Meeting for breakfast the next morning, Jon's expression demonstrated his disquiet. Playing with his eggs, he looked up into the concerned eyes of his friend. "My orders were waiting when I got back to my quarters last night," he stated. "Six months on Intrepid, milk runs between Earth Orbital, Utopia Planitia and Jupiter station. I'm filling in for the First Officer on a Starfleet transport. Top speed, warp 1.8."

"Look on the bright side," Trip tried for levity, "you get to put all that new engineering knowledge to good use and we can catch up for a beer every couple of weeks."

"I guess there is that," Jon answered, still not happy but finding a little light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel.

"Apart from that year on Star Gazer," Trip looked at this from a purely professional angle, "how much time have you spent in space? Getting to know Starfleet vessels? Especially in command?"

Sighing, a slight contemptuous smirk curled Jon's lip. "Obviously, someone thinks not enough." Shaking his head to get rid of these feelings, Lt. Commander Archer got what Ensign Tucker was saying. Sighing again, this time heavily and with meaning, he recounted, "I served for eighteen months as an ensign, chief pilot on three different classes, before joining the test pilot group. You know about the year on Stargazer."

"That's it?" Trip demanded. "Come on, Jon," both realised it was the first time the younger man called Archer by his Christian name and it was a game changer in their relationship. No longer were they superior and subordinate, but two Starfleet officers who were also friends discussing their careers which might intersect, with a little planning and even more good luck in the future. It seemed to cheer the Commander, while embarrassing the Ensign. Taking in a sharp breath, Tucker continued to labour his point.

"You've been in Starfleet over six years and only spent two and a half up here. If I'm going to be the Chief Engineer on the first warp 5 vessel that leaves the solar system on a mission of exploration, I'm expecting to spend at least half my time in space and all of it in the Engine room. I can still work on my theories for new components while getting real experience. Hell, it might even give me ideas I wouldn't have considered with theory and a static engine. Besides, there's going to be periods when I'm not needed for the groundside development phase and I'd rather be using the time to my advantage. If you think just getting behind the controls of experimental vessels is enough to get on a warp 5 ship, you're crazy. You need to be in command of Intrepid, not first officer to get a leg up on the competition."

"Maybe your right," Archer took the time to considered Trip's words, very carefully. They made sense. Gardiner had ten years space service and would look like a better candidate on paper, if they ever managed to construct a ship capable of more than warp 2. Especially to the Vulcan's, Jon's mind tormented.

"Hell, I know I am," Tucker returned heatedly. "So, when do you ship out?"

"Intrepid will be docking in three days," Archer answered before shrugging his shoulders. "I can either spend them on Earth, or up here."

"Three days isn't a lot of time to pack your life up for half a year," Trip commented, watching the man across the table. Jon's mind was working at top speed, considering what needed to be achieved.

Snickering, Archer informed, "I live in a Starfleet apartment that will still be there when I get back. The buildings got an officer stationed in the foyer. I can get the Ensign to send anything I need up on the next transport. Besides, I brought most of my uniforms and kit for this assignment. If I require anything else, I can requisition them from the quartermaster. It's not like I have family or many friends to visit planet side."

"In that case," Trip couldn't keep the grin off his face, "want to join me for my first EV this afternoon. You know, misery loves company."

"You're on," Jon's emotions suddenly lifted with the knowledge that the next three days would prove critical in regard to his future hopes. No longer constrained by the mentor bond between them, Archer and Tucker could work on deepening their already fast friendship.

Six months passed remarkably quickly, even if there was a bump or two in the road. When Intrepid departed Utopia Planitia, headed for Earth's Orbital Station, Archer comm'ed Tucker. They arranged to meet when the vessel docked, share a meal and talk, before the older man once again shipped out. It seemed to occur about every twenty days. Trip had the ability to plan is research around Jon's schedule, earning the pair a reputation as fast friends with the stations regular crew.

"Ensign Tucker," Lt. Commander Archer used Trip's rank, proving this was an official call. On their way back from their latest run to Jupiter Station, a mining colony within the asteroid belt sent out a distress call. As the closest ship, Intrepidwas dispatched. The situation proved more challenging and obscure than their vessel's engineer could handle. Suggesting an alternative, Jon made the call with his Captain's permission. "Do you know much about the technology used in mining asteroids?"

"They use a modified warp engine to power their operation," Trip answered. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Tucker's fingers typed commands in his terminal and brought up generalised schematics. "Gives them all the power they need to run their combined habitat and processing plant. The structure may as well be titled a space ship because they can move when they've exhausted one site and locate another."

Explaining the issue, Archer asked, "think you can help?"

"I need to know more, like the vessels exact specifications, but I think so. How long do they have?" Trip became concerned with the expression on Jon's features. "Without communications, environmental barely functioning, nothing left to power the impulse engines, this has to be a system's wide event. Something real small and easily overlooked by an automatic diagnostic. It could take a while to track down the issue. I just hope we're in time. Once that warp engine goes cold, it'll be near on impossible to restart and the ship must be getting freezing, making working conditions demanding. The entire crew will have to hitch a ride back to Earth if we can't get this located."

"We've pulled all non-essential personnel onto Intrepid. Karabo, their engineer and her team of five, estimate they'll go cold in six hours with the reduced numbers onboard. The colony switched to grey mode when they sent out the SOS three days ago to conserve resources. They have short range comms which is why it took so long for another ship to hear their call," Jon explained. "We can't patch you in on a Starfleet channel directly, so I'm going to have to relay the information."

"Look, Commander," Trip sighed, rubbing his eyes with irritation. He liked Jon as a person, but the man was no engineer and wouldn't get the intricacy of Tucker's questions, especially with such a vague issue to track down. Besides, he'd only just managed to get to sleep after a harrowing day he didn't want Lt. Commander Archer to know about. "I know you picked up some engineering talk on that lecture tour a couple of months back, but this needs a professional speaking jargon, if you get my drift. Can your communications officer open two channels so I can at least hear the Mining Engineer? I might be able to run a diagnostic that way?"

Ensign Ho nodded, taking several moments to set up the awkward arrangement. The entire bridge crew overheard Ensign Tucker guiding his college though several complex procedures, constantly asking questions and analysing the results. The conversation took almost two hours as Trip and Karabo tossed around ideas, before finally locating a re-entry circuit causing the issue. It took another hour as they trailed several patches.

"Bingo!" The Engineer announced in her thick South African accent. "Power is flowing from the warp engine through the EPS, not going around and around in circles and overloading the crystals. Life support is coming online, we have power to the long-range communications array. Not sure about the impulse engines yet, but I can at least contact headquarters for further instructions."

"Glad to hear it," Trip smiled. The words took some time to get through the loud cheer from the Intrepid's crew. Before Tucker could hang up, Jon's visage filled the screen, his attention scrutinising the Ensign.

"Looks like you saved the day, Trip," he managed once the congratulations stopped and they were left to their own devices. Able to look at the younger man, Archer didn't like what he saw. However, before he could say anything about the fatigue making those blue eyes dull, the Ensign held up a hand and shook his head in warning. The action stopped Archer in his tracks.

"So, it would seem, Sir," Tucker responded with an eloquent smirk. "Half the problem with engineering issues, is tracking them down. The fix is easy when you know where to look."

"First beer is on me," Archer returned the smile, "when we get to Orbital."

Trips demeanour changed suddenly. A deep frown furrowed on the engineer's brow and his eyes darkened with sorrow. "That won't be possible, Sir. I finished my project last week and transferred back to Earth. MIT was desperate for my return, if you know what I mean." The expression changed again and Archer did, indeed, get the silent message. The Vulcan were once again attempting to stall the warp 2 engine. "For the next month, I'll be crunching the data with Dr. Sying and her team. I'm staying with friends, while here in Massachusetts." Code for hiding out at his thesis advisors' home, just as they'd done that weekend Laval insisted on interrogating Trip a about the data he'd presented in this first lecture. "Commander, if we get this right, Starfleet as given a provisional go ahead for the next stage."

"Understood," Jon became lost in thought. That single sentence conveyed so much and explained Trip's exhaustion. He, and the team at MIT, were desperate to prove some point or the other to Starfleet in spite of other involvment. That provisional status depended on it. "Keep me informed, Ensign."

"I will, Sir," Trip's smile returned, although it was weaker than usual. He was attempting to say something without actually using words. Tucker could see the confusion in Jon's eyes as he attempted to make sense of the younger man's emotions. Sighing internally, Trip tried again with a not so veiled insinuation. "You can comm me any time you have another engineering problem, Sir. You know I'm always up for a challenge, no matter what the time of night."

"Understood, Archer out." Finally, Jon flicked the switch that ended the call.

What the hell is going on down there, he wondered, that Trip doesn't want to talk to me, much less spend time together? Three weeks ago, we were planning a diving weekend in Florida once I'm groundside. I know his stint on the Orbital Station was coming to an end, but this is kind of abrupt, even for Starfleet. Maybe it's time to pay Commodore Forrest a not so social call, because I got the message from Ensign Tucker, loud and clear. No more personal comm's until I'm back on Earth.

"Lt. Commander," Commodore Forrest's image appeared on Jon's screen in his quarters. Weeks turned into months with several uneventful runs to Jupiter Station since Archer's initial attempt to contact his mentor. He'd been unsuccessful every time he tried. It seemed everyone he knew was ignoring him, or at least deliberately leaving him out of the loop. Even Gardiner, Duvall and Robinson were silent. The rumours on Earth Orbital played Chinese whispers, becoming more outlandish the further they travelled into the solar system. Jon stopped listening, understanding he'd be told what he needed to know, when he needed to know what was going on. It seemed his patience had, finally, been rewarded. "I wanted to congratulate you personally, Commander, on your promotion to full grade and assignment to the NX Pilot Test Team. The rank is effectively immediately, even if the jobs still a few weeks away."

"Thank you," Jon stared, confused. "Obviously a lot has occurred in the last three months."

"You could say that," Max smiled. The twinkle in his eye suggesting Archer was about to be rewarded for his patience. "There will be a transport awaiting your arrival at Earth Orbital. I believe your survival training is out of date and needs to be completed before arriving at the Complex."

"I was hoping for a little vacation time," Jon stated, trying to read the situation and failing miserably. This didn't seem like the kind of reward Max usually went for. "It's been nearly two years since I took R and R."

"You'll get it, after you and Lt. Tucker manage to endure ten days in the Australian Outback," Max kept the knowing smile off his face. Watching the astonishment flit across Archer's features was thanks enough. "The suborbital shuttle will take you direct to Alice Springs, were you'll meet up with your survival buddy. May I suggest the Great Barrier Reef for your two week leave. I'm told the diving is spectacular."

"How would you know that, Sir," Jon enquired, ensuring his voice remained respectful but hinted at his teasing. "I didn't think you were interested in the sport."

"I have it on very good authority," Max smirked, enjoying Archer's veiled insinuations. "Lt. Tucker is a wealth of information about these things. In fact, I've assigned him to remain in Australia and provide you with his expertise in the field. Did you know he's a qualified dive master? He had to achieve the qualification to go along with his Marine Engineering double major. It seems the young man is keeping a lot about his academic prowess quiet."

"Trip's mentioned diving," Jon stated, slightly confused, "but I didn't know about the Marine Engineering. Although, I should have. I remember we talked about the living on the Undersea Residence. Sure sounded as if he had first-hand experience."

"Lt. Tucker spent ten weeks on the experimental underwater habitat as part of his degree," Max confirmed. "Seems he's one of a very few allowed to enter the Great Barrier Reef Marine Sanctuary. If you're with Tucker, you'll have the privilege of one dive in that location so you'll have to do your initial training near Cairns. I'm told scuba diving aids in EV training, the environment being similar to weightlessness and the wonders just a spectacular."

"Lt. Tucker and I have discussed the topic before, Sir," Jon responded. His slightly lifted eyebrow telling his mentor he understood the subtle hints. "I'm looking forward to comparing the experiences for myself."

"I'm sure you are. Perhaps you might like to contact Lt. Tucker, personally, to discuss your assignment," Max hinted with undisguised amusement. "I'm sure you have a lot to talk about in regard to this survival training. Commander, it's imperative you both pass, unscathed. The Complex is going to need good people in the days ahead."

"Understood, Sir," Jon returned. The screen went blank, leaving the final image of Max Forrest's delighted smile. Shaking his head, Archer had to get to the bridge, if he wanted to be on time for his duty shift. The Commodore had timed the call perfectly. It was midnight in San Francisco. When he returned to his quarters this evening, Jon wouldn't be waking Trip so they could have a very long and informative talk.