J. B. Tilton/Page 6
NINE
"You're insane," said Marks.
"I can assure you I am quite lucid," said T'Pol.
"Commander," said Archer finally, "our subspace radios are newer than yours. It doesn't take us as long to get a message from Star Fleet Command as it does for you. I've already spoken to Admiral Forrest and he's been made aware of what we've found out."
"What would that be?" demanded Marks.
"I checked the peanut oil in Captain Spencer's system," said Links. "I was able to identify it at a molecular level. It didn't come from the Enterprise. It came from the Stephen Hawking."
"And since Captain Archer has never been aboard the Stephen Hawking," said T'Pol, "he would not have access to it. You would."
"That doesn't prove anything," said Marks.
"No," said Commander Lavene, "but how do you explain your DNA on the bottle of peanut oil in our galley? I checked with the cook. He said as far as he knew, you had never been in the galley."
"I was inspecting the lateral sensor array when Captain Spencer died," said Marks. "I couldn't have killed him."
"I talked with crewman Jones again," said Trip. "During your inspection, the lateral sensors had to be manually realigned. Which means he had to climb up into the array assembly to do it
"It took him about ten minutes to align it. Plenty of time to leave, murder Captain Spencer, and get back without being noticed. Since it appeared you hadn't moved while Jones was aligning the array, he naturally assumed you had been there the whole time."
"Ten minutes which you cannot account for, Commander," said T'Pol.
"The hypospray was found in Archers' quarters," insisted Marks. "Are you suggesting I broke into the captains' quarters and planted it there?"
"That's exactly what we're saying," said Archer. "The place where Captain Spencer's body was found is only a short distance from my quarters. Easy enough for you to get inside within those ten minutes."
"In addition," said T'Pol, "your DNA was found at the Captain's quarters."
"Of course it was," said Marks. "I helped search his quarters, remember?"
"Except that your DNA was found on the control panel outside his quarters," said T'Pol. "Captain Archer opened the door to his quarters when we searched it. Which means you had to have been at his quarters at some other time."
"Tom," said Lavene, "I checked the captains' personal logs. At your yearly evaluation next month, he planned NOT to recommend you for your own command. He felt you needed more experience as a first officer before you got your own command. And we all know how badly you want your own command."
"You honestly think that's enough reason for me to kill him?" asked Marks.
"It is my experience," said T'Pol, "that reasons for murder are rarely logical. Except to the murderer."
"Commander Marks," said Archer. "By order of Admiral Forrest, you are hereby relieved of command of the Stephen Hawking. Commander Lavene will assume command and return to Earth where there will be an Article 71 to see if a general court martial should be convened."
The two security guards escorted Marks out of the conference room. They took him to the shuttle bay where a shuttle pod waited to take them back to the Stephen Hawking.
"I'm sorry about all the trouble, Captain Archer," said Lavene. "It will take us about two months to get back to Earth. Once we do, maybe Tom will get the help he needs. He was a good officer."
"I'm sorry things turned out the way they did," said Archer. "Amanda, I'm so sorry about Terry. He seemed like a nice guy."
"He was," said Amanda. "And you know me. I'll grieve in my own way later. I'm just sorry you had to go through this. Not a very good reunion after twenty years."
"Maybe next time we can spend time catching up," said Archer, "instead of trying to solve a mystery."
"I'd like that," said Amanda.
"We'd better go," said Lavene. "We have a long trip ahead of us."
"Have a safe journey, Captain," said Archer.
"That's going to take some getting used to," said Lavene.
The group from the Stephen Hawking left the conference room for the shuttle bay of the Enterprise. With Commander Marks in tow, they returned to their own ship for the long trip home to Earth.
