I liked this story a lot, and towards the end could both see the anticlimax's denouement coming (although the exact shape it took was a surprise, as was its aftereffect -- although of course once you brought it up, it seemed the natural result of the events and Captain Pike) and recognize that, given who and what the parties involved were, it was almost inevitable. (Although part of me was still hoping that the Doctor would manage to pull an improvement out of the fire this time at least, even if the next contact lost it all again).

I look forward to reading your other crossovers.