Ten months had passed. At Starfleet Command a whole floor had been turned into a warroom. Fleet Admiral Nomura, Chief of Staff Admiral Roddenberry, Admiral Maxwell, Admiral Gardner, and Admiral Iris Stahl along with thirty Starfleet personnel arduously worked updating holo-maps of Alpha Quadrant and parts of Beta Quadrant showing the placement of the now four fleets, which was being grown to five fleets. It also showed marine troop placement, Starbases, colonies, forward operating bases, trade routes, areas of clashes between Romulans and Starfleets, areas of losses, areas of wins, and the roaming locations of the four task forces. Warroom was busy as a ant colony and just as organized. Unfortunately, So far, the war had not been going well for the Coalition.
"Where is Task Force: Spartan?" Nomura asked.
Maxwell motioned to a specialist, who brought up the information. A section of the Alpha Quadrant holo-map zoomed in and showed twelve ships.
"Task Force: Spartan is headed back to Earth. They are currently five days out," said Maxwell.
"After nine months of acting as a stopgap, plugging holes, backstopping trade routes, re-enforcing, and rescuing ships, they are in need of repairs, refits, crew rotation, and shore leave, plus they lost three ships so they need three ships replacements," stated Admiral Stahl.
"How has the Excalibur performed?" asked Nomura, who had reasons other than he liked Trip to check up on the Excalibur.
"Exemplary," stated Maxwell. "Captain Tucker and the Excalibur lead the task force brilliantly. So far the two best success rates against the Romulans are Fleet Captain Archer of the Third Fleet and Captain Tucker with Task Force: Spartan."
"And SubCommander T'Pol, who has been seconded to Starfleet, how is her performance?" asked Nomura.
"Excellent, highest ratings," stated Stahl, who had taken on the position of Deputy Chief of Operations.
"Who rates her?" asked Roddenberry.
"The XO Commander Flynn rates Bridge staff. She is now acting as the Science Officer and Head of the Science Department," said Stahl. "She has even taken to wearing a Starfleet uniform and has been given the rank of commander."
"The Excalibur has gathered some of the best data on Romulan tactics, what to look for with cloaked ships, and tracking the Romulan warp signature," stated Maxwell. "This is because of Commander T'Pol."
"Very good," said Nomura. "Kind of makes you wish that Vulcans would do more than assist us with technology upgrades and get off the sideline of this war."
"I heard that their fleet is still at only sixty percent. They have fifty or so ships mothballed because of the new strain of pacifism running through their society based on the original words of Surak," said Gardner.
"They are giving what they can," stated Nomura. "Admiral Maxwell, may I speak to you in private."
"Yes, sir," said Maxwell. "My office."
He escorted Fleet Admiral Nomura to his office which was located in the middle of the warroom. It had four glass walls and a glass ceiling allowing Maxwell to view the warroom and the real time updates. Nomura sat down in a comfortable chair, so Maxwell sat behind his desk.
"Is there a way we can have visual privacy?" asked Nomura. "I now know how a fish in a bowl feels."
Maxwell pressed a button on his desk and the glass darkened until it became opaque.
"Here is the situation. Ambassador Soval and Ambassador Skon visited me the other day. They wanted an update on Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol. I thought this odd, so I pushed them until I got information which surprised and intrigued me. This is private information not to be shared with many except those you trust," Nomura said in a tone that told Maxwell that what was to follow was important.
"I understand, sir," said Maxwell.
"Vulcans bond with their mates. It is a telepathic bond of some sort," Nomura told him. "They don't speak of it with outsiders, but there is a situation that needed to be address. It appears that through circumstances that they had trouble explaining Captain Tucker and T'Pol bonded in some way by accident and that bond has led to a marriage bond. There is no easy divorce when bonded. You see the process of breaking the bond could kill one of them."
"Trip is married to T'Pol. Jesus, that man could always get himself in trouble with females. Remember the Princess from Krios. She wanted to make him her official royal consort," sighed Maxwell. "And they are serving together. We can't have that."
"Actually, in Vulcan tradition they have to serve together for a number of years because of the bond," said Nomura.
"Then we have to either ground him or throw him out of Starfleet. I'd hate to lose Tucker. He's one of our best captains we have," said Maxwell.
"Admiral Maxwell, I am not against this marriage. We must keep it quiet and private but Captain Tucker is now a conduit to the Vulcans in many ways. T'Pol comes from the same clan as T'Pau. Tucker is now a Vulcan citizen by law and a member of that clan. He has some influence in Vulcan. We may be able to use that," said Nomura. The old admiral was always now as a great tactician, someone who was three moves ahead of you.
"So, Tucker stays captain of the Excalibur and head of Task Force: Spartan," stated Maxwell.
"Exactly. T'Pol must serve with him, which I do not believe is that great a problem. She appears to be doing excellently," said Nomura.
"Who have you told?" asked Maxwell.
"President Samuels, the top officials of DiploCorp, and my chief of staff," Nomura told him.
"I should probably tell Stahl. She's my potential replacement, if I was to retire or be relieved of duty," Maxwell stated.
"Maxwell, this war is not going well right now," Nomura stated. "The Romulans are a daunting opponent. The Coridans and Vulcans have worked on our warp engines and improved them to warp 7. The NX will be refitted for this. The rest of the fleet we are looking at warp six. They have also seen ways to improve of impulse engines, making our ships faster at impulse and more mobile. I will take whatever I can get to defeat the Romulans."
"Understood, sir," said Maxwell.
STSTST
Trip finished up looking at the sitreps that Flynn had given him. In the nine months he'd been in charge of the task force, he'd lost twenty-six crew members from the Excalibur. Since they had never stopped at one of the Starbases or colonies. His task force had been perpetual motion for nine months going wherever they were needed. To deal with the dead, he had part of Cargo Bay Two turned into a Morgue. Hess and her people sectioned off an area and ran coolant into it to preserve the bodies.
He had another eight crew members who would either be in need of prosthetic or given the choice of desk jobs or leaving Starfleet. Then again, his task force had lost three ships outright. That was a lot of good people dead. Everyone of the ships in his task force had lost people. Trip closed his eyes as guilt started to crush him. Suddenly, Trip's stomach growled. He stood up and decided to take a stroll down to the Mess and see what Chef had left out in the stasis containers. He was better off eating than sitting in his Ready Room feeling guilty.
The turbolift stopped at deck eight then Trip exited and strolled down the corridor towards the Mess. His bond with T'Pol told him that she was sleeping, so he put his mental shields up. She had gone forty-six hours without sleep trying to tract a rogue cloaked Romulan Bird of Prey. Trip arrived at the Mess and entered.
Except for eight crew members, it was empty. He grabbed a tray and walked along the stasis container which acted as buffet counter. Stopping he grabbed a chicken salad sandwich on pumpernickel bread. Next, he grabbed a piece of German chocolate cake, and, finally, poured himself a mug of coffee and added cream and sugar then headed for an empty sat down and started in on his sandwich. Lately, he'd been eating less meat because of T'Pol and his diet didn't like the adjustment.
"I see we had the same idea," said Flynn. "Do you mind if I sit?"
"Go right ahead, Derek," said Trip.
Flynn sat down. He had a beef stew and a piece of blueberry pie.
"Good thing we are headed home because our stores are getting low," said Flynn.
"Why do you say that?" asked Trip.
"Blueberry pie. Chef doesn't start making blueberry pie until he's out of pecans for pecan pie and peaches for peach cobbler, which are the captain's favorites," explained Flynn.
"I also like key lime pie," smiled Trip.
"None of that left either, is it?" grinned Flynn.
Flynn sampled his soup.
"I know we are going to have to rotate the crew, but I insist on being your XO and we keeping Chef," said Flynn.
"You aren't going anywhere and if I can help neither is Wallace, Paris, Ling, Rostov, and Hoshi. They are a top Bridge crew. And Hess is definitely my Chief Engineer," stated Trip then he took a huge bite from his sandwich.
"Agreed. There are others, too, but our Bridge crew is excellent and they are all department heads, except Rostov, who deserves a promotion to chief petty officer. The young man works his ass off," pointed out Flynn. "We have some people who are too important to lose."
"Yup, too important to lose," said Trip.
"You heard anything about our coming repair and refit?" asked Flynn.
"Impulse engines will be improved based on Coridan and Vulcan assistance, as well as our shields. Warp engines fine tuned with the help of Coridan and Vulcan knowledge to warp 7, at least for the NX. It is thought the NX can handle this but the Daedalus and Intrepid classes can handle only warp 6 upgrades. The Phase cannons are going to be modified making them more powerful, they have added four more and we are receiving the Mach III torpedo. It supposed have almost double the yield of the Mach II," Trip told him.
"Plus repairs. This ship has taken a beating in nine months," said Flynn.
"I don't know how long the refit will take but I'm guessing we'll get some shore leave before we are back in the saddle," said Trip.
"I heard that there are a lot of peacenik groups that do nothing but protest and harass Starfleet personnel. No matter how many times they see what the Romulans did to Coridan and Draylax, they think a hug will make everything alright," snorted Flynn.
"We just have to deal with them," sighed Trip.
"You especially, Trip. You're a hero. Troy has written glowing articles about you and this task force. They'll probably want to pin more medals on your chest," grinned Flynn.
"I sure as hell hope not," said Trip. "We lost too many people. I've lost too many people."
"Trip, the Romulans killed them not you," Flynn said.
"I lead the task force and I am captain of the Excalibur. That means something," said Trip.
"Yeah, it means that me and this crew and those other ships would follow you to hell and back because we trust you and you are a damned good captain," said Flynn.
Trip felt tears burn behind his eyes. He took a deep steadying breath.
"Let's change the topic, or they'll be tears in my cake," said Trip.
"Sure. How's the wife?" Flynn smiled.
"You're a smart ass, Derek," chuckled Trip.
"Just wondering," smiled Flynn.
"We are doing very well. Thank you," said Trip.
Flynn smiled as he ate more of his beef stew.
"There is another reason for me to be your XO," said Flynn. "I know your secrets."
Trip started in on his German chocolate cake. A smile crept along his face as he ate the first bite.
"You're lucky Chef is a genius when it comes to certain things," smiled Trip. "This cake is improving my mood."
"I'll remember that. Maybe I should keep pecan pie, peach cobbler, key lime pie, and German chocolate cake on the Bridge for captain's bad mood," chuckled Flynn.
"Officer thinking, Commander," grinned Trip.
STSTST
Fleet Captain Archer was in the Situation Room reviewing the arrangement of his fleet. He wanted them in a defensive disposition because Starfleet Intelligence had reports of possible attacks on this sector. Commander Shran in the Kumari acted as his number two, so he put him in charge of patrols. Archer was surprised at how meticulous Shran was. In the Situation Room with Archer was his personal adjunct Lt. Commander Sasha Ivanov, as well as two computer people.
"We've lost eleven ships in our battles with the Romulans," said Archer. "Eleven good ships. Who knows when we'll get replacements for them."
"Sir, I could send an encrypted comm to Starfleet Command requesting replacement ships," said Ivanov.
"No. They know our loses. Hell, they'll probably aware of every ships duty roster and loss of crew. But the Command is trying to build more Daedalus Class ships and then finding experience personnel crewing them. We could use another ally besides the Andorians and Concordium," sighed Archer. "A better question is when will Corp of Engineers finish Starbase 5 which is supposed to be our base of operations."
"According to Captain Monroe they are waiting on a Tellarite Freighter convoy with materials and Tellarite workers to finish up their work," said Ivanov.
"And when he gets the supplies and personnel then how long?" asked Archer.
"six weeks," sighed Ivanov.
"Six weeks. It'll be good to walk around somewhere other than the Enterprise," smirked Archer.
"I've heard that Tellarite workers are fast and efficient. Mining and building are their specialties," said Ivanov.
"I wonder who'll they'll be sending to run the station. I hope to God its a rear admiral I can get along with," said Archer.
"Maybe they'll surprise you, sir, and promote you and put you in charge of everything," said Ivanov.
Archer laughed then said: "Command is never that easy."
STSTST
The shuttle from the Excalibur landed at the newly built San Francisco Bay terminal. It was filled with Excalibur crew, leaving the ship before a tug pulled it to Jupiter Station to begin repairs an refit. The terminal was built to handle the heavy traffic from the start of the war. As the doors to the shuttle opened, Troy, who had his bag slung over his shoulder, exited first as the civilian in the group. Trip watched through the window, as he rushed into the arms of his brother. It was good to see Billy acting Human, thought Trip.
Because of privacy T'Pol had taken another shuttle down and would go to the Vulcan Compound. They would meet up later. Trip grabbed his garment bag and duffle bag, slung them over his shoulder then headed off the shuttle. As he exited he got gawks and stares from some of the younger Starfleet personnel. It appeared that he had develop a bit of a reputation.
Billy and Troy headed over to him. Billy hugged Trip even before he could dropped his bags.
"Thanks for taking care of Troy for me," he said.
"Your welcome," said Trip.
"Your brother is a hero, Billy. A hero," said Troy.
"I read the pieces and saw the ones you could comms you sent," said Billy. "Oh, I've arranged for dinner tonight with me, Troy, Lizzy, and you at seven. Fisherman's Wharf at a place called the Captain's Nest."
"I'll be there," smiled Trip then he noticed a young Lieutenant coming his way.
The Lieutenant walked up to them then stood at attention.
"Captain Tucker, I'm Lieutenant Toshiro Nagura. I'm here to transport you to Starfleet Command," he said.
"At ease," smiled Trip then he handed him his bags. "Billy, Troy, I'll see you tonight."
"Lizzy dying to see you," grinned Billy.
Trip and the Lieutenant walked away leaving Troy with Billy.
"Don't they treat him with deference," said Billy with surprise in his voice.
"Troy, your brother is one of the tops captains in the fleet. I mean they teach about his work on the Warp Three Project, as well as the way he handled the Romulan drones and the cloaked Romulan Birds of Prey at the academy," Troy told him. "Some say that the NX captains: Archer, Tucker, Hernandez, Ramos, and now Weiss with the Atlantis are the best of the best."
"You're impressed by my baby brother," said Billy, as they started walking towards the transports.
"I have seen him in situations that we came to the rescue of ships, that he mourned the loss of his people, that he outsmarted the Romulans, and that I was sure we were dead and he got us out of the damned battle alive," said Troy. "I'm a journalist, so I can tell you this: the Romulans really are the bad guys. We ran a mission to Draylax protecting a huge cargo convoy of food, medical supplies, radiation clean up equipment. Billy, you cry if you saw that planet."
"I saw the news comm you sent, Troy. I did cry," said Billy.
STSTST
After taking him to his temporary housing in an apartment near Starfleet Command, no longer the Presidio for Trip, Lieutenant Nogura escorted him to the Warroom. There he saw Admiral Maxwell and Admiral Stahl. Trip was impressed with the Warroom. Immediately, he noticed Task Force: Centurion. It appeared to be engaged in a protection mission of a convoy of Tellarite freighters.
"This is impressive, sir," said Trip.
"Trip, good to see you," said Maxwell.
They shook hands.
"Admiral Stahl," Trip said then shook her hand.
"Let's go into my office to talk," said Maxwell.
The two admirals and Trip headed into the glass office. Maxwell set the security level for his office then semi-darkened the glass. He sat down behind his desk, while Stahl too the sofa. Trip sat down in a chair in front of the desk.
"So, you are bonded to T'Pol," said Maxwell.
Trip turned white. His career at Starfleet flashed in front of him.
"Calm down, Trip, you aren't going to be punished. Vulcan told Nomura and Nomura told me. He wants you to keep it private and out of the public's eye," said Maxwell.
"You do have obligations, though," said Stahl. "As a citizen of Vulcan and now a member of an important clan, we expect you to be an advocate for the Coalition."
"You mean you want me to...," Trip started to speak, but Maxwell raised his hand and stopped. He knew Trip too well, so he could the young man was getting his back up.
"Trip, we want you to do what you think is best for Earth and Vulcan," smiled Maxwell. "Now, you're ship is and the rest of Task Force: Spartan are being pushed to the head of the line so you're not planet bound for six months. Tomorrow, you have a day long debriefing with Admiral Stahl, Admiral Gardner, and Captain Patel. After you're done you have shore leave for the next six weeks. Enjoy."
"Thank you, sir," said Trip.
"Oh, remember, I know you'll be spending time with T'Pol, but try to keep it out of public view," Maxwell said.
"Yes, sir," Trip said then stood. "I take it I'm dismissed."
"You are," smiled Maxwell."
Trip exited the office. Stahl looked over at Maxwell.
"I take it you have to push Captain Tucker gently not lay down the law with him," said Stahl.
"Someday you may have my position, especially if we continue to have more defeats than victories against the Romulans. If that day happens, I recommend that you use two of your officers to their fullest ability because they are your best: Archer and Tucker," Maxwell told her.
"You still intend on making Archer a rear admiral and placing him in charge of Starbase 5 and the Third Fleet?" she asked.
He nodded yes.
STSTST
After speaking to T'Pol via comm arranging their getting together in two days in a Panama City hotel where Trip arranged side by side room, he headed off to dinner with Lizzy, Troy, and Billy. Trip arrived at the Captain's Nest wearing his daily uniform rather than dress blues to avoid showing off his medals and citations. As he stood waiting for the hostess, Lizzy, in her gray cadet uniform, came up to him.
"Hey, handsome," she said, "Troy and Billy are waiting for you."
He gave her a big hug then they headed over to the table.
"He's the man of the hour," said Billy. "Troy has told me stories about you all day. Did you really get heat stroke on Vulcan while seeing their version of tourist attractions?"
"Yeah, something like that. You see Vulcan has heavier gravity and thin atmosphere, as well as two sun bleating down on it," said Trip.
"So what are you doing with your time off?" asked Lizzy.
"Don't worry I intend to go down to Florida to see ma and dad," said Trip.
And to introduce his wife. At first Trip thought about not telling his parents, but he decided against it. His marriage with T'Pol wasn't going away, so he felt obligated to introduce her. Of course, if he could avoid introducing her to the rest of the family, he'd be happy.
"I'm coming up to a break in a week. Please tell me I'll see you at ma and dad's place," said Lizzy.
"Maybe," Trip smirked.
"Maybe Troy and I will visit while you're home," said Billy.
Trip smiled. This was going to be harder to work out without too many people finding about him and T'Pol. The waiter showed up.
"Who would like to start with a drink?" asked the waiter.
"I'll have a double scotch on the rocks. Make it Glenlivet," ordered Trip.