Act Four: "Donuts for Breakfast"
Captain Archer only half-slept that night. But between those moments of sleeplessness and slumber, he had decided something. He was going to have breakfast with his crew.
After a shower, a feeding to his dog, and a jump into his uniform, Jonathan Archer headed off to meet with his crew in the Mess Hall. He was hoping for maybe some pancakes or scrambled eggs, but what he got was -
"Donuts?"
Trip shrugged. "Blame that stupid Probe. When it downloaded our database, it scrambled some our systems - including refrigeration. So, the chef figures he can get together some of the left-overs from Ensign Decker's birthday cake and made everyone some donuts."
"So . . . no eggs?"
"Nope. Sorry Cap."
"And when will the refrigeration systems be back in its prime?"
"Don't know. Probably this afternoon."
"Get on it as soon as your shift starts. And pass me that cream stick."
Soon, with nothing more than a cream stick, a Bavarian filled, and a sprinkle donut (along with a sick tummy and the knowledge that it was going to cost him his lean figure), Archer headed up to the bridge.
"Report."
T'Pol sat up from the Captain's chair and took her position at the Science station. "The Vulcan ships are on their way to the Probe Ship. We are currently on our way to an uninhabited world some five light-years from here."
"Has it been explored before?"
"Nope."
"Sounds like fun."
Captain Archer leaned back in his chair and was only getting comfortable when . . .
THOOM!
The Enterprise came to loud and hard stop. "What's going on?"
"It's the Probe Ship, Captain. It's caught up with us and is using a tractor beam to hold in position."
"Red Alert! Polarize hull plating! Prepare to - "
Suddenly, the ship began to shake. Trip and Phlox had just appeared on the bridge, when it happened. A green wave of light fell upon the ship. This, in a series of flashes, over half the ship disappeared. Including Captain Archer, T'Pol, Mayweather, Phlox, Sato, and half a dozen others from the bridge.
Trip turned to Reed. With less than a word, Trip jumped into the Captain's chair and took command of the situation.
He pressed a key on the panel. "This Commander Tucker to the crew. All remaining departments report to me immediately. I need a situation."
He closed the ship-wide comm, then turned to Reed.
"I want weapons on-line and ready to fire."
Reed shook his head. "No luck, sir. Weapons systems have been bypassed."
"Malcolm, I want security teams all over this ship. I want to know who's missing and if we have taken on any visitors."
"I'm on it."
Suddenly, the Enterprise shook once again, noting their release from the tractor beam.
"What's going on?" he asked the substitute science officer.
"Tractor beam has been released. The Probe Ship is speeding off at 473 mark 412."
"Navigation, lay in a following course."
The substitute navigator laid in a course and the Enterprise followed the Probe. Tucker then leaned back in the chair. Reports were starting to come in from across the ship.
It was going to be a long day.
Captain Archer only half-slept that night. But between those moments of sleeplessness and slumber, he had decided something. He was going to have breakfast with his crew.
After a shower, a feeding to his dog, and a jump into his uniform, Jonathan Archer headed off to meet with his crew in the Mess Hall. He was hoping for maybe some pancakes or scrambled eggs, but what he got was -
"Donuts?"
Trip shrugged. "Blame that stupid Probe. When it downloaded our database, it scrambled some our systems - including refrigeration. So, the chef figures he can get together some of the left-overs from Ensign Decker's birthday cake and made everyone some donuts."
"So . . . no eggs?"
"Nope. Sorry Cap."
"And when will the refrigeration systems be back in its prime?"
"Don't know. Probably this afternoon."
"Get on it as soon as your shift starts. And pass me that cream stick."
Soon, with nothing more than a cream stick, a Bavarian filled, and a sprinkle donut (along with a sick tummy and the knowledge that it was going to cost him his lean figure), Archer headed up to the bridge.
"Report."
T'Pol sat up from the Captain's chair and took her position at the Science station. "The Vulcan ships are on their way to the Probe Ship. We are currently on our way to an uninhabited world some five light-years from here."
"Has it been explored before?"
"Nope."
"Sounds like fun."
Captain Archer leaned back in his chair and was only getting comfortable when . . .
THOOM!
The Enterprise came to loud and hard stop. "What's going on?"
"It's the Probe Ship, Captain. It's caught up with us and is using a tractor beam to hold in position."
"Red Alert! Polarize hull plating! Prepare to - "
Suddenly, the ship began to shake. Trip and Phlox had just appeared on the bridge, when it happened. A green wave of light fell upon the ship. This, in a series of flashes, over half the ship disappeared. Including Captain Archer, T'Pol, Mayweather, Phlox, Sato, and half a dozen others from the bridge.
Trip turned to Reed. With less than a word, Trip jumped into the Captain's chair and took command of the situation.
He pressed a key on the panel. "This Commander Tucker to the crew. All remaining departments report to me immediately. I need a situation."
He closed the ship-wide comm, then turned to Reed.
"I want weapons on-line and ready to fire."
Reed shook his head. "No luck, sir. Weapons systems have been bypassed."
"Malcolm, I want security teams all over this ship. I want to know who's missing and if we have taken on any visitors."
"I'm on it."
Suddenly, the Enterprise shook once again, noting their release from the tractor beam.
"What's going on?" he asked the substitute science officer.
"Tractor beam has been released. The Probe Ship is speeding off at 473 mark 412."
"Navigation, lay in a following course."
The substitute navigator laid in a course and the Enterprise followed the Probe. Tucker then leaned back in the chair. Reports were starting to come in from across the ship.
It was going to be a long day.