn decided to stand back out of sight for a moment just to see what Captain Sparks and Commander Porter would do. She could see the transporter pads but she was fairly certain that she couldn't be seen where she was standing.
"Unhand me!" cried Captain Sparks as she materialized with Chad gripping her arm, his phaser pointed at her. "I'm a Starfleet Captain! You will be expelled and face Court Martial for this, Mr. Dodds!"
"Captain Sparks," said Jim loudly, ending her tirade. "You fired upon a Starfleet vessel unprovoked. You sent out a distress call for a ship that wasn't in distress . . ."
"Oh shut up, Kirk," she snapped. "You won't get away with this. We're not in Andromeda now."
"You fail to realize that you fired on a ship transporting an admiral," said Kathryn as she walked into the room. "Cadet Captain Kirk operated under my authorization. Mr. Dodds take her and her First Officer to the brig. Jim I suggest you contact Starfleet."
"Of course, Admiral," he said, smiling slightly. "Mr. Dodds?"
"Aye, Captain," said Chad as he and T'Zar escorted Captain Sparks and Commander Porter out of the transporter room.
She followed Jim to his Ready Room and waited while he sent a message to Starfleet over subspace. He told them exactly what happened and even attached sensor logs to his transmission. She was impressed. They waited only ten minutes before Admiral Aaron responded. His orders were to stay put until the Enterprise arrived to take custody of Captain Sparks and Commander Porter. He said that Enterprise would handle repairs of Ranger and get her back to Earth.
"Well that was intense," he sighed as he turned to look at Kathryn.
"I knew that she held a grudge against you but I never dreamed she go this far, Jim," said Kathryn.
"I didn't either," he said. "What's done is done though. I should tell the crew about our orders so they don't wonder why we're just sitting here in space."
"Yes," she said, smiling.
She was impressed by how he'd handled it all. She supposed his time on Lexus had really seasoned him. In her opinion he acted like a true captain and after seeing everything he'd done she didn't think she'd have done a better job. She stayed behind to make her own report to Admiral Aaron with a smile on her face.
"We'll be staying here until the Enterprise arrives," he told the bridge crew. "They'll take custody of our prisoners and handle Ranger. Then we'll be on our way again."
"Aye Captain," said Sonya.
"Ensign Kemperson you did a great job," he said as Kathryn came to the bridge. "You handled yourself professionally and coolly. I know you were scared and the fact that you were and still held yourself in check tells me something. I'm glad to have you on the crew."
"Thank you Captain," she said, blushing.
"Well done everyone," he said. "We'll sit here and wait for the Enterprise and let the adrenaline fade. If there's anything anyone needs to talk about I'm available until we resume course."
He was impressive all right. She was happy with the way he handled the crew and his pep talk with Sonya Kemperson made her see that he had the stuff to be a captain. Owen Paris and Ben Aaron had been right about him. She hadn't really doubted that he could do it but she hadn't realized he could do it this well.
"That was almost like old times," Chad said when they were sitting in the mess hall that night for a late dinner.
"Were you all right?" Jim asked, looking at him hard. Neither boy noticed Kathryn watching and listening from a few tables away.
"Not really," he said. "I'd have felt a lot better if we'd been aboard Lexus when it happened but we handled it. This was nothing compared to the Borg, Jim."
"No it wasn't," he agreed. "Chad you have to know that anywhere in space can be dangerous just like it was in Andromeda."
"I know that," replied Chad. "I'm fine, Jim. Really. Thanks for worrying about me though."
"What are brothers for?" Jim asked with a smile.
"You should have seen Quinn," said Chad with a crooked grin on his face. "Captain Sparks pointed a phaser at him and he slapped it out of her hand and told her not to make things worse for herself by being stupid."
"He slapped it out of her hand?" Jim asked, eyes wide.
"He sure did," laughed Chad. "Shocked the hell out of me and Suran."
"I'm sure it did," said Jim. "Did he even draw his phaser?"
"Not once," he said. "It was like he didn't think he needed to."
"We'll have to talk to him about that, Chad," said Jim. "He can't expect that he can just slap phasers out of the hands of people who point them at him. He isn't immortal anymore. He needs to realize that."
"Yeah," said Chad. "You know you're doing it again."
"Doing what?" he asked, taking a bite of his food.
"You're being Captain Kirk," said Chad. "I missed Captain Kirk."
"I missed Lieutenant Dodds," Jim said with a smile.
Kathryn watched and listened to what they said. She was still sitting there when they got up to go to their quarters for the night. Yes, she thought, she had much to discuss with Admiral Aaron and Admiral Paris. Seeing Jim Kirk in command showed her exactly how those two boys had traversed the Andromeda Galaxy and come out of it without a scratch. Jim Kirk was going to make a stellar captain.
The Enterprise arrived the next afternoon. Jim was happy to see them come. He'd stayed out of the brig and away from his prisoners not wanting to have anything to do with them. He'd feel much more comfortable when they were off his ship and he was on his way again. He exchanged pleasantries with Captain Picard and happily asked T'Zar and Suran to escort the prisoners to the transporter room and then to the Enterprise. Once they were back he said farewell to Captain Picard.
"Mr. Dodds, lay in a course for Station NEZ-5," he said with a sigh as he sat in his chair.
"Course laid in, sir," said Chad.
"Take us there, Mr. Dodds," he said. "Warp five."
"Aye, sir, warp five," Chad replied, running his fingers across his console and the ship lurched as it went to warp.
"Captain Kirk I was wondering if you'd have lunch with me at Murphy's," said Kathryn as she stood.
"Of course, Admiral," he said, smiling. "You have the bridge Mr. Janeway."
They made their way to the holodeck in silence. Jim was happy that the ship was on its way again and Kathryn was trying to put together in her head what she wanted to say to him. She couldn't reveal everything to him but she wanted him to know that she was impressed and that she'd made a full report to Admiral Aaron about her impressions.
Murphy's was busy as usual. Maggie saw them as they came in and walked straight to them. She laughed a girlish laugh when Jim apologized for rushing out on her the day before and seated them at a table away from the crowd.
"I'll bring you chips and salsa with your drinks," she said, smiling as she ruffled Jim's hair.
"Thanks Maggie," he said, smiling at her as she walked away from the table.
"I'm very impressed with you Jim," said Kathryn when Maggie was away. "The way you handled yourself yesterday was perfect. I was also impressed with the way you talked with Ensign Kemperson after the event."
"Thank you, Kathryn," he said. "But I wasn't trying to impress anyone. Captain Sparks has had it in for me for a while. I wanted to eliminate the threat. Once that was done I needed to address Ensign Kemperson's fear and let her know that it was all right to feel fear as long as she doesn't let it consume her."
"That's what impressed me," she said. "You handled yourself like an actual commissioned captain yesterday."
"Well don't take this the wrong way," he said. "Being on Lexus taught me a lot about being in command of a crew."
"I can understand that," she said. "What I'm trying to tell you is that there was a reason you were chosen to be Captain of this ship. Admirals Aaron and Paris wanted to see how you would handle yourself."
"I figured that the captain should have been a senior," he said. "I also figured that was why I was captain instead of someone else. I knew they'd want to see how it was that I handled myself in command of a crew. I'm not playing at being captain, Kathryn. I was really being the captain that I was on Lexus."
"I believe that," she said. "I sent a report to Admiral Aaron about my impressions of yesterday and I sent another this morning about my impressions of the conversation you and Chad had last night in the mess hall. Don't get upset I wasn't trying to listen in. I just couldn't help it. I was that impressed with yesterday."
"I don't understand where you're going with this," he admitted.
"Admiral Aaron wants to extend to you a personal invitation to Command School when you graduate," she said. "Jim, understand this. No one is commissioned Captain when they first graduate from the academy. You will be if Admiral Aaron has his way."
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