Chapter Seven

Nausicaa would never be mistaken for a pleasure planet or vacation planet. It was a rough terrain for a rough people. In orbit above the planet a space dock had forty Nausicaan Brigand small ten men fighters moored. In orbit around their planet there was another ten of their medium sized frigates and their one Ravager Dreadnought. The rest of their fleet was in space searching for quarry.

In the ops of the space station the Nausicaan commander was bored as he stood watching his men work. Like most Nausicaans, he was tall, two meters, and possessed almost Klingon physical strength. Their distinct faces with their foreheads featuring a prominent bone structure and sharp tusks protrude from both sides of their mouths hid emotions.

"Sir, disturbances on our port side," one of his men said.

"Put it on the screen," he barked.

The technician did as he was told. At first all they saw was empty space, then, thirty Birds of Prey and fifteen Warbirds appeared. It was an impressive attack fleet, at least, to the Nausicaans. Suddenly, on the view screen appeared the calm countenance of Commander N'Vak, Fleet Commander.

"Nausicaans, this is Commander N'Vak of the Romulan Star Empire. We come in peace unless you chose to stand against then we shall decimate your fleet and enslave your people. Romulan Star Empire wishes to have you as allies not as pets. I give you thirty minutes to decide your fate," pontificated N'Vak.

STSTST

Before leaving her white room, Trip arranged for T'Pol to come to his quarters so that they could speak about the bond. Once he found himself back in his shower, Trip set out of the shower, dried himself off, and then found grey gym pants and gold tee shirt to put on. Exited the bathroom, he started to pace his quarters while he waited for T'Pol to arrive.

"Bonded. We're bonded. Well, that's just great," he fumed. "I told her it was over and she said that the bond would dissolve in time, but it hasn't. No, now it's a mating bond. We're married. I'm married."

He stopped pacing and thought about what he had just said.

"I'm married to T'Pol," he said to himself. "Shit, I'm married to T'Pol."

The door buzzer went off. She had arrived. Trip took a deep breath and then said, "Enter."

In her duty uniform, T'Pol entered his quarters. She appeared calm and undisturbed by what happened, which only made Trip angrier.

"Alright, since you seem to know what is going on here then you explain it," he barked.

"I presume you mean our bond," she replied coolly.

Trip contemplated calling security and having her arrested for a moment, but there were no charges in regulations to cover extremely pissed off CO. He took a calming breath, as she had taught him.

"Yes, I mean the bond," he said.

"Initially, I believe our bond was koon-ut-la, a betrothal bonding. If ignored these bonds can dissolve," she stated.

"So it wasn't a koon-et-el," he said.

"Koon-ut-la," T'Pol corrected him.

"Ah, hell, if you start correcting my mispronunciation of Vulcan words then this isn't going to go easy," growled a non-pacing Trip.

"I doubt it will go easily even if I ignore your trouble with the Vulcan language," said T'Pol.

Trip stopped pacing and glared at her.

"Continue," he barked.

"As it turned out our bond was a tel, a marriage bond, and because it was formed in the Delphic Expanse, and we continued to serve with each other for almost a year before you left for the Columbia," she said the word Columbia with disdain, "our bond became permanent. Because we both made assumptions and our relationship became a strain, we both suppressed the bond. It has been slowly re-emerging."

"How long have you known that it has been re-emerging?" he asked.

T'Pol cocked her right eyebrow then said, "Since you left the Enterprise to assist in the building of Starfleet's fleet."

"That long," he said in a low angry voice.

"I chose to suppress it, cutting you off from it, so that you could perform an important task," she told him.

"So, you have been suppressing the bond between us for my sake," he stated on the verge of a volcanic eruption.

"Considering your reaction it appears that I was right in my opinion that you would overreact to our bond," she said.

Trip took two steps towards T'Pol then he stopped. He had forgotten how much smaller than him she was, yet she was physically superior to him. Glaring into her brown eyes, he was struck at how much he still cared for her. She had managed to get deep under his skin and nothing so far had managed to remove her.

"Why did I appear in your white room tonight?" he asked.

"Because I stopped blocking our bond," she answered.

"Why did you stop blocking it?"

"You refuse to speak to me about anything that did not involve the ship. I grew impatient waiting for you to mature," she said.

"Mature?"

Trip was finally going to let loose. He was going to stop yelling until he felt satisfied which meant that they might be their when Alpha Shift reported in the morning, but this was a starship on the verge of a war, which mean the unexpected happened.

"Captain, I have an emergency comm for Vice Admiral Black," said the Gamma Shift Comm Officer.

Trip walked over to his desk and pressed the comm button.

"Route the comm into my quarters," he ordered.

"Aye, aye, sir."

Trip sat down at his desk and turned on the small view screen. Within a minute the visage of Vice Admiral Black appeared.

"Captain Tucker, sorry for disturbing your sleep," said Black.

"I wasn't asleep yet, sir."

"You probably won't want to sleep after I tell you this," said Black. "The Romulans have moved into Nausicaan space. They are setting up a base on Nausicaa itself and the Nausicaans have appeared to ally themselves with them."

"It's a good jumping off spot for invasion," said Trip.

"I know. We and the Andorian Imperial Fleet have already committed some starships to Coridan. Unfortunately, this leaves Rigel open to the Romulans."

"What do you want the Pegasus to do?" Trip asked.

"I want you to head out and rendezvous with the Columbia. She and a small fleet are protecting the Proxima to Sherman's Planet to Earth shipping lanes."

"I'll have a new course set now," said Trip.

"I'd do that," said Black. "Black, out."

The screen went blank. Trip looked at T'Pol.

"We need to talk about things, but duty takes a priority," he said.

He was going to deal with the bond, but not until he was ready to deal with it. It might take days or months, but he was not going to talk about it again until he knew he could hold his temper and not give her the advantage.

"Agreed," she said. "I'll alert the helm to change course."

"Yes, XO, you do that," he said.

STSTST

Archer looked over his shoulder at Shran, who was giving Lieutenant Billings at Tactical a case of the nerves. Shran stood over Billings shoulder and watched at the young tactical officer went through weapons simulations.

"88% accuracy. In the Imperial Guard you would lose a rank for such shoddiness," said Shran.

"He isn't used to the new weapons upgrade, Shran," said Archer.

"Excuses, Captain. We need to be ready for battle and as your XO it is up to me to have the crew ready," said Shran.

Archer smiled. Shran was taking his new role of XO seriously. He seemed to be enjoying himself, though Archer had to admit that his style was a little tough on the crew.

"Check the yield of the new Mark I torpedoes," said Shran, "and, also, the phase cannons can be more efficient. Run diagnostics on them."

"Yes, sir," said Billings.

Shran walked over to the side of the command chair. Archer saw that he had a slight smile playing on his lips. The Andorian loved being on a ship. That was something that Archer could identify with.

"How long until with rendezvous with the Atlantis and its attack fleet at Coridan?" he asked Archer.

"Fifteen hours. Coridan has the best warp engines but their fleet is fairly non-existent. Warp 7 engines but no real weapons and cruisers," he said.

"Mainly a small tactical fleet. I know. The Imperial Guard kept records on all potential enemies," said Shran.

"Who did they view an enemy?"

Shran smiled, "Everyone."

STSTST

Valdore gave the command of the Rigelian Attack Fleet to Commander V'Rak. The Rigelians were known for their trading not their fighting. It was decided that a commitment of fifty Romulan ships and twenty Nausicaan ships would be enough to invade, overwhelm, and subjugate.

"Commander V'Rak," Valdore spoke with his back turned to the room of commander, "I expect this to take no more than five days from invasion to subjugation. UE will send ships, as will the Andorians and even the Tellerites, but not enough to interfere with your invasion."

He stared out the plasma window from his Warbird at Nausicaa. It was an ugly planet, a planet unworthy of Romulan presence, but it was just the first of many. They would prevail, especially since his plan was to divide the coalition once he set up a presence in the Alpha Quadrant.

"Are we committing a smaller fleet to attack Earth or Andoria?" V'Rak asked.

Valdore turned and faced his commanders. He was by the tallest and most physically intimidating in the room. His was not an overly experienced fleet. The Senate and Praetor wanted him to succeed, but they wanted him to earn his success.

"Starfleet and the Andorian Imperial Guard have set up a substantive presence on Coridan. They are now in negotiations for Coridan to enter their coalition. This is an inconvenience which we will take advantage of. Starfleet barely has a single real fleet. They are overcommitted. I want the Nausicaan Brigands and Orions to attack freighter, transports, passenger linears throughout the Alpha Quadrant," stated Valdore.

Commander Rhiana, one of the few female commander, spoke up, "Can we trust these Nausicaans and Orions?"

"No, but that is why we are buying their loyalty. They are allowed to pillage whatever ships they attack. I am also offering them a merit system when attacking planets that will earn them rewards," he answered.

"Unseemly," she sniffed.

"Losing is unseemly. Now I know there is a Tellerite convoy of materials headed to an Earth colony called Sherman's Planet near the Klingon Border. I want this convoy destroyed by Orion and Nausicaan ships," he said. "Let Earth know that there troubles are growing."

"And this Sherman Planet?" asked Commander T'Loth.

"Leave it for now. We can deal with it later," said Valdore.

Commander V'Rak scanned the room quickly. He was going to lead the Rigelian Attack Fleet, which meant he was becoming Valdore's top commander. A target was being painted to his back and that mean he needed to start making allies to protect his flank.

"Commander T'Loth, you will be in charge of the Nausicaans," he said.

Surprise flashed across her face, as T'Loth looked at him.

"You'll act as my second in command," he said.

"Yes, Commander V'Rak."

"Very good, V'Rak," said Valdore with a smile. "Prepare to take Rigel."

STSTST

The Pegasus along with the Daedalus-Class ships the Relentless, Ares, and Hermes were given a patrol right by Captain Hernandez. Over the past week the Romulans invaded Rigel amidst countless attacks on freighters, convoys, and passenger linears by Orion and Nausicaan ships. Commerce was interrupted, ships looted, and people killed.

"Captain," Ensign Sing spoke up, "I've picked up a distress call from two Rigelian refugee Transports. They are under attack from Orion Pirates."

Trip took a deep breath.

"Let the Relentless, Ares, and Hermes know the coordinates of the transports and tell them we are headed there at emergency warp," he ordered Sing.

Next, he addressed the Helm, "Lieutenant Hoyt, set coordinates and prepare to go to emergency warp."

He tried to ignore it but he could feel concern for him through the bond. So far Trip had managed to keep their conversations about their bond short forestalling the much needed long conversation for another time. He knew that T'Pol now was letting the bond grow on its own without interference or subconsciously suppressing it. More and more he left her emotions and he knew that she felt his.

He punched his comm to Engineering, "Rostov. I want warp 7.2 for as long as you can give it to me."

"Forty minutes tops, sir," said Rostov.

"Only need it for ten minutes," he said then cut the connection.

"Mal, shields up and weapons hot. I want to go into this shooting," said Trip.

"Aye, Captain," said Malcolm.

"Sir, ready to jump to warp," said Hoyt.

"Jump it," ordered Trip.

The Pegasus shuttered as it entered warp and reached 7.2. T'Pol finished reviewing the readings on the XO console. She looked over at Trip.

"Captain, may I recommend we alert Captain Hawkins and his marines. They may have to help repel Orion raiders from the transports," she said.

"Good point, T'Pol," he said. "Let Hawkins know what is happening and what he might expect to do."

"I shall, Captain," she said.

It now through him off how she appeared to feel nothing on the exterior, but her inner emotions pooled up and were suppressed by her. During their short exchange he felt her react positively. He knew it was time to deal with their bond, their relationship, and their past, and all that was stopping it was his own stubbornness, which unfortunately was too often fooled by T'Pol's Vulcan nature. Trip took a deep breath and exhaled.

T'Pol was now in conversation with Captain Hawkins. He listened in until she broke the connection.

"T'Pol," he said.

"Yes, Captain."

"I'm sorry," he said softly then he whispered. "You are right and we need to talk honestly and openly."

He could feel a sense of joy come from their bond.

"I look forward to that, Captain."

"Okay, when this is over, we'll talk and I won't play any games," he said.

She nodded and returned her attention to her XO's console.

STSTST

The Pegasus dropped out of warp and five Orion ships were still there. The transport ships no longer had any fight in them, so the Orions had sent boarders to loot the ships. Trip reacted immediately.

"Malcolm, open up on the ships. Bring down shields then target engines and weapons," he directed.

"Aye, aye, sir," Malcolm replied with relish.

The Pegasus opened fired on the Orion ships. Alternating volleys of cannon fire with Torpedoes Malcolm rained hell on the Orion ships. He wanted to bring the shields down as quickly as possible.

"T'Pol, prepare the marines to beam over to the transport ships," he said.

"We will have to take down the shields in order to transport them over to the Rigelian ships," she said.

"I know," said Trip. "We'll time this so that our shields are only down for thirty seconds. The polarized hull will be able to handle the level of weapons the Orions have."

"I tell Captain Hawkins to report to the Transporter Rooms."

"Tell him to have his teams to report to both Transporter rooms and do it fast," he ordered.

"Yes, Captain."

"Mal, hit the retreating ship with the EM Gatling," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," said Mal.

Malcolm targeted the retreating ship himself and fired the EM Gatling rail cannon. The weakened shields were brought down and multiple hull breaches maimed the ship.

"Take out the engines and weapons," ordered Trip.

"Yes, Captain," replied Malcolm.

He targeted the cannons and sent the fire orders. The ship was completely disabled. One down and four to go.

STSTST

The Relentless, Ares, and Hermes arrived in time to mop up the action. The majority of the action was over by the time they arrived. The Pegasus had everything under control. Captain Hawkins and five fire teams were on the two refugee transports clearing out the transports of all boarders. One of the Orion ship got away, while two were destroyed and two completely disabled. Trip let the Daedalus-Class ships police the Orion ships and take prisoners.

He stood in the Situation Room reviewing what the transport ships needed, while arranging for shuttles to picking up seriously injured male, female, and children refugees and transporting them to Cargo Bay 2 where a triage was sent up.

"One hundred and thirty seriously injured refugees are being transported to Cargo Bay 2," she said.

"The area should be set up to hold them until we reach Proxima. We can shift them to the colony once we arrive," he said.

"Yes, Captain," said T'Pol. "Ensign Sing has sent the report to Admiral Gardner."

Trip had been leaning over the smart table reviewing the needs of the transport ships in order to get them running again. He stood up straight then ran his right hand over his face. The Pegasus took little damage and no causalities.

"XO, send one engineering team and two DC teams to the Transport named Heila, and two engineering teams and two damage DC teams to other one. We need to get them up and running at least warp two or three so we can get them to Proxima," he said.

"I'll also have their food stores assessed. The refugees may be hungry," she said.

"Good job, T'Pol," he said then looked into her eyes.

He smiled. It had been a long time since he had smiled while looking at her. A wave of pleasure came from her side of the bond, while he unknowingly sent her affection. He couldn't help it. Deep down he still loved. He tried to fight it but he did. It was only a matter of time before he admitted it to her.