Trip had to admit that it was an arduous week working with Jefferies. He really didn't know how the older man kept up the schedule he set for himself. They got to work before eight in the morning, had working lunches, and worked until dinner, when they finally took a break before reviewing what they did for the day. If Trip could survive on four hours of sleep a night then Jefferies could survive on two or three. By the end of the week he needed five or six cups of coffee to get through the day, while Jefferies drank Earl Gray tea. With six weeks leave now on his hands, he commed his parents to let them know he was coming home for a visit.
His parents had moved from Panama City and bought a house on the beach in Parker, Florida, just outside of Panama City. They wanted peace and quiet, as well as buying a home that allowed plenty of visits from their children. Charles Tucker, Junior still kept his business designing, selling, and fixing boats in Panama City and Daniel was still his business partner. His father always told Trip there was a place for him in the business when he had enough of space travel.
After catching a Starfleet transport to Pensacola, where there was a Starfleet base and pilot training center, a hovercab took him to his parents home. He paid the driver and got out of the hovercab with his duffle bag and wearing his service uniform. His parents new home was no more than forty feet from the water's edge. It was a two story place with plenty of room for visits by the grand kids and their adult children. Some cabbage palm and silver palm trees gave his parents home shade. Trip stood there and breathe in the salt air cleansing his lungs, as a stiff breeze off the water cooled him.
Undoing his flap, he picked up his duffle bag and walked towards the house, where Charles and Elaine Tucker were waiting on the porch for their son. Trip looked at his parents and grinned. In some ways he was surprised how much they aged in two years. His father's once blonde hair was white and his mother's brown hair was now salt and pepper. When he got to the porch's steps, his mother walked down them and hugged him. Just then his older brother Daniel, who looked just like their father, his wife Dana, his six year old daughter Denise, and his four year old son Charles Tucker IV came out of the house along with his sister baby, the dirty blonde haired Elizabeth, though in facial resemblance she looked more like their mother than father. His mother let go of him and then Trip walked up the steps and gave his father a hug, shook Daniel's hand, hugged Dana, gave Denise a kiss on top of her head, mussed up Charlie's hair, and then finally gave Liz a long hug.
"See the new uniform, dad? He's been promoted to commander. Look at the strips on his sleeve and the insignia on that white thing," said Daniel.
"Trip, you didn't tell us you got a promotion," Charles said.
"Just happened recently. I'm not used to the new rank yet myself," Trip grinned.
"You're no longer on a border cutter, bro?" asked Liz.
"Nope," Trip smiled. "I've been reassigned."
"To what?" asked Elaine.
She hated her son being part of Starfleet, not because of her belief that Starfleet was evil but because Starfleet placed her son in danger. Elaine waited for an answer.
"It's kind of top secret, ma," said Trip.
"Tell us what you can," Charles said in tone that sounded almost like a father ordering his son.
"A new class of ship is being built. I'm going to be the executive officer on one of them," smiled Trip.
"Not chief engineer?" asked Charles with a hint of disappointment in his voice. He loved the fact his son was a great engineer.
"Nay," shrugged Trip. "They want me as the XO because of my engineering skills. Don't try and figure it out, either. No one understands Starfleet reasoning. Also, please don't tell anyone about this, especially Billy and Anna. The less they know about Starfleet the better."
"We won't mention it again," said Elaine.
"Thanks, ma," smiled Trip.
Daniel picked up Trip's duffle and took it into the house. His wife and kids followed along with Liz letting their parents have a moment alone with Trip.
"Is this a dangerous job?" asked Elaine.
"Ma, any time you're in a starship traveling through space it's dangerous. It's the nature of the beast," Trip told her.
"I've never been against Starfleet or building new colonies, but the farther out we go the more dangerous it is. I worry about you, Trip," stated Charles.
"Dad," Trip smiled gently, "I don't court danger."
Charles sighed then said: "I know, son. It's just some of the stories I've read about some of the alien species out in deep space. I'm concerned."
"I'll be in a well protected starship, dad," smiled Trip.
It was an answer but not the answer either of his parents wanted to hear.
"Let's go in the house and get you settled in the first floor bedroom and then your father is going to grill hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner," said Elaine.
"Sounds delicious," grinned Trip.
STSTST
T'Pol combed her hair over her ears, changed into clothes she purchased from a local boutique that made her look like a female Human, and readied herself to join a tour of Starfleet Academy. She was using the tour group as entrance into academy grounds, so she could then make her way about collecting intelligence. The computer viewscreen she saw that the commander eventually blocked troubled her. They were working on making their phase cannons more powerful and efficient. Vulcan had superior weapons, sensors, shields, and warp capability, but these Humans appeared to be catching up quicker than was forecast. This was disturbing. She needed data to know if they were readying to make another step in technological advancement and for what purpose.
Checking herself in the mirror, T'Pol was satisfied that she could pass for a Human female. Now she was ready to do her job.
STSTST
Jonathan Archer knew this wasn't a good idea, but he agreed to it anyway. Waiting for him at the Golden Wok in San Francisco's historic Chinatown was Erica Hernandez. She had commed him and made a date with him so that they could talk. Archer dressed up in civilian clothes and went off to the restaurant from his temporary abode in the Presidio. He showed up at the restaurant saw that Erica was already seated at a table sipping a green tea. As always he found her highly attractive, but he fought those feelings down. Thinking of her like that could now get him in trouble. He waved off the hostess and walked over and sat down.
"Erica, good to see you," he smiled.
"Jon," she said.
A waitress came over to him and handed him a menu. He asked for a beer needing something stronger than a green tea. The waitress walked away to get his beer.
"So, my new XO, huh?" he started.
"Okay, let's get this out in the open. I want this XO position. It will lead to getting my own ship and you know how much I want that. We have history. We can't avoid that. We can't pretend that we have never slept with each other, so I think we just have to be honest with each other," she stated.
"Okay, I see you've thought this through," he smiled.
The waitress came with his beer. They ordered some dishes and appetizers then the waitress headed off to place their order. Once they were alone again Archer took a sip of his beer while Erica waited for him to speak.
"I know how professional you are, Erica. I hope you believe that I can be professional, too," said Archer.
"I know you can, Jon," she smiled softly. "I also know that you take your position as captain of a starship seriously and you wouldn't let how you feel about me interfere with it."
"Thank you," he sighed. "I was afraid that you didn't trust me."
"I trust you, Jon, as my captain. Now as a boyfriend," she replied with a smirk.
"That hurts, Erica," Jon said.
Both of them laughed. Once they stopped. He spoke.
"So you think we can do this?" Archer asked her.
Erica smirked then she said: "If you mean do I think you and I can make the best captain and XO in the fleet, I'd say yes. AG and Commander Tucker might end up with the first NX ship but we will have the best."
"That's my girl," smiled Archer then he realized what he just said and grimaced making Erica laugh.
STSTST
Wearing a pair of shorts and a Hawaiian shirt that irritated his mother and amused his father, Trip stood along side Daniel as they watched Lizzy and Dana play with the kids before dinner. Trip took a sip of the beer he held in his right hand.
"So, Billy and Anna will be coming this weekend for a visit. Ma called them and told them you were home for an extended visit. I just wanted to give you fair notice," said Daniel.
Trip sighed. Anna's vitriol for Starfleet made it impossible for him to carrying on a conversation with her and Billy's distrust for Starfleet and need to try to get information out of him so he can do a negative piece frustrated Trip. It was almost like he had lost two members of his family and they had been replaced with protesters who seemed not to like him.
"Billy bringing his spouse Troy?" asked Trip.
"Nope. Troy is in Europe reporting on something," said Daniel.
"Too bad, I like Troy better than Billy," smirked Trip.
"Me, too," added Daniel.
Both of them laughed at this.
"Did you know that Troy wants to adopt a baby but Billy doesn't? They are arguing about it," Daniel told him.
"Troy would make a good parent," smiled Trip.
Trip took another sip of his beer.
"Maybe I can take a weekend journey somewhere," smiled Trip.
"Ma will kill you," smiled Daniel.
"Yeah, I know," Trip sipped his beer some more.
"Maybe I can take you to the business on Saturday, tell her I'm trying to convince you to join the business. That could waste a few hours and I know our employees would love to meet my brother who I brag about all the time," offered Daniel.
"I'd like that," grinned. Trip. "How is business going?"
Daniel smiled then said: "Trip, I designed a speedboat with hydrogen fuel cell that will win races. It's being built now. I'm very proud of it."
"That's my bro," smiled Trip. "What about the luxury boats and sail boat business?"
"We are doing real well, well enough that dad is starting to back off, working less, and letting me run the business more and more," said Daniel.
"That's great, Danny," said Trip.
"There is still a place there for you if you ever have enough being a hero," smiled Daniel.
"Oh, come on, I ain't no hero," said Trip.
Daniel laughed then said: "You are as well educated as Anna with her doctorate and Billy with his masters, yet you still love to play the rube sometimes."
Trip smirked then replied: "I always liked be underestimated, Danny. It got harder and harder over the years, so I have to play the country bumpkin sometimes."
"Let's see you graduated college at 18 then went to Starfleet Academy where they placed you in advanced engineering classes and managed to do the academy in three years instead of four years," Daniel stated proudly.
"You don't know how many people fall for good old Trip routine. Jon just rolls his eyes," grinned Trip.
"That's because part of it is true," laughed Daniel. "You are a good old Southern boy deep down. You like Elvis, red meat, barbecue, fried foods, key lime, and pecan pie."
Trip chuckled because it was true. Daniel turned around and looked at his father, who was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.
"Looks like he's making enough for an army," said Daniel.
"That's okay. I think I can manage two cheeseburgers and two hot dogs all by myself," said Trip.
"Ma wanted to buy soy hot dogs. Dana was shopping with them. She told me that he nearly divorced her on the spot. He said Trip deserves hot dogs that have meat not soy," chuckled Daniel.
"I'm glad he bought the real thing. I love a good hot dog with mustard and ketchup," said Trip.
"Ketchup – I forgot that you like that on your hot dog. There has to be something wrong with you. Bet I can eat more burgers and dogs than you," grinned Daniel.
"It's a bet."
STSTST
In their luxury hotel suite, Soval sat in the soft armchair feeling uncomfortable because of the extreme comfort, while Skon sat on the plush sofa wondering why Humans needed so much comfort. Skon knew that they were able to endure a great deal, yet they seem to crave extreme comfort. It wasn't exactly logical. T'Pol stood in front of them with a concern expression on her face.
"Once I broke away from the tour group, I found one of the academy's computer labs. Using the academy's network, I hacked into Starfleet Headquarters system. It was not as difficult as I thought it would be," stated T'Pol.
"Are you sure no one can trace your work?" asked Skon, who was against this spying.
"I left no computer trail," stated T'Pol. "I discovered in their NX files that they are working on a starship which they believe will be capable of warp 6 eventually. Also, they have made a leap in defensive shielding, so these new NX starships will have polarized hulls and defensive shielding. On top of that they are working on increasing the efficiency and destructive power of their phase cannons and torpedoes."
"This is concerning," said Soval.
"Why?" asked Skon.
"It shows hostile intentions," stated Soval.
"Or it shows a species that is preparing to push farther out into space. From their experience so far they have encountered the Orion Syndicate and Nausicaans. They are not unaware of the Klingons and their hostility. Beyond the Klingons we could tell them of the Breen, Cardassians, and Romulans just to name several violent and aggressive species. Better armor and armaments is only logical," countered Skon.
"Not to mention the Andorians," added Soval.
"United Earth DiploCorp is in trade and diplomatic discussions with the Andorians," said T'Pol.
Soval raised his right eyebrow then looked at Skon, who appeared unfazed by this information.
"What do you suggest we propose to the High Command?" asked Soval of Skon.
"I believe we should open up diplomatic relations with United Earth. Better to try to influence them and their direction then fear them," said Skon.
Soval looked at T'Pol then asked her: "What is your opinion, T'Pol?"
"I believe we should open diplomatic relations, but we should also increase our surveillance and intelligence gathering of Starfleet."
"Fascinating," said Soval.
Soval sat in silence thinking for a moment then he looked at Skon.
"I believe both of you are correct," stated Soval.
"If that is the route you wish to take, Soval, then maybe we can even suggest an outreach program to Starfleet offering them something that need like charts of areas of space they have not charted and we have along with information about species in that region but these charts and information come with a Vulcan adviser," stated Skon.
"Interesting," Soval said. "T'Pol, contact the Ket'es and tell them I will be shuttling up tomorrow. I shall need a secure comm line to Vulcan in order to talk to High Command."
"Yes, Soval," said T'Pol.
STSTST
Three cheeseburgers and three hot dogs later Trip conceded their eating competition to his brother. He felt bloated and ready to sleep for a week, but he knew he'd never be able to get to sleep unless he walked some of food off. Lizzy offered to walk along the beach with him.
As dusk faded to night, they walked along the water line. At first they walked in silence, but once they were far enough away from the house, Lizzy spoke up.
"How did you like Starfleet Academy, Trip?" she asked her brother.
"The academy? It was fine. I made some good friends and met Jon while I was there. He spent a semester teaching how to pilot everything from a shuttle to a starship. I made a best friend and became a better pilot taking his class then he went off and became a test pilot for a time," answered Trip. "Now why do you want to know about the academy?"
"Because I applied to it," she smiled.
"Liz, ma and dad will shit themselves when they find out you applied. It's bad enough I'm Starfleet but you're their baby girl," sighed Trip.
"I know, Trip, but I love interstellar cartography. Charting unknown areas of space intrigues me," she said.
"What's your degree gonna be in?" asked Trip.
"Double major, Xeno-anthropology and 21st Century History," she told him.
"Yikes," Trip grinned. "With those majors the academy would have room to mold you. Why interstellar cartography?"
"I took a class in it just this year because I fulfilled all my required classes and loved it. The professor who taught it was a visiting professor. He usually teaches at the academy," smiled Elizabeth.
"What's his name?" asked Trip.
"Professor Alan Madiba," she answered.
"I know him," grinned Trip. "He was new to the academy when I was there. Good teacher."
"He was," she agreed.
"Darlin', if you want to go to the academy then go. Just know that ma and dad will be against it and so won't Billy and Anna," said Trip.
"You think," chuckled Lizzy.
"So, when are you going to tell ma and dad about your plans?" asked Trip.
"My graduation ceremony is in two months. I thought after I graduated officially from college," she answered him.
"Well, I'll either be in Iowa or Jupiter, so that works for me," he grinned.