Disclaimer: see Part 1
Shifting Ground – Part 2
Slumped in his ready room chair, Archer stared blankly out at the stars. He knew he should be doing something…anything…but he couldn't seem to shake himself out of his inaction. It was as if his shock was like a physical weight holding him down. He couldn't…wouldn't…acknowledge that Trip was gone. He would break if he did.
The door-chime startled him slightly out of his stupor. "Come in," he said dully.
The door opened and T'Pol walked in. "Captain, I have news," she said without preamble. "Lieutenant Reed and myself have been analysing the transporter records from the accident."
Archer made an impatient gesture. How could she think that he would want to hear details of Trip's…no, he still couldn't even think it to himself.
T'Pol recognised Archer's impatience and pressed on before he could dismiss her. "If you will allow me to continue, Captain, the analysis showed that Commander Tucker's pattern was not lost in the transporter buffer as we originally thought. In fact, there is a very strong possibility that he re-materialised without injury. Just not on board the Enterprise."
For a moment Archer's mind didn't register what the Vulcan had said. Then, as the words sank in, he leapt up, almost knocking T'Pol over in the process. "Then he's still alive?" he demanded.
"We must not dismiss the fact that he may have materialised in space," replied the Vulcan in her typically logical fashion.
"But it's more likely that he ended up back at his point of origin?" asked Archer.
"That is the most probable outcome, yes," conceded T'Pol. "But in light of the current geological instability on the planet's surface it is unwise to hope for a positive outcome."
"We should start scanning the planet's surface for life-signs straight away," said Archer, dismissing her last comment.
"Unfortunately, the electromagnetic field is disrupting our sensors as it did the transporter," said T'Pol. "We have no way to scan the planet's surface. The communicator is similarly disabled. All efforts to contact Commander Tucker, if he is indeed on the surface, have failed."
"Then we should take a shuttle down there and look for him," replied Archer, unwilling to be defeated.
"I would strongly recommend against that course of action," said T'Pol. "Although it is likely that the initial earth tremors have ceased, the continuing presence of the electromagnetic field indicates frequent aftershocks. Therefore the surface of the planet would still be too unstable to land a shuttle."
"So we have no way to detect or rescue him?" asked Archer, frustrated.
"Not at this time, Captain," replied T'Pol.
Opening his mouth to tell her to find a way, Archer was interrupted by the beep of the comm.
"Sato to Archer."
"Archer here," he said.
"Captain, we are being hailed by Regent Amshal. He is in a ship orbiting the planet," Hoshi informed him.
Instantly Archer's mind went back to the Regent's lack of surprise at the earth tremors. "I'll be right there," he said grimly. "I have a few words I'd like to say to our oh-so hospitable Regent.
"Captain Archer, I am so glad you have returned safely to your ship," gushed Regent Amshal from the viewscreen as Archer entered the Bridge.
"I have returned safely, Regent, but I cannot say the same for my Chief Engineer," replied Archer. "We were unable to use our transportation device to get him off the planet."
"Oh, I am so sorry…" began the Regent again, but Archer cut him off.
"You, on the other hand, seem to have made it safely off the planet with all your followers," he said. "Tell me, Regent Amshal, how is it that you managed to so conveniently have a ship waiting for you in orbit?" The Regent was beginning to look distinctly uncomfortable, but Archer was not going to allow him to make any excuses. "Come to think of it, you appeared remarkably unsurprised when the earth tremors began, despite the fact that they were destroying your capital city in front of your eyes. What exactly is going on here?" he finished in a cold, hard voice.
Evidently, Regent Amshal had decided that it was no use denying knowledge of what was happening on the planet. "The earth tremors are a regular occurrence on Corisia," he admitted. "About once every eighty years they all but destroy our way of life. That is why our civilisation is so compact. We have become very adept at rebuilding quickly yet sophisticatedly, in order to return to ease and comfort as soon as possible."
"And you didn't think to tell us this?" Archer asked in a dangerous voice.
"We knew the tremors were imminent, but we did not expect them quite so soon," explained Regent Amshal. "We were certain you would have left by the time they occurred, so we did not see the point in worrying you with them. Evidently, we made a slight miscalculation."
"A slight miscalculation?" repeated Archer in disbelief. "Regent Amshal, your 'slight miscalculation' has resulted in the life of one of my officers being put in extreme jeopardy. At this point in time we are not even sure whether he is alive or dead."
Regent Amshal flinched. "I am very sorry, Captain Archer," he said. "But rest assured that we shall do everything we can to help you recover your Chief Engineer."
"Our sensors are unable to penetrate the electromagnetic field surrounding Corisia," said Archer, slightly mollified. "Are yours any more effective?"
"We do have sensors capable of penetrating the field," replied the Regent. "But they are only for geological purposes. They cannot pick up biological life-signs."
"Then how do you check on any people left down on the planet?" asked Archer, although he had a horrible feeling that he already knew the answer.
"There are none of our people left down on the planet," said Regent Amshal, confirming Archer's worst fears. "Our planet-wide population is small enough that we have been able to implement an extremely effective evacuation procedure. As soon as the tremors begin, everyone reports to a designated launch site. The whole population is now in orbit around Corisia."
"That is indeed correct," confirmed T'Pol from her station.
"As each person boards their designated ship, they are logged on to an electronic register. That is how we make sure everyone has been evacuated. All the ships will remain in orbit until it is safe for the population to return home and start rebuilding."
"So Commander Tucker, if he is down on the planet's surface, is completely alone?" demanded Archer.
"I'm afraid so," admitted the Regent.
"And we have no way to detect him," said Archer frustratedly. "So, 'everything you can do' is in fact nothing," he continued, making it a statement not a question. "I believe our conversation is at an end, Regent Amshal."
The Regent began to apologise again, but was cut off as Archer indicated to Hoshi to end the transmission.
Turning to his Bridge officers, Archer began issuing instructions. "T'Pol, Malcolm, start working on a way to penetrate the electromagnetic field with our sensors. I want to know the second you can detect what's going on down on the surface and whether Trip is indeed alive down there. Hoshi, keep your ear glued to the comm. If he is alive, then he'll be trying to contact us. I want reports every half-hour. I'll be in my ready room." So saying, he left the Bridge.