FOUR

Archer knew the Enterprise couldn't outrun those ships. At warp seven they would overtake the ship within minutes. And four against one weren't good odds.

"Hoshi, hail them," said Archer. "Tell them we're on a mission of peaceful exploration."

"I can't, sir," said Hoshi. "They're jamming all frequencies."

"Missiles fired," reported Malcolm.

"Evasive action," ordered Archer. "Return fire."

Travis turned the Enterprise out of the path of the missiles as Malcolm launched two torpedoes. As the Enterprise turned away, the two incoming missiles missed the ship by mere meters.

The two torpedoes launched by Malcolm struck the closest alien ship. One struck the alien ship a second before the second one, bringing down the ships' shields. When the second torpedo struck the alien ship, it destroyed the vessel.

"One ship down, sir," reported Malcolm. "Two more missiles incoming."

"Return fire," ordered Archer, "but try to only disable the ship, not destroy it. Hoshi, keep trying to get through their jamming."

"I'm trying, sir," said Hoshi, "but it's not doing much good."

"Second ship destroyed, sir," reported Malcolm. "I'm sorry, sir, but even a glancing hit seems to destroy them."

"Damage report," ordered Archer.

"We've sustained no damage," reported T'Pol. "Curious, Captain. As advanced as these aliens are and yet our weapons appear to be vastly superior to their defenses. And I find it odd that they would be using such inferior and unsophisticated weapons. It is not logical."

"Analyze it later," said Archer.

"Third ship destroyed," reported Malcolm. "T'Pol is right, sir. This is too easy. Those shields shouldn't be that easy to bring down."

"Switch to the plasma cannon," said Archer. "See if you can disable that last ship instead of destroying it."

Malcolm activated the plasma cannon and targeted the ships' engines. Unlike the torpedoes, the plasma cannon could be focused into a narrow beam, targeting a specific area of the ship. Malcolm fired the cannon.

"Direct hit, sir," reported Malcolm. "They've sustained damage to their warp engines. They're moving off."

"All channels clear, sir," said Hoshi. "They've stopped their jamming. I'm picking up what sounds like a distress call from that ship. They're calling for help, sir."

"Then we can expect more company," said Malcolm.

"Not any time soon," said Hoshi. "The signal is very weak, sir. I doubt it will get very far."

"Sir," said Travis, "their life support is failing. I guess that last shot did more damage than we thought."

"Confirmed," said T'Pol. "I estimate complete failure of their life support within three minutes."

"How many people are on that ship?" asked Archer.

"I am detecting four life forms," responded T'Pol.

"Only four?" questioned Hoshi. "On a ship that size?"

Archer activated his intercom.

"Trip," he said, "get to the transporter room. Use the transporter to get those people off that ship before they loose their life support completely."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Trip responded.

"Hurry," ordered Archer, "there's less than three minutes left."

"Two minutes, twelve seconds," corrected T'Pol.

"Hoshi," said Archer, "have the doctor meet Trip in the transporter room. Those people may need medical attention."

"Aye, sir," said Hoshi.

"You're going to help them, sir?" asked Malcolm. "They tried to destroy us without provocation."

"Like I said," said Archer, "it might all have been a misunderstanding. Besides, we can't just let them die. Not when we might be able to save them."

"Yes, sir," said Malcolm.

Archer waited apprehensively for the survivors of the alien ship to beam over to the Enterprise.

"An interesting mode of travel," said Phlox as Trip set the controls on the transporter. "I wonder what type of studies have been done on the effects of transporting on living tissue."

"It can't be good," said Trip, "having your body compressed into a data stream. One tiny mistake and they might not be able to reintegrate you."

"Still," said Phlox, "you must admit it is a fascinating technology. I suppose it is possible to use this type of technology in lieu of a star ship. Provided the beam could be enhanced enough."

"I doubt it," said Trip. "I can't imagine anyone voluntarily allowing themselves to be transported on a regular basis. I don't think the transporter will ever become anything more than a method for moving cargo."

"And life forms in an emergency," said Phlox.

"Ready," announced Trip. "Well, Doc, looks like you're about to get some new patients."

Trip activated the transporter and beamed the occupants of the alien ship aboard the Enterprise. But instead of beaming over four living individuals, a mechanical device approximately two meters in length materialized on the transporter pad.