Chapter Three
The pneumatic doors swished open as he approached. Trip stepped onto the Bridge of the Valley Forge. He stood still then scanned his Bridge. The command chair was in the middle of the Bridge. It was his own personal design. On the left arm he had direct comms to the Infirmary, Engineering, backup command center, and armory. The right arm had a small emitter that when activated a holographic display of all vital ship functions. The chair brought a smile to his face.
After that, he viewed the XO command console to the right of his command chair. He didn't give his XO a seat because he knew he'd need to be mobile in an emergency. Next, he checked out the Tactical and Ops Station. It was designed for three crewmen. One crewman acted as the OIC with his primary function shields, targeting, and backup sensor readings and the other two manned the controls for tactical and operations.
Looking around the Bridge he next checked out the Science Station. From that station a variety of sensor scans could be run and a variety of probes deployed. After that was the Engineering Station and Damage Control Station. From that station he made sure changes and adjustments to both the impulse and warp engines could be made. Beside the Engineering and Damage Control Station was Environmental Station. From that station every change in atmosphere, temperature, and oxygen levels. The finally station was the Comm Station. From there communication buoys can be deployed, the Universal Translator assessed and updated, and the Cultural library assessed and updated.
Now he was back to his command chair. Lying in front of his chair was the helm. Now he needed a lead helmsman to fly his ship. The swishing sounds of the doors drew Trip's attention. He turned to see a square jawed man with brown hair and greying temples in a gold shirt BDUs. Over his shoulder was a duffle bag and a quick check of his pips and sleeve told Trip he was a commander. He had a PADD in his right hand.
"Commander Flynn?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," he said then he handed Trip PADD.
"My orders," said Flynn.
Trio reviewed the PADD, thumbed for a signature then he handed it back to Flynn.
"Commander Flynn, we don't have a quartermaster yet, so why don't I show you to your quarters," said Trip.
"Won't be necessary, sir. Just tell me deck and section and I'll take care of the rest."
"You know that this ship was twenty-one decks?" smiled Trip.
"She is a big one," said Flynn. "I think I can handle it."
"This is deck one. Your quarters are on deck three, section C," said Trip.
"Thank you, sir," said Flynn. "I'll drop off my duffle then I guess we can get to work. I checked with the Detailer's Officer before I came and we still have two-thirds of the crew to fill out."
"I'll be in my Ready Room," Trip said. "Do you think you can find that?"
Flynn grinned, "Oh, I know I can."
Flynn turned on his heels and left the Bridge. Trip gave the Bridge one more look over then headed into his Ready Room. Unlike the Ready Room on the Enterprise, the Valley Forge's was spacious. There were a couch, a loveseat, a desk, several chairs, an end table, and a private head. If he had to do so, he could live in his Ready Room. Moving to his desk he sat down and turned on his computer.
Suddenly, his comm unit buzzed. Whoever was contacting him override the comm system and went straight to his Ready Room. He answered the comm.
"Tucker," he said.
"You need a comm officer," said Admiral Black.
"I know, sir. I need a whole Bridge crew actually."
"We had an emergency call from Vulcan High Command. They lost contact with a ship called the T'Klass. According to the Vulcans they were investigating the Orion Syndicate," said Black.
"I don't see how this affects me or the Valley Forge," said Trip.
"Soval got involved in the comm and asked a personal favor from Forest and Wentworth. This happened near the Andorian border. If they send any more ships to that area it might precipitate a way. They are asking for a favor. I know you aren't completely ready to leave dock, but according to you even without fine tuning the warp engine you should be capable of warp 6," said Black.
"Warp 6 easily. With fine tuning, I guarantee 6.7 and even warp 7 for at least a two hour stretch," said Trip.
"I'm sending you a helmsman, Lieutenant 1st Class Nathan Wentworth. He's supposed to be brilliant and he's the Fleet Admiral's nephew. Along with him I've got you half a crew, including a Bridge crew and Marines. They are in their way to you with an ETA of two hours. Get ready to shove off in five hours," said Black.
"Sir, this boat is still two weeks from be shipshape and Bristol fashion. Isn't there another ship?" asked Trip.
"Tucker, you've gained a rep as a miracle worker. Take advantage of the eight days it will take you to get to the Andorian border at warp 6. I'm afraid the Valley Forge isn't going to get that big media sendoff that was planned. Understand, Captain?" said Black.
"I understand, Admiral," said Trip.
"Good. I hope you have your Mark I torpedoes loaded you may need them," said Black.
"Yes, sir," said Trip.
The comm ended. Trip exhaled. Damned Vulcans. I have no idea why we are still bending over backwards for them. Trip looked at the comm unit on his desk. He connected himself to Engineering.
"Hess," his Chief Engineer answered.
"You won't believe this, Beth, but this boat is leaving dock in five hours. I'll need warp 6 cruising speed. Can you manage it?"
"We have to keep an eye on the engine and play with it, get it tuned and working smoothly, but warp 6 won't be a problem," she said.
"Good. It's eight days from here to the Andorian border. I'll need your Engineering crew working on getting this ship into peak condition while we are headed to our destination. I know I'm asking a lot, but we may see action."
"I've got an Alpha Shift and Beta Shift, but I'm light on the Gamma Shift, sir," said Hess.
"Let's see if I can if it out for you. I'll comm Admiral Black," said Trip.
"I better get to work, sir," said Hess.
"Good luck, Hess," said Trip, as he broke the connection.
Finding experience engineers would be impossible at this time, but ten or twelve talented midshipmen might work just for this cruise. Some middies might actually be to fill out his science and comm departments, too. They might be away from the Academy for three or four weeks, but it could be considered extra credit for the middies he could get.
STSTST
The Reptile ship had the latest version of the weapon. It was escorted by two Reptile ships and two Insectoid ships. Along with the damaged Enterprise and damaged Columbia, two Primate ships and two arboreal and one Aquatic were joining them in pursuit of the weapon. Archer managed to convince most of the Xindi. Trip always said that Jonathan Archer could talk a man into a suicide mission if he believed in the mission.
"Malcolm target the engine of the lead Reptile ship," ordered Hernandez.
She was in command as Archer was on the Xindi-Reptile ship pulling the weapon. Their plan was to disable the ship, transport Archer off of it and then destroy the ship and the weapon. The Aquatic and Arboreal ships attacked the other ships, while the Primates assisted them.
"I have Captain Robinson on the comm, sir," said Hoshi.
"Give me audio only," ordered Hernandez.
"Erica," came the calm voice of AG.
"I'm here, AG."
"I've just been told by MacFadden that my impulse engine is going to flail. The damage has caught up to it," said AG.
"Give me everything you got until your engine flails, AG."
"You got," he said then broke the connection.
Hernandez drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair, as they took a volley of fire from the Reptile ship. The Primate ship jumped in front of the Enterprise in order to take the incoming fire on its superior shields.
"Hull plating down to 38%," said Malcolm.
"Malcolm, get the MACOs ready to board just in case we can't get a lock on Jon when the shields go down. We are getting him off that damned ship," she stated.
"Yes, Ma'am," smiled Malcolm.
"Now let's bring down those shields and engine, Malcolm," she ordered.
"With pleasure," replied Lieutenant Malcolm Reed.
STSTST
Trip settled into the command chair. He brought up the holographic display on his armchair, so he could monitor vital ship's functions. Admiral Black and Admiral Forest went to the Commandant of the Starfleet Academy, Admiral Miriam Hurst, and got thirty midshipmen for this mission. They were assigned duties by the COB and XO. He could tell which ones where middies because they wore their senior maroon uniforms.
"Mister Wentworth, take us out of dock the set a course to the Andorian Border planet Sirius cruising speed warp 6," ordered Trip.
"Aye, aye, Captain," said Lieutenant Wentworth.
Trip ran his right hand through his dirty blonde hair then sat back and relaxed in his chair.
"Captain, I have Admiral Forest on comm for you," said Lead Comm Officer Ensign Mai Sango.
"Put him on the view screen, Ensign Sango," he said.
The large image of Forest replaced the front view of the Valley Forge leaving dock. Wentworth's head went down, as he know looked at his tactical screen to do his piloting.
"Captain Tucker, I wanted to wish you good luck and Godspeed," said Forest.
"Thank you, Admiral."
"I expect you back here to drop off your middies and pick up the rest of your crew in two or three weeks," said Forest.
"Keep a light on in the window for us," said Trip.
The screen returned to the front view of the Valley Forge. The ship exited the space dock. Once it had cleared the dock and all planets the Valley Forge jumped to warp speed. Trip heard the pneumatic doors opened and looked over his shoulder to see a maroon uniform clad Elizabeth Tucker carrying several PADDS over to the Science Station and handing them to Science Officer Lieutenant Holt.
Trip looked over at his XO.
"XO, you have the conn," he said then he stood up and stepped away from the command chair.
"Yes, sir," said Flynn, who moved over to the command chair and sat down.
Trip walked over to the Science Station.
"Midshipman, please come with me to my Ready Room," he said.
"Sir, if she did anything wrong, I'll take the blame," said Holt.
"No, problem, Lieutenant," said Trip. "The midshipman is my sister."
Elizabeth followed Trip into his Ready Room. When the doors closed, he turned on her said, "What in the hell are you doing here, Lizzy?"
"They picked top students, Trip, and I'm a top student," she smiled.
He walked over to his desk and sat down. She walked up to the front of his desk and took an at ease pose.
"Liz, you should have recused yourself," he said.
"Why?"
"Because you're my sister. Now I'm going to worry about you," Trip said.
"Shouldn't a captain worry about his crew?" she smiled.
Trio glared at her.
"You're in the science department, right?"
"Yes, Captain," she said.
"Okay, carry on, middie," he said.
She turned and started to leave. Before she got too close to the door, she stopped, turned around, and looked at her brother.
"I'm glad I'm on your first shakedown cruise, Trip," she smiled.
"I'd say we can have dinner together, but a midshipman in the Captain's Mess would bring too much attention to you," he smiled.
"I can find someone to eat," she smiled then left.
Trip shook his head.
"My sister is on the ship. Damn it," he sighed.
STSTST
A beat up and sore Jonathan Archer lay on his bed in his quarters. The weapon was destroyed and the Xindi were left to deal with a fracture in the relationship between the Primates, Arboreal, and Aquatics and the Reptiles and Insectoids. Now the Enterprise and Columbia limped home at warp 3. Someone buzzed his door.
"Enter," he said.
Commander Hernandez entered his quarters. She looked at Archer. His face was bruised with his right eye black and blue. She knew from Dr. Phlox's report that his torso was as equally bruised.
"How are you feeling, Jon?" she asked.
He sat up gingerly and put his legs over the side of his bed.
"I've been better, Erica," he said.
"You did it, Jon. The weapon is destroyed and the Xindi are no longer a threat," she said.
"Yeah," he said with great relief.
She sat down beside Archer. Reaching over she took Archer's hand in hers. He turned his head and looked into his eyes. For over the past year, he had been driven to the point of bending his morality and going down a path that was difficult to return from. AG and she tried to reign him in, but Jonathan Archer was driven to save Earth at all cost and he was in charge of the mission.
"Erica," he said.
Before he could say anything else she leaned in and kissed him. It started as a soft kiss but soon all his pent up passion was released and he and Erica went down another path they couldn't go back from.
STSTST
Trip was reviewing the information on the Marines he carried. It was a platoon, twelve fire teams equaling 48 Marines. Major Killian Burke led them with Gunnery Sergeant Turk Sanders and Staff Sergeant Hailey Lopez. He had arranged for the second cargo bay to be reformatted for Marine training. If any of the Vulcans were still alive they were probably Orion slaves and that meant he'd need the marines to get them freed.
A whistle noise sounded then Ensign Sango's voice came over the comm.
"Captain, we have picked up a distress buoy from the T'Klass," she said.
"I'm coming to the Bridge," he said.
Trip got up and exited his Ready Room and entered the Bridge. Flynn got up from the command chair making room for him. Trip sat down.
"XO, what's the sitrep?" he asked.
"We just picked up a distress beacon tied to emergency buoy from the T'Klass. I ordered us to drop out of warp them come close in on it then beam it on board," he said.
"Ensign Sango, once we have the buoy, I'll need whatever is recorded translated," he said.
"Aye, aye, sir," she said.
Trip looked over at Flynn, who now stood at the XO console.
"What do you think, XO?" Trip asked.
"I'd say for a Vulcan ship to drop an emergency buoy with information on it that they were heavily damaged and about to be boarded," he said.
"Do you think that the Orion's have their ship?"
"Even if they do, you know the Vulcan's with their tech. They act like they are the only ones who can handle it. They'll scuttle their most important systems and such," said Flynn.
Trio nodded in agreement. He always wanted to get a look at the Vulcan warp engine. It was a warp 7 engine and Trip was sure that he could get more out it, but the Vulcans never let them see it.
"Ensign Sango, how does the Universal Translator do with Vulcan?" Trio asked his comm officer.
"Not great. The Vulcans never shared their language for it," she said. "We have translate Vulcan the old fashion way."
"Do we have anyone who speaks Vulcan in our department?" he asked.
"I do, sir," she smiled. "I spent four years on Vulcan. I lived on the Earth compound. My father is Vice Admiral Toshiro Sango."
Trip grinned then looked over at Flynn. Flynn chuckled and shook his head. Lead Tactical Officer Lieutenant Commander Irina Petrov spoke up, "Sir, we are in range to beam the buoy on board."
"Lieutenant Commander, let Transporter Room One know to beam it on board," said Trip.
"Yes, sir," replied Irina.
Trip smiled. Yes, sir. Suddenly, it hit him that he was captain of starship. He'd dreamed of this and thought after serving with Jon for four or five years that he'd get a ship of his own. Now he was sitting on the Bridge of his own ship, and what a ship it was.
"Ensign Sango, call for a replacement then let Transporter Room One call security to bring the buoy to the Language Lab," said Flynn.
"Yes, sir," said Sango.
"I want a translation ASAP, Sango," said Trip.
"Yes, sir," said Sango.
STSTST
Archer sat in his command chair. They had contacted Earth and were being hailed heroes. Jonathan Archer didn't feel like a hero. He had stolen a warp core from a peaceful ship, tortured a prisoner, and bullied, threatened, and killed to succeed in his mission. All he wanted to do was get back to Earth, get his ship repaired, and find some redemption.
"Sir," said Malcolm. "Four ships are approaching us at warp 5. From their transponder signal they are Starfleet starships."
"We are being hailed," said Hoshi.
"Put them on the view screen," he said.
The image of Captain Carlos Ramirez of the Daedalus-Class Relentless appeared. He was smiling.
"Congratulations captains and crews of the Enterprise and Columbia. The Relentless and Freedom, along with the frigates the Patton and Ivanov, are here to escort back to Earth," said Ramirez.
"Thank you, Captain. I guess we could use the escort. Both the Enterprise and Columbia are a little worse wear," said Archer.
"We have fully stacked galleys. If your ships need resupplying or you have a hankering for something then let me know," said Ramirez.
"I could use a cold beer and a bacon cheeseburger," said AG.
"I think we can get you that for your whole crew, Captain Robinson," said Ramirez. "How about you, Captain Archer?"
"I think my crew wouldn't mind pizza and beer," said Archer.
"I know we have some frozen pizzas for can beam over and beer. It's the least we can do for you guys," said Ramirez.
"Thank you, Captain."
"My pleasure and honor, Captain," said Ramirez.
The view screen returned star field. It was time to go home.