Chapter Five
Captain's starlog, February 19, 2153. Security forces were able to
hold back the aliens long enough for Tosk to get off the ship. He
extensively modified our transporter system with several gadgets that
seem to have deactivated themselves now, meaning we won't be able to
use them to enhance our own transporter. Tosk was able to beam from
this ship over to one of the aliens, and commandeer it. I'm pleased
to report that Tosk was able to elude the mysterious hunters and exit
the system safely. I can only guess where he'll go from here, but I
hope he gives the hunters a run for their money. We were able to
retrieve Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed. The alien ship was
relatively cooperative in returning them to us, although they seemed
both annoyed and hurried. Both men have sustained no serious injuries
and were apparently well-treated if a bit ignored during their stay
with the aliens. All I can say is that I hope our crew doesn't have
to get wound up in this peculiar hunt of theirs for a long time to
come.
* * * * *
"And then they just said the hunt would continue, then started to transport back to their ship," Archer said, thoroughly enjoying his pan- fried catfish. It was his idea to invite both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed to the captain's mess for a late night meal. Trip had told him about the bet he made with Lieutenant Reed concerning their safe return to Enterprise, and Archer had indulged them. He even decided to have some pan-fried catfish himself. Chef was quite good at making it, since it was Trip's favorite food.
"Our stay with the aliens was pretty boring," Reed said, consuming small bites of his catfish at a time.
"Yeah," Trip said, chewing his food. "They locked us in a cell and didn't say anything to us for however long it was."
Reed sipped at his drink. "Even though I lost the bet, I do appreciate the timely rescue, Captain."
Archer laughed softly. "Not at all. Oh, Phlox wanted to look you over, make sure you didn't sustain any injuries, but I told him it could wait until morning. He also wanted to shove you into decon, but I told him that it was unnecessary. I thought I'd spare you the pain and suffering of decon."
"Thanks, Cap'n," Trip laughed. "I wasn't looking forward to a trip through the decon chamber when I got back."
Archer and Reed chuckled to themselves. Both men agreed that one time through the infamous decon chamber was more than enough for them.
Archer began to cut up the rest of the food on his plate. "Starfleet has given us new orders. I just spoke with Admiral Forrest an hour ago." "Oh yeah?" asked Trip. "Where are we off to this time?" "They've asked us to evacuate a group of Denobulan geologists from an outlying world that's suffering from political changes. It's just fallen under military rule. The geologists are no longer safe, so we're getting them out." "Where are the geologists? On the planet, I mean."
"Located deep underground. We're going to have to do some rock climbing to get to them. You up for it?"
Trip laughed. "Really? Well yeah, sure, I'll go."
"I'll go down, too, Captain," Reed added. "If it's alright with you."
"Sure thing," Archer said. "We'll get you two and Travis to go down."
"Phlox should be glad to spend some time with more of his own kind," Reed said. "Being able to communicate with members of his own species again. He probably hasn't had contact with any Denobulans for a while, with the exception of a visit from one of his wives five months ago."
Archer laughed quietly, still not quite able to wrap his mind around the fact that every Denobulan male had three wives, and each of them had another three husbands. "Yes, I would hope Phlox would enjoy the company."
Trip finished the last of his meal, savoring his final bite of the pan-fried catfish. Shortly after, both Archer and Reed did the same.
"We probably should get some rest," Archer said. "We've got to head off to that planet first thing tomorrow morning."
Reed began to get up, but Trip stopped him.
"One final toast," he said, filling everyone's glass. "To the crew of the starship Enterprise. The finest crew in all of Starfleet."
"I think you've had too much," Archer snickered. "But I'll drink to it."
Archer and Reed raised their glasses. "To the crew of the Enterprise."
The group then departed to their quarters to get some sleep, eager to see where their next adventure would take them.
Captain's starlog, February 19, 2153. Security forces were able to
hold back the aliens long enough for Tosk to get off the ship. He
extensively modified our transporter system with several gadgets that
seem to have deactivated themselves now, meaning we won't be able to
use them to enhance our own transporter. Tosk was able to beam from
this ship over to one of the aliens, and commandeer it. I'm pleased
to report that Tosk was able to elude the mysterious hunters and exit
the system safely. I can only guess where he'll go from here, but I
hope he gives the hunters a run for their money. We were able to
retrieve Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed. The alien ship was
relatively cooperative in returning them to us, although they seemed
both annoyed and hurried. Both men have sustained no serious injuries
and were apparently well-treated if a bit ignored during their stay
with the aliens. All I can say is that I hope our crew doesn't have
to get wound up in this peculiar hunt of theirs for a long time to
come.
* * * * *
"And then they just said the hunt would continue, then started to transport back to their ship," Archer said, thoroughly enjoying his pan- fried catfish. It was his idea to invite both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed to the captain's mess for a late night meal. Trip had told him about the bet he made with Lieutenant Reed concerning their safe return to Enterprise, and Archer had indulged them. He even decided to have some pan-fried catfish himself. Chef was quite good at making it, since it was Trip's favorite food.
"Our stay with the aliens was pretty boring," Reed said, consuming small bites of his catfish at a time.
"Yeah," Trip said, chewing his food. "They locked us in a cell and didn't say anything to us for however long it was."
Reed sipped at his drink. "Even though I lost the bet, I do appreciate the timely rescue, Captain."
Archer laughed softly. "Not at all. Oh, Phlox wanted to look you over, make sure you didn't sustain any injuries, but I told him it could wait until morning. He also wanted to shove you into decon, but I told him that it was unnecessary. I thought I'd spare you the pain and suffering of decon."
"Thanks, Cap'n," Trip laughed. "I wasn't looking forward to a trip through the decon chamber when I got back."
Archer and Reed chuckled to themselves. Both men agreed that one time through the infamous decon chamber was more than enough for them.
Archer began to cut up the rest of the food on his plate. "Starfleet has given us new orders. I just spoke with Admiral Forrest an hour ago." "Oh yeah?" asked Trip. "Where are we off to this time?" "They've asked us to evacuate a group of Denobulan geologists from an outlying world that's suffering from political changes. It's just fallen under military rule. The geologists are no longer safe, so we're getting them out." "Where are the geologists? On the planet, I mean."
"Located deep underground. We're going to have to do some rock climbing to get to them. You up for it?"
Trip laughed. "Really? Well yeah, sure, I'll go."
"I'll go down, too, Captain," Reed added. "If it's alright with you."
"Sure thing," Archer said. "We'll get you two and Travis to go down."
"Phlox should be glad to spend some time with more of his own kind," Reed said. "Being able to communicate with members of his own species again. He probably hasn't had contact with any Denobulans for a while, with the exception of a visit from one of his wives five months ago."
Archer laughed quietly, still not quite able to wrap his mind around the fact that every Denobulan male had three wives, and each of them had another three husbands. "Yes, I would hope Phlox would enjoy the company."
Trip finished the last of his meal, savoring his final bite of the pan-fried catfish. Shortly after, both Archer and Reed did the same.
"We probably should get some rest," Archer said. "We've got to head off to that planet first thing tomorrow morning."
Reed began to get up, but Trip stopped him.
"One final toast," he said, filling everyone's glass. "To the crew of the starship Enterprise. The finest crew in all of Starfleet."
"I think you've had too much," Archer snickered. "But I'll drink to it."
Archer and Reed raised their glasses. "To the crew of the Enterprise."
The group then departed to their quarters to get some sleep, eager to see where their next adventure would take them.
