AN:I don't own anything related to Star Trek Enterprise
I hope you like the next chapter : )
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Chapter XII
Untold Stories
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Enterprise, the brig
"Why have you brought me here?" The admiral stared at the captain as he entered.
He cast the guard a quick glance, letting him know that he wanted to deal with this alone. The crewman nodded and exited.
"I demand to know captain!"
"I don't think you are in any position to demand anything admiral."
Tann glared at Archer. The captain pushed a button allowing him to walk through the forcefield. "You have endangered several crewmembers welfare, captured and critically injured my senior officers! You tried to destroy this ship!"
The admiral smiled politely and looked at Archer's fingers around his throat.
"Are you aware, captain, that you are threatening a highly appointed admiral for an act that could be declared one of war?" He returned chilly.
The captain did not however respond exactly as one of his own captains would instead Archer's ice-cold eyes glared at him and the grip tightened for a moment before releasing him.
"I am fully aware admiral, let me ask you a question. Are you fully aware that you will be charged for attempted murder on my Chief tactical officer/ armoury officer and also indirectly my Chief engineer? And...for conspiracy against your own government."
"That is absolutely ridiculous!"
"Is it? I have you and chancellor Ajin on tape." Archer smiled satisfactory.
"But don't worry, I will personally see that it gets in the right hands."
The admiral just stared at him. "How did you..."
"Oh my communications officer is very skilled. So I ask you one last question, what the hell is going on down there?"
"I am surprised that your skilled officers couldn't make that out." He answered innocently.
"Don't give me that crap!" Archer had to restrain himself from killing the gleeful alien in front of him.
"We are storing an alloy for the purpose of our own survival, it is to be used in warfare and is therefor classified."
"Yeah a couple of days ago I might have bought that."
"Perhaps you could enlighten me, captain?"
"Why is the complex heavily shielded and top secret if you have nothing to hide?"
"But I just told you that we do, the alloy must not fall into enemy hands."
"The alloy ,admiral, is useless and you know it!" Archer grabbed him by the collar and pushed him down on the floor.
"Your arrogant little..."
"Captain to the bridge!"
"I believe they are calling for you." Archer unwillingly released his grip.
"Let me make one thing very clear for you, I will find out sooner or later and when I do, you will regret this!" He exited the cell and leaned on the wall.
"Captain please report to the bridge!"
He banged his hand on the wall console. "I am on my way!"
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Enterprise, the bridge
"Captain Archer you have violated our agreement!"
"Spare me chancellor!"
"We demand that you release admiral Tann immediately or we will destroy you."
Archer frowned and folded his arms waiting for the chancellor to continue.
"The destruction of the Ta'Inn and Ta'Lann was a criminal act, you will be seized and sentenced to death!"
"Like you sentenced my officers to death chancellor?"
"How could you even accuse me for such a criminal act, we are a civilized people!"
Archer nodded at Hoshi who started pushing buttons. "Maybe you recognise my communications officer?"
"Ready sir."
Archer turned back his gaze at the screen. "Listen carefully now chancellor."
"Why so bothered chancellor, you have nothing to do with this. At least not officially."
"I want the Enterprise in custody by midnight admiral."
"Why the sudden change of interest?"
"The body has not been found"
Archer nodded at Hoshi to cut the recording. The chancellor swallowed hard, he had been caught, after all these years of liberty. He could hear some of his stab mumbling behind him. It was time, he had nothing to lose anymore, he would be sentenced to a life time in prison or worse.
"Captain..." He smiled diabolically. "...falsification of a higher politician speech is a serious matter."
Archer returned the smile. "We are not obliged to your laws entirely as I am sure that you are aware of. Besides you attacked a harmless science vessel without reason."
"Science vessel, harmless science vessel! She is equipped with bow and stern phaser cannons and carries a vast supply of photontorpedoes plus the fact that she is very manoeuvrable."
Archer frowned, then took his time to gently place himself in the captain's chair.
"Interesting chancellor, we usually don't give such detailed information to other species."
Ajin smiled sheepishly. "Your armoury officer was very proud of the complement."
"Lieutenant Reed would never willingly hand out that kind of information. And one more thing, we will not surrender, if you get anywhere near the Enterprise..."
"Is that a threat captain?"
"Merely a fact chancellor."
The transmission was cut. T'Pol glanced up from her scanner. Archer met her gaze.
"Anything?"
"He was sending from the office therefore he could not have known that we beamed onboard the admiral he had not been in recent contact with the military complex."
The captain nodded. "Keep scanning I need answers, I will be in sickbay."
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Enterprise, sickbay
"Commander Tucker is sedated and breathes artificially, his crushed chest needs to be out of necessary pressure. I have also given him minerals to strengthen the skeleton mixed with a reproductive bone structure formula from the Xindi but much is up to his own healing capacity. The projectile has been removed, unfortunately he has lost a lot of blood in the process. It also damaged his left lung quite bad, I am letting my Denobulan cloth snail work. He is in a critical condition and the light concussion doesn't make it any better I am afraid. Ensign Martin is sitting beside him all the time to monitor any changes as small they may be."
"Is he going to..."
"I cannot say captain but the chances are small for survival."
Archer took a deep breath. "And Malcolm?"
Phlox smiled a little. "Well he has lost a significant amount of blood, there is a fracture on the frontal lobe, the shoulder wound had been treated, then there is the massive internal bleeding, his lungs was quickly filling with blood when he was beamed onboard and if I don't stop the bleeding properly he is going to die." Phlox said sadly.
"Wait a minute what do you mean treated?"
"It seems that someone was on the lieutenants side. Maybe that person could give us the information that we need."
Archer nodded at Malcolm. "I need to talk to him."
Phlox's bright blue eyes displayed sadness and understanding still he didn't make a move.
"I cannot do that captain, I am sorry."
"Cannot or will not!" Archer demanded.
The doctor took a deep breath. "Lieutenant Reed is in a considerable amount of pain even with all the neuro-suppresses and his body is fighting hard right now."
"Phlox." Archer asked in much calmer manner. "Is Malcolm in grave danger?"
"For the moment the condition is critical but I promise that as soon as it is possible you can have a word with him."
"Time is not on our side I am afraid. The admiral refuses to admit anything." Archer sighed. "What about the chancellor?" Phlox said softly.
"We might be near a break through there but it's not going to be easy."
Phlox smiled slightly. "Good luck captain."
"Thanks I will need it."
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the Complex, command centre
"There is someone on a secure channel." Heza quickly opened the link.
"Heza." The chancellor wheezed.
"Sir." He bowed his head slightly. "We have lost the human commander."
"That's not the only thing that you have lost you idiot! Lieutenant Reed and admiral Tann are onboard the ship too!"
"No, the other human died I saw it."
"I don't have time for this you infant, he is not dead. I suggest that you take proper actions."
"You have seen what she did to the Ta'Lann and the Ta'Inn, he protested."
"The Enterprise is a scientific explorer vessel, seize her and let her patrol our borders while we..."
Heza stared confusingly at the black screen.
"Report!" He shouted to a nearby command centre officer.
"Something is blocking the signal lieutenant!"
"Activate the Codonian energy beam."
"Belay that!"
Heza spun around on his heals standing face to face with captain T'Cey.
"The command central is out of your area maybe you need to refresh your memory?"
"Captain I demand you to..."
"You do not demand anything lieutenant Heza, I am the senior officer here!"
Heza turned around as to leave. "Of course captain you are the senior officer."
He quickly turned around again firing his weapon, hitting T'Cey hard in the chest.
"But." Heza continued. "You are not fit for duty."
He glanced around in the room at shocked command central officers.
"Is there anyone in here that wants to question my orders!? Good."
He hit the communication console. "Condition alert, all security personal report to your stations. I am hereby following admiral Tann's personal orders and wishes of chancellor Ajin. We are to seize command over the Enterprise and use her in the colonising project." He glanced in the direction of the captain.
"Chief Medical officer report to the command centre."
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To be continued
