Chapter Nine
T'Pol, Trip, and Malcolm were all dressed in their dress white uniform, which consisted of a white tunic jacket that went down to their mid-thigh, black dress pants, and black shoes. As per the regulation with a dress uniform, they had their medals and ribbons displayed on their chest. Malcolm never realized just how many medals Trip had been awarded for the Xindi, The Andorian and Vulcan standoff, and the first year of the Romulan War. His uniform right chest was covered with colorful pins representing the medals. He even had to overflow to the left chest. In comparison he and T'Pol, who both were highly decorated looked inadequate.
"I never knew you had so much fruit salad, mate," said Malcolm.
"Just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time," Trip said.
"Fruit salad?" asked T'Pol.
"It's military slang for decorations and ribbons," said Malcolm.
"It seems a rather strained bit of hyperbole," said T'Pol.
"It's just a way to way he had a lot of decoration," sighed Malcolm. "I think I'll keep my shut my mouth."
They stood at the Temple of Amonak for the interment of Councilor Yaris. The temple was ancient made from white and red stone. Ceremony was held outside in the courtyard where there was no shade. Along with Solkar, Skon, Councilor Valon, Councilor T'Var, and all of Yaris' assistants and attachés, Prime Councilor T'Pau and six Security Directorate officers were there to listen to T'Lan perform the burial ceremony, which included the entombment of Yaris katra.
T'Pol, how long does this ceremony last? The heat and sun are killing me.
It will be another hour, adun. The katra hasn't even been removed for preservation in a vre-katra yet.
I should have hydrated better before coming.
I will share my strength with you. Let all your mental barriers down and allow me to share energy with you.
I can deal with another hour, darlin'.
Please, k'diwa, allow me to help. Too often, we have failed in each other in the past. Let us break that pattern
Okay, darlin'.
The ceremony continued during the heart of the heat of the day. Having dropped all his mental barriers, Trip felt a subtle flow of energy revitalize his body and thirsty body. Tactfully, T'Pol touched her two fingers to his two fingers in what the Vulcans called an ozh'esta. This sent an electric wave of passion went through his body. When she slipped her fingers away, he felt ready to suffer through however much longer he had to suffer.
I wonder who T'Pau got to kill Yaris.
Logic dictates that she used the V'Shar, which is the Vulcan Intelligence, adun.
Murdering someone and logic doesn't seem to go together, darlin'.
I concur.
The ceremony finally came to end. Solkar walked over to Trip, T'Pol, and Malcolm.
"Lieutenant Reed, I need the presence of Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol inside the temple for a short time. My son Skon has a cool drink of water waiting for you at our hovercar. I will not detain them long," said Solkar.
"Of course, sir," Malcolm said.
Trip and T'Pol followed Solkar into the temple. Once they stepped through the doorway, Trip noticed the change in temperature. It was much cooler now that they were inside the stone temple. Through a gathering chamber where monks sang what Trip thought of as a Vulcan Gregorian Chant, they continued into a candlelit backroom where T'Pau and a severe looking Vulcan with a hatchet face dressed in non-robes civilian clothes waited for them.
Before the conversation could begin, Solkar walked over to a table where there was a clay pitcher and several clay cups. He poured water into a clay cup and brought it over to Trip.
"Drink," he said.
Without hesitation or argument, Trip drank down the water. Solkar took the cup from him and returned it to the table. His body needed the water and more. T'Pau began to speak.
"This is Venack of the V'Shar," she said. "He has important news I wanted shared with you."
"Captain Tucker, Tsai T'Pol," Venack started. "Our intelligence has indicated that the Romulans have sent several agents of the Tal Shiar, which is their elite intelligence agency to Vulcan to investigate the death of Yaris. We believe the Romulans fear that their infiltration has been discovered."
"All operations seeking Romulan spies have been stop for now," said T'Pau. "We do not want to let the Romulans know we are aware of their treachery."
"We do fear the Tal Shiar might interfere with the building of the Paladin while they are here. You need to add extra security without seeming to expose your hand," said Solkar.
"Are we getting extra workers and shifts?" asked Trip.
"Yes," T'Pau answered.
"We can use the extra workers and shifts as cover for extra security," said Trip.
T'Pau raised an eyebrow in surprise at Trip's quick thinking.
"Excellent," said Solkar then he looked at T'Pol. "Extra precautions should be made to protect your bondmate."
"Understood," said T'Pol.
"I'm standing right here you know," Trip smirked.
"We are aware of that, adun, you're medals tend to make you standout," T'Pol said with a straight face, but through the bond he could feel her amusement.
Solkar suppressed a smile of his own, "There are many."
Trip blushed then decided to ignore their teasing, though once again he wondered who said that Vulcans didn't have a sense of humor.
"I better let Skann know about the shifts and workers and tell Endilev and the local Starfleet security to tighten things up," said Trip.
"We must proceed carefully," said Solkar. "The Tal Shiar should never be underestimated. They are clever and dangerous."
STSTST
Archer sat in Morse's office looking out the window at San Francisco Bay. The water was slate blue with undulating waves. He intended to spend a day at a restaurant on the wharf enjoying good food, drinks, and staring at the water. His crew had been given a one month leave and the Enterprise was being repaired and refitted. Although he had some work as a diplomat to do, he was looking forward to some downtime.
Admiral Morse entered. He started to stand up, but she motioned him to sit down. She continued to her desk and sat down.
"Ambassador Graff expects to have lunch with you tomorrow. Tomorrow evening you are slated to have dinner with Ambassador Hallas, and Soval let it be known he will gladly meet you at your leisure," said Morse.
"So, I get tonight to relax," he sighed.
"I'm afraid so, Jonathan," she said.
"What are they arguing about?" he asked.
"They fear losing the war, Jon. I believe they need reassurance more than anything else, which you will supply them with," Morse said.
"Reassurance," he laughed. "I almost was destroyed by a damned Romulan Warbird eleven days ago. I lost crew and watched three frigates go down. I'm not sure I'm the right person to reassure them."
Morse took a small silver disc from her computer, slid it into the side of a PADD, and then she pushed the PADD over to Archer. He began to read the information she gave him.
"What is this?" he asked.
"The reassurance they need," she said. "That is the project Captain Tucker is working on Vulcan. A starship like none other in our fleet or the Vulcan or the Andorian, an equalizer. It is being built by the coalition, design by the coalition, and crewed by the coalition, though the majority of the crew will be Human and Starfleet."
"The Paladin," Archer read the name of the starship.
"That is what its name will be when it's done," said Morse.
"Trip is in charge of just the construction, right?" said Archer.
"He is the captain of the Paladin," said Morse.
A ship with Vulcan, Andorian, and Human technology and crew being captained by Trip. If not himself than a ship like this should be someone like Erika as the captain. This wasn't a matter of jealousy but practicality. An assignment like this one didn't call for some tyro captain, even if it was one he held in high esteem, but someone with experience and standing.
He thought Trip was going to captain a frigate with a mix crew, a grand experiment, but this was something different. The Paladin immediately becomes the most powerful starship in the fleet. He still commanded the flagship because of its reputation and history, but the Paladin would become the top ship of the fleet.
"Do the ambassadors know about the Paladin?" asked Archer.
"Yes, though they have heard the rumors that its construction has run into some trouble," said Morse.
"What kind of trouble?" asked Archer.
"There was an assassination attempt on Tucker and a terrorist attack on the workers," said Morse. "But those troubles are in the past."
"How is Trip doing?" Archer asked.
"I have to admit he surprises me. The Vulcan, at least the High Council, seems to have embraced him," said Morse.
"Maybe you should recall Trip to Earth for a visit so he can reassure the ambassadors," said Archer.
"Jonathan, you are the most respected ship commander in the fleet. You are considered even by the Vulcans a diplomat and a warrior. Both Fleet Admiral Yamamoto and I know you are the right officer for this job," said Morse.
"I don't mean to disagree with a command decision, but is Captain Tucker really the best officer for this assignment?" Archer asked.
"Jonathan, he was chosen by the coalition members. Soval was the one who brought up his name and the Andorians and Tellerites both endorsed him. Yamamoto reviewed his record and found that he had been in command of the Enterprise during several tense moments and performed admirably. His record on the Columbia as its XO is exemplary," explained Morse. "I had my qualms about him, but the coalition chose him and Yamamoto has faith in him."
"I'll play diplomat, admiral, and calm the ambassadors' nerves, but I want something in return," said Archer.
"Let's hear it," she said.
"If Trip fails as the captain of the Paladin, I want it," said Archer.
"You'll be my first recommendation," she smiled.
"I better be your only recommendation," he said.
"You will be," Morse said.
Archer took a deep breath. This wasn't a matter of ambition, but of dedication. He wanted the coalition to succeed and he knew he had the ability to make a mixed crew ship succeed.
STSTST
Trip stared out at the great skeleton of the Paladin. No longer was it sections of metal without form. It now looked like some archeological find, a giant metal skeleton of a starship. Hull plating, wiring, and tech installation began tomorrow. The first engine to go in will be the impulse giving the warp team more time.
"Sir," Lieutenant Endilev, "your shuttle is ready."
"I'll be right with you, Lieutenant."
Trip was headed back down to Vulcan to visit with the R&D Lab in the city of T'Paal where the warp engine was being worked on. They needed a push and he was more than willing to get his hands dirty.
"She really is something, sir," said Endilev, "a great warship."
"Hopefully, the Paladin will be more than a warship, Endilev," said Trip.
"Shran mentioned that you Humans were sentimental," she said.
"I like to think that we are idealist, though I admit to moments of sentimentality, but that is because of my Southern upbringing," said Trip.
"I don't know what that means," she said.
"You'll get to know," he smiled. "Have you ever tried pecan pie?"
"No," Endilev said.
"Once we get a chef, I'll have to introduce you to pecan pie," he said.
STSTST
T'Pol finished her duties for the day then allowed Malcolm to drop her off at her home. Because of his schedule, she hadn't seen Trip in three days. He had been staying at the Earth Compound and splitting time between T'Khut, the docking bay, and Earth Compound where he needed to catch up on paperwork. Today, he reached out to him through their bond and found him busy at the warp facility with the engineers trying to correct the engine problems. Mind to mind she asked if he was coming to their home tonight, but he had to beg off.
T'Pol entered the security code and opened the door to the house. She entered and requested lights. The house computer brought up the lights. She found without Trip being home, that their home was empty. T'Pol missed her husband.
"You look well, daughter," a familiar voice spoke up.
A chill of recognition cascaded through her. She turned to face the kitchen to see a Vulcan dressed in monk robes with his hood up exit the kitchen. The monk lowered his hood, exposing hair the same color as hers and soft brown eyes. It was her father.
"Sa-mekh," she said softly.
This could not be her father. He disappeared when she was twenty years old. S'van disappeared while on a mission of the Security Directorate. She remembered locking herself in her room and crying not letting her mother see her weakness.
"Ko-fu," he smiled.
Smiled. Panic went through T'Pol. Her father smiled. This was the same father, who encouraged her emotions as a child. He told her that emotions weren't to be avoided but to be embraced. Her mother and father would fight over the way he indulged her emotions. The clues and inductions all fell into place. The answer was unavoidable.
"You are Romulan," she said.
"You are not only my favorite child, but my smartest," he said.
"I am half Vulcan and half Romulan," she said feeling her emotional controls start to slip.
"In Romulan, I am your eneh," he said. "I always regretted leaving you and your mother, but duty called."
"You were a spy," said T'Pol.
"I still am," he said.
He walked further into the light. T'Pol looked at her father. He was older, but not old.
"Let me introduce myself properly daughter," he said. "I am General Tavon of the Tal Shiar."
"I am Commander T'Pol of UES Starfleet," she said barely holding on to her control.
"I have been watching you for the last few days," he said. "You and Captain Tucker are involved."
"He is my adun," she said. "I am bonded to him."
Tavon smiled, "I'd rather see you bonded to a human than some Vulcan automaton."
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"First to see you again," he said. "When I left I was recalled because of an assassination on the Proconsul Malon. I had to leave you and your mother, even though I wanted to stay with you. But duty called."
He stared at her for a moment, "You look much like your sister Tala. Same bone structure, same eyes. You are prettier, though."
"I do not know her," said T'Pol.
"She is a SubCommander on the Belak. She is the third officer, Chief of Security," he said with some pride. "Your brother Movar is the Commander of the Valdon."
"How many children do you have?" she asked.
"Besides you," he chuckled. She found it disconcerting to hear her father chuckle. "Four."
"I am confused and feeling…," she paused.
"Emotional. It's only natural for you. You are part Romulan," he said. "I must go soon. You are probably broadcasting so many emotions to Captain Tucker that he must be worried about you."
"Why did you make yourself known to me?" she asked.
"Because I leave tonight and I wanted to see you. As I said, you were always my favorite child. I also wanted to warn you. Your husband's life is in danger. The Tal Shiar has placed a death mark on him. Protect him," he said.
He lifted his hood up and covered his face.
"We are not enemies, daughter. The Romulan Star Empire merely wishes to unify with its brethren. Though we have grown apart and become different in many ways, our foundation is the same," he said.
T'Pol didn't respond. She couldn't respond as it took all her self control not to have an emotional breakdown.
"I love you, T'Pol," said Tavon. "I hope someday that we can have a proper family reunion."
He stepped back into the dark kitchen and disappeared. T'Pol stood in her place until finally she sunk down onto her knees and started to shake. Her Vulcan façade cracked. Suddenly, her emotions came to the surface and she began to weep. She was half Vulcan and half Romulan.
STSTST
Leaving his security outside, Trip entered the house. He found T'Pol curled in ball on the floor of the living area. She was shaking. He felt all her emotions were on the surface, so he picked her up and carried her up to their bedroom. Taking her uniform off slowly and gently, he placed her in their bed and covered her. Trip then got undressed and slipped into the bed beside her.
Kissing her head and reassuring her, eventually she calmed down. T'Pol didn't want to speak and she had lifted her mental barrier up. All Trip knew was that something traumatic happened to her. He did all he could do which was hold her. She buried her face in his chest and finally slept.
"Whatever it is, darlin'," he said, "it's going to be alright."
He eventually joined her in sleep. In his sleep, he joined T'Pol in her white room. She was sitting crossed legged staring in the flame of a candle. Trip needed to know what had happened.
"Darlin', what happened?" he asked.
She didn't respond.
"Darlin', you got to talk to me," he said.
"I cannot," she said. "I am ashamed."
"Mind meld with me then. Share what happened with me," he said.
"Adun… I," she started.
"T'Pol, mind meld with me," he said.
Trip woke up to see T'Pol staring into eyes and her fingers on his PSI spots on her face. Soon their minds were one. With great clarity and detail, she shared memories of her father then she relived his visit of earlier this evening. Once she was sure Trip had all the information he needed she broke off the mind meld.
He saw that she had tears in her eyes.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, darlin'," he said. "All this does is make you even more special."
"I am…," she started to speak but stop.
"You are my love."
"I am afraid to share this information with Solkar and T'Pau," she said. "They will judge me."
"You're not going to share it. This is between you and me, and no one else. This is our secret, darlin'," he said. "If all goes well, you will never meet your father again."
"I half a half-sister and half-brothers," she said.
"And you have me," he said.
T'Pol kissed him. He kissed her back. Trip knew he was endangering his career keep T'Pol's parentage secret, but she was too important to him to let anyone judge her based on something outside of her control like a parent. As her husband, his job was to protect her and he would do that and more.
"I need to meditate," she said.
"I know," he said. "Do you want me to meditate with you?"
"I would do better if you held me while I meditate," she said.
"I'll hold you and never let you go," he said.
"I love you, k'diwa."