Author's Note: This is the prequel to Of Mice and Men. When I started that story it was going to be a short fic to play around with. I didn't intend for it to be as long as it was. I was also a little unsatisfied with the lack of emotional involvement. It was mentioned that 'length is good' so I thought I'd try for a little bit more depth and detail in this story. I hope you all enjoy! Please review and let me know what works and what doesn't work, feedback is appreciated!


You Call This First Contact?


Chapter 1

Something's Wrong

Captain Jonathon Archer sat awkwardly in his captain's chair, centered on the bridge. The purpose, he knew, to allow him access in viewing the activities at the various stations in the hub of the ship. The bridge was the heart of her. This was where the action lived, where decisions were made that saved lives...and cost lives.

The fact that it had been months since setting out on that initial mission, a fiasco turned achievement, did little to dispel the eager anticipation he felt. They had done it! They were here, now, out in space, exploring the far reaches of the galaxy that had been no more than a child's dream ten years ago.

He studied his first officer. A Vulcan. Not for the first time he wondered how he had come to have such faith in her. Their relationship had started on the wrong foot. He had threatened to knock her on her ass, had allowed Porthos to annoy her; petty, but years of pent up anger towards the Vulcans made civility difficult at times.

T'Pol had broken through his prejudice. She had acted honorably on mission after mission, saving them and providing help that kept them out here. It had galled him to admit it, but without her help they would've failed before they had shaken the dust from spacedock off her nacelle's.

Life was funny that way. When you least expect it, it teaches you a lesson. You never know all that you think you do. So here was a Vulcan, his first officer, and someone he was beginning to consider a friend.

The source of his scrutiny turned from her viewer, facing him, "Captain, I believe I found something."

"What have you got T'Pol?" He asked. Ten to twenty it was a planet this time. They had seen nebulas, gas giants, but it had been weeks since they had stumbled across a planet that was unexplored. His feet itched to walk on fresh ground.

"It's a menshara type planet, approximately five days from our current position." T'Pol confirmed Archer's suspicions.

Their current position was departing Relas V where the ship had restocked supplies. Phlox had made some unusual requests for sickbay. A short detour and the ship's chief medical officer was content.

When Archer had waved Phlox over to discuss with him the Klingon, he hadn't realized the benefits of having the Denobulan for the ship's doctor. His unorthodox treatments had prevented extended recovery times and complications to the injuries that seemed to happen far more frequently than he had anticipated on a Starship. Phlox had become an integral member of the crew from the very beginning, in much the same way as T'Pol, minus of course the emotional baggage the crew carried towards Vulcans.

"Would you like to set a course for the planet Captain?" T'Pol interrupted his thoughts.

Archer grinned, his boyish eagerness undiminished, "I would. Travis, set a course for T'Pol's planet." This was going to be good.

The planet loomed large on the viewer; red clouds twisting through the atmosphere, reminiscent of Jupiter back home. Archer looked at the effects and wondered what kind of life they would find on this alien world.

"You sure there's life down there?" He asked. Skepticism tinged his question. The resemblance between the two planets was uncanny.

"Bio-signs indicate a variety of life, sensors indicate clusters that are most likely cities." T'Pol replied, assuring him this was not a dead world.

Archer had learned the hard way that first contact was a tricky business. He would tread carefully.

"Captain, we're being hailed?" Hoshi said, startled.

Archer turned to her, pensive, "Put them through." He ordered.

Garbled noise emitted from the comm., painfully loud. The crew hunched their shoulders in a defensive posture against the grating noise.

"Could we turn it down?" Archer shouted above the din.

Hoshi reddened, "Sorry Sir."

The comm. continued to utter gibberish. Archer continued to stare at Hoshi, questioning. She shrugged, "The translator is having a hard time Captain." She continued to work at her panel, raising a hand to the earpiece, unconsciously pushing it in further towards her ear, while frowning in concentration.

"I think-there Sir!" She exclaimed, exultant.

"-essel, you've entered Taltaxin space, please identify yourself!" Echoed the mechanical voice of the translator.

Archer straightened, "This is Captain Archer, of the Starship Enterprise. We mean you no harm. Our mission is one of peaceful exploration." He paced forward. "We were hoping to meet your people."

He waited, anxious. He looked towards Hoshi. She shook her head. He paced back towards his chair. He looked at Hoshi again. She began to shake her head negative, but stopped mid-action and listened intently. She smiled, pressed the panel, and turned towards her Captain, "They're responding Sir."

"Captain Archer, I am Prime Minister Veen of Taltax. We would very much like to meet you and your people."

Bodies relaxed across the bridge, lungs releasing air in relief. Excitement replaced tension.

Archer smiled, confident. "Prime Minister, if you would send up the coordinates, we'll be down shortly."

"Very well." The voice ended the transmission.

T'Pol watched her impulsive Captain as he went through the motions of setting up the away mission. She knew he tended to 'leap before looking'. He had been fortunate on more than one occasion, but she was never sure if fortune found him, or if he created fortune. Archer was charismatic, exuding a boyish charm that tended to ease ruffled feathers. She had seen him rescue missions from the brink of disaster through nothing more than sheer determinedness and a stubborn belief that it wasn't over until death claimed his soul.

More than once, she wished the man had a more cautious nature. She found herself wishing this again, as he prepared to leave the bridge. She did not believe in...intuition...this 'gut instinct'. If she had, she might have insisted he bring a security attachment to the planet, but she didn't and he didn't, an action they would all have cause to regret.

Instead, she watched him with veiled concern, "Be careful Captain."

Archer didn't pick up on her worry; he grinned, "What could possibly go wrong?" He stepped off the bridge, and stuck his head out the turbolift, "Sub-Commander, you have the bridge." He pulled his head back in time for the doors to snap shut. T'Pol moved to the center seat. His seat. Resigned, she sat and began reviewing scans on her PADD.

The shuttlepod dropped from Enterprise's belly, gracefully breaking away and flying on her own. Inside the pod the away team prepared for landing. Travis piloted the shuttle, expertly traversing the atmospheric turbulence as they descended through the layers of air. Archer spoke quietly to Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker while Hoshi Sato continued to pore over a PADD with the Taltax language collected previously on the bridge.

Malcolm Reed was not happy. "Captain, it is too risky to go in there unarmed." The tactical officer had mellowed significantly from the earlier days of their mission, but his training wouldn't allow him to view anything with less than a critical eye on safety and security. It was one of the reasons why Archer had requested the man.

"Malcolm, I understand, and normally I would agree but I don't think we'll make a very good impression if we show up armed with phasers. We don't even know what level of technology these people possess."

Trip leaned forward in his chair, closing the space between him and Archer, "Cap'n, I'm with Malcolm on this. We haven't exactly been welcomed with open arms since leaving Earth."

Archer sighed. He knew his people had a point, but he also knew they couldn't go in expecting the worse every time. If they did that, they might as well return to Earth and hide away, becoming a xenophobic society.

"Benefit of the doubt, we can't always assume the worst." He lectured.

Reed wasn't appeased and Trip was looking at him with something along the lines of...he'd talk to Trip about that later.

Travis eased the pod onto a clearing of what appeared to be the outskirts of the city. Through the window of the shuttle they could see a group of aliens standing stiffly by some type of vehicle. The tarmac was deep ebony, contrasting with the reddish tint of the air. A very alien world, thought Archer.

"Let's try not to make them mad." He said. His amusement stemming from previous contacts where simple mistakes had ended contact before it had barely begun. Something they could laugh about now, at the time it hadn't been so funny.

"At least we left Porthos home, he won't be marking any sacred trees." Trip joked, his lips curving in a smile, remembering the disastrous mission where the Captain had bent through loops to secure spare plasma injectors. The Kreetassans had to have been one of the more cantankerous species they had run into out here.

Archer shuddered mentally, "Don't ever remind me of that again Trip. If I never see a Kreetassan again I'll die a happy man." The things he had to do as a Starship Captain.

"Ready?" He asked.

When everyone nodded their assent, he stepped to the back and engaged the latch mechanism. Despite his best attempts, nervous energy converged in the pit of his stomach, causing him to feel slightly queasy. Just don't throw up on them, he scolded himself, nerves! No one else seemed affected like he was. He'd have to talk to Phlox about some kind of hypo to keep his stomach settled next time.

He stepped out into the bright light of their world. Taltax orbited two suns, and the light was proving to be almost too much for his eyes to adjust to. He noticed by the squinting that he wasn't the only one; another mental note, pack sunglasses.

The aliens had approached them, walking cautiously. He gestured for his team to walk with him, meeting them halfway between their boxy vehicle and the pod. He checked to ensure Hoshi had the UT active and ready.

"I'm Captain Archer, this is Commander Tucker, my Chief Engineer." He turned and indicated Trip. "Lieutenant Reed, Tactical Officer." He gestured at Malcolm. "And Ensign Sato, my Communications Officer." He nodded towards Hoshi.

The Taltaxins were amazingly similar to humans. They were bipedal, two arms, two legs, two eyes, no protruding frontal ridges or horns and no odd shaped tentacles. There were differences. They were almost twice as tall as the away team, towering over them. Their arms were much longer as were their legs. They had narrow ears that drooped almost to chin-level. Their skin was sallow, and their eyes were blue, every one of them.

Archer shifted uncomfortably. The aliens were staring at them with what he could only hypothesize as intense shock or surprise. Trip plucked at his sleeves, nervous at the scrutiny. Malcolm reached towards his weapon only to curse inwardly when he remembered they had none.

"Sir-." He began, about to suggest they leave, when the middle alien seemed to recover.

"I apologize Captain...we didn't expect you to resemble ourselves...so closely." He lied. He bowed low holding his left hand crossed against his chest.

Archer shot a confused look to Reed, who shook his head. They knew the Prime Minister was covering, but why? Why had the aliens reacted poorly to them? He bowed back, mimicking the action of the Prime Minister. Without a concrete cause to abort the contact, he would continue. He sent a subtle message to Reed and the others. Stay alert!

They were escorted into the vehicle. Archer had thought it would be far to small for everyone, amazed when the doors opened to reveal a large seating area in the rear. What appeared to be a compact object contained a plethora of interior space. Trip almost pushed his head back out to take a second look at the exterior size, certain that it was violating the laws of physics. A sharp look from Archer kept him seated.

Prime Minister Veen observed the away team critically, "I think it's best if we head to the ministry quarter first Captain. We have rooms where you and your crew may freshen up, if that is satisfactory?"

Archer didn't know why, but he felt it wasn't satisfactory. Internal warning bells were ringing and he couldn't pin down the source of his unease. Knowing he had no logical reason to decline, he nodded. "Thank you Prime Minister, we would appreciate that."

The car wound through the city. Buildings were varied. Some short and stocky, others rose high into the sky, towers of shiny material reflecting the brightness of the day. Archer had to close his eyes against the glare more than once.

Veen noticed, "Is it too bright?" He asked, his tone sharp and with a hint of condescension.

Archer shook his head, "Not at all." He forced a polite smile. His level of unease notched higher. Veen was not happy about something. He cleared his throat, "It's a beautiful city."

Trip caught on to the Captain's tactics, "Yeah, kinda reminds me a bit of San Francisco, doesn't it Cap'n?" Hoping to put the Taltaxins at ease by sharing some similarities. It had the opposite effect. One of Veen's advisors looked angry at the comparison.

Trip decided he should probably keep quiet the rest of the ride. Let the Captain deal with these prickly aliens. Malcolm nudged his knee. They shared a worried look. Hoshi kept her eyes focused on the passing scenery.

Veen, surprisingly, broke the growing silence. "So Captain, your people, are hoo-mans?" He emphasized hu and Archer wondered if it had been intentional.

"Yes, but we have other species that serve aboard Enterprise."

Veen looked intrigued at that information, his eyebrows rising, "Really? What species would those be? We do have some space capable craft, but we tend to stick close to home."

"A Vulcan and a Denobulan, both valuable members of my crew." He offered minimal information, reluctant to share until he had more answers regarding the odd behaviors.

Veen rubbed a hand across his pant leg, "Really. I've never met a Vulcan."

He didn't sound overly interested in meeting one now, Trip through crossly. He might be irritated with T'Pol...occasionally...but she was their Vulcan. He didn't like the tone Veen was using.

Reed wanted to talk to the Captain, privately. Something was wrong. They should leave. He couldn't figure out how to communicate his thoughts without speaking in front of the Taltaxins. He was tossing around ideas on how to accomplish this, when the car came to a stop in front of a long, pyramid style building.

Impressed, he stared at the largesse of the structure. It was truly beautiful. Reluctantly, he found himself admiring the architecture of the aliens. What they lacked in manners, they made up in workmanship, he thought awestruck. It stretched across what he would think of as five blocks, the base a huge heavy monolith, with incremental steps converging to a peak at the top. It was white, as many of the buildings were, and there seemed to be a singular lack of windows. Reed frowned. Why no windows?

Archer, Trip and Hoshi were similarly gaping at the building. Most of the planets they had visited since leaving with Earth had been technologically less advanced. Villages instead of cities, small poorly made buildings compared to this gigantic behemoth before them.

"I see you can appreciate beauty, Captain." Veen strutted.

Archer resented his superior tone, "Yes Prime Minister, in many different forms." He replied. He came to a decision; as soon as he could politely excuse the away team, they would head back to Enterprise. He would go through the motions, and leave, quickly. This man was arrogant and Archer didn't trust him.

Speaking of which, "Prime Minister, I need to inform my ship that we've arrived, if you wouldn't mind?" He indicated his communicator.

"Not at all, go right ahead. I'll arrange for your quarters." Veen replied, the fake smile not reaching his eyes.

The away team huddled in a circle, "Archer to T'Pol."

"Yes Captain?" Her voice a welcome sound, soothing his frayed nerves.

"We've arrived at the ministry building." He dropped his voice to a whisper, "Can you get a sensor lock on us?"

"One moment." She paused. He could picture her checking the display. "No Captain, something is interfering with our signal. Is everything all right?"

Archer could hear the undercurrent of concern in her question. "Not exactly...it's been a little awkward. I'm getting some bad vibes from the Prime Minister and his...people."

"Vibes?" She asked, puzzled.

"Feelings T'Pol, bad feelings." He clarified.

She was silent. Archer was beginning to wonder if she had heard him. "T'Pol?"

"I'm here. Would you like assistance?" She offered, wishing she had spoken up earlier on the bridge.

"Not yet. I'll check in-" he thought about the time, "-if you don't hear from us in twelve hours, come looking."

"Understood." She acknowledged.

"Archer out." He flipped his communicator shut. Trip was staring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just don't like it here." He said. He looked back at the vehicle, still idling in front of the building.

"We can't leave yet Trip." Archer interpreted his actions.

Trip agreed, "I know-it's just-something's wrong." He said, frustrated, unable to pin down the source of his feelings.

Hoshi suppressed a shiver, "I know what the Commander means Captain. I think we should go."

Archer looked at Reed, "You picking up on the same thing Lieutenant?"

Malcolm was. Though there had been no overt actions by the Taltaxins, there was some kind of threat hanging about them, and Reed wasn't inclined to stick around and find out what it was. "I can't explain it." He finally said, not knowing what else to say.

"We can't leave yet. We'll say our hellos, then our goodbyes and get the hell out of here. Until then, keep an eye out." He stopped talking abruptly as Veen began to walk back towards them.

He waved his hands in the air, "This way please, your rooms are prepared!"

The away team filed behind, Archer in the lead and Reed taking the final position. They entered the building and were surprised to find the austere decorations. The lavish design of the building had led them to believe the interior would be equally as lush. It was stark in its emptiness. Chairs interspersed in strategic locations, desks and doors leading to other rooms. There was an absence of colors, which gave a sterile feel to the place. Archer felt they were being led into a hospital rather than a government building.

Veen guided them onto a platform, "Third floor, please." He ordered. Bars rose on every side of the occupants, effectively sealing them in. The cubicle lurched upwards, leaving behind their stomachs. Trip gave a silent prayer of thanks for skipping lunch. It rose up through what they now could see were holes in the floors above. It stopped after flying through two of those holes. The bars dropped, allowing them to walk out of the lift. The away team stepped gingerly off the platform, staring in alarm at the floor where the bars had been moments before. There was no sign of them, not even holes for them to move back and forth.

The Minister had a smug look on his face, "I see you like our lift?"

"Uh-sure." Trip answered. He didn't say anymore.

Veen appeared disappointed at their lack of appreciation, "This way please." He stated, swishing down the hall.

They struggled to keep up with his long-legged pace. For every one stop he took they had to take three or four. By the time they arrived at the door to their quarters, the entire team was out of breath.

Veen pushed a button on a panel recessed in the wall, "Please-." He gestured for them to enter.

Archer led the team into the room. It was no more decorated than the lobby, with the exception of furnishings one would expect to find in a hotel room. He could identify beds, chairs, and a door that most likely led to a bathroom. Sterile, but it looked safe.

"Thank you Prime Minister." He said politely.

Veen inclined his head in a brief acknowledgement. "You may rest, wash up. I'll have a tray of food sent. The ministry would like to meet with you. Someone will inform you of the specifics." He said, keeping the information vague.

"That will be fine." Archer accepted, not liking it but keeping it to himself.

Veen backed out of the room, pulling the double doors shut behind him. Archer twisted in a circle, looking around at the room. He headed for the nearest bed; dropping on it with a tiredness he hadn't known was there. It must take a lot of energy being tense. He stretched out.

"Not exactly your size, Cap'n." Trip teased.

Archer lifted his head. His feet only came to the halfway point of the bed. He looked like a child sleeping in his parent's room. He grinned. "Well, at least we know our feet won't hang over the edge."

Hoshi had dropped in a chair beside the bed, "How long do you think we'll have to wait?"

Trip grimaced, "Probably a while. I don't think they like us very much."

Archer agreed, "I got that feeling too."

Reed had been scanning the room, walking around the perimeter. "Captain!" He called out, alarmed.

Archer bolted upright, instantly alert, "What is it Lieutenant?"

"The door Sir. It's locked."

TBC