A/N: Hi guys! Many thanks to: ThePet (Thanks - I love writing for Hogan - I wish I could write her in more!) Kaliedescope Cat (thanks for reading & reviewing!) Volley (Here's another update, just for you, & thanks for the kind review!) The Libran Iniquity (Wow, thank you. I'm glad the end of the last chapter wasn't too confusing for people) RoaringMice (Sorry - here's an update - please don't hurt me!) elbcw (thanks for the review - enjoy the next chapter), JennMel (You'll see - there's more to come!) and, of course, Exploded Pen (Sorry, not much of Malcolm in this chapter; but in the next few, he gets all the action. I will say no more! No spoiling!)

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chapter Four

Archer met Phlox outside the armoury, and, without a greeting, he keyed open the door. It parted slightly, leaving a gap of less than an inch, through which black smoke curled languidly, dissipating into the air. Archer curled his fingers around the edge of the doors, and forced them open. Inside, a console sparked intermittently; the walls were blackened with smoke and small fires burned in various corners of the room. Archer ducked under a section of blown out wiring overhead, coughing in the smoke.

"Trip?" he called out, worriedly, "Malcolm?"

"Captain! Over here!"

Archer followed Malcolm's voice, and found the lieutenant pinned beneath a section of bulkhead. His hands and face were burned, but he seemed to be otherwise unharmed. Archer gripped the metal, and heaved, allowing Phlox to pull Reed free. Archer knelt down next to the engineer as the doctor ran a scanner over him.

"Malcolm…you're going to be fine," Archer assured him, "where's Trip?"

"He was over there," Reed pointed, coughing.

"Smoke inhalation, two fractured ribs, some second degree burns," Phlox reported, "come on, lieutenant… let's get you out of here…"

He reached down and pulled Reed to his feet, mindful of his injuries, and helped him out into the corridor where a medical team were waiting with two gurneys. Reed was helped onto one and whisked away, as Phlox went back into the smoke filled room. He blinked and squinted through the smoke.

"Captain?" he called out, questioningly.

"Phlox! Over here!"

The doctor made his way through the debris, and found the captain crouched down beside a toppled console. Beneath it, Cmdr. Tucker was pinned down, clearly unconscious. Phlox passed his handheld scanner over the motionless form, frowning.

"He has several broken ribs and internal bleeding. We need to get him to sickbay…"

---

Archer stood to one side in sickbay, listening to T'Pol giving him the damage report. It was severe, but repairs were already underway, and they hoped to have warp speed back within seven or eight hours. Archer signed off, and turned to Phlox for a casualty report.

"Ensign Roan was killed," the doctor reported grimly, "as were Ambassador Collins and General Adams – they were on deck six when it was hit. The majority of the crew suffered bruising, I should think, but there were only a half-dozen seriously injured, several others with broken bones and sprains…I'm doing what I can."

"What about Trip and Malcolm?"

"Both will need extensive tissue regeneration to heal their burns," Phlox admitted, "My Osmotic Eel will take care of that. I have repaired Lt. Reed's fractured ribs and commander Tucker's internal injuries, but the commander has yet to regain consciousness."

"Thank you, doctor. I'm going to go and speak to our dignitaries. Let me know as soon as anything happens."

"I will, captain…"

---

There were four of the intruders, and they converged in an access tube that had been undamaged in the fight. Their protective armour contained circuits designed to scramble sensors, effectively rendering them invisible to the ship. They were all different species; one was an Andorian, one was a Klingon, one was an unmodified Suliban, and the final one was a member of the cat-like Ssas. They were pirates, outcasts of their races, and very good at what they did.

"You all know the drill," growled the Andorian, the designated leader, "disable the artificial gravity. Stun the crew. Lock them in their quarters. We'll take the ship to the nearest Orion base and sell them and then the ship to the highest bidders."

"This is no hssiss merchant vessel," growled the Ssas, through a translator, "it may not be so easy at the other times."

"We have demand for this ship," the Andorian replied, coldly, "the crew are soft. They're not expecting us. To your posts, and wait for my signal."

---

Archer summoned the remaining three dignitaries to his briefing room. Ambassador Long had a deep cut above one eye but was otherwise unharmed. General Hogan's top lip was split and her jaw was bruised, but her face was set in a detached expression. Admiral Reed's temple was bruised, but his blue eyes remained clear and cold. Archer explained to them what had happened, and that Roan, Collins and Adams were dead.

"Were any of your people killed, captain?" Hogan asked, when he'd finished.

"No," Archer shook his head, "but several were severely injured…Admiral, I'm sorry, but Malcolm was one of them. He's in sickbay if you'd like to go and see him."

"I'm sure Lt. Reed is in good hands," the Admiral said, coolly, "in the meantime, I shall return to my quarters. Thank you, captain."

With that, he turned and left. Long bowed, and left as well. Hogan didn't let go so easily.

"The Lieutenant and the Admiral…are they related?" she guessed, "don't tell me. Father and son?"

"You got it," Archer nodded, and suddenly added, "I don't understand it. My father and I were so close… I can't imagine him ever being so cold…"

"The Admiral reminds me of my foster father," Hogan shrugged, "he was the reason I ran away to the Air Force. Couldn't stand him hitting me anymore. Glad I did or I'd've killed the old bugger. With folks like that I can see the attraction of leaving Earth altogether. Take care, Captain. I hope your crewmen recover."

---

The Ssas, a tall female called Mrreww, slithered through an access tube, discreetly disabling internal sensors as she went. The ship was battle-damaged enough that no-one would detect her tampering for some time. She paused a moment, and took out a scanner. She was close to engineering, her final destination. With a growl, she took out her communicator.

"I'm almost in position, "she reported, engaging the translator, "awaiting your signal."

"Acknowledged," replied the unmistakeable voice of the Andorian leader, "This could be easier than anticipated. Wait for my signal."

The line disconnected, and Mrreww purred to herself. Drawing her weapon, she reluctantly set it to 'stun', and settled down to wait. It would not be long before the ship was theirs.

---

A/N: For those of you who don't know/remember who the Ssas are, it's not really important - I used them in my last story. They're an alien race who look basically like bipedal, two-meter-tall cats. Yeah. Cats.