Five-Year Mission

My sister loves Dr. McCoy.
We have recently realized that her love of blue-eyed, gravely-voiced, grumpy characters stems from this beloved starship doctor. We have also realized that he doesn’t get nearly as much love as he deserves. And while everyone tends to focus on the dynamic between Spock and Kirk, we think the dynamic between McCoy and Spock is a more interesting and under appreciated one. I recently started rewatching TOS with my sister and it has inspired me to write; not just a fan fiction that celebrates the dynamic, and sometimes contentious, friendship between Spock and McCoy, but one that also reimagines the original series—hopefully in a way that adds to the elements that make Star Trek so special rather than doing anything to diminish them. Each part of this series will retell an episode of TOS from the perspectives of Spock and McCoy, as well as featuring one other minor character. I will also be sticking as close to canon as possible while still allowing myself the freedom to play and experiment with these beloved characters (while doing them justice). I hope you have as much fun reading them as I have had writing them so far.

Notes:

This ‘first’ part will essentially act as an introduction and table of contents. I hope to be able to post at least once a month, but I’m also still in school so we’ll see.

Thanks to Wev. Wess
for humbly bestowing her talent in twisting words,
without whom Captain Kirk would be far less prosaic.

And to Slayah,
your medical insights breathe life into a side of Dr. McCoy
that I cannot reach, he feels that much richer for it.

And finally to Em.
Thanks for letting me be the Spock to your McCoy.
You will always be the De to my Nimoy.
I may have started this trek but you’re the reason it’s still going.

Work Text:

Year One: Doubt is a Thief

Episode 1: The Corbomite Maneuver

1512.2

The Enterprise encounters a strange object whilst star-mapping in the beta quadrant. Its presence heralds the approach of an ancient and much more dangerous vessel. As the lives of the crew hang in the balance, First Officer Spock must swallow his Vulcan pride and place his trust in the hands of the brand new Chief Medical Officer, Doctor McCoy.

Episode 2: The Man Trap

1513.1

While conducting a routine medical examination for two archeologists on a deserted planet, Doctor McCoy discovers that not all is as it seems. The death of a crewman sparks an investigation that leads the crew of the Enterprise to a startling discovery. Now they must race to uncover the truth before more lives are lost.

Episode 3: The Naked Time [with hints of The Enemy Within]

1704.2

While enroute to Psi 2000, the Enterprise encounters a mysterious cargo ship. Captain Kirk and his crew are forced to rescue the vessel when it plunges headlong into an asteroid field and is almost destroyed. But what’s more surprising is the ship's sole occupants: two women, one of whom Doctor McCoy recognizes instantly. Emotions run high as McCoy and Spock try to discover exactly what awaits them on Psi 2000.

Episode 4: Mudd’s Women / Dagger of the Mind

1704.2

Hari Mudd is a known felon. So when she makes serious claims against a group of scientists, Captain Kirk struggles to believe her. When danger befalls the captain, it is up to his good friend, Doctor McCoy, and his loyal first officer, Mister Spock, to rescue him. To make matters worse, they only have forty-three hours before the planet Kirk is on collapses.

Episode 5: The Squire of Gothos

2124.5

The crew of the Enterprise is waylayed by a mysterious entity who calls themself Trelane. Captain Kirk is forced to strike a deal with the stranger which could cost him everything. Meanwhile, Mister Spock and Doctor McCoy are forced to relive some of the Vulcan’s earliest and most painful memories.

Episode 6: Amok Time

3372.7

The Enterprise is far from Federation space when Mister Spock suddenly claims he must return to his home world. Immediately. In their race against time, Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy discover exactly what their friendship with the Vulcan means to them and how far they are willing to go to help out a friend.

Potential Next Episodes:

Episode 7: The Galileo Seven

Episode 8: Miri

Episode 9: Journey to Babel

Year Two:

Potential Episodes:

Episode 10: Space Seed

Episode 11: Devil in the Dark

Episode 12: Bread and Circuses

Episode 13: The City on the Edge of Forever

Episode 14: Operation: Annihilate!

Series this work belongs to:

Part 1 of Five Year Mission Next Work →

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ArianaMoon, Sfyrist, GoodKatBadWolf, Blissy_Gelab, bryancarson, aliensink, ConfusedSpaniard, Vasil_Basil, RunningGirl, WesternSpaceVibes, LilEy65, Tigerroar52, and DestielsDestiny as well as 8 guests left kudos on this work!

Comments

WesternSpaceVibes Wed 14 Feb 2024 12:37AM UTC

I didn't realize you wrote a poem! It's so cute! I'm glad I'm spurring on your trek-- because this story is just so gooood! <3 love you, sis!

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TestaRossaDragon (Nekosuki) Wed 10 Sep 2025 02:14AM UTC

It'll be interesting to see how you handle T'pring cruelty in Amok Time with how she is portrayed in strange new worlds. She tells him she doesn't want to marry him. Because he is too famous. And then proceeds to try to sabotage his courier and hurt him. Personally, it's really messed up because there's no way starfleet would allow him to serve after killing his captain, regardless of the circumstances. The best he could hope for would be honorable discharge plus I don't think he would want to serve it. Star Fleet After killing Jim, that would have messed him up. Don't get me wrong. I really like her in strange new rules. In fact, I thought they had a very healthy relationship.
And she was very accepting of him as being half-human more. So than he was
But it really doesn't match up with the things she did.And the one episode she's in of the original series. Plus I kinda get the feeling that being jilted at the alter and being forced to do ritual combat is probably frowned upon by vulcans. So not only would he be shamed for being half-human, but also for his betroed, choosing another
And having to go through the barbaric practice of taking another life because the most illogical species in Star Trek is the one species that values logic above all, others

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1. archive_unknown Sat 27 Sep 2025 05:26AM UTC
  
  I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment! I’ve always found T’Pring fascinating, especially after seeing how the writers handled her in SNW. She does come off so cruel in TOS, it’s hard to reconcile the two versions of her. I am currently tackling Amok Time. Hopefully the ideas I have for her character help bridge the gap as well as make sense for both ‘versions’ of her.
  
  Pon farr is an interesting paradox for Vulcans. As a culture/society they have tried their best to cling to logic as a lodestone, but you’re right, they can be some of the most illogical characters in the series. I think that makes them fascinating. They claim logic and cling to it, but often struggle with actually fully embodying it (which I can see being aggravating for some people). It makes them feel real and interesting in my opinion. It’s one of the reasons I love Spock so much. He’s one of the sassiest, emotional characters on the show, but he’d never admit to it.
  
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