Chapter 17

Hoshi turned in her chair, to face the Captain. Almost sensing his communications officers change in mood Archer looked over to her station, where their eyes met. Hoshi's facial expressions showed that of urgency, and perhaps even fear. However, not a fear for her safety, it was a fear for the away team. A fear of the implications of the message she had just intercepted. "Captain, it's the Romulans, they're here", she began.

The second those six single words registered in the captains consciousness he began to act. "Raise weapons and shields," he ordered of the officer operating Malcolm's post.

"Belay that order," Hoshi instructed, interrupting her Captain, much to the surprise of the bridge crew. Archer opened his mouth to respond, but Hoshi continued, blushing slightly at her outburst. "Captain, the Romulan's don't know, that we know they're here. If we raise shields we'll give away our advantage".

Archer nodded in understanding, a slight pang of foolishness hitting him. He had reacted on instinct, without hearing all the facts. A mistake that could have cost lives. Hoshi's use of tactics had surprised him though. It seemed she had been spending too much time with a certain chief security officer.

"What did you pick up on communications Hoshi?" Archer questioned, wanting more facts about the situation Enterprise had just found themselves within.

"Something you won't like sir. The signal was in the lower band frequencies, meaning it was almost undetectable. It was sending a message to a Romulan ship, which is very close to our position."

"It must be cloaked?" Archer interrupted, speaking to no one in particular.

"The message was to rendezvous at chosen co-ordinates" Hoshi dictated, "but that's not the worst part sir, the message came from shuttle pod two."

"Shuttle pod two?…Are you sure?" Archer responded, apprehension tinged his voice.

"I'm sure sir," she replied, the same uncertainty pitched within her own voice.

Archer became silent for several seconds, mulling over what he could possibly do. The message came from shuttle pod two, and that could only mean one thing - the away team had been compromised. Perhaps they had even been killed, Archer closed his eyes. He would not allow himself to think of that possibility. Opening his eyes, he turned to Sato, a commanding, confident look within his eyes. He needed to set an example for his officers, if he showed that he was nervous about this situation he would put them at unease, and he needed everyone at their best. Especially because of what was about to happen next. "Hoshi, hail shuttle pod two"

" Sir?" She questioned, her confusion evident.

"I want to know who I'm dealing with." Archer responded.

Hoshi looked unsure but followed Archer instructions, "Yes sir…Enterprise to shuttle pod two, please respond." She spoke into the comm.

Telak clenched his jaw, as the speaker system around him became alive. A female's voice spewing from the comm. system, attempting to get a response from the vessel he had commandeered. He had had enough of human's to last him a lifetime, the sooner they were disposed of the better. He had initially hoped that he would have time to transport to the Romulan vessel, which he had contacted before, without involving Enterprise. It seemed he had been wrong.

The Romulan turned around, indicating to Ensign Adams to come forward. "Speak with your vessel, tell them nothing, or I will kill you." he simply stated.

Adams nervously turned to the com panel, "This is Ensign Adams, Enterprise".

"Adams? Where is Lieutenant Reed?" Archer questioned.

"The Lieutenant is busy at the moment sir" Adams responded, looking towards his captor. This was not what he signed up for when he joined Enterprise, he had thought he would be exploring, occasionally getting into a fire fight, but not this. This had been his first away mission upon Enterprise; he had only joined the ship a few months ago, along with the other new recruits. He didn't want to die like this!

"Are you Ok Ensign? What's going on?"

Adams looked at the Romulan, while torrents of emotion cascaded inside of him. He had overcome the fear he had initially felt, but now all he felt was anger. The Romulan had firstly tortured Enterprise's science officer, the one Vulcan, other than Sovek, that he actually liked! Telak had then disabled the rest of the away team, Adams didn't know how, but the Romulan would have had to have done something in order to have managed to take the shuttle without a lot of opposition. He also guessed that he had killed Sovek, if the hatred the Romulan held in his voice, when he spoke with the Vulcan was anything to go by. Adams would be damned if he let anything else happen to his friends, and his comrades.

Telak grasped his weapon tighter, the barrel pointing directly to the human's neck, and he looked very trigger-happy. Adams closed his eyes. A twinge of regret passing through his being, he didn't want it to end like this. But if he had to do this, to save Enterprise, then so be it…. "Captain, the away team are still on the surface, this shuttle has been taken over, you ne……" he didn't finish as he was hit in the chest, and then once again. His torso jerked with each hit, and he fell towards the ground. A painful gasp escaping his lips, before he fell to the floor, where his limp body impacted the hard metal floor.

"Adams!" Archer shouted.

"I'm afraid he can't respond Captain," The uncompassionate voice of Telak sounded, Archer recognising it instantly from the video recording.

"What have you done to my away team!" Archer demanded.

"They are safe for now Captain; however that may not be the case for long."

"What did you do?"

"There is a bomb on the base capable of destroying the entire facility three times over. I suggest you hurry Captain, as they have no other way off of the surface."

Archer looked over to the officer manning T'Pol's science station, "Can you verify that?" he asked.

T'Pol's replacement shook her head "We're too far away, I can't scan the interior of the shuttle either, it's using the same blocking technique used on the Tellarite vessel."

Archer balled his hands into fists. Telak could be bluffing, using a fake bomb to lure Enterprise away giving him time to escape. But what if he was right?

"Travis set a course for the base, as fast as you can take us."

"Yes sir" the boomer replied, a grim atmosphere overtaking the bridge crew.

Archer nodded, almost reluctantly to Hoshi to cut the connection with the shuttle pod. He didn't have time to get the shuttle back, and get to the base in time if a bomb was to go off. It was all about priorities, and the away team was his. He hated the fact that he was leaving a potentially injured or dead crewmember aboard the shuttle with the Romulan, but he had no choice.

Archer paced around the bridge, and he stopped by his chief Engineer. Trip had been quiet since the away team had left, not even talking when the Romulan threat had arose. He didn't blame him, what would he do in his position?

The minutes drew on as Enterprise neared the base, and with each second that passed Telak was getting further and further away. Archer would bet anything he owned that he, and the rest of Enterprise had not seen the last of that particular Romulan.

"Sir we're getting scans from the surface" The sudden voice of the Ensign at the science station interrupted Archer's thoughts.

"…And?" He questioned, almost afraid of the answer.

"There appears to be three strong human life signs, and two Vulcan life signs, one weak."

"What about the bomb"

"Scans show no explosive devices"…

A sickening feeling passed through the entire bridge crew, they had been played. Telak by now would have had enough time to escape. Enterprise was normally used to coming out on top, this time had been different. A stark reminder of just how much of a threat the Romulan's actually were.

"Permission to take a shuttle down to the surface Cap'n" Trip spoke first.

Archer looked towards his chief engineer; the priority of this mission had always been about saving T'Pol. Other unforeseen consequences had resulted from this mission, but that was still the priority. Archer looked at Trip; he had never seen such a determined look upon the engineers face. "Bring them back home Trip", Archer ordered, complete faith in his friend.

Trip nodded, and practically ran off the bridge towards the shuttle bay. The second he arrived he activated shuttle pod one, and was soon taking off, a member of Malcolm's security team accompanying him for added protection. They left Enterprise in record time, and moved through the vacuum of space, veering towards the moon at high speeds, and descending down towards the base held upon the celestial body below.

Trip flew the shuttle through the moon's atmosphere with accuracy and skill, he adjusted his heading as he became closer, taking the shuttle to where the other craft had originally landed, and landed the pod he was piloting. Standing up before the craft had even come to a complete stop, Trip was already moving to the exit. He willingly took the pistol the security officer handed him, and together they both left the shuttle. The security officer was out first, scanning the area, ensuring it was safe for them to progress. Declaring it clear the two both cautiously, and quickly jogged towards the east entrance, following the steps the away team had taken earlier today.

Trip stopped at the entrance, the door slightly ajar. Using his two strong hands, he pushed it completely open so they could pass through. Taking several steps forward he was suddenly thrown into the wall nearest him. Two hands gripping his neck, he struggled for air. However just as quickly as he was grabbed, he was dropped. Trip fell to the floor gasping for air; he looked up and was met with the familiar face of Sovek.

"I apologise Mr Tucker, I believed you were someone else." Sovek stated, regret apparent in his features.

Trip rubbed his neck, and waved the security officer, who still held a phaser towards Sovek, off. "It's Ok, I'm fine…I think." Trip answered and grasped onto Sovek's outstretched hand, standing up. "Do you know where the others are?" he asked.

"I was on my way there right now, but when I heard a shuttle land I thought the worst."

Trip nodded, "In that case you can lead the way".

Sovek inclined his head in acknowledgment, "Did you encounter the other shuttle pod on your way here?"

Trip chewed his bottom lip, thinking how to respond. "Enterprise picked up a transmission from Telak, he was contacting the Romulans. He shot Adams, soon after we contacted the shuttle, and then told the Cap'n that there was a bomb on this base."

Sovek raised his eyebrow, "Am I right to assume that he escaped".

"Unfortunately" Trip responded, his pace picking up as they neared the away team's whereabouts.

The three soon arrived at an almost unnoticeable grey door. "You're sure they're in there"

"Indeed" The Vulcan replied

Trip nodded and pressed the door controls; he gripped his phaser tightly in hand and moved in.

Trip's eyes scanned the room, and his heart began beating faster as he saw the bodies of the away team sprawled upon the floor. Trip apprehensively moved towards Malcolm and felt for a pulse. A pool of crimson blood flowed freely down from the security officer's nose. Flecks of his blood leaking onto, and staining the floor. The engineer released a breath, one that he hadn't even realised he was holding, as he felt a strong pulse underneath his fingers. He then moved towards the rest of the away team, they too had strong heartbeats.

"I can not find any injuries; it appears they are just all unconscious. It is logical to assume a stun grenade was involved." Sovek stated.

Trip didn't hear what Sovek said, the familiar tingling he usually felt when T'Pol was around resurfaced.

Trip stood up, his legs almost moving of their own accord in a direction towards the back of the room. Moving quickly he found another door, which was adjourning to the room he was in. His hand gripped the handle, and he pushed it open….