PART 32:
Archer strolled into the guest quarters to find Trip coming out of one of the bedrooms.
"Trip," he said.
"Captain," Trip said as he walked over to him. "Your just getting back from the ship?"
"Yeah, took them longer than Admiral Forrest excepted," Archer told him.
"And?"
"Well," Archer said. "The Vulcan High Command is against the idea."
"Well there's no big surprise," Trip said. "What did Starfleet have to say?"
"According to Admiral Forrest," Archer replied. "There was a lot of arguing and debating."
Trip watched the expression on his friends face. "Those son of a bitches said no, didn't they?" he asked angrily.
"Are you going to let me finish?"
"Sorry, sir."
"As I was saying," Archer continued. "They agreed that there would have to be adjustments made to the regulations once the first crew was out in space, and they took all the factors into consideration and decided that they would not change the regulations but amend them to where married couples could serve on the same ship, but not in the same department ."
"Ya mean they're actually changing the regulations?"
"They putting the amendment as we speak."
"How did you convince Admiral Forrest to go to Starfleet with this?"
"It wasn't easy," Archer said. "But I think I made a good argument."
"Ya had to of," Trip said. "If they're changing things."
"Well what are you waiting for, go ask Liana to marry you."
"Look, Captain," Trip said.
"Don't tell me you changed your mind?"
"No, not at all," Trip replied.
"Then what is it?" Archer asked.
"Can we just keep this between ourselves?" he asked.
" Why? I thought you would have at least wanted Malcolm to know."
"I'd rather not say anything until I hear what Liana's answer is."
"Alright," Archer said. "I won't say a word."
"Thanks," Trip said with a smile.
End of Part 32