Chapter Sixteen
In the Situation Room, Major Burke and Gunny Sanders both in their black BDUs looked at the holographic terrain of mining colony. General Nogura, Colonel Sikes, and Captain Emmanuel stood back and watched them, as the two men decided on the number of Maries to use for the mission. Burke looked over at Sanders and said, "What do you think, Gunny?"
"Four fire teams," said Gunny. "In and out. We have to make it quick."
"Insertion, sir?" asked Burke of Nogura.
"The Valley Forge will drop you in a stealth glider. You ride it in landing the main building then breach the building," said Nogura.
"Exfil?" asked Burke.
"Once you have the verteron array under control, the Valley Forge, Enterprise, Columbia, and six frigates will be dropping off marines and picking up injured and prisoners," said Nogura.
"I think you need more than sixteen Marines for this mission," said Captain Emmanuel.
"If we need more than sixteen of my Recon Marines to do the job than we need a couple of platoon," said Burke.
"Sixteen of my Marines from the Valley Forge can handle this mission. They are well trained and highly focused on the completion of the job. Those bastards have our Captain," said Gunny Sanders.
"We'll go with your plan, but I want another two platoons in reserve on the other ships just in case they are needed," said Nogura. "Gentlemen, we are getting our people out of there and taking the verteron array out of play."
"Sir, when do we leave?" asked Burke.
"I want that glider on the moon in seventeen hours. Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol have been in the hands of Paxton long enough," said Nogura.
STSTST
The morning was spent by Trip and T'Pol working in the mines with old fashion digging tools, a pick and shovel, and four men guarding them. They worked with only two breaks, one for lunch for thirty minutes and one fifteen minute break when Trip collapsed from heat, beatings, and exhaustion. Every time Trip gave them a dirty look, or argued, or slowed down breaking rocks; they smacked him with the butt of their particle rifles. They didn't touch T'Pol, though. Just as the undercover agents said she was not to be bruised.
Throughout their shift in the mind, their bond kept close. Trip could feel her building rage at his treatment and their dire position. T'Pol could feel Trip's anger, but something that surprised her, which was his deep sadness. The fact that his sadness was because he didn't want his mate to have to die made fueled her rage.
After a nine hour shift they were allowed to clean up then dragged off to Paxton's office. When they entered he was seated a table having just been served dinner. Trip couldn't help but stare at the food. He was having a porterhouse steak, baked potato, and string beans along with coffee.
"Come in," he said. "I hate being rude but it is dinner time and I'm famished. I've had a busy day speaking to the EU President. He didn't like my demands that all aliens be removed from Earth within the next five days. Please, sit."
Trip and T'Pol sat down at the table. Trip could feel through their bond that T'Pol was angry and wanted to attack Paxton. She hadn't been able to meditate in some time and it was taking its toll. He hoped that she could control herself because he didn't want the bastards to have a reason to touch her.
Paxton observed Trips condition as he fed himself a piece of steak. His right eye was a little less swollen today, but he had a dark bruise on his left cheek and another bruise on his forehead. Trip had trouble sitting up from having been beaten so much. His body was becoming a giant bruise.
"My men have been rough on you. I apologize. They view you as a traitor and pervert. You represent the worst of Humanity to them," he said.
"I view them as criminals and bigots," said Trip.
Paxton smiled then he said, "Yes, but they have the guns, don't they? Colonel Green taught us that those with the bigger weapons and willingness to use them win in the end."
"Colonel Green," said Trip with venom. "I take it you admire him."
"Greatly, he was a great man, who strove for greatness for Humanity," said Paxton. "It was Colonel Green who said: to be human is to be pure. He also said: We must reject the impure and cast it out. He was truly a great man."
"He failed, Paxton. His ideas failed and he failed," said Trip.
"That does not take away from his greatness," smiled Paxton then he looked at T'Pol. "I used to admire Vulcans. You appeared to understand the need for cultural purity, but you personally seem to have turned away from that."
"I believe in Kol-Ut-Shan," said T'Pol. "Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. It is one of the greatest truths that Surak has taught us."
"Well, many Vulcans seem to believe in Vulcan superiority," said Paxton.
"As do many Humans," said T'Pol.
"Touché," said Paxton, who continued to eat his meal.
"What do you intend on doing with us?" asked Trip.
Paxton placed his knife and fork down then took a sip of his coffee. Picking up his napkin from his lap, he wiped his mouth. Trip realized he was doing this to make them squirm, but Paxton didn't realize that Vulcans don't squirm and their bond was keeping him calm.
"Captain Tucker, I intend on using you as an abject lesson. A review of Enterprise's logs, especially its time in the Delphic Expanse proved interesting. Did you know that we left the Xindi at war with each other? The Xindi Reptiles and Xindi Insectoids made an exodus in the end, as a schism occurred in the Xindi. They are currently in the Beta Quadrant looking for an ally and planets to live on," Paxton said.
"I'm sure Starfleet knows about this," said Trip.
Paxton laughed at this remark then he continued, "Some of the most interesting reading was about Trellium-D. It seems Trellium-D exposure can drive a Vulcan insane until it is out of their system. My intention, Captain, is to expose your mate to Trellium-D then leave the two of you in a room together and watch while she kills you. Of course, I'll be showing this little family tiff to the world."
A wave a panic rode through their bond from T'Pol's side. It didn't give Trip any confidence that she feared this Trellium-D so much.
"When we this be happening?" asked Trip.
"In the morning," smiled Paxton. "I see no reason to keep you prisoner any longer than I have to keep you."
"Since I'll more than likely be dead what will happen to T'Pol?" asked Trip.
He looked over at his mate, who was now trying very hard to keep her control.
"I'll send her back to Earth. She's no my type," grinned Paxton
STSTST
Burke and his Marines stood on the deck checking their EV suits and then their deuce gear before they got on the glider. The countdown had begun. Specialist Hurd would be flying the glider, while Lieutenant Commander Highline and his handpicked three fighter pilots would be ready in the Wasp Fighters to offer close air support if necessary. Speed and timing was everything.
Commander Flynn walked up to Burke, as he finished checking his own equipment.
"Captain Tucker and Commander T'Pol are down there. Bring him home," Flynn said.
"That's the plan, Commander," Burke said then he offered a confident smile.
"I noticed you're not bringing a corpsman with you," said Flynn.
"I have several of my men trained in first aid, but there are no corpsmen on the Valley Forge with Recon Marine training. I want in and out quickly," said Burke.
"Give us the sign and the Wasps will be giving you support in a matter of minutes," said Flynn.
"Commander, when this is over I think we should have drinks at the 602," said Burke.
"Done."
As Burke and his Marines entered the glider, Flynn and the Shuttle Bay crew hustled to the observation area. Soon the atmosphere would be sucked out of the bay as the bay doors opened. One burst of power from the glider's powerful engine then it would be jettisoned after it cleared the starship. The pilot would take it the rest of the way using short bursts from the directional thrusters to fly the glider. With its rounded wing shape and synthetic materials it was built from, the glider would be virtually unseen by sensors. By the time the mining colony knew that the Recon Marines were even there, Marines would be causing havoc.
STSTST
Trip stood in the new grey box of a cell that they put him in waiting for T'Pol. He noticed the four cameras, one for each corner, on the ceiling. From what Paxton had told him, T'Pol would be exposed to the Trellium-D before being brought to the cell. The audience wouldn't know she was poisoned. Paxton and his bullies would liquefy a small amount and administer it to her in a hypospray, a direct dosage to her blood. Suddenly, he felt a rush of violent emotions through their bond that made him bend over and vomit. He barely could deal with the intensity of the emotions and the vividness of them. These were Vulcan emotions being unleashed. Trip's balance was off. It was almost as if T'Pol's emotions were too much for his system to handle.
The door to the cell open and T'Pol was shoved into the room. There was a greenish hue to her complexion and her eyes were filled with hate and other emotions he couldn't identify. This was not his T'Pol, but some atavistic female who had been returned to her primal state. He had to admit to himself that he was afraid.
"T'Pol, it's me, Trip," he said.
She didn't answer him and showed no sign of even recognizing him. What stood in front of Trip was a female Vulcan in the throes of uncontrollable emotions. Trip took a step away from her, but she moved quicker than he thought possible and grabbed him by the front of his jumpsuit then she threw him against the farthest wall. Hitting the wall hard, all the air escaped from Trip's lungs. He landed on the floor gasping for his breath.
Just as he was starting to be able to breathe again, T'Pol pulled him up by his right arm, dislocating his shoulder causing Trip to scream in pain, and then she smacked him with the back of her hand so hard that the world went black for a moment and he fell to his knees. His head cleared and he looked up to see her standing above him with a cruel smile on her face.
"Please, darlin', snap out it," he said.
Her response was an animalistic growl. She started moving in towards him again when the door to the cell open. The Section 31 undercover agents entered. One took out the cameras that were in the cell with a plasma rifle, while the other one fired his phase pistol on stun at T'Pol. The first hit stopped her forward motion, but it didn't seem to have much effect on her other than that. He fired a second shot, a third shot, and, finally, a fourth shot that stopped her. She fell to the floor unconscious. The one with the rifle ran over to Trip and helped him up to his feet. He was wobbly and in pain, but able to move. His partner took T'Pol in his arms.
"Come on, Captain, it's time to leave," said the undercover agent.
"There are only two of you," said Trip.
"There are three of us and the Marines are on the way," said the agent.
STSTST
With a deep expression of disgust on his face, Paxton watched several view screens in his office, as small groups of Recon Marines took out his best security. He pressed a button to get a close up on the verteron array. It was under attack. His men weren't going to be able to hold it for long. Looking at the two other men in his office, one was Ekland and other his right hand man Stephan Roberts.
"Gentlemen, this is not unexpected," said Paxton. "We knew that there would be blowback."
"Yeah, we knew they would try something, but we didn't realize they would succeed," said Roberts. "We should have damaged them. We should have hurt Starfleet and EU to make our point."
"I see no reason not to remotely fire the array now and make a final point. Damn Starfleet," said Paxton. "They won't win in the need. We will gentlemen."
Four Wasp fighters appeared on one of the screens destroying shuttles so no member of Terra Prime could escape. They swooped in and lay down cannon fire while avoiding the AAA fire.
"Our cause has taken a hit, but it is not defeated," said Paxton.
Ekland reached into jacket and took out a phase pistol. He turned the pistol on Roberts shooting him in the chest killing him in cold blood then he turned the pistol on Paxton. Paxton smiled at him.
"I didn't think Starfleet had it in them to do something like this," said Paxton.
"I'm Section 31," said Ekland, as he pulled the trigger and burned a hole in his head.
STSTST
With broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder with ligament and muscle damaged, and a body filled with bruises, Trip was told he needed a four day stay in Starfleet Medical. Besides a surgery to repair damage, he needed dermal generation for the bruises and regen for the broken bones. The worst part about this was that he was unable to see T'Pol, who was suffering through Trellium-D withdrawals. A Vulcan doctor was brought in to help put her in a healing trance. There was no telling how long the Trellium-D would be in her system and if it would do any lasting damage. Their bond told him that even in a healing trance she felt great shame and anger at herself. Trip was desperate to see her.
"Captain," said Flynn, as he entered the hospital room.
He carried a small white paper bag. Trip had his bed in a seated position. He smiled at Flynn, who handed him the bag.
"You look like you had a rough shore leave, sir," said Flynn.
Trip smiled then said, "Call me Trip, Jason. I know I'm off duty and I am still not used to being the captain of a ship."
"I know hospital food sucks, so I brought you this to eat, Trip," said Flynn.
Trip opened the bag to find a pastrami sandwich on rye with a large dill pickle.
"I'd get you a promotion, Jason, but I really don't want to lose you as an XO," said Trip.
"I like being your XO," said Flynn.
"You have to give my best to Major Burke and his men. Actually, you have to give my best to the whole crew of the Valley Forge," said Trip.
"They're glad to have their captain back," said Flynn.
"I'm not back yet."
"And Commander T'Pol?" asked Flynn.
The frown on Trip's face told Flynn that T'Pol was in worse shape than him.
"She is still in a healing trance," said Trip.
"Sorry about that, Captain," said Flynn.
"Listen, I'm not supposed to get out of her for two more days. I need you to get hold of someone, an admiral or a damned petty officer, but I need someone to get me out of here so I can see T'Pol," said Trip.
Flynn smiled then said, "Leave it to me."