J. B. Tilton/Page 6

FOUR

Archer and De Haan were in Archers' ready room when T'Pol entered. She handed a computer disk to Archer.

"The information you requested, Captain," she said. "You will find it is as the Admiral described. There is no mistake."

"Thank you, T'Pol," said Archer.

"How do you like serving on a human ship, Sub-Commander?" asked De Haan.

"My feelings are irrelevant, Admiral," said T'Pol. "However, I find it a stimulating challenge."

"I have no doubt," said De Haan.

"Admiral," said T'Pol, "I have noticed a great deal of information which has not been retrieved from the records of the Polaris."

"That's correct, Sub-Commander," said De Haan. "Reconstructing the garbled information is a slow and tedious process."

"As I am aware," said T'Pol. "With your permission, perhaps I could attempt to reconstruct some of that information. I do have some expertise in this area. And there are some Vulcan techniques of which Earth science may not be aware."

"It is classified information, Sub-Commander," said De Haan.

"I believe my security clearance is sufficient to meet that criteria, sir," said T'Pol.

"Well," said De Haan thoughtfully, "I suppose it can't hurt to try. With the understanding that any information you retrieve will be provided only to Captain Archer or myself. No one else, including the Vulcan High Command, is to know about it without my express permission."

"Understood, Admiral," said De Haan.

T'Pol left the ready room.

"Can she be trusted?" De Haan asked Archer.

"Yes, sir, she can," said Archer. "Six months ago I might not have been so sure. But today I have no doubt about her loyalties."

"So, John," said De Haan, "what's it like having a Vulcan in your crew?"

"Not what I expected, sir," said Archer. "As T'Pol said, it's a stimulating challenge."

"I can imagine," said De Haan. "I must say I was very surprised when I heard you had allowed her to join your crew. Your feelings toward the Vulcans isn't exactly a state secret."

"She's definitely different from most Vulcans," said Archer. "In some ways she can be almost human."

"I doubt you'd say that to her face," said De Haan, smiling.

"Oh, no," said Archer. "She'd take that as an insult. But she's the best science officer I've ever served with."

"Vulcans are notorious overachievers," said De Haan. "I think it's a requirement to be truly Vulcan."

"You just might be right about that," said Archer.

"I'm not sure I could do it," said De Haan. "Working day in and day out with a Vulcan, I mean. I can get so infuriated just dealing with the ones I have to deal with when I have to."

"Well, I can certainly relate to that, Admiral," said Archer. "But as you're aware, things are a bit different aboard a ship. It's not unlike an extended family."

'Yes, I'm well aware of that, John," said De Haan. "Sometimes I miss commanding a ship. Not as many politics as there are at Star Fleet Headquarters."

"The price you pay for being an admiral, sir," said Archer.

"I suppose so," said De Haan. "Speaking of which, it's nearly fourteen hundred. I guess we should be getting back to the hearing."

"Yes, sir," said Archer. "I think I'll talk to Malcolm one last time before we do."

"That's a good idea," said De Haan. "This is going to be trying on all of us, not the least of which on him."