INT. SALADIN/KIRK’S QUARTERS
In these modest quarters on-board the Baton Rouge-class starship Saladin, James R. Kirk lies outstretched upon his bed in near-total darkness, eyes closed in sleep. Though still dressed in his black trousers, he has discarded his boots, undershirt, and jacket.
Awakening, Kirk slowly sits up. As he does so, the room’s lights automatically brighten, chasing the shadows away. Rubbing lingering sleepiness from his eyes, he throws his legs over the side of the mattress and gets up from the bed.
Walking over to an opaque panel set into the far bulkhead, the captain reaches for the controls set in the bulkhead beside it. With the press of a button, the panel loses its opaqueness and becomes a transparent viewport. Situated beyond the pane of transparent aluminum, its featureless black walls marred only occasionally by blue spiderweb patterns caused by minute stresses in the warp field, is the dark void of warp space.
EXT. SPACE – P1C-0072
In the depths of deep space, on the far outskirts of the Alpha Sector, stands P1C-0072. Tethered to a dim red dwarf, P1C-0072 is a small, rocky C-class planet; desolate, airless, and geologically inactive, this is a world which, if it ever supported life, hasn’t done so in long eons. Floating in orbit around this dead brown sphere, the only sign of active intelligence in the entire system, is Starbase 95, a large Federation space station which serves as a way station between the Alpha and Delta Sectors.
On the edge of the distant solar system, a small pocket of spacetime distorts, balloons into a sphere, and then bursts outward in a series of three-dimensional ripples as the Saladin drops out of warp.
INT. SALADIN/BRIDGE
Seated in the command chair, baby blue eyes fixed ahead, is Col. Mmirg. A large, muscular semi-Human with orange, craggy skin, he looks almost out of place in a Starfleet uniform.
COL. MMIRG: Standard approach, Mr. Kaasq. Viewer ahead.
MR. KAASQ: Aye, sir.
EXT. SPACE – P1C-0072
The Saladin’s impulse engines flare to life and the starship continues its approach to Starbase 95 at near-light speed.
INT. SALADIN/BRIDGE
The turbolift door to the bridge slides open and Capt. Kirk – freshly showered, groomed, and dressed – steps inside.
COL. MMIRG: (turns to Kirk) Captain on the bridge!
KIRK: At ease.
EXT. SPACE – STARBASE 95
Finally arriving at Starbase 95, the Saladin slips under the behemoth station’s massive shadow and approaches one of the four large doors which leads to the docking bay within. The titanic bay door parts in the middle and slowly slides open, allowing the Baton Rouge-class starship entrance.
INT. STARBASE 95/DOCKING BAY
Inside Starbase 95, the Saladin finds itself only one of countless dozens of starships which take up space within the vastness of the docking bay’s interior.
As the Baton Rouge-class starship approaches its mooring, it passes within range of the NCC-1701, better known as the USS Enterprise. A Constitution-class starship, it has the same basic saucer-and-twin-nacelles configuration utilized by most of Starfleet’s capital ships. Unlike the other Federation ships seen thus far, though, the Enterprise wasn’t built to wage war or ferry passengers on short jaunts between systems; it is a long-range ship, designed and equipped to maintain a large crew in the wild frontiers of the galaxy for long stretches of time.
INT. SALADIN/BRIDGE
As the impressive sight of the Enterprise fills the viewscreen, Kirk becomes entranced, mouth falling agape in awe of the magnificent craft.
KIRK: Col. Mmirg.
COL. MMIRG: Yes, Captain?
KIRK: Have your comm officer open a channel to the Enterprise. Tell them I’d like to give Capt. Pike my regards.
Turning to the comm officer, the orange-skinned colonel issues the command with a single gesture of his hand. Nodding once in acknowledgment, the comm officer follows through.
COMM OFFICER: The channel’s open, Captain, go ahead.
KIRK: Capt. Pike?
INT. ENTERPRISE/BRIDGE
CAPT. PIKE: Pike here.
INT. SALADIN/BRIDGE
KIRK: Capt. Pike, this is Capt. Kirk aboard the Saladin.
CAPT. PIKE: (O.S.) What can I do for you, Captain?
KIRK: I know the official ceremony is a few days off yet ….
INT. ENTERPRISE/BRIDGE
KIRK: (cont’d; O.S.) … but I was wondering if you’d mind if I beamed aboard and took a look at her.
CAPT. PIKE: (smiles slightly) Not at all, Captain. Come right ahead.
Rising from the command chair, Pike turns his attentions to 1ST LT. LEE KELSO, a thin, blonde Human male attired in a red operations jacket who is currently seated behind the nav station.
CAPT. PIKE: You have the conn, Kelso. I’ll be escorting your new captain around, if you need me.
KELSO: Yes, sir.
Pike turns and leaves the bridge. Once he has disappeared in the turbolift, Kelso turns to the man seated beside him at the tactical station, a sudden frown creasing his brow.
KELSO: (irate) The nerve of that Kirk. Can’t even wait for Pike to step down to get his hands on his ship! I call that low, Sulu!
Of approximately the same height and build as Kelso and also attired in a red jacket, 1ST LT. HIKARU SULU is a dark-haired, golden-toned man of Asian ethnicity.
SULU: You shouldn’t talk about our new commanding officer that way, Lee – even if he deserves it.
INT. SALADIN/BRIDGE
Kirk turns to leave the bridge. As he does so, Mmirg rises from his chair to stop him.
COL. MMIRG: Captain, you can’t leave like this – not in the middle of docking procedures! As commander of this ship, I’m responsible. What if --?
KIRK: (opens the turbolift door) Mr. Mmirg.
COL. MMIRG: Yes?
KIRK: How long have you had command of this ship?
COL. MMIRG: Almost a year – twelve months.
KIRK: (steps into the turbolift sporting a wry grin) Just consider this a test of your command capabilities.
COL. MMIRG: But sir, I –
KIRK: (to the turbolift computer) Transporter room.
The turbolift door closes, ferrying the captain away and leaving the colonel in a flustered state.