Even with the shot that Phlox gave him the heat of midday on Vulcan was unbearable. A shirtless Trip's body was bathed in sweat, as opposed to a shirtless Koss, who wasn't sweating. In terms of muscularity, Trip was a more impressive specimen than Koss, but this fight wasn't based on muscle definition or mass. The air barely filled Trip's lungs and his arms and legs felt heavy. So, far Koss had managed to break at least two of his ribs. Trip feared that one of his broken ribs had punctured his lungs. He had a bruise on his back that caused him intense pain and a cut on his forehead that kept bleeding into his left eye. Trip decided it was time to use a few of the tricks Gunny Maddox taught him.
He stepped back away from Koss. Bent over breathing heavily, he tried to lift the lipra, the melee weapon with a fan shaped blade at one end and a heavy club at the other end. Acting as if he couldn't lift the lipra more than waist high then he waited for Koss to come in over confident and wanting to end this with a kill.
Koss for his part took the bait. He moved confidently and without fear of his enemy towards Trip. When he got close to Trip, he raised the lipra above his head with the intention of bringing the down on Trip's neck. Once he lifted his lipra, Trip moved with more speed and strength then Koss expected. He first used the club end to break Koss' left foot. Koss dropped his lipra because of the unexpected pain.
Trip quickly moved behind him and then used the blade part of the lipra to cut the muscles and tendons behind his left knee. Koss dropped down on that left knee, which was now badly damaged. Next, Trip placed the blade at the back of Koss' neck and yelled: "Surrender or die!"
T'Pau allowed this option since Humans did not suffer from Pon Farr, so killing would not be done during the blood fever. Koss bent his head in defeat.
"I surrender," he said.
Trip dropped the lipra and tried to walk but collapsed to his knees and he could no longer breath and his body ached. T'Pol, Phlox, and Flynn ran to his side, as T'Pau, who sat in a throne-like chair watching stood up.
"Kal'i'fee has been satisfied. T'Pol of Vulcan is bonded to Captain Charles Tucker III. All thee here to witness this I tell to think upon Surak's philosophy of IDIC. Are we seeing it here in action?" she stated.
All the Vulcans there, except T'Pol and Koss, bowed their heads. T'Les joined T'Pol, Phlox, and Flynn looking after Trip, as several of Koss' family moved over to assist him.
"His lung right lung has collapsed, three of his ribs are broken, and two of his vertebrae are cracked," stated Phlox.
"But... I'm... alive," wheezed Trip.
"And married," added Flynn.
"I need to get him to the Excalibur to treat him immediately," said Phlox.
T'Pau came over and joined them.
"I can have an emergency vehicle here in six minutes and twenty-three seconds then have he transported to our best hospital in Shikahr in ten minutes and 6 seconds. As a new member of our maat, our clan, he will be treated with care," stated T'Pau.
"Thank you, T'Pau," said T'Pol.
"I'll go with him and make sure that he is cared for properly," stated Phlox.
"As you wish," replied T'Pau.
T'Pau gestured to her security to get the transport. Phlox administered a pain killer to Trip, while T'Pol allowed his head to rest in his lap. Flynn smiled at Trip.
"I'm so glad I didn't miss that," Flynn said. "If we get into trouble with Starfleet, I'll gladly follow you into a mercenary fleet somewhere, captain."
"Thanks, Derek," groaned Trip.
"I shall prepare your room daughter by getting an air cooler so when Charles can come home and recuperate that he is comfortable," T'Les stated then she looked at Trip. "You are family now."
She offered him the Taal and said: "Live long and prosper."
T'Les walked away. In the background could be heard the sound of a siren from the transport. Trip closed his eyes. His lungs didn't want to function any longer and his body just wanted the surcease of awareness.
STSTST
Starbase 4 was made the base for the First Fleet. Admiral Antonini's flagship was the newly minted Daedalus Class the Mifune. Its captain was Captain Jason Hull. Since it was the flagship for the First Fleet, it had been slightly reconfigured to make the Situation Room a larger Command and Control area. Here Antonini could command and coordinate his new fleet.
So far, he had fifty-three ships as part of the First Fleet, but there was hope of expansion with the help of Andorian ships, as well as others. The DiploCorp along with Starfleet were working on a treaty which would create the Coalition of Planets. Depending upon stipulations signatories of the treaty would be obligated to be part of the newly building fleet. Because of Fleet Captain Archer, the Andorians were willing to sign on, but they had their addendum and provisos which were being worked on. One of them was the Fourth Fleet. The Emperor wanted an Andorian Admiral in charge of it. Negotiations continued.
Besides Andor, Tellar, and the Alpha Centauri Concordium were in discussions of signing onto the treaty and close to do so. Tellar didn't have any ships worth adding to the fleet, but the cargo freighters were able to reach warp 5, which made them more appealing than the ECS. As for the Alpha Centauri Concordium, it had a small but strong fleet. Their fleet was made up mostly of Intrepid Class ships, which were slightly smaller than the NX class. They were a one hull ship where their nacelles loomed over the circular hull. These ships could be easily refitted to warp 5.5, better armaments, and armor.
Two other planets were in discussions about the treaty: Vulcan and Draylax. Vulcan had the ships but lost most of their experienced captains and crew to the study of the Kir'Shara. Little was now about Draylax fleet. Coridan signed on as an observer to the treaty so far. It was known that Coridan had the best ships. Warp 7 cruising speeds with max warp of 7.8. They took pride in their ships, though they didn't develop much of a fleet, as it preferred to stay a neutral planet.
There was an urgency now in all things. From negotiating a treaty to developing the new fleets. The Romulan Star Empire was on the move, playing a game of chess in the Alpha Quadrant that was meant to eventually invade and conquer.
STSTST
The night shift dock workers of the shipyards of Coridan looked up into the night sky. It was a remarkable sight as greenish hue appeared and then what appeared to be explosion after explosion followed. Only one thing could cause those lights and explosions and that was the destruction of their border ships, space stations, and orbital docks above Coridan. Of course, this meant that they on the planet were next.
In the space above Coridan forty Birds of Prey and ten Warbirds warped into orbit and began destroying everything in their path. Once they had managed to cripple the defenses of Coridan, they unloaded ten nuclear torpedoes on the planet. The torpedoes were meant to destroy their shipyards planetside and their two largest population centers, one of which held their seat of government. With that done, Coridan was a shadow of its former self.
STSTST
The governing body of Draylax had heard about Coridan. The planet was devastated. The UE, as well as some independent planets like Denobula, which sent both supplies and medical support, attempted to assist Coridan rebuild. One of the first acts by the UE was to place Coridan on the treaty for the Coalition of Planets, as a founding member and part of the mutual defense.
On Draylax this lead to an immediate tightening of their limited defenses. Thirty-five of their battlecruisers now orbited Draylax. Another twenty battlecruisers patrolled Draylax space. It was said that out of a population of four billion more than a billion died on Coridan. Draylax had a population of three billion. The thought of losing that many of its citizens caused disquiet among the inhabitants of the planet.
In the Command and Control Center for Planetary Defenses, General Erbo Fax sat at his command console reviewing real time updates. The Draylax people were an offshoot of the Caitians, a feline race. His adjunct Major Krish'Ka Ishke's green eyes stared at the large viewscreen. She was sure she saw something shimmer above the planet. General Fax had requested more ships. They had always kept a small fleet and a larger mercantile fleet, since they were basically a pacifist people. Their battlecruisers were for protection only. Fax regretted that now, as did the ruling body.
"General, we are picking up several anomalies, distortions," said one of personnel running scans.
"Get me Captain Erske," ordered Fax. "I want him to check out the distortions."
"I don't like this," said Fax to himself.
"Sir, on the large viewscreen," Ishke called out.
There they were fifteen Birds of Prey de-cloaking and unleashing their nuclear torpedoes, while suddenly thirty Birds of Prey and ten Warbirds came out of warp and began firing on the battlecruisers doing immediate damage to the inferior ships. Just like Coridan the strike was swift and destructive to the extreme. The planet was immediately pounded into chaos along with devastating amounts of deaths. Like Coridan this was an example of the power of the Romulan Star Empire.
In the Command and Control Center General Fax stood there watching the viewscreen, watching the destruction of his fleet and damage to his planet. The Command and Control Center was underground and fortified, so the chances were they would survive, but Fax didn't want to survive. Tears burned at his eyes. Death had come to Draylax.
STSTST
Trip spent two days in the hospital before being transferred to T'Les' home for recuperation. Once he was settled into T'Pol's room and the air cooler put on so that he was comfortable, T'Pol was called away to see several members of the High Council. This left Phlox to make sure Trip got settled along with T'Les.
T'Les was in the kitchen preparing spice tea when Phlox joined her. His time on Vulcan in the medical exchange had given Phlox insight to the Vulcan character, habits, and traditions. He knew that now that Trip was part of the clan, T'Les would treat him with great care.
"I placed several meals with meat protein in the stasis container. He will need to eat them in order to mend his bones properly. Captain Tucker has been a lifelong meat eater, so his body responds to meat protein," explained Phlox.
"Then he shall have them," said T'Les.
She placed a cup of spiced tea on the kitchen table and then prepared a cup for herself. T'Les sat down at the table, so Phlox joined her. He sipped the tea.
"I missed Vulcan spice tea," said Phlox. "I drank a great deal of it while I lived on Vulcan."
"Do you know Charles well?" asked T'Les.
"I've come to know him very well," replied Phlox.
"What sort of Human is Charles?" asked T'Les.
Phlox smiled then he sipped some more tea.
"He is brilliant and not just as a engineer. I would say even by Vulcan standards he is brilliant. He likes to hide this but it shines through all too often," smiled Phlox. "He is also caring. Captain Tucker, or Trip as he keeps telling me to call him, cares about what happens to crew, but he also cares about others. I have to admit that I like him very much."
"Why?" she asked him.
"Because he is sympathetic, even empathetic at times," he told her. "I trust him and I enjoy his company."
"I see," she said then too a sip off her tea. "I have my trepidations about Charles and T'Pol's bonding."
"You sound like all three of my mother-in-laws when I married their daughter," smiled Phlox.
T'Les raised her left eyebrow.
"It is a mother's duty to worry about who their daughter marries," Phlox advised her. "I know that as a Vulcan you are influenced by logic, but I have found that logic has little influence on love, marriage, and family matters."
T'Les drank the rest of her tea then brought the cup to the sink and placed it in the sink.
"Will you be staying, doctor? The guest room is now available," said T'Les.
"No. I must return to the ship. I have patients up there, as well as my companions," said Phlox.
"Then it will just be T'Pol, Charles, and myself for dinner," said T'Les.
STSTST
T'Pol entered T'Pau's office where Solkar and V'Lar along with T'Pau awaited her. T'Pau was seated behind a simple black volcano rock desk, while V'lar sat on a sofa and Solkar in a hard back chair. She nodded her respect towards the three.
"Please, sit," said T'Pau.
T'Pol sat down on another hard chair. T'Pau steepled her hands as if she was in thought for a moment then she spoke.
"We have decided to sign on as a non-aggressor signatory to the Coalition of Planets Treaty. With out current state of being unable to man half out fleet, we thought it best not to be at war with anyone," said T'Pau.
"At the moment we are unable to participate in a war, especially since half our so-called Vulcan High Command taken on the role of pacifists," said V'Lar.
"They are following the true philosophy of Surak," stated T'Pau.
"Surak did not have a problem with self protection and defense of the innocent. Look at what the Rihannsu have done to the Coridan and Draylax," stated V'Lar.
"Admiral Sopek intends on setting up a tight border and patrolling it with what starships we have left," stated Solkar.
"Does he fear the Rihannsu attacking Vulcan?" asked T'Pol.
"I believe we all fear that," answered V'Lar.
"By signing on in part to the treaty we can offer the Coalition technology, advisers, and liaison officers," stated T'Pau.
"We have credited Captain Tucker with our decision to sign the Coalition Treaty," stated V'Lar. "We asked only one thing from Starfleet and that was you continue to serve as a liaison officer on the Excalibur with Captain Tucker."
"That request must have raised some questions," said T'Pol.
"Our communique to Soval explained that we believe your working relationship with Captain Tucker will be beneficial. We also told them that we are willing to second you to Starfleet," explained Solkar.
"Of course, we did this because for the next year you cannot be separated from your bondmate as per Vulcan tradition," said T'Pau. "It is during this year that your bond will mature and become what it will become."
"Do you have any qualms about what we have arranged?" asked V'Lar.
T'Pol thought about what she had been told. She was being given an opportunity to stay close to Charles and have their bond strengthen. Of course, she was also being sent away from Vulcan. In some ways she thought this had the hint of exile.
"I agree," said T'Pol.
"This is an agreeable outcome. You will stay on Vulcan for another ten days. During that time period our maat will gather to meet Captain Tucker. Though, some will not want to have a Human in our maat, he will be accepted," stated T'Pau.
"How do you intend on arranging this?" asked T'Pol.
"I have suggested your mother for Pid'kom," said T'Pau.
"I will also support this choice," said Solkar, "as will Skon."
"T'Les will be the Pid'kom," stated T'Pau.
T'Pol nodded her respect. These decisions were made with logic and precision.
STSTST
The cover story for Trip was that he was taken with extreme heat stroke while visiting the Lava Fields. He was recuperating on Vulcan and doing well. Troy didn't completely buy the cover story, even though he knew Trip did flourish in the extreme heat unless a ocean was nearby. Commander Flynn was acting as captain with Trip, so Troy decided to visit him in his Ready Room.
"Enter," Flynn barked.
Troy entered the Ready Room. Commander Flynn was busy with reports that Crewman Sustad organized, filed, and double checked for him.
"Can I help the press with something?" asked Flynn with a smirk.
"I want to take a visit down to Vulcan in order to check on Trip," said Troy.
"I can arrange for you to spend some time down on Vulcan, but I can't guarantee you getting to visit the captain," said Flynn. "According to Phlox he is recuperating and needs to be left alone for few days."
"I'm family," said Troy defiantly.
"And I'm his XO and I can't see him," said Flynn. "It's not going to happen. I think the Vulcan feel guilty that they almost killed him by showing him tourist attractions like live volcanoes, lava fields, and such. They should showed him and engine to rebuild instead."
"I could file an official complaint that you are interfering with the freedom of the press," said Troy.
"Go right ahead. If you need to blame a few people feel free to add High Councilor T'Pau to your list of people stopping you," said Flynn. "Now unless you have something really interesting or important to share with me, I have lots of reports to do."
Troy exited. Flynn dropped the PADD he was working on and leaned back in his chair.
"Captain, please get well soon," sighed Flynn.
STSTST
T'Les gave several of her husband's robes to him to wear. She noticed that he had a similar built. Trip tried on one of the light white robes. It fit perfectly. When he exited the bathroom, T'Pol was standing there waiting for him. He felt through their bond several emotions, one of which was sadness. She was close to her father.
"Do you want to change into my uniform?" he asked.
"No, Charles. Seeing you in my father's robe pleases me," she said then walked up to him.
He put his arms around her and kissed her. T'Pol responded to the kiss and deepened it with passion. After a few moments Trip came up for ear.
"If we continue kissing then we'd going to leave your mother waiting many hours," smiled Trip.
"I agree," said T'Pol.
The two of them exited the bedroom and headed down the stairs. The only injuries which still bothered Trip was his back. Phlox told him that he needed to do a series of exercises every day to strengthen the muscles in his back.
T'Les was in the living along with Solkar, Skon, and two female Vulcans that Trip didn't know. They were all seated. As T'Pol and Trip entered T'Les introduced Trip.
"T'Prang and V'Lor, this is Charles Tucker. He is T'Pol's bondmate," she said.
T'Prang raised her right eyebrow then nodded her head. V'Lor merely nodded her head.
"We are discussing T'Les installation as Pid'kom of our maat," said Solkar.
"Since T'Pau is unbonded and without children, she cannot be Pid'kom, though we all view her as the leader of our maat," stated T'Prang.
"Will you be able to have a hybrid child?" V'Lor asked T'Pol.
"We have not explored that as of yet," answered T'Pol.
"The installation will be in two days. Another two days after that, Charles, you will return me to Earth and my position of ambassador. Soval has been having to deal with too much on his own," stated Skon.
"I'll have the Excalibur start to get ready," Trip said.
"T'Pau has instructed that the Sitar and the D'kyr will accompany you along with advisers and other liaisons," Solkar told Trip.
"I still have many misgivings," stated T'Prang then she looked over at Trip with an air of disdain.
"I'm guessing I'm part of the misgivings," Trip said.
"Yes, Charles, you are," said T'Les. "Fortunately, T'Prang's misgivings have little effect on the coming events. I shall be Pid'kom and you are a member of this maat through your bonding with T'Pol. Irrefutable facts."
"I believe, mother, that you are allowed to choose important positions in the maat. Also, that the invitation list has to be approved by you," stated T'Pol.
"This is true," said T'Les.
"If one has misgivings then one need not attend the installation," said T'Pol.
"T'Pol has made an excellent point," Solkar spoke up. "Do you want to revisit the invitation list, T'Les?"
T'Les looked at T'Prang for a moment.
"That is a possibility," answered T'Les.