—Chapter 33—
StarFleet acted quickly on the information given them by Soval, and gave the Enterprise a mission to complete. They were to ferry Soval aboard a StarFleet vessel, to Andoria, Tellar, Xyrillia, Lorillia and Denobula Triaxa. They were to perform this task in order to show them all that Earth stood with Vulcan, and invite them all to appoint a special envoy to Earth, in order that they might all discuss this Romulan menace which threatened this entire sector of space. The chances of war would be greatly diminished if they all stood together.
The Enterprise paid call to Denobula and Tellar, and picked up a special envoy from each planet in short order, an envoy willing at least to listen and discuss the matter at hand. The Andorians were a tougher nut to crack, as they did not much care for the thought of working with Vulcans, but here Captain Archer revealed an unexpected side to his personality and extracted an envoy from the Andorians, mostly due to his terrier like tenacity that simply would not accept any other outcome. Soval, watching the Human state his case and fight doggedly for it, wisely kept his tongue, realizing that the ill mannered captain was an effective diplomat, at least where the Andorians were concerned.
Next on the itinerary was Xyrillia, and then Lorillia, and as the Enterprise was required to pass by Vulcan on the way to Xyrillia, the High Command sent orders that T'Pol was to report personally to them on her experiences working with an all Human crew, and T'Les, T'Pol's mother let it be known that she expected T'Pol to visit with her as well during her visit to the planet, so in the interest of efficiency, the captain decided to drop T'Pol off on Vulcan on the way to Xyrillia, leave her there while negotiating with both the Xyrillians and the Lorrilians, and pick her up on the way back to Earth.
"Is it true that you have Bonded with a Human, T'Pol?" said V'olek, one of five members of the High Command.
"Yes," said T'Pol, standing poised and at attention, hands clasped behind her back, as she faced the most powerful Vulcans on the planet.
"Why?" said V'olek.
"It was the logical thing to do," said T'Pol.
"How so?" said V'olek.
"I realized one day that I did not wish to live without my mate in my life," said T'Pol, "but I must have subconsciously come to that decision long before I became consciously aware of that fact."
"Name the Vulcan priest who performed your Binding," said T'Lenn, an aged Vulcan female, and a staunch traditionalist, who most likely disapproved of this union, though she was far too disciplined to allow any emotions to show on her face. "I wish to personally question his logic in performing the Bonding rituals with an off-worlder."
"There was no priest involved," said T'Pol. "The Bond sparked to life of its own volition."
"Is that so?" said T'Lenn, clearly doubtful. "That is a most unusual occurrence, T'Pol."
"Yet it is true," said T'Pol, "and the Bond exists."
"You do not mind if we have a priest verify this fact, do you?" said T'Lenn.
"If you feel you must," said T'Pol.
"I do," said T'Lenn.
"I would like to hear about your experiences aboard the Enterprise now, and the manner in which Humans face challenges," said High Councilor V'Las, the most powerful Vulcan on the council. "Let us discuss that for now, T'Pol."
"As you wish, High Councilor," said T'Pol.
T'Pol began narrating her experiences since being assigned to the Enterprise, and the High Council listened without interruptions. When T'Pol's narrative was concluded, they began asking questions, and did so for the next three hours, before dismissing her for the day, and freeing T'Pol to visit her mother.
"So," said T'Les, T'Pol's mother, glancing across the rim of her tea cup at her daughter, "you are now mated to a Human."
"I am," said T'Pol calmly: when she'd been a child she'd been quite intimidated by T'Les's strength, and truthfully, that was true even now to a lessor degree, but most definitely not where her mate or their Bond was concerned. "What of it?"
"To tie yourself to an off-worlder, and an emotional Human at that," said T'Les, "was a mistake."
"I disagree."
"Are you two joined by Human matrimony, or Vulcan Bond?" said T'Les, meaning, are you joined by a Human legal contract, or a Vulcan's psychic bonds.
"Bond," said T'Pol, and noted T'Les's surprise.
"Truly?"
"Yes," said T'Pol.
T'Les sighed, realizing that this union of her daughter's was now insoluble, save by death.
"So where is he then?" said T'Les. "Would it have been too much to expect him to pay visit to your mother, and your clan?"
"Danger threatens Vulcan, though you have been told nothing of it, mother," said T'Pol, "and he does his part to spare us that pain."
"Is that so?" said T'Les, for she'd not expected to hear such a thing.
"It is," said T'Pol, "and I ask that you say nothing of it, to anyone. That is important."
"Very well," said T'Les. "What is he like?"
T'Pol pulled up a photo of Trip on her PADD, and showed it to T'Les.
"He's a handsome enough male," said T'Les, her attention held by the Human's piercing blue eyes.
"He is also highly educated, highly intelligent, brave, strong, caring, and he is the love of my life," said T'Pol.
"I look forward to meeting a man of such quality," said T'Les, resolved to make the best of it all.
Xyrillia was agreeable enough to Soval's entreaty to send envoy to Earth after a three day period of deliberation, but it was on the way to Lorillia that trouble struck the Enterprise, in a most unexpected fashion.
"Captain," said Lt-Commander Malcolm Reed, the ship's Tactical officer. "I have three ships on an intercept course with us."
"Identify."
"I can not, Captain," said Reed. "Their warp signature is unrecognized, and the sensors can not produce a clear hull profile."
"Contact them," said Archer, looking at Ensign Hoshi Sato, the ship's comm officer for the Alpha shift.
"No response, Captain," said Ensign Sato.
"Tactical," said Archer, looking at Reed, "polarize the hull, make weapons hot."
"Aye, sir," said Reed.
"Report our situation to Andoria, Vulcan and Tellar," said Archer, looking to Hoshi.
"Our transmissions are being jammed, Captain," said Hoshi.
"Evasive action," said Archer, and Ensign Travis Mayweather, the ship's Helmsman changed course, and the chase was on.
Two days after her initial meeting with the High Command, T'Pol had returned once again to the majestic building which housed the chambers of the High Command. She was there, at T'Lenn's request, for that High Councilor had made appointment with a Vulcan mind-priest to verify T'Pol's Bond with the Human Tucker. Though T'Lenn was displeased with this development, and hoped that the priest would expose fraud, there was nothing to be done over it if a Bond between the two truly existed, and though T'Pol had not been under orders to undertake such a test, she did so for her own reasons. An officially tested Bond meant recognition of her union with Commander Tucker, with both clan, and Vulcan society at large.
The test had just been concluded in the chambers of the High Command, and the Bond verified, and T'Pol stood ready to answer still more questions, when she suddenly cried out, and fell to her knees. A medic was called for, but before he could respond, T'Pol looked up at the members of the High Command, and spoke.
"The Enterprise is under Romulan attack," said T'Pol, standing once more, and preserving an image of dispassionate control only through habit. "My mate believes the Romulans wish to kill the ship, and the special envoys aboard the Enterprise, in order to prevent us all acting in concert."
"Location," said Councilor V'Las.
After hearing T'Pol's response, V'Las gave brief orders for Vulcan Navy ships to proceed to that location, and further orders that the Humans, Denobulans, Andorians, Tellarites and Xyrillians be notified of the Enterprise's situation, in case they had military ships nearby which could render aid. That done, V'Las turned his attention back to T'Pol.
"Why did you cry out?" said V'Las.
"My mate suffered a severe burn while attending to his duties," said T'Pol. "May I ask favor and secure a berth on the next ship heading for the Enterprise's last known location?"
Though V'Las had his own reason to deny T'Pol's request, just as he wished that he could have avoided giving the orders which he'd given earlier to render aid to the Enterprise, the forms had to be maintained, and his actions seem logical, as the members of the High Command, their actions and their probable motives were under close scrutiny.
No matter, thought V'Las. The Romulans will destroy the Enterprise long before help can reach the ship.
"Head for the shuttle bay on the roof of this building," said V'Las. "I will have a berth for you by the time you take the air."
"Gratitude, High Councilor," said T'Pol, then spun on her heels to rush for the roof.