Trip had just the time to see Malcolm to Sickbay, before T'Pol summoned him to the Bridge.
The Acting Captain cast him a glance as he exited the turbo-lift. "Told you I'd find him," Trip chimed. He rather enjoyed teasing T'Pol.
"How is Lieutenant Reed?" she enquired, ignoring the jibe.
"Needs a few hours of sleep and a few stitches, but he'll be okay."
T'Pol rose from the Captain's chair and latched her hands behind her back. "The Shinx and Ravaja ships are converging on our position," she informed him.
"How many are there?" Trip asked, walking to his station.
"Three and three, Commander," Müller replied from Tactical. "They are armed with torpedoes, and I'm also reading particle cannons, though lower yield than ours."
"Piece of cake, then," Trip commented.
"They outnumber us," T'Pol observed with a generous lift of her eyebrows. "However, I have been informed that two Vulcan ships have been sent to assist us. Their ETA is in less than one hour."
"What are your plans?" Trip wondered. He knew that Starfleet's policy was to try to stay out of other species' squabbles, but the issue here was defending a threatened race who had a right to be left alone.
"We shall not open fire unless it is vital for our defence or the defence of this planet's species," she said.
Trip saw Müller nod slowly. He looked a little uptight but also very determined. Trip leaned towards him and whispered, "Enjoyin' the spotlight, Ensign?"
"I feel a bit hot in it," the tall Ensign whispered back, with a lopsided smile.
There was a beep.
"We're being hailed by the Ravaja lead ship," Hoshi said.
T'Pol nodded, and a moment later a tall man with two mouths was looking at them through the viewscreen.
"I demand that you leave orbit immediately," he said in no uncertain terms, both mouths working in sync but with a different pitch of voice, so that it sounded like two people were speaking.
T'Pol appeared unfazed. "Who am I speaking to?" she asked.
"Freth, Captain of the Ravaja fleet. And you are?"
"T'Pol, Acting Captain of the Starship Enterprise." T'Pol took a couple of steps closer to the viewscreen "I should warn you that I have precise orders to prevent any attack on the planet and its population," she said in polite but firm tones, "and I intend to carry them out to the best of my abilities."
"You came here to act as negotiators, not to interfere in our political agendas. It is time you left."
"The Shinx lead ship is also hailing," Hoshi said.
A moment later, a pudgy, yellowish and angry-looking man joined in. "Withdraw, or we'll open fire," he threatened.
Out of the corner of his eye, Trip caught Müller frown, he suspected more in outrage than in concern.
"I suggest you consider our superior firepower, before you do that," T'Pol replied.
"I wasn't talking to you, woman," the Shinx captain grumbled, with a dismissive gesture of the hand. "Get away, while you can, Freth!"
Captain Freth did not lose his composure. "We are not afraid of you," he just said to his rival. "We tried to come to terms, but if you want war, war is what you'll get." And with that, he disappeared from the viewscreen.
The Shinx captain pointed a finger at T'Pol. "The negotiation is over and your presence here is no longer needed nor wanted," he roared. "Don't get involved in something that doesn't regard you."
Before she could reply, he too cut the link, and the screen returned to show the planet they were orbiting.
"Well, at least they seem to agree on that," Trip said levelly. "Maybe we should leave and let them blow each other to smithereens."
At Tactical, Müller punched a few keys, then lifted his gaze. "They are moving into assault formation," he informed.
"Raise shields and stand by weapons, Ensign," T'Pol ordered, "but do not fire."
"Aye, Ma'am."
The battle between the two enemies began. The alien ships were slow and sluggish, but they seemed to know their manoeuvres. A torpedo missed its target and came pointing directly at the Enterprise.
"Ensign Müller," T'Pol said with a hint of urgency, turning to her right. Müller nodded and took it out before it could do any damage. But Enterprise was smack in the middle of the fighting, and a few cannon shots hit her hull.
"Ensign Mayweather," T'Pol said, "break orbit and move us to a safe distance."
"Gladly, Ma'am."
The ship rocked, and Archer's eyes flashed open. "What's going on?" he asked Phlox, who was adjusting a drip feeding into Malcolm's arm.
"I don't know, Captain," the Doctor replied, with his back to him, "but I'm sure Subcommander T'Pol has everything under control."
Archer pushed the sheet aside. "I'd better find out," he decided, throwing his legs over the edge.
Phlox immediately turned about. "Eh, eh," he warned, rushing to him. "I didn't say you could get up… Oh, alright," he conceded, swayed by Archer's stubborn look, "I'll page the Bridge."
A moment later, T'Pol's voice came loud and clear through the comm link. "We were caught in some crossfire between the Shinx and Ravaja ships," she said. "I have moved Enterprise to a safe distance. In the next hour two Vulcan ships will arrive. Our orders are not get involved unless attacked."
"There, Captain," Phlox cheerfully said, once the link was cut. "Now try and relax."
Archer leaned back against his pillow but could not relax. He was feeling much better, and his place ought to be on the Bridge. He turned to glance at his Armoury Officer, on the next biobed. Malcolm was out to the world. His injuries were minor, but the mission had taken its toll on him, and with the help of Phlox's concoctions he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. He wondered what had happened to him, what had gone wrong. All he knew was that thanks to one of those visions Trip had found him on a beach, soaked to the bones. He couldn't help smiling to himself. If Malcolm were awake, he bet the man would be the first to stage a mutiny and an escape from Sickbay.
After throwing at one another all that they had in their arsenals, the two rival fleets were now at what seemed like a standstill. There were damages on both sides, but no one, least of all Bernhard, had foreseen this sudden ceasefire.
"Ensign Müller?" T'Pol wondered, a slight frown creasing her brow.
"None of the ships appears disabled, Ma'am," Bernhard replied. "I cannot understand what has made them cease hostilities."
"Maybe they came to their senses," their Chief Engineer muttered.
Hoshi pushed a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. "The two lead ships are communicating," she said.
Bernhard watched Subcommander T'Pol closely. She may not let emotion show on her face, but the wheels in her brain seemed to be turning at full speed.
"How far are the Vulcan ships?" she asked.
"Thirty minutes away," Mayweather informed her. "Surely they must show on their sensors by now?"
"Yes, it might be the reason why they stopped firing," Bernhard agreed.
Rocks were pelting the village mercilessly, falling on houses, falling with great big splashes in the water. The ceiling of the huge cave was collapsing. People screamed and ran toward the water, their only escape, in the awkward gait produced by their fin-like feet. They had their small children, those precious small children, held tight in their arms to protect them. It was mayhem. Xrey and Xaya were almost at the water edge. Xrey was urging Zaya on, a hand on Xrollit's head, pressing it into his shoulder, as if to prevent him from seeing the horror around them.
Malcolm wanted to look away, for he felt like a helpless spectator, but something, or someone, did not allow it. It was like the images were being seared in his brain. This was a massacre of innocent people!
Then the screams subsided, and like in a nightmare, things suddenly changed. The images blurred, and only Xrey remained in focus. Xrollit had disappeared from his arms. The Ther slowly turned and looked straight at him. "What's happening?" Malcolm asked in dismay. Xrey only fixed him with an intense gaze. It's not what is happening, it's what is about to happen, Malcolm realized. And then he remembered his promise.
Malcolm woke with a start to strong hands holding him down. "Let go of me," he said, fighting Phlox off. The Doctor took a couple of steps back, almost losing his balance. Malcolm pulled out his IV and slipped off the bed, holding on for dear life to it when everything started to rotate. But he caught sight of Phlox going for a hypospray to put him under, so he let go of the bed to get out of his reach, and all he accomplished was to go crashing into the nearest cart.
"Easy, Malcolm," a strong, calming voice said as its owner helped him regain his balance.
Malcolm lifted his head. Archer's green eyes were dark with concern. "Captain, don't let it happen!" he said in earnest. "I've had a vision. They'll annihilate the Thers!"
"Wait, Phlox." Archer put out a hand to stop their Denobulan M.O., his words carrying enough urgency to prompt the Doctor to obey.
"What vision?" Archer asked, frowning.
"The Thers' cave was under attack. They'll be annihilated, Captain!" Malcolm grabbed Archer's arm tightly. "I promised Xrey we'd do all we could to help them…"
Archer seemed to bore into him for a moment; then, under Phlox's disapproving gaze, he resolutely marched to the comm link. "T'Pol, what's happening out there?" he demanded.
"The Shinxes and Ravajas have ceased firing at each other. Their two lead ships are in communication," the Acting Captain promptly replied.
Archer cast a look at Malcolm. "Prepare to fire a warning shot at them the moment you see that they're charging weapons. They may be planning a joint attack on the Thers."
There was a beat of silence. "May I ask how you know this, Captain?" T'Pol came back.
"Yes, but not now. Defend the planet if they open fire."
Archer cut the link. "Give me a pair of pants, Phlox," he said with a grimace as he looked down at his bare legs. "I can't go to the Bridge like this."
Phlox was about to say something; but then, with a courteous smile, he tilted his head and complied, going to rummage in one of his drawers.
"Sir, I too should be at my post," Malcolm said, standing as straight as his light-headedness allowed him.
Archer went up to him. "I appreciate your dedication to the job, Lieutenant, but you really don't look up to the task, right now." He placed a hand on Malcolm's shoulder and added, in a low voice, "To be honest, I don't feel well enough to be on the Bridge myself, but don't tell Phlox."
"Sir, I can do it…"
"Sure you can." Archer shot him a no-nonsense look. "But you still have to obey your C.O."
"Don't worry, Captain, I'll watch Mr. Reed closely," Phlox, who in the meanwhile had returned, said in a meaningful voice.
Malcolm grimaced. Deep down, he knew that Archer was right: there should be someone fit at Tactical, and Bernhard was the better choice at the moment; but still, he did not like being laid-up in Sickbay at a time like this.
"Let me put your arm in a sling, Captain," Phlox said.
"That'd be great, Doctor."
A few moments later, the Sickbay doors were closing behind Archer's back.
