Again he had failed. He had been failing for much of his life and now, as his damaged ship was reeled in by his waiting enemies, he was sure that failure would kill him.

A shudder ran through the deck as his ship settled in a massive cargo bay. He began limping for the hatch, bitter memories rising in his mind, unwanted companions. A long and profitable career, pushed aside by false ambitions. Predictions that had been just true enough to lead entire peoples into slavery. Miserable decades spent hiding and waiting for a second chance, only to find himself neither needed nor wanted. And now, his last hope of a future had been at stake, everything had been tied up in the slim chance that he could save Romulus and win their backing, and he had again found nothing but defeat. All because he had listened to one man, one arrogant human who had given him visions of a false future.

The ship's ramp opened and the once-Emperor Spock descended into judgement, silently cursing the name of James Tiberius Kirk.