Chapter Four
Archer and T'Pol exited the turbolift. Archer sat in his command chair in the center of the bridge, while T'Pol moved to her science station. They looked at the main viewer and saw two of the alien cruisers directly in front of Enterprise.
"Status report," Archer demanded.
T'Pol hesitated for a moment, gathering readings. "They seem to have broken off their attack, for now at least. Impulse engines have sustained minor damage, but the warp drive system is completely offline. In addition to that, phase cannon two has been taken offline, while one and three have taken minor damage. Fortunately, the torpedo system is still fully functional. Mr. Reed's new photon torpedoes should do nicely if we need them."
"If," Archer repeated. "Hail the lead ship, Hoshi."
"I've been trying, Captain," Hoshi replied. "No response."
"Captain," T'Pol said quickly. "I'm reading transporter signatures across the ship. I'm reading one on every deck except this one."
"Deploy security teams to every deck immediately," Archer reacted instantly. "Fortify the bridge and engineering. And find Tosk! He's proving to be more trouble than he's worth."
"Right away, Captain," T'Pol set to work.
"Hoshi," Archer snapped. "Are you having any luck hailing either of the alien vessels?"
"Not yet, sir," Hoshi replied.
"Transmit the following on a wide-band subspace frequency and repeat it: This is Captain Archer of Enterprise. We have no desire to participate in your 'hunt' any longer. Please allow us to leave this system at once."
"Transmitting, Captain," Hoshi sent the message.
Archer began to pace back and forth across the bridge. He wondered how he would be able to get Tosk off his ship while the aliens were here. Suddenly, the communications panel on his chair went off.
"Security to Captain Archer," a young man's voice came through.
"Archer here," the captain replied. "Go ahead."
"Captain, the aliens have some sort of shielding against our energy weapons. They're wearing a sort of armband, and they're able to block our shots with it. However, if we can get off a shot without them blocking it with their armbands, we are able to neutralize them."
"Good. Stay in groups of three, and keep me informed. Remember, only attack for defensive purposes. Good luck down there. Archer out."
"Captain," Hoshi said.
"Please tell me you have good news."
"I'm receiving an automated reply from the lead vessel telling us to stand by. I don't think there's anyone aboard those ships."
"T'Pol, can you confirm that?"
T'Pol looked up. "No. As I said before, the composite alloy in their hull prevents me from obtaining any interior scans of the vessel."
"What if we got closer?"
"I doubt if it would make any difference."
"There's got to be something we can do."
"I believe we are doing all we can."
"Well, I don't," Archer barked, then took a deep breath. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I want Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed back as much as you do, Captain."
"I know, I know."
Archer returned to his chair, and began to wait.
* * * * *
T'Pol looked at the chronometer on her station. It was 1829 hours. That meant it had been eighteen minutes since the aliens had first boarded Enterprise-reports had come in on and off from security-and nine minutes since Captain Archer had gone to his ready room.
"Security to bridge," a voice came.
"Bridge, T'Pol here."
"Sub-Commander, the troops are pulling back! Tosk used our transporter system to beam over to the alien vessel."
"How was he able to beam through their hull? Our transporters aren't equipped to beam through something like that."
"I don't know. He made some modifications to the targeting sensors and main emitters, but as far as I can tell, they've deactivated themselves now."
"Sub-Commander," Mayweather interrupted. "The second alien vessel is breaking off. They're going to high impulse and leaving the system!"
The security officer continued. "Sub-Commander, one of the aliens said something to the effect of 'the hunt continues,' then beamed back to his ship."
"That would seem to fit what we've seen so far," T'Pol said, pausing briefly to check the ship's internal sensors. "There are no more aliens on board the ship. They've all beamed back to their main vessel."
A moment later, the door to the captain's ready room slid open, revealing a wide-eyed Archer. He approached T'Pol. "Status."
"The aliens are returning to their ship. Tosk was somehow able to transport himself to one of the alien vessels and is now escaping. The aliens exclaimed that the hunt would continue, then began to beam away."
"It's about time. Keep track of Tosk's movements. While I hope that he's able to get out of the system safely, I'm not about to interfere again."
"Acknowledged, Captain."
"Travis, set a course for the third ship at the edge of the system. We've got to retrieve Trip and Malcolm before they get too caught up in their hunt to bother returning them to us. Let's hope they're still in one piece. Best possible speed, Mr. Mayweather."
"Aye, sir," Mayweather said, laying in the course and engaging.
"Hoshi," Archer turned to his communications officer. "Hail the third vessel, tell them to prepare to return our officers."
"Aye, sir," Hoshi replied, keying in the message. "They say they will wait for five minutes before they must join the other vessels in the hunt."
"That should be more than enough time. Travis?"
"Yes, sir," Travis checked the readout. "We'll be arriving at the ship in about a minute and a half."
* * * * *
Commander Tucker had been in the alien holding cell for what felt like three hours. He and Lieutenant Reed paced back and forth in the small cell, each beginning to feel hungry.
"When do you think the captain's going to arrive?" Reed asked.
"I'm sure he's got one of his ingenious plans to bail us outta here," Trip replied. "You haven't known him as long as I have. I bet he's already put his plan into motion, too. They're probably on their way to pick us up right now."
Reed chuckled. "I doubt it. The aliens are probably giving him trouble."
"No, no. You just watch. I bet you tonight's dinner that we'll be out of here in time to eat it."
Reed laughed again to himself. "You're quite sure of yourself. You're on. Go ahead, prove me wrong."
Seemingly on cue, one of the aliens approached the cell. Trip looked over at Reed, smiling. "See that?"
"You don't know what he's here for. Maybe it's supper time."
"Your captain has come to take you back to your ship," the alien said dryly. "You will be escorted to the transport bay."
Trip laughed softly at Reed. "See you in the mess hall at 2100 hours. Hope you like pan-fried catfish."
Reed laughed.
"Move!" the alien barked.
"Alright, alright, we're going," Trip said, still chuckling.
Archer and T'Pol exited the turbolift. Archer sat in his command chair in the center of the bridge, while T'Pol moved to her science station. They looked at the main viewer and saw two of the alien cruisers directly in front of Enterprise.
"Status report," Archer demanded.
T'Pol hesitated for a moment, gathering readings. "They seem to have broken off their attack, for now at least. Impulse engines have sustained minor damage, but the warp drive system is completely offline. In addition to that, phase cannon two has been taken offline, while one and three have taken minor damage. Fortunately, the torpedo system is still fully functional. Mr. Reed's new photon torpedoes should do nicely if we need them."
"If," Archer repeated. "Hail the lead ship, Hoshi."
"I've been trying, Captain," Hoshi replied. "No response."
"Captain," T'Pol said quickly. "I'm reading transporter signatures across the ship. I'm reading one on every deck except this one."
"Deploy security teams to every deck immediately," Archer reacted instantly. "Fortify the bridge and engineering. And find Tosk! He's proving to be more trouble than he's worth."
"Right away, Captain," T'Pol set to work.
"Hoshi," Archer snapped. "Are you having any luck hailing either of the alien vessels?"
"Not yet, sir," Hoshi replied.
"Transmit the following on a wide-band subspace frequency and repeat it: This is Captain Archer of Enterprise. We have no desire to participate in your 'hunt' any longer. Please allow us to leave this system at once."
"Transmitting, Captain," Hoshi sent the message.
Archer began to pace back and forth across the bridge. He wondered how he would be able to get Tosk off his ship while the aliens were here. Suddenly, the communications panel on his chair went off.
"Security to Captain Archer," a young man's voice came through.
"Archer here," the captain replied. "Go ahead."
"Captain, the aliens have some sort of shielding against our energy weapons. They're wearing a sort of armband, and they're able to block our shots with it. However, if we can get off a shot without them blocking it with their armbands, we are able to neutralize them."
"Good. Stay in groups of three, and keep me informed. Remember, only attack for defensive purposes. Good luck down there. Archer out."
"Captain," Hoshi said.
"Please tell me you have good news."
"I'm receiving an automated reply from the lead vessel telling us to stand by. I don't think there's anyone aboard those ships."
"T'Pol, can you confirm that?"
T'Pol looked up. "No. As I said before, the composite alloy in their hull prevents me from obtaining any interior scans of the vessel."
"What if we got closer?"
"I doubt if it would make any difference."
"There's got to be something we can do."
"I believe we are doing all we can."
"Well, I don't," Archer barked, then took a deep breath. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I want Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed back as much as you do, Captain."
"I know, I know."
Archer returned to his chair, and began to wait.
* * * * *
T'Pol looked at the chronometer on her station. It was 1829 hours. That meant it had been eighteen minutes since the aliens had first boarded Enterprise-reports had come in on and off from security-and nine minutes since Captain Archer had gone to his ready room.
"Security to bridge," a voice came.
"Bridge, T'Pol here."
"Sub-Commander, the troops are pulling back! Tosk used our transporter system to beam over to the alien vessel."
"How was he able to beam through their hull? Our transporters aren't equipped to beam through something like that."
"I don't know. He made some modifications to the targeting sensors and main emitters, but as far as I can tell, they've deactivated themselves now."
"Sub-Commander," Mayweather interrupted. "The second alien vessel is breaking off. They're going to high impulse and leaving the system!"
The security officer continued. "Sub-Commander, one of the aliens said something to the effect of 'the hunt continues,' then beamed back to his ship."
"That would seem to fit what we've seen so far," T'Pol said, pausing briefly to check the ship's internal sensors. "There are no more aliens on board the ship. They've all beamed back to their main vessel."
A moment later, the door to the captain's ready room slid open, revealing a wide-eyed Archer. He approached T'Pol. "Status."
"The aliens are returning to their ship. Tosk was somehow able to transport himself to one of the alien vessels and is now escaping. The aliens exclaimed that the hunt would continue, then began to beam away."
"It's about time. Keep track of Tosk's movements. While I hope that he's able to get out of the system safely, I'm not about to interfere again."
"Acknowledged, Captain."
"Travis, set a course for the third ship at the edge of the system. We've got to retrieve Trip and Malcolm before they get too caught up in their hunt to bother returning them to us. Let's hope they're still in one piece. Best possible speed, Mr. Mayweather."
"Aye, sir," Mayweather said, laying in the course and engaging.
"Hoshi," Archer turned to his communications officer. "Hail the third vessel, tell them to prepare to return our officers."
"Aye, sir," Hoshi replied, keying in the message. "They say they will wait for five minutes before they must join the other vessels in the hunt."
"That should be more than enough time. Travis?"
"Yes, sir," Travis checked the readout. "We'll be arriving at the ship in about a minute and a half."
* * * * *
Commander Tucker had been in the alien holding cell for what felt like three hours. He and Lieutenant Reed paced back and forth in the small cell, each beginning to feel hungry.
"When do you think the captain's going to arrive?" Reed asked.
"I'm sure he's got one of his ingenious plans to bail us outta here," Trip replied. "You haven't known him as long as I have. I bet he's already put his plan into motion, too. They're probably on their way to pick us up right now."
Reed chuckled. "I doubt it. The aliens are probably giving him trouble."
"No, no. You just watch. I bet you tonight's dinner that we'll be out of here in time to eat it."
Reed laughed again to himself. "You're quite sure of yourself. You're on. Go ahead, prove me wrong."
Seemingly on cue, one of the aliens approached the cell. Trip looked over at Reed, smiling. "See that?"
"You don't know what he's here for. Maybe it's supper time."
"Your captain has come to take you back to your ship," the alien said dryly. "You will be escorted to the transport bay."
Trip laughed softly at Reed. "See you in the mess hall at 2100 hours. Hope you like pan-fried catfish."
Reed laughed.
"Move!" the alien barked.
"Alright, alright, we're going," Trip said, still chuckling.
