Chapter Four
Trip met in the Situation Room, which was located in the back of the Bridge, with Flynn, Sango, CMO Harry Day, Major Burke, Lead Security Officer Lieutenant Ironhorse, and Gunny Sanders. The smart table displayed the planet Sirius. Trip looked at Ensign Sango, who seemed slightly intimidated by her audience.
"Sango, why don't you give us a break down on the translation," he said.
"The Vulcans were attacked by five Orion raiders. The ships appeared out of a nebula taking them by surprise. They disabled the engine of the T'Klass and shields then proceeded to board. The captain ordered both the defense of the ship and scuttle important technology. Before the Bridge was taken he noted in his log that he believed that the Orions would take the females to Sirius to sell as sex slaves. There were ten females on board the ship," Sango completed.
Trip next looked at Flynn, who nodded.
"Sirius is mainly a commerce planet. Anything can be bought and sold there," said Flynn. "The main city is Ty. Inside the main city there is a barter bar called Graya. We should check there for Vulcan female slaves."
"What's the weather like?" asked Major Burke.
"3 degrees Celsius," said Flynn. "It's winter time."
"Major, I want you and two fire teams to prepare to go planetside. Civilian clothes and weapons hidden," said Trip.
Burke looked at Sanders and said, "We'll use the Phase rifle since it can be hidden under a jacket. Also we'll use phase pistols and stun batons."
"Yes, sir," said Sanders.
Trip looked at Dr. Day.
"Doc, do we need any shots or anything to go planetside?" asked Trip.
"I recommend nasal inhibitor. Orion females give off a pheromone which make men pliable," the brown hair doctor smiled.
"Okay," said Trip, "definitely we need nasal inhibitors."
He then looked at Ironhorse. Lieutenant Aaron Ironhorse had black hair and skin with a light brownish skin tone. If asked he tell you he was Yuchi Tribe. He was six foot three inches tall with a runner's built.
"Lieutenant, I want Security Condition Delta while I'm gone," said Trip.
"Gone, sir?" queried Ironhorse.
"I'm going planetside with the Marines," said Trip.
"Sir, if you are leaving the ship then I should go with you as your personal bodyguard," said Ironhorse.
"Sir, the latest updated regulations," started Flynn.
"Recommend that the captain stays on board the ship," said Trip. "I'm going planetside, Jason, and, Lieutenant Ironhorse; I don't need a bodyguard, though I appreciate the thought."
Flynn took a deep breath then exhaled.
"Yes, sir," Flynn said.
Trip looked at Burke.
"We'll take the captain's yacht. It can be mistaken a small ship since it is capable of warp 2 and carries fifteen. Let's get to the quartermaster's, get clothed then head off to the yacht," he said.
"Yes, sir," said Burke.
STSTST
The captain's yacht gently settled on the landing port. They exited the ship to be presented by a large humanoid looking male with large ears and a protruding forehead.
"You must pay to park," he said.
"How much?" asked Trip, who wore civilian clothes and an overcoat.
"What currency?"
"Earth credits or Vulcan donku," he said.
"80 credits," he said.
Trip handed him a currency card and the man ran it off on a machine he took out from his jacket. He handed Trip the card back then the group of seven men and four women headed off to the barter bar Graya.
It was a cold walk during a snowy night. They passed three brothels and two cheap hotels, as well as other stores before they got to the barter bar. Entering the bar, Burke and Sanders stayed close to Trip. The Graya was a large and filled with many races and the acrid smell of smoke from cigars, cigarettes, and hookahs along with alcohols from across the Alpha Quadrant. Besides the smell, the place was a cacophony of voices and music.
There was a stage were seven barely clad women were being forced to dance. A quick perusal and Trip saw three Vulcan females, two Human female, an Andorian female, and a race he didn't know although she looked Human except she had an all black iris. Standing by the stage was a burly male with a pain stick prodding the women to dance. He was prodding one Vulcan female in particular. The male kept prodding her with the pain stick hitting her on the hip and buttocks, but the Vulcan female, though looking annoyed, didn't move.
Trip was found himself enthralled with that particular Vulcan. Although she was petite, he had the feeling that she could take apart the make prodding her. She had the usual Vulcan haircut, though her hair was more chestnut colored hair than black and lighter brown eyes. Her body held his attention the most.
"Vulcan women and a Human," whispered Burke to Trip.
"Yeah," he said then he grinned. "I don't think they want to be here."
"How do you want to handle this?" asked Burke.
"Well, I'm going to go ask the beast with the stick if they are for sale and we'll take it from there," Trip said.
"Sanders will be with you," said Burke then he turned. "Gunny, stick with him."
Trip and the Gunny walked over to the stage. The Vulcan female noticed Trip was staring at her and raised her left eyebrow in disdain. He smiled.
"Hey, buddy, are these girls for sale?" he asked the male with the pain stick.
"Bitches are being broken in before selling. Being taught a lesson. Sale is next week," he said.
"What if I was interested in them now, who do I talk to?" asked Trip.
Now that he was this close to her, Trip noticed that she had green bruises on her hip, thigh, and buttocks. He admired her stoicism.
"Go away," he said then prodded the Vulcan's buttocks again.
Trip noticed that she snarled at him. For a Vulcan her emotions were close to the surface. He wondered if she hadn't meditated in a while. Ambassador Soval spoke how Vulcans needed to meditate every day in order to deal with suppressing their emotions.
Trip found himself once again enthralled with this Vulcan female. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The male prodded her again, except this time it was in her abdomen. She gasped in pain.
Without thinking about the consequences, Trip reached back and hit the male in the jaw with all he had. He stumbled back then he hit Trip with the pain stick in the chest sending him down to one knee. Sanders quickly reacted and took out his stun baton. Within three strikes he had the male out cold on the floor.
Some more males headed towards the stage. Burke and his two fire teams went into action. They pulled their rifles and started firing them into the air while making their way to Trip and Sanders. Trip stood up. His chest was aching him, which made him respect the Vulcan female all the move. He turned towards the stage.
"Captain Charles Tucker of Starfleet," he introduced himself yelling above the noise and music. "Ladies, please follow me!"
"All of them?" said Sanders.
"Yeah. All of them," said Trip, as he helped the woman off the stage and to the barroom floor.
The last one of the stage was the Vulcan female that Trip was enthralled with. She eschewed his aid, and jumped down from the stage and landed near Trip.
"My name is SubCommander T'Pol. We must leave now before the Orions show up," She said. "They will outnumber us beyond our ability to deal."
"Sure," said Trip.
With the marines acting as a wedge they made it of the bar and started running towards where the ship was parked. The women were freezing in their scantily clad clothes, but there was no time to stop and shop. Some phaser fire started coming towards them. Trip knew right this T'Pol was right. They needed to get on board the yacht and get off the planet.
Weapons fire from Orions greeted them at the landing port. A Marine went down, but Gunny Sanders helped him up. The Marines returned fire taking out four of the Orions and driving them back. They finally got to the yacht and boarded quickly. Before he could get on the ship, Trip was hit in the shoulder. Surprisingly, it was a shriving T'Pol, who helped him up.
"Are you injured?" she asked.
"I'm fine. Get on the ship," he said.
"Sanders, get us off this rock," ordered Burke.
A Marine came up and handed T'Pol a blanket then led her to the back of the yacht. Burke came up to Trip and noticed that he was bleeding from the shoulder and looking a little pale.
"Captain, I need you to sit down. You are injured," said Burke.
"I'm fine," Trip said.
He felt lightheaded suddenly. Instead of sitting down he collapsed, and instead of talking, he passed out.
STSTST
Archer pulled at the jacket of the new service dress uniform. He understood the need for service dress uniform; he just didn't want to wear one. The adjutant escorted Archer into the large office of Fleet Admiral Wentworth where Wentworth, Forest, and Gardner were waiting for him.
"The man of the hour," said Gardner.
"Take a seat, Captain," said Fleet Admiral Wentworth.
"Thank you, sir," said Archer.
He sat away from the admirals at the conference table. This presented the way he felt lately isolated. Every truly difficult decision made on the Expanse was made by him. AG argued against many of the things he approved. Yes, he felt isolated.
"We've read your debrief, as well as Commander Hernandez's, Lieutenant Reed's, Captain Robinson's, Lieutenant Commander Finn's, and the IAD's report. It has been found that you didn't nothing wrong, Jon," said Admiral Forest.
"You've been cleared to receive the Medal of Honor. President Samuels wants to schedule the event immediately," said Admiral Gardner.
"This can't be right, sirs. I didn't many questionable things in the Expanse," said Archer.
"We were at undeclared war, Captain. In war questionable things are often done and forgiven, if they bring a successful result," said Fleet Admiral Wentworth.
"You're a hero," said Gardner, "so stop beating yourself up."
"Listen, I talked to Captain Stein, Trip's old partner, in Fleet Ops, and he has placed the Enterprise and Columbia at the head of the list for upgrades and refits," said Forest. "He's including some of the upgrades that he and Trip came up with like defensive shields, as expanding the Enterprise. Your crew size will almost double to 180. We don't want you land locked for long, a couple months."
"A couple of months for you to relax, Captain Archer," said Wentworth. "The Delphic Expanse was a stressful experience. I have contacted Starfleet Medical and you and your crew are expected to for evaluation."
"Psychologist. You expect me and my crew to see a Starfleet shrink, really?" growled Archer.
"You went through a great deal. It's expected," said Wentworth.
"Jon, you'll do fine and it might help you with some of the guilt you are feeling," said Forest.
"A good water polo game would help more," said Archer.
Gardner laughed at this.
"You're recommendation that Commander Hernandez get her own ship has been noted," said Forest. "For now you and her work well together. We'd like to keep that team together."
"She deserves to command her own ship," said Archer.
"She will in time," said Forest.
"Where will you be staying?" asked Gardner.
"My place at Half Moon Bay, sir."
"I'll be getting in touch with you there when we have the medal ceremony scheduled," said Gardner.
"Until then enjoy yourself, Jon, you earned it," said Forest.
Archer nodded. He may have earned it to them, but he didn't feel like he earned it to himself. Twenty-four dead out of a crew of eighty-six. Another eleven seriously injured and a hell of a lot of damage left behind in his wake. It would be some time before he felt as if he earned anything.
STSTST
Flynn sat in the command chair. Captain Tucker was in the infirmary along with the women they rescued. Now six Orion marauders have appeared out of nowhere and were coming at them. He knew what this ship was capable of, which meant he felt sorry for the marauders.
"Shields up, Petrov," he ordered.
"Aye, sir," said Petrov.
"Wentworth, bring us about and put us on a direct course to the marauders at full impulse," Flynn ordered.
"Yes, sir," smiled Wentworth.
Flynn had no intention of a fight, but he did have intentions of showing them a display of power that would send the Orions running. Basically, an Orion pirate was a coward who hated a fair fight. They preferred to overwhelm their prey or sneak attacks.
"Petrov, heat up the railgun," ordered Flynn.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"I want you to fire a full load across their bows on my word," he smiled.
"Yes, Commander," she said then waited for his command.
"Fire," he ordered.
The ship shook slightly with the firing of the railgun. The raw power of the weapon sent the Orion marauders running. There was no reason to attack the Valley Forge after all.
"Stand down," ordered Flynn. "Well done, crew."
He smiled to himself. Commander Jason Flynn knew he handle the situation perfectly, but he would have liked to see how the inexperienced captain in the infirmary would have handled it.
STSTST
Trip woke up on a bio-bed in the infirmary. He was wearing medical pants and no shirt, as his left shoulder had a regen patch on it. Sitting up slightly he looked around to find Dr. Day at his desk working on a report. Without looking at him, Day spoke, "You should be resting."
"I was resting. Now, I have questions," said Tony.
Day, who was the same age as Trip, put the report down, stood up, and walked over to the bio-bed.
"Talk," he said.
"Where are the women we saved?" he asked.
"In the sickbay. They were exhausted, malnutrition, bruises, some a little worse than bruises, and in need of several days of bed rest," said Day.
"Okay, I can understand that. How about me, Doc? When can I go back to my quarters and back on duty?" he asked.
Day shook his head.
"I know you hate being in the Infirmary, but you belong to me until tomorrow," said Day.
"I need to talk to Flynn then," said Trip.
He saw the expression on the doctor's face and knew that that Day wanted to deny him.
"This is important, Harry. I need to talk to Flynn for no more five to ten minutes and that's all," he said.
"I'll get him down here, but then you rest, take your meds, and eat your Jell-O until I release you tomorrow. Understand?" asked Day.
"I understand," answered Trip.
It took Flynn eight minutes to get to the Infirmary. When he entered he saw the Captain sitting up in bed with a table in front of him waiting for his lunch. He walked over to Tucker.
"Captain," said Flynn.
"I'm under orders to make this quick," said Trip. "We have an Andorian as one of the females we saved. I want to return her to Andoria. I need someone to check what the doc has on her, and if he has little on her, I want someone to interview her."
"Yes, sir," said Flynn.
"Set a course to Andoria at half impulse," said Trip. "Also, we have a female from an unidentified race."
"It's now identified," said Flynn. "She is a Betazoid and her name is Stadi Grax."
"Okay, I guess she stays with us for now," sighed Trip. "Okay, Jason, carry on."
"Thank you, sir," said Flynn.
STSTST
Trip was released from the Infirmary the next morning. According to Dr. Day, he had to wear the regen patch for another five days and be on meds for six days. Once he was able to change into his BDUs, he headed off to his Ready Room to review reports, especially Flynn's after action report on their run in with Orion marauders, which he had slept through.
Sitting at his desk with a cup of fresh hot coffee, he made a mental note to talk to Flynn about his run in with the Orions. He liked how he handled it, although he wasn't sure that he'd have handled it the same way. Someone buzzed his door.
"Enter," he said.
The doors opened and SubCommander T'Pol entered the Ready Room. She was wearing an old Starfleet flight suit uniform without pips or rank insignia. He was struck again by how beautiful she was finding himself lingering on her full lips.
"Captain Tucker," she said.
"Yes, Commander T'Pol," he said. "I was under the impression that you would be in the Sickbay for another day or so."
"Your impression is wrong. Now that I have eaten properly, slept, a meditated, I am fine," she said.
"Care to sit?"
"That is unnecessary," she said.
She sniffed the air as she stood there. The Vulcan female had sensitive olfactory. She could smell the coffee, which had a pleasant odor, though, she disliked the bitter taste. There was something lese she was smelling and that was Captain Tucker. She disliked the smell of Humans, yet the one in front of her, she felt drawn to his scent. This was odd and she needed to think about it.
"Your ship is impressive and unlike any other in Starfleet," she said.
Trip heard a hint of accusation in her tone. Suddenly, he remembered why he didn't like Vulcans. They were the ultimate elitist snobs.
"I helped design it and oversaw it construction," said Trip.
"I see," she said.
"Don't worry there is no Vulcan technology involved in this ship," smiled Trip.
Between his scent and his attitude, this Human was riling her emotions. She didn't like this.
"I did not mean to anger you, Captain Tucker. It is not often you find a starship captain with engineering skills," she said.
"Well, I was an engineer long before I was promoted to captain and given this ship," said Trip.
T'Pol orderly went through names in her mind. It helped that she had an eidetic memory. There was a Commander Charles Anthony Tucker III, who the embassy had warned her about. He was supposed to be brilliant, but overly emotional and pugnacious, especially towards Vulcans and their advice.
"Charles Anthony Tucker III," she said.
"That's me," he confirmed.
"I see," T'Pol said.
"Now, SubCommander, we should discuss what happened to your ship and crew," he said.
"The T'Klass was a science vessel with only a crew of fifty. Half the crew was killed when the pirates boarded. I know the males were taken to become slave laborers. The seven females, including myself were brought to Sirius as sex slaves to be sold. Four were sold and taken off planet before you arrived. You saved the three of us," T'Pol explained to him.
"I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner," Trip said quietly.
T'Pol looked at him and found herself staring into his blue eyes. She found that she could lose focus staring into those eyes.
"The Orion Pirates and Syndicate must be stopped," she said.
"I agree. One of the Humans we saved is Angela Malby. She was a member of a cargo ship crew that was attacked. Her father was the captain. They killed him in front of her. It's a damned shame what has happened to her. Believe me, if I can run down these pirates and get rid of them I will," stated Trip. "Your fellow crewmembers who were sold in slavery don't deserve that, especially the females."
His earnestness and compassion confused T'Pol. He was a vexing Human, as easy to read as water. She found herself oddly drawn to him.
"Captain," Sango's voice came over the comm.
He pressed the button.
"Yeah, Sango."
"A Commander Thy'lek Shran of the Kumari has exited a nebula with three other ships. They demand to know why we are in Andorian territory," she said.
"I'll be right there," he ended the connection.
Trip looked at T'Pol. He stood up.
"I'll be a few minutes, SubCommander. Why don't you return to the Infirmary and we can resume our conversation later," he said.
"Of course, Captain," T'Pol said.
They both exited his Ready Room. She headed for the turbolift, while he entered the Bridge. Trip walked over to the command chair and stood in front of it. On the view screen was an Andorian male in a black uniform. Blue skinned and white haired, his antennae appeared to be in a combative pose leaning forward.
"I am Captain Charles Tucker," Trip said.
"What are you doing in Andorian space, Pinkskin?" Shran asked.
"You are?"
"Commander Shran."
"We rescued some females from Orion slavers. One of them is Andorian. Her name is Talas P'Trell," said Trip.
Trip watched as Shran's antennae twitched. He knew their guest.
"We will take her from you, Pinkskin. What do you want for finding her?" asked Shran.
"Nothing. Call this a display of friendship. I'll have Miss P'Trell shuttled over to right away," said Trip.
"I owe you, Captain Tucker, and I don't like owing anyone," said Shran and the screen returned to an image of the Kumari and the other Andorian ships hanging in space.
"XO, get our Miss P'Trell shuttled over to the Kumari and then let's get this ship back to earth. People ain't too friendly around here," growled Trip, as he sat down on his command chair.
"Yes, sir," said Flynn.