For the last six months, Trip's life involved nothing but the Excalibur. The design was completed. It was slightly larger than the other NX starships. This allowed the new phase cannons which were a breakthrough by Starfleet R&D, more torpedo tubes, two extra shuttles, and room for a crew of two hundred and fifty. Jefferies, Trip, and Commander Maria Pavlova worked on making the defensive shields more effective. The Excalibur was going to impressive. And it needed to be because the enemy finally had a name: The Romulans.
Once the Romulans were named Starfleet Intelligence, Starfleet Ops, and the DiploCorp were able to gather data on the new enemy. The Romulan Star Empire conquered planets completely. It stepped on your throat and if you fought back they destroyed you. Plus, when at war they never took prisoners. You either surrendered and became slave of the Empire or died.
The reason the UE found out it was the Romulans was because the Romulans finally sent a significant fleet onto the edge of the Alpha Quadrant. This was after they pushed the Andorians out of three of their colony planets. Seventy-five Birds of Prey, the smaller starships and backbone of their fleet, and ten Romulan Warbirds, their larger destroyer starship, set up a foothold on Ding, the Andorian word for Orphan, an Andorian colony that had the sacred Vulcan monastery P'Jem on it. Ding was on the edge of the Alpha Quadrant, a perfect spot to setup an invasion from. This did not go unnoticed by Starfleet or the UE Senate. Ding was also a planet that was a source of trouble between Vulcan and the Andorian Empire, but now it was lost to the Romulans.
This takeover of Ding led to the Vulcans finally signing a treaty with United Earth. Once the treaty was signed Trip learned that the Excalibur was receiving Vulcan sensors, as well as a liaison to teach his people how to use the more powerful and more sensitive sensors. Arriving at Jefferies office a few minutes late, he was shocked to see T'Pol in her red High Command uniform waiting for him along with Jefferies. He forgotten how good she looked in that damned uniform.
"Sorry I'm late. I got a comm from the Mars shipyard and learned the frame of the Excalibur is complete and they are ready to start the serious work," he stated then sat down.
"You heard that Vulcan and the UE have signed a treaty, right?" asked Jefferies.
"Yes, sir, I heard. It was all over the newsfeeds," said Trip.
"Well, SubCommander T'Pol is going to be the liaison assisting us with the installation, education, and use of Vulcan sensors," said Jefferies. "Also, the Excalibur is going to have the Vulcan tractor beam installed on it. She will assist with that, too. This means she is part of your crew from now until end of your shakedown cruise."
"Captain Tucker," T'Pol nodded.
It had been over six months since she last saw Charles and T'Pol felt a strange tingle in the back of her mind, as if a tel had been stimulated. Trip smiled at T'Pol then brought his right hand up to his temple and rubbed it.
"What's wrong, Trip?" asked Jefferies.
"Just a bit of a dull headache," he said. "It's been that kind of day."
T'Pol noted this. Was his headache a reaction to seeing her? Did their time practicing neuropressure on each other develop a tel, or was it when she touched his face after he kissed her? She had much to think about.
"It good to see you, SubCommander. I'm glad it's you as the liaison," Trip said, ignoring the dull ache, which was subsiding slowly.
"I will need to see the Excalibur's schematics in order to make sure that the Vulcan sensors and tractor beam are installed correctly," she said.
"I can arrange that," Trip replied. "Um... I have meetings until five this evening. How about we meet in the Mess Hall at Starfleet Command? We can eat some dinner and go over the schematics."
"That would be acceptable," she said then T'Pol stood up. "Admiral Jefferies, thank you for your time. I will give you updates on the installation."
"Thank you, SubCommander," Jefferies said.
T'Pol exited. Trip watched her leave admiring the shape of her exit. He turned his attention back to Jefferies, who him a knowing smile.
"Glad you and her worked together already. It should make things easier," said Jefferies.
"Oh, yeah, it should be fine. I had a good working relationship with T'Pol on the Enterprise," said Trip.
"Good," smiled Jefferies. "Well, you have meetings so off you go."
Trip stood up then said: "Thank you, sir."
He exited. His headache was already gone. But more than that he happier to see T'Pol than he'd even admit to himself.
STSTST
The Columbia and four Daedalus Class ships were assigned to guard the Corp of Engineers as they built Starbase 4. Construction ships and engineers and workers in space suits were working on the shell of the Starbase. They had already been there almost three months. For a project this size it was moving much faster than anticipated, yet they were being pushed to complete it even faster.
This particular Starbase was being built to be used as a staging area in case the Romulans decided to invade the Alpha Quadrant. So far, Coridan, Tellar, Rigel, Ktaris, Alpha Centauri Concordium, and Draylax, all Alpha Quadrant planets, contacted the UE in order to negotiate a treaty of mutual collective defense and mutual defense in response to an attack by external forces. Two Beta Quadrant planets, Andor and Vulcan, were open to the treaty, but they were not part of the discussion as of yet.
Starbase 4 was going to be the largest most expensive Starbase capable of holding of a marine infantry battalion, docking fifteen to twenty ships, and making repairs on damaged ships around the clock. The Engineer in charge of the project, Captain Rodrigo Ochoa, was quartered on the Columbia. He stood on the Situation Room, which he had co-opted, and oversaw the project, took reports from engineers, and made adjustments. Archer entered the Situation Room carrying two cups of coffee. Ochoa was talking to one of his engineers who was doing a space walk.
"Dell, we are falling behind schedule. I want to be ahead of schedule," he said into the comm.
"I've got men and women who are exhausted. This is hard work, Rod," Dell told him.
"Go from two shifts to three shifts. That should get people more rest. Remember, the quicker we finish the quicker we get to go home," said Ochoa. "Columbia, out."
He turned and looked at Archer, who handed him a cup of coffee.
"Thanks, I need this," he said and took a sip.
"I heard from Starfleet Command and they are sending two more Daedalus Class ships, who are escorting a transport with more workers for you and more materials needed to finish the Starbase. They want this finished ahead of schedule," said Archer.
"Coffee and some good news," smiled Ochoa, "I'm getting to like you."
Archer chuckled then asked: "Give me a real estimate. When will this station be operational?"
"If the workers coming are good then seven more weeks," said Ochoa. "Right now we have a shell. Next we have to fill it in and give it a power source, gravity, make it livable, and even set up four phase cannons for protection. Seven weeks would be a miracle, but I like to think Starfleet Corp of Engineers is filled with miracle workers."
"Let's hope so," smiled Archer. "I'm getting antsy just sitting here waiting."
"I know," sighed Ochoa, who sipped more coffee. "At least, I have something to keep me busy."
STSTST
When Trip arrived at the Mess, he noticed T'Pol standing off to the side waiting for him. How could he not notice her, as she was the most beautiful woman in the place. Instead of her red uniform she wore Vulcan robes this time. Trip stood there for a moment admiring her then he decided to call over to her.
He didn't even have to call to her, though, as she turned in his direction and looked directly at him. It was as if she knew where he was standing. The dull ache in his temple came and went quickly this time. He rubbed his temple then he walked over towards her.
"T'Pol," he nodded his head.
"Charles," she replied.
He held up a PADD and said: "I have the schematics here for you. Let's check out the food then we can sit down and then we can review the schematics."
She nodded. He walked over to the cafeteria style glass displays of food. T'Pol followed him. Trip grabbed a tray, so T'Pol grabbed one. He slid it along a railing, so she did. Trip reviewed his options for food. T'Pol noticed there was a Vegan and Vegetarian section. When she got to that section, she ordered the Chinese-style noodle salad. Trip got the meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. Next, he got a piece of pecan pie. Finally, they stopped for liquids. Trip got himself a coffee, while T'Pol got the mint green tea.
Once again she followed him to an empty table. Taking everything off his tray, Trip placed it on the table then he put a tray on a collection of them. T'Pol did the same. They sat down. Trip sampled his meal.
"Well, it's not homemade but it's edible," he said.
T'Pol sampled her noodle salad. It was edible and appeared to be nutritious.
"Shall we eat first before review things?" smiled T'Pol.
She nodded and started to eat her food. Trip ate quickly. His day had been so busy that his lunch turned out to be coffee and some a homemade chocolate chip cookie that a non-com offered him. He looked up at T'Pol and saw that she was slowly eating her food. He grew used to her meticulous eating when they were on the Enterprise.
"I was thrilled to find out that you'd be the liaison on this," said Trip.
"As I found on the Enterprise very satisfactory working with you and that I'd be working with you as commander of the starship," she said.
"Have you gone home to Vulcan for a visit lately? I heard that there is a lot going on there," Trip said.
"I've stayed on Earth," she answered. "Many on Vulcan are reading the Kir'Shara, the words of Surak, and learning that we have not been following the full philosophy of Surak. It has had a great effect on the people of Vulcan."
"Are you reading this Kir'Shara?" he asked. He said Kir'Shara by emphasizing all the wrong syllables, but she ignored that. She did appreciate the question, though.
"I have been studying it," she told him.
"Anything interesting that wasn't there before?" he asked.
"The Kol-Ut-Shan," she stated, "Or IDIC, which stands for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. It celebrates the vast array of variables in the universe."
"Sounds interesting," said Trip.
"Unfortunately, it is only in Vulcan. There is no translation into any other languages," T'Pol stated.
"Well, that's not being infinitely diverse," smiled Trip.
T'Pol looked up from her food and raised her right eyebrow. She decided not to make a remark about his comment. Trip took a sip of his coffee then he ate some more of his mashed potatoes. T'Pol went back to nibble on her noodle salad.
"Someday I should take you to a good Chinese restaurant," said Trip. "They have excellent vegetarian foods in them. I think you'd enjoy it."
"May I see the schematics?" she asked wanting to get away from personal conversation. She was in a quandary on how to verify if she had made an accidental tel with Trip, or even how to broach the subject with him. Dr. Phlox had spent some time on Vulcan. She would see if was assigned to Starfleet Medical tomorrow, so she could speak to him.
Trip handed her the PADD. It had put it on and brought up the schematics to the Excalibur. She began to push other thoughts out of of her mind and study what was in front of her. Trip finished up eating his dinner while T'Pol studied the schematics of the Excalibur. With dinner finished, he started in on his piece of pecan pie. Unintentionally, he moaned with pleasure with the first bite of pie. T'Pol looked up at him. Her left eyebrow was raised.
"Sorry, it's pecan pie which is my favorite pie to eat. Actually, it might be my favorite dessert of all and I have a bit of a sweet tooth," Trip told her.
"Vulcans don't eat desserts," T'Pol stated.
"Really? So if I offered you a bite of my pie you'd refuse me," Trip smiled.
"We eat only for the body's nourishment," said T'Pol.
"Well, the soul is part of the body and dessert is good for the soul. Don't Vulcan's believe in the soul?" he asked with a smirk.
"We believe in the katra. It's our essence," she said.
"Then dessert is good for the katra," he said.
Trip got up, and retrieved a clean fork then he returned. He took the clean fork and broke off a piece of pecan pie then he offered it to T'Pol. She took the fork from him and sampled the pecan pie. Much to her surprise the sweetness of it appealed to her. In theory she knew this had little nutritional value, but she could understand that it had an appeal.
"How do you like it?" he asked.
"Interesting," she replied.
"You liked it," smiled Trip.
For reasons he didn't understand, Trip was sure that T'Pol enjoyed the small bite of pecan pie.
"Want another bite?" he asked.
"No. The one is enough," she answered.
T'Pol picked the PADD back up and again started to review the schematics for the Excalibur. Trip drank his coffee and finished off his piece of pie. When he was done, he grabbed a tray and cleaned up the table, both his and T'Pol's dishes, then he went off and got rid of them. Upon return T'Pol looked up from the PADD.
"Thank you for clearing my dish, Charles," said T'Pol.
"My pleasure, T'Pol," Trip replied.
"I will have to work closely with the electricians as they installed the Vulcan sensors, so that we make sure that Vulcan and Human technology work together," she stated.
"I'll get the schedule from Jefferies tomorrow and see when they'll be installing the sensors. Do you need to do the same with the tractor beam?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Okay, then," sighed Trip. "I better arrange for you do have quarters on Mars when the installation begins. That way you won't have to travel back and forth from the Mars and the Utopia Planitia Shipyards."
"That would be satisfactory," stated T'Pol.
"I'll be staying on Mars, too," said Trip, "so you'll at least know someone."
"You will be taking on a hands on approach, as you Humans say?" she asked.
Trip nodded yes then added: "I get to act like a engineer again. I look forward to that. Which reminds me I have to find a Chief Engineer for the Excalibur."
T'Pol returned her attention back to the schematics. The changes that they made, including the new phase cannons, showed that the Humans were making great increases in their technology and skills. She needed to share this information with Soval. Unlike Skon, who said he believed Humans had great potential, Soval believed that Humanity still need a great deal of time to grow into the technology that they already achieved. This latest leap in technology will cause him some consternation.
T'Pol handed the PADD back to Trip.
"You've done?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Okay, well, I guess our dinner date is over then," grinned Trip. "Can I walk you to get a vehicle back the Vulcan Compound?"
"That is unnecessary, Charles," she said.
"Then can I make a date with you to take you out for a proper meal, say Chinese food?" he asked.
"I would not refuse a proper dinner," answered T'Pol.
A big smile dominated Trip's face.
STSTST
The Luxury Liner Starburst promised a luxurious journey from Earth to the colony world New Montana. The Captain of the ship, Hal George, had a ten Starfleet career. When he was passed over for command of a ship, he resigned his commission and became the captain of a luxury liner. Every night his Captain's table had the most exclusive patrons enjoining a meal that could be found in a three star restaurant. It was a good life.
The Starburst would drop from warp every day for several hours to allow patrons the opportunity of star gazing. It was during this time that his Bridge crew was his best and he was on the Bridge instead hobnobbing.
"Sir, sensors are picking up a ship. It's outline matches a Romulan Bird of Prey," called his Ops Officer.
"Damn it," mumbled George. "Bring up shields and prep our two cannons."
"Yes, sir," said Ops.
"Prep for warp. We need to get out of here," he called to his Helm.
"Yes, sir," said Helm.
"Send out an emergency distress call," he ordered.
AG was seated in the command chair. It was thrilled to have the Enterprise back.
"Sir," Ensign Moon spoke up from Comm. "I have an emergency distress call from the Luxury Liner Starblazer. They are about to encounter a Romulan ship."
"Shields up, weapons hot," ordered Malcolm from his Ops Station.
"Aye, aye, sir," Lieutenant Karen Ahearn replied.
"We aren't far from their location," said Moon.
"Send coordinates to Nav," ordered AG.
Moments later Ensign Petrov called out: "I have them, sir. We are four minutes away at full impulse."
"Lay in a course then, Mayweather, take us their best speed," AG ordered.
"Yes, sir," said Travis.
The Starblazer was ready for warp when the Romulan began to pound it. It's shields, which were new, immediately started to weaken. George ordered the cannons to fire, but they had little effect on the Romulan's superior shields. Everyone on the Bridge realized that this ship was doomed when suddenly they received a Comm.
"Sir, the Enterprise is here," called out the Comm Officer.
The Enterprise came in firing both torpedoes and cannons. The Romulan ship veered away from the Starblazer and started to run. AG wanted to follow, but Starfleet orders were clear: when a civilian ship was in danger, you stayed with it, repaired it, protected it, and escorted it to the nearest safe port.
"Let them go," he ordered.
"You think they were trying to draw us away, sir?" asked Malcolm, who was trying to understand Romulan tactics.
"Maybe, but it doesn't make a difference. You know our standing orders when it comes to civilian ships," said AG.
"Yes, sir," said Malcolm. "Shall I go with a couple of shuttles and DC teams to the Starblazer to offer assistants?"
"Good idea, XO," said AG. "Comm, get me the Starblazer's captain. Let's see how much damage was done."
STSTST
Trip arrived at the Chinese restaurant, The Golden Wok in the Chinatown. Outside of the restaurant dressed in Vulcan robes was T'Pol. He paid for his taxi fare then got out and walked over to her. Again, when he saw T'Pol lately he felt a buzz in his head and swore he knew that she was happy to see him. It had to be his imagination.
"Hello, T'Pol," he said.
"Charles," she responded.
"You ready for a good dinner for a change?" he asked.
"I am ready to eat," she replied.
"Okay, that's close enough," he grinned.
They entered the restaurant. A hostess seated them immediately in a booth. As a waitress came over and explained the specials to Trip, T'Pol took in the red and gold décor along with the images of dragons.
"Do you mind if I order?" asked Trip.
"Go ahead, Charles," she replied.
"She'll have the sesame noodles and the roasted roots vegetables with miso glaze," he ordered. "I'll have a couple of pork egg rolls and the Peking Duck. And can we have some green tea?" he said.
"Of course," said the waitress then she left.
Trip looked over and noticed that T'Pol was staring at him. He looked into her eyes and for a few moments he was lost in them. The waitress came with the green tea, which brought him back. She poured the tea then left.
"Um, T'Pol," he started then realized that asking her about Vulcan sexual politics or practices was obvious. He changed his mind. "I've arranged for quarters for you on Mars. They'll be right beside my own. Jefferies said that it will probably be best for you to head to Mars in three weeks."
"When do you leave, Charles?" she asked.
"In two days. I get to act like an engineer again," he smiled.
T'Pol realized that she had not only grown used to his smile, but she liked it. The more time she spent with Charles the more she was sure that they had a tel. It was time to contact Koss and break off their relationship permanently.
"I look forward to going to Mars," she stated.