The year of 2160, marked the conclusion of the first interstellar conflict in human history, the Earth-Romulan war. As the Coalition of Planets, as led by the forces of the Earth's Starfleet returned to their home worlds to lick their wounds and rebuild, the formation of a boundary between the two powers, the Neutral Zone had been created over Sub-Space Radio frequencies. As a result, not one person from Starfleet, had ever seen the face of a Romulan and survived.
At least, that is the official story…
December fourteenth, 2160.
Earth's first deep space exploration vessel, the aging NX-01 Enterprise, had finally returned to her home port for one final, brief upgrade of her aging systems along with final crew replacements before the vessel would begin her last assignment into the galaxy. A tour of those worlds once visited by the gallant vessel, before her eventual retirement from active service within the following year. One, final action for the legendary vessel which had been at the very heart of the conflicts with the Romulan Star Empire, since their initial contact several years earlier when the Enterprise herself, had become stricken inside of a Romulan Minefield.
Once the new crew replacements had settled into their assigned cabins, Captain Jonathon Archer and his long time friend and Chief Engineer, the unusual Commander Charles Tucker the Third stepped side-by-side through the corridors as they continued to discuss the operational status of their aging and prized vessel. As they turned left around a corner which had led towards Engineering, a young and dark haired officer instantly bumped into the Commander and fell, as the computer tablets she had carried carefully in her hands, scattered across the corridors.
"Why don't you watch where your… Captain, Commander? I am so sorry…"
"No Lieutenant, it was my fault. Are you injured?" Commander Tucker replied, as he bent down to offer his hand to the young lieutenant, sat on the deck plating in shock.
"I'm fine sir, really. Thank you…" She replied, as she took his hand to stand, before bending down to pick up her computer tablets. "… I was on my way to armoury, to report in to Mister Reed"
"Reed, you're tactical?"
"Amongst other things, yes Captain. I know, not very tactical like was I? head buried in my tablet…"
"We'll let it go this time, Lieutenant…?"
"Um, West Sir. Lieutenant Amanda West. You are Commander Tucker, the Chief Engineer?"
"As a matter of fact, it does say that on my Uniform" Commander Tucker joked, as the Captain sighed slightly.
"Well then Sir? I should also report in, to yourself. I'm also on your Engineering Roster. I like to keep my fingers in a lot of pies" She replied, as she stood slowly, before the Commander studied her face with several questions, echoing within his eyes.
"Do, Do I know you Lieutenant?"
"No sir, we've never met. Well Sirs? If you will excuse me, I should report to the Armoury. Once I am finished sir, I will report to yourself in Engineering. Captain, Commander…"
Seeing the Captain, with his head seemingly buried into a file as displayed on one of her computer tablets, a slight sigh slipped from her lips as she respectfully, pulled the tablet from his hands before nodding politely and continuing along her route throughout the ship. Seeing the Commander's eyes follow the young officer along the corridor, the Captain sighed slightly as he spoke.
"She's a little young for you, isn't she Trip?"
"What, No. I mean, I wasn't looking like that. Does she look familiar to you Cap'n? I could swear I've seen her before, somewhere"
"I don't know, I've seen a lot of people in the past five years"
"Damn, she looks familiar to me"
As the final preparations to launch had been completed, and the NX-01 Enterprise, left the orbital dry-dock for the final time in her service to Earth's Starfleet, Enterprise finally warped away from Earth towards her first destination on her tour of honour, the planet Vulcan for preparations had begun, preparations for the creation of what would become a vast interstellar alliance. Two weeks into their long journey towards the distant planet, the birthplace of Humanity's most important and oldest none-human allies, the Vulcan people. Commander Tucker had tried very hard, to shake the feeling that he knew the young Lieutenant, each time she had reported for duty as a Maintenance Engineer, a feeling which had almost driven him to the point of sleepless nights, as all that he could think of was, where had he seen the young woman. Eventually speaking with the members of the crew whom he had known for many years, including Malcolm Reed, he was met instantly with the same question from the somewhat stoic, Englishman he had come to call one of his closest friends.
Zero-Three Hundred Hours.
Enterprise Mess-Hall.
Eighteen Days from Planet Vulcan.
A cup of Vulcan Spiced Tea, and a book before retiring to sleep, had long since become the Lieutenant's routine, after pulling double shifts in both the Armoury and Engineering departments. Although not one of the countless, computer tablets which Humanity had adapted too, over the centuries, a hard-bound, paper book was her primary means of entertainment. A book published over ten years ago in both digital and hard copy. The Collin's Advanced Starship Combat Tactics, a book which had become required reading in recent years for all Starfleet Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers. Unlike the majority of the crew and those she had known, the Lieutenant had preferred to make notes with a pen and paper, as she copied the tactics with her own twist, in a leather-bound book.
Finally finishing her cup of tea, which had become her favourite over the years. As some had stated, an acquired taste, due to the bland flavour, a simple splash of honey had brought out the taste of the beverage. Finally closing her book, after marking the page and placing her pen carefully inside of a pocket of her uniform. Amanda West stood from her table before walking towards the dispensary to place her empty cup and the small pot of honey inside of the case. After returning to her table to recovery her two books, she finally left the Mess-hall, only to be knocked off of her feet once again, after bumping into two officers as they entered the room.
"Oh come on. What is it with you and knocking me on my ass, Commander?"
"Once again Lieutenant? I am so sorry"
"You seem to make a habit of that Sir"
"The Collins' Bible? A little heavy reading before bed, Miss West?" Malcolm Reed asked, as he picked up the two books from the deck plating, while she stood with assistance from Commander Tucker. "What is this…?"
"That is, that's private. Sir!"
"Rewriting the Collins' Tactical Bible? Heavy work"
"It's personal, sirs. If you wouldn't mind? Thank you" Amanda West nodded politely, as he handed her the two books. "If you will excuse me Sirs? I usually get six hours sleep, before I report for duty"
A hidden past, a secret kept for three long years from all but those at the highest level of Starfleet Command, and their Vulcan allies, had been kept by the Lieutenant under direct order. A hidden and highly classified secret, which was about to be blown wide open by the Commander, as he watched her leave and realisation, had finally hit the Engineer as he stood in shock and awe, before calling out five words.
"I know who you are, Lieutenant"
"Of course Sir? I helped you to realign the port injectors, this morning. Good evening sirs"
"I've been trying to place where I knew you from, since you came aboard Enterprise. It's been driving me crazy. Why did you change your name, Lieutenant Commander, Amanda… Wallace?"
Instantly, the Lieutenant froze as the Chief Armoury Officer looked towards the Commander with shock in his eyes. A name known only to a handful of Starfleet Officers, a name almost as legendary as those of the Enterprise crew, themselves. For a brief moment, her head hung low as if to sigh, before standing tall and proud and turning to face the two officers stood inside of the mess-hall as she spoke.
"Who?"
"Trip, are you certain?"
"I never forget a face. Her, accent is changed, hair colour, even her eye colour has been altered. But, she is Wallace"
"How, how did you figure me out? I have to know Commander" The young woman asked with a whisper, as she stepped towards the two officers.
"So you can hide, once again?" Replied Lieutenant Reed, with almost surprise in his voice.
"Something like that.
"The most highly decorated officer in the history of Starfleet, wants to hide. Why?"
"If you know who I am, then you know what I hold. Keep your god damned voice down Lieutenant, that is an order with regards to my singular status. There isn't a person on this ship, whom can give me a direct order, not even Archer"
"So, the rumours are true. You do hold the Starfleet Medal of Honour?"
"No Commander Tucker, the award that I was given, is even higher. Now, keep your gods damned mouths shut!"
The Starfleet Medal of Honour, an award dating back centuries on Earth, a descendant of the American Medal of Honour, given to those in the armed forces whom had displayed exceptional valour during their service. What award, given to the strange little Human female, could be higher and why, could she freely give orders to superior officers. As far as Commander Tucker could remember, there was only one Award which could freely give such latitude, an award given by the highest authority on Earth, the Prime Minster of the United Earth Government. Shock, enveloped the Chief Engineer, as he looked down upon the short, blonde human female, more so as her American accent seemingly slipped into an Irish accent, only for a moment before recovering her American accent.
"Your, accent slipped, Lieutenant"
"Commander, do not speak to me in such a tone. I can have you removed from this ship and busted down to Cadet, with just one call. But, that's not who I am. I was out of line and I apologise. Just please, don't mention to anyone who I am? You'd be surprised at just how different people can react, when they know my true identity. I have to know, how did you figure me out?"
"I served on Columbia, for a short time during her initial launch. I still have a few friends onboard"
"That's funny, when I was there? They all hated you. I heard the stories from Rivers. I'm only going to be on board, until we reach Vulcan, after that I disembark and you are free to tell anyone who I am… but not until then, please?"
"Two weeks, Lieutenant. But, I can make no promises that the Cap'n won't discover your identity, himself. Archer has a lot of friends…"
"And I have more Enemies, Commander. An entire Empire filled with enemies. I tell you what, if you keep this secret? Before I leave, I will explain everything to you, what I can anyway"
"On that, West? You have a deal. I've been interested in that case since the rumours broke"
Three Weeks Later…
Close to the Vulcan star system, rumours had begun to circulate around the Enterprise as to a possible relationship between Commander Tucker and Lieutenant West, mainly as the Commander had been seen entering and exiting her quarters, at unusual hours of the day and night. Rumours of which Lieutenant West had tried to put to rest, by claiming that she was engaged to another, soon afterwards, the ship's scuttlebutt had exploded with rumours of infidelity on behalf of the Lieutenant, more so as she was believed to be engaged to someone else.
Once again, at a late hour, the Lieutenant had continued with her nightly routine of a late night book and note book, along with her favourite beverage, Vulcan spiced tea with a hint of honey as she sat alone in a distant corner of the Mess-Hall. Although on that occasion, she was not making her usual notes, seemingly sat with her arms folded across her chest and her eyes closed, unaware of a person entering the Messhall for a late night snack, Captain Jonathon Archer with his faithful Beagle walking calmly at his side.
"You know Lieutenant? It could be more comfortable, sleeping in your own quarters?" The Captain called out with a slight laughter, as he ordered himself a cup of tea from the dispensary. "Lieutenant?"
"What?" The Lieutenant called out, as she almost leapt out of her skin as she sat upright. "Captain? I must've nodded off. What time is it?"
"Zero Four-Thirty. How long have you been asleep in here?"
"Four Thirty? A little over four hours, I guess. Another double shift in the Armoury and Engineering…"
"Lieutenant, you're exhausted. Pulling double shifts, for this length of time? Isn't good for anyone, not even a Vulcan. I'll let Trip and Reed know you're off-duty for the rest of the day. Get some rest, that is an order"
"I, I can handle it Sir. I got used to little sleep, during the war"
"Four hours sleeping in a chair, says otherwise, Lieutenant" Replied Captain Archer, as he stepped towards her table and sat before her.
"I can sleep anywhere, Captain. Even stood up, with my eyes open"
"West, Don't make me have you confined to your quarters for the rest of the day. Take the day off, get some rest. You're an exceptional officer, from what Reed and Trip say about you. But, burning the candle at both ends as you are? You'll burn out within days, surprised that you haven't already"
"I am fine, Captain. I suppose I should freshen up a little? I'm due back in the Armoury at zero six-hundred. If you'll excuse me Captain…?"
Closing her two books, and placing her pen back into the correct pocket on her uniform, the Lieutenant stood slowly, before swaying slightly and her eyes rolled up into the back of her head as she collapsed onto the deck plating, narrowly missing the table between herself and the Captain. Instantly leaping onto his feet, to check on the unconscious Lieutenant, Captain Archer instantly made the call to sickbay from the communicator he had recovered from his left sleeve. Awakening several hours later, in sickbay, Lieutenant West sat upright in shock, as she saw the Doctor, Captain, First Officer, Chief Engineer and Chief Tactical Officers, stood in a circle whispering amongst themselves.
"What, what happened. Why am I in sickbay?"
"You, passed out… lucky for you, I was there at the time"
"Captain, I…"
"You're off duty, as of now. This isn't my order, these orders come from Doctor Phlox"
"Captain, I need to work. Please sir, let me work?"
"Not until you answer our questions, Lieutenant Commander Amanda Wallace. Don't look at them, they had nothing to do with it…"
"So, you all know who I am. What now?"
"Questions need answering, Commander Wallace"
"Amanda Wallace, is dead sir. I am Amanda West…"
"Not according to your genetic scans, Commander?" Doctor Phlox replied, with a large smile upon his face. "The surgery to alter your features, is impressive…"
"Just enough not to be recognised, Commander. So why are you hiding?"
"Captain, please don't ask me to tell you everything? Because no one here, has the clearance to know, what I know"
"Lieutenant Amanda Wallace, Assigned to the Columbia, presumed lost in battle, only to resurface after months and onboard of a Romulan Cruiser, which she had captured alone"
"I wasn't alone, Commander T'Pol. I had help, from a small Andorian fleet of three ships"
"As the reports claim…" Commander T'Pol replied, slowly, before the Captain continued.
"You where alone on that ship, Wallace. How in the hell…"
"I was their prisoner, I was picked up during an ambush and brought onboard. I was tortured and questioned, for days, maybe even weeks. They got sloppy, I saw an opening and took it. When the Andorian fleet attacked the ship and her three escorts. I used the distraction of the attack, to fight my way out of my cell. Those bastards are strong sirs, very strong. My Dad was an Engineer and Mom, a Tactical Officer. I was taught by both from as soon as I was old enough. I fought them low to the ground…"
"You've seen a Romulan, in the flesh?" Malcolm Reed asked, with pure interest.
"No, they all wore metallic masks, to hide their features. Lucky for myself? It limited their vision. I used their own weapons to fight my way throughout their ship until I reached their engineering. First and foremost, I trained in tactics, ground tactics. I know how to fight a superior enemy force, hand-to-hand if needed"
"Continue, Commander…" Malcolm Reed called out, with a large and impressed smile.
"Once I had taken out those in the engine room, I accessed their environmental controls, I shut down life-support across the ship, except engineering which I used to pilot the ship and attack the Romulan escorts, with their own weapons. An Andorian Commander, later told me that he almost blew me out of the stars, before I turned and attacked the Romulan ships. Together, we destroyed all three of their forces, before I signalled my surrender and welcomed an Andorian team, onboard"
"You captured the ship. Where is it now?"
"The Andorians, tried to take the ship for themselves. I had to fight one of them for the right to keep the ship. I lost… I was exhausted and almost sliced to pieces by her blade…"
"Were familiar with it!" Captain Archer called out, with a slight smile.
"I know sir, I read the file when I was back at Command. The Commander, was so impressed with not only how I had single handily captured that ship, killed the entire crew, but fought her on her own terms, all in a matter of hours. We contacted both Andor and Earth, with the news. Direct to both commands. Both had agreed that the ship, is the single most important piece of intelligence on the Romulan Empire to date. I was ordered to command the ship, and take her someplace where she could be torn apart for her secrets…"
"You mean, Vulcan. That's why you're going to Vulcan?" Malcolm Reed asked, with a seemingly ever growing smile.
"No Mister Reed, not Vulcan. A neutral site, where everyone, Andorian, Human and Vulcan can study the ship in secret. Not even I know where it is being held, for reasons of security"
"What about Bodies, Commander Wallace. There must have been bodies, onboard of that ship?"
"Doctor Phlox? That is where my, authorisation ends. And before you ask? If I mention what I have seen, with my own eyes? Neither of us, will live long enough to tell anyone"
"Your so called 'Golden Ticket'?" Captain Archer asked, slowly with a growing smile.
"No Captain, Sir? I have yet to cash that in. I've never been to Vulcan before, I just, want to see your home world, Commander T'Pol"
"Golden Ticket?" Doctor Phlox asked, with a slight frown on his face.
"It's only a rumour, Doctor. The highest award ever given to a Starfleet Officer. Rumour states, that a recipient of said award, can request any assignment in the fleet, anywhere and it has to be granted"
"It's not a rumour, Captain. And you're also slightly wrong. I could, do anything… even command a ship myself. And it has to be granted. I can even take Enterprise from you, demand her to be stripped down and rebuilt from the keel upwards and pressed back into service. It has to be granted. In essence? I could be The most powerful officer, in the history of the fleet. But, that's not me Captain. I changed my identity, my name? Hair and eye colour, dropped my Irish accent, in order to hide. I know that you all have thousands of questions. But, I can't answer those questions. Doctor, you said that my facial features had been altered? They hadn't been. I never told the Romulans anything, during my capture and I was rewarded for my silence, with being beaten. I live in constant pain, because of their treatment. When the Andorians found me, I was a shell of a Human, beaten half to death and back again. Luckily for me, always down to luck? There was an Andorian Doctor onboard of one of those ships, whom had been familiar with Human biology. My face, had to be reconstructed. That's why I look slightly different, and hell? I'm even slightly shorter than I once had been"
Planet Vulcan.
Secured Facility.
How many people, had stepped past that one small structure, in a small city on Vulcan, on a daily basis? No one could say, no one but the security forces monitoring the structure. After taking her leave, of the Enterprise and transporting down to the surface of the planet, the once Lieutenant Commander, Amanda Wallace stepped into a small building on the outskirts of the Planet's capital city, before being transported to the other side of the planet, via a satellite network to materialise inside of a small structure. Seeing a human male, wearing a Starfleet Uniform complete with the rank of Captain, instantly stand to attention and salute her arrival, her once calm and pleasant demeanour, instantly changed into one of authority as she stepped down from the transporter platform, only to throw her bag towards the Captain as she spoke.
"Madam Director, Welcome back"
"Thank you Thomas. Status?"
"As per our last report, Sir? We are on track. There is one thing that I have to report, during your transport from our Satellite we detected a small trace of radiation which emanated from yourself, it was neutralised during transport"
"Sounds like Archer wanted to track me. Walk with me, Thomas. I take it that sterilisation protocols have been completed?"
"Yes, Madam Director. The procedure is automatic and untraceable. All he will find, is an empty building, as per design. There is another thing that I feel that I should bring up with you. You're little guest…"
"I will speak with her, once I am settle in. I know that no one trusts her. Because of her species? But, that young woman saved my life, several times and without her assistance? We wouldn't have this, beauty now would we Captain?"
Stepping into a large room, containing desks and computer consoles all lined up before a large window, Amanda Wallace and the Starfleet Captain, seemingly beneath her command stopped before the large window which looked out over a large, deep green vessel of alien origin. A large vessel held into place by a web-like structure which surrounded the captured Romulan Cruiser which was currently undergoing reverse engineering and analysis.