Mentem Mortalia Tangunt
By Thalia Drogna
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing them.
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Chapter 7
Archer returned to the bridge feeling as if a piece of himself was missing. All he really wanted to do was go down to sick bay and sit beside Trip, but he knew his duty to the ship came first over his friendship with Trip. It hurt so much though knowing that his friend lay dying and it wasn't because of anything that Trip had done, it was because he'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Archer would have given anything to change places with Trip. He felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest.
T'Pol stepped over to the Captain's chair from her science station. She handed Archer a padd with some calculations of the weapon strength of the approaching Xindi ship. It looked as if the hull plating might survive a couple of direct hits but not more than that.
"Dr Phlox informed me of Commander Tucker's condition," said T'Pol. "I am very sorry that I was not able to be of more assistance."
"You did everything that you could T'Pol," said Archer.
"I have observed that humans often blame themselves when something of this nature happens. I thought you should know that this was not your fault," said T'Pol.
"Wasn't it?" asked Archer. "I wish I could be so sure."
"I believe that Lieutenant Reed also expressed concern that he had not done his duty in this matter. I have checked the logs and the Lieutenant followed all the necessary procedures with his usual efficiency. Neither of you were in dereliction of your duty," said T'Pol.
Archer nodded, he knew what T'Pol was trying to say and he knew she was right, but he wasn't ready to hear it at the moment. "If we can't do something about that Xindi battleship then Trip won't be the only casualty from our encounter with the Jorgans. What are our chances?" he asked her.
"In our current condition, approximately two thousand five hundred and sixty seven to one," said T'Pol, taking Archer's change of topic in her stride. "However this has been improved by the Jorgans' decision to stay and fight with us and will improve further if Lieutenant Hess can afford enough repairs of the port nacelle to enable us to manoeuvre on impulse. I have spoken to the Lieutenant and she believes that this is an attainable goal before the Xindi arrive. We also have the nebula in our favour. Commander Tucker's modifications to our sensors should give us an advantage over the Xindi when it comes to navigation."
"Didn't we pass an asteroid field on our way here?" asked Archer.
"Yes, Captain. But we cannot reach it in our current state," said T'Pol.
"Not at the moment. Tell the Jorgans to meet us there and we'll join them as soon as we're able to," said Archer. "Maybe some old fashioned hide and seek will confuse the Xindi enough to give us the upper hand."
"Yes, Captain," replied T'Pol.
****
Lieutenant Reed was getting annoyed by his prisoner. He didn't have time to waste playing games.
"Why were you ordered to kill the Captain? Why do the Xindi want Captain Archer dead in particular?" asked Reed for the third or fourth time. "What was the poison that you used?" He sighed as the Jorgan remained silent. "You haven't killed anyone yet, so far all we have on you is destruction of Starfleet property. Your Captain tells me that is punishable by imprisonment on Jorga. Now murder, that's a different matter. I gather that Jorga doesn't have the death penalty, but Earth does," Reed added his voice taking on a vindictive tone. He approached the Jorgan more closely, so that he could look directly into his eyes. It was a lie of course, the death penalty on Earth had been abolished many years earlier, but Reed thought it was unlikely that Mentan would know that.
"What do I care if I die, its just one more death for the hundreds that the Jorgans killed in the Colonies," snarled the Mentan.
"And I suppose the Xindi have never killed anyone?" said Reed sarcastically.
"The Xindi supported the Colonies in the war. They have never committed any atrocities close to what the Jorgans did to us," said Mentan.
Could it be that Mentan really didn't know the situation between Earth and the Xindi, thought Reed. He certainly didn't seem to have a very balanced view of his employers. One thing was certain, Mentan was an idealist not a mercenary, and idealists were susceptible to argument. "Let me explain something to you, the Xindi sent a weapon to my home planet. It killed millions of people. That was the first contact we had with the Xindi. The next thing we found out was that they were planning on wiping out our entire race," said Reed. "Now perhaps you could tell me why I should be concerned about the life of one Jorgan spy compared to the millions that were killed on Earth by your Xindi friends."
"It's not true," said Mentan. "You're just trying to turn me against them." He didn't really sound convinced about it though. Reed suspected that Mentan had already seen that potential in the Xindi in his dealings with them. In fact Reed was almost certain that he knew Mentan's type, he thought that he was fighting for a just cause, if Reed could disillusion him of the Xindi's image then perhaps he had a way to get what he needed out of the Jorgan.
"Ensign, get me the footage of the devastation from the Xindi probe," said Reed. "I think our friend needs some further proof of exactly who his friends really are."
They watched pictures of the Xindi probe cutting a swathe of destruction across America. Reed winced inwardly as he thought about the huge loss of life. The beam weapon had missed Britain but he felt the tragedy just as deeply as if it had been his own family that had been killed, maybe more so considering his current relationship with his family. Next they showed Mentan the pictures of what the weapon had left behind. Finally Reed brought up a picture of Elizabeth Tucker from Trip's personal files.
"This is Commander Tucker's sister, she was killed by the Xindi probe. Commander Tucker is the person who is lying in Sick Bay at the moment, dying because of what you did to him. Tell me what the poison was you used and maybe one less person will have to die because of the Xindi," finished Reed urgently.
The Jorgan swallowed hard and in a shaky voice said, "it's a two part poison. It's harmless on its own but when mixed with the wine it becomes toxic. It's called Amerin. The Jorgan ship's database will have its molecular structure and antidote on file."
"Thank you," said Reed. He immediately went to the intercom and relayed the information to the doctor in Sick Bay.
"That makes much more sense," said the Denobulan. "It explains why we weren't able to identify its formula and why we didn't detect any harmful substances on the Jorgans when they came aboard. I'll get right on synthesising the antidote."
Reed then contacted Captain Archer. "He's given us the name of the poison, sir. Dr Phlox has accessed the Jorgan database and is synthesising the antidote now."
Archer couldn't describe the wave of relief which swept over him when Reed's voice came over the intercom. "Good work, Lieutenant," said Archer. He would have liked to say more in thanks but the fact he was on the bridge prevented him from being more openly pleased by the news. It was only the possibility that Trip was too ill for the antidote to work that worried him now, but Trip just had to pull through. As far as Archer was concerned it just wasn't an option that he wouldn't.
Reed returned to his Jorgan prisoner. "Why was it so important to kill Captain Archer?" asked Reed.
"The Xindi told me that he was pivotal in the outcome of their war against you. They didn't tell me how, just that they had information that if Archer could be killed then the humans would be defeated. When I failed to kill him with the poison they told me to disable the ship so that they could come and finish the job. They knew you'd be looking out for another attack on Archer," said the Jorgan
"They were actually quite pleased when they heard it was the Chief Engineer that had been poisoned," Mentan continued, "they thought that if they couldn't get Archer perhaps Commander Tucker's death would help them. This was meant to be an assassination. Just one man, Captain Archer. I was killing someone I thought was an evil person. At the very least I was repaying the Colonies debt to the Xindi for the support they gave us. You have to believe me that I didn't mean to kill your Engineer, he was just unfortunate. I worked with him on the sensor upgrades and I liked him, if it could have been avoided I wouldn't have killed him."
"He's not dead yet," said Reed. "How do the Xindi know that Archer is going to be important in the war? I mean, more important than anyone else. We have several capable starship captains after all."
"Someone was giving them the information," said Mentan.
"Who was giving them the information?" said Reed.
"I don't know, but they were the same people who provided the cloaking device," said Mentan.
"The Jorgans don't have cloaking technology?" asked Reed.
"No, we're not that advanced. Our technology is of a similar level to yours," said Mentan.
"The Suliban?" asked Reed, not willing to let the matter rest with what Mentan had given him so far.
"I don't know that race. All I know is that whoever told them they needed to kill Archer, they weren't Xindi." Mentan looked at Reed hoping that the Lieutenant would accept the truth for what it was. Reed looked as if he might ask for more detail but the com sounded.
"T'Pol to Lieutenant Reed," said T'Pol.
"Reed here, Sub-commander," said the Lieutenant.
"You are needed on the bridge, Lieutenant. The Captain wishes to discuss tactics for our imminent encounter with the Xindi," said T'Pol.
"On my way, Sub-commander," replied Reed and left Mentan to think about what trouble he might be in, not only from the Jorgans but also from the Xindi he had just betrayed.
****
By Thalia Drogna
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing them.
*************************************************
Chapter 7
Archer returned to the bridge feeling as if a piece of himself was missing. All he really wanted to do was go down to sick bay and sit beside Trip, but he knew his duty to the ship came first over his friendship with Trip. It hurt so much though knowing that his friend lay dying and it wasn't because of anything that Trip had done, it was because he'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Archer would have given anything to change places with Trip. He felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest.
T'Pol stepped over to the Captain's chair from her science station. She handed Archer a padd with some calculations of the weapon strength of the approaching Xindi ship. It looked as if the hull plating might survive a couple of direct hits but not more than that.
"Dr Phlox informed me of Commander Tucker's condition," said T'Pol. "I am very sorry that I was not able to be of more assistance."
"You did everything that you could T'Pol," said Archer.
"I have observed that humans often blame themselves when something of this nature happens. I thought you should know that this was not your fault," said T'Pol.
"Wasn't it?" asked Archer. "I wish I could be so sure."
"I believe that Lieutenant Reed also expressed concern that he had not done his duty in this matter. I have checked the logs and the Lieutenant followed all the necessary procedures with his usual efficiency. Neither of you were in dereliction of your duty," said T'Pol.
Archer nodded, he knew what T'Pol was trying to say and he knew she was right, but he wasn't ready to hear it at the moment. "If we can't do something about that Xindi battleship then Trip won't be the only casualty from our encounter with the Jorgans. What are our chances?" he asked her.
"In our current condition, approximately two thousand five hundred and sixty seven to one," said T'Pol, taking Archer's change of topic in her stride. "However this has been improved by the Jorgans' decision to stay and fight with us and will improve further if Lieutenant Hess can afford enough repairs of the port nacelle to enable us to manoeuvre on impulse. I have spoken to the Lieutenant and she believes that this is an attainable goal before the Xindi arrive. We also have the nebula in our favour. Commander Tucker's modifications to our sensors should give us an advantage over the Xindi when it comes to navigation."
"Didn't we pass an asteroid field on our way here?" asked Archer.
"Yes, Captain. But we cannot reach it in our current state," said T'Pol.
"Not at the moment. Tell the Jorgans to meet us there and we'll join them as soon as we're able to," said Archer. "Maybe some old fashioned hide and seek will confuse the Xindi enough to give us the upper hand."
"Yes, Captain," replied T'Pol.
****
Lieutenant Reed was getting annoyed by his prisoner. He didn't have time to waste playing games.
"Why were you ordered to kill the Captain? Why do the Xindi want Captain Archer dead in particular?" asked Reed for the third or fourth time. "What was the poison that you used?" He sighed as the Jorgan remained silent. "You haven't killed anyone yet, so far all we have on you is destruction of Starfleet property. Your Captain tells me that is punishable by imprisonment on Jorga. Now murder, that's a different matter. I gather that Jorga doesn't have the death penalty, but Earth does," Reed added his voice taking on a vindictive tone. He approached the Jorgan more closely, so that he could look directly into his eyes. It was a lie of course, the death penalty on Earth had been abolished many years earlier, but Reed thought it was unlikely that Mentan would know that.
"What do I care if I die, its just one more death for the hundreds that the Jorgans killed in the Colonies," snarled the Mentan.
"And I suppose the Xindi have never killed anyone?" said Reed sarcastically.
"The Xindi supported the Colonies in the war. They have never committed any atrocities close to what the Jorgans did to us," said Mentan.
Could it be that Mentan really didn't know the situation between Earth and the Xindi, thought Reed. He certainly didn't seem to have a very balanced view of his employers. One thing was certain, Mentan was an idealist not a mercenary, and idealists were susceptible to argument. "Let me explain something to you, the Xindi sent a weapon to my home planet. It killed millions of people. That was the first contact we had with the Xindi. The next thing we found out was that they were planning on wiping out our entire race," said Reed. "Now perhaps you could tell me why I should be concerned about the life of one Jorgan spy compared to the millions that were killed on Earth by your Xindi friends."
"It's not true," said Mentan. "You're just trying to turn me against them." He didn't really sound convinced about it though. Reed suspected that Mentan had already seen that potential in the Xindi in his dealings with them. In fact Reed was almost certain that he knew Mentan's type, he thought that he was fighting for a just cause, if Reed could disillusion him of the Xindi's image then perhaps he had a way to get what he needed out of the Jorgan.
"Ensign, get me the footage of the devastation from the Xindi probe," said Reed. "I think our friend needs some further proof of exactly who his friends really are."
They watched pictures of the Xindi probe cutting a swathe of destruction across America. Reed winced inwardly as he thought about the huge loss of life. The beam weapon had missed Britain but he felt the tragedy just as deeply as if it had been his own family that had been killed, maybe more so considering his current relationship with his family. Next they showed Mentan the pictures of what the weapon had left behind. Finally Reed brought up a picture of Elizabeth Tucker from Trip's personal files.
"This is Commander Tucker's sister, she was killed by the Xindi probe. Commander Tucker is the person who is lying in Sick Bay at the moment, dying because of what you did to him. Tell me what the poison was you used and maybe one less person will have to die because of the Xindi," finished Reed urgently.
The Jorgan swallowed hard and in a shaky voice said, "it's a two part poison. It's harmless on its own but when mixed with the wine it becomes toxic. It's called Amerin. The Jorgan ship's database will have its molecular structure and antidote on file."
"Thank you," said Reed. He immediately went to the intercom and relayed the information to the doctor in Sick Bay.
"That makes much more sense," said the Denobulan. "It explains why we weren't able to identify its formula and why we didn't detect any harmful substances on the Jorgans when they came aboard. I'll get right on synthesising the antidote."
Reed then contacted Captain Archer. "He's given us the name of the poison, sir. Dr Phlox has accessed the Jorgan database and is synthesising the antidote now."
Archer couldn't describe the wave of relief which swept over him when Reed's voice came over the intercom. "Good work, Lieutenant," said Archer. He would have liked to say more in thanks but the fact he was on the bridge prevented him from being more openly pleased by the news. It was only the possibility that Trip was too ill for the antidote to work that worried him now, but Trip just had to pull through. As far as Archer was concerned it just wasn't an option that he wouldn't.
Reed returned to his Jorgan prisoner. "Why was it so important to kill Captain Archer?" asked Reed.
"The Xindi told me that he was pivotal in the outcome of their war against you. They didn't tell me how, just that they had information that if Archer could be killed then the humans would be defeated. When I failed to kill him with the poison they told me to disable the ship so that they could come and finish the job. They knew you'd be looking out for another attack on Archer," said the Jorgan
"They were actually quite pleased when they heard it was the Chief Engineer that had been poisoned," Mentan continued, "they thought that if they couldn't get Archer perhaps Commander Tucker's death would help them. This was meant to be an assassination. Just one man, Captain Archer. I was killing someone I thought was an evil person. At the very least I was repaying the Colonies debt to the Xindi for the support they gave us. You have to believe me that I didn't mean to kill your Engineer, he was just unfortunate. I worked with him on the sensor upgrades and I liked him, if it could have been avoided I wouldn't have killed him."
"He's not dead yet," said Reed. "How do the Xindi know that Archer is going to be important in the war? I mean, more important than anyone else. We have several capable starship captains after all."
"Someone was giving them the information," said Mentan.
"Who was giving them the information?" said Reed.
"I don't know, but they were the same people who provided the cloaking device," said Mentan.
"The Jorgans don't have cloaking technology?" asked Reed.
"No, we're not that advanced. Our technology is of a similar level to yours," said Mentan.
"The Suliban?" asked Reed, not willing to let the matter rest with what Mentan had given him so far.
"I don't know that race. All I know is that whoever told them they needed to kill Archer, they weren't Xindi." Mentan looked at Reed hoping that the Lieutenant would accept the truth for what it was. Reed looked as if he might ask for more detail but the com sounded.
"T'Pol to Lieutenant Reed," said T'Pol.
"Reed here, Sub-commander," said the Lieutenant.
"You are needed on the bridge, Lieutenant. The Captain wishes to discuss tactics for our imminent encounter with the Xindi," said T'Pol.
"On my way, Sub-commander," replied Reed and left Mentan to think about what trouble he might be in, not only from the Jorgans but also from the Xindi he had just betrayed.
****