Chapter Two.

The news of the upcoming research mission on a new unexplored world seemed to spur the crew into action. Within the next few hours the shuttle bay filled up with engineering and scientific crewmen performing pre-flight checks on the shuttlepods, loading up scientific equipment, which would be needed planet side for taking detailed scans and samples.

Sub Commander T'Pol was stood off to one side alone, taking an inventory of all the equipment, whilst checking them against her pad to make sure nothing was missing or left off. Commander Tucker was inside Shuttlepod One performing last minute checks, casually engaging other personnel in casual conversation.

"Crewman, hand me that container over there would ya?"

"This one?" asked Liz, picking up a particularly large one next to her on the floor and passing it over.

"Yeah that's the one. I think we should just be able to fit this in the corner over here, but that's it. Damn that's big," exclaimed Trip, not sure it would fit as he received it from her. "Just how large are ya expecting those bugs to be down there," he joked, a slight hint of concern showing in his voice. (Insects didn't feature on his list of favourite things. In fact he was scared to death of them.)

"This is a strange new world, Commander," she teased. "I'm just preparing for all possibilities, that's all …" Commander Tucker pulled a face as he lifted the container and turned to store it inside the pod.

"You enjoyed that," chuckled Ethan, as he passed her another case of sample containers to check over. Pulling her over to one side, he quietly whispered, "I wanted to thank you for putting in a good word for me with Sub Commander T'Pol and getting me on this mission."

"Not me," smiled Liz. "You did that all by yourself. Don't underestimate your capabilities, Ethan. You're just as skilled as the rest of us. You earned your place."

"Thanks," replied Ethan, feeling slightly better about his position on this mission.

"Come on," laughed Liz, pulling Ethan over to Shuttlepod One. "Commander Tucker's almost finished. Let's get inside the pod, as I don't think Sub Commander T'Pol will appreciate stragglers. We want to make sure we get good seats so we can enjoy the view."

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As Travis glided the shuttle craft down through the atmosphere, Captain Archer and Commander Tucker stood eagerly behind him looking through the windows. Sub Commander T'Pol, Crewmen Cutler, Novakovich and Jamison were sitting in the jump seats behind and Porthos was curled up on the floor, anxiously awaiting his walk.

Breaking through the cloud cover, sunlight flooded the cabin causing everyone to turn and look through the windows and portholes at the beautiful sight stretching below. Everyone that is, except Sub Commander T'Pol, who remained indifferent, tapping instructions into her portal Pad.

"Wow!" exclaimed Trip.

"Worth every light year," said Liz, impressed also.

"Those peaks look higher than the Himalayas …" exclaimed Ethan, as Travis piloted the shuttle past a mountainous range.

"Set us down just east of those hills," suggested Captain Archer, pointing to a grassy meadow in the distance. It looks a good place to start."

"Aye, sir," smiled Travis, working the helm to start their descent. "Place your trays in their upright position and fasten your seatbeats, folks. We'll be landing in five minutes."

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Moments later, the shuttlecraft gently glided down inside the meadow Archer had previously pointed out, edging on to the foothills of a sprawling mountainous range. As Travis powered down the engines, Captain Archer swung open the side hatch and took a deep breath, before stepping down onto the grass taking in the scenery. Porthos, his small beagle, bounded out of the craft ahead of Trip and the others, before racing off towards a small cluster of trees to explore the local fauna.

"Where no dog has gone before," chuckled Trip, causing the rest of the group to laugh.

"I almost forgot what fresh air smells like," said Archer, enjoying this light hearted moment.

"The atmosphere contains trace amounts of nitrogen-dioxide … chloromethane …" stated T'Pol, taking him at his word, reading off details of a recent scan, which caused both Trip and Archer to roll their eyes and shake their heads.

"Why don't you leave that and enjoy the moment?" said Archer. "It's not everyday you get to step on a new planet."

"I have been to thirty-six Minshara-Class planets … this one is only marginally different from the rest," stated T'Pol dryly, before looking down at her pad again to do more scans.

Just as Captain Archer was about to make a retort, Trip stepped in to save the moment. "Perfect! Everyone, hold it right there. Smile…" He aimed his camera in their direction and gestured for the group to gather closer together. Just before Trip clicked the camera's electronic shutter, Captain Archer put his arm around T'Pol's shoulder, causing her left eyebrow to climb into her forhead and a stoic scowl to cross her features. The moment certainly made quite a picture.

"Be sure to send a copy of that to the Vulcan High Command," teased Captain Archer, causing the rest of the group to chuckle.

"This isn't shore leave. It is a research mission," exclaimed T'Pol in a serious tone, aimed at both Captain Archer and Commander Tucker. "We are only scheduled to be planet side for a short period of time. We don't have the time for recreational activities," she said, indicating his camera.

"Research doesn't have to be serious," replied Trip, invading her personal space. "Visual scans with ma camera can be just as effective as your scanner."

"I find that highly doubtful, Commander…"

"Why don't you two tag along and prove it then," exclaimed Archer with a smirk, knowing he'd just dropped his friend in the proverbial deep end.

"What!!" exclaimed Trip, as both he and T'Pol threw Captain Archer a look of shock and horror.

"You said you were short on time. Two 'scanners' are better than one," he replied jokingly.

T'Pol seemed to ponder this suggestion.

"Cap'n…" He was interrupted by T'Pol picking up the extra large container, which he'd stowed in the pod earlier, and placing it in his arms to carry. During their discussion, Ethan, Cutler and Jamison had emptied the pod of all the equipment they would need to carry out their mission.

"You have your assignments. We'll rendezvous here at nineteen hundred hours," ordered T'Pol, indicating for the others to proceed. "Commander …" she stated, signalling that he should follow.

"Cap'n …" pleaded Trip, not quite believing his eyes.

"You heard the lady, Trip… Have fun. Come on, Travis, it's me you and Porthos," he chuckled, as they turned around and walked off to explore, leaving Trip to stare open mouthed like a goldfish.

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