A/N: *I will finish this!* I think we're down to our last five or so chapters (not including an epilogue). Thanks to everyone who's reached out in one way or another to let me know what they think of this (especially if you liked it or had ideas). Thanks to Blaney, I researched ways of recovering this file.
When Reed awakened, he rolled his shoulders and complained about the Vulcan neck pinch T'Pol delivered. Jon couldn't blame him; he knew first-hand it hurt like hell. During the years as Enterprise's captain, he felt that particular squeeze twice before. One time, it saved his life. The other time, T'Pol was under the influence of spores they'd found on a planet.
Jon had even used the squeeze a couple of times himself, although it was knowledge from Surak he didn't retain.
Malcolm discussed how he'd be bringing them in - beam aboard the Challenger that would rendezvous at Yosemite Station. There, Reed and Archer would get transport back to Starfleet, where Jon would stand trial. It seemed like the plan was discussed, Reed acknowledged he'd take T'Pol in tow if she promised not to render him unconscious again. She agreed. Jon knew even though she cared about Malcolm, their old tactical officer, her promise was reluctant.
From being an admiral for two years or so, Archer knew the Challenger crew, the NX-11. Captain Keith Murphy was the commanding officer. Archer didn't know Murphy well, but understood the man had been in Florida when the Xindi attack came. He was at the base near Miami and rushed to the scene to save hundreds of people. It was especially harrowing as his senior officer, and the base commander had perished during the attack. Word around Starfleet was that Murphy barely escaped with his life.
Kelby, once Enterprise's Chief Engineer, served as Challenge's Chief Engineer. Although Archer hadn't been crazy about the young man during some of the years he'd served Enterprise, Archer began to understand why he'd been recommended for promotion. Kelby, like Trip, had almost an innate sense of how to fix engines. Kelby was some sort of child prodigy, joining Starfleet as a young man and earning the commander's rank at nearly 30.
As Reed prompted Archer and T'Pol to step off the Challenger's transporter pad, Captain Keith Murphy greeted him. Murphy had short brown and gray hair, having grayed early, with steely blue eyes and freckles that seemed incongruous with the gray hair. His nose was sharp with a bump at the bridge.
Instead of receiving the piped greeting for an officer, Archer got a disappointed frown from Murphy.
"I'm Captain Murphy," he said.
Archer agreed, "I know. I'm -"
Murphy said, "You and the ambassador need no introduction, sir. You two are legendary. It's good to meet you both. I just wish it were under different circumstances."
Legends are old, T'Pol thought.
Wait 'til they name a school after you, Archer thought to her. Producing a sad smile at Murphy, Jon agreed, "Me, too. I've read our file, Captain. A lot of people owe you a debt of gratitude."
"I'd say the same, sir," Murphy returned.
A security detail of five security officers awaited in the transporter room, ready to escort Jon to the brig and T'Pol to her quarters. With a sigh, Reed walked along with them. Eventually, after twisting and turning in the corridors, they arrived at the brig. Archer was disappointed the holding facilities hadn't changed much since he was a captain. It was a small room with a steel bench and hardly any privacy.
Are you sure you want to come with me, T'Pol? Archer thought, entering the brig.
Too late now. Jon's wife flicked an eyebrow at him. At least I get quarters.
A chuckle worked to the base of Jon's throat as Reed watched, obviously confused.
He probably thinks I've lost my mind, Jon thought.
Malcolm gave them information about when they'd receive meals and where the lavatory was in the brig. When the door was secured, the security officers left.
T'Pol, bags under her eyes, wavered only for a moment. Jon could tell her mind was weary and her emotional control nearly gone.
"How are you feeling?" Jon asked.
"Fine," she said. Exhausted.
He leaned against the enforced plexiglass in the brig, frowning at her with concern.
"She needs to rest," Jon said.
"I'll show her to her quarters," Reed said. Then he added, "I'll see what I can do about you staying with her, sir."
Archer was never the kind of guy to ask for special favors, but in this case, he wouldn't put up a fuss of getting assigned comfortable quarters to share with his wife.
"Thanks," Jon agreed.
Then Malcolm apologized again, probably for the tenth time since they arrived on Challenger, and then took his leave with T'Pol. She gave one last look at Jon, seeming just as lost as when she'd arrived on Earth as Vulcan's ambassador. It was heartbreaking and for the first time since visiting Andoria, he wondered if he'd done the right thing. Yes, his intentions were good - his goal was to help Andoria and Shran. But knowing his wife suffered hurt. A lot.
Jon sat on the bench as a security guard funneled into the room to keep an eye on him. Closing his eyes, he decided to quiet his mind to let his wife get some well-needed sleep.
=/\=
Shran's PADD chirped. Three hours had passed, but he hadn't heard from Starfleet. He was really hoping he would as there seemed little recourse of what he could do. Gral seemed just as angry and disappointed, his grunts louder than usual. Even the Ithanites seemed depressed. They'd stopped dancing about ten minutes ago. Tares even stopped drinking; it had nothing to do with a bottle of Andorian ale nearly drained.
Shran knew he couldn't divulge important technology, like dilithium crystals powering warp ships faster than warp 7. Nor could he share transporter technology or shielding. There was no way he could provide locations of allied forces or that each government seemed to have traitors being uncovered.
Gral sighed. "It seems they won't contact us."
"What should we do?" Shran asked.
"We can't give up information from the allies, Blue," Gral said.
Shran's antennae sank; he already knew that. "It just doesn't make any sense. Gardner seemed like he would contact us. I think he wanted to contact us."
Gral said, "We could offer Archer citizenship. Your queen owes him. And if she is unwilling, I'm sure Tyr would be happy to-"
"I doubt the Pink Skin would accept it. Archer's stubborn that way," Shran said.
Gral had to agree. The Tellarite then added, "Besides, I imagine the Vulcans would've done so already."
Shran said, "They're Vulcans. I'm not sure there's any logic to offering him citizenship."
Finally, Shran's PADD beeped, Shran nearly dropping it in excitement … until he realized it wasn't from Starfleet or Earth's prime minister. It was from Skon. Shran was about to tell the Vulcan to contact him later, when the Vulcan got straight to the point.
Skon said, "I wanted to alert you, the admiral and Ambassador T'Pol were married and then captured, transported aboard the Challenger accompanied by Captain Reed. They are on their way to Earth."
Shran said, "I knew the old tactical officer would find Archer."
Gral snorted, "Wait. Did you say they married?"
That detail had escaped Shran and his antennae stood up in recognition.
"Yes," Skon responded.
"Finally!" Gral said, squealing.
Skon recounted the ceremony quickly. To Shran, it sounded strange as well as stodgy and boring. An Andorian wedding, Shran knew, was much more exciting with drinking games (such as ice thucking), wedding songs, zhan wedding dancers, lights, roasted tarpig, and fighting. Shran recalled his own wedding - the fighting, other than the mating, was the most fun.
Shran thought it was fitting that Archer, a man who claimed to be annoyed by the Vulcans when they first met, married a Vulcan in a Vulcan ceremony surrounded by Vulcans on Vulcan. Shaking his head, he laughed and thought fate was amusing. It had been clear to him since he'd met Archer, the human was smitten with his first officer.
It's why the Pink Skin had protected her at P'Jem, on Coridan, in the Expanse and so many other times. Shran knew that devotion went beyond his compassion - a trait he didn't understand, but had relied on. Instead, he knew there was some deep-seated attraction to his first officer. Shran had felt the same the woman under his command before he met Jhamel.
"Fate is a funny betrig," Shran said. "I'm sorry I missed the wedding." Shran's antennae wilted. "And I'm sorry Archer didn't get a pardon. We bargained for one."
Skon said, "It seems the humans are insistent. I doubt it was your fault, Shran."
Shran said, "Still. Thanks for your help, Skon."
His companions were quiet. Eventually, the Tellarite spoke.
Gral said, "Blue, you've never called him by his actual name."
"Sure, I have," Shran said.
Skon didn't contradict him, and Shran was glad he didn't. The recognition in his eyes - of friendship - couldn't be missed, though. The three of them were quiet when suddenly the pig next to Shran squealed. It meant he had an idea.
Gral said, "Now that our planets are trusting each other again, we have a council and a quorum."
Shran said, "Well, good for us." As Gral grunted, he paused. "Sorry. It seems until we can convene the entire group, there's little we can do."
Gral said, "There's one thing we can do. What if instead of making Archer a citizen of Tellar Prime, Andoria, or Vulcan, we vote on him to become President of the council?"
Skon shot up an eyebrow at the suggestion. "That very well may work. He would have diplomatic immunity. And he has been an ambassador of Earth."
Shran's antennae stiffened as he said, "And with diplomatic immunity, they'd have to release him from prison. All of our governments would back him as they trust him, too. Gral, you're a genius!" Then suddenly, he considered something. "Earth has an ambassador - Neville Simon. I doubt he'd agree - Archer and Simon don't especially like each other."
Gral asked, "Ambassador Simon has proven himself. I believe Archer would even agree. Besides, would we need Simon's agreement? We could change the bylaws. We have three-fourths of the vote."
Shran nodded over to the Ithanites. "Make that four-fifths. It means we have a quorum."
Skon said, "Perhaps rather than replace Earth's ambassador, we can add the president as a position who leads without a vote, but can be used to break a tie. I believe Minister T'Pau would agree to that. Therefore, the bylaws would keep Ambassador Simon."
Shran said, "And add the Pink Skin." His smile felt infectious. "Still, Ambassador Simon doesn't care much for Archer."
Gral snorted. "He's a diplomat. There are many things we dislike, but we make compromises and accommodations."
Shran said, "Then we should contact Starfleet and let them know we have convened with a new president."
Skon suggested, "Should we not take a vote? A recorded vote?"
Shran agreed, using his PADD to record the information as Gral waved Ki'ar over. The Ithanite's fez danced as he walked to them.
Gral said, "We're voting for a president - someone who leads without a vote."
Ki'ar asked, "Who?"
Skon replied, "Archer."
Ki'ar asked, "Who's that?"
Shran laughed, "Tall, big nose, hairy, and dating the Vulcan."
The golden dwarf with the fez agreed. "Him!"
Shran said, "I nominate the Pink Skin, Jonathan Archer to become council president."
Gral agreed, "I second it."
Ki'ar, said, "Me, too!"
Gral explained, "You don't need to add a second." He gave a sound that seemed almost like a cough. "Then, all in favor of Jonathan Archer becoming the new president, say, 'Yes.'"
Skon said, "Acting Ambassador Skon of Vulcan votes, 'Yes.'"
Gral said, "Ambassador Gral of Tellar also votes, 'Yes.'"
Shran said, "Ambassador Shran of beautiful Andoria votes, 'Yes.'"
Ki'ar said, "Ki'ar, chief negotiator, say: 'Okay.'"
Gral said, "We'll count that as a yes."
Shran told them all he'd captured the vote. Then he said, "We should contact Simon and give him the option, at least."
Gral agreed.
Skon said, "In the meantime, I will continue my course to Coridan. You will meet me there?"
Gral agreed, "Yes."
Skon nodded, saying, "Admiral Archer also suggested an escort. It seems wise. I take it you will do so?"
Shran didn't like being forced into things or being told what to do, but had to admit it sounded safer.
"Maybe we can request the ship Archer is on, Challenger, to escort us," Shran added. "After all, they're headed back to Earth."
Skon agreed, but indicated it was up to Starfleet to determine which vessel would provide safety. In the meantime, he said his sister has decided to send him on a Vulcan battlecruiser - the V'Tar. Skon presented the Vulcan greeting, his hand splayed open, saying he would update them soon. Gral, in return, told him they'd let him know what happened with Ambassador Simon.
That won't be a pleasant conversation, Shran thought.
=/\=
When T'Pol reached her quarters, she realized she was bone-weary. It was disconcerting to have her husband apprehended, especially knowing he did what was best not only for the war but also for a friend. This was the second time helping Shran had cost her personally. And yet this time, unlike the last, she wasn't angry at the Andorian. Instead, she was resigned. Her husband wasn't just helping their friend, Jonathan helped Shran's entire family, including his children.
Even T'Pol had to admit, Shran was a successful diplomat - something she never would've considered. Her eyes closing, she enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Suddenly, she felt a jolt.
Uncertain how much time had passed, she noticed the ship rocked again. It caused her to sit up.
Ships never rocked unless ….
Getting out of bed, she hurried to the window to see alien vessels appearing outside, decloaking to threaten the Challenger. With raptors painted on them, they looked fierce, shimmering into view - green and black.
She suddenly noticed Jonathan stand at the window beside her. She must've been so exhausted she didn't even see him coming into the room to sleep next to her.
Jonathan?
"Reed made good on his promise," he told her, explaining his presence. He answered the question in her mind. "You've been asleep for at least eight hours. That's when I came in."
T'Pol looked back out, unsure how many ships there were in total, but she counted three from her vantage point. She knew instantly who these were - the Vulcan's ancient brethren.
Romulans, Jonathan thought.
"Yes, beloved," she agreed.
A voice shouted over the speaker.
"All hands! This is the captain - battle stations!" Captain Murphy said.
The lighting dropped to the faint red glow that she had become used to on Enterprise. But it was strange not to be on the bridge to experience it. She knew from her bond that her husband felt the same way.
The ship rocked again more violently than before and T'Pol had to hang on to keep from being thrown to the ground.
"We can't just sit here," Jon said.
"What do you propose we do?" T'Pol asked.
She sensed in her bond, he was considering opening the door, knocking a guard unconscious, and making his way to the bridge. That course of action, she decided, was highly illogical.
Jon said, "I'm still an admiral." T'Pol knew more his statement went beyond pride, although that was a component; he believed he could help. "Captain Murphy would have to listen."
Instead, she crossed the room and contacted Reed. "Ambassador T'Pol to Captain Reed," she said.
"I'm a little busy at the moment, T'Pol," Reed shouted. She heard his order to load torpedoes and hang on. "Fire!"
"Malcolm, the admiral and I would like-"
"Can't do it," Reed said, cutting her off. "As much as I'd like your help right now, you're in confinement."
Her husband couldn't keep silent. "And we're just supposed to hang around while Challenger is outmatched? Let us help."
Jonathan's eyes narrowed, almost warring with T'Pol's. It reminded her of being under his command when he'd set his jaw - determined to do something with or without her support. She now, as she did then, steeled herself. When Jonathan Archer had decided, little could be done to sway him from it. Now, however, it helped to understand his mind so thoroughly. His intention was only to assist.
"Malcolm?" Jon asked.
Reed stopped the transmission and Jon grunted in frustration. His eyes immediately went to the door and he grabbed a nearby vase, decor, as his weapon.
"Wait," she said.
"We don't have a choice, T'Pol," he said.
"We can tap into ship communications to understand what is happening on the bridge. Perhaps Captain Murphy has the situation under control," T'Pol said.
Archer nodded hesitantly - although she knew he hadn't abandoned the idea of rushing to the bridge - as he took some direction from her. The two maneuvered wires to the best of their ability and finally heard coming from the comm the faint voice of Murphy. Static occasionally crackled over the line, but they could listen to what was happening.
T'Pol tried to amplify so she could hear more clearly the bridge conversation.
"Jesus, there's two more that showed up. Six total. We're outgunned," the science officer said.
"Chance, you send that distress call - all allied frequencies?" Murphy asked.
"Yes, sir. The Vulcan ship is close. Should be here in an hour."
"I don't think we have an hour," Murphy said. "Take us to warp seven."
Another violent rocking sent T'Pol nearly to the ground. Jon was knocked down, but got up quickly. The communication from the bridge continued.
"Warp engine is offline, Captain," a voice said.
"We're being hailed from the lead ship."
"On screen," Murphy said.
"Can't, sir."
This time it was fainter. "Prepare to be boarded, humans."
"Fire torpedoes - maximum yield!"
T'Pol saw bodies floating along her window and even her husband jumped at the site. Return-fire hit a neighboring vessel. T'Pol noted out her window, a Romulan ship blew up, sending debris everywhere, including hitting the window.
She was about to agree with her husband when she noticed he was already out the door.
"Let's go," he told her.
Though there was a guard nearly a meter outside her cabin, but he was busy helping an injured crewman. T'Pol and Jon used his distraction to get to the elevator banks. As she walked, she saw Challenger coming down around her, reminding her of damage to Enterprise while she was acting captain - when Jonathan left to destroy the Xindi weapon. Bulkheads crashed to the ground. Deck plating was singed and scored. Sparks flew in all directions from loose conduits.
"T'Pol!" her husband yelled.
She barely dodged a beam that had crashed to the ground, penetrating the hull - even through its reinforcements. T'Pol saw the blackness of space.
They weren't feeling the vacuum of space yet, but T'Pol could tell by the size they would soon.
"We sprang a leak!" Jon told her. He yelled down the hallway to crewmen. "Head to D deck or juncture eleven or thirteen!"
"Some of the elevators are jammed!" someone shouted back.
"Use the other ones!" Archer yelled. "Or use the Jeffries tubes."
Soon the elevators were shooting beyond E deck upward. Jon continued pointing crewmen toward the exits telling them to hurry. T'Pol walked to comms.
She said, "T'Pol to Captain Murphy. We need to evacuate everyone from E, junction twelve."
"Captain Murphy's dead, ma'am!"
Jon closed in, adding his voice, "Bridge, begin procedures to seal off this area. We're venting."
T'Pol went to one elevator bank that was jammed. Flipping the panel next to the elevator open, she began to reset the controls - overriding the safety protocols - as she'd done on Enterprise years ago. She heard the familiar hum of the elevator and a woman, undoubtedly glad to be unstuck, appeared as the doors opened.
"You're a sight for sore eyes. But it's safer in your quarters, ma'am," the woman said. "Sir."
"I didn't see anyone left in the area. We have to get the hell off this deck," Jon said. He and T'Pol entered, jabbing the button for the Bridge.
"Come with us, Lt. Fuller," T'Pol said.
Immediately the elevator began to sputter to life. Jon pressed the comm in there. "Bridge, this is the Admiral. Life signs on E deck twelve?"
"None, sir," a crewman said.
"Seal it!" he said.
"Aye, sir!" the crewman said.
Jon said, "All Hands, go to the nearest weapons locker and arm yourselves. Reed, send a security force to the airlock. Fire at whatever tries to board."
Wise, the boarding party may look like Vulcans, T'Pol thought.
"Admiral, you're-" Reed began.
"When you're done putting together a security team, get to the bridge, Captain Reed," he said.
"Sir-"
"That's an order!"
As her husband took command of the situation, T'Pol examined the crewperson next to her. Although Lt. Fuller was hurt, blood on her cheek, T'Pol knew not severely.
"Ambassador, this is -" Lt. Fuller started.
"Unusual, I know. We heard there is trouble on the bridge," T'Pol explained. "You were on Enterprise, I remember."
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened to a gruesome sight on the bridge.
Glass, steel, plastic, and blood was everywhere. Lighting flickered, and a fire raged at tactical. She recoiled, seeing even body parts strewn about the bridge. The smell of decay, sweat, fire, and blood invaded her nostrils and she felt ill.
The entire bridge crew appeared dead except for the science officer. T'Pol knelt to Captain Murphy, his body near the captain's chair, and put her fingers at his neck to feel a pulse. One was barely detectable.
"He's alive," she said to Jon. "Barely."
As Jon got behind the helm controls, she talked with the science officer. He looked young, even for a human, with dark skin, eyes, and hair. She looked at his uniform - Ensign Travers.
"Our structural integrity is near thirteen percent. We're adrift," Travers said. "Medics can't reach us."
"Tell them to use the Jeffries tubes," T'Pol said. She pointed to a junction on the map, glad that hadn't been upgraded since her time serving as first officer. The ensign seemed surprised but relayed the command.
Jon asked, "Do you know who's in command, crewman?"
Travers seemed to review a frazzled screen and shook his head.
"All right." Her husband said, with authority, "I'm now assuming command."
T'Pol asked, "Have the Romulans docked with us?"
"Yes. Just thirty seconds ago," Travers said.
But If we can't stop them, we need to blow her up, Jon thought.
She knew exactly who her was - Challenger - and agreed. But she wasn't ready to admit defeat, and neither was he.
Jon's fingers flew at the helm and he mentioned the controls were sluggish. As he attempted to maneuver away from the shuttle, T'Pol went to the weapons locker at the bridge and retrieved a phase pistol for Travers, Jon, Fuller, and herself. Fuller got behind comms as T'Pol asked how close the Vulcan ship was.
Fuller said, "Twenty-eight minutes."
T'Pol knew by the flurry of details in Jon's mind, he was trying to shake the docked vessel loose from the helm.
"Hull plating?" Jon asked.
T'Pol took the center console at the captain's chair. "Negligible."
"Can we overload it, shaking the Romulan ship loose?" he asked.
"Unknown," T'Pol said.
"Transporter?" Jon asked.
T'Pol said, "Offline."
T'Pol crossed over to the science station to get the information when Reed got to the bridge. He took one look around and cursed loudly. Taking an extinguisher, he put out the fire at tactical.
"This is a bloody mess," Reed said. The words were said almost in reverence, not in anger.
"Captain Reed, can you see if we can overload hull plating with T'Pol?" Jon asked.
Malcolm and T'Pol discussed it. If they did, while the hull plating was reversed, it would leave Challenger defenseless. It seemed a risk worth taking to get rid of Romulan boarding parties. T'Pol got underneath the science station and began the procedure as Reed contacted security to see if any intruders had boarded.
In the meantime, medics cleared out personnel, reporting Captain Murphy was barely alive, but the comms officer, helmsman, and tactical officer had perished.
"Captain Reed, they're trying to cut through the airlock," one of the security men said through the speaker.
The voice sounded tinny as if ship-wide communications were starting to fail. Fuller told the bridge crew she was working on it to fix the issue.
"Contact me the minute they board," Reed said.
"Some cameras are working, Admiral," Fuller said.
"Good," Jon said. "I've rebooted helm - I have some control, but it's limited."
T'Pol said, "Hull plating is ready to be reversed at your command."
Do it! Jon said in her mind.
T'Pol began the procedure and Fuller put one of the cameras up on the video screen. They heard the creak of the Challenger as then saw the docked Romulan vessel shaken loose from the docking mooring, set adrift - propelling by the reversed hull plating. It floated by and then collided into another Romulan ship.
The two Romulan ships exploded and Travers cheered. T'Pol disengaged the hull plating working on setting it back to protect them.
"Warp drive is still offline," Jon said. "Archer to Engineering - what's the ETA on getting warp drive back?"
Kelby, Challenger's Engineer answered, "About twenty minutes, sir."
Fuller said, "Vulcans should arrive in nineteen minutes."
"Damn," Reed said.
"Sir, the Romulans are hailing us," Fuller said.
"On screen?" Archer asked.
"Unable, sir. Ship-to-ship video is down," she said.
He nodded and she put the voice over the speaker. The man that spoke sounded menacing, his voice deep and booming, as it crackled on the bridge's speaker.
"This is Commander Tak of the Siran-Tu. Your ship will be a prize to the Star Empire."
T'Pol knew her husband needed to stall, and he was prepared to do so.
Jon said, "This is Admiral Archer on Challenger. We were surprised you cloaked in so close to the Vulcan border of space. I-"
"Admiral? This will be a prize," Tak interrupted. "You will be paraded down the streets of Tastar. And I will earn another medal. Prepare to be boarded."
"We have anti-boarding tech - you may've noticed," Archer said.
Travers said, "Sir, there's another shuttle off our bow. Make that two."
Tak said, "You're outnumbered. I'd prefer to take Challenger to Romulus, but I will destroy her if I must."
Jon said, "I'm not going to let that happen. Perhaps we can negotiate some kind of surrender."
"Admiral!" Reed said.
But T'Pol knew, based on her husband's mind, he had no intention of handing Challenger over. He'd blow it up - even with her aboard - if he needed to. Hearing they had additional boarding parties, left the hull plating reversed.
Jonathan, T'Pol thought. Their ships are significantly smaller than ours. Perhaps we should lay in a collision course.
Ram them?! Jon asked her. Through their bond, T'Pol knew he started to look to see if he could get impulse to take them out. You would've made a great captain, honey.
Tak said, "I've just read in our database, Archer, that you're the admiral who has been credited with destroying at least four Romulan ships within the past year."
"Am I? Which vessels? I'm curious," Jon said as he thought, Disappointing, I thought it was more.
T'Pol quietly worked with the science officer to determine the best course to take causing maximum damage to the Romulan vessels while minimizing issues with the Challenger. They determined they could evacuate parts of the saucer using that portion of the ship. It would mean minimal casualties on Challenger. Although doing so may cause further disruptions. Even for T'Pol, it was difficult for her to calculate what damage would be done to systems across the ship.
"Sir, the Romulan vessel has docked," Travers said.
T'Pol didn't need an order to initiate the hull plating reverse, throwing the vessel off. Again, the Romulan ship was tossed away. Unfortunately, T'Pol noticed they were able to maintain control from the force. Another ship started to maneuver toward them.
"You're wasting time," Tak said.
"I suppose it's mine to waste," Archer replied.
The Romulan then cut the communication link.
Reed said, "Admiral, I was able to repair tactical to a degree. We can fire a weapons array if we need to."
"Good work," Archer said. "We're going to set a course to collide with the ships."
"Sir?" Reed asked.
"T'Pol's idea. All we need to do is pick out an area that would cause them maximum damage while limiting ours."
Reed agreed, adding, "One more thing, sir. This vessel is armed with nuclear torpedoes. It was a recent upgrade - I wasn't sure you were aware."
T'Pol crossed the bridge and worked with Malcolm. With her showing where Challenger could take the structural damage, they found a patch of Romulan vessels that may have a harder time getting away.
Jon then moved to the comms. "Fuller, anything from any allied vessel?"
"No, sir. We still have more than ten minutes until the Vulcans arrive."
Travers said, "Admiral, the other Romulan ship is getting to the airlock."
Reed said, "The Romulans are charging weapons."
"T'Pol reconfigure so we have hull plating. Malcolm, we're going to have to let security handle this. Send whatever's needed there to keep them there."
"Aye," Reed said. T'Pol could hear him make an announcement. "Security, be prepared. They should be docking any moment. Get all available personnel to help fend off the Romulans."
T'Pol said, "We could lure the Romulans to E deck, junction twelve. It's venting atmosphere."
Reed agreed and sent that order to his team. "If possible, lead the Romulans to E, junction twelve. We'll clear the way so you can do that. After you've left, we'll reseal."
The ship rocked as the Romulans fired. The comms station started to catch fire as Fuller fell to the ground. The woman was mostly all right, a burn on her cheek, getting back to her station.
"Fire whenever you want, Captain Reed," Jon said.
"With pleasure," Reed agreed.
This time, Challenger caused explosions to one Romulan vessel destroying it. T'Pol knew that was the nuclear weapon and nearly frowned. They had nearly destroyed Vulcan and earth.
Fuller said, "Admiral, the comm is down."
T'Pol said, "We're ready to hit the cluster of ships."
The ship jolted this time and behind T'Pol she heard the Ready Room take a beating. The door blew open as landing on the deck plating with a thud.
"Structural damage reports coming in," Reed said. "We don't have much time."
Archer said, "I think it's now or never. Give me the coordinates."
As Reed worked on damage reports and began talking with security - the Romulans already boarding - T'Pol took the captain's chair to get a display.
She told him the coordinates, as he nodded acknowledgment.
"Set," Jon confirmed.
Travers said, "Front portions of the saucer section have been evacuated, sirs … ma'am."
Challenger, on impulse, headed toward a group of Romulan ships. Jon kept his fingers on the keyboard and continued to eye where the ship was going. T'Pol even knew her husband was making it seem like they were adrift, his pattern chaotic almost like a first-year warp pilot.
A security guard burst through the comms overhead, "Captain Reed, Vulcans are on the ship firing on us!"
Reed furrowed his brow. "Vulcans?"
"Tell them to fire back!" T'Pol said. She couldn't help the emotion in her voice.
Again, the Challenger was hit by a Romulan weapon, an explosion at the helm. Jonathan dodged the spark from it just in time.
"Still working," Jon said of the helm.
T'Pol said, "New heading."
She reeled off a set of coordinates and Jon scrambled to get a course laid in.
Jon said, "Got it. Full impulse."
Travers said, "Sir, I'm reading Vulcan bio-signs heading this way."
Then there was a notification over at Reed's station. "Rogers to Reed. We can't hold the Vulcans off! One got away. We think he's headed to the bridge."
Travers confirmed, "In the elevator."
Reed said, "Get every available crewman to help! I don't care if you need to throw deck plating at them. Keep the rest cornered or the ship is theirs!"
We'd destroy this vessel before we allowed that, T'Pol thought.
T'Pol said, "Travers, keep an eye on the elevator bank and fire at whatever enters. Don't hesitate."
The young man pulled out the phase pistol he was given, his hand shaking, and kept it aimed at the elevator bank.
"Three minutes until the Vulcan ship arrives," Fuller said.
Reed added, "Kelby says five minutes ETA on getting warp drive."
"Ten seconds to impact," T'Pol said to the makeshift bridge crew.
The ship's internal sensors began to clang in alarm that it would hit an object as T'Pol watched the viewscreen. They were coming up to the Romulan vessel - so close she could see the bridge wondering if they could see them. T'Pol even made out the outline of pointed ears, wondering if her human friends could also see.
"The Romulans are hailing," Fuller said.
"Ignore it!" Jon barked.
T'Pol placed her finger on the comm. "All hands, brace for impact!"
"Hull plating!" Jon said.
"Done," Reed agreed.
T'Pol said, "Four, three, two, one."
Then suddenly, a deafening moan cascaded through the ship sending everyone spilling to the deck. Instead of the faint red lighting of battle stations, utter darkness descended on them. Even internal lighting had failed. The viewscreen also went down.
She heard the crunching of steel as beams and systems on the bridge began to be destroyed, spark, and burn. It was the only illumination. Electric shocks came through, system-wide; one threw Jon to the deck, his body convulsing with aftershocks. The pain in his mind was unbearable and it nearly sent T'Pol to her knees. Yet, she knew he was alive and believed he would survive.
Doubling over, she noticed Reed's station fizzled and the fire he'd once put out started up again, jumping onto his suit. He barely patted it out. Fuller too felt the electric shock at her station, but wasn't thrown clear. T'Pol heard Fuller's screams fill the bridge.
"Let go!" T'Pol told her.
T'Pol would've gone over there, but the pain through her bond with Jon prevented her from making it before Fuller slumped over, the cries ending.
In the darkness, T'Pol heard the elevator bay open and someone step onto the bridge.
"Gammadan has arrived for you all," it said.
T'Pol whipped around to shoot at whatever was coming from the elevator bank. She wasn't sure whether she missed or not until the shadow sent out a beam of light that looked like it hit Travers. The ensign collapsed. T'Pol ducked behind the captain's chair and fired again immediately, watching the light of her phase pistol show the faint outline of a Vulcan before he fell.
"That looked like -" Reed began, his voice hoarse from being wounded.
"Yes," she told him. "Check on Travers and Fuller."
T'Pol headed to her husband who twitched in pain. Knowing at this point it was safe to touch him, she cradled his head as she bowed hers toward him. Her body was wearier than she could ever remember, yet she knew she had to press on. Ramming the Romulan ship was a calculated risk. She hoped that the collision and the damage it caused would pay off.
Jon tried to roll over and stand, impossible given the voltage running through his system. T'Pol sat in the captain's chair and looked at the damage reports coming from all over the ship. She knew she and Reed would need to respond, sealing off more decks.
Quickly, she contacted Sickbay. "T'Pol to Sickbay. We need medics here at the first possible chance. We have injured bridge crew, including Admiral Archer."
"Dr. Hoskins here. Acknowledged. We'll send someone within the next ten minutes."
"Send your casualty reports as soon as possible," she said.
Reed said, "Warp drive needed more time."
T'Pol said, "The Vulcans should be here soon."
Reed said, "Dear God, I hope so."
A/N: Big battle awaits! Find out whether Archer, T'Pol, and Reed survive. Discover whether the Vulcans reach the Challenger. The final countdown!