Chapter Eight
Ten Months From the Day of His Capture by the Lysirians.
When Trip walked past his crew mates on the ship, everyone did a double take. Was this the same Trip Tucker they had always known? He was bigger, thick muscular arms with biceps and triceps bulging all over the place, so much so he had to get new, bigger uniforms. He had rock hard abs, an eight pack, and he was freakishly strong. He walked with an air about him too… it was self assurance. He even seemed taller, but of course that was body posture and confidence.
Everyone noticed the new Trip, even Archer and Phlox. Phlox had told the Captain about Starfleet's report of Trip's therapy and how hard he worked and pushed himself to regain his mental stability. Of course there had been bumps in the road. A couple of times after a grueling therapy session he had been admitted to the hospital again for observation. He had simply dissolved, had a melt down and had to be hospitalized for a few days. But each time he got through it and forged his way back to sanity. His Starfleet doctors were proud of him and impressed with his resolve to get better. They had cleared him as fit for duty without hesitation.
Trip worked hard as usual, and some of his charm and affability had even returned. He even occasionally teased T'Pol and told a joke. About half of the time he seemed like the old Trip, but his appearance and demeanor gave every indication that that Trip was no more. And this new, stronger, more serious, confident and even a little paranoid, individual had taken his place.
Malcolm noticed that in his work out sessions that Trip seemed much stronger than someone his height and weight, and that his technique was flawless. Even when Trip sparred in the ring with one of the MACOS he got the best of them, every time. Pretty soon his reputation spread around the ship and no one else wanted to work out or spar with him; everybody except T'Pol that is. She eventually became his regular sparring partner.
He could bench press more than anyone on the ship, out run even the younger MACOS, and throw a punch that could knock his opponent out with one blow. He was at 96% efficiency with weapons, hitting targets at great distances, even moving ones. Trip had become a bad-ass, and everyone knew it.
It was a major change and it took a little adjusting for some of his crew mates as they just didn't know what to make of the new Chief Engineer. Trip was no longer getting injured on every away mission and ending up in sickbay all the time. Actually, he had proven to be quite an asset on away missions. The most recent one had been a result of the ship responding to a distress call from
a small planet near Rigel X. The Captain, T'Pol, Trip and Malcolm had taken a shuttle pod down to investigate.
They were ambushed by a group of Nausicaans that had crash landed there whom had helped eighteen dangerous criminals escape from a prison from the C'Dars system. The Nausiciaans were holding five prison guards hostage along with the Prison Administrator, a couple of Denobulan Scientist from whom they had demanded ransom, as well as seven Betazoid women, one of which was a part of the royal family from Betazed. The Nausicaans had hi-jacked the Betazoid ship that was providing transport to the scientists. They had killed the crew and used the ship to help the prisoners escape, for a significant fee of course.
The Nausicaans had been there for about ten days trying to lure someone with a big enough ship or shuttle pod to steal. They thought they had found their way off the planet when Enterprise responded to their distress call.
"How many of them are there?" the Captain asked.
"At least seven," Malcolm answered.
"Captain, what are your orders?" T'Pol, asked. "We are clearly out-numbered. Should we attempt a diplomatic solution?"
"Leave it up to you T'Pol to be talkin' about diplomatic solutions at a time
like this," Trip Tucker, the ship's Chief Engineer snapped.
"There is no other logical conclusion Commander. It makes no sense to
engage in a fight we cannot possibly win."
"Speak for yourself," Trip snapped again. "I say we take 'em!"
"Are you serious?" Reed asked. "Stand and fight?"
"It would be more like stand and die trying," T'Pol responded flatly.
"No, it would be like not throwin' in the towel, jumpin' ship, going down
fightin'!" Trip snapped back at her.
"It would be illogical to proceed."
"Nobody, nobody, but you T'Pol, would be thinkin' about logic when they're about to get their ass kicked, possibly killed!"
" I am merely suggesting that perhaps we should attempt to establish a dialogue."
"A dialogue!" Trip replied. "You gotta be kiddin me. Do these guys look
like they wanna talk?!"
"Now, now children," Jon said calmly. "This is not the time."
"Perhaps we should consider surrendering," Malcolm interjected. "We may have an opportunity to escape later."
"Not a chance," Jon replied. "They'll just kill us later. Besides, we're not exactly outnumbered. Malcolm, you and I can take the two on the right. T'Pol, you take the one right in front of us, and Trip, you take the rest."
"Take the rest?!" Malcolm almost shouted. "We're all going to die in just a
few moments!"
"Speak for yourself!" Trip replied. "Death is always coming for us, but not today!" Trip killed three of the seven Nausicaans and helped the rest of his team overpower the other four. He had not wanted to spare any of them, but Captain Archer had ordered him to stand down and took him for a walk to help calm him and help him regain his focus and control.
"Captain," T'Pol said as Archer and Trip rejoined the away team. "I am reading multiple bio-signs coming from that direction," she said as she pointed northeast.
"Human?" Archer asked.
"No Captain, Nausicaan, Denobulan and Betazoid, at least 12. But there are others as well that I am unfamiliar with, at least 20."
"I guess this planet is not so deserted after all," Malcolm stated.
"Let's check it out," Archer said and began to walk in the direction T'Pol had pointed in."
"Captain!" Malcolm interjected firmly. Archer stopped and allowed Malcolm to get in front of him, phase pistol drawn.
"Let's all stick together," he ordered. "No wandering off alone, got that Mr. Tucker?"
"You don't have to worry about me," Trip said. "I know the rules and I intend to follow them."
The team walked through the bush and trees and finally spotted an old building about 500 yards away. There was also a small ship. They entered the building, Reed leading the way. They were met with weapons fire from the other marauders still inside the building. The Enterprise crew quickly overcame them. They found the hostages and the prisoners.
"Captain, I can't thank you and your team for our rescue," the C'Darsian Administrator said. "Our captors were barbaric and without honor. Once the ransom was paid, they would have killed us just the same."
"No problem Administrator," Archer said. "But we've got to get you off this planet and that may prove problematic. Our ship is scheduled to rendezvous with a delegation that we are to deliver to a very importance conference in just a few days. There are over 40 delegates waiting our transport and safe deliverance to that conference. It's critical that this conference takes place. The problem is that not only are we pressed for time, our ship will not hold the delegation as well as everyone here."
"It may be feasible to leave the prisoners behind," T'Pol suggested. "Surely they would be no threat alone on a deserted planet."
"Under different circumstances I might agree," the Administrator said. "But, these are some of the worst criminals in our system. Dangerous killers, mass murderers, terrorists. If any were to escape it would be catastrophic. Even if we left them for a few days, there are not enough food rations and this planet's atmosphere has already made many of us sick. If we left them to die, their families, our government would consider it a most heinous crime. No, they must be delivered back to the prison."
"What about the Betazoid people and the Denobulan Scientists? Malcolm asked. "Surely we could provide them transport."
"But, that wouldn't solve the problem for the C'Darsians," Archer said. "Each of their systems are hundreds of light years apart. We've got to come up with a better plan." Just then Trip walked up. He had been assessing the damage of the Betazoid ship.
"Capt'n," he started, "just finished looking at that ship. I can repair it. Need to borrow some parts from Enterprise reserves and a few of my engineers to assist me. But, that ship can fly."
"Administrator, this is Commander Charles Tucker, my Chief Engineer." Trip nodded and shook his hand.
"You really think you can repair it?" he asked.
"If Mr. Tucker says it can be done Administrator, it can be done," Archer interjected. "I guarantee it."
"But we have no pilot. None of my people can fly. The Betazoid women's pilot and crew were killed."
"That ship was built for about a crew of 20 or so," Trip said. "It can transport about 20 more. You're gonna need a pilot, four of five engineers to keep the engines going, a couple of navigators, someone to run the comm., a few security and weapons officers."
"What are you suggesting Commander?" T'Pol asked.
"I'm suggesting we pull about 20 of the Enterprise crew, give 'em a food synthesizer and a few spare parts just in case, and they can get these people home inside about 15 days."
"That is an ambitious undertaking," T'Pol replied.
"But it could be done Captain," Malcolm suggested. "We could put the prisoners in a cargo bay or lock them in crew quarters. I could assign a security team, send a few MACOs."
"What about hostiles in the area Captain?" the Administrator asked. "Ours is a particular dangerous area of space. Pirateering is not uncommon."
"There's also the threat of encountering a number of aggressive species we are already familiar with as well Captain," T'Pol said.
"I think we've all learned over the last couple of years that space travel can be dangerous, even with the best of intentions," Archer replied.
"Capt'n, I think I have something that might give 'em a leg up," Trip said. "That ship has a cloaking device. That's why we couldn't detect the bio-signs earlier. It's damaged, but I worked on that one on that Sullibon pod we had in our cargo bay last year. Got it up and running long enough to make a rescue, remember."
"Yes," Archer said, "and not a minute too soon."
"Assuming Commander Tucker can get the Betazoid ship up and running," T'Pol began, "The ship will need a Commander, someone to lead the mission. Who shall it be Captain?"
"I'd be willing to take on the responsibility Captain," Malcolm suggested. "This is going to be quite dangerous."
"I am the logical choice," T'Pol replied. "I am the Science Officer and I have Command experience."
"Actually, I'm the logical choice," Trip spoke up. "This ship is going to be patched up and anything could go wrong. It's gonna need a pretty damned good engineer on board. Also, I have command experience, I can fly and I know somethin' 'bout weapons to boot. Besides, I'm the only one who can deal with the cloaking device and the shields, operate them, make repairs if need be. I'm the perfect choice."
Archer considered this for a moment, so did T'Pol and Malcolm. Trip was right, he was the perfect choice for this mission. The only thing was, Trip had not been on an away mission alone since he had returned to Enterprise. He had been on several, and had done an excellent job, but this was different. Anything could happen and none of them would be there to rescue him. It would be putting his life on the line again as well as others.
"Malcolm, T'Pol, thank you for volunteering, but I need both of you on Enterprise," Archer responded. He then looked at Trip. "Commander, you will be in charge of this mission. Pick your engineering team and get started on repairs.
Malcolm, get a security team and the MACOs ready, along with whatever weapons they'll need. T'Pol, talk to chef about rations, and determine what other supplies they'll need. Then chart a course for each destination and pick a rendezvous point in 15 days. Let's meet back here in six hours for a status report. You have your orders, dismissed."