TITLE: Hidden Truths - Part Ten

SUMMARY: Uh-oh.

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One or Two

NOTES: Okay, sorry I didn't post last night, so to make up here's two parts. Thanks TONS for all the reviews they make me so happy!

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Chapter Ten

MORE OR LESS

"What is it?"

*No, no this isn't happening. I was careful, I did everything right.*

"The sensors readings aren't making any sense. They keep changing."

*I was so careful!*

"We haven't been able to collect any - "

"Hang on.....I'm getting some clear energy readings."

*Energy readings? The rift shouldn't be giving off any clear readings....*

"There appears to be a ship coming through the anomaly.

*Oh no....*

On the bridge, all but one person tried to make some kind of assessment of the anomaly that had formed before Enterprise. The exception was still reeling from the mere sight of it.

"A ship?" Jon questioned. Perhaps the anomaly was some kind of new technology that enabled ships to travel. "Anyone we know?"

By the look on Malcolm's face, he didn't know whether to be impressed or confused. "I've never seen anything like it." He started.

*Well, you wouldn't have.*

"The technology is incredible."

"There is no record in the Vulcan database of any such ship." T'Pol added.

The ship was now visible on the screen. It was considerably larger than Enterprise and sported a dark gold sheen. Its smooth surface glistened purple as the rift flickered.

"Hail them." Jon ordered, his excitement showing.

"No!" Trip blurted out. He felt the eyes of every single person in the room try to dig into his head.

"Trip?"

*Fantastic. How are you going to explain this one?*

"Sir, they're powering weapons." Malcolm quickly interjected the momentary awkward silence.

"Polarise the hull plating." Jon ordered on instinct. The hull plating, however did not seem to affect the horrendously violent jolt that came so quickly no-one had a chance to brace.

"Evasive manoeuvres!" Jon yelled. He'd been in enough battles to know that another hit like that would cripple Enterprise.

"Engines are offline!" Travis shouted over the noise of the numerous minor explosions around them. "We're dead in the water Sir" He went on.

"I'm detecting new lifesigns onboard. They're transporting over." Malcolm said, alarmed. He hadn't felt this violated since their unknown enemy dropped in a few months or so back. They had beaten them in the end but these people had far superior weaponry. And just how did Trip know they were hostile? In truth he hadn't given what Hoshi had told him a second thought but now doubts were surfacing.

"I better get to engineering" Trip muttered quietly and slipped out. In reality he didn't know what else to do. Right now the only person he knew how to be was Charles Tucker III, chief engineer.

Hoshi's mind was working overtime. First aliens coming through a strange spacial anomaly, attacking and trying to dock - and Trip's outburst? She was sure now more than ever that he was hiding something. His never-ending explanations were too much. The two incidences on Regis, the fact that his ribs had been broken and spontaneously healed, his lie about the so-called side-effects. The answers were right in front of her but she couldn't put them together.

Right now Hoshi and the rest of the crew had more pressing things to worry about.

"Weapons?"

"All major systems, bar life-support, are offline Captain. That includes weapons, engines, hull plating and communications."

"Malcolm, I want you to distribute weapons to as many crew-members as you can, tell them what's going on and to have their phase pistols set to stun. Go."

The orders were set. T'Pol, and Malcolm left the bridge with most of the other crew present. "Hoshi, go with Malcolm. You may have to communicate with these aliens."

In truth, Hoshi was part scared and part relieved. Malcolm was the only person who even remotely understood her confusions about Trip. She had seen his face when Trip had his slight outburst just moments ago. It had not gone unnoticed.

When the two were done giving orders to a group of crewmen, Hoshi turned to Reed.

"Do you believe me now?"

Malcolm stared Hoshi in the eye. The things she had told him were so bizarre and farfetched. What could they possibly mean? "I don't know what to believe." He replied honestly. "Why don't we go and ask Commander Tucker?"

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"Listen up people, first priority is to get weapons back online. I want four or five of you to arm yourselves and guard the entrances. Do it now."

Engineering staff sprung into action, following orders without hesitation.

*You've done it this time.*

The inner argument Trip was going through was a exhaustive one. His thoughts were torn with guilt and denial. He scathed himself for messing up, but defending his actions at the same time. *How was I supposed to know this was going to happen?*

At that moment the doors on the far side of the room opened and two of the more jumpy crewmen pointed their weapons at Hoshi and Reed, who had just entered.

"Lieutenant, I could use your help bringing weapons back online."

"I think we both deserve an explanation first." Malcolm said.

*Uh-oh. Not a good thing.*

"What are you talking about? Come on, I need your help." Trip endeavoured, once again playing the innocent. Hoshi's childlike eyes gazed into his in an unyielding manner.

"Commander I respect you, you know that, but I think you know something about these aliens that you aren't saying."

Trip did something that he was not proud of. For the first time that it had ever been necessary, he pulled rank to protect his identity. To be honest, no-one had ever come close to discovering the truth and he doubted Hoshi or Reed had. Nevertheless the situation demanded that he bought time to get rid of inquiring minds and the hostiles at hand. "Listen to me." He whispered. "This is no time to be making wild accusations. I don't care what you think you know, I am you're commanding officer and I am ordering you to get the hell out of here and do your jobs."

The two officers looked stunned, not to mention let down. Hoshi's eyes glistened with hurt Trip supposed they had never actually been threatened by a superior officer before. Whatever suspicions they had, were now ten times as strong.

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T'Pol handed Jon a gun. "The hostile's intentions are unknown. They may want control of the ship." She explained, setting her own pistol to stun.

"You know, this whole silent enemy thing is getting really tiring." He joked in return. It went unappreciated.

Then in a whirl of chaos and noise the bridge was overcome. The doors opened and four aliens barged their way in wielding large handheld weapons, while three more transported behind the trapped crew.

T'Pol fired immediately but to no effect. It seemed phase pistols had no effect. Jon had time to change his pistol's setting to kill, but this merely swayed one of the gargantuan creatures (Complete with tusks and bulky tails.)

T'Pol went down when one of the aliens struck her hard across the face. Travis was shot almost instantly. In a matter of seconds no-one but Archer was left standing - with seven guns aimed directly at him.

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Trip worked furiously at the weapons console. His only hope was to destroy the ship - but he knew deep down that Enterprise had nothing that could possibly combat the Kett's technology. And then there was the 'hostiles' on Enterprise already. God knows what damage they were doing, who they were slaughtering.

*You caused this. You are the only person who can change it. *

Then a chillingly loud voice came echoing through the com, reaching Trip's ears like a thousand ice-cold spears.

"Kamidari. Show yourself or your Captain dies. You have ten minutes."

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End of Chapter Ten

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