The hotel room was dark. T'Pol straddled Trip, undulating, as he suckled on her breasts. With the flow through their bond they were one. Trip started to push up with his hips as T'Pol picked up her pace. Their lovemaking continue until both of them at the very same moment released. A soft groan of pleasure escaped T'Pol's throat, while Trip grunted and fell back on the bed.
Slipping off of Trip, T'Pol moved close to his body. He could feel her body shivered as waves of post coital climaxes went through her body. Trip wrapped his arms around her, bringing her halfway onto her body.
"When our Pon Farr time comes, I think it might kill me," Trip mumbled.
"There is the chance," replied T'Pol.
Trip chuckled. Through their bond, he knew she was amused, too.
"I'm glad we came to the hotel for the night before visiting my parents tomorrow," said Trip.
"You should call them," said T'Pol.
"Yeah, I should," he said then strained his next to see the chronometer. It was 18:38. "I'll call them in a few minutes."
"Will you tell them that I'm coming with you?" she asked.
"I'm telling them I'm bringing a close friend. I thought I'd save the fact that we are married until we are face to face," Trip answered.
"What are your parents like, Charles?" T'Pol asked.
"Charles, or Charlie as he likes to be called, is easy going, a peacemaker by nature, and a pretty builder of boats and self taught engineer," said Trip.
"I see," T'Pol sighed as she felt Trip's body start to become excited again.
"Now Elaine, my mother, is the queen of the home. She's a former mathematics professor, who gave up teaching when she had children. I think I get my temper from my mother," smiled Trip.
T'Pol raised her right eyebrow and said: "I shall remember that."
Trip chuckled. Next, he leaned his head down and kissed the top of T'Pol's head.
"Charles, are you adapted to having bonded and married a Vulcan?" she asked.
"Why do you ask, darlin'?" Trip asked in return.
"Our bonding was accidental and a surprise. I admit that I had a strong attraction to you, though, which facilitated the bond. You are Human. You need emotions from your mate. They are how you judge moods, situations, and make decisions on how to act," she stated.
"But we have the bond. And it is starting to work smoothly between us. I admit that you have to keep your shields up more than you probably like and I do, too, because I have very little control over my emotions," Trip responded. "But it working. And getting stronger."
"I agree that it is getting stronger. Actually, I am surprised at how strong it is," she stated.
"Because I'm Human?" he smirked.
"You are my Human, though," she replied.
"Yes, I am," Trip chuckled. "And you are my Vulcan."
"I cannot argue with that," replied T'Pol. "You should call your parents."
Trip laughed this time then started to sit up throwing his legs over the bed.
"I didn't think Vulcan wives nagged," said Trip.
"I do not nag, Charles; I remind you to do the proper thing," she said.
Trip smiled then he got up to go over to the small viewscreen on the desk to call his parents. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day as they met his bridge.
STSTST
Admiral Montgomery sent out a patrol of six ships, four Starfleet and two Andorians. A convoy of freighters and their escort had gone missing. Montgomery's current mission for her Second Fleet was protecting the new colony Enclave. They were isolationists but not so much so that they wanted to be destroyed by the Romulans. As part of her tactics developed with border cutters, Admiral Montgomery liked to keep her fleet mobile, so she had it on the edge of the system, where Enclave was located. She didn't want to be boxed in by the Romulans tactics, such as warping into a planetary system and start firing on ships before they could react or using cloaked ships to surprise defenses.
Walking onto the Bridge of her Flagship The Ironclad, Admiral Montgomery waited to be acknowledged. Captain Helen Moustakis turned in her command chair to face Montgomery and nodded. Moustakis preferred to keep a casual atmosphere, which ran against Montgomery's preference.
"Have you heard from the patrol yet?" Montgomery asked.
"No, sir," answered Moustakis. "Would you like me to raise the lead ship?"
"No. Let's wait to hear back from them. We have no idea what situation they are in," she said. "I'll be in the Command and Control."
Montgomery headed into the Command and Control. Once off the Bridge Captain Moustakis turned her chair to face her XO Lt. Commander Hillard.
"How long has the patrol been gone?" she asked him.
"Over two hours," said Hillard.
"Damn. We should have heard something by now, even just a check in. Six ships," sighed Moustakis.
"You think they're gone?" asked Hillard.
"Yeah, I think they are gone. The escort was comprised of six ships and we send out six ships. We should have sent out more," Moustakis stated.
"You know the admiral doesn't like to spread us too thin," said Hillard.
"I don't disagree with her but, damn it, six ships," said Moustakis.
"All for a group of isolationists who still want our protection," said Hillard.
"Some of those isolationists are well connected to UE senators," said Moustakis.
"Let's hope they are worth a convoy of freighters and 12 Coalition ships," remarked Hillard.
"If we don't hear from the patrol in thirty minutes, I talk to the admiral about reporting the patrol missing to Starfleet Command," said Moustakis.
"Maybe someone on Earth can convince these colonists to allow us to evacuate Enclave," said Hillard.
"There's four and fifty thousand colonists down there," Moustakis said to herself. "Hillard, prep a evacuation plan just in case."
"Yes, sir," smiled Hillard.
STSTST
Satak wore the robes of a Vulcan priest as he entered the temple at P'Jem. It took him great effort to get on this planet in order to collect more intelligence on how large the Romulan invasion fleet had grown. First, he had to book passage on an Orion ship. Since the Orions were working with the Romulans, he then was able to find out the planets doing commerce with the Romulans. Once on one of those planets, he killed low rank Romulan, took his identity, then purposely missed his the freighter he was working on as a guard. This led to him have to deal with corporeal punishment and being reassigned to a new freighter. Once on Ding, he disappeared under their noses. The High Priest noticed him and walked over.
"I am Talk, the high priest," Talk introduced himself.
"I am Satak," said Satak.
"The V'Shar need intelligence," stated Talak.
"Number of Birds of Prey and Warbirds. Also foot soldiers. I believe they are called Reman," said Satak.
"They are an offshoot of the Romulan and Vulcan line," stated Talak. "We have been keeping our eyes and ears open as suggested. We live to serve."
"Do you know the number of Birds of Prey and Warbirds?" asked Satak.
"Yes and no. I know the number stationed here. But the Romulan Star Empire has built a Forward Operating Base in the Alpha Quadrant. It is a sector that the Humans have not explored yet, but is still near the Beta Quadrant. From what I know they it uses a crab nova to hide itself," stated Talak.
"Do you have exact coordinates?" Satak asked.
"No," he replied.
"I'll stay a few days then I shall find my way off this planet. It appears I must pass for a Romulan again," said Satak.
"They have suppressed emotions," said Talak.
Satak raised a left eyebrow then smiled.
STSTST
A taxi dropped off Trip and T'Pol at his parents house. He wore jeans and a Hawaiian shirt, which T'Pol described as unsuitable, while T'Pol wore a light Vulcan robe and a large floppy hat. They grabbed their bags and walked towards the house. Trip was surprised to his mother, father, Daniel, Dana, Denise, and Charles IV come out onto the porch.
"I didn't expect this. That's my brother and his family," he told her.
"I see," said T'Pol, who was transfixed by the ocean. So much water.
They came up to the porch and Daniel and his father came down and grabbed the bags.
"So, this is your friend and colleague," smiled Charles.
T'Pol took off her hat exposing her Vulcan ears and her distinctive Vulcan features. Elaine came down the steps to be introduced.
"I'm Trip's mother," she said.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," said T'Pol. "I am T'Pol."
Elaine looked at Trip, as did his father, while Daniel was smitten by T'Pol.
"Oh, hell, there is no working my way into this. Ma and Dad, this is T'Pol. She is my wife," Trip said.
"Your wife?" smiled Charlie.
"I believe we need to talk," stated Elaine then she looked at T'Pol. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"That would be satisfactory," said T'Pol.
"Daniel and I will put your bags in the guest bedroom. Why don't you all head into the living room," said Charlie.
Trip reached out with to finger for his right hand. T'Pol responded by placing two finger from her left hand on them. Their bond hummed between them and T'Pol calmed Trip's nerves, as they walked into the house.
For the next twenty minutes Trip explained as much as he could about how they became married. By the time he got to the Kal'i'fee Daniel laughed and Charlie tried not to laugh.
"You mean your wedding was a battle to the death?" said Daniel.
"Yes," sighed Trip.
His mother glared at him then asked: "Were you hurt?"
"Not too bad," answered Trip.
"He had three broken ribs, collapsed lung, and two cracked vertebrae," said T'Pol.
"And this Koss?" asked Daniel.
"Because I was Human and Starfleet, they allowed me to offer him the chance to surrender. He surrendered," said Trip.
"How was he, though?" asked Charlie.
"He will walk with a limp for the rest of his life," stated T'Pol with a raised right eyebrow.
"What did you do to him?" asked Daniel.
"I cut the muscles and tendons in in the back of his left knee with a lipra," Trip told him.
"A lipra?" asked Daniel.
"It is a Vulcan melee weapon," stated T'Pol.
"I thought Vulcan didn't believe in using violence unless they had to," said Elaine.
"We are on the whole a pacifist people, unless it involves our mating rituals," stated T'Pol.
"Listen, it's getting late and I'm getting hungry. Do you have an dietary needs, T'Pol?" asked Charlie.
"Vulcans do not eat meat. We are vegetarians," she told him.
"Okay, it looks like grilled vegetables and rice for you and the rest of us are having hamburgers and hot dogs," said Charlie then he headed into the kitchen
"Trip, can I get you a beer?" asked Daniel as he stood up.
"Yeah," said Trip.
Daniel headed into the kitchen.
"I'm taking the kids out to play before dinner," said Dana.
She and Denise and Chaz, as his parents called him, headed out on the beach with a soccer ball. This left Elaine alone with Trip and T'Pol.
"T'Pol, do you love my son?" asked Elaine.
"Ma, you don't understand Vulcans," Trip tried to stop her.
Elaine glowered at Trip shutting him up.
"Charles knows how I feel about him," T'Pol told her.
"But you can't tell me that you love my son?" she asked.
"May I call you Elaine?" asked T'Pol.
"Please do," she replied.
"Elaine, Vulcans' emotions are so strong, so violent, that they almost destroyed us as a people. We warred among ourselves for thousands of years until Surak developed his philosophy. Now we suppress our emotions, deal with them internally, and don't allow them to dictate our lives. There are instances when the old ways cannot be suppressed like Kal'i'fee, but we are a better people now," she explained.
"So, how does he know how you feel?" Elaine asked.
"Our bond. It is a telepathic one. When I allow him, Charles can feel my emotions. And the same is true for him. Charles has learned to develop mental shields so he can keep his emotions to himself and from me and block mine. But there are times we allow the bond to flow and then we are...one," T'Pol told her.
Elaine looked at Trip. He offered T'Pol two fingers from his right hand and she responded by caressed those fingers with two fingers from her left hand. She could see the look in his eye that he loved T'Pol. Elaine even noticed a change in T'Pol's expression now that their fingers were touching.
"So, you are husband and wife," smiled Elaine.
"Adun and Adun'a," T'Pol said.
"That's Vulcan for husband and wife," Trip explained.
"Are you learning to speak Vulcan?" asked Elaine.
"His accent is atrocious," T'Pol assured her. "He is also reading the Kir'Shara so he can understand us better. I am translating it for him."
"Well, we should get ready for dinner," said Elaine. She stood up to leave.
"Ma," Trip stopped her. "We can't have too many people knowing about our marriage. It must be kept private for now."
"Why?" asked Elaine.
"Think Interstellar politics," smiled Trip.
"Trip, ever since you were a child you have gotten yourself into situations than all my other children put together," Elaine said. "Now go get ready for dinner."
STSTST
Admiral Montgomery stood on the Bridge of the Ironclad waiting for the Administrator of Enclave to appear on the viewscreen. She had been given simple orders now that they had lost a convoy of Tellarite freighter and twelve ships for this colony: they would either evacuate with the Second Fleet, who would escort the to Earth, or they would be on their own, which assuredly meant destruction by the Romulans. According to the Vulcans the Romulans didn't start taking prizes and colonies until the end of war not in the beginning. In the beginning destruction and death were their only offerings.
The administrator Nina Jabari appeared on the viewscreen. She was an attractive woman of African descent in her mid thirties.
Montgomery took a deep breath then started speaking.
"Administrator Jabari, I believe you have heard from the United Earth Senate. We are no longer in a position to assist Enclave, not during this war at least. We offer a choice, though: We can evacuate you, efficiently and quickly, or the Second Fleet can just leave you on your own, in which case you are assured destruction. The Romulans have marked this colony for destruction when it destroyed the convoy headed here with supplies and materials," stated Montgomery.
"This is fair," said Jabari.
"No, Administrator, it isn't fair. Think of all the dead from those six escort ships, fifteen freighters, and six patrol ships. All those lives lost. Do you want to add to them?" asked Montgomery.
"We took a vote and by a narrow margin evacuation won," said Jabari. "I believe you have an evacuation plan that we can go over. Remember many of the ships we took to this planet have been re-purposed for other things, from homes to power sources."
"I believe it has been calculated that two hundred thousand of your people will have to travel with the fleet. The rest can evacuate in your remaining ships," said Montgomery.
"Who will I work with?" she asked.
"Lt. Commander Hillard and several other officers will head down in a shuttle to start the process," said Montgomery. "Montgomery, out."
The viewscreen turned into an image of the planet. Montgomery shook her head.
"Let's get this down quickly. I have a feeling that the Romulans will take advantage of our chaos," said Montgomery. "I'll be in the Command and Control working out defense while we evacuate."
Montgomery exited. Moustakis looked at Hillard.
"Get your ass in gear. I want out of here," she said.
"Yes, sir," he grinned.
STSTST
After a session of making love, or as T'Pol described it as a way to strengthen their bond, Trip and T'Pol got up early and took a long walk along the beach. This had become their habit over the last few days. It was relaxing and allowed T'Pol quiet time. Trip walked so that the tide washed over his feet, while T'Pol kept some distance. She walked in the dry sand. Too much water tended to disturb her.
They walked in silence, which almost acted as a form of meditation for T'Pol. As the sun became stronger around 06:00, Trip suggested that they stopped, sit in the sand, and meditate. They sat in the sand. T'Pol focused herself and started to meditate, while Trip stared at the water.
Soon the sound of the tide and waves caught Trip up in his own trance. For the next forty minutes they sat there then T'Pol finally opened her eyes.
"We should head back to your parents home," she said.
They stood up and headed back. As they got closer Trip noticed two vehicles parked near his parents house. As they got close to the house, Lizzy came out of the house. She looked at Trip and T'Pol and smiled then came running off the steps and hugged Trip.
"You two are married," said Lizzy.
"You can't tell anyone, Lizzy," said Trip.
"I've been told," said Lizzy then she looked at T'Pol. "Welcome to the family."
"Thank you," said T'Pol.
"Who is inside?" asked Trip.
"Billy and Troy, who picked me up, and Anna," answered Lizzy.
"Ah, hell, who told them to come? Ma? Or Dad?" asked Trip.
"Ma," said Lizzy. "She told everyone that it has to remain a secret, but that's not a reason to greet the newest member to our family."
"Shit," mumbled Trip.
"I believe your family is well intentioned," said T'Pol.
"Yeah, I just don't trust Billy or Anna," said Trip.
"Troy said he'd leave Billy if he leaked anything about the marriage," Lizzy told him.
"God bless Troy," smiled Trip. "Let's go inside."
They went up the steps and into the house. Elaine was making a big breakfast that including pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, and tea. Charlie was on the phone with Daniel telling him to come over for breakfast and a family get together.
His sister Anna came walking over to Trip and T'Pol. She had an expression of superiority on her face. Trip sighed. Anna faced T'Pol and nodded her head then offered her the Taal and said: "Live long and prosper."
T'Pol nodded in return. Anna then looked at Trip and said: "I don't know how you attracted someone from such an enlightened and advanced people."
"Charles is my equal," stated T'Pol.
"Really?" said Anna.
"Really," replied T'Pol.
Anna moved away allowing Troy and Billy next to congratulate them. Trip leaned close to T'Pol and whispered: "I'll remember you said that I'm your equal."
T'Pol looked at him with a raised left eyebrow.
"T'Pol, I should have known something was between you and Trip," said Troy then he looked at Trip. "Heat stroke my ass. You were in a Kal'i'fee. One of the great stories ever and I can't report it."
Troy hugged him. Billy offered his hand to shake. They shook hands then Billy looked at T'Pol.
"I know Vulcans don't like to be touched, so no congratulatory kiss. But I will say welcome to the family," he said.
"Thank you. I am honored to be part of the Tucker Clan," she said.
"Okay, everyone, breakfast is ready," said Charlie. "Let's go in the dining room. Daniel is coming over with his family."
Trip placed his hand on T'Pol's lower back and ushered her into the dining room. They sat down beside each other. Trip reached over to the platter of pancakes and placed two pancakes on her plate then he grabbed the orange marmalade and knife and handed it to her.
"I think you'd like fruit preserves rather than maple syrup," he told her.
"Thank you, Charles," said T'Pol.
Trip loaded his plate with four pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon then poured syrup over the pancakes. He then got T'Pol a cup of tea and himself a cup of coffee.
"Are Vulcans vegetarians base on spiritual reasons?" asked Anna.
"We are vegetarians based on food supply and ethical reasons," stated T'Pol. "Surak during the time of the Great Awakening chose no longer to eat animal flesh."
"I'd love to hear about the time of the Great Awakening," said Anna.
"If I have the time," nodded T'Pol.
"That would be wonderful," said Anna.
"You really are making my life difficult, bro," said Billy. "One of the all time great stories is right under my nose and there is nothing I can do. Are you trying to give me an ulcer?"
T'Pol sampled the pancake and nodded here approval to Trip. He smiled.
"I thought we'd have a barbecue wedding party for you tonight, including a cake," said Elaine. "It's been a long time since had the whole family together."
"Hey, everyone, we're here," yelled Daniel as he entered the house.
Denise and Chaz came running into the dining room. There was hugging and commotion, and Trip felt T'Pol's unease. He leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"Welcome to the Tucker Family," he said then kissed the point of her ear.
T'Pol blushed a slight green.
STSTST
Admiral Montgomery stood on the Bridge of the Ironclad. So far the shuttles had been streaming up from the planet and ships were taking on the colonists. Some of the ships they thought would work didn't, so even more colonists had to be taken on by the Second Fleet.
"Sir, I just picked up on the edge of the system sixty ships coming out of warp," stated the Science Officer. "Forty Birds of Prey and twenty Warbirds. They are headed straight to us."
"Damn, this was what I was afraid of," said Montgomery. "They waited until we were at our most vulnerable. Comm, find out how many ships aren't carrying colonists."
"Aye, aye, sir," said Comm Officer.
"What are you planning, Admiral?" asked Moustakis.
"Whatever ships don't have colonists will attack the Romulans letting the colonists getaway," said Montgomery.
"I always wanted to be known in the same breath as the Alamo," smiled Hillard.
"Fifteen ships aren't carrying colonists," said the Comm Officer.
"Inform those fifteen ships to form up on the Ironclad. We are attacking the incoming Romulans," ordered Montgomery.
"Weapons hot and shields up," ordered Hillard.
"Comm, tell Captain Merrick of the Reliant to charge and to emergency warp away once the last colonist is off the planet," ordered Montgomery.
"Ships have formed up," called out the Science Officer.
"Okay, let's bloody the noses of the Romulans," said Moustakis.
"I wonder what color they bleed," grinned Hillard.
STSTST
"T'Pol, would you like another veggie burger?" asked Charlie.
"Please, one is enough with the salad," she said then used a fork to eat the last of her veggie burger.
"I'll have some more of your ribs, dad," said Trip, who was licking his fingers.
"So, T'Pol, how is it to be on a warship as a Vulcan?" asked Anna.
"I serve on the Excalibur, which happens to be at war," stated T'Pol.
"But you are fighting and killing," stated Anna.
Billy snorted a laugh. His anti-Starfleet stance had been shaken by Troy's reporting. The Romulans had to be stopped.
"We are stopping the Romulans from invading and conquering," stated T'Pol.
"Anna, enough," snapped Elaine. "This is a celebration not a soiree of professors."
Billy and Daniel laughed out loud. Trip felt the communicator on the back of his hand buzz. For someone to get in touch with him it was an emergency. Trip stood up and walked away from everyone. They noticed and watched him as he answered the comm. Trip ended the comm then walked back to his family.
"T'Pol, we are being recalled. A transport will be here to pick up up in an hour," he said.
"What's happened?" asked Billy.
"I'll tell you this because this news can't be held back, but the Second Fleet was attacked while evacuating a colony of 600,000. Most of the fleet survived. But Admiral Montgomery took sixteen ships up against sixty in order to give time for evac. Montgomery and those sixteen ships were lost, as well as four more ships which didn't warp out in time," explained Trip.
"Why are you being recalled?" asked Troy. "The Excalibur is still being refitted."
"Maxwell wants me. I don't know why but he does. More than likely, he'll use me in some desk capacity until the Excalibur is ready," Trip told him.
Elaine and Charlie walked over to Trip. Elaine kissed and hugged him and charlie shook his hand. T'Pol stood up.
"We should change into our uniforms," she said.
"Yeah, we should," sighed Trip.