Prologue
The body of Elizabeth T'Les Tucker was interred on Vulcan. It was a quiet Vulcan ceremony officiated by a Vulcan Priestess. Besides for a good showing of crew from the Enterprise, Soval was there along with Solkar, the first ambassador to Earth, as well as his son Skon and his wife T'Rama. Councilor Kuvak was there also. Minister T'Pau even came as a show of respect since T'Pol's clan was related to Surak's Clan, as was Solkar's clan. As the Pid-kom, matriarch, of Clan Surak, she was honor bound to attend.
The body of the hybrid clone was treated with respect by the Vulcans. As the parents Commander Charles Anthony Tucker III and T'Pol stood apart from those attending. Both parents were dressed in the official mourning robes. Trip still had his arm in a sling from injuries dealing with Terra Prime. Phlox wanted to be by his side to monitor because he knew that he had eaten or slept in days, but Vulcan tradition left the parents isolated, except for a priest who cared for them.
The gravesite was part of T'Pol's Family Shrine. Although her mother and father were somewhat ostracized from the greater clan, the Pid-kom of the clan allowed for the burial of Elizabeth at the sight, even though the clan itself was not expected to attend the burial. At least, Elizabeth T'Les' name would be added to the Family registry. She would be noted, mourned, and remembered in some way.
Trip wasn't allowed to tell his family about his daughter. He was ordered to keep it quiet. Both the EU and Starfleet didn't want the atrocity that Paxton committed known to the greater public. Trip didn't care. His daughter was dead, and any chance of a relationship with T'Pol was also dead. He felt alone; he was alone.
Captain Archer asked to leave flowers at the gravesite. It was granted. He chose gardenias. After placing the gardenias in front of the stone crypt he glanced over at Trip. He saw how distraught the man was. His eyes were filled with tears and his face was both flush from the heat and pale at the same time. He worried about his health.
A glance at T'Pol made him worry about her health, also. She appeared barely to be in control of her emotions. The priest was attempting to assist her with a mind meld, when Trip finally collapsed from stress, heat, and lack of food and sleep. Phlox broke away from the crowd and ran over to his prone body. He ran his medical tricorder over him then looked at Captain Archer.
"Captain, I must take him to Sickbay," the Denobulan Doctor said.
"I'll have a shuttle pick him up right away along with you, doc," he said.
"Thank you, Captain, said Phlox, who began to attend to the unconscious Trip.
T'Pol looked down at him. She longed to abandon her Vulcan calm, kneel beside him, and gather him in her arms, but it wasn't the Vulcan way and she was a Vulcan. These were difficult times and they appeared to be getting even more difficult.
STSTST
In the Sickbay Phlox had Trip on a bio-bed with two IVs in his right arm, one fed him saline solution for dehydration and the other one fed his body nutrients his body needed. He opened eyes and wondered how long he had been out.
"Ah, Mister Tucker, you are finally awake," said with great delight by Phlox, who was feeding one of the pets in his menagerie.
"How long I been asleep, doc?" he asked.
"Fifteen hours and only a little of it with my help. Your body needed the rest," Phlox smiled turning his face into an inhumanly wide grin.
Trip started to sit up. It wasn't long enough a rest it seemed. His body was still tired and his baby girl was still dead.
"Tut, tut, Mister Tucker," said Phlox, who rushed over to his side, as Trip started to fall out of the bio-bed. The Denobulan doctor adjusted the bed so he was sitting up. He then checked his IV needles.
"How much longer do you expect me to stay in Sickbay?" asked Trip.
He didn't bother to hide his annoyance at being in Sickbay.
"Six more hours. By then I'll be satisfied that your body has enough rest and nutrients so that you don't get ill," said Phlox.
Before Trip could start an argument, a grim faced Captain Archer entered the Sickbay. Trip and Phlox watched him as he walked up to Trip's bed, cleared his throat, and nodded at Phlox.
"Phlox, I need to speak to Trip for a few moments," said Archer.
"Of course, Captain. I think I'll head into my office and do some work in there," he said.
Phlox cleared out of Sickbay leaving the captain and his chief engineer alone, except for Phlox's medicinal pets. Archer walked over to the bio-bed with Trip in it and hesitantly started to explain.
"I heard from Admiral Roddenberry, the Chief of Staff, about six hours ago. You've been asleep, and I've been thinking about how to tell you this," said Archer then paused.
"Cap'n, nothing you have to say could be worse that what I've already gone through these past few weeks," said Trip.
Archer inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. His friend was right. He'd been through hell.
"You've right, Trip, so I'll just tell you outright what the Chief of Staff told me," said Archer. "We are headed back to Earth for a crew rotation. There is a fear from President Samuels and from Fleet Admiral Becket of a coming war with the Romulans. They think the drone was meant as a test of our defenses and allies. If a war is to happen then Starfleet needs a fleet, not just a couple of NX starships and some older, slow starships."
"That's a hell of job for someone," said Trip.
"Will Jefferies has been promoted to full admiral and been placed in charge of the Corp of Engineers and its subsidiary departments," said Archer.
"Good for him. If there is a man who can handle a job that large, it's him," said Trip.
"I know and I agree," said Archer, who then looked down at the deck before looked back up at Trip. "According to Roddenberry his first request was you. He said if I'm going to turn the Intrepid-Class into frigates and Daedalus-Class starships into cruisers to be feared then he needed Tucker, a brilliant engineer with practical experience."
Trip looked at Archer with a mix of anxiety and hope. Part of him wanted away from Enterprise. It hurt to be around T'Pol and the Enterprise no longer felt like home. But, he also didn't want to leave the Enterprise or T'Pol because he loved her and the Enterprise was his ship in many ways. It broke warp 5 because of him and his modifications and he had more in mind. But life would sure as hell be easier to be away from the Enterprise and T'Pol.
"What does this mean, Cap'n?" he asked.
"You've been promoted to captain effective immediately and reassigned to the Advanced Starship Design Bureau where you will be spearheading the creation of a real fleet," said Archer.
"Damn, sir, I don't know what to say," Trip said.
"Well, I have congratulations to offer you. Once you are able to leave this bed, we'll have a promotion ceremony in the Cargo Bay then we'll have a wetting down in the Mess with you, me, Malcolm, Travis, and some of your engineering. I'm losing the best chief engineer in the fleet, but Starfleet is getting a great captain," said Archer.
"Thank you, sir," said Trip.
"Trip, call me Jon. You're going to be the same rank soon," he smiled.
"Jon, I…," Trip hesitated then stopped. He really didn't know what to say.
"I understand that you've been through a lot, Trip. When Roddenberry told me this, I was tempted to fight it. I was preparing to send a comm to Fleet Admiral Beckett and force them to let you stay put, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is a great opportunity for you, I kept my mouth shut. I hope you understand."
"I understand," he replied.
STSTST
The Priest Murac whispered into the ear of the High Priestess T'Lan. They were in one of the guests chambers. Soval and Solkar had escorted to T'Pol to Mount Seleya for a retreat so that she could regain control of her emotions. Soval observed the pair and knew that whatever the priest has said to the high priestess had changed that. She dismissed Murac and then motioned the three guests to sit on the marble bench.
"Is there a problem?" asked Soval.
"There is a complication," said T'Lan.
"High Priestess T'Lan, since complications can become a problem, I ask that we speak openly," said Solkar.
"T'Pol, daughter of T'Les, dost thou hold offense if I speak openly in front of these men?" T'Lan asked formally.
"Soval has been a valued mentor and Solkar's clan and my clan are related," she said.
T'Lan nodded then moved gracefully in her formal robes and sat down on a marble bench across from them. Soval observed a slight crinkling around her eyes. She was upset.
"T'Pol is subconsciously suppressing a tel, a marriage bond," she stated. "This is one of the reasons her emotional control is unstable. The other is the death of her child, which must be dealt with through meditation, suppression, and purging."
"Should we contact Koss?" asked Soval.
"Who is Koss?" asked T'Lan.
"He was her husband until he released her from the marriage," said Soval.
"No, he is not her mate. Her mate is a Human," T'Lan said with a hint of disgust.
T'Pol looked at the high priestess and raised her left eyebrow questioningly.
"Explain," she demanded.
"Murac felt the bond between you and Commander Tucker. He also is suppressing the bond subconsciously, but it is a strong bond, a bond that was formed over a year ago and they have been in each other's presence for most of that year, so the bond has not been nourished, yet it has deepened and grown," explained T'Lan.
"Severing of the bond?" asked T'Pol.
"Could prove fatal for one or both of you," answered T'Lan.
"You are mated to Commander Tucker," stated Soval. "He is an overly emotional male. This is distressing."
"Commander Tucker is more than he seems," said T'Pol.
"He honored Vulcan and T'Pol by allowing his child to be buried as a Vulcan," said Solkar.
"You must stop suppressing your bond," T'Lan told T'Pol. "It is at the stage where separation will weaken the bond but it will not dissolve it. If you stop suppressing the bond, some of your emotional control will return in a matter of days. The rest will occur with mediation and time."
"I believe I should return to the Enterprise instead of taking this retreat," T'Pol said.
She stood up and offered a nod towards T'Lan.
"You have been both instructive and helpful in your information," said T'Pol. "I need to contact the Enterprise to tell them that I will not be taking time off after all."
STSTST
T'Pol shuttled up to the Enterprise and spent the next two days in her quarters resting and meditating. Changing into her red catsuit uniform, she wore as the first officer of the Enterprise, she reported to Captain Archer's Ready Room before her duty shift.
"Enter," he said after she buzzed the door.
She entered the Ready Room and stood in front of his desk looking calmer and more rested than she had in weeks. Archer noted this and made a mental note to have her see Dr. Phlox for a physical at some point.
"We have been ordered back Earth for some crew rotation, T'Pol," he said.
"Have you been given the names of crew who will be rotated?" she asked.
He handed her the PADD he was reviewing. She quickly scanned the names and saw that Commander Tucker topped the list. Her heart felt as if it skipped a beat. He was leaving her.
"I see Commander Tucker's name here," she said in an even tone hiding her pain at the discovery.
"Admiral Roddenberry has requested him personally to be reassigned to the Advanced Starship Design Bureau," he said. "With the new assignment he has been promoted to captain. There is a fear in the EU and Starfleet that Romulan Star Empire has targeted us for a war and Admiral Jefferies has been tasked to build a fleet quickly. Trip will be an important part of that."
Keeping a calm façade, she nodded and said, "I see."
Her plans of talking to him about their bound had suddenly changed. She could not burden him now. The bond would exist as long as both of them remained living. Since she now had stopped suppressing it, she was able to sense his emotions more and more and the strength of their bonding. It was satisfying to her to know the bond was so strong and capable of being even more, yet the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. There discussion could wait for now. Trip was needed by Starfleet to perform a task he was well suited for.
"It has been decided that we will be having a promotion ceremony and wetting down on the Enterprise for him when we get to Earth. I hope you feel well enough, T'Pol, to partake in it," Archer said.
"I will try, Captain," T'Pol replied.
She handed him back the PADD.
"I take it that Lieutenant Commander Kelby will be the chief engineer," she said.
"Yes, Commander," Archer said.
"I recommend a promote Lieutenant Anna Hess to first lieutenant and she be made second in command of Engineering. Commander Tucker has spoken often highly of her skills. He has mentioned that she would make a fine chief someday," T'Pol told him.
"No better recommendation than Trip's," smiled Archer.
"Agreed," said T'Pol.
Now Archer leaned back in his chair and looked at his executive officer. He had come to know her very well over the years. Archer would even say that they were friends. He was worried about her but he knew not to push too hard.
"How are you doing, T'Pol?"
"I am fine, Captain."
"If you need extra time off on the way back to Earth, please just schedule it," he said.
"The High Priestess T'Lan has recommended extra meditation for me. I believe I will take her advice, so I will not be able to attend your dinners," she said.
"Take as much time as you need, T'Pol."
"Thank you, Captain," replied T'Pol.
He could see that she was uncomfortable now. She wouldn't say it, but he'd learned to read her body language.
"Dismissed, Commander. Set up a schedule for yourself so that you get plenty of rest and meditation on this trip to Earth," he said.
"Thank you, sir," she replied.
STSTST
Admiral Jefferies personal shuttle had arrived along with the Admiral himself. He had come for the promotion ceremony and to give Trip a ride back to Earth. The sooner he had the engineer working with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau the sooner a new fleet will emerge.
Trip was in his quarters finishing packing up his duffle bag. Someone buzzed his door. Trip walked over to the door and opened it. Standing there was Malcolm with a sad smile on his face.
"Come on in, pal," said Trip.
Malcolm stepped into the quarters. He looked around and noticed that his personal belongings had already been removed for shipping down to Earth. Trip was almost gone.
"I'm going to miss you, mate," he said.
Trip turned and looked at the man who had become in some ways his best friend. During their time in the Delphic Expanse Archer had become distant and obsessed. Trip had grown closer to Malcolm as a friend. The only one he had grown closer to than Malcolm was T'Pol, which he didn't want to think about because it brought up too many painful memories and feelings.
"I heard that at the ceremony you are getting a promotion to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations, Mal. It's about time."
Trip offered him his right hand to shake. They shook hands.
"And you're going to be a bloody captain."
"Yeah, I guess I am," said Trip. "I heard Hoshi is being made lieutenant and Travis is going from JG to a first lieutenant. This crew should be proud of itself."
"This crew is going to miss the best chief engineer in the whole damned fleet," said Malcolm.
"I guess we should get going," Trip said then gave him a slap on the back. "Jon would be pissed if we didn't show up the ceremony."
"Trip before we leave I wanted to tell you that I've never had a friendship before like the one I've developed with you. I've always been aloof and distant, but you've managed to become my best friend," Malcolm admitted to him.
"You know what that means, Mal," said Trip.
"What?"
"We have to remain friends even if we aren't on the same boat," smiled Trip.
Malcolm returned the smile.
"I'd like that," said Malcolm.
"Come on. Let's go get out promotions," Trip prodded him.
STSTST
Jon stood on a makeshift stage and gave a speech. He talked about his friendship with Trip and what the younger man had accomplished so far, including now becoming the youngest captain on record. Trip stood beside him and listened. He saw that T'Pol showed up for the ceremony, even though she had been ignoring him. The assumption that he made was that his presence was painful to her. He didn't realize that she drew great comfort from him now that she knew that the bond was permanent.
"So, I introduce to you, Captain Charles Anthony Tucker III," stated Archer.
He took the commander pips off the collar of his flight suit uniform and then he pinned the captain pips to his collar. Leaning into Trip, Archer whispered to his old friend, "Those are my old captain pips. Now say a few words, Trip."
Archer stepped away from Trip, who felt his face blushing. He waved at the gathered crowd, who started to applaud him with some whoops and yells thrown in from Engineering. The noise calmed down and he was able to speak.
"I'm humbled by this," smiled Trip. "I know I'll be leaving the Enterprise in good hands. This ship is the best in the fleet because of its crew and I have a feeling that for as long as Captain Archer is your captain and Commander T'Pol the XO, it will continue to be the best in the fleet."
The applause grew again and Captain Tucker did his best to get off the stage and start finding certain crewmembers to say a personal goodbye, though he knew he'd avoid T'Pol if he could. It would be too painful to say goodbye to her.
STSTST
In the Captain's Mess Admiral Jefferies, Captain Archer, Captain Tucker, Commander T'Pol, and Lieutenant Commander Reed were standing around the table, which had been turned into a buffet. Chef had put up a buffet in the main Mess and Captain's Mess for VIPs. The steward brought in a bottle of one hundred year old single malted scotch and showed it to Captain Archer. He gave his approval and the steward took it away to decant it and pour drinks for a toast.
"You get five days to get settled then you are mine, Captain Tucker," said Jefferies.
"Yes, sir," said Trip.
T'Pol managed to give Trip a wide berth even in a small room. She did this out a respect for him knowing he was having trouble with his emotions towards her, though Trip took it as her not wanting to deal with him. Again without even realizing it, they were hurting each other.
The steward handed out glasses of the scotch, including to T'Pol, who took the scotch in hand. Trip noticed that she sniffed it and a look of almost horror quickly crossed her beautiful face at what she smelled. He smiled at this.
"I think we should have a toast. Admiral Jefferies, will you do us the honor?" asked Archer.
Admiral Jefferies, who was a man in his fifties just starting to fit off a middle aged paunch with salt and pepper hair, sniffed the scotch and smiled. He lifted the glass.
"Gentlemen and lady, it appears that we are on the verge of a war with the Romulan Star Empire," he started.
The room gave him their total attention.
"We are not ready for a war with such an enemy, but we will be. As a race Humanity should never be underestimated. We have a way of not only surviving but triumph in situations where superior races have fallen. If there is to be a war, I guarantee three things: we will have a fleet, we will have allies, and we will surprise our enemy."
He lifted his glass, so did everyone else, including T'Pol. He drank down the scotch and the rest did the same.
Chapter One
Eight Weeks later
Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco.
The conference room had a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Stewards quickly served coffee and tea then made an exit so the conversation could take on a high security level. Wearing the new service dress uniforms, which consisted of black pants and black tunic jacket with Starfleet badge over the left breast, rank insignia, rank pips on collar, service color badged on collar, and assignment patch on left upper arm, Trip sat in on this meeting with Admiral Jefferies, Admiral Roddenberry, Admiral Gardner, Chief of Ops, Fleet Admiral Beckett, Administrator Herman Buchholz, Captain Steinberg of the Corp of Engineers, and Skon of Vulcan. All of them were wearing their service dress uniforms, except Skon who was in Vulcan robes.
"I'd like to defer to Captain Tucker on the state of our upgrade of the fleet," said Jefferies, who nodded towards Trip.
"To begin with, we have currently taken the whole Intrepid-Class fleet out of service and have begun upgrading them in three locations: Jupiter Station, Mars shipyard, and the new Mars complex station," Trip started. "This totals sixty ships, which are currently having this warp engines, impulse engines, and weapons upgraded. We are also integrated the newly acquired defensive shields to the Intrepid-Class, which we are now classifying as a frigate."
"How are these shields working?" asked Gardner.
"Once the emitters are placed on the hull, calibrated, and powered up, we finally have working defensive shields," said Trip.
"I want them on the NX immediately," said Gardner.
"The NX will get them when they are brought in to be retrofitted," said Jefferies. "Captain Tucker and Captain Steinberg have come up with a new design that will increase the NX crew to two hundred and make it a heavy cruiser."
"When will these retrofits occur?" asked Beckett.
"The new design will be immediate to the new NX and will begin to the older NX once we are done with the Intrepid-Class and begin the Daedalus-Class," answered Jefferies, who then nodded at Trop to continue.
"These new frigates will have a crew of forty-eight. Extra room was taken up with added torpedo rooms for the new Mark I torpedoes," said Trip.
"When do we expect the frigates to be finished?" asked Beckett.
"The complete fleet will be done in two months from tomorrow," said Trip. "These frigates will be capable of a top speed of warp 4.5 and a cruising speed of warp 4. They will have fix plasma cannons and four torpedo tubes. I believe I stated before that the crew size will be a max of 45."
"Not bad. It will make the frigate a good escort starship," said Gardner.
"We can even use it for patrolling colonies and starbases," added Roddenberry.
"Sir, we have begun a special project on the twenty Discovery-Class and twenty Poseidon-Class starship to upgrade them to warp 3 with defensive shields, four cannons, and two torpedo tubes to use as cutters to patrol colonies and starbases. These modifications and upgrades are being made by teams of engineers and the ship doesn't have to be placed in dock," Trip told them. "These ships will have a crew of 22."
"Tell me what will be happening to the Daedalus-Class ships," Beckett directed.
"The Daedalus-Class will be our cruisers. Once their warp engines have been replaced and modified, they will be capable of warp 5.9 top speed with a cruising speed of warp 5.2," Trip told the fleet admiral. "The weapons upgrade will give them six cannons and six torpedo tubes with a crew of 150."
"Impressive," said Beckett.
"You and Steinberg have also been working on the NX upgrades. I want to hear about them," Gardner ordered.
"The NX upgrades will give us an engineering section besides a saucer section. From experience I known that some of the problems we've been having in order to increase our speed has been the dilithium intermix formula, as well as the antimatter flow regulators controlling the plasma pressure in the intermix chamber. We have hired a mathematician from Vulcan to help assist us with the formula. This was arranged with the assistance of Ambassador Soval. Skon is leading a team on a new formula. As for the antimatter flow regulators and the plasma pressure in the intermix chamber, we've solved that problem with more plasma injectors and, also, believe an injector assembly upgrade will give us greater speed," explained Trip.
Trip thought of Lorian, his and T'Pol's son in the Delphic Expanse. It was Lorian who taught him about the injector assembly upgrade. His heart swelled with pride and sadness. He missed T'Pol.
"Okay, that how you fix it, but what are we talking about in terms of changes?" asked Gardner.
"The NX will have a max speed of warp 7.2 with a cruising speed of warp 6.4. The upgrades will give it shields, as well as ten cannons and eight torpedo tubes. The new crew size will be 220," stated Trip.
Beckett smiled. He leaned over and whispered something to Roddenberry, who nodded his head. Eight weeks of work by Trip and the team he put together had put them on the path of a real fleet. The NX would be the equal of most ships out there and the rest had a fighting chance.
"Thank you, Captain," said Jefferies, who smiled at Trip with more than a little pride showing.
"I have a question for Captain Tucker," said Roddenberry.
"Yes, sir," said Trip.
"We have the Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, and soon to be Discovery in service," said Roddenberry. "How many more NX will be capable of building within the year?"
"If we gave one of three sights over to building them then I'd say twelve. The problems in mass producing the warp five engine has been solved by Captain Steinberg with some suggestions by me. Once the engine is produced the modifications to make its max speed warp 7.2 take four hours," said Trip.
"Would it just be one sight really?" asked Gardner.
"Sir, as you know we have sights in Wyoming and Montana where certain sections are built then transported to the shipyard of station for assembly. If production at one site went from its current twelve hour shift to twenty-four hours, I see no problem in adding another 12 NX ships within the year," said Trip.
"When you were the chief engineer and second officer of the Enterprise, who gained battle command experience, as well diplomatic experience, isn't that true?" asked Roddenberry.
"Yes, sir, I have some command experience," said Trip.
"Good to know," said Roddenberry.
"I'd say this meeting is over. I'd like Captain Tucker and Admiral Jefferies to stay behind. Admiral Roddenberry and I would like to speak to you for a moment," said Fleet Admiral Beckett.
Gardner looked furtively over at Roddenberry and Beckett. He knew that neither man thought him the best replacement for Admiral Forest. He stood up and walked out trying to look dignified and unaffected. Everyone else filed out except Trip and Jefferies. They remained seated.
"Gentlemen," Beckett started, "President Samuels has judged that building a fleet is of vital importance, but he does not want to bankrupt the EU, so after all the upgrades, refits, and retrofits, he wants the only new ships to be built to be Daedalus-Class because they are the cheapest to build since we already are set up to build them, but he will allow for twelve new NX. I want more upgrades for the Daedalus-Class, greater speed if possible, more weapons, but I want the NX to be our finest starships. I want them to be the equal or better than anything the Vulcans and Andorians have. Do you understand?"
"R&D is working on a quad barrel EM Gatling rail cannon," said Trip. "Once it is perfected it could be added to the weapons profile of the NX that haven't been built yet."
"Do it," ordered Beckett.
"I'll shift Steinberg and Tucker to work on further upgrades for the Daedalus," said Jefferies.
"No," said Beckett. "Admiral Jefferies, I want Captain Tucker working on the NX. The eighth NX slated to be built is the Pegasus. I want you to be the Captain of the Pegasus, Captain Tucker."
"Sir, me, a captain," smiled Tucker.
"Yes, you, a captain. Your engineering experience has proved to be a great asset, but I don't want to waste your field experience as a commander. Are you interested, Captain?"
Trip smiled, "I guarantee you, sir, that the Pegasus will be the most advanced ship in the fleet and I'll be proud to be its captain."
"Good to hear it," said Beckett then he looked at Roddenberry. "Have the papers drawn up. You might as well make him captain of the Pegasus now."
"It would be my pleasure, Admiral," said Roddenberry.
"It looks like you have a fan or two, Tucker," said Jefferies.
STSTST
T'Pol sat in her blue catsuit at the Science Station, while Captain Archer sat on the command chair staring at the main view screen. On the screen two Andorian warships were approaching the Enterprise.
"We are being hailed by the Em'phur, Captain," Hoshi told him.
"Put'm on the screen, Hoshi," he said.
An Andorian male in an Imperial Guard uniform appeared. Archer inwardly sighed. The last month had been spent ferrying diplomats and acting as one himself.
"I am Captain Jonathan Archer. I believe you have some cargo for us," he said.
"I am Commander Then Argilev. The new liaison to Starfleet and his family are waiting to shuttle over to you. Are you ready to receive him?" asked Argilev.
"Ready and happy to have him," said Archer.
"Commander Shran and his wife Jhamel shuttle will be with you shortly," said Argilev.
The screen went dark returning to the two Andorian warships. Archer stood up then he looked over at T'Pol. She looked up from the Science Station.
"Yes, Captain," she said.
"You have the conn, Commander," he said.
She stood up and walked over to the command chair, as Archer stepped away and looked at Malcolm.
"Malcolm, care to join me in meeting Shran and his wife," said Archer.
"Yes, sir," said Malcolm.
A replacement, who was standing by the door to the Situation room, took Malcolm's place. T'Pol paid no attention, as the two men exited the Bridge. She held a PADD in her right hand and reviewed the information.
Hoshi surreptitiously observed T'Pol. Since Commander Tucker had left the Enterprise, she noticed that T'Pol had retreated behind her wall of Vulcan equanimity. Between the death of baby Elizabeth and the reassignment of now Captain Tucker, she had distance herself from the rest of the crew. She was never too close to T'Pol, though she was starting to think of her as a friend, yet now she saw T'Pol as the lonely Vulcan on board a ship full of Humans.
As hard as she tried to disbelieve the rumors about Trip and T'Pol, it really did seem that the two of them shared more than a friendship. She tried hard to pull some gossip from Malcolm, but he was always at his best British tight upper lip when it came to his pal, Trip Tucker. Maybe now that Trip was gone, she'd see if Malcolm would be willing to share the dirt.
STSTST
Archer and Malcolm waited for the red light to jump to the green light, so that Malcolm could open the docking hatch. The pressure and atmosphere equalized and the light went from red to green. Malcolm opened the hatch and Shran and his wife entered the Enterprise.
"Pinkskin, Jhamel and I are happy to be on your ship," said Shran.
"I know you'd rather be on your own ship, Shran," said Archer.
"Yes," said Shran with his antennae twitching, "I would, but I have been demoted from general back to commander and a commander who lost his ship at that. Once the Kumari was destroyed in battle, I lost my chance at commanding a ship again."
Jhamel reached for his face in the way a blind person reaches for sound. She gently touched his cheek.
"Don't upset yourself, my love," she said. "Someday you will command a ship again."
"If I wait on the capricious nature of the Imperial Guard then I'll be a liaison to Starfleet for the rest of my career," said Shran.
"Who said who have to command an Andorian ship?" smiled Archer.
Shran laughed at this. The thought of commanding a Human ship was preposterous. Yet, the thought also made him smile.
"Malcolm, show Shran and his lovely wife to their quarters. We'll be having dinner at 1830. I hope you enjoy our chef's cooking," said Archer.
"I have no doubt that we will, Pinkskin," said Shran.
Malcolm led Shran and Jhamel down the hallway. He watched how Jhamel held onto her husband's arm as they walked. Shran was her protector, her guide, and her beloved. Archer felt a twinge of jealousy. Turning around, he headed back to the Turbolift and the Bridge.
STSTST
Trip entered the 602 wearing his service dress uniform. He noticed that there were more than a few wearing the new BDUs. The new duty uniforms consisted of black pants with department color strip up the sides, a short jacket with black on the sides and department color filling out the rest, and a white faux turtleneck shirt. On the sleeve of the jacket were rank insignia, pips on the collar, Starfleet badge on the left breast, and on the left sleeve assignment patch. Noncoms wore a gray jumpsuit with rank on sleeve, department color bars on shoulders, and wearing a corresponding department colored faux turtleneck under the jumpsuit. Trip missed the simple flight suit uniforms.
He walked over to a table where Captain Steinberg and two other officers waited for him.
"Trip, have a seat," said Steinberg, who kicked a seat out for him.
He wore the service dress uniform, while the other two wore the new duty uniform. Trip sat down. He looked at the two officers who he didn't know.
"Captain Charles Anthony Tucker III, this is Captain Carlos Ramirez and Captain Isabella Conti," Steinberg introduced him.
"Call me Trip," said Trip.
"So you are the man who is given me and my crew extra shore leave, while my ship is upgraded," said Ramirez. "If you can turn a Daedalus-Class into a ship capable of warp 5 then you are a genius, isn't that right, Bella?"
"If you say so, Carlos," said Bella.
A waitress came over to take Trip's order.
"I'll have a beer," he said.
She smiled and left to get him his drink.
"You don't like the Daedalus-Class?" asked Trip.
"Trip, The NX is elegant, while the Daedalus is plebian," said Isabella.
"Hell, no," said Trip. "The giant ball instead of a saucer and the nacelles attached to a long tube shape engineering section. It's a unique design. Hell, sometimes I think it only needs some to be tweaked."
"Are you a romantic, Trip?" asked Isabella.
Trip looked at Captain Conti. She was beautiful with soft chestnut long hair pulled up in a bun and dark eyes. He should be attracted to her, but he wasn't. Trip could appreciate her beauty, but he wasn't sexually attracted. Damn it, T'Pol, I can't believe you have ruined me for other women.
"I've been accused of that once or twice," he said.