Enterprise – The Maiden Voyage
by Soledad
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see the Introduction
Notes are at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 16 – The Point of No Return
For a few days the transit of Enterprise remained largely undisturbed. The Elachi ship didn't show up on the scanners again, even though they knew it was somewhere out there… a fact that helped Lieutenant Reed to secure top priority for the maintenance of the weapons systems.
Fortunately, there were no extensive repairs to make at the moment, and the engineering crew could manage daily business well enough without Tucker breathing down their neck. He had hand-picked every single one of them, after all.
As for the chief engineer himself, he had come out of his medically induced coma after two days and was improving slowly but steadily. As Dr Phlox had warned, there was a lot of nerve damage, and it emerged that not only his dominant hand was now unreliable, due to that intermittent tremor he had developed, but he also needed a walking aid, as his knee tended to give out without warning at random intervals.
All this didn't help to improve his mood, of course, but Hoshi, loyal soul that she was, spent her spare time with him, helping him with his physiotherapy as well as she could, accompanying him in the Mess Hall and on movie nights, and even cancelling her training sessions with Lieutenant Reed to be able to do so.
"It's more important to support a friend in need than to play nice with an enemy," she declared coolly when Archer called her upon it; and that was it.
She wouldn't back off, not in this, and Archer knew better than try making her do so. Besides, Tucker needed a friend right now. He needed as many friends as he could get, in fact.
The crewmen Namod and Novakovich were improving more quickly. Namod, being a fairly indestructible individual (as long as there was food available, preferably in large quantities), was declared fit for duty after a few days of rest.
Novakovich needed a little longer, but after a week he was released, too, with the strict order to return for counselling sessions; he and Crewman Cooper used to be close, and he was still having difficulties with accepting her fate. But at least he was allowed to work again.
Tucker returned to light duty as well; which meant that the others were allowed to pick his brain with any problems that would occur, and he could watch the controls screens and run diagnostics – but that was all he could do. How long it would stay that way, and if he'd ever fully regain his fine motoric abilities, Dr Phlox couldn't tell.
This was the status of things, and he was moping in his quarters between the half shifts he'd been allowed to spend in Engineering and his upcoming physio session, when the captain made a shipwide announcement.
"For those of you who aren't near a window, you might want to find one. There's something pretty amazing off starboard."
At the same time Tucker could feel the ship drop out of warp.
"Senior staff, please report to the Bridge," the captain continued.
Tucker grabbed his cane (manufactured by the engineering crew from some spare parts) and began to hobble towards the nearest turbolift.
"I've checked the Vulcan database, sir," Reed was saying when Tucker reached the Bridge. "No previous sightings."
"That means we discovered it," Hoshi added in delight.
Charlie turned to the viewer to see what got them all so excited – and saw a huge comet is gliding past.
"Archer's comet," Mayweather suggested, grinning like a loon.
The captain grinned back at him. "Take us closer, Ensign," he ordered, and Travis acknowledged the order with the obligatory Aye, sir.
As they approached the comet, it seemed to grow steadily, and they could make out more details. Jack turned to his friend, smiling.
"Ever seen anything like that in your astronomy books, Trip?"
"Wow, that's one big snowball." Tucker was staring at the image in complete amazement.
"The diameter is eighty two point six kilometres," T'Pol informed them with scientific precision, missing the point completely.
Archer grinned at his fellow humans. "I always wanted to chase a comet. Maybe we should spend a few days following this one."
"Vulcan and human scientists have researched hundreds of comets," T'Pol pointed out. "They've proven to be little more than rock and ice."
"Except this one's bigger than any comet humans have ever seen," the captain retorted. "That's got to be worth a look. Stay with it, Travis."
Mayweather nodded enthusiastically. "Aye, sir."
"Oh, and Subcommander, would you care to make a geological analysis of all that rock all that rock? I'd like to know what's in it."
"As you wish, Captain."
T'Pol collected the data from the short-range sensors and retreated with them to her own quarters, to run the analysis. As she was not only the science officer but also the ship's XO, she had the necessary equipment in her quarters; including a secure communications station. She expected to be contacted by Captain Vanik to make a report about Enterprise's sudden change of course, but that did not mean she could not do her job while waiting.
What she had not expected was an encoded letter from her betrothed's family. Not now. Not after she had failed to return to Vulcan at the appointed time, and Koss had to go through pon farr without her assistance. For the very first time in his life, and then twice again.
With a certain amount of dread, she opened the letter, started the encryption program… and then stared at the words on her computer screen in something akin to a shock.
They wanted what from her?
She read the message again. It did not change; not that she had expected it to change. That would have been a highly illogical reaction. In fact, re-reading the message had been illogical in the first place, but she had been too shocked to believe her eyes.
More shocked than would be acceptable in any self-respecting Vulcan, and she was a self-respecting Vulcan. Well… as close to one as her unusual heritage allowed.
But the message remained the same, no matter how many times she would re-read it. They wanted her to "honour" an agreement that had already been broken, due to her absence from the homeworld. Where was the logic in that?
And yet this was a demand she could not ignore – or worse, refuse – without consequences. The agreement had never been officially nullified, which gave Koss's family certain rights, according to Vulcan law.
She should have applied for the dissolving of the – barely existing – bond years ago. But it never seemed urgent, seeing that Koss had dealt with his… issues on his own well enough, and she had been occupied with her work.
Now she realized that her disregard had been a mistake; a serious one.
She wished T'Kahr Soval was within easy reach. In his time-proved wisdom he might be able to give useful advice. But Soval was still on Earth, and she would not risk talking about such a delicate matter via subspace. There could be no doubt that the Ti'Mur was monitoring Enterprise's communications.
She suppressed a very un-Vulcan sigh. She could not afford to dwell on personal matters. There was a geological analysis to finish; Captain Archer was waiting for her report.
She would deal with Koss and his family after she had the chance to meditate.
Fifteen point six standard minutes later she entered the Situation Room, as Enterprise's conference room was officially (and somewhat meaninglessly) called, with the finished report in her hand.
"I have found something for you, Captain," she said. "Geological analysis shows a considerable eisilium deposit."
"Eisilium?" Archer repeated, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
"It is an extremely rare mineral," she explained, curbing her scientific excitement with some effort. "However, this comet appears to contain large quantities of it."
"I've never heard of eisilium." Archer looked at his chief engineer askance.
Charlie Tucker shook his head. "Neither have I."
"As I said, it is extremely rare." T'Pol hated to repeat herself, but she could not expect these humans to recognise the importance of the find. They were not scientists, after all. "Vulcan chemists have only obtained small amounts. They've never been able to study it in detail."
That piece of information seemed to please the captain for some reason; or perhaps the fact that they had found something important before the Vulcans did? As if it had been some kind of competition…
In any case, he gave her one of his blinding smiles. "This could be your chance, then. Can we collect a sample with the transporter?"
T'Pol did not need to consult her PADD to answer. "Unfortunately, most of the eisilium deposits are at least twenty metres beneath the crust."
"Well, that's it, then," commented Tucker, a little disappointed. "That's too deep to get a lock."
"Is there no other way to reach the deposits?" the captain asked. He, too, was clearly disappointed.
To general surprise, it was Lieutenant Reed who came up with a suggestion. "We've got the portable drilling rig, sir."
"That could work," Tucker admitted reluctantly; it was common knowledge that he hated agreeing with Reed on principle. "If we can get it down to the surface safely, that is."
"The comet's certainly big enough to land on," Mayweather said thoughtfully. "We could take a shuttlepod."
"I would advise setting down near one of the two poles," T'Pol suggested. "If you are out of direct sunlight, the surface ice will be more stable."
Archer's incredibly blue eyes were sparkling with excitement already.
"How long would you need?" he asked Reed.
The armoury officer shrugged. "Shouldn't take more than three or four hours."
Archer nodded, obviously satisfied with the answer. "You up for a little comet walk? We'll need a demolition expert for the job."
For some reason T'Pol had the impression that there was more behind the captain's question than just a simple request. Was it an attempt to offer his armoury officer/resident spy the proverbial olive branch? These humans were so hard to understand sometimes.
"By all means!" Lieutenant Reed clearly interpreted the question as a peace offering and was more than willing to accept it.
Archer nodded again. "Get started then."
Reed left for the Armoury to prepare the drilling rig for transport – not to mention the explosives that would be necessary to open the way for the rig, once down on the comet's surface. He looked happier than anyone had seen him for a long time… since his impromptu birthday party, in fact.
The rest of the senior officers returned to the Bridge, this being their regular duty shift. Besides, the main viewer provided the best possible look at the ice comet, and they wanted to enjoy the spectacular view. Only T'Pol ignored the eerily beautiful sight, collecting more data from the same comet through her hooded scanner.
Everyone's quiet enjoyment was soon interrupted by Hoshi, though, who swivelled with her chair in Archer's direction, reporting, "Captain, I'm detecting a vessel closing on our position." She paused briefly before adding, "It's Vulcan – a Suurok-class battle cruiser."
T'Pol closed her eyes, as close to despair as any Vulcan could get without giving up their tight control entirely. It was highly illogical from Captain Vanik to reveal his presence in this sector. He was supposed to observe the humans, not to interfere with their actions.
"Are they sending any ID code?" Archer asked.
Hoshi shook her head. "No, sir. I can try running their image through the database for identification, but…"
"That will not be necessary." T'Pol looked up from her scanner, coming to a decision. "It is the starship Ti'Mur."
"Is it now?" Archer said with deceptive mildness. "And you just happen to know that by mere coincidence?"
"Of course not," the Vulcan replied simply. "I was informed that the Ti'Mur would be monitoring our progress."
The captain gave her a piercing look. "Informed – by whom?"
"By Minister Solkahr," she answered truthfully. "It has been following us just outside Enterprise's sensor range since we left the Berengaria system."
"And you're telling me that right now… why exactly?"
"The Ti'Mur was supposed to observe, not to interfere," she said. "That Captain Vanik chose to show himself openly is a serious breach of protocol – and violates the agreement between you and the Viseeth."
"Aren't you riskin' gettin' in trouble for tellin' us this?" Tucker asked.
T'Pol raised an eyebrow – the Vulcan equivalent of a shrug. "There is a ninety-four point seven per cent possibility of retaliation, yes."
"And yet you told us anyway?" Tucker was clearly baffled.
"Commander," T'Pol replied coolly, "due to the agreement with both the Viseeth Synodium and the High Command, I am now a member of this crew. That gives me a certain responsibility towards Enterprise's mission as well. I must do my best to help carrying out that mission, despite potential personal disadvantages."
Archer looked at the rest of the Bridge crew.
"I think it would be best if we played clueless," he said. "I'd like to keep my new Science Officer a little longer." He turned to Hoshi. "Let's take a look at our shadow. Maximum magnification."
"Aye, sir." Hoshi clicked a few switches and the image of the ice planet was immediately replaced by that of the Vulcan starship.
It was an impressive sight. The deep amber-hued Suurok-class vessel possessed a long, cylindrical primary hull and a unique circular, ring-shaped warp drive, making it look like some spun glass Christmas tree ornament. Those with technical knowledge, however – that was, practically everyone on the Bridge – knew all too well that it was a powerful ship that could easily destroy Enterprise, should its captain find such an action logical.
"Hail them," Archer ordered grimly, and when Hoshi nodded him to speak, he continued in a falsely friendly manner. "This is Captain Jack Archer of the starship Enterprise."
The image of the Vulcan ship vanished from the viewer, giving room that of a middle-aged male Vulcan with sharp, deeply-lined features and iron-grey hair.
"I am Captain Vanik," he said simply.
"Pleased to meet you." Archer plastered his biggest, fakest smile over his face; it never reached his eyes, which remained ice cold.
The Vulcan captain most likely had no previous experience with humans because he clearly bought the show.
"You are a long way from Earth, Captain," he said in a condescending manner. "Are you lost?"
As if you didn't know why we're here, thought Archer angrily, but he kept his amiable mask firmly pinned on.
"Not at all. Just taking a look at this comet," he replied.
"Our sensors detected it two days ago," Vanik said in a dismissive tone that made it clear how insignificant he thought the comet to be. "We also decided to investigate."
"Really?" Archer gave him another saccharine-infused smile. "My Science Officer tells me that Vulcans aren't very interested in comets."
"Actually, it's your interest in the comet that we're investigating," the Vulcan told him.
"Are you now?" Archer retuned in false innocence. "I didn't know this was Vulcan territory. Do we need your permission to be here?"
"Of course not…"
"Good," Archer interrupted. "Because we plan to send a drilling team to the surface to collect core samples." He paused, then added sweetly, "You're welcome to participate. I'm told that Vulcan scientists never had the chance to study eisilium in detail."
If possible, the Vulcan captain's posture became even more rigid than before. "If you have no objection, we'd like to remain here and observe," he said stiffly.
As if we could make you leave, Archer thought sourly; but the answer he gave was neutral. "Stay as long as you want. We have nothing to hide–" But the Vulcan captain cut transmission before he could finish the sentence.
Seething inside at Vanik's rudeness, Jack looked at T'Pol. "Can we have a word? In private."
She rose from her seat. "As you wish, Captain." And she followed him to his Ready Room.
"Tell me about Captain Vanik," Archer demanded, as soon as they were alone.
"There is not much to tell," she replied. "Vanik joined the Vulcan space program Seventy-six of your standard years ago. He mainly served on scout ships and the border patrol, until he became captain of the Ti'Mur."
"Seventy-six years," Archer mused. "Not such a long career in Vulcan terms, I understand. He must have been favoured by the brass, then, that he got command of one of the newest, strongest ship classes in the Vulcan fleet."
"If you are assuming that he has excellent connections to the High Command and various other government circles, then you are right, Captain," T'Pol said calmly. "He belongs to the same clan as Administrator V'Las; they are distant cousins, in fact."
The captain raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be considered nepotism?"
"On Earth perhaps," she replied. "In Vulcan terms, the ultimate duty of the individual is to serve clan interests; and the main purpose of the clan is to support the individual. It is not only acceptable to prefer one's own clansmen in key positions – it is expected."
"And what if the clansman in question isn't fit to fill a certain position?"
"Then he or she will not be chosen, of course. That would be highly illogical."
"And Vulcans would never do anything illogical." The sarcasm in Archer's voice was hard to miss, and not particularly pleasant, but T'Pol chose to ignore it.
"We do our best," she said dryly, "but not even we are perfect."
"That's a relief to hear," the captain grinned. "But if Captain Vanik has friends in high places, I'd love to know what he's really doing here. You don't find anything strange about the Ti'Mur suddenly showing up?"
"Actually, I do," T'Pol admitted. "Their orders were, as far as I was informed, to merely observe; you were not supposed to know that they were out there."
"Is there a chance that they might be simply curious?" he asked.
"Unlikely," she replied. "Admittedly, scientific curiosity is accepted and even encouraged; but not when it interferes with the carrying out of one's orders."
"Curious," Archer commented. "This isn't the first time we've caught them lurking around. Remember three weeks ago, the planetary nebula?"
"That was nothing more than a survey ship," the Vulcan said dismissively.
"So why didn't they respond to our hails?" the captain insisted. "Why'd they go to warp when we headed toward them? I'm starting to get the feeling that somebody really doesn't want us to succeed."
"That seems unlikely," T'Pol said, "but not entirely beyond doubt. I find that I no longer understand the decisions made by the High Command. Not all of them, at any rate."
"So, does it mean you're on our side now?" Archer could barely hide his surprise.
She gave him a look full of reproach. "I do not take sides, Captain. I am merely concerned about the success of this mission. Ambassador Soval assigned me to this task and I attempt to carry out his orders – even if I have to go against the High Command in the process."
"That might get you in great trouble with the High Command," he warned.
"Indeed," she replied calmly. "It is advantageous that my temporary Starfleet commission makes me independent of the High Command for the duration of this mission."
"It still can be the point of no return for you, though," pointed out the captain.
"In more ways than you can imagine," she said, thinking of the personal message she had just received.
But she refused to tell the captain anything else, and Archer had no other choice than dismiss her.
Lieutenant Reed was busy with the drilling rig down in the Armoury when Ensign Soccorro joined him her expression troubled.
"Lieutenant, would you take a look at something? I've been running diagnostics and I found some kind of power surge in the transceiver array."
Reed did as he was asked – and frowned. "Looks like an encrypted transmission. "Where did it come from?"
"From the Vulcan ship," Soccorro replied grimly.
His frown deepened. "And to whom was it sent?"
"Directly to the comm unit in the quarters of our new Science Officer," she told him. "I believe the captain should learn about this – before he gets too chummy with her."
Reed agreed with that and went directly to the Ready Room to make his report.
The captain appeared strangely disappointed by the news.
"You're sure this was sent to her quarters?"
Reed nodded. "Aye, sir. That is, Ensign Soccorro is sure; and she doesn't make such basic mistakes." He paused. "Did she say anything to you about it?"
The captain shook his head. "Not a word." Again, that odd shadow of disappointment seemed to cloud his usually so bright expression. "We had an agreement. She promised not to speak to the Vulcans without telling me."
Reed withstood the urge to roll his eyes… barely. "With all due respect, Captain, it was naïve of you to believe that she'd actually keep her promise. She was planted on board as a spy, after all."
"She wasn't the only one," Archer replied pointedly. "And she took considerable personal risks by telling us about the mission of the Ti'Mur."
"Unless it was a clever strategic move to gain your trust, sir." Reed felt a flicker of guilt at the deserved accusation, but ploughed on stubbornly. "We won't know for sure, unless perhaps we learn what's in that encrypted message. I think you should have Ensign Sato decrypt it. If anyone, she'll be able to do it."
The captain seemed uncomfortable with the suggestion – Fleet officers could be woefully naïve and idealistic sometimes – but in the end he gave in.
"I'll tell her it's top priority," he said resignedly. "You may return to your drilling rig, Lieutenant. We want to keep our schedule, after all – or our Vulcan observers may become suspicious."
"Understood, sir," Reed answered crisply and left, relieved that Archer had been willing to listen to him – this time.
~TBC~
