DISCLAIMER: It's Paramount's galaxy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: A/TP. On the way to meetings with the Xindi on the Aquatic world of Azati Prime, Archer and T'Pol are abducted leaving the newly returned Tripp in command with more than a missing command team to worry about. Their ensuing adventure helps unravel a long-standing mystery. (Follows "In A Mirror, Darkly, Part III," "Recompense" and "Big Iron" and is new Season 4 finale with TATV pushed to a later season.)
#
TO FLY
#
"Hoshi, have we received anything from the Xindi ship?" Captain Archer asked.
Hoshi looked up from her communications station with a slight grin. "No sir. Last transmission was about an hour ago. I will tell you immediately if we receive anything else, but I do expect the ship to exit a conduit any time now."
Archer nodded and frowned. He tapped the tips of his fingers against the arm of his command chair. Waiting wasn't one of his favorite pass times, particularly when there wasn't anything else that needed to be done. They were rendezvousing with a Xindi aquatic ship to be escorted deeper into Xindi space for a meeting on Azati Prime. The ship was so large that Enterprise could fit snuggly into one if its cargo holds. Of course they could have simply set a course to Azati Prime themselves, but the Xindi had offered, and accepting their offer seemed like the appropriate thing to do. Their mission was to forge deeper ties with the Xindi, afterall, in the hopes of establishing a long-lasting alliance. Additionally, the Xindi ship had already picked up and was to deliver their chief engineer back to Enterprise after his diplomatic visit with the Kriosians during the past two months. So far, their mission to the former Delphic Expanse after the Fall of the Spheres had been a resounding success. They had reconciled with the Illyrians and helped establish a new colony on the North Star planet, forming ties with the Skagaran Conglomerate in the process.
T'Pol stood up from her science station and moved over next to the Captain's chair. She gave Archer a sideways glance accompanied with a slight raising of one eyebrow.
Archer cleared his throat and leaned closer to T'Pol. "I know, but we've been holding positon here for the past seven hours," he said quietly and moved his hands off the armrest. "I'm just getting a bit antsy."
"The Xindi have a habit of arriving on their own schedule," T'Pol commented. She paused as if considering something else. "It is about the time for a midday meal," she observed.
Archer nodded and stood up. "You're right. Let's go to the mess hall and get something to eat. Perhaps we can go over the prepared remarks I'm supposed to give at the Xindi reception." They had been tweaking on those remarks for a couple weeks now, but it couldn't hurt to give it another look. He turned towards Lieutenant Reed at tactical. "Malcolm, you have the bridge. Let us know if you hear anything from the Xindi."
"Aye sir."
Archer and T'Pol moved off towards the turbolift and stepped inside. Archer took hold of the lift control and said, "Deck five." The doors slid shut and the turbolift started down towards the requisite deck. As the doors slid back open, Archer's communicator chirped.
"Captain, Lieutenant Reed here. The Xindi aquatic ship Deep Chasm has just exited the conduit."
Archer shook his head and sighed. "Figures."
"They're requesting transporter coordinates for beaming Commander Tucker to Enterprise."
"Give them the coordinates of Tripp's quarters for his personal items and the transporter room for Commander Tucker himself," Archer replied. Although the Xindi transporter technology was superior to Enterprise's and such that they could have transported Commander Tucker anywhere on the ship, including directly to his quarters, the transporter room was specifically designed for matter rematerialization and offered the safest option for human transport.
"Acknowledged. I will inform them also we can start docking procedures once you return to the bridge."
Archer paused. "No need for that Malcolm. You can coordinate the docking with the Xindi vessel yourself. You're in command, inform me when we're inside. T'Pol and I are going to the transporter room to welcome home our wayward chief engineer."
"Thank you Captain," Reed replied, obviously pleased with the small opportunity at command. "Lieutenant Reed out."
Archer reengaged the turbolift. "Deck seven."
The two of them arrived at the transporter room just as the Xindi transporter linked with Enterprise's system and engaged. About midway through the sequence, it became clear that Commander Tucker was accompanied by a second individual. A humanoid by the look of it. When completed, it turned out to be a Star Fleet Lieutenant, and although she looked vaguely familiar, Archer wasn't quite sure who the newcomer was. Both she and Commander Tucker were in uniform.
T'Pol bowed slightly. "First Monarch," she said, addressing the Lieutenant. "We were not expecting you or we would have made appropriate arrangements."
Kaitaama, the Kriosian First Monarch, bowed back, and then turned to Captain Archer handing him a PADD. Now that T'Pol had said it, Archer was surprised he hadn't recognized her from the start. "Captain, my commissioning and transfer orders to Enterprise. Star Fleet Command has granted my government's request for me to be a member of your crew during the rest of your mission in the former Delphic Expanse as a way of forming a stronger alliance between Earth and Krios Prime." She spoke in perfect English with no universal translator, although with a slight accent. A mix between Tripp's southern accent and something else. She then turned back to T'Pol. "Commander, there is no need for any special arrangements and it was under Star Fleet's direction with my concurrence that the transfer was kept secret until now. While aboard, I will hold the provisional rank of Lieutenant and will be treated as any other member of the crew."
Archer glanced briefly at Tripp and then the orders trying to hide his surprise. Tripp was being unusually quiet. Archer then nodded, handed the PADD to T'Pol, and said, "Welcome aboard Lieutenant. I see you'll be assigned to engineering."
"That's correct sir," Kaitaama replied.
Tripp cleared his throat, but then didn't say anything.
"I will contact the ship's quartermaster immediately to assign you quarters," T'Pol offered, interrupting the awkward silence.
"That won't be necessary," Kaitaama replied. "For… security reasons, I will be quartered with Commander Tucker for the duration of my stay aboard Enterprise."
Tripp cleared his throat again, but this time spoke up. "Captain, Commander. A few things happened on Krios Prime while I was there and, well, Kate and I need to brief you both about all this."
T'Pol raised an eyebrow. Archer nodded, "That sounds appropriate."
"I was thinking, perhaps, after we get settled back in and adjusted to ship time, we could do just that," Tripp continued. "Say tomorrow at breakfast in the Captain's Mess if that's okay?"
Archer and T'Pol exchanged a quick look. "That will work," Archer replied, his curiosity piqued. He placed his hand on Tripp's shoulder. "It's good to have you back Tripp. I look forward to hearing all about your adventures. We'll see you at 0700 tomorrow then."
"Thanks Cap'n," Tripp replied, more like himself now. "It's good to be back." Archer stepped back to stand beside T'Pol and Tripp turned to Kaitaama and pointed down the corridor. "This way to my quarters," he said, and then back to Archer and T'Pol. "Captain. Commander."
When they were out of earshot, Archer rubbed his beard and shook his head. "Now what was that all about?" he wondered out loud.
"We will evidently find out at 0700 tomorrow morning," T'Pol said matter-of-factly and then turned back towards the turbolift. "Shall we proceed to the Mess Hall as previously planned?"
Archer laughed and then turned to follow her. "By all means," he replied, and the two of them headed back down the corridor to the turbolift.
###
A/N: I apologize ahead of time, but the "commercial breaks" are probably going to be longer for this story than usual.