Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to anything Star Trek. They are the property of CBS/ Paramount. I'm not making any money off of this. I'm only playing with the characters and their world for fun. Thanks.
A/N: I got tried of waiting for feedback so I had Archer go talk to Trip and Malcolm to help him make his decision. This chapter will conclude this story, but I'm working on a sequel to it. Since this is the last chapter of the story please leave a review and let me know what you all thought of it. The sequel will be more balanced out with other characters and since everyone seems to like Malcolm so much, I have big plans for him in the sequel.
Thanks LadyRainbow for helping me stay on track. You rock!!
Chapter 7
The Decision
Now it was Trip's turn to grow still and silent. Archer had asked him the big, tough question and the chief engineer didn't quite know how to answer it. He truly didn't know what decision the Captain should make. Trip wanted to see Mai again, he wanted someone like her guarding his back, and he wanted to help her through the pain and sorrow of losing her husband. That was what he wanted to tell his friend, but he couldn't find the words. What if it made things worse for Mai to bring her aboard Enterprise? What if it was too big of a challenge for the Captain to handle?
"Trip?" Archer's voice broke the commander's downward spiral of thought. Trip looked up from the table to see Jon's questioning face.
The chief engineer knew he needed to say something; he couldn't just sit there looking silly, so he said the first thing that would come out of his mouth. "Maybe you should consult Malcolm before you make your final decision. See how disruptive he might think it would be to change MACO units," he blurted out.
This was not the answer Archer was expecting. His eyebrows rose in surprise at his friend's new line of thinking. Trip explained further, "I mean, Malcolm is the Chief of Security, your Tactical and Armory Officer, shouldn't he get some say in acceptin' or rejectin' the transfer. He's just to the point where he's comfortable workin' with the MACOs. Well, as comfortable as Malcolm can get with them. He, Kemper, and McKenzie all work rather well together now. Transferrin' 'em now might mess things up."
The Captain's jaw clenched as he thought about what Trip was saying. His friend was right of course, but it still bothered Archer that someone had to point out Reed's position to him. He felt he should have thought of it himself.
"I'm all for helpin' Mai and gettin' her into a different environment, one with old friends; I love her like a little sister, you know that. She and Lizzie were a lot alike, but there are other considerations," Trip went on. "And I don't wanna see you torture yourself either. You need to look deep inside yourself and decide whether or not you could handle Mai bein' aboard and servin' under your command. If you really can't, then….," he let his voice trail off.
The Captain took a long, deep breath and pulled himself together. "This whole time I've only been thinking about one person, me. I need to take myself out of the equation for a moment and look at the situation more logically." Trip smiled slightly at Archer's use of that word. T'Pol was rubbing off a little on the Captain.
"How 'bout a pros and cons list?" Trip suggested. "It always helps me to make a big decision to weigh both sides."
"Like running off to Columbia because of T'Pol?" Archer couldn't help but say. He regretted it the moment the comment came out of his mouth.
Trip gave his friend a sharp, then a sour look. He sighed wearily. "Yeah, like runnin' off to Columbia because of T'Pol. I really did think that choice through before I made it, believe it or not. I'm just glad things happened to help me change my mind 'bout it," Trip told Archer honestly.
"So am I, Trip, so am I," Jon replied, his voice full of emotion. "It almost killed me to lose my Chief Engineer and best friend like that."
"I know and I'm truly sorry 'bout puttin' you in that position. I kinda know now why they have all the rules and regulations about fraternization. It's hard to work with someone you've had an imitate relationship with and then that changes. That's why I'm being so tough with you 'bout it. I don't want you to go through what I'm still goin' through," Trip said kindly. He offered Archer one of his boyish grins to lighten the mood.
The Captain responded with a small smile of his own, and then he said," Okay, so a pros and cons list, huh?"
"Yup," Trip answered. "I'd start with the pros first. They're easier to come up with and are a more positive way to start the process."
Archer grew contemplative. His brow furrowed as he seriously considered the good things about having Mai on board. "I'm going to have to interject some of the emotional reasons too then," he finally said.
"Go on and list 'em all," Trip commented.
"Well…., first…Mai's an outstanding soldier and a natural born leader. She takes all of her responsibilities seriously, and I think she would get along well with Malcolm in that department. She knows how to be professional. She's loyal and knows what duty means. She's dependable, reliable, competent, and quick on her feet. Mai can follow orders, as well as give them," Archer said going with what he admired about Mai. "She's kind and compassionate too. People and her mission come first, herself last. Basically, she gets the job done and done right. Enterprise would be well protected with her and Malcolm working together."
"What else?" Trip prompted Archer onward.
"Second….Mai needs a new challenge and old friends to get her through this painful period in her life. It would be good for her to learn new routines and figure out the different duties she'll need to perform on this ship. Malcolm could keep her so busy that she wouldn't have time to dwell on the recent tragedy in her life. She'd be able to make new friends here too. There are many benefits for Mai if she gets a change of scenery," Archer explained.
After a brief pause he came up with another pro. "Third, Mai started out her career as a Starfleet officer. She went through flight school and Starfleet Training, after graduating in environmental and biotechnological science. I still can't believe she threw all that away and joined the MACOs. That still smarts something fierce. Anyway," the Captain said as he realized he had started to stray from his main objective, "she'll know all the Starfleet protocols and how the system works. She'll be able to work well with both Starfleet personnel and MACO personnel.
"Fourth," he went on, on a roll now. "I know for a fact that it's always been Mai's deepest desire, her most wished for dream, to explore space. I have a strong feeling that getting her out into space and letting her be part of our mission of exploration would absolutely thrill her. To travel among the stars, to see what's out here, to meet new species, and experience new civilizations first hand, would fulfill her. She would love it aboard Enterprise for those very reasons."
Trip interrupted with an addition of his own. "You did leave out a very big emotional reason, Jon. You can't leave off the list that you'd be ecstatic to see her again and you'd to be able to share your love of being out here with her. You're two peas in a pod in that regard. She knows how you think too. You were her mentor for a long time, a lot of what she learned she learned from you. Mai'd follow your directions to the letter and she understand where you were coming from better than most people would."
The Captain nodded in silent agreement with Trip's thoughts. Then he asked, "Now the cons, huh?"
"Uh huh," Trip prompted.
Archer blew out a breath and steeled himself for the list of negatives. "Okay… first…Mai might not want to come aboard Enterprise at all. She might not want to see me again because she may be really ticked with me. She may not want a new assignment either. She'd follow orders, but she might not be happy about it. This whole thing was Fergus' idea and suggestion, not hers.
"Second, she and Malcolm have a lot in common and Mai is very likable, but the two of them could butt heads. She can be really feisty sometimes, and though she's always respectful, she likes to do things her own way. I can see her bucking the system and giving Malcolm a real headache if she feels justified in doing so. It might be Hayes all over again," Archer said with a heavy sigh.
"Third," he jumped ahead. "She might not be able to snap out of her grief. She may be compromised and unable to perform her duties, which could endanger the crew. She could be a weak link we can't afford. Fergus didn't go into a lot of detail about her state of mind, but he definitely didn't think she was herself. He's worried enough about her to contact me and start this whole ball rolling.
"The fourth con should be obvious," the Captain blushed again as he talked. "I might not be able to deal with her being on aboard. My feelings could cloud my judgment around her, and she could be a really big distraction to me. Seeing her again might be my undoing."
"And don't forget the crew having to get used to a new MACO unit," Trip again threw out his thoughts to Archer. "Those we have now are a known quantity. Many of the crew trust 'em and they already know what's expected of 'em. They know what can happen out here. They know the drill, the crew, and the ship inside and out. Malcolm has 'em trained just about where he wants 'em. He'd have to start all over with a new unit."
Archer felt even more frustrated after all this. "What now?" he asked testily. "We're about equal with pros and cons."
Trip was patient with his friend. "Now ya decide which cons can be overcome and which ones can't. If the pros out weigh the cons, or vice versa, then you have a better sense of what ya should decide to do," Trip instructed.
The Captain sighed tiredly and ran a hand over his face. "I suppose I had better talk to Malcolm and see what his take on the situation would be. His opinions and suggestions are key in overcoming a few of the cons. Then I need to decide how unselfish I can really be. Do I really care about Mai enough to help her and be there for her despite how if affects me?"
"Exactly," Trip said in agreement. "If you genuinely love Mai, Jon, then you should be able to put all your personal baggage aside and be her friend. The Jonathan Archer I know, and that the crew has come to respect, would find a way to do it. You really want to be an example, here's your chance."
Archer looked up at Trip's words. Again his friend was right. The truth hurt, but it had to be accepted. "Thanks, Trip," Archer told the chief engineer sincerely. "It feels so much better to have some of this out in the open instead of bottled up inside. Thanks for being my friend."
"You're more than welcome, Jon," Trip replied warmly, meeting Archer's eyes. "I just hoped I've helped and not made things worse."
"Oh, you've definitely helped, Trip," Archer told him. "Unfortunately now though, where I go from here is only up to me to figure out. You've given me a lot of good things to think about and to consider closely."
A companionable silence fell upon the two friends as they watched the starlight out the windows for a few minutes. The stars where more clear when the ship wasn't at warp.
"Well, I need to get back to Engineerin' and finish my diagnostics," Trip broke the silence first. Then he realized how callous he sounded and hastily added, "Unless you still need to talk about things." He didn't want Archer to think he was that antsy to get back to work. He really wasn't; in fact he really wanted to lay his head down and go to sleep. The Captain's story had worn him out, but he would be there if his friend still had things to say.
"No," Archer replied struggling not to laugh at Trip's drooping eyelids. "What you should do is get some shuteye, Commander. Go to bed, at least for a little while. The warp engine will be there in the morning." When the Captain saw that Trip was about to protest, he added, "That's an order."
Trip had to stifle a yawn then. "Yeah, okay," he mumbled.
"Excuse me, Commander?" Archer queried with command authority.
"I mean, aye, aye, Cap'n," Trip corrected himself, but chuckled when he noticed Archer's small grin. "You should probably go to bed too, sir," he added good-naturedly.
"I think I will turn in," Archer said not arguing. "I'll talk to Malcolm in the morning." The Captain then got a mischievous glint in his eyes. Trip was glad to see it. "I'm thinking I'll ask the Lieutenant to have breakfast in the Captain's Mess."
Trip laughed out loud now. "Oh, Jon, you're not going to torture poor Malcolm with that kind of request are you? You know how he loves little chitchats."
"Exactly," Archer said around a laugh of his own. "He'll be under the impression I'm doing another round of getting-to-know-you interviews. He can squirm a little before I tell him the breakfast meeting is to discuss ship security business."
"You've got a mean streak in you, Jon," Trip said jokingly. "I'd love to see his face."
"It'll help to put me at ease to broach what for me is a difficult subject," Archer replied, trying to justify his practical joke on his Chief of Security.
"Good luck," Trip said a little more seriously. "And just know that whatever you decide, I'll back you up one hundred percent."
"Thanks, Trip. That means a lot to me," Archer said finally feeling more settled. "I need all the luck and support I can get."
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed sat in the Captain's Mess and tried not to fidget in his chair. Captain Archer had commed his quarters at 0600, well after Reed was awake, and had invited him to breakfast. Malcolm's morning had been somewhat invigorating, but now it had turned somewhat bleak. Not that Reed didn't like the Captain; in fact he had the highest respect and admiration for the man, but he hated meals in the Captain's Mess. Malcolm was partially flattered to be asked by Archer to have breakfast with him; it was just the idle chitchat and having to answer personal questions that he didn't like.
Reed was a very private person. He felt he was bad at personal small talk, and he liked to keep to himself. Unfortunately his CO was a very curious person and liked to find out more about his crew. It wasn't a bad thing; it just made someone with Malcolm's personality a little uncomfortable. He had more important duties to attend to dealing with the security of the ship. He had recently come up with some new upgrades for the forward phase cannons and he wanted to get started on them first thing this morning. Having breakfast with the Captain would only delay that.
Now if Archer had wanted to hear all about Reed's planned upgrades, that wouldn't be so laborious. Malcolm could talk shop all day long; that wasn't a problem. He liked to focus on topics other than himself. If he could focus on his duties and responsibilities he felt more secure and safe. They gave him a sense of purpose, which in turn, when they were fulfilled, gave him an enormous feeling of satisfaction.
"How are you pancakes this morning, Malcolm?" the Captain asked him now as he popped some hash browns into his mouth.
"They're fine, sir," Reed said in his crisp British accent, and willed himself to be patient with his captain. He cut anxiously at his pancakes with his fork.
With an unexpected twinkle in his eyes, Archer then said, "You're probably wondering why I asked you to have breakfast in the Captain's Mess this morning."
"I am rather curious, sir," Reed admitted. "It has been a while since you've done so." This for the lieutenant had been a great blessing.
"Relax, Malcolm," the Captain told him with mock sternness. "I'm not going to try and pry any personal information out of you this time. I actually wanted to get your opinion on a security issue."
Archer smiled and silently chuckled at the visible relief and surprise he saw appear in Reed's body language and facial expression. The tactical officer even seemed to breathe easier, after he got over his initial shock. "Oh, really?" he asked the Captain dubiously.
Enjoying Malcolm's reaction for a moment longer, Archer then turned more serious. He took a deep, steadying breath. Now he had to broach the subject of Mai. He hadn't slept at all during the night. Instead, he had spent all his time searching his heart. Everything he had learned and experienced in his life was telling him to help someone who was one of his best friends. He chose to put the past behind him and work on just the present. Mai needed his help right now and he was going to give it to her even if it hurt to do so. Her well-being and happiness were more important than his own, and if Malcolm was open to the transfer, he was going to bring her abroad.
"Yes," Archer began, and then cleared his throat. "Even though I'm the captain and the ultimate decision about anything to do with the ship is mine to make, I wanted to make sure I took into consideration your opinion and thoughts before I made any decision. You're my Security Chief, my Tactical Officer; you know the needs and situation better than anyone else on broad when it comes to the issue of protecting Enterprise and her crew. Whatever input or advice you can offer will be taken seriously and I will use it to help guide my final decision."
Reed stared at the Captain for a few heartbeats. Captain Archer was asking for Malcolm's advice and expertise before he decided to do something, instead of plowing full steam ahead like he sometimes tended to do. This turn of events was surprising, but not unwelcome. It was refreshing to the armory officer actually.
"What kind of decision do you have to make, sir that concerns the security of Enterprise?" Malcolm finally asked.
Archer took his time in answering, moving his scrambled eggs around on his plate, which piqued Reed's interest further. "It's about the MACOs. I'm considering transferring a new unit abroad the ship," the Captain said, plunging ahead. He took a sip of orange juice as he watched Malcolm's reaction.
"You want to transfer MACO units?" Reed asked in confusion; this was not the topic he had been expecting. Maybe something about the weapons or security shifts, but not this. "Why would you want to do that?" His folk clanked onto his plate.
Malcolm saw the Captain wince, which confused him even more. Archer knew his tactical officer would ask that question. "There are a number of reasons, but I will be completely honest about this with you, Malcolm. The main reason is of a personal nature."
That admission floored Reed. He at least had the candor not to let his mouth drop open. Malcolm wasn't aware of any problems between the Captain and any of the current MACOs. "Sir?" he asked, needing Archer to clarify his statement.
"It's not what you're probably thinking, Malcolm," the Captain explained. "I don't have any thing against the current group of MACOs serving aboard Enterprise. I like how in sync they are with your security teams. You've developed a good balance with them."
"Then why do you want to transfer them?" Malcolm asked interrupting Archer's train of thought. He couldn't help it; he didn't understand the Captain's motivations.
"How big a disruption would such a transfer cause, Lieutenant?" Archer asked instead of answering Reed's question. "It wouldn't even have to be all of them, just enough for a new squad."
The first thought Malcolm had was that it would be very disruptive, but that was his own personal feelings getting in the way. If he really looked at the situation, practically, it might be a good thing for the safety of the ship. Both his security teams and the MACOs had grown a tad bit complacent of late. They might be too comfortable with each other and not on their game. Shaking things up some might shape his men and the MACOs back into a more efficient status. Although, it was nice to know how the MACOs functioned and how they would react to different situations. Relations were good between the Starfleet personnel and the MACO soldiers. The crew did trust this current group to protect them and the ship.
"Well, it would cause a disruption, sir," Reed began and at Archer's frown he hurriedly continued, "but that might not be such a bad thing. It might put us on edge and keep us on our toes. I don't think it would be too much of a problem, provided that Kemper and McKenzie stay, and possibly Chang. It would help me to train new recruits more effectively and with less loss of time. Their seasoning would be a real asset."
Archer didn't think that would be a hard compromise to make. "The only thing with keeping them is that the unit I'm thinking of picking already has a unit leader. Do you think Kemper and McKenzie would step back for a new commander?"
"I don't see why not," Malcolm said after some thought. "Neither one of them wanted to take Hayes' place. I think they'd be relieved to step down from their leadership roles, as long as their insight wasn't tossed aside. What unit are you thinking of choosing?" Reed couldn't keep the curiousness out of his voice.
"They're an elite group: Special Tactics and Rescue. The unit commander is a woman by the name of Mairead Donnelly…" Archer was cut off by another comment from Reed. Mai had not taken Tom's name when they married, at least not officially. It helped keep them distinct within the MACO ranks.
"As in the commander of the 'Fighting Donnellys'?" Malcolm blurted out; his food was totally forgotten now, so was the Captain's.
This question took Archer aback. He had never heard of Mai's squad being called that. "I guess so. Where did you hear that name from?"
"Sergeant Nate Kemper," Reed informed the Captain. "He's told at least a dozen stories about how good they are. He tried out for the squad, but didn't make it."
"So I take it you wouldn't mind if I brought them abroad and had you work with them?" Archer asked trying to hide his surprise.
"Not at all," Malcolm said with out any hesitation. "It would be an honor to work with them, Captain. How do you know them?"
Silence met Reed's query. "Sir, how do you know them? Why do you want them to transfer to Enterprise? Why now? You could have asked for them when you first decided to include MACOS on board, but you didn't. What's changed, sir?" The tactical officer's brow was furrowed in consternation and confusion. Was this the personal reason the Captain had mentioned before?
Archer seemed to ground himself and then he said, "The reason is a personal one, like I said before. Mairead is a very close friend of mine, from before my time on Enterprise. I'm also good friends with her older brother, Commander Fergus Donnelly in Starfleet Administration. Fergus sent me a subspace message last night. Mai's husband, Tom Branson, was killed in action a few weeks ago. Mai's taking it hard according to Fergus. He thinks it will help her snap out of it to give her a new assignment and put her among old friends."
Malcolm couldn't have been more surprised than if one of his little explosive devices had blown up right in his face. He just stared at his captain. Archer actually knew Major Mairead Donnelly; he even called her by a nickname. This was too good to be true. Ever since Kemper's first tale about the major and her squad, Reed had been fascinated by them. To get to meet them and work with them because the Captain knew their commander would be a dream come true. The only down side was that Major Donnelly may have control issues like Hayes did. From the way Kemper described her, she was one tough military soldier.
"So you're thinking about helping her out and trying what her brother has suggested by transferring her to Enterprise?" Malcolm asked, wanting to make sure he understood the entire situation. "And did you say she would be among 'old friends', as in the plural. Who else does she know abroad Enterprise? I know none of the MACOs I work with now have never actually met her. They just really admire her. Hayes may have known her, worked with her, but he's gone now." Reed's throat constricted at the loss of a fine soldier in the field.
"Believe it or not, Trip knows her too," Archer confessed. He was having a hard time looking Reed in the eye because the Captain didn't want to give too much away. "We were all close friends back in my early years in Starfleet. Mai, at that time, had been a member of Starfleet. I mentored her through flight school and Starfleet Training."
The room suddenly seemed too small to Reed. Major Donnelly had once been in Starfleet and Captain Archer had been her mentor? She knew Trip Tucker? That didn't seem possible. Kemper made her out to be a straight-down-the-line, hardcore MACO. "What made her change her affiliation?" he couldn't help but ask, totally flabbergasted.
"Her late husband," Archer said bitterly. Malcolm wasn't sure where the sudden hostility came from. Then it hit him.
"She joined the MACOs because of this Tom Branson," Reed said putting it together, "and you lost your star pupil to the MACOs."
The Captain seemed to start at his tactical officer's deduction, then he smiled weakly. "You guessed it, Malcolm," he said with some strain in his voice.
"Well, she must have decided she really liked the military, because she is one of the MACOs' best from what I hear," Reed replied. "I'm willing to recommend and support the transfer at least on a trial basis. If Major Donnelly can't move past her grief at loosing her husband and fails to perform her duties, then we need to go back to our current roster, or use another unit all together. I'm all for helping a fellow officer, but not at the expense of the ship and crew's safety."
"Agreed, Lieutenant," the Captain responded. Then he wanted to deal with another topic that Reed would surely be worried about. Hell, he was still a little worried about it himself, but he was going to deal with it. "And I can assure you that I will not interfere in any way with how you'd want to run things, Malcolm. You've proven yourself many times over. I trust your judgment. She may be my friend, but I won't let that bias me toward her. She has to live up to the same standards as everyone else aboard this ship. I care about her, but that will not compromise my objectivity. I'm really only doing this as a favor. If it meets both the needs of the ship and Mai that would be ideal. If it doesn't, well then we'll reevaluate what will," Archer tried to speak with as much sincerity as he could muster. He hoped he could follow through with what he was telling Reed.
Malcolm had a few question about Mairead. "Will she follow my orders or will she think she's in charge? Will she be willing to work with me, or will she fight against me?"
"She's dedicated, loyal, and usually willing to compromise. She takes her job very seriously and others always come first with her. She will do whatever it takes to accomplish her mission," were the answers Reed got from Archer. "She is Irish," he threw in as an after thought.
A smile played at Malcolm's lips. His mother was part Irish and he knew exactly what that meant. "I think I can deal with that," he told the Captain.
Archer was relieved that Reed was taking this so well. It lifted a huge weight off his shoulders, not to mention his heart. "There is the potential for her to act like Hayes did, but I think if you approach her as an equal and treat her fairly, she'll respond accordingly, Malcolm. She always gives people the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise to her. And her Starfleet experience is still a part of her. I'm hoping that will make her more sensitive to your position and help her be more understanding of your situation."
"All right then," Reed said more formally. "It is your Chief Tactical Officer's opinion and recommendation to transfer MACO units at the captain's discretion, with the stipulation that Sergeant Nathanial Kemper, Corporal Fiona McKenzie, and Corporal Hideaki Chang remain in their current assignment aboard Enterprise. This is of course on a trial basis, subject to change whenever so advised by the Chief Tactical Officer."
Feeling his mood lighten, Archer flashed Malcolm a genuinely bright smile. "So noted," he replied. "And Malcolm are you sure you weren't a business law officer in another life? You negotiate a contract like a seasoned professional," the Captain added in jest.
"I don't think so, sir," Malcolm said as he dug back into his pancakes. "I think it comes from years of observing my father and his interactions with people." He smirked as he said this.
The Captain fell silent again, knowing that a majority of his cons had been overcome, at least for the moment. The only ones left were how Mai might feel about all of this and how much Tom's death had truly affected her. Only time would tell how serious a problem that could be. It looked like the Enterprise would be getting some new recruits. Seeing Mai again would be wonderful and painful at the same time. Archer fervently hoped he had made the right decision.
-Fin-
Please type a sentence or two dealing with what you think about the story. This is the first one I've actually finished. I'm open to any thoughts about what people would like to see happen in the sequel, but ya gotta let me know!! :)
