Chapter One
Archer thought about the bows and arrows they used on the previous mission to retrieve the Andorian artifacts. The Tralki used them because their ancestors had and they were a symbol of remembrance. Though the Tralki had warp drive and explored their region of space, they still used the primitive weapons as they thought a sign of strength for remembering those before them.
The Enterprise senior staff was lined up behind the long table on the Andorian ship: Trip, T'Pol, Archer, Malcolm, and Hoshi, whose linguist skills automatically included her in the group.
Captain Archer shook his head at the plan Shran placed before him. It wouldn't work; they needed to look at this diplomatically.
"We have to use brute force!" the blue alien shoved the PADD into Archer's hands again. "They don't understand anything other than brute force. We need to go to their level!"
"Shran, I don't see it. We need to try to be diplomatic about it," Archer replied.
The Andorian shook his head, slammed his fist down on the table as he stood up to pace the room. He was mumbling at first, but soon raised his voice to a shout.
"We need to do it my way, Captain Archer! We did it diplomatic months ago before we asked for your help. Then we did it half-and-half. This time, it's my way," Shran became manically sure of himself. "We go in, demand the release of the artifacts and the prisoners. If they don't give us either, we'll attack them and force them to do so. Then we leave with what we came for!"
"No..no, Shran, you don't see it. There's a flaw in your plan. When they send their ships after us, what will we do?"
A crazy look formed in the blue skin¹s eyes. "Their ships are nowhere near as advanced as ours or the Enterprise, for that matter. They have warp three, light shields and type-one phasers."
"Type-one phasers?" Reed asked, butting in as he sat at the table.
"They're less advanced then your phase cannons. We can take them," Shran said, sensing an ally.
"I'd say those are good odds, sir," Reed told the captain.
Closing his eyes, the captain thought about it. He didn't see it working the way he wanted it to. He didn¹t want to risk more lives than he needed too. They had probably harmed more Tralki than they needed to already. Earth didn¹t need a war this far away from home.
"Mr. Reed," Archer started to say but then he bit his tongue. He didn't need to say anything to Malcolm; he was right about the odds.
"Are we going to do this or not?" Trip asked, thumbing the cool table in frustration.
Shran clenched his teeth and fists; annoyed that Archer was dragging out his answer this long. They needed to act now!
"Let's go!" Archer announced, still apprehensive about the decision.
Shran let out a laugh and slammed his hands on the table. It was decided. They would take this on the offensive.
*****
Archer thought about the bows and arrows they used on the previous mission to retrieve the Andorian artifacts. The Tralki used them because their ancestors had and they were a symbol of remembrance. Though the Tralki had warp drive and explored their region of space, they still used the primitive weapons as they thought a sign of strength for remembering those before them.
The Enterprise senior staff was lined up behind the long table on the Andorian ship: Trip, T'Pol, Archer, Malcolm, and Hoshi, whose linguist skills automatically included her in the group.
Captain Archer shook his head at the plan Shran placed before him. It wouldn't work; they needed to look at this diplomatically.
"We have to use brute force!" the blue alien shoved the PADD into Archer's hands again. "They don't understand anything other than brute force. We need to go to their level!"
"Shran, I don't see it. We need to try to be diplomatic about it," Archer replied.
The Andorian shook his head, slammed his fist down on the table as he stood up to pace the room. He was mumbling at first, but soon raised his voice to a shout.
"We need to do it my way, Captain Archer! We did it diplomatic months ago before we asked for your help. Then we did it half-and-half. This time, it's my way," Shran became manically sure of himself. "We go in, demand the release of the artifacts and the prisoners. If they don't give us either, we'll attack them and force them to do so. Then we leave with what we came for!"
"No..no, Shran, you don't see it. There's a flaw in your plan. When they send their ships after us, what will we do?"
A crazy look formed in the blue skin¹s eyes. "Their ships are nowhere near as advanced as ours or the Enterprise, for that matter. They have warp three, light shields and type-one phasers."
"Type-one phasers?" Reed asked, butting in as he sat at the table.
"They're less advanced then your phase cannons. We can take them," Shran said, sensing an ally.
"I'd say those are good odds, sir," Reed told the captain.
Closing his eyes, the captain thought about it. He didn't see it working the way he wanted it to. He didn¹t want to risk more lives than he needed too. They had probably harmed more Tralki than they needed to already. Earth didn¹t need a war this far away from home.
"Mr. Reed," Archer started to say but then he bit his tongue. He didn't need to say anything to Malcolm; he was right about the odds.
"Are we going to do this or not?" Trip asked, thumbing the cool table in frustration.
Shran clenched his teeth and fists; annoyed that Archer was dragging out his answer this long. They needed to act now!
"Let's go!" Archer announced, still apprehensive about the decision.
Shran let out a laugh and slammed his hands on the table. It was decided. They would take this on the offensive.
*****
