Buffy faced the squad of 7 men and 2 women seated on the gym floor. "I know that Major Hayes is your CO and from what I remember about Marines he is your Father Confessor and your ass kicker. Consider me the den mother. We'll be training together almost every day. You can come to me with anything at anytime." She looked at the Major, "You have an appointment with the Captain today?"

He nodded and Malcolm pushed himself languidly off the wall, "Excuse me Sir, I need to check on the weapons refit." Buffy met his eyes with an answering gleam of mischief in hers.

"Go ahead Lt." The Major said. Malcolm ducked out before he burst into laughter. He had to tell Trip what Buffy had done.

Buffy looked at the squad, "Enjoy your last night planet side. We're outta here tomorrow." She turned, "Major."

"Ma'am." He replied politely and she left with a smile. As soon as the door closed the squad broke out into noise.

"Wow Major! Is she really that good?"

Hayes grimaced, rubbing his ribs, "Better than good. I think we are going to learn a lot from her. I haven't had my ass handed to me like that in a lot of years." There was genial laughter and the squad got ready to go planetside.

Buffy was in an excellent mood when she tracked down T'pol. She found her seated silently in the crew mess.

"Well T'pol, possession is 9/10th's of the law and since you're on board we're keeping you." She said cheerfully. She was met with profound silence, then T'pol's very slightest smile.

Buffy opened her mouth but T'pol held up her hand, "I'm staying Buffy. I've resigned my commission from the Vulcan Science Directorate." She was visibly more relaxed but there was still tension around her eyes.

Swinging a leg over the back of the chair Buffy sat down and looked at her friend, "I'm so jazzed T'pol. Does Jon know?"

Cocking an eyebrow at the unfamiliar phrase T'pol answered, "No, I will tell him at the Command Staff meeting this evening. Will you be there?"

Buffy frowned thoughtfully, "I doubt it. It sounds like you, Trip, Mal and probably Major Hayes."

"I have not yet met the Major." commented T'pol.

Buffy smirked, "Oh, I just finished kicking his arrogant ass. He'll be alright." She said smiling brightly.

T'pol's face flashed amusement, "I look forward to meeting him."

The Major had sent his squad down to get any last minute items they needed and was walking to the Captain's ready room. He pressed the chime and heard a feminine voice say, "Come in!"

Buffy was lounging sideways in the chair, looked up from the padd she was reading and grinned. "Major, have a seat. The Captain will be here in a minute." He sat uncomfortably, aware of her amused gaze on him. The door opened and he jumped to his feet.

"Ah Major Hayes. Nice to meet you finally, I'm Captain Jonathon Archer." The men shook hands cordially.

Jon looked over, "Hey, did you hear?" he smiled at his wife lounging in the chair.

Buffy cocked her head, "Hear what?"

"The new weapons system is installed, ready for our next Klingon Bird of Prey."

"Oh good, maybe it will be Duras." She made a face.

Jon laughed then remembered his manners, "Buffy, I'm sorry I forgot to introduce you." She stood and he said, "Buffy, this is Major Hayes, the CO of the MACO squad. Major, this is my wife, Buffy Archer."

The Major's face turned pale and Buffy smiled sweetly, "Nice to meet you Major. I think you'll fit in well with our motley crew."

Jon looked between the Major and his wife sharply, suspecting something was up "Buffy, can you excuse us? We're going to outline his duties on board." He asked.

"You bet." She said cheerfully, kissed Jon and left with a wave.

The Major swallowed hard, "I've met Mrs. Archer Sir. Earlier today."

Jon leaned against his desk, his arms crossed, his face amused. "Tell me you didn't challenge her?"

Major Hayes turned pink, "Yes Sir."

Jon threw back his head and laughed delightedly, "I'd have paid to see that." Literally weak with amusement he had to grab the desk for a minute to steady himself. "Oh God." He chuckled again, his imagination in full gear.

The Major smiled at the Captain's amusement, "She handed me my ass Sir. I was arrogant and she made sure I knew it."

Jon chuckled again, "Are you familiar with the Klingon's Major?"

Hayes nodded, "I've read everything I could get my hands on Sir."

The Captain sat down and gestured to the Major to do the same. "The moment I fell for Buffy, though I didn't know it then, was after she had beheaded a 7 foot Klingon Champion, handed me the bloody bat'leth and cold cocked the Klingon Captain that attacked us."

Major Hayes gaped at the Captain, "I could see she was strong but I didn't realize how strong."

"Oh yeah." Jon accessed the Major's files, "Let's talk about your duties."

The ship began its chase of the Xindi into the Delphic Expanse. The new squad worked at integrating itself into the veteran crew, knowing that they would have to prove themselves.

Buffy restarted Tai Chi and added pre-tech weapons as sort of a hobby. She had Malcolm make targets for the crossbows, teasing him into taking her class. He was coming along well in sword fighting and the crossbow. He absolutely refused to use the battle-ax. She had a small group, including on occasion Dr. Phlox, showing the weapons she was familiar with.

The ship shuddered violently and Buffy canceled class. After sending them to their battle stations Buffy raced for the bridge.

"Is it the buoy?" Trip asked and T'pol spun around to look at him briefly, "Only if we had 3 of them Commander."

"It's the Klingon's sir." Travis called out as Buffy stepped onto the bridge.

"How long until were into the expanse Travis?" Jon said, his eyes flicking to Buffy.

"8 minutes Sir."

The Captain nodded, "Trip, push the engines to warp 4.5."

"Not a good idea Cap'n, the injectors are already working overtime."

Jon shook his head, "Do it Travis."

"Aye Sir." Trip exchanged a glance with Buffy as the ship moved faster towards the unknown.

"Two of them have dropped back Captain, they don't want to risk the expanse." T'pol stated, still watching the sensors. The ship shuddered again and Buffy almost knocked Trip down as he caught her.

"Careful darlin', you don't want to break anything." Buffy shook her head and made her way up beside Jon. He took her hand as another shudder was felt.

"Anti matter injectors are down and shields down to 50 percent Sir." Malcolm called out.

"T'pol?" Jon asked and she shook her head, "Duras is still behind us Sir."

"Malcolm why aren't our weapons working on them?" Jon asked in frustration.

"They have all of their shielding on their forward section Sir." Malcolm answered, just as frustrated as the Captain.

Jon thought rapidly, "Ok, what about their aft section?"

"Minimal shielding Captain." T'pol answered, arching an eyebrow at the Captain in puzzlement.

"Alright. Travis, can you do an L4?"

Travis looked at his Captain, seeing the absolute faith in his abilities, "I can try Sir."

"Good, look for the thickest cloud." Jon ordered. Travis nodded and the Captain opened the ship wide, "Everyone hang on!!" and with that Travis brought the ship into a thick cloud to fly a complete loop to end up behind the Klingons.

The Captain nodded at Malcolm, "Fire." He said, almost softly. And with that Duras' ship was destroyed. "Good work." He said to his bridge crew.

T'pol spoke, "We are now inside the expanse Captain."