Exiting warp speed, the newly recommissioned Excalibur NX-10 slipped into orbit of the Planet Vulcan, the homeworld of one of Earth's most important allies. Sat comfortably in the Command Chair, Lieutenant Commander Cortez smiled as he looked around the bridge. Some of the crew had served with him since the first launch three months ago, others had only been recently assigned after the battle damage taken during the last mission had been repaired, sighing slightly he looked at the communications officer on temporary assignment from the Starship Discovery since Alexis Wailer had taken personal leave after the death of a family member.

"Petty Officer Ford… send a message to the Captain and First Officer, inform them of our arrival and we are awaiting their signal to beam up"

"Aye sir. Sending the signal now" Slowly he accessed the console as he spoke. "Sir, forgive me for asking, is it true that the X.O had turned down a promotion?"

"Yes. The Commander believed she was needed more here" He smiled.

"Why? It would have made her the First Vulcan Captain in Starfleet history"

"Mister Ford, the Commander is not your average Vulcan. Something I found out to my own personal embarrassment a few months ago"

"Really sir? What happened?"

A slight sound of laughter came from the bridge crew as he smiled slightly and turned back to the main veiwscreen.

"You'll have to ask the commander that question, but be careful… she's… unusual"

"To say the least!" A voice echoed from behind him.

"Mister Walsh, I assume you have familiarised yourself with the new Engine design?"

"Of course, the new injectors are ready to be pressed into service. Once operational they will increase our maximum speed from Warp 6, to Warp 6.5 for twelve hours. I guess Starfleet believed she needed more power… the new Torpedoes are loaded and ready"

"New torpedoes? Why wasn't I informed?" He smiled slightly.

Slowly the newly promoted Chief Engineer walked towards the command chair as he laughed.

"You where… Andy you where a little busy yelling at maintenance crews. The new torpedoes are a lot more powerful then the old Photonic Torpedoes by 50%. We appear to be the first ship to test them…"

"I guess that's why this ship has been upgraded from a cruiser to a Fast Attack Cruiser…" He smiled.

"Actually we're more of an NX-Class Dreadnought; our shield strength has been increased so we can take more hits… I'm working on a new idea that should… in theory at least allow the shields to regenerate faster"

"Impressive, let me know if you need any help with that one"

After waiting in orbit for a further fifteen minutes, the Captain and First Officer finally materialised in Transporter Room two. Smiling slightly, Franks picked up his bag as T'Lana stepped off the transporter platform.

"Welcome aboard sirs… how was the training?"

Smiling slightly, Franks looked at his First Officer as he replied quickly.

"Exhausting but worth it. Thanks Cortez, how's my ship… any extra holes in her?"

"No sir, she's fully operational. We've even had a few extra upgrades; the information is awaiting you in your ready room sir"

"Ohh drop the sir Andy, call me Bill. How's Alexis doing?"

"I contacted her before we left, she's not too good"

"Alright, who is in her place?"

"Petty Officer Charles Ford. The Discovery had returned home for repairs after it engaged a Rommie ship. He's an old friend of Wailer's and volunteered to take her place until she can return"

"Of course…"

Slowly they walked through the ship towards the bridge, as they entered Franks looked around with a slight smile.

"I see you've done some redecorating. Looks a little like Columbia's Bridge, I like it. Mister Ford, contact Vulcan central and request permission to leave orbit. Set course to rendezvous with the fleet, once we're clear go to warp five…"

"Aye sir" Ford and the Helm officer replied.

"Andy, T'Lana… follow me"

Taking another look around the bridge, Franks entered the ready room with a slight smile as he threw his bag into the far corner before he slumped into his chair with a slight exhausted smile.

"So, what's new with the ship?"

"Our maximum speed has been increased to Warp 6.5... But the chief thinks he can get more out of the engines. We've been upgraded with a new Torpedo system I've only just found out about myself… these are a lot more powerful and more accurate"

"Cool!" He smiled.

"Of course. Because of the new upgrades, we've been upgraded from a Cruiser to an NX-Class Dreadnought or Fast Attack Cruiser. As you know Flaherty has resigned his commission, Tom Walsh has taken his post. So what happened down there? Looks like you're exhausted"

Laughing slightly, T'Lana nodded as she sat in the nearest chair.

"It was… both mentally and physically challenging. Sent into the Vulcan desert for a survival training with nothing more then each other and a blade for survival… Bill here managed to slip in a scanner without anyone knowing"

"Doesn't that defy the training?" Cortez laughed.

"Not really Andy, I always plan ahead" Franks laughed. "I assume our orders have come through, we received a copy earlier"

"Yes, we're too meet up with the Enterprise Battle Group and take position after the loss of two of her ships. We received a message from Captain Archer on hour ago requesting we get to him fast… they picked up an enemy task force heading towards a Coalition fleet"

"How long before we reach them?"

"At warp five, eight hours… we could push to maximum if needed"

"Do it… put those new injectors to good use"

"Aye sir…"

Nodding slightly to the two senior officers, Cortez left the ready room. As the door closed T'Lana jumped too her feet and sat on his lap with a large smile on her face.

"So, what do you me to do… Captain?"

"Ohh, I have a special job for you babe" He smiled.

"Another one? I thought you'd had enough earlier" She laughed.

"I can never say no to you…"

"So that's why you married me?"

"Not quite…"

Excalibur was pushed past her design limits as her engines roared towards warp 6.5, the ship had almost begun to shake apart as they approached the Enterprise battle group. After exiting warp, Excalibur slipped into formation behind the rear NY Class vessel as the flagship of the fleet made contact. With the channel open, Franks stood and walked towards the Helm as Captain Archer appeared on the main viewscreen once again.

"We wasn't expecting you for another few hours"

"We couldn't wait… Ford, co-ordinate with Enterprise's Comms officer, you too Cortez. T'Lana… keep us at a safe distance from those other ships"

"This isn't my first fleet… Sir!" She smiled. "I know what to do"

"I'm just saying that's all. So Captain, anything from the Coalition fleet?"

"It appears the Romulan fleet has moved away, they detected our approach…"

"Didn't fancy another beating like they took a Ceti-Alpha I bet, nice work by the way"

"Thank you… I wouldn't mind taking a look around your ship, I know Trip wants to look over your new engine designs" Archer smiled.

"Ahh, wanting to steal my secrets now Captain?"

Laughing slightly, Archer shook his head as he looked at the cocky young Starship Captain on his screen. Although their attention was quickly broken by the sound of the Excalibur's communications system activating.

"Captain Franks, receiving a distress signal from a Vulcan ship… It's heavily damaged and requesting assistance"

"Where?"

"In that system a few Light Years away, they've been attacked by three Romulan ships, they're venting atmosphere and loosing life support"

"Request permission to leave the fleet sir" Franks smiled.

"You just got here" Archer replied.

"We'll check out the area… any sign of trouble we'll call for help"

"Alright, we'll be with you shortly… don't have all of the fun without us, Captain!"

"We'll be in touch!"

Breaking formation, the powerful ship entered Warp once again as it tracked the distress signal to its destination. Exiting warp once more, the powerful weapons and shields activated as the large Surak Class ship entered visual range. Gasps came from the crew as the large Vulcan ship was left adrift in space, her redbrick coloured hull had been pot marked with explosions from the enemy attack; the damage ran the full length of the 350-meter hull with several sections exposed to the hard vacuum of space. Running his hand over his stubble chin, Franks examined the onscreen display before him as he spoke.

"Any sign of enemy ships?"

"Nothing, but they could be cloaked" Cortez replied.

"I thought that too, that ship looks familiar, what's the name of that vessel?"

"The Surak Class ship… G'Kar…" Called out Ford "… Under Command of Sub-Commander…"

"Netaan!" Franks said quickly. "We've already met. T'Lana move us in to position, Scan for life signs. Cortez if you see anything that looks like a ship decloaking, don't wait for my order… destroy it before it can show its ugly face"

"Aye sir"

Checking her readings, the Science officer shook her head as she looked up at the Captain.

"Sensors can't cut through all the interference; I'll try to find a way around it"

"We'll have to do this the hard way, assemble a boarding party. Get someone up from Medical, we may find survivors. Contact Enterprise, Inform them of the situation and request assistance with any wounded we may find. Cortez, have a security team meet me and the Chief Engineer in Transporter Room one, Medical and other Engineers in Transporter Room two, everyone in EVA suits. T'Lana you have the bridge…"

"Aye sir" The all said in unison.

"Bill…" T'Lana said slowly.

"If Netaan is alive, I'll find him"

"Of course, I was going to say… Be careful and good luck"

"Too us all"

The two groups materialised in a large corridor of the ship, the damage to the vessels interior was extensive, bulkheads destroyed and floor panelling warped and almost melted as they slowly walked through the ship with their weapons drawn.

"This way… Walsh, take two guys with you and check out engineering, that way… three decks down then take a left. Hopefully we can salvage this ship, Doc… you're with me. Keep an open channel at all times, remember this is a Vulcan ship… they may not be happy to see us"

"Aye sir" Walsh replied.

"The bridge is this way, the rest of you fan out; no one goes alone… two man teams scout the area. The Doc and I will get to the bridge"

"How do you know your way around a Vulcan cruiser sir?" The Doctor asked slowly.

"I've been here before… a few years ago" He smiled.

Eight Years Earlier…

Finally arriving at Docking Port Twelve, Franks and T'Lana looked around in shock as they stood before a large Vulcan. If he did not know any better, it appeared as if the Vulcan was more then a little upset about the passengers he was ordered to take with him back to his homeworld. Smiling slightly Franks walked towards the large alien as he spoke.

"Umm, I guess we're in the right place. Lieutenant William Franks and Ensign T'Lana… we where told to report here for…"

"Yes, We are aware of who you are. Do you realise that we are not a transport ship to be hired at Starfleet's leisure?"

"I'm aware of that sir; I was expecting a transport… I guess my contact had something else in mind"

Slightly raising one eyebrow, the large Vulcan looked down at Ensign T'Lana as he spoke.

"I was not aware that any Vulcans where serving in Starfleet"

"You'd be surprised what the High Command doesn't know about"

"Indeed, this way please… we are late after awaiting you and your companion"

Boarding the shuttle, they where quickly taken into orbit of Earth, shock ran through the young Lieutenant as the only ship in orbit of Vulcan design was a Surak Class cruiser freshly out of it's construction yard. Smiling slightly Franks looked up at the ship in awe.

"My god, that's your ship?"

"Yes, the G'Kar… This was to be a shakedown for the ship. Little did we know that we where about to become a… Taxi service for Starfleet" The pilot replied.

"Is that a joke sir?"

"No" he replied quickly.

"Yes it was… a good one, I sense hope for you sir" He smiled.

Finally after passing over the construction yard where Earth's first Warp Five class ship was about to be launched, the tiny shuttle docked onboard the large Vulcan cruiser. Smiling widely, Franks exited the shuttlecraft and took his first look around the large hanger bay as an elderly Vulcan approached him.

"Why are you onboard my ship Human?"

"I guess the appropriate greeting is 'Hello' Lieutenant Junior William James…"

"I an aware of your name Human… why are you here?" He growled.

"I was hoping… now actually, we where hoping this was a transport vessel. Unfortunately someone had other plans"

"This is an active ship in the Vulcan High Command… we are not a…"

"Taxi service, I got the joke sir. This is my companion Ensign T'Lana. You must be Sub-Commander Netaan. I've heard nothing about you sir… It's a pleasure" He laughed.

"You travel with a Vulcan?"

"Not just travel sir… she's my…"

"The Humans call it… Girlfriend. We've been seeing each other for almost two years"

Present Day…

Passing over bulkheads and throwing pieces of debris away, Franks and the Doctor finally entered what remained of the bridge, quickly the Doctor scanned the area and pointed as life form reading where picked up on her scanner. Quickly removing his helmet, Franks walked towards the nearest survivor. As he pulled the debris off the survivor a hand began begun to push out as he removed the last of the rubble, a large smile crept across his face as he recognised the survivor.

"Netaan… it's okay, your okay"

Slowly the elderly Vulcan looked up at his savour and almost smiled as he recognised the human stood over him.

"Franks? Is that you?"

"Yes, I seem to have a habit of saving your life old friend"

"Indeed, my crew?" He coughed.

"We're working on it. Doctor… take care of him"

"Yes Captain" She smiled.