He stumbled down the corridor, mind numb as he tried to process the information, to no avail. An attack on earth, seven million dead, innocents dead, lizzie, dead. His face looked neutral to passersby, giving no indication whatsoever of the turmoil shrouded by his blank gaze. It couldn't be possible, it just-, just couldn't! He half expected himself to wake up any moment now, to look at his chronometer and sigh at another sleepless night. He'd pull on his uniform and try to get a couple more hours work done. But no such occurrence was forthcoming.
He looked up to realize his mindless walk through the ship had lead him to engineering, figures, he's always come here, whether happy or sad this has been his sanctuary for as long as he could remember. It was where he felt the most at home, his quarters were just a place he could crash, a temporary seclusion from the rest of the world when it was necessary. But this, the comforting hum of the warp engine, the beeps and dings of all the machinery, and even the voices, crewmen going about their jobs with cheerful enthusiasm. But that would be ending soon, as of now only the senior officers had been informed, but it wouldn't be too long before word spread, and then the official announcement would be made, and that's when the cheeriness died.
The numbness ended, and that's when he broke. He gripped onto a wall for support, leaning closer and closer as he sobbed, finally falling to the ground and the sounds became more pronounced. He vaguely recognized some voices around him, blurred figures crowded his vision, before the welcome bliss of darkness took him…
"You sure you okay boss?" An anxious Anna Hess hovered over him, it was unspoken that Trip wouldn't be leaving this room without some kind of explanation. "I can call sickbay if you want Sir". That was absolutely the last thing he wanted right now, to be subjected to some kind of mental evaluation on whether he was stable or whatever. No, he'd take his chances here, in the overstuffed chair behind his desk in his office. Along with a lieutenant who was loyal to a fault.
"It's okay Anna, really, I'm already feeling better." He offered a weak smile that didn't register beyond his mouth. He was met with an even deeper frown, "Charles, if you don't give me something plausible in the next two minutes I'm gonna comm Dr. Phlox". Ahh Dammit, she'd called him Charles, Hess was the only person who still called him that, and she only did when she was dead serious. He sighed, it was gonna get out sooner or later, and it wouldn't make a difference if Hess knew as long as he ordered her to keep quiet for a while.
A barely audible sigh escaped his lips, he could feel his eyes watering again as he considered how to break it to her. NO! He wouldn't cry, not again, he-, he had to learn to deal with this, Earth couldn't afford him any screw-ups. Trip decided to just get it over with before he changed his mind, "there's been an attack" he whispered, voice distraught, head staring down at the table. His gaze into the wood was unblinking, unmoving, completely inactive except for the small tear that trickled down his cheek.
Hess tensed at those words, "Sir?" she prompted.
"On earth Anna, seven million, seven million dea-"
He couldn't finish the word, just didn't have the will power to accept it. He looked up, Hess had visibly paled, just standing there, mouth slightly agape. She fumbled to a chair, dropping into it, and so they sat there, both staring into a wooden desk as the clock ticked by…
Jonathan Archer prided himself on many things, one of which was his ability to keep a level head. Be it during an attack, an insubordinate crewmember, or a multitude of other strenuous situations he had to deal with as a starship captain. But right now, maintaining his dignity was the farthest thing from his mind. He wanted to find the bastards that did this, track them down to the edge of the universe if need be. He wouldn't rest until they had paid for the seven million humans they had slaughtered, innocent civilians vaporized by an unprovoked attack.
The comm unit beeped, an unnecessarily hard smack remedied the irritating noise. "Archer" he growled. "Captain its Admiral Forrest, he says it's urgent." The communications officer had a slight tremor in her voice, no doubt a large portion of the crew did as well. "Transfer it to my quarters". "Yes Sir" came Hoshi's response. As the Captain sat down at his console, a grimace crossed his features, he didn't even know what the bastards were called…