Disclaimer: Enterprise, Star Trek and all related characters are the property of Paramount Pictures, Inc. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has changed hands. The original characters and events are the sole property of the author and may not be used without permission.
Author's Note: I didn't forget about this one, but I gotta be honest with you. I usually don't start a story until I have a clear idea how it's supposed to end, because I hate stories that go on forever. I sort of broke that rule with this one. I wrote the first chapter just to be sure I'd have something to post when the category came up, and I've been winging it ever since. I'm not sure if I'll finish it.
"Wanderers" (Pt. VI)
by Darrin Colbourne
T'Pol was at the controls of the shuttlepod as it descended to the surface of the Earth-type planet. The small spacecraft was crowded with the team Archer had selected. Accompanying him and T'Pol to the planet were Reed, Sato and two security crewmen. Everyone aboard was armed with phase pistols, while the security people also brought along pulse rifles. Given the reception they'd received upon discovering the Null Pocket, Archer wanted to be ready for anything. Tucker had ached to join the landing party, but had more pressing matters to attend to aboard Enterprise. He kept the ship hidden near the gas giant as he affected repairs on the hull polarization systems, damaged warp nacelle and other problems.
"There they are." Archer said. The shuttlepod's sensors led them to the crash site, and he could spot a pillar of smoke through the cockpit glass. T'Pol headed for it, and a few minutes later the small craft had settled down beside the wrecked attacker.
The landing party disembarked and checked their weapons. "Make sure your phase pistols are set for stun," Archer said, "and use the pulse rifles sparingly. I want to bring back someone who can talk. Chandler, you stay by the shuttlepod in case one of them comes back to the wreck."
The security crewman nodded and stood by the shuttlepod while the others walked toward the wreck and surveyed the scene. They were in a hilly, rocky desert, dotted with spotty vegetation and dust devils. The wreck and the shuttlepod were on the edge of a rocky outcropping.
T'Pol began scanning the wreck with her computer when they reached it. "This technology does not correspond to any known civilization." She said.
"I'm more concerned with the people that ran it than the ship itself." Archer said. "There are caves in these hills. The crew, if it survived, is probably hiding in one of them."
"There are no bio-signs in the wreck." T'Pol noted.
"Do we split up?" Reed said.
"We'd cover more ground." Sato said.
Archer was pondering the idea when an explosion threw him off his feet. When he recovered, he saw that the wreck had been completely incinerated. Another explosion rattled the dust near the shuttlepod.
"Incendiary mortars!" Reed called out.
"Chandler! Get the shuttlepod airborne!" Archer called to the security crewman.
Chandler scrambled back into the craft just as another blast gave the attackers the pod's range. He had been rushing through the pre-flight when a third mortar found its mark. The shuttlepod went up like a roman candle.
"Damn!" Archer said as he scanned the surrounding cliffs. He found the attackers just as they switched to hand-held weapons. Energy blasts fell around the landing party as they scattered.
"Reed! Sato, Ross!" Archer said, pointing. "The cave up there! Return fire!"
The two bridge officers and the security crewman started shooting with their phase pistols, but the range was long and the enemy had the high ground. More energy blasts rained down, pinning the Starfleet crew to the sand. Archer crawled over to T'Pol.
"We need to gain the advantage!" He said. "I have a really bad idea, but I need you to get precise coordinates! Specifically, I need to know exactly how deep that cave is!"
"Keep them pinned down!" The Commander of Watcher Roh-Kosh said. He regretted having to destroy his ship before repairing it, but the Earthers had come too soon. They'd set new records getting up to the cave and waiting for the enemy to set down. Without either ship, the Earthers were trapped on the planet. His people were trapped as well, but they were natural survivalists, and could manage until they found a way to contact their friends.
In the meantime, two of his crew were keeping the Earthers busy while he and his second were resetting and reloading the mortar launcher. In another minute, they would be able to blast the enemy into the ground.
He'd just finished locking in a mortar round when he noticed the firing had stopped. His men had their blast rifles held at the ready while they frantically searched the ground below.
"What's happening?" The Commander said.
"They disappeared!" One of them said.
"What are you babbling about?"
"They were there one moment, then there was a reflection of some kind, and they were gone!"
The Commander's second went over to the cave entrance to see for himself. The commander was getting up to follow suit when two energy beams struck his riflemen from the back of the cave and knocked them out of the entrance. A pulse of energy sent his second right after them. The Commander never had a chance to draw his weapon and turn on the invaders before another beam knocked him unconscious.
Archer and his team came out of the shadows of the cave into the light let in by the entrance. Reed and Ross immediately went to the entrance to see if they could spot the other aliens. Archer, T'Pol and Sato examined their prisoner.
He was humanoid, about as tall as a Klingon, with a large, elongated head and shiny black skin. His three rows of sharp teeth gleamed from his open mouth. His clothes looked like those worn by the Bedouins of Earth's history, while his weapons were recognizable but unlike any they'd seen before.
"How long do you think he'll stay out?" Archer asked T'Pol.
She scanned him with her computer. "His physiognomy is unknown. There is no way to tell how long the stun blast will effect him."
"Then let's not waste any time. Gather up his 'toys'. Reed, Ross, come over here." Archer whipped out his communicator and said "Archer to Enterprise."
"Enterprise here." Tucker's voice said.
"It worked, 'Trip'. We're gonna need another transport. This time we're bringing a friend back with us."
TBC (maybe)...
