NOTE: I don't know how this will work; the hard drive on my computer crashed. I lost everything so I copied my story from the net so I could continue. I urge all of you to back up your stories on disc so you don't have my problem. Also I'm writing in wordpad because I lost my office program and I can't find the discs so I can reload them onto my computer. If you see problems when I upload this chapter and you know how to fix it let me know. Thanks

I don't have spell or grammar check so please don't yell at me for any mistakes.

Chapter 10

Their robes swished as they walked toward the three officers, their faces reflected nothing of their thoughts or feelings. Archer thought back to the various pictures of the devil he'd seen in different paintings. He sure hoped they wouldn't be as malevolent as that creature. The two male and one female Vulcan stopped four feet from the officers and waited. "Welcome aboard Enterprise," Archer said solemnly stepping toward the Vulcan's "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer, this is Sub-Commander T-pol, and Lieutenent Reed."

They bowed slightly in Archer's general direction, however their eyes were firmly fixed on T'pol. Ignoring Archer the eldest Vulcan addressed T'pol, "I am P'nar," nodding toward the female, "this is T'lau, and Sovan," gesturing to the younger male. T'pol acknowleded the introductions with a slight bow of her own.

Archer silently fumed at the apparant snub, outwardly he remained calm. "If you'll follow the Sub-Commander she will take you to your quarters and get you settled in. Chef has prepared a traditional Vulcan evening meal; T'pol will escort you to the Captain's mess in one hour."

P'nar fixed the captain with an unblinking stare, "we have already eaten and do not require, "settling in," we will start our investigation immediately."

Archers jaw tightened, "as you wish, the conference room has been set up with everything you requested. A crewman will be stationed outside the room if you need anything else." Turning his back on the Vulcan's he motioned for Malcolm to follow him.

P'nar stared after the captain, these humans were very strange, he turned to T'pol, "I am interested in Captain Archer's reaction to my comments, why did he seem agitated?"

T'pol had a question of her own, "did you do any research on human culture and habits before coming on board?"

"Culture, habits?" T'lau spoke for the first time. "The habits and culture of this species was not included in the database. It contained only pertinent facts in regard to our mission. We are here at the request of Starfleet to investigate an incident that occured. Learning about these people is illogical as it has no bearing on what we are doing."

"I disagree," T'pol stated, "Is it not logical to gain the cooperation of these people if by doing so it speeds up the investigative process? Humans believe in showing hospitality to those visiting Enterprise, if they feel they are being dismissed, they will not cooperate and will illogically put obstacles in your way to slow down your mission." T'pol stopped outside a set of doors guarded by a lone crewman.

"I see the logic in your argument," P'nar replied, "for many years I have tried to convince the Vulcan High Command to adjust their thinking on how to approach new species including humans. If we are to have positive influence, we must understand and in some ways bend to other cultures in order to help them instead of pushing them away. I can understand why the captain was disturbed by my behavior. Please convey my apologies to Captain Archer and let him know we would be honored to dine with him after we have finished our inquiry."

T'pol's face showed none of the surprise she felt at P'nar's reply, "I'm sure Captain Archer will be pleased to accept." She ushered them into the conference room. A long table stood at the farthest end of the room. Three chairs were on either side of the table and placed at one end of the table was the evidence to be examined. "I would like to make a formal request for a delay in your inquiry. I was unable to complete my analysis of the data and therefore cannot give you an accurate report."

Sovan started reading through the data PADDS, "We will make a logical decision based on what you have completed, this is an inquiry not a trial. I will put together a list of persons we will need to interview, you will see they are available."

"Very well," T'pol answered. She inclined her head in their direction and quietly left the room. Captain Archer was going to be displeased she could not persuade the board to postpone their inquiry. Walking swiftly to the lift she wondered if Commander Tucker would be sufficiently coherent when he was interviewed.

Stepping onto the bridge T'pol saw the captain sitting in his chair, the fingers of his right hand were drumming on the arm, hearing a step behind him he swiveled his chair around until he faced T'pol, "Well?"

"P'nar wished me to convey his apology for his behavior and looks forward to dining with you when the inquiry has concluded. I believe you will like P'nar, his ideas concerning contact with other species are quite different from the High Command."

Archer looked surprised and pleased, "Let's hope it'll be more successful than the meal we had with Captain Vanik."

"Unfortunately Captain, he did not feel it was necessary to postpone the investigation. I will receive a list of persons they will want to interview shortly. They will want to speak with the commander first. Do you believe he will be capable of an intense interrogation?"

"I'm not sure, I haven't seen him since Doctor Phlox kicked me out yesterday. I guess now is as good a time as any to find out. Let's go Sub- Commander, you can judge for yourself." He addressed Malcolm, "You've got the bridge Lieutenent." Malcolm nodded.

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Hearing them enter Doctor Phlox turned around smiling, "Ahh, I was wondering when you'd make another visit. I believe the Vulcans are on board."

Looking puzzled the captain asked, "How did you know the Vulcans were here?"

Grinning even wider Phlox said, "News travels fast on a ship as small as this one. Commander Tucker is anxious to see both of you." Seeing the look on Archer's face he amended, "he's recovering nicely Captain." Archer smiled slightly at his remark and with T'pol walked to Trip's room.

Seeing a shadow pass in front of his curtain, Trip quickly hid the PADD he'd been studying beneath the covers. Seeing the captain and T'pol enter he relaxed. Pulling out the PADD he handed it to the captain, "I think I found somethin' in the personnel files that might interest you. "Do ya recognize any of the names on that list Cap'm?"

Archer scanned the list; one name stood out from the rest. Startled he looked questioningly at Trip, "Lieutenant Gary Bullock?"

Trip nodded, "That's right, I've been goin' through the personnel files of my team and I came across his name."

T'pol watched this exchange with growing curiosity, "We do not have a Lieutenent Bullock aboard Enterprise; how could he be involved in this situation?" She stared at the commander waiting for an answer. Trip shook his head negatively.

"Trip," Archer looked at him symathetically, "T'pol must be told what happened, if he is behind all this it will give T'pol the answers she needs to clear you."

Trip stared down at his hands for a long moment, finally he lifted his head and spoke to Archer, "Cap'm, you were there when I promised his parents I'd never tell anyone what happened." Trip's face reflected the anguish he felt at the memory. "I can't break that promise."

Archer sighed and quietly spoke, "I didn't promise Trip, and I'm not going to let Bullock ruin you because of your promise." He watched Trip for his reaction; he nodded in defeat.

Maintaining eye contact with Trip, Archer began, "Seven years ago Trip, myself, and three other members of Starfleet were assigned to a secret weapons project. To maintain security, each of us was told we were the only one working on the project. It had been broken into five sections, each person was assigned one section. Starfleet went farther by assigning a separate director for each section, that way none of us reported to the same person. Every evening the individual directors would lock everything in vaults to protect our work." Archer paused for a moment, trying to decide how to continue.

Knowing what the captain was going to say Trip had the grace to blush, "Just say it Cap'm, I've lived with my actions for seven years. T'pol can't possibly say anything I haven't already heard from you."

Archer allowed himself a small smile, "Keep in mind T'pol, Trip was seven years younger, and even though a decent engineer, in some areas he lacked good judgement."

T'pol agreed, "That is true today Captain. Commander Tucker is too impulsive and lacks good judgement when he allows his feelings to overwhelm him."

"Thanks T'pol, I think very highly of you too," Trip retorted sarcastically.

"Trip," Archer reprimanded. "To continue, one evening Trip lost his good judgement because of a girl. He had a date to take this girl to a photo exhibit in one of the malls; she didn't show up. With nothing better to do, he decided to go back and work on the project. What he hadn't counted on was all the silent alarms he set off just walking through the door. By the time security showed up, he already had the vault open. He was taken into custody and charged with spying."

T'pol clearly looked puzzled, "Captain, if he was already working on the project, why was he charged with spying?"

Archer's eyes twinkled with humor, "because Commander Tucker, our resident photographer, was searched and found with two pocket cameras. Naturally, it was believed he was there to take pictures and pass them on to someone. His director was called in to question him, but Trip refused to admit to spying. The director, knowing I was on the project and Trip's friend, called me. I was able to convince them, Trip was no more a spy than I was, so they released him into my custody. I babysat the commander for the next six weeks, when the project ended.

Trip looked at T'pol and explained, "Yeah, and I paid for it. Every night for six weeks, after I had put in a full day, the cap'm had me scrubbin' floors, toilets, polishin' engines, degreasin' and then regreasin' every piece of equipment he could think of. When I complained he said, "be grateful they didn't kick me out of Starfleet because that's what he would have done."

"I'm still unclear how this incident has anything to do with Lieutenant Bullock or our current situation," T'pol stated.

"I'm getting to that Sub-Commander," Archer said. "What we didn't know is, someone had stolen the design and sold it to Space Concepts, a corporation known for peddling its merchandise to the highest bidder."

"Lieutenant Bullock, I assume," T'pol said. Archer nodded his head.

"We never would have known, except Gary Bullock was a close friend of Trip's. They'd gone to high school together and were accepted to the academy at the same time."

Trip smiled, his eyes taking on a faraway look, "we lived next door to each other, did everythin' together, football, campin', fishin', even double datin'. The kids would say wherever I was, there was Gary, and vice versa. Those were great times, we even roomed together at the academy. He was a weapons expert, could look at a weapon and tell ya immediately how it worked and able to break it down and build it back up in no time flat. Gary was also workin' on the project." Abruptly, Trip went silent. His memories of the downfall of his friend continued to haunt him and choke him with emotion he refused to release.

Archer sighed, this was the most Trip had said about Gary in seven years. "Bullock was a gambler, not a very good one. He always owed someone something, Trip was always there to bail him out," Archer began pacing the room, "I convinced Trip to cut him off, let him suffer the consequences of his gambling. Instead of getting help Bullock began selling Starfleet technology. Trip became suspicious when he heard Gary's gambling debts had been paid. Trip started following Gary, and one night saw him meet an executive from Space Concepts at a club. After the executive left, Trip confronted Gary, who confessed he'd been selling weapons technology to pay for his gambling. He tried to convince Trip to join him, promising him anything he could wish for."

"Captain," T'pol interrupted, "how do you know what happened in that club?"

Archer stopped pacing and looked at Trip for the answer.

"He was there," Trip said evenly. "

That's it for Chapter 10...........I hope you want more and I'm so, so, so, sorry it took so long for this chapter. More coming soon. plumtuckered thanks for the reminders.