James T Kirk

Kirk 2380

### Other Relative(s):

Goro (father-in-law)\*Aurelan Kirk (sister-in-law)\*Peter Kirk (nephew)Joshua Kirk (nephew)\*Steven Kirk(nephew)\*Tiberius Kirk (paternal grandfather)\*James (maternal grandfather)\*

### Children:

unborn childDavid Marcus (deceased)Joseph Kirk

## Out Of Character

### Played by:

Tom(Admin)

**James Tiberius Kirk** was a male Human who was arguably the most famous Starfleet captain in Federation history. He is best known for commanding the USS *Enterprise* and USS *Enterprise*-A.

## Biography

Born in the town of Riverside, Iowa on March 3rd 2233, Kirk was the youngest son of George Kirk and Winona Kirk, and had an elder brother, George Samuel Kirk. Throughout his early years, his father, George, was rarely at home as he was assigned to The USS Kelvin from 2230-2235 and then on Starbase 2 as chief of security from 2235-2245. In 2246, the family Moved to Tarsus IV. In October of that year, a deadly famine gripped the colony and there was only enough food for half the colonists. In order to save one half of the population, Governor Kodos gave the order to kill the other half, including Kirk. Kirk rescued young Kevin Riley, and managed to escape. Running for his life, Kirk was rescued by Ambassador Sarek. Sarek mind melded with Kirk and erased his memory of the encounter, because Sarek had also rescued Kodos and given him his new identity. By the 2260s, Kirk was one of a few living witnesses to Kodos' atrocities After departing Tarsus IV, the Kirk family moved to Grex following the Orion withdrawal from the planet in 2247. However, they were forced to leave aboard the transport *Eliza Mae* after warfare broke out between the two factions on the planet, the Kozhu  and Vragax. James was nearly killed on the planet's surface, but was rescued by his father and a Captain Forester

The Tarsus incident and his father's absence left Kirk embittered and dangerously rebellious. In 2249, at the age of 16, Kirk attempted to lead a group of friends on a trek from Iowa to Oregon and on to South America, but only got as far as the New Mexico Construction Complex before being detained by his father. Fearing that his son could be heading for a life of crime, George took emergency leave and they both boarded the USS *Enterprise* en route to the newly-discovered archaeological site on Faramound. En route, the *Enterprise* was diverted to Vega IX, but the Kirks boarded a liaison cutter to complete the journey. Shortly after, the cutter was hijacked by pirates  In the dire situation the Starfleet crew fashioned an escape pod for young Jimmy Kirk to be sent back towards the *Enterprise*, but Kirk, having been inspired by the crew's sacrifices, turned the pod toward the Shark. He boarded the ship and encountered the pirates, making way for the crew to do the same. After fighting for control of the ship, the *Enterprise* came to their rescue. These events restored his respect for his father and Starfleet and he decided to join the Academy. Little did he know however that fate would have other plans, as it would eventually draw the *Enterprise* back to him when he would be offered command of the legendary Federation starship.

## Career

Kirk entered Starfleet Academy in 2250, aged 17. He was sponsored for entry by Captain Robert April and Admiral R. Mallory Because of the important backing he received, Kirk felt pressured to achieve excellent grades in his first year at the Academy, out of fear that he would let down those who had sponsored him. As a result, he earned the reputation of being a hard-nosed cadet who was slightly reviled by his fellow cadets.

In his second year at the Academy, Kirk had earned enough respect from his instructors that he was assigned to teach a Federation History class to first-year cadets. After overhearing Cadet Gary Mitchell, a first-year, describe him as "a stack of books with legs," Kirk reassigned him to his class; despite some initial animosity between the two, they became great friends. Kirk and Mitchell often played racquetball together; the growing friendship helped Kirk overcome the feeling that he wasn't going to fail his sponsors, as well as learn to relax somewhat and not act like a "walking freezer unit," as Mitchell put it

Around 2254, Kirk moved into the Starfleet Academy Command School. During this post-graduate schooling, he became the only cadet in Starfleet history to pass the *Kobayashi Maru* scenario. On his third attempt at the test, Kirk reprogrammed the simulation computers to allow him to have a chance to actually beat the Simulation by allowing his ship to do fair damage to Klingon Battle crusiers instead of the original program never allowing you to damage them enough to effect the out come of the battle. He also added a few...extra things  At the conclusion of the eighteen-minute scenario, the SS *Kobayashi Maru'*s captain, Kojiro Vance, invited Kirk to dinner as gratitude for the daring rescue. Kirk's lecturers were angry with this, with Admiral Walgren contemplating a possible court martial and Admirals Jublik and Zheng issuing ninety-nine demerits, just short of the expulsion-limit. Even after all of the criticism, Kirk was awarded a commendation for original thinking.

## **Early Starfleet Career**

Shortly after graduation, Kirk, along with his friend Vicki Leigh, was assigned to the USS *Farragut*, under the command of Captain Garrovick in 2254. For the first six months of his tour, Kirk was assigned to manage ship's stores in the cargo bay. By 2255, Kirk was assigned bridge duty at the weapons console. His knee was badly injured when the *Farragut* was ambushed by six pirate ships from Epsilon Canaris III. Despite the intense pain, he stayed at his post and the *Farragut* successfully repelled the pirates, and he was awarded the Decoration of Valor. Two weeks after the battle, the *Farragut* put in at Starbase 7 so that Kirk could receive treatment for his injuries. He spent seven months undergoing treatment under the care of  Dr. Leonard McCoy. Kirk and McCoy became great friends, and several times, the two officers visited McCoy's home on Centaurus and met McCoy's daughter, Joanna

Following the damage to the *Farragut* and his leave on Centaurus, Kirk was assigned as second officer aboard the USS *Constitution* (NCC-1700), under the command of Captain Augenthaler. His old friend, Gary Mitchell, was also serving aboard the *Constitution*, as navigator.

By 2260 Commander Kirk was assigned to the USS El Dorado as it's commanding officer, its main mission was Boarder Patrol on the Federation Side of the Klingon Boarder.

### The Enterprise(First Five Year Mission)**(2264-2269)**

Admiral Kimitake Noguchi appointed Kirk as the new captain of the *Enterprise* following the promotion of Christopher Pike.

The first mission of the *Enterprise* wasn't exactly what Kirk had hoped for. While Kirk hoped to be out exploring the depths of the galaxy, Noguchi decided that Kirk and crew needed time to get to know each other, so assigned them to transport the Warp-Speed Classic Vaudeville Company around the Federation Phalanx. Another put-down for Kirk was that his first choice for first officer, Gary Mitchell, was refused in favor of the *Enterprise'*s science officer, Lt. Commander Spock.

Despite being initially disappointed the three-month voyage around the Phalanx proved anything but boring, after being hunted by the renegade Klingon vessel *Quundar* and encountering a generation vessel. Kirk even had a brief romance with Amelinda Lukarian, manager of the vaudeville company, and began to build friendships with Spock and Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott, who had served under Pike and were initially dismissive of Kirk.

couple of months later, Kirk was dealt a severely personal blow when he was forced to kill Mitchell on Delta Vega, following an encounter with the galactic barrier which gave Mitchell god-like powers. He suffered emotionally for weeks afterwards, reflecting on his friend, before delivering his eulogy on Earth. By the Second year of his 5 year Mission Kirk and Crew established themselves as one of the best in the Fleet, making numerous First encounters and preventing many threats from Federation and other allies.

### The Interim Ship(2269-2271)

USS Colorado

While the Enterprise was going through it's Major Refit Kirk was reassigned and given command of the USS Colorado a recently refitted Ranger class starship and assigned to Starfleet Command for special assignments.

### The Enterprise (Second Five Year Mission)(2271-2276)

In 2270, following the completion of Kirk's historic five-year mission, the *Enterprise* returned to Earth. Originally the ship was going to be decommissioned and dismantled after returning to Earth, but the high profile nature of the *Enterprise* and her crew led Starfleet to reverse that decision.

By this point Kirk was the most decorated Starfleet Captain in it's History, having made more first contacts at the time since Jonathan Archer. Kirk was offered Admiralty and turned it down to continue on another 5 year Mission, the Ship though needed upgrading so for the next 18 months Kirk would be reassigned during this time Command of the USS Colorado a Ranger class starship and assigned sensitive missions.

Command of the Enterprise during the refit was given to Captain Willard Decker, who remained with the *Enterprise* throughout the entire refit process

Captain Decker was slated to retain the command of the *Enterprise* upon the ship's relaunch; however, Captain Kirk assumed command in response to the crisis involving the machine entity "V'Ger." Because Decker had become intimately familiar with the redesigned *Enterprise*, Decker remained on board as Kirk's executive officer. Decker was reported missing in action during that mission, and Kirk resumed permanent command of the *Enterprise*.

Once The Refit was complete he and his Senior Staff were given the Enterprise back and they went on their Second 5 year mission

In 2276, Kirk foiled the attempted military *coup* of the Federation by Vice Admiral Vaughan Rittenhouse. What became known as the "Rittenhouse scandal" and its aftermath created a public loss of faith in Starfleet Command and many holes in the power structure of the Admiralty. Respected Admiral Heihachiro Nogura came out of retirement to help restore the public's trust in Starfleet and, upon the end of Kirk's historic five-year mission, sought to promote Kirk to the Admiralty, believing that Kirk's name would help restore the Admiralty's lost luster. Kirk initially resisted and even threatened to resign, but eventually took a position that Nogura described as a "Diplomatic Troubleshooter" working with Vice Admiral Lori Ciana. Kirk accepted the promotion following the apparent "disappearance" of Archernar IV and the Archernarians

### **Desk Job (2276-2280)**

Kirk was assigned Special Diplomatic Division, headed by Vice Admiral Lori Ciana. She had successfully lobbied for Kirk to join her department so that he could teach her all of the diplomatic tricks and traits he perfected during the 10 years he commanded the *Enterprise*. In 2276, Kirk requested that Kevin Riley be promoted to commander and serve as his aide at Starfleet Headquarters. Despite some concern from Admiral Heihachiro Nogura, he relented and Riley accepted.

During this time period James and Lori had fallen in love, the two married in 2278 Their Marriage didnt last but less then 2 years as Kirk always placed his career over hers.

###

### Starfleet Academy Instructor **(2280-2285)**

By 2285, Kirk was still serving as an instructor at Starfleet Academy, reviewing the performance of cadets taking the *Kobayashi Maru* scenario and participating in the occasional training cruise aboard the USS *Enterprise*, which was now captained by Spock.

It was on one of these training voyages that Kirk had his second encounter with Khan Noonien Singh, who had escaped from Ceti Alpha V (which had been turned into a barren waste following the destruction of its sister world Ceti Alpha VI) and commandeered the USS *Reliant* in his quest for revenge upon Kirk. Khan had hoped to use the stolen Genesis device, created by Carol and David Marcus, and use it in his plans of galactic conquest. Kirk managed to stop Khan, but at a great price: Spock sacrificed his life to save the *Enterprise* when Khan detonated the device.

The USS *Enterprise* returned to Earth to repair its battle damage when Kirk learned from Starfleet Admiral Harry Morrow that the *Enterprise* was to be decommissioned. Kirk had hoped to take the ship back to the Genesis Planet, but Morrow forbade him to go. When it was determined that Spock had left his *katra* (the essence of his memories and life) within the mind of Dr. McCoy, and that McCoy's sanity was dependent upon the retrieval of Spock's body, Kirk and his crew stole the *Enterprise* from spacedock and went to Genesis in spite of their orders. When the *Enterprise* arrived at Genesis, they discovered that a Klingon Bird-of-Prey had destroyed the attendant science vessel, the USS *Grissom*, and that the Klingons, led by a commander named Kruge, were holding Kirk's son David Marcus, Saavik, and Spock (who had been miraculously regenerated by the unique nature of the Genesis Planet) hostage. Kirk managed to keep Genesis out of the hands of the Klingons, but at the price of the *Enterprise* herself, and the life of his son. Kirk returned Spock and McCoy to Vulcan in Kruge's Bird-of-Prey, where the *fal-tor-pan* ritual was performed to restore both Spock and McCoy.

three months into their Vulcan exile, Kirk and his crew decided to return to Earth and face the charges against them. They were joined by Spock, who was determined to testify on Kirk's behalf. While Kirk and crew were on their way to Earth via the Bird-of-Prey, Earth was approached by an alien probe that neutralized all technology and threatened to ionize Earth's atmosphere in its attempts to communicate with a long-extinct Earth species, the humpback whale.

After receiving a planetary distress call from Federation President Hiram Roth, Kirk took the Bird-of-Prey through a slingshot maneuver to travel back through time and retrieve a pair of humpback whales from the 20th century. Kirk was successful, again saving Earth and making it politically unwise for Starfleet to prosecute Kirk. Kirk was, however, "punished" by being demoted to the rank of captain, and was given command of the newly minted USS *Enterprise*-A.

### Enterprise-A (2285-2293)

While the Enterprise-A was being refitted in early 2286 Kirk was taking shore leave in Yosemite National Park when the call about an emergency on Nimbus III (aka "The Planet of Galactic Peace") came in. The ruling council, consisting of a human, a Klingon, and a Romulan, had been kidnapped by a Vulcan named Sybok.

The *Enterprise*-A raced to Nimbus III, only to have the ship taken over by Sybok, who employed a mysterious mental power on the *Enterprise*-A's crew. Sybok took the *Enterprise*-A through the barrier at the center of the galaxy, hoping to release The One, whom Sybok believed to be a god-like being. The One killed Sybok, and was about to do the same to Kirk when Kirk was rescued by Spock and General Korrd of the Klingon Defense Force.

Kirk continued in command of the *Enterprise*-A until the year 2293, when he announced his retirement. The last mission of Kirk's command, an overture of peace with Chancellor Gorkon of the Klingon Empire, went disastrously wrong when a cloaked Bird-of-Prey, commanded by the renegade General Chang, attacked Gorkon's ship, killing the Chancellor and leaving the blame on Kirk. Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy were tried by the Klingons for the Chancellor's assassination and sentenced to life imprisonment at the penal colony of Rura Penthe.  Kirk and McCoy were rescued from Rura Penthe by Spock, who defied orders to mount the rescue. Soon afterwards, at the Khitomer conference, Kirk saved the life of Klingon Chancellor Azetbur and uncovered a conspiracy between Chang, Starfleet Admiral Lance Cartwright, and Romulan Ambassador Nanclus to maintain the current state of hostility by assassinating the leaders suing for peace. Kirk was exonerated in the eyes of the Klingons, and a new era began between the two powers.

### Retirement and Supposed Death

6 Months after the Khitomer Conference, James T. Kirk decides to resign from Starfleet as his old Starfleet Academy nemesis Androvar Drake is appointed commander-in-chief of Starfleet Command. Lacking any drive in his life, Kirk accepts a last chance for adventure with the seductive young Teilani who wants him to protect her paradise planet; so Kirk and Montgomery Scott take the mothballed USS *Enterprise*-A and head for Chal where a secret Starfleet cabal seek to exploit the planet for all its fountain of youth properties. The rest of the former *Enterprise* crew hitch a ride on Hikaru Sulu's USS *Excelsior* and together the crew once again save the Federation. The *Enterprise*-A is destroyed while defending the *Excelsior* from Klingon battle cruisers under the direction of Admiral Drake.

In Late 2293, Kirk was lost (and officially listed as dead) when the newest USS *Enterprise* (NCC-1701-B) was damaged by an energy beam known as the Nexus, which he entered. In this alternate plane of existence, he was persuaded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the year 2371 to return to Veridian III in the "real" universe and stop Tolian Soran from sacrificing 230 million lives in order for him to re-enter the Nexus. During the final battle, Kirk was able to retrieve and activate a cloaking control device from a damaged construction span, enabling Picard to sabotage Soran's plans. However, the span collapsed, causing Kirk to fall to his death. Picard buried Kirk using a pile of rocks, leaving Kirk's Starfleet insignia on one of the rocks as the only indication as to who was buried there.

### The Return

Once again, the story of James T. Kirk did not end with his death. One month after the events on Veridian III in 2371, Starfleet Intelligence extracted Ambassador Spock from Romulus to serve as part of an honor guard transporting Kirk's body back to Earth. When the USS Farragut arrived with Spock and Intelligence officers they found the Grave Empty, What had happened was a Vulcan named T'Uerell who had been a threat to Starfleet and the Federation before it was even created, had been adapting Borg Technology for over 200 Years, had acquired the ability to bring Kirk back from the dead, She had been in the system following the Nexus wave to learn more about it and had witnessed the Enterprise being destroyed and finding Kirk's Remains, she used a combination of Borg nanotechnology and a Guardian of Forever-like "ark", she captured Kirk's brainwaves (or *katra*) at the moment of his death, and revived him in the present. She then placed him in Stasis until she could reprogram him to do her bidding.

In 2375 With the Dominion War weakening Starfleet and it still rebuilding T'Uerell had finally found a way to destroy the Federation and also the means of reprograming Kirk, She wanted to test him so his first mission was to destroy Picard someone who had foided her plans once before and whom also was the Major Threat to her plans. Searching for Picard, and Data and Geordi La Forge on Trilex, but subconsciously resisted the directives to kill them. He was eventually captured on Deep Space 9 trying to assaulted Worf . Admiral Leonard McCoy and Dr. Julian Bashir were able to remove the Borg implant controlling Kirk's mind, together along with The newly returned Janeway and DS9 Crew T'Uerell and her "Borg" group were destroyed.

### 2375-2378

Kirk enjoyed much of his retirement with fellow former Crew but when each of them took different paths in life Kirk realized he was only truly happy on the bridge of a Ship, he finally accepted a recommission as Captain as the Federation was depleted with good well trained officers, he was given Command of the Brand New Class of Cruiser the USS Farragut.

## **Personal Life**

An approachable, gregarious individual, Kirk made many friends across a range of worlds and status, from the Hill dweller Tyree to Starfleet Admiral Harry Morrow. Those that shared his closest, personal confidence appear to be limited to a few, including Spock, Leonard McCoy, and Gary Mitchell. The core group of talented officers that he assembled in his first years aboard the *Enterprise* followed his call throughout their own careers, and were integral factors to his long success and lasting reputation.

Kirk was notably successful in attracting women, and enthusiastic in their pursuit, yet notoriously unsuccessful in establishing any lasting relationships with women. By design or coincidence, his most significant affairs were with women fundamentally incompatible with his life in Starfleet. In weighing the balance of starship versus a settled home life, the gross tonnage of the *Enterprise* usually tipped the scale.

### Friendships

#### Spock

By 2265, Kirk and Spock were serving together aboard the *Enterprise* and were familiar enough with each other for Spock to address Kirk as "Jim". After the death of Gary Mitchell, Kirk came to depend on Spock's detached, logical analysis as a supplement to his own intuitive and impulsive nature. Their official relationship deepened into a friendship of mutual respect and love that was without a doubt the most important relationship of both Kirk and Spock's life.

As Edith Keeler observed of Spock's place in the world, "*You? At his side. As if you've always been there and always will.*" He once described his Vulcan friend as "*the noblest part of myself*" and declared that Spock's immortal soul "*is my responsibility, as surely as if it were my very own.*" Kirk even told Spock's father that he would never realize how important Spock was to him, and declared that, despite losing the *Enterprise* and his son, had he not tried to rescue his friend, "*...the cost would have been my soul.*"

At the end of the *Enterprise*'s First five-year mission, a period marked by his frequent loss of his emotional control, Spock chose to leave Starfleet and his friends, to pursue the Kolinahr discipline of logic on Vulcan. His return to *Enterprise* was a cold event, without acknowledgment of his past friendships, Spock finally achieved equilibrium, able to express his friendship for Kirk without the influence of aliens or illness, and notably lacking any threat of physical violence. In 2285, Spock was calmly able to tell Kirk, "*You're my superior officer. You are also my friend. I have been and always shall be yours.*"

Spock's sacrifice of his own life, to save the *Enterprise* from Khan's detonation of the Genesis Device, deeply affected Kirk. At his funeral, Kirk could only bring himself to say of Spock, "*Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... Human.*"

*Kirk learned from Picard that Spock was an ambassador in the 24th century. His response to Picard was, "*Spock's an Ambassador? What have things come to?*" He then paused before concluding, "*I can see I'm needed in your century.*"*

#### Leonard McCoy

Doctor Leonard McCoy became chief medical officer of the *Enterprise* after the departure of Dr. Mark Piper in 2265. Kirk formed an easy rapport with his new doctor, giving him the moniker "Bones" (as in the old-fashioned colloquialism "sawbones" for a doctor or a surgeon). Even after McCoy began a program of exhaustive (and exhausting) quarterly physicals and interfered with Kirk's usual diet, their friendship grew rapidly. McCoy was probably Kirk's closest friend, aside, of course, from Spock

Kirk could count on McCoy to express exactly what he thought, whenever he thought it, frequently without the courtesy of a question, and the doctor was often the sharpest observer of Kirk's actions and character.

McCoy's retirement from Starfleet in 2276 ended in 2280 abruptly when Kirk, through Admiral Nogura, reactivated McCoy's commission for the *Enterprise*'s emergency deployment Kirk's plea, "*Dammit Bones, I need you,*" ended McCoy's objection to the unwelcome "draft" and he returned to his frequent duty station, hovering just behind the captain's chair.

#### Montgomery Scott

Montgomery Scott, the oldest of the *Enterprise* senior officers, was also the most consistently deferential to Kirk. While not included in Kirk's innermost circle with Spock and McCoy, Kirk had evident faith in Scotty's capabilities as an engineer. Kirk pushed the *Enterprise* past her known limits many times, and the technical genius of his devoutly loyal "miracle worker" was regularly the key to success.

#### Hikaru Sulu

Though Hikaru Sulu was briefly an *Enterprise* physicist, he was transferred to the command division under Kirk's command, where Sulu became the ship's senior helmsman throughout the historic five-year mission. Kirk relied on Sulu as a capable officer he could trust with the *Enterprise* conn in battle situations

### Romances

#### Carol Marcus

Kirk was involved with Dr. Carol Marcus in 2255-2260 prior to taking command of the *Enterprise*. She bore his son, David Marcus in 2261, but the relationship dissolved as their careers drove them apart. In 2285, the fractured family unit was briefly reunited

#### **Lori Ciana**

Kirk was involved with Admiral Lori Ciana and married her in 2278 their marriage ended in early 2280.

#### Antonia

Kirk fell in love with Antonia  in 2281. The two lived together for some time while Kirk was a Instructor before Kirk was demoted and decided to return to Space. Later in life, he regretted not having proposed to her. He would later be reunited with a life like illusion of Antonia during his 75 years in the Nexus, which was, from a chronological standpoint, his longest-lasting romance.

#### Miramanee

In 2268, on the surface of the Amerind planet, an accident induced amnesia in Kirk and separated him from the *Enterprise* landing party.

For several months, Kirk lived among the Native American inhabitants, worshiped as a god called "Kirok". His mind at ease from the pressures of command, he took a wife, Miramanee, who became pregnant with his child.

When the tribal worship of Kirok was dispelled, he and Miramanee were stoned – fatally injuring both the young woman and their unborn child.

### Teilani

Kirk Met Teilani in 2293 shortly after his retirement, and while he saved her planet from the Crisis that was happening and the two of them fell in love,

#### Janice Rand

Starfleet assigned Janice Rand as Kirk's personal yeoman in 2266. Initially, he complained about the idea of a female yeoman, leading McCoy to flatly ask, "*What's the matter, Jim? Don't you trust yourself?*" Kirk said he already had a female to worry about: the *Enterprise*. Kirk warmed to Rand, but an undercurrent of sexual attraction between the two became obvious in stressful situations.

Kirk briefly had a Relationship with the now Lt Rand 2275 while he was on Earth they remained in a relationship for nearly two years before ending it.

## Personality

One half of Kirk's dual nature manifested itself in his frequent melancholy about the state of his life: when he was aboard ship, he longed for a life of ease;  when moored, his thoughts were with the *Enterprise*. His violent tendencies ranged from his enthusiastic beating of Finnegan to his willingness to provoke Spock. Evaluating Khan in his first encounter, Kirk admitted, "*We Humans have a streak of barbarism in us. Appalling, but there, nevertheless.*"

The flexibility of his nature was a large part of his success. The man sensitive enough to tread lightly among gangster Iotians, in the manner of their culture, was the same who saw the plain necessity in destroying the war-computers that were a cultural pillar of Eminiar VII.

Kirk had a strong moral center and devotion to the values he found embodied in the Federation, spending most of his life in its service and defense. In numerous incidents, he risked his life for causes he deemed just, including his final act on Veridian III. His confidence in his righteousness sometimes led him to creatively interpret, and outright disobey, his orders.

A charismatic and successful leader, Kirk inspired loyalty from his officers, some of whom spent the bulk of their careers under his command. His command crew risked their careers at his call, conspiring to steal the *Enterprise* on a mission to save their comrade Spock. As a commander in his own right, Hikaru Sulu disobeyed orders and attempted to rescue Kirk and McCoy from Klingon imprisonment, later coming to Kirk's aid at the Battle of Khitomer. After Montgomery Scott's recovery from a transporter loop in 2369, the old engineer's first assumption was that Kirk himself had taken the *Enterprise* out of mothballs to come to his rescue.