Chapter Nine
Instead of Starfleet Headquarters, Trip's debriefing took place in New York City in what was formerly the UN and was now United Earth Senate. Initially, they were going to Paris to have the debriefing at the UE Presidential Residence, but when they heard about the debriefing, several important Senators asked to be involved in it, especially the post debriefing Presser.
Sitting in a subcommittee conference room, Trip and his XO Commander T'Pol, along with a JAG lawyer, who was there as a precaution since they were being questioned by senators, faced a panel of three senators, the Prime Minister, Fleet Admiral Yamamoto, and Admiral Morse.
"We never found out who was responsible for the attack on Ambassador Soval, Captain Shran, and myself," Trip finished answering his twentieth question.
"It appears that we are about to enter into a treaty with the Andorians, Vulcans, and Tellerites, Fleet Captain Tucker. Do you advise this considering you were attacked and we don't know who attacked you?" asked Senator Sally Philbin.
"Ma'am, I've been attacked by Humans, also. There are extremists in most societies," answered Tucker.
"Captain Tucker," Prime Minister Samuels spoke up, "what are our chances against the Romulans without the coalition?"
"Not good, sir," answered Trip. "The Yorktown Class ships are competitive against the Romulan Warbirds, and I saw the specs on the Daedalus Class starships, which are almost the equal of the Paladin. If we were preparing for a war and had a year to build up a fleet, I'd give us a chance. Unfortunately, the war is ongoing. We need the Andorian and Vulcan starships, and we need the Tellerites and their mining expertise."
"Captain Tucker," Senator Micha Rucker broke into the conversation. "I am head of the budget committee and we have to decide on building the first five of the Daedalus Class ships. I know your reputation as a captain, but I'm asking you as an engineer, what do you think?"
"Ten decks, crew of two hundred, warp 7 capable with phase cannons, photon torpedoes, hell, a spherical main section instead of a saucer; I think it is a fine ship and we need it for this war," said Trip.
"Why not just build more like the Paladin?" asked Senator Pinchon.
"The Paladin is a superior starship. It would take twice as long and cost you twice as much to build a Paladin rather than a Daedalus class. Once this war is over, I believe Starfleet should look into more ships like the Paladin," said Trip.
"Commander T'Pol," Senator Philbin started, "As our resident Vulcan expert, do you believe they will fight with us when we need them, not just when they need us?"
"I believe you should ask a representative of the Vulcan government that question," said T'Pol.
"Typical Vulcan answer," said Philbin.
"Believe me, Senator, Commander T'Pol is not your typical Vulcan," said Trip, as he started to feel his ire rise.
"Fleet Captain Tucker," Yamamoto spoke, "The Paladin stood up against three Romulan Warbirds and defeated them. Now your technology is a mix of Human, Andorian, and Vulcan with Tellerites having mined the raw material for it, and your crew is a mix of Human, Andorian, Vulcan, and Tellerite, do you believe the coalition can be successful?"
"Sir, I believe the Romulans can only be defeated if the coalition stands together," said Trip.
"Thank you, Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol," said Samuels. "I think at two hours we have taken up enough of your time. If I'm not mistaken, you are scheduled for some shore leave while the Paladin is being repaired. I know you deserve the time to rest and recuperate."
As the Senators, Prime Minister, and Admirals stood up their assistants came out of the woodwork to tell them where the press was waiting for them to ask questions. Fleet Admiral Yamamoto excused himself and walked over to Trip and the T'Pol. As he approached, he looked at T'Pol's gloved hands.
"The media is gathered to ask questions," he said. "I have a hovercar waiting for you two at a side door. My present to you is missing out on this joyous occasion."
"Thank you, sir," said Trip.
"I'll see you in 28 days. We will need to go over your ship rotation and discuss your assignment. In two weeks I'll have my adjunct contact you and arrange for us to have lunch," said Yamamoto.
"I look forward to that, sir," said Trip.
"And this time I expect you to be there for lunch, Commander T'Pol," said Yamamoto.
"Of course, sir," said T'Pol.
Yamamoto waved his adjunct over. The Commander came rushing over.
"Commander Ashley Jessup, please escort Fleet Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol to the hovercar," he said then turned to Trip and T'Pol. "I recommend finding a spot where people won't recognize you."
"That should be easy," said Trip.
"You'll be surprised Fleet Captain Tucker, just how well known you and your crew have become," said Yamamoto.
"I guess will go with disguises," said Trip then looked over at T'Pol's ears and smiled. "I think a hat is necessary."
"I concur," she said.
Let's go, darlin', before they change the admiral changes his mind.
I take it our shore leave has begun.
Not until we get to a hotel room somewhere out of way where no one knows us and will bother us.
I thought we were visiting your parents.
In a week or two. Firstly, I want time alone with you.
STSTST
Commander Cho, commander of Starbase 3, was going over his morning reports. He sipped his coffee and tossed the PADD on his desk then turned his chair to look out of the viewport. According to the report, he had NX Britannica, several cargo vessels, and an Andorian cruiser being repaired. The Starbase had four frigates flying CAP.
Coming into view was a Tellerite Mining Cargo Ship.
"Sir, the Tellerite vessel coming in doesn't respond to hails," said XO Wallender over the comm.
Cho pressed the comm button to speak, "Tell Commander Holland of the UES Missouri to check out the ship."
"Yes, sir," said Wallender.
Commander Cho went back to sipping his coffee. He watched as he saw the Missouri approach the Tellerite vessel. The coffee went down the wrong tube causing Cho to choke, as the Tellerite vessel morph into the Romulan drone. It fired on the Missouri causing immediate hull breaches. The disruptor fire continued as the Missouri was destroyed. All that was left was floating debris.
Cho stopped coughing and slapped the comm button on his desk.
"Red alert, abandon the Starbase," he called out.
He knew that the frigates had no chance against the drone. They just didn't have the firepower. Feeling oddly calm, as he was resigned to his own fate, Chow stared out the viewport at the battle. After the frigates, the drone would turn its firepower on the Starbase. At this point, it was about saving lives and nothing more.
"Get to escape pods, shuttlepods, and all function ships and abandon the Starbase," he called out.
The other two frigates were destroyed by the drone. It was done efficiently. The green energy flow of the disruptor broke the frigates up into pieces that would now float forever in space. There was still one frigate trying to standup against the drone. XO Wallender opened the door to Cho's office.
"Sir, there is room on the escape for eleven and ops has fifteen including you and I," said Cho. "I'm staying. You are going Wallender. You have a wife and child. Go."
"But there…," he started to talk.
"I'll pick three more officers to stay, Wallender. This is my responsibility," he said then he got up to give three officers a death sentence.
He walked into ops. Lieutenant Petrossian was older. He had somehow been stuck in Security and at lieutenant, also. Cho looked at him and said, "Petrossian."
"Yes, sir." Said Petrossian.
He had no argument. Instead, he understood what Cho was doing.
"I'll be glad to stay, sir," said Petrossian.
"I volunteer," Ensign Mathers said.
Cho looks at him. He was grass green, but he volunteered. You don't refuse someone when they were being noble and willingly die for another.
"One more," said Cho.
"Looks like me," said Lieutenant Dillard.
Dillard was single and dedicated to his job at ops. He wasn't going to leave.
"The rest of you get the hell out of here," said Cho then he looked at Dillard. "Make hot our defensive weapons and whatever else we got."
"Yes, sir," said Dillard.
Petrossian brought up an exterior of the Starbase. The Britannica limped into service and joined the last frigate, as did the Andorian cruiser. Both ships had battle damage from earlier encounters and were not ready for battle. Cho felt a surge of pride. Escape pods, shuttlepods, and other ships started to leave Starbase 3.
"Dillard, weapons free," said Cho, as he watched the drone battered the three ships.
This wasn't going to last very long, but even if they could add a minute or two to the escape of the escape pods, shuttlepods, and ships, they'd have accomplished something.
"Mathers, send out an emergency comm, Omega level, to all Starfleet and coalition ships. Starbase 3 under attack by Romulan drone. Base abandoned, search for survivors. Special recommendations for Lieutenant Stephan Petrossian, Lieutenant Terrence Dillard, and Ensign Robert Mathers for volunteering to stay behind to buy time for those escaping. Commander Lee Cho, Commander Starbase 3," he said then watched the Britannica explode. It looked like a firework display.
"God damn," Cho mumbled.
STSTST
In a villa on Risa Harrad Sar sat on plush pillows feeling the euphoria of sexual arousal, as Navaar released more of her pheromones in the air. The two newer members of the syndicate didn't appear to react completely to her. They became aroused and sought female companionship, but they weren't enslaved by the pheromones. They weren't drunk and obedient on them. This was when she knew that they were not truly Orions.
She had unleashed Maras and D'Nesh on them, her two most potent sex enslavers, other than herself, and yet they were not enslaved. She was reminded of the Enterprise and Commander Tucker and how he resisted them. These two weren't resisting her enslavers so much as they weren't puppets to the females.
"Tannon," called Navaar.
Tannon was one of their best assassins. Dark green and well-muscled, he had his olfactory removed in order to avoid enslavement.
Entering the room with a disruptor pistol drawn, he smiled at the state of arousal of the unknown Orions. Now that he was in the room, Maras and D'Nesh ceased their seduction and joined a docile Harrad Sar on the pillows.
"What is this?" asked Murac.
"You are not Orions. A true Orion would be eating out of my hand by now," Navaar said.
"We are Romulans sent to offer you an alliance," said Malon.
"Romulans. You are conquerors," she said.
"Who respect the usefulness as syndicates such as yours," he said.
Navaar walked over to him and sat on the pillow next to him and began to rub his genitals through his pants. Malon groaned from pleasure. He wanted to stop the damned green skinned bitch, but he couldn't. "What sort of offer does the Romulan Empire make?" asked Navaar.
"A….ah…. a most generous one. General Tavon offers you a partnership. We will supply weapons, even some ships, and we expect you to harass Earth cargo vessel," he said.
"By harass, I hope you mean steal their freight," she smiled.
Before he could answer, she slipped her hand into the pants of the Romulan made to look like an Orion.
"You interest mean, Romulan. We need time to study your biology and physiology," she said.
"So, we can work on a deal," he inquired.
"Convince me," she laughed.
Malon rolled on top of her and began convincing her.
STSTST
T'Pol laid her head on Trip's bare chest. It was five in the morning. She kissed the scar that had been made by the Reman polearm. He moaned. They rented hotel rooms side by side in San Francisco. Yesterday, they had gone to a memorial service for the fallen of the Paladin. Today, they were attending the funeral of Commander Mathew Kelby. He died when a plasma vent erupted during the battle with the Romulans. It was going to be a closed casket.
"Is it time to get up, darlin'?" Trip asked.
"You still have time to sleep," said T'Pol.
"We have to be there at the Starfleet chapel at 8. Shran asked if we'd wear dress uniforms," said Trip.
T'Pol didn't speak but again kissed his scar. Trip could feel that there was something on her mind.
"What is it, darlin'?" he asked. "What aren't you talking about?"
"I wonder if I should learn how to smile," she said. "I am half-Romulan and Romulans give vent to their emotions. When I was a child, my mother said my emotions were close to the surface. I need to learn to deal with them by doing more than suppressing them."
"You do smile, T'Pol," he said.
She lifted her head and looked at him. Her right eyebrow was cocked and she had her Vulcan mask on.
"I do not smile," she said.
"Darlin', I can tell when you are smiling and it's not the bond. It's in your eyes. They get a twinkle to them and you lift your left eyebrow. That is your smile. I love that smile," he said.
"Are you saying you do not wish me to experiment with emotions?" she asked.
"I just want you to be you, T'Pol. You might be half-Romulan, but you were raised to be a full blooded Vulcan. It's part of your personality to be Vulcan. I don't see a reason for you to change that," he explained.
"Adun," she said then stopped. Instead of words, she decided a kiss would show him how much his words meant to him. Taking his face in her hands, she devoured his mouth eliciting a moan of pleasure from Trip.
"Tomorrow, I thought we'd rent a room right on the beach near my parents. This way we can visit with them, but we can have privacy," he said. "I really am looking forward to some privacy with you."
"I will have to work on a disguise," she said.
"Buy some beach-like clothes, a floppy hat, and big dark glasses, and you'll be fine," he said.
"And you?" she asked.
"Jeans, a Hawaiian shirt, and a baseball cap with dark glasses. Hell, no one will notice me because they'll be too busy looking at my shirt," he smiled.
"I see," she said.
"You really hate my Hawaiian shirt," said Trip.
"It is rather distasteful," she said.
He smiled, "The perfect disguise."
"We shall see," T'Pol said.
STSTST
The Starfleet Chapel was a black dome shaped building on the Starfleet Academy's grounds. It overlooked the Gold Gate Bridge and the San Francisco bay. Cadets in the academy uniforms loitered near the chapel wanting to see some of the dignitaries coming to the funeral of Commander Kelby.
In his white tunic jacket that went down to his mid-thigh, Shran arrived along with his Travis, Hoshi, who was now stationed in San Francisco, and the rest of his Bridge Crew. Engineering arrived with newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Hess, the new Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. Some of these names were famous from the Xindi War and the early adventures of the Enterprise. They were now almost legendary.
A hovercar stopped and now Commander Malcolm Reed along with Lieutenant Erib Endilev got out. He was in his dressed uniform with a chest full of medals that made most cadets look on impressed by them. Endilev wore the all black dress uniform of the Imperial Guard.
Another hovercar dropped off Fleet Admiral Yamamoto and his adjunct and a bodyguard. This was a sign of the respect that the crew of the Enterprise received. He continued into the chapel. To be followed by Dr. Phlox, who showed up on foot. The Denobulan, who face was usually brightened by an inhumanly wide smile, looked sad.
A final hovercar landed to drop off Fleet Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol. If they were impressed by Commander Reed's display of medals, the cadets were awed by Commander T'Pol's medals and they were bowled over by Tucker's medals. If Vice Admiral Archer was the legend of the Fleet then Fleet Captain Tucker was the one cadets talked about as the one they wanted to emulate.
Side by side, closer than most Vulcans felt comfortable with, they walked up to Shran and his Bridge crew. Instead of shaking hands, Trip gave Shran a bear hug.
"Tough one, wasn't it, Shran?" said Trip.
"It was, Pinkskin," smiled Shran.
"Good to get some time off to bury our dead and let those who are living blow off some steam," said Trip.
"I look forward to spending time with Jhamel and my darling daughter," said Shran.
"I bet you are," said Trip.
Trip noticed that along with Kelby's parents was a cadet.
"Who is that with Kelby's parents?" asked Trip.
"His brother. He wants to serve with you, or so I've been told. He is a great admirer of the engineer turned captain," said Shran.
"I should give my condolences," said Trip.
He and T'Pol walked over to Kelby's parents and brother. Trip stopped and cleared his throat. The parents and cadet stopped their heated conversation and looked at him.
"Mr. & Mrs. Kelby, I'm Fleet Captain Charles Tucker III and this is Commander T'Pol. We served with you son," said Trip.
T'Pol offered them the Ta'al, "I grieve with thee."
"Thank you," said Mr. Kelby, as his wife was too upset to speak.
"Your son was a fine Engineer," said Trip.
"He loved being an engineer," said Mr. Kelby.
"He was a good one," said Trip.
"Thank you, Fleet Captain," Stephen spoke up, who then looked at his father. "He was the Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. Matt was your number two, dad. This is Trip Tucker. Some say he is still the best engineer in Fleet."
"You are?" asked Trip.
"I'm Cadet Stephen Kelby, Senior year, Engineer," said Kelby.
"Following in your brother's footsteps," said Trip.
"I hope to serve on your ship day some day," said Stephen.
"What is your class rank?" he asked him.
"I'm fourth in my class, sir," said Stephen.
"Fourth out of one hundred and fifty," smiled Trip. "Sounds good enough for me. When you graduate," Trip reached into his pocket and took out his card, which included his comm ID, "call me. I can always use a good young engineer."
Trip turned to Kelby's parents. He offered his father his hand. They shook hands.
"Thank you, Captain Tucker," said Mr. Kelby.
"You son was a good number two and a good man," said Trip. "I'll be proud to have his brother serve with me."
Mrs. Kelby moved up to him. She was a short woman, so she motioned him to lower his head. Trip did so, and she kissed his cheek.
"Take care of my son for me," she said. "He's my only one."
"I will, Mrs. Kelby," said Trip.
Trip nodded towards Stephen Kelby then he and T'Pol walked towards the chapel. Through the bond, she felt a great sadness coming from here mate. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and saw that he was fighting back tears. Leaning in close, she whispered, "I love you, Charles Anthony Tucker III."