Chapter Thirteen
The Endeavour and four Daedalus-Class ships arrived relieving the Valley Forge. While the Earth diplomat and her team visited Betazed, Trip greeted Captain Lynch of the Endeavour in his Ready Room. Lynch supplied him with updates on important matters.
"This is an amazing ship you've got here, Tucker," said Lynch, as he sat in the Ready Room and looked at schematics of the ship. Trip was reading the update about revolution on Vulcan, the death of Admiral Forest, the adventure of Columbia and Enterprise, and the incident on Vulcan involving Captain Archer. A wave of sadness washed over Trip as he remembered Admiral Forest, a man who was always fair to him, and then there was Jon. He was now worried about Jon.
"Forest is dead. Who has taken his place?" asked Trip.
"Temporarily Gardner, but the scuttlebutt is that Fleet Admiral Wentworth is leaning towards promoting Rear Admiral Duval to Admiral and making him Chief of Operations," said Lynch, "with Rear Admiral Althea Seko as his Vice Chief of Ops."
"Tough pair," said Trip.
"There will be a new position Chief of Fleet R&D and Rear Admiral Jefferies was made the Chief of Starship Design Bureau," said Lynch. "Also, an old friend of yours has been promoted to Rear Admiral, Adam Stein. He's been put in charge of R&D, and Admiral Petrov has taken over the Corp of Engineers."
"Why all the changes?" asked Trip.
"The Production of NX has started again. There is a push for more starbases, especially near colonies and Wentworth has been able to retire a group of admirals who stood in his way politically. He's into expansion and coalition building, as is President Samuels," said Lynch.
"Damn, I've only been gone a couple of months," said Trip.
"You'll be going home now and with your speed it will take you only three weeks to get home. I'm jealous," said Lynch.
"We'll be taking off in eleven hours," Trip said then he stood up. "I have to check with my chief engineer on if our engines are up to a trip home."
"Mind if I tag along? I'd love a tour of this beast," said Lynch.
"Follow me, Captain."
Lynch got up out of his chair, pushed it back, and then adjusted his shirt.
"You ready?" asked a smiling Trip.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
The two captains exited the Ready Room.
STSTST
Captain Archer sat in the waiting room for the Chief of Operations, Admiral Duval. Duval was known to be a tough, out of the box thinker. With the new coalition building mood, many thought Duval was the wrong man to take the position, while Admiral Gardner was moved to the Inspector General's Office. This was Archer's first visit with Duval.
The door to his office opened and Ambassador Soval and Attaché T'Les. They were being escorted out by Vice Chief of Operations Althea Seko, a striking African woman. Soval and T'Les stopped when they saw Archer and offered him the ta'al.
"Live long and prosper, Captain," said Soval.
"And you, Soval and T'Les," said Archer as he offered them the ta'al.
"You are looking healthy," said Soval.
"I recovered from my time on Vulcan," said Archer.
"That is agreeable to hear," said Soval.
"I would like to share a dinner with you, Captain," said T'Les.
"It would be my pleasure, T'Les," said Archer. "Shall I contact you at the embassy?"
"Please do," she replied.
Soval and T'Les exited and Rear Admiral Seko motioned Archer to join them. Gone were the family photos and trinkets of Admiral Forest. The office now had the personality of Duval, which meant models of the different class starships, star charts on the walls, a detailed map of the Alpha and Beta quadrants, and a chart of starbases and colonies. Duval, who was balding with a craggy face, sat behind his desk. Seko sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, so Archer sat down in the other.
"Good to see your back to health. No Vulcans in the belfry, right?" said Duval.
"Just me in my head," said Archer.
"You are a bit of a hero to the Vulcans, which I like. We are building a coalition and I want those damned green blooded bastards in the coalition along with Andorian, Tellerites, Coridans, Betazoids, Denobulans, Xindi, and any other we can get to join," said Duval.
"I sincerely endorse a coalition," said Archer.
"Good because you are going to be one of the main tools in building it. Your reputation is known from the Xindi to the Klingons and Orion Syndicate. I have the Tellerite ambassador waiting to be picked up by you and Andoria wants to join in the confab we are having on Earth. Hell, I just got the Vulcans to come to it," said Duval.
"You want me to play diplomat," said Archer with distaste.
"Captain, you are our best diplomat, even if you don't like it," said Duval.
"Jonathan, you are the iron fist in the velvet glove and right now that is our best diplomat," said Seko.
"Sounds like I'll be putting a lot of light years on the Enterprise," said Archer.
"You will be," said Duval. "You'll need new XO. Hernandez is being given the next NX which will be the Forest after Admiral Forest."
"Has she been told?" asked Archer.
"I thought you might like to be the one to tell her," said Duval.
"Thank you, sir," said Archer.
STSTST
Trip sat in his quarters with the lights on dim. The death of Admiral Forest saddened him and on top of that something had happened Jon and he had no idea what it was. The door to his quarters opened and T'Pol entered.
"You are sad," she said.
"You can my emotions unless I block them," he sighed. "I forgot. I'm sorry. I should have blocked my emotions."
"We share emotions. The fact that we share them so strongly this so in our bonding is gratifying. K'diwa, I wish to feel your emotions," she said then she walked over to him and knelt in front of him.
"Allow your emotions to flow through the bond and I shall allow mine to flow," she said.
He closed his eyes and opened up to the bond. There he started to feel her emotions, her need for him, which surprised him, and her wanting of him. He opened his eyes then he reached over and gentle caressed her face. A wave of desire cascaded through the bond.
"Darlin, I want this bond to be permanent. I am falling in love with you," he said.
"Taluhk nash-veh k'dular, k'diwa," she said. "T'nash-veh shaukaush afsakau t'nash-vehvaikaya."
"I really have to learn how to speak Vulcan," he said.
"I shall teach you," she said.
Trip put his hands on either side of her face and brought her up high enough to kiss her. With that kiss their passions were released. In a torrent of movement and emotions they began to undress each other as they moved towards the bed. As they lay down, T'Pol reached up with both her hands and touched his face initiating a mind meld. Once initiated they became one in thoughts, emotions, and body.
STSTST
The celebration at the 602 went longer than Archer expected. AG kept buying extra rounds for Captain Hernandez and Captain Ramirez led them in a round of singing like they were midshipman again. When he finally got Erica away and back to his place, they ended up sleeping. The next morning he awoke to the smell of bacon cooking and freshly made coffee.
Getting out of his bed, Archer headed into the kitchen to find the newly minted Captain Hernandez wearing only one of his shirts and cooking in his kitchen. He began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" she asked
"If AG could see you now he'd choke," said Archer.
"Jealous of AG, Jon?" she teased.
"No, I'm just glad to be me."
"Good answer," she said then walked over and kissed him. "Get yourself coffee. I thought we'd have eggs, bacon, and toast then get dress in our service dress uniforms. I know you have a lunch date with a Vulcan and I am going to the Detailer's Office to put my two cents in about an XO."
"Can we have dinner tonight here?"
"Dinner and breakfast," she smiled.
"Then I need to choose an XO."
"I recommend Malcolm," she said. "While you are doing your diplomacy thing, you are going to need a tough XO to run the ship."
"That's not a bad idea all," he said.
His mind shifted to Malcolm. He was meeting with Ekland today supplying him with all the official reports and those marked top secret about Jonathan Archer's experience on Vulcan. Malcolm was getting deeper and deeper into the grasps of Terra Prime.
STSTST
Dressed in jeans, a pull over shirt, and a leather jacket with an Enterprise patch on the sleeve, Malcolm arrived at Golden Gate Park. He was to meet Ekland on the stone bridge over Stow Lake. Walking through the park, he noticed that there was a protest going on near the Conservatory of Flowers. It appeared to be a Terra Prime protest.
Malcolm put his head down and picked up his pace. He didn't lessen his pace until he finally got to the stone bridge. Walking out to the middle of the bridge he stopped and waited for Ekland to show up. It bothered him the information that he was going to be giving Ekland could be used in some way against the Captain.
Malcolm stared down at the water. Out of the corner of his eye he saw two large men occupy one end of the bridge, while at the other Ekland and another large man started walking towards him. He looked up and grinned.
"Hello, Ekland," he said.
"Malcolm, I hope you have some good information for me," he said.
Malcolm reached into his jacket right hand pocket and took out a small disc. He tossed it to Ekland's bodyguard.
"On that are the official reports, the top secret reports, and my observations," said Malcolm.
"Very well done, Malcolm. Excellent work," said Ekland.
"What do you have in mind for me next?" asked Malcolm.
"Nothing for the moment. Go back to the Enterprise and we will contact you when we need you," said Ekland.
Ekland and his man walked across the bridge joining the other two thugs. They strolled away while Malcolm stayed on the bridge looking down at the water. He needed to contact Harris tell him that they had the information and see if he had a full name yet for Paxton. The sooner this mission ended the better.
STSTST
Lieutenant Commander Reed waited at the docking hatch for the atmosphere to equalize. The red light turned green and he nodded to Ensign Sinn, who opened the door. The Tellerite ambassador and his assistant stepped onto the Enterprise.
"Ambassador Gral, Captain Archer and Commander Shran are waiting for you in the main conference room," he said.
Gral looked around and sniffed the air.
"Smells like Humans," said Gral.
"I should hope so," said Malcolm under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"I said we shouldn't keep the Captain waiting," said Malcolm.
"Show us the way," grunted Gral.
Malcolm walked down the corridor ahead of Gral and his assistant. He could hear Gral's grousing.
"This is the Enterprise. It is not impressive."
STSTST
Trip received permission for the Valley Forge's first to be Vulcan. Rear Admiral Seko assumed that Trip wanted to drop off T'Pol when the reality was that he and T'Pol needed to have their bond verified by a priest or priestess and entered into the Vulcan registry.
He left his Ready Room to find T'Pol was already waiting on the Bridge for him along with his sister. Walking past them, he nodded and said, "Why are you here on my Bridge, Ensign Tucker?"
"I wanted to speak to my brother's adun'a," she smiled.
T'Pol had started teaching Elizabeth the Vulcan language after he told her the truth about what happened between them. Elizabeth Tucker decided that she would treat T'Pol like family regardless of regulations and verifying bonds.
Trip looked over at Sango, who blushed at the term adun'a. So much for keeping secrets, Lizzy. I should have her transferred to Engineering and have Hess give her nothing but conduits to clean.
Trip sat down on his command chair then nodded to Sango to have her hail Vulcan. A few moments later, Sango looked over at him in shock.
"Sir, I have Provisional First Minister T'Pau. She'd like to speak to you and T'Pol," she said.
"Put her on the screen," he said.
T'Pol moved from Elizabeth's side to stand beside Trip's command chair. T'Pau appeared.
"Captain Tucker and SubCommander T'Pol," said T'Pau.
"Ma'am," said Trip.
"Minister," T'Pol nodded.
"T'Pol, your resignation from V'Shar is granted immediately. I have also contacted Soval and his Attaché T'Les to inform them about your situation. When you speak to Starfleet he will act as your advocate," she said.
"Ma'am, may I ask why?"
"No, you may not ask now. But you may transport down and meet with me and Minister Skon and Minister Kuvak. T'Pol will come with you. There is much to discuss," said T'Pau.
"We'll beam down then," said Trip.
T'Pau disappeared and an image of the desert planet appeared. T'Pol leaned in and whispered to Trip.
"I will need to wear Vulcan robes and I recommend you service dress uniform," she said.
"You know best," he whispered back.
Trip stood up and looked at Flynn, "Flynn, you have the conn."
It took half hour for Trip to shower and change into his service dress uniform. Pulling on his black jacket he walked into the transporter room to see T'Pol in red and orange robes were waiting for him. Just one look at her made him lose his breath.
"Chief, transport us down to the Vulcan High Council Building," said Trip.
Together they got on transporter pads and waited for the Transporter Chief to beam them down. The transporter scrambled their molecules and sent them down to the planet right outside of the Vulcan High Council Building. They were greeted by security.
"I am Major TyBok. Please follow me," said TyBok
They followed him into the building and past security. Trip was impressed by the size of the building and cool aesthetic. They continued a long red marble corridor until they got to a turbolift then they got into the lift. Fifty floors up and they got off the lift at the High Council chamber where T'Pau, Skon, and Kuvak were waiting for them. There was also another with them, an elderly female in ornate robes.
"This is Priestess Verlon. She is here to verify and register your bond," said T'Pau.
"T'Pol sent a message to telling us of how you assisted her with Pon Farr. If you have a true marriage bond then by Vulcan law you are a citizen of Vulcan, Captain Tucker. This will change our relationship with Earth. You will become an important piece in our alliance with Earth," said Skon.
"I won't be used against my home planet," said Trip.
"We have no intention of using you against your home planet, Captain. We wish you to help bring our planets together," said Kuvak.
"One little revolution and suddenly you need Earth," said Trip.
He felt a pain in the back of his head and knew that T'Pol had just smacked him through the bond. Looking over at her he grimaced, "Really? You smacked me in the head."
"You were being rude," she said.
"Verlon, please check their bond," T'Pau said.
Verlon walked over to T'Pol and Trip. She carried herself with an austere dignity.
"Kneel before me," she said.
They did as they were told. She placed a hand on Trip's face and a hand on T'Pol then closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes.
"They have a strong bond, a bond that rivals the ancient bonds in pre-Surak literature, the literature of the awakening. It is a bond of two opposites that becoming one. I will register them as mated and bonded," she said.
Through the bond Trip felt T'Pol mix of fear and delight. He hoped that she felt his own feelings of winder and apprehension. She wasn't in this alone.
"Captain Tucker, it appears that you are now a citizen of Vulcan bonded to a Vulcan female," said T'Pol. "I believe you will need our assistance."
Major TyBok entered. He walked over to T'Pau and whispered to her. She looked at Kuvak and Skon and then motioned them over. All Trip could hear was a murmur of voices. He looked at T'Pol.
"The Enterprise is under attack and is requesting help," she said.
STSTST
So far one Tellerite ship was destroyed and two Andorian. Shran and returned to the Kumar to lead the four Andorian ships. The Enterprise fired the torpedoes and cannons on the strange ship but it seemed to have regenerative abilities.
"I've scanned it and there are no life forms," said Ensign Barrett.
"So it a sort of drone ship that can change shape and repair itself," said Archer.
"Sir, those long emitters on the front of the ship allow it to give the impression that it changes shape," said Barrett.
"Tactical, target those emitters and destroy them," said Archer.
They were hot by another volley of fire from the drone. The Engineering Station erupted from a power surge and Rostov was blow back.
Archer commed Sickbay, "This is the Bridge. We have a medical emergency."
"It is disruptor fire, sir," said Barrett. "It is similar to the Klingons except more powerful."
"Our shields are down to thirty percent," said Malcolm, who now helped to man the Tactical Station.
"Sir, we are being hailed by the Valley Forge," said Hoshi.
She couldn't help but smile. The Valley Forge was known to be the most advanced ship in the fleet.
"Put it on audio," said Archer.
"Hey, Cap'n," said Trip, "I heard that you were in trouble. I here to offer a hand."
"The ship we are attacking is a drone-ship. It appears to be ability to repair itself," said Archer.
"Stand back, Cap'n. It won't repair what we are going to do to it," said Trip.
They watched as the Valley Forge swooped in and fired a full load of torpedoes, a volley of cannon fire, and the railgun successively. The drone was blown apart. Archer felt his body finally relax.
"Stand down from Battle Stations," he ordered. "Hoshi, hail the Valley Forge. I need to give Captain Tucker my best."