"Out of the Loop" Chapter Six
Jonathan Archer was having a great day. Admiral Forrest had just spent the last half hour telling him how thrilled the engineering corps were when they got Trip's spec.'s for the tractor beam, but better than that, the Vulcan's were down right enraged at the thought that a mere human had been able to independently develop a piece of technology that equaled those of the Vulcan's and had provided humanity with a tool that the Vulcan's had denied them in the past. The Admiral had spent an thoroughly enjoyable afternoon watching the Vulcan ambassador rant and rage (although he would be loath to admit the fact that he could even be angry) about humanity's shortcomings, but the truth of the matter was that the Vulcan's were mad because, for once Starfleet had the upper hand. John had a good laugh at the story and was determined to find a way to tell Trip about it some day.
Then Forrest told Archer that they weren't going to have any trouble scaling up Tucker's design and the admiral envisioned installing the beam into several Starfleet vessels in the next few months. Dozens of lives were going to be saved in the future, and they'd all had Trip Tucker to thank for that. Forrest even hinted that Tucker might be up for the "Cochran Award" which only happened to be one of the most prestigious scientific and engineering awards that Earth had to offer, second only to the Nobel Prize.
It was an unbelievable honor for Tucker to even be nominated and the only cloud on this particular horizon was the fact that John couldn't share all this wonderful news with the man who was responsible for it all. Archer sat back in his command chair. So far it had been a quiet shift. With no pressing duties to distract him the captain was free to concentrate on the problem. Somehow he'd find a way to tell Trip just how appreciated he was. He'd just had to.
All of Archer's idle speculations were suddenly wrenched away when Enterprise violently lurched to the right, nearly tossing the captain out of his chair. "Report!" Archer managed to call out as he got to his feet.
"We've taken one energy blast to the starboard hull plating." Reed reported while readying Enterprise's weapons for a counter strike.
"From where." Archer glanced at T'Pol. "I thought sensors showed only empty space ahead?"
"They did." T'Pol extended her viewer and checked the sensor's again. "They still do. Our new enemy must contain some sort of stealth technology."
Archer whirled around to face his armory officer. "Can you get a lock?"
Malcolm worked frantically, but to no avail. "I'm sorry, sir." Reed shook his head. "There's nothing to get a lock on."
Suddenly Hoshi's console started to beep. "Sir." The comm officer called out. "We're being hailed."
Archer didn't even have to think about that one. Talking was always better than shooting, every damn time. "Open a channel."
Hoshi hit a button and suddenly the bridge was flooded with incomprehensible sounds. Sato struggled to get the universal translator to lock on. "I'm sorry, sir. I've never heard of a syntax like this before and there is nothing like it in our database. I don't think that we're going to be able to translate this one."
Another blast rocked the ship and Malcolm instantly checked Enterprise's status. "No major damage, sir. I'd call that another warning shot."
"One we'd better heed in a hurry before they become impatient and up the ante." Archer turned to Hoshi. "Anything?"
The ensign shook her head in frustration. The words were still pouring through the speaker, and it was obvious to all that the tone was getting more insistent and more angry. "I'm trying everything I can think of Captain, but still nothing makes any sense."
"Keep at it." Archer implored her. "You're our only hope."
Sato's actions took on a sense of desperation as the realization that every life on the ship now depended on her sunk in. Hoshi's hands began to shake a little as she desperately tried to get the translator to work but in her nervousness she accidentally hit the intercom button, inadvertently broadcasting the alien words throughout the ship.
Trip had just settled down to eat his tuna fish sandwich and to enjoy the view from the mess hall window when the alien words spewed from the speaker. The others in the room were surprised when the commander's head shot up when the sounds first started. All thoughts of lunch apparently vanished as Tucker appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be actually listening to the mumbo jumbo that was filling the room. Then Trip abandoned his meal and ran for the door.
On the bridge the situation was deteriorating rapidly. Hoshi was getting absolutely nowhere when the ship was violently rocked. Archer guessed that their warning period was over. Archer turned to Reed. "Report!"
"Hull plating is down fifty two percent. Another blast like that will finish us."
"Can you get a lock?"
Reed worked frantically, but to no avail. "No sir."
That wasn't what Archer wanted to hear. "Well, give me your best guess on targeting, Lieutenant, and prepare to launch a retaliatory strike. We may get lucky."
"Aye, sir." Reed worked frantically. "Ready."
Archer was about to give the order when the turbolift doors slid open and Trip Tucker stormed onto the bridge. "Trip, now is not the time." Archer knew that Tucker couldn't understand his words, but he hoped the urgent tone of his voice would pass along the true meaning of his message.
But to his surprise Tucker totally ignored his captain and ran straight for the comm switch. Just as he reached it another round of angry chatter came across from the other ship. Archer was about to pull Trip away when Tucker hit the switch and started to speak!
Tucker spoke rapidly, as if he had an important point to get across, then there was a moment of silence before another burst of chatter came over from the alien ship. The tone was still insistent, but less frantic than before. Tucker appeared to listen intently before nodding, as if in agreement, before speaking once more. That's when it really hit Archer. Trip was actually having a conversation with these people.
Hoshi too had figured it out. "They must be the Nekkaton's ."
"How can that be?" Reed protested. "I thought they were a million years dead."
T'Pol, of course, had an answer for that one. "Obviously, Lieutenant, the Nekkaton weren't as extinct as the Delmex tended to believe."
"Lucky for us." Archer muttered, knowing full well that if Tucker hadn't intervened Enterprise, in all probability would have been shredded into tiny little metal bits by now, and not only that Archer's heart sang with joy at the fact that Trip might finally get the help that he so desperately needed.
For Trip's part the engineer was in seventh heaven. For the first time in months he was able to talk to somebody, to hold a real conversation. He'd never realized what a special joy it was to speak and have that person understand you and respond in kind. It was something that most people took for granted, but Trip vowed never to do so again.
Still, despite his joy, his current conversation was far from easy. These "Nekkaton's" detected the presence of one of their devices, the alien translator, on Enterprise and jumped to the conclusion that Enterprise was a haven for pirates and thieves. Trip was working frantically to correct that impression, explaining that they found what they thought was a long abandoned ship, and the only reason they took the artifact in the first place was to try to help him. They seemed to mollify their hard stance a little after Trip told them all about his accident. They sympathized with the agony that Tucker suffered through the last few months, but still they didn't totally relax their guard. They needed more.
Tucker was filled with total dismay when he heard the Nekkaton's demands. Trip may be able to communicate with a race of aliens that he had never heard of before, but talking with his own people was still out of the question, but Tucker knew that he had to find some way to communicate with them, urgently and soon, before the situation grew totally out of hand, but how the hell to do it? Trip thought frantically, then settled on a course of action that he hoped and prayed wouldn't end up getting them all killed. It took him only seconds to cross the bridge, then he was at Malcolm's side and was reaching forward.
When Reed saw what he was doing, the armory officer leaned forward to snatch the commander's hands away from his console, complaining all the while. "Sir, he's disarming the weapons and is currently trying to de-polarize the hull plating."
"Trip?" Archer didn't understand what Trip was up to, but he did know one thing, Trip Tucker would never do anything that would put their ship, their home into danger Not only that, Tucker was sending him imploring looks, begging the captain to trust him. When Archer saw that look the captain didn't even have to think about what to do next. "Let him go."
"Sir?" Reed couldn't have heard that right.
"Release the commander from your grip, Lieutenant."
Reed was horrified. As far as he was concerned Tucker was endangering the ship, yet the captain wanted to let the commander continue with this perilous action.
Archer understood the reason for Reed's hesitation, but he had to be firm. "I gave you an order, Lieutenant."
"Aye, sir." Reed didn't like it and Archer knew he didn't, but both men knew that Reed came from a long line of military men who cut their teeth on the fact that you always obeyed an order from a superior officer, even if you thought he was nuts. Therefore Reed released his grip on the commander and stood aside.
Finally free to move, Trip didn't waste any time, but quickly powered down the weapons and de-polarized the hull plating.
Enterprise was now totally vulnerable and everyone waited in hushed silence to see if they were going to live long enough to taste Chef's pot roast that night or not. After a few anxious seconds Hoshi drew their attention to the main viewer. "Captain!"
Everyone looked forward and saw a small ship materialize into view where there had only been empty space before. Reed's console beeped. "I can scan the vessel now, sir. All of their weapons appear to be powering down.
Archer heaved a sigh of relief and glanced at his chief engineer who was chattering with their new visitors again, working out docking procedures. It didn't really matter. Even though he wasn't trained in the fine art of diplomacy Archer had no doubt that Trip would do more than just hold his own with these new visitors. The engineer projected such an aura of friendship and companionship that Archer was sure that no one, not even million year old dead aliens would be able to resist his charms. Apparently Trip had wrapped up the first round of negotiation because Trip was herding Archer toward the turbolift, in order to meet their new friends face to face, Archer guessed. Enterprise's fate was secure. John could only hope the same thing could be said about Trip's future as well.
_____________
It took no time at all for Enterprise to dock with their former nemesis and Trip apparently had no trouble explaining his situation to their visitors. While he talked Archer got a taste of what Trip had been going through for all those many weeks. Here an intense and important conversation was going on, one that might well determine the continued safety of his ship and his crew and the captain didn't have a clue as to what was really being said. Being in the dark like this was incredibly frustrating, and Archer wondered how Trip managed to stay sane throughout all this. John had always known that Trip was a brave man, but after this experience his estimation about his friend raised ten-fold.
Then the captain was jolted from his musings when they arrived in engineering. The aliens quickly picked up their device and began to make adjustments. Archer felt a moment of trepidation when the alien commander pointed the device at Trip, but Tucker saw Archer's concern and nodded and smiled at the captain in an attempt to reassure his friend. An attempt which succeeded. Archer forced himself to relax knowing that he had to trust Trip completely once again. The captain nodded his permission and the alien hit the switch.
No visible light was seen, but a loud buzz was heard. Trip closed his eyes for a moment, then the alien turned off the gadget and all was quiet.
After an eternity of a few seconds Tucker opened his eyes. "Trip." Archer risked. "Can you understand me?"
Tucker didn't react immediately. In fact he hesitated long enough that Archer's heart began to sink, fearing the worst. Then Tucker smiled a smile so bright that it could light up a Christmas tree all by itself. "I'm telling you Cap'n..." Came a voice that Archer hadn't heard in almost a year. "I never thought that your voice was particularly charmin' before, but you sure sound like an angel now."
John had to fight back the tears as he wrapped up his friend in a big hug. "Welcome back, ole buddy. I've missed you."
Trip patted his captain on the back. "I've missed you too, Cap'n, and it sure is good to be able to say that."
"It's good to hear it, Trip." Archer heartily agreed. "It's good to hear you."
Trip sighed. His long isolation was finally over.
TBC
Jonathan Archer was having a great day. Admiral Forrest had just spent the last half hour telling him how thrilled the engineering corps were when they got Trip's spec.'s for the tractor beam, but better than that, the Vulcan's were down right enraged at the thought that a mere human had been able to independently develop a piece of technology that equaled those of the Vulcan's and had provided humanity with a tool that the Vulcan's had denied them in the past. The Admiral had spent an thoroughly enjoyable afternoon watching the Vulcan ambassador rant and rage (although he would be loath to admit the fact that he could even be angry) about humanity's shortcomings, but the truth of the matter was that the Vulcan's were mad because, for once Starfleet had the upper hand. John had a good laugh at the story and was determined to find a way to tell Trip about it some day.
Then Forrest told Archer that they weren't going to have any trouble scaling up Tucker's design and the admiral envisioned installing the beam into several Starfleet vessels in the next few months. Dozens of lives were going to be saved in the future, and they'd all had Trip Tucker to thank for that. Forrest even hinted that Tucker might be up for the "Cochran Award" which only happened to be one of the most prestigious scientific and engineering awards that Earth had to offer, second only to the Nobel Prize.
It was an unbelievable honor for Tucker to even be nominated and the only cloud on this particular horizon was the fact that John couldn't share all this wonderful news with the man who was responsible for it all. Archer sat back in his command chair. So far it had been a quiet shift. With no pressing duties to distract him the captain was free to concentrate on the problem. Somehow he'd find a way to tell Trip just how appreciated he was. He'd just had to.
All of Archer's idle speculations were suddenly wrenched away when Enterprise violently lurched to the right, nearly tossing the captain out of his chair. "Report!" Archer managed to call out as he got to his feet.
"We've taken one energy blast to the starboard hull plating." Reed reported while readying Enterprise's weapons for a counter strike.
"From where." Archer glanced at T'Pol. "I thought sensors showed only empty space ahead?"
"They did." T'Pol extended her viewer and checked the sensor's again. "They still do. Our new enemy must contain some sort of stealth technology."
Archer whirled around to face his armory officer. "Can you get a lock?"
Malcolm worked frantically, but to no avail. "I'm sorry, sir." Reed shook his head. "There's nothing to get a lock on."
Suddenly Hoshi's console started to beep. "Sir." The comm officer called out. "We're being hailed."
Archer didn't even have to think about that one. Talking was always better than shooting, every damn time. "Open a channel."
Hoshi hit a button and suddenly the bridge was flooded with incomprehensible sounds. Sato struggled to get the universal translator to lock on. "I'm sorry, sir. I've never heard of a syntax like this before and there is nothing like it in our database. I don't think that we're going to be able to translate this one."
Another blast rocked the ship and Malcolm instantly checked Enterprise's status. "No major damage, sir. I'd call that another warning shot."
"One we'd better heed in a hurry before they become impatient and up the ante." Archer turned to Hoshi. "Anything?"
The ensign shook her head in frustration. The words were still pouring through the speaker, and it was obvious to all that the tone was getting more insistent and more angry. "I'm trying everything I can think of Captain, but still nothing makes any sense."
"Keep at it." Archer implored her. "You're our only hope."
Sato's actions took on a sense of desperation as the realization that every life on the ship now depended on her sunk in. Hoshi's hands began to shake a little as she desperately tried to get the translator to work but in her nervousness she accidentally hit the intercom button, inadvertently broadcasting the alien words throughout the ship.
Trip had just settled down to eat his tuna fish sandwich and to enjoy the view from the mess hall window when the alien words spewed from the speaker. The others in the room were surprised when the commander's head shot up when the sounds first started. All thoughts of lunch apparently vanished as Tucker appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be actually listening to the mumbo jumbo that was filling the room. Then Trip abandoned his meal and ran for the door.
On the bridge the situation was deteriorating rapidly. Hoshi was getting absolutely nowhere when the ship was violently rocked. Archer guessed that their warning period was over. Archer turned to Reed. "Report!"
"Hull plating is down fifty two percent. Another blast like that will finish us."
"Can you get a lock?"
Reed worked frantically, but to no avail. "No sir."
That wasn't what Archer wanted to hear. "Well, give me your best guess on targeting, Lieutenant, and prepare to launch a retaliatory strike. We may get lucky."
"Aye, sir." Reed worked frantically. "Ready."
Archer was about to give the order when the turbolift doors slid open and Trip Tucker stormed onto the bridge. "Trip, now is not the time." Archer knew that Tucker couldn't understand his words, but he hoped the urgent tone of his voice would pass along the true meaning of his message.
But to his surprise Tucker totally ignored his captain and ran straight for the comm switch. Just as he reached it another round of angry chatter came across from the other ship. Archer was about to pull Trip away when Tucker hit the switch and started to speak!
Tucker spoke rapidly, as if he had an important point to get across, then there was a moment of silence before another burst of chatter came over from the alien ship. The tone was still insistent, but less frantic than before. Tucker appeared to listen intently before nodding, as if in agreement, before speaking once more. That's when it really hit Archer. Trip was actually having a conversation with these people.
Hoshi too had figured it out. "They must be the Nekkaton's ."
"How can that be?" Reed protested. "I thought they were a million years dead."
T'Pol, of course, had an answer for that one. "Obviously, Lieutenant, the Nekkaton weren't as extinct as the Delmex tended to believe."
"Lucky for us." Archer muttered, knowing full well that if Tucker hadn't intervened Enterprise, in all probability would have been shredded into tiny little metal bits by now, and not only that Archer's heart sang with joy at the fact that Trip might finally get the help that he so desperately needed.
For Trip's part the engineer was in seventh heaven. For the first time in months he was able to talk to somebody, to hold a real conversation. He'd never realized what a special joy it was to speak and have that person understand you and respond in kind. It was something that most people took for granted, but Trip vowed never to do so again.
Still, despite his joy, his current conversation was far from easy. These "Nekkaton's" detected the presence of one of their devices, the alien translator, on Enterprise and jumped to the conclusion that Enterprise was a haven for pirates and thieves. Trip was working frantically to correct that impression, explaining that they found what they thought was a long abandoned ship, and the only reason they took the artifact in the first place was to try to help him. They seemed to mollify their hard stance a little after Trip told them all about his accident. They sympathized with the agony that Tucker suffered through the last few months, but still they didn't totally relax their guard. They needed more.
Tucker was filled with total dismay when he heard the Nekkaton's demands. Trip may be able to communicate with a race of aliens that he had never heard of before, but talking with his own people was still out of the question, but Tucker knew that he had to find some way to communicate with them, urgently and soon, before the situation grew totally out of hand, but how the hell to do it? Trip thought frantically, then settled on a course of action that he hoped and prayed wouldn't end up getting them all killed. It took him only seconds to cross the bridge, then he was at Malcolm's side and was reaching forward.
When Reed saw what he was doing, the armory officer leaned forward to snatch the commander's hands away from his console, complaining all the while. "Sir, he's disarming the weapons and is currently trying to de-polarize the hull plating."
"Trip?" Archer didn't understand what Trip was up to, but he did know one thing, Trip Tucker would never do anything that would put their ship, their home into danger Not only that, Tucker was sending him imploring looks, begging the captain to trust him. When Archer saw that look the captain didn't even have to think about what to do next. "Let him go."
"Sir?" Reed couldn't have heard that right.
"Release the commander from your grip, Lieutenant."
Reed was horrified. As far as he was concerned Tucker was endangering the ship, yet the captain wanted to let the commander continue with this perilous action.
Archer understood the reason for Reed's hesitation, but he had to be firm. "I gave you an order, Lieutenant."
"Aye, sir." Reed didn't like it and Archer knew he didn't, but both men knew that Reed came from a long line of military men who cut their teeth on the fact that you always obeyed an order from a superior officer, even if you thought he was nuts. Therefore Reed released his grip on the commander and stood aside.
Finally free to move, Trip didn't waste any time, but quickly powered down the weapons and de-polarized the hull plating.
Enterprise was now totally vulnerable and everyone waited in hushed silence to see if they were going to live long enough to taste Chef's pot roast that night or not. After a few anxious seconds Hoshi drew their attention to the main viewer. "Captain!"
Everyone looked forward and saw a small ship materialize into view where there had only been empty space before. Reed's console beeped. "I can scan the vessel now, sir. All of their weapons appear to be powering down.
Archer heaved a sigh of relief and glanced at his chief engineer who was chattering with their new visitors again, working out docking procedures. It didn't really matter. Even though he wasn't trained in the fine art of diplomacy Archer had no doubt that Trip would do more than just hold his own with these new visitors. The engineer projected such an aura of friendship and companionship that Archer was sure that no one, not even million year old dead aliens would be able to resist his charms. Apparently Trip had wrapped up the first round of negotiation because Trip was herding Archer toward the turbolift, in order to meet their new friends face to face, Archer guessed. Enterprise's fate was secure. John could only hope the same thing could be said about Trip's future as well.
_____________
It took no time at all for Enterprise to dock with their former nemesis and Trip apparently had no trouble explaining his situation to their visitors. While he talked Archer got a taste of what Trip had been going through for all those many weeks. Here an intense and important conversation was going on, one that might well determine the continued safety of his ship and his crew and the captain didn't have a clue as to what was really being said. Being in the dark like this was incredibly frustrating, and Archer wondered how Trip managed to stay sane throughout all this. John had always known that Trip was a brave man, but after this experience his estimation about his friend raised ten-fold.
Then the captain was jolted from his musings when they arrived in engineering. The aliens quickly picked up their device and began to make adjustments. Archer felt a moment of trepidation when the alien commander pointed the device at Trip, but Tucker saw Archer's concern and nodded and smiled at the captain in an attempt to reassure his friend. An attempt which succeeded. Archer forced himself to relax knowing that he had to trust Trip completely once again. The captain nodded his permission and the alien hit the switch.
No visible light was seen, but a loud buzz was heard. Trip closed his eyes for a moment, then the alien turned off the gadget and all was quiet.
After an eternity of a few seconds Tucker opened his eyes. "Trip." Archer risked. "Can you understand me?"
Tucker didn't react immediately. In fact he hesitated long enough that Archer's heart began to sink, fearing the worst. Then Tucker smiled a smile so bright that it could light up a Christmas tree all by itself. "I'm telling you Cap'n..." Came a voice that Archer hadn't heard in almost a year. "I never thought that your voice was particularly charmin' before, but you sure sound like an angel now."
John had to fight back the tears as he wrapped up his friend in a big hug. "Welcome back, ole buddy. I've missed you."
Trip patted his captain on the back. "I've missed you too, Cap'n, and it sure is good to be able to say that."
"It's good to hear it, Trip." Archer heartily agreed. "It's good to hear you."
Trip sighed. His long isolation was finally over.
TBC