Chapter Five
The Valley Forge leveled off at warp 6.8. Fine tuning the engine while on a spur of the moment mission actually turned into a positive. Working on the engine while traveling at warp was challenging for Lieutenant Commander Hess and her staff but they saw the fruit of their labors immediately. Trip stood in Engineering at the main console with Hess beside him, as they reviewed the intermix formula for the dilithium crystals. Trip was sure that an improved formula would lead to warp 7 or better.
"Hess, it's all in the intermix formula," said Trip.
The chief engineer came to her Captain's chest. The sleeves of her red BDU shirt were rolled up and she wore a tool belt around her waist and there were coolant stains on her shirt, while her Captain was spotless for once.
"I know, Trip," she said using his nickname out of habit.
"I'd love to better warp 7," he said softly, as he looked at the flow information.
The doors behind Trip and Hess opened. Hess looked immediately and Trip noticed her body stiffened. He turned to look who entered to find SubCommander T'Pol and an escort of Lieutenant Ironhorse.
"What are you doing bringing her to my domain, Aaron?" asked Hess.
"She wanted to see the Captain, Commander," he said.
Trip stared at T'Pol. He could see that she was noticing everything about her. He wouldn't be surprised if she could recreate everything in the Engineering by memory. Whoever she really was it he was sure that she was more than just a science officer. He knew he had a choice to make when it came to T'Pol and that was either be open and honest in front of her testing her or confine her to quarters. He had to admit that he didn't mind seeing her and he wouldn't be able to do that if she was locked up in her quarters.
"We are taking a look at the intermix formula," he said.
Both Ironhorse and Hess looked at him in surprise. Hess, who was slightly shorter than T'Pol, almost rose up on the ball of her heels. She didn't like her Captain being inviting this Vulcan female into their shared obsession.
"Currently, we are running at warp 6.8. I think if we can improve the formula then we could run at warp 7 or better," he told her.
T'Pol was surprise by his honesty, as well as the thought of a Starfleet starship being so fast. As a recalled member of V'Shar gathering intelligence was her duty for Vulcan. She decided to see how honest he would be with her.
"I graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy with an advanced degree in mathematics. May I look at your formula?" she asked.
"I can't see why not," said Trip, as he started to bring the formula up on the console. Let the Vulcans know that we can go as fast as them now.
"Captain," blurted out Hess.
"Last time I checked the Vulcans weren't our enemy, Hess," smiled Trip.
"They aren't our friends, either," Hess said under her breath.
T'Pol could hear her perfectly and gave her a cold glare while cocking her right eyebrow at her. Hess offered T'Pol a smirk.
Trip stepped aside allowing a space for her at the console, while Hess stepped away. T'Pol stepped up right beside Trip, which shocked Ironhorse to see her break her own rules of personal space. So far he had escorted her around the ship; she kept a minimum distance of a foot between herself and everyone else. Yet, with Captain Tucker, she stood so close to him that they almost touched.
"Your assumption is correct, Captain," said T'Pol. "The formula has inefficiencies. An improved one would likely increase your warp speed. I would gladly work on the formula until we reach Earth."
"Hess, I want you to talk to Lieutenant Commander Holt. It's time we get the Science Department involved in this. I know that Midshipman Elizabeth Tucker has a degree in advanced mathematics. Maybe she can work with T'Pol on the formula," said Trip.
"I would gladly offer my assistance," said T'Pol.
"Are you sure, Captain?" said Hess.
"Yeah, I sure."
"Elizabeth Tucker?" queried T'Pol.
"She's my sister. I guess brains run in the family," he said then smiled at her.
T'Pol didn't want to admit it to herself but she found his smile appealing. Usually, she thought a Human looked idiotic smiling, but Captain Tucker was different.
"I would gladly work with her," T'Pol said.
"Great. Hess, get them together and give them some space to work in one of the labs," said Trip then he looked at T'Pol. "I'll expect you and Midshipman Tucker to join me for dinner in the Captain's Mess. Dinner is served at 1800 hours."
T'Pol nodded courteously. Trip looked at Hess and smiled then he left Engineering. Hess knew he was up to something, but she just didn't know what it was.
STSTST
Jonathan Archer poured himself a healthy bourbon in a rock glass then took it outside on his porch and sat down on a chaise lounge. He stared out at the Pacific Ocean. It was one of those odd conundrums that he loved the ocean and favorite sport was water polo, yet he felt that his life belonged in space. Taking another sip of his drink, he now watched a couple jog along the beach.
"Hey, Jon," a voice came from beach level.
Archer turned his head and saw at the porch's stairs coming from the beach Erica carrying an overnight bag over her shoulder and a garment bag over her free arm. She walked up the steps then dropped her bags on the deck.
"What are you doing here, Erica?"
"Well, I missed you, so I thought I'd spend the night then we can go to the ceremony together tomorrow," she said.
In the morning, Archer was to receive the Medal of Honor. AG, Erica, and others would be receiving the Star Cross. After the medal ceremony there would be a media shark frenzy then a lunch in honor of the medal receivers.
"I tried to convince them to give you your own ship, but they said they like the team we make right for now. I guess they want you to keep an eye on me," Archer said.
She smiled then walked over and took his drink from him then took a sip.
"Bourbon," said Erica.
"I'm toasting my heroism," he smiled.
She placed the glass down on the table then she walked over and sat on Archer's lap. He smiled.
"Since it's my job to keep a close eye on you, I better get started," she said.
She kissed him. He responded losing himself for a moment or two.
"Are you sure about this, Erica?" he asked.
"Jon, take me in your house and show me a good time or I'll report you to JAG for dereliction of duty," she smiled.
"Well, we can't have that," he said.
After managing to get her in his arms, he stood up and carried her inside his house.
STSTST
Trip was late for his own dinner that he scheduled. Admiral Black commed him to congratulate him on at least saving three Vulcan women and finding out what happened to the T'Klass. He also commended him on returning the Andorian female to her people. Black then took the information on Stadi Grax, the Betazoid they had rescued. He was going to see if they could contact her world, or, at least, get a sense of where Betazed was. Returning Stadi Grax would be a first contact mission and potential a chance to make an ally.
Trip entered his mess to have Flynn and his sister stand at attention. He motioned them to sit then he sat down at the head of the table.
"Have I missed anything?" he asked.
He observed that Flynn was drinking a Pilsner glass of beer, Lizzy a glass of wine, and T'Pol, a glass of water. The steward came into the Mess.
"Hey, Charlie," said Trip.
"Captain," smiled the young steward. "For dinner tonight, we have New England Clam Chowder as the soup followed by fish and chips. For our guest, the chef has made a salad followed by vegetable broth with noodles, corn, peas, and spinach."
Trip looked at T'Pol and asked, "Does that sound good to you?"
"As long as it doesn't contain meat or by products from animals, I am fine," said T'Pol.
Trip looked at his steward and said, "Dinner is served and I'll have a beer. Thanks, Charlie."
The steward left to get their soups and salad.
"How is your shoulder, Trip?" asked Elizabeth.
"Did I give you permission to address me informally?" Trip asked with a smile.
"Stop it or I'll get my big brother to beat you up," said Lizzy.
"Dave couldn't beat me up, Liz," said Trip.
"He'd try for me," said Lizzy.
"I see your sister is a bit of brat, Captain," smiled Flynn.
"Yeah, she is, but we all love our Lizzy," said Trip then looked at his sister with an expression of deep fondness.
T'Pol had no siblings. She was impressed by the affections that this brother and sister had for each other.
"You have other siblings?" asked T'Pol.
"The oldest is David. He's a writer/teacher in Ireland with his wife and kids then there is Ellen. She is a history professor at Princeton. Finally, there is me and Lizzy," said Trip.
"And your parents?" asked T'Pol.
Trip's facial expression changed from friendly to cold and hard. Lizzy knew he wouldn't want to discuss them.
"Our parents were killed in the attack by the Xindi," she said.
"I see," said T'Pol.
"What did Admiral Black have to say?" asked Flynn to break the tension.
The Steward brought in the soups, beer, and salad and served them then he left.
"We discussed the mission. He is going to see if he can find out where Betazed is so we can return Miss Grax," said Trip.
"It is located near the border of the Cardassian Union. I believe the coordinates are 68.211," T'Pol said.
"Cardassian Union, huh? Never heard of them," said Flynn.
T'Pol was feeling uncomfortable with hiding information from Captain Tucker since he was being so honest with her. Here was an opportunity for her to drop him hints.
"They are a belligerent, yet highly disciplined race with fierce loyalties when it comes to family. Their intelligence service the Obsidian Order is considered one of the ruthless and efficient in the Alpha Quadrant. It even surpasses the Tal Shiar, which is the Romulan intelligence service," T'Pol told him.
"Now the Romulans I've heard about from Rigelian freighter pilots," said Flynn. "They are supposed to be even more aggressive and war-like then the Klingons."
Intelligence service, thought Trip. I think T'Pol is showing me a little of her background and I doubt she is doing that by accident. She's too damned smart for that. I've been honest, so she is being as forthright as she can be.
"Unfortunately, Miss Grax has been the least forthcoming in how she got to Sirius," said Trip, "though Dr. Day is making headway."
"Betazoids are empaths. She is probably having a difficult time with all the Human emotions she is sensing, as well as dealing with the trauma she went through with the Orions," said T'Pol.
Trip looked at Flynn.
"I'll let Day know about her being empath," Flynn said.
"We'll, since we are the fastest ship in the fleet, I think I can talk the Admiralty to send us Betazed to return Miss Graz," said Trip.
"You aren't hesitant to go to Betazed considering the Cardassians?" asked T'Pol.
"We mean them no harm to them and as long as they don't try to harm us, everything will be peachy," said Trip.
"I see," said T'Pol. "I have heard that they buy slaves from the Orions to do mining."
"If they don't send us to Betazed then maybe they'll send us after the Orion Pirates," said Trip.
"Something has to be done about them," said Flynn.
"I agree, but I don't believe it is Starfleet's role to play justice enforcer for the Alpha Quadrant," said T'Pol.
"Starfleet Academy's moto is Ex Artis, Scientia. From the stars, knowledge," said Trip. "I always liked that moto, but it isn't enough for Starfleet, especially after the Xindi attack. Our motto now should be like the old police credo: To Serve and Protect."
"I like that," said Flynn.
"I agree, Trip," said liz.
Elizabeth noticed that through most of the conversation that T'Pol and Trip couldn't take their eyes off each other. She knew her brother well enough to know when he was attracted to a woman and he was more than a little attracted to T'Pol, and she was almost positive that the Vulcan female felt the same about her brother.
"I find your bravado startling," said T'Pol. "Your race is young and assumes too much."
"I guess you'll just have to live with that, SubCommander, because we aren't going anywhere," said Trip.
Elizabeth Tucker smiled at this comment. Her brother meant that in more ways than one.
STSTST
In the dress uniforms, Commander Marcus Williams and Admiral Daniel Leonard stood with in the banquet hall along with Admiral Forest. Leonard and Williams were part of Forest team. They served under him and as the Head of Operations, he needed their support. The quicker and larger Starfleet grew the more work they had. The three men waited as Captain Jonathan Archer made his way through the room towards them.
He was more than the man of the moment: he was the man who saved Earth. The media fawned over him and most civilians applauded him when they recognized him. Jonathan Archer was Starfleet's poster boy, and those who knew him knew that he hated it.
"Daniel, put some pressure on Jefferies about the Enterprise. See if he can get it retrofitted and upgraded quicker than three months," said Forest.
"I talk to him off the record on Monday," said Leonard.
"Jon needs to get back into space," said Williams.
"He needs to prove to himself that he is the man we have declared he is or he going to tear himself apart," said Forest.
"He'd be perfect as our spearhead to start making more allies," suggest Williams.
Forest smiled, "I like it."
Finally, Archer made it to them. He had a fake smile plastered to his face.
"Sorry, Jon, but I've got a week's worth of rubber chicken lunches and dinners scheduled for you," said Leonard. "On Monday you'll be in Paris facing the music then Sydney, Dublin, St. Petersburg, London, and then New York."
"I should hand in my resignation now," said Archer.
"Please don't, Jon. The first lunch is with the President and a group of senators. I can't afford a budget cut at the moment. Fleet Admiral Wentworth will have me swabbing decks," said Forest.
"It looks like I'll be gaining weight next week," Archer said.
"If you like I could arrange that Commander Hernandez have to escort you," said Williams.
Archer actually smiled for real then said, "Marc, you are a buddy."
STSTST
The Valley Forge orbited Earth. His first job was to get the females down to Earth so that they could be taken care of. He assigned Lieutenant Hill to fly them down in a shuttle. Initially, he was going to escort them to the shuttle bay himself, but he decided against it. He realized that he found himself staring at that Vulcan T'Pol too much when he was in her company. It was best to make a clean break of it, especially if she was a member of the Vulcan intelligence service. He ordered Commander Flynn to escort them.
Looking at the chronometer on his desk in his Ready Room, he assumed the shuttle was off. There was a buzz at his door. For a moment he hoped that it might be T'Pol, but he knew better than that. She was gone.
"Enter," he said.
Elizabeth came into his Ready Room. She had a smirk on her face which he knew meant trouble for him.
"Okay, what is the news you have for me that I'm going to hate," he said.
"Hess said that formula T'Pol and I worked on should work. You are looking at warp 7.2 for three hours and warp 7 for six hours before the engine starts to overheat," she said.
Trip grinned from ear to ear and then said, "Lizzy, I love you."
"Good because Hess let my councilor know at the Academy and it looks like I am graduating even earlier than expected," she beamed. "I want to be part of your crew permanently, sir."
Trip groaned. He wanted Lizzy to be stationed in San Francisco and work in some R&D think tank, but it looked like she had the space bug. If she was going to space, she might as well be in the best, most capable starship there was.
"Welcome on board, soon to be Ensign Tucker," Trip said.
"You really are the best brother," she said.
"I'm an indulgent one that's for sure," he replied.
STSTST
Wearing his service dress uniform Trip exited Starfleet headquarters. He'd just finished a long debrief and discussion on what to do with Stadi Grax. Admirals Black and Leonard liked the idea that warp 6.5 he could have her back to Betazed within 26 days. Trip even pitched a few spurts of warp 7.2 and 7 to make the trip quicker.
It was now late afternoon and he promised to meet Jon at the 602 for a drink or two. He owed his old friend more than a drink or two considering he succeeded with the Xindi. Looking around he hailed a hovertaxi. He owed Jon dinner and more for stopping the Xindi.
Seated at a table at the 602 were Archer, AG, Malcolm Reed, and Travis Mayweather. Mayweather and Reed were in civilian clothes, while Archer and AG were in their service dress uniforms having since they both had appointments at Starfleet medical.
"Two months of beaches and grateful women seems like heaven after the Expanse," said Malcolm.
"You really do try and have a woman in every port," said Travis.
"It simplifies things," said Malcolm.
"Hoshi would hit you for talking like that," said Travis.
Archer laughed at his Bridge crew. AG smiled and sipped a beer.
"Where's Hernandez?" asked AG.
"Busy with Phlox and Hoshi. I think they were going to dinner together," said Archer.
AG waved to someone who just entered. Archer turned to see that it was Trip. It had been a long time since he last seen his friend. He was the youngest captain in Starfleet, yet Trip no longer was the over exuberant, engineer he used to be. The man walking towards them held himself and looked like a captain.
"Captain Archer and Captain Robinson, may I offer you my congratulations," Trip said.
"Join us, Trip," said Archer.
"God, it has been years, Tucker," added AG.
Trip sat down and joined them.
"Trip, this is newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Reed, my tactical officer, and newly promoted Lieutenant Travis Mayweather, my helmsman," said Archer.
"I met Reed a few times on the Enterprise before I was hijacked to get the Columbia up and running," said Trip.
"I remember, sir. I found you homespun and irritating then," chuckled Reed.
"I like being homespun," smiled Trip.
Archer waved over a waitress then ordered Trip a beer.
"I heard that the Valley Forge can cruise at warp 6.5," said Travis.
"Actually, it can cruise at 6.8 now and have a top speed of warp 7.2 for three hours," smiled Trip. "Your father's engine works just fine, Jon."
"You beat the damned Vulcans. Warp 7.2," said Jon. "I owe you a drink."
"Nay, Cap'n, I owe you a drink," said Trip.