Jim was absolutely thrilled as he and Spock walked down the non-descript corridors of Starbase 11. Finally, after an eternity - well, maybe six or seven months - of doing little more than shuttling ambassadors and looking like Fine Upstanding Heros for Starfleet, the Enterprise was getting some sort of very secret, hush-hush assignment that would involve actual exploration and hopefully some ass-kicking. Whatever it was, it required them to hook up with two other cruisers, the Odyssey and the Atlantis.

When they reached their assigned conference room, there were two officers wearing command gold and captains' stripes talking with each other, although from the way they were first practically lip to lip and then sprang apart 'talking' wasn't the only they they were interested in. Both were easily fifteen years older the Jim; one looked like any of the dozens of farmers he had left back on Earth, and the other had pointy ears but also had haircut that a Vulcan wouldn't be caught dead with.

"You must be Captain Kirk," the farmer said. "Captain Cameron Mitchell, USS Odyssey."

The other captain waved. "John Sheppard, Atlantis."

"John Sheppard?" Jim repeated, eyes going a bit wide. "As in the John Sheppard? Wow. I wrote my senior thesis on you rescue of the Afghanistan, sir. It was brilliant."

"I fail to see how it could be described as brilliant," Spock said, eyes ever so slightly narrowed in the way they got whenever he was in a bitchy mood. "The Apache was so badly damaged that it was scrapped afterwards."

Sheppard's expression was far more blatant, but conveyed much the same emotion. "I see you're the same bright ray of sunshine you've always been, Spock."

"Um, you guys know each other?" Jim asked.

"Captain Sheppard is the only other Human-Vulcan hybrid serving in Starfleet," Spock replied. "We have met several times."

"Spock doesn't like me very much," Sheppard said with a momentary grin. "I'm too emotional for him. Personally, I think he has issues."

Mitchell snorted softly. "You've got the emotional maturity of a turnip, John."

"At least I admit I have them," Sheppard said, not even looking away from Spock.

"Perhaps you would be better served if you made some attempt to restrain them," Spock said. "Certainly you would be less likely to lose starships if you did."

"Perimeter action ships are meant to be expendable."

"Expendable when delaying invasion fleets, not when recklessly charging into battle without backup."

"If we'd waited, the crew of the Afghanistan might not have made it out. There were a half-dozen Kzinti destroyers looking for them."

"Which is precisely why you should have waited for reinforcements. As it was, your own crew was nearly lost."

"We knew the risks."

"Perhaps, but it is hardly logical to risk the crew of an entire ship for a dozen survivors. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Spock paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "But then, you had several friends on that ship. Or at least, you believed you did at the time you issued the orders."

"Mitch and Dex had nothing to do with my decision," Sheppard growled. "I would have done it for anyone."

"Of course."

Sheppard continued to glare at Spock for a few moments, then he stopped and suddenly smiled. "That's all in the past, there's no reason to argue about it and be impolite. Speaking of politeness, I was sorry to hear about your mother. I grieve with you."

"Hey, how about that mission?" Jim said, stepping in front of Spock with a manic grin and hoping he wasn't about to caught between two angry Vulcans and beaten to a pulp. Once had been enough for him.

"Yeah, it might be a good idea to get started," Mitchell said at the same time, placing a restraining hand on Sheppard's shoulder.

"I really am sorry," Sheppard said. "She was a great lady. Too bad about her son."

"John."

"Fine, I'm shutting up." Sheppard took a few steps back and sprawled into one of the chairs. "We're still waiting for McKay, Emmagen, and Carter, but we can start. How do you guys feel about space vampires?"