"I'm giving her all she's got captain!" Scotty shouted over the ship's internal com system.

"All she's got isn't good enough!" Jennifer shouted in reply, watching the scene of the expanding black hole and the gravity well pulling them closer and closer to destruction. "What else do ya got?"

"If we eject the core and detonate-" Scotty started and Jennifer knew exactly what he was thinking then, cutting him off to finish the thought.

"The blast could be strong enough to push us away! Right?" Kirk replied back, frightened for the lives of everyone on board the Enterprise.

"But I cannae promise anything!" Scotty added.

Jennifer thought for a moment, if there was anything else they could do, but just then the internal hull of the bridge started to crack under the pressure.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Jennifer screamed with great urgency. It was their only hope, their only shot at making it out of this alive.

Two hours later, well after the Enterprise had been pushed from the blast of detonating the warp core into the forming black hole, Jennifer was still sitting in the captain's chair, surrounded by the magnificent crew that had come together to pull off an impossible feat.

"Okay guys, call in your replacements and go get some sleep. I think we've all deserved it." Jennifer spoke aloud, raising her head from the fifth PADD she'd been brought. Damage assessments. She looked around, noticing that everyone looked to her now, almost with a look of strong defiance, asking if she was serious. "Look, we've all been awake since this started, half of us have gotten the shit beaten out of us by Romulans, the other half thrown around inside the ship from various hits, we almost died, and I'm sorry about that. But we all need to rest. The trip back to Earth is going to be a long one without a warp core, and we have a bunch of repairs to do. Most importantly our communications systems need to be up and running as soon as possible. I want everyone to rest up, because we have a bunch of work to do in the next week and a half, and it's not going to stop once we get back to Earth. We need to come up with a duty roster, then we can all get some well-deserved sleep."

Everyone looked at Jennifer oddly, she could only guess what they had to say. Nothing had really been said after they'd cleared the artificial black hole, minus some laughing about the near death experience due to tension.

The bridge crew, worked together for the next ten minutes detailing a duty roster for all departments, focusing on shift work and anticipating the heavy repair work. Most departments aside from medical were comprised of a skeleton crew, leaving others to effect repairs. The bridge crew officers were also slated for a nice long shift of rest, as they had been on duty since the distress call had been sent from Vulcan that was. They called their relief and started to turn over their respective areas to the officers coming on shift.

"Alright, since that's in order, go get some sleep you guys. I'll see you back on Alpha shift."

"Aye captain!" Everyone sounded simultaneously before turning to their stations to call their relief. It was amazing to Jennifer that the entirety of the bridge crew had accepted her leadership, given that she had basically staged a mutiny against Spock, and taken control, given that she was still a a cadet like most of them. Spock walked to Jennifer's place at the captain's chair.

"And will you be resting as well captain? I notice you have yet to call for your relief." Spock said pointedly, as Jennifer had gone back to looking over the various damage reports from different departments.

"Yes, Mr. Spock, I will be. I'm just going to finish the damage reports first." Jennifer replied without looking up. She didn't really want to face him now, after the adrenaline of the last several hours had worn off. She didn't know if she could face him right now. She wanted to apologize for what she had said on the bridge to him in order to take the captain's chair from him, but she didn't yet have the words.

"I would advise a trip to the medical bay as soon as possible, captain." Spock said, causing Jennifer to look up at him. In the background she was aware of people changing over duties with their relief.

"I'm fine, Spock. Uh, could you let me know if any of the Vulcans need anything before you go to rest? Please?" Jennifer asked, suddenly very much aware she had yet to check on the survivors.

Spock stared at her blankly for a moment, Jennifer couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, but she thought for just a moment, possible by the slight widening of his eyes, that he seemed surprised by her apparent genuine concern. He didn't know that she was indeed concerned, and very much aware of exactly how every surviving Vulcan felt now.

"Of course, captain." But Spock must have seen something from her, because he did not repeat the request that she visit medical again before he turned around and walked toward the turbo lift. Jennifer followed him with her eyes, noticing that Uhura had quietly waited for him to exit with her, even though her relief was currently sitting at the communications console. Jennifer nodded at Uhura once, solemnly, receiving a slight and somber smile in return before the pair entered the turbo lift together.

Jennifer had not gone to rest as she thought she would have. There was too much work to do. She did call in her relief, but as soon as she left the bridge, she went to visit the various departments of the ship, to physically assess the damage herself. The communications department was fast at work repairing the ship's main subspace communication's array. Jennifer was told that communications would be up and running, ready to establish contact with Earth in a matter of hours.

"Hopefully it won't take too long, but that singularity really did a number on all our systems, captain. Shouldn't be more than a few hours, we'll let you know when it's up and running again." Lieutenant Robertson said.

The next stop that Jennifer made was engineering. She noticed that Scott was still working, bouncing around from one station to the next before she approached him.

"Mr. Scott, what do you have for me?" She asked, surprising him with her presence.

"Well, captain, there isn't much on the ship that isn't damaged. Damn shame, ship as fine as this. We've got structural damage from being caught in the gravity well of the singularity, but I've already gotten repair teams working on that. Also, the communications department was just down here a bit ago. I know you want the long range subspace array up and running to be able to communicate with Starfleet, but well, have ya talked to them yet? Communications that is?"

"Yes, they assure me that communications with Starfleet will be possible in a matter of hours." Jennifer answered.

"I'm thinking it's gonna take a wee bit longer than that, captain." Mr. Scott answered ruefully.

"Explain, please, Mr. Scott."

"Well, ya see, we just don't have the personnel right now, and while the communications officers can do most basic repairs, there's more damage than that, and as I'm sure you'd agree with me lass that structural damage is more important, I'm of the mind that it's going to be just a wee bit more than a few hours before long range communications can be restored."

"I see. Well, do what you can. I want you to rest as well. Make a roster for repairs, in order of priority, but make sure that everyone on shift now gets at least a few hours of sleep before going out to do repairs. Rotate as you see necessary. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I want you act affectively as the chief engineer, since Olsen's dead and all. Do you think you can handle all that, Mr. Scott?"

"Please, call me Scotty lass. And yes! I won't let ya down, captain. I'm just happy to be able to work on the Enterprise, even if she is in a right state." Scotty replied, happy faced with a huge grin akin to someone having been met with a great love.

"Right. Well, then, uh, Scotty, if you need me, just uh, call for me over the ship's intercom. I want an update on the status of repairs in a few hours. Make sure that your replacement knows."

"O'course, captain."

"Thanks, I'll see you later on." Jennifer turned around, but stopped before she left the area. "And Scotty, I mean it, I want you to get some rest." She could already tell the man was a bit of a workaholic, not that she could blame him. She understood what being on the Enterprise meant. And probably he was doubly excited about working on her, even after such a disaster, having been stuck on that ice-hell of a planet Delta Vega.

After visiting engineering she wanted to personally see that the Vulcans had everything they could possibly be given, even if Spock hadn't found her by now.

She recognized one of the Elders, a man that Satek had said was an instructor of sorts of his at the Vulcan Science Academy during one of their video chats. He'd even shown her a picture of the man, which is how she knew who he was now. Satek had told her that he was very kind to him, and that his ability to attend the VSA was mostly due to him, who had been a friend of sorts to his family for a long time, disregarding the fact that his family itself was not of a prominent Vulcan house. Elder Vorick had been something of a grandfather to Satek as his own had died when he was young. Jennifer felt a pang of sorrow at the fact she was not sure of Satek's fate. Her headache flared.

"I grieve with thee." Jennifer said to the Vulcan who had noticed her approach. At least she could speak to the Vulcans in their own language, she thought to herself, small comfort though it probably was to them.

"As I grieve with thee." Elder Vorick responded, though Jennifer was unsure of what he had to grieve with her for.

"Elder Vorick, is there anything I can do for you, anything you require? Any of you?"

The elder in question looked at her curiously again, for a second time. Jennifer noted that the Vulcan might not have appeared to be anything other than stoic, but she could tell he was in grief, as probably all other Vulcans could.

"You are Jennifer Kirk. Bondmate to Satek." He stated. It was not a question. When Jennifer raised an eyebrow, asking non-verbally how he had recognized her, he continued speaking. "Satek spoke of his…predicament. I was gratified he was able to find assistance at such an… unfortunate time. You did him a great service."

"I understand the match was not desirable for his family, however, I am gratified myself that I was able to provide assistance." Jennifer replied, not sure really of what to say. Sure, Satek wasn't the love of her life, and neither was she his, but that didn't mean they hadn't become really good friends, or that she minded terribly being bound to him, especially given that she really didn't feel comfortable ruining another friendship with the one she really did have those deep seeded feelings called love for.

"To answer your previous question, we have what we require as much as we can at the current juncture. May I ask how you are faring?" Elder Vorick replied. Jennifer wasn't exactly sure what he meant by asking her that question. There were too many implications, too many answers that could be given. The elder surmised as much from her expression. "The loss of a bondmate is a terrible pain for all, even those who were not bonded long."

Jennifer just stared at the elder in shock. Sure, she had known it was possible, but she didn't really know what had happened. She couldn't…no she didn't want to believe that a good friend of hers…so many friends, so many people.

"I was unsure of his fate." Jennifer answered truthfully, choosing simplicity after she regained the ability to speak.

"I understand the confusion. If I may?" Elder Vorick raised his hand, indicating he wished to meld.

Jennifer nodded.

The meld lasted seconds, but after it had ended Jennifer's headache was…well it wasn't gone, but it was lessened.

"I thank you for your assistance, Elder." Jennifer said, bowing her head slightly in respect. So…that was what the massive headache was from, she thought. The elder hadn't remarked about how thanks were illogical. They weren't. Not at a time like this. Not when his people were suffering more than she could imagine. Well, she could imagine, but it was beside the point.

"It is a small comfort, but one I am gratified to give. You have done much for our people already."

"Not nearly enough, Elder." Jennifer whispered before she could stop herself. "There was much more that could have been done…"

"The fault lies not with you. Kadiith."

"Are you quite sure there is nothing I can do for any of you?" Jennifer asked again.

"You have already done what can be done. We only require solitude at this time."

"I will leave you, then Elder." Jennifer said bowing her head slightly again. Elder Vorick did not respond, but simply nodded.

It was already the middle of what was now established as Gamma shift for the crew when Jennifer left the Vulcans on the observation deck. Jennifer stopped by a few other departments after seeing to the Vulcans, most notably Navigation. She needed to find out where exactly they were and just how long it would take to get back to Earth. As she thought, the answer wasn't exactly inspiring. They were in the middle of nowhere, and it would take at least a week and a half to get back. It was better than she thought it was, but not exactly good news. It meant they were sitting ducks and no one could even be notified of their survival and need for assistance until communications was back up and running. The last stop she made, which should have been the first really, was Medical. Medical was, well, she was almost afraid to enter Medical.

Jennifer noticed Bones was asleep at his desk, most likely having barely finished with surgery with Chris. She knocked on his open door anyway, causing him to stir rapidly.

"What?" Bones asked groggily before gaining some better awareness of his surroundings. "Oh, Jenn. What's up?"

"How's Pike?" Jennifer asked, sighing into the seat across from his desk.

"I just finished with him. I was writing up the report, I meant to come by after that, must've fallen asleep, sorry." Bones replied, looking at the computer terminal on his desk.

"That's okay. I get it. How is he?" Jennifer asked again.

"He's, well, it's not pretty, but he's out of the woods for now." Bones paused. "I haven't been out that long, only about an hour or so, sorry again."

"You spent this whole time in surgery with Pike? It's only a couple of hours until alpha shift begins. It's been over ten hours since he was brought back to the ship!" Jennifer exclaimed.

"About thirteen, actually. And yeah, well, that bug was nasty. I had to remove it very carefully, and very slowly. He's lucky he'll even walk again. Had it been any longer….well, let's just say it's going to take about a year before he has full use of his legs again as it is, but he's not going to be walking again anytime soon right now. The swelling is still too bad. That damn slug was wrapped pretty much entirely around his cervical spine in his neck, effectively controlling all motor function, and well, that's not even the worst part. The good news is, it's out, and he's fine. He's resting now, God knows he needs to." Bones ranted. "How about you? You're still wearing the same shirt you were when you came back to the ship. You haven't slept yet, have you, Jenn?"

Jennifer just looked at him, knowing it was no use in trying to lie.

"There was too much to do. It's going to take us over a week to limp back to Earth, and that's if Scotty can get impulse engines back up to maximum and we don't tear apart the ship in the process." Jennifer shifted in her seat. "There's still too much to do. The long range communications array should be up and working within a couple of hours at most, meaning casualty list generations and talking to Starfleet Command That's going to be fun. Explaining why I'm the acting captain and not Spock."

"You need to sleep, Jenn. Especially if you're going to be talking to Starfleet Command." Bones admonished softly with a sigh. Jennifer took that to mean she must really look rough. "You need an exam as well, God only knows you didn't come down to medical to get checked out." Bone stared at her, waiting for a reply that she had. Jennifer only stared back, not wanting to lie. "You didn't, did you? Dammit Jenn! You could be bleeding internally or something!" Bones stood up quickly. "Come on, go get on a Bio-bed. I'll look you over real quick."

Jennifer stood up to follow him, if only to dispute the need to be checked out. There were plenty of others in sickbay that needed medical attention. "Bones, you need to sleep too. I'm fine. I promise. I do need sleep. I'll go do that real fast. Just a couple of hours until communications with Starfleet are established." Jennifer stopped short of the bio-bed that Bones was pointing to. "I'm fine!"

"My ass!" Bones went to a cabinet on the wall and pulled out a tri-corder. He started scanning Jennifer where she stood. "Sit down!"

Jennifer complied, knowing as tired as she was currently that she really just didn't have the energy to fight with him about anything. That, and she probably really did need some sort of medical attention. Space jumping, fighting Romulans, running from huge creatures hell bent on her death for their dinner, being strangled more than once, and fighting Romulans again probably left her with a couple of fractured ribs and plenty of bruises at least.

Bones finished a more in depth scan when he said, "Shirt up. I need to check the bruises I know you have due to the three fractured ribs you've been sporting around for almost an entire day." He didn't sound happy.

"I'm fine Bones. I knew about the ribs. I have bruises everywhere. But I wasn't in any immediate danger, I promise. You know I would have come to sickbay if I was." Jennifer replied while she stripped nonetheless.

"Yeah, well, you're not in a place anymore where you have to catalog your own injuries. You're on a starship. And I'm here." Bones grumped in reply.

"You were in surgery." Jennifer said plainly, as if it explained everything. Which, really, it did.

Bones stopped his hand from administering the hypo he was about to poke her neck with.

"You were waiting for me to get out of surgery?" He asked, incredulous.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you're the only one here I know and trust. Plus, with my allergies, and how many injured we have on board, it was liable that someone would just skip looking at the book that could be filled with my allergies alone and stick me with standard care. Which, you know, would probably have killed me." Jennifer didn't want to admit it, Pike needed him more than she did, but he was going to come to the same conclusion with or without her saying so. Her pointing it out now would save her the headache to follow later on.

"Shit. Jenn, I didn't even think about it. Pike… he was just…"Bones trailed off.

"I know. And he needed you more than I did. I knew I was fine. And then I just got busy. There's still so much to do." Jennifer paused. "We almost died, Len." She whispered the last statement so softly the good doctor might not have heard it if he hadn't been so close to her.

Doctor Leonard H. McCoy shivered.

"Yeah, but you saved us. Saved Earth. You did good, Jenn." He whispered back, staring directly into her bright and widened blue eyes.

He noticed her pupils had dilated then, but he didn't know from what. Was it his presence, so close to her face, close enough to close the gap, but far enough away that maybe it wouldn't happen?

"Yeah, but I messed up, too." Jennifer said, casting her eyes downward. She felt guilt. A huge massive guilt, and only some of it was hers.

"Well, it looks like you are fine, relatively anyway. Three fractured ribs, bruised kidney. Bruised trachea, orbital fracture, of course. Jesus, Jenn. You really should have come to medical sooner." Bones grumped. He patched her up, running the small osteo-generator over her left eye for a few minutes, to help heal the only thing it could handle at the moment. They sat in silence the whole time, him holding a hand because he didn't feel comfortable giving her any more pain medication. The ribs would just have to heal on their own, as the larger osteo-generators were either already in use by other patients or damaged.

"I hate to break up the sweet moment, but Doctor McCoy, as you can clearly see that the captain is fine now, I'm ordering both of you to rest. Now!" Nurse Chapel interrupted whatever reply Bones had on his lips and Jennifer's own self-treacherous train of thought. "You've just been in major surgery, and I know you haven't slept yet, captain. Both of you, to bed now, or so help me I will sedate you right here."

Well damn, Nurse Chapel sure had Bones channeled right now, that was for sure.

"I don't have anywhere to sleep. I wasn't assigned quarters." Jennifer said, looking back to Bones before he could push her out of sickbay.

"The captain's quarters perhaps?" He asked.

"No, there are Vulcans are in there as well as the observation decks, as many as could be." Jennifer shifted. "Besides, I wouldn't feel right sleeping there when Chris can't. I just," Jennifer's voice broke, "not while he hasn't woken up yet."

"Well, you've crashed in my bed plenty of times, I'm sure we can make do in my quarters." Bones stood up fully then, grabbing Jennifer's hand. "Come on, we'll make sure to get you a clean uniform before we go to sleep.

Jennifer laughed then, the first laugh she'd had since the hearing.

"You know, if you wanted to get me into your bed, I'm sure there were other ways, better places, Bones."

Bones felt heat ruddy his face as surely as if the air temperature had suddenly increased exponentially. "And we're going to sleep. No funny business from you."

It was Jennifer's turn to blush, because, well, how could she not think about 'funny business' when she was going to be sharing a bed with him for the first time since they had fought. Since she had discovered some important and somewhat difficult to ignore things about herself where the man was concerned.

"You know, I'm not sure this is such a good idea anymore…" Jennifer said, trailing off and slowly extracting her hand from his as they reached the turbo lift.

"Bullshit. You said yourself you don't have a place to sleep. And you need to. So do I. Or would you rather go and spend the next few hours in some random crewmember's quarters? Which, I'm sure are full, and you'd know better than I would."

Jennifer would. One of the first things she had done when the Enterprise was blasted from the gravity well of the singularity that had destroyed the Narada and killed Nero and his men was to make sure that everyone had a place to sleep. Everyone. It wasn't an easy task as it should have been.

"You're right. Alright. But only a couple of hours. I need to be awake when alpha shift starts and hopefully when the long range communications array comes back online." Jennifer said.

"You need more than a couple of hours, Jenn." Bones protested as the turbo lift doors opened.

"So do you." Jennifer retorted.

"Yeah, I think we could all stand to sleep for a week." Bones sighed.

They reached the door to his quarters and after he punched in the code, he ushered Jennifer inside, following directly after her.

"You can use the shower first, if you want." He said, stalking over to his closet.

"Shit. We forgot to stop and find a uniform for me." Jennifer replied. "And something to sleep in. This isn't going to work. There's still blood caked all over it. And sweat. And dirt."

Bones turned around, going to his closet, rummaged through it for a moment and tossed her one of his black undershirts.

"Wear that to sleep. I'll send a message out and have someone drop something off for you. Probably Christine. She won't talk. That work for you?"

"Yeah, thanks, Bones." Jennifer said before heading into the bathroom he shared with another person. It was vacant, thankfully. Jennifer was also thankful that Bones had his own room, due to being a senior medical officer. That meant no one else would know they were sharing the room beyond the two of them and Nurse Chapel if she brought Jennifer a clean uniform.

Jennifer didn't use the sonic setting on the shower. She knew she ought to have, but a sonic shower wasn't going to wash away more than the dirt of her skin. And she needed the water to wash away the past day or so. She needed to feel clean as much as be clean. Well, feel clean as much as she could after such a disaster anyway.

Fifteen minutes later when she exited the bathroom, feeling at least cleaner than she would have had she used the sonic setting, Jennifer noticed a clean command gold uniform waiting for her on Bones' desk. Shirt and trousers and socks. Not a dress. How had Christine Chapel known? Maybe Bones had told her.

Bones was already racked out on the bed, apparently forgoing a shower in favor of sleep.

Jennifer crawled in next to him and immediately he shifted, pulling her into his arms in front of him. He was warm, extremely warm. Jennifer hadn't thought he was awake, and maybe he wasn't, but it didn't matter. At that moment, exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally, there was nowhere else she'd rather be.

"Bridge to Kirk. Bridge to Kirk. Come in, captain."

Jennifer woke to the blaring sound of the ship's internal com unit calling for her. She shifted in Bones' arms, careful not to wake him, since the loud sound of the intercom hadn't, and extracted herself from his arms and his bed. She didn't want to leave, but there was work to do.

She stepped over to the com unit in his room to reply.

"Kirk here."

"Captain, the long range communications array is up and running. Thought you'd want to know." It was Uhura's voice, Jennifer realized. How long had she been asleep?
"Thank you. I'll be there momentarily. Kirk out." Jennifer ended the transmission. "Computer, time?"

"Ship's time is currently 1139 hours." The computer's voice informed her.

Shit. I've missed the start of Alpha shift. Did it really take that long to get the communications array up and running?

Why had no one woken her up? Jennifer dressed quickly, ignoring the headache that was almost debilitating. She couldn't get over what she had felt when Vulcan had been destroyed, the feeling of all that death, it was raw in her mind. Elder Vorick had helped tremendously, but the headache was still there, and she was reeling in sorrow. At the loss of Satek. At the loss of the all the Starfleet officers and cadets. Some of whom she was friends with. At the loss of Vulcan and most of its six billion inhabitants. But she couldn't afford to lose herself in grief, to wallow in sorrow. There was still too much to do. And at the moment, she was in charge. She had to contend with it all.

"Keptin on ze bridge!" Jennifer heard Chekov announce loudly as the turbo lift hissed open and she stepped out.

"I'm just going to go ahead and say sorry for not being awake sooner. I really had meant to." Jennifer said as Spock rose from the center chair.

"We were informed you had not gone to rest until a few hours ago. That being the case it was most logical to allow you to rest until now." Spock replied before anyone could say anything.

"Right. Well, still, I apologize. I should have been here with you guys." Jennifer said, sitting down.

"There was nothing that required your immediate attention until now. Communication with Starfleet was not possible until 5.8 minutes ago, captain." Spock retorted. Jennifer sighed, he didn't understand.

"Okay, well anyway, I know we need to contact Starfleet as soon as possible, please tell me no one has sent anything to them yet. Uhura?" Jennifer turned to her.

"Not yet. Kind figured you'd want to do so first." She said. "Captain."

"Thanks for that. I do." Jennifer paused, looking around to the officers and cadets that filled the bridge. There weren't many. Skeleton crew indeed. Most were cadets. Sulu was at the helm again, Chekov at navigation. Uhura at communications. Spock had the science station covered now that Jennifer was back in the captain's chair, but he'd obviously been going through reports due to the various PADDs that were on the console next to the center chair. She picked up the one on top and scrolled through it, Spock's report was on it. Damn. "I want to talk to you guys first, though."

"Captain?" Sulu turned around, confused.

"About that, actually." Jennifer said, setting the PADD down. "You were all here on the bridge when I…returned." Jennifer said, noticing the collective wincing of the bridge crew, minus Spock, who just raised an eyebrow. "That didn't happen." Jennifer said sternly. Collective nods conveyed immediate understanding. Well, almost collective.

"Captain, I must confess to not understanding. What exactly are you speaking of that didn't happen, as you say?" Spock asked.

"Me provoking you into a fit of rage. That didn't happen. I mean, well, I…" Jennifer trailed off for a moment, not sure how to say what she had planned out before she'd gotten some sleep. "Look, Starfleet doesn't need to know that I provoked you into attacking me. And I'm not saying that for my benefit, but yours. I already wiped the security footage last night."

"You intend to lie to Starfleet command?" Spock asked, scandalized.

"Not at all, Mr. Spock. But I don't intend on giving them information that could harm the reputation of any crew member serving on this ship. Everyone here has performed above and beyond the call of duty, yourself included. And I know you don't probably understand this, but they're going to be looking for a scapegoat. Since we won't be able to leave out what Nero said to captain Pike, as it was most definitely recorded, and there really isn't any way to edit that, as it serves for the whole reasoning for his attack, the admiralty is already going to be looking at you sideways. You attacking me because I provoked you into it to gain command isn't going to sit well with them."

Spock just stared at her. She could tell he still didn't get it.

"Why would Starfleet be looking to blame anyone other than Nero for the attack?" He asked finally. "To do otherwise would be entirely illogical."

"Spock." Jennifer groaned. No one else had yet to speak up. "If you haven't notice by now, nothing about the past twenty four hours has been logical. And, well, while humans can employ logic, they tend not to do so with circumstances like these. Nero isn't here to place blame for this whole…thing on anymore. And, well, Starfleet shouldn't have missed this."

Jennifer paused, trying to think best how to sum up what she had spent the night thinking of while moving through the various departments and looking over damage reports.

"Look, Nero's attack on the Kelvin twenty-five years ago provided Starfleet with a bunch of information. As did Captain Pike's dissertation. While the Kelvin was itself destroyed, a whole slew of data was sent back to Starfleet right before it was…gone. Starfleet did nothing with that information, save use some of it to better our technology and push us ahead of where we probably would be technologically speaking than we would be now without that attack having had happened." Jennifer didn't say how exactly she knew they were technologically ahead of their time exactly. The older Spock had told her not to tell anyone about him. So she wouldn't. Universe ending paradoxes should ensue if she did.

"The Narada effectively disappeared for twenty-five years without a trace. Starfleet never followed up. They should have. When Uhura intercepted that transmission from the Klingons, it should have set off a bunch of red flags, immediately. But it didn't, because Starfleet failed to follow up on the Kelvin attack. Then we have…Vulcan," She didn't want to bring it up, but it was necessary, "which Nero destroyed, and then Nero himself blaming it on you."

She had to stop there, because otherwise she would have to bring up the Spock from the future and she couldn't do that. She knew Spock probably knew about his future counterpart, what with the Vulcan ship from the future that recognized his voice before he flew it into the Narada, but she couldn't tell him about his older self.

"Which you obviously had nothing to with. At least not yet, and I sincerely doubt, no I know," well so much for stopping that train of conversation, "that it wasn't your fault, Nero's crazy reasons regardless. Then Nero wanted to destroy the Federation conclusively, not bothering to stop at simple revenge, misguided as it was. And he would have, and Starfleet will realize that, so because they're pretty much at fault for not having been at least on the lookout for the Narada, they're going to want to blame someone. And Nero pretty much set it up for you to be an easy scapegoat. Hence, the omission of that…incident. Because, while Nero blamed you, he was obviously a mad man at the end of this, and Starfleet will at least recognize that, if they aren't given any reason to believe otherwise."

Spock stared at her again, simply nodding. He didn't really understand, Jennifer could tell, but he at least had the capacity to realize that there was enough to deal with without trying to bring up anything that didn't really matter anyway.

"All that aside, I think it's perfectly reasonable to tell them the truth. You were emotionally compromised. It happens to the best of us in much less horrible circumstances. That will be the end of it. So please, fix your report to reflect it. The rest of you should do the same. Ten minutes. Then we'll contact Starfleet Command." Jennifer finished. Her head was throbbing. But she didn't care, she could push it off for now.

"Sickbay to Bridge." McCoy's voice sounded over the ship's internal com system.

Jennifer pressed the button on the captain's chair which would allow her to respond. "Kirk here. What is it, Bones?"

A pause.

"Pike's awake. And he's asking for you. Rather, he's asking for the acting captain. I think you and Spock should probably get down here. The sooner the better."

Jennifer groaned internally, looking over to Spock.

"We'll be down there in a jiff. Kirk out." She replied while maintaining strict eye contact with Spock. "Well, Mr. Spock, looks like we get to brief the captain, about why you're not the captain. Should be fun." Jennifer grinned, her face showing the exact opposite of how she felt about the idea. She was happy Chris was awake, but she wasn't looking forward to briefing him on everything that had happened since he'd left the ship to go over to the Narada. "You up for it?"

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"I believe I do not have a choice except to be, 'up for it', as you say." Spock replied.

"Right. Well, Sulu, you have the con." Jennifer said standing up. "We'll be back as soon as we're done talking to the captain."

Spock followed her to the turbo lift.

"And so it begins." Jennifer said as the turbo lift doors hissed shut. "And so it begins."