Chapter Ten
Trip had submitted a modest report regarding the Aphrodite mission, but Carter, Rostov and Cutler submitted reports detailing the harrowing events they had dealt with during the mission and how one Commander Charles Anthony Tucker III, had led them through it in exemplary fashion. His skills as a commander were of the highest competency, and his engineering skills were nothing short of miraculous. There was footage of the hand to hand combat from when they were boarded and how Trip had saved the ship from the Orion attack while injured.
The C'Darsian and Denobulan governments as well as the Betazoid Royal family also contacted Starfleet Command regarding the dynamic Chief Engineer who had been relentless in completing this mission. But, all Trip wanted to do now, was to get back to his precious engines on Enterprise.
Several Weeks Later.
For the next several weeks Enterprise settled back into exploration phase. They explored a couple of M class planets and a trinary star system that T'Pol was interested in. Upon completion of studying the star system, Enterprise headed to Flavin Six, a planet that was hosting a medical conference where Phlox would be attending. While one-third of the ship's crew visited the planet and Phlox attended the conference, Captain Archer was busy giving 20 delegates a tour of the ship, when he was commed by the bridge. Suddenly, they found themselves once again looking down the phase cannons of another hostile species.
Enterprise Bridge, 1030 hrs.
"Captain," T'Pol said, "There's a vessel approaching at warp 4. They're on an intercept course."
"Can you identify them?" Archer asked.
"No Captain. They are not in the Vulcan data base."
"Hail them," Archer said turning to Hoshi.
"No response Captain," she said after a few moments.
"They're charging weapons Sir," Malcolm said.
"Polarize Hull plating and make weapons ready," Archer replied. "Travis, get us out here."
"Aye Sir," Travis replied and began to increase speed moving away from the planet where the conference was being held. If there was a fire fight he would prefer it be further out into space rather than within the planet's atmosphere.
"They're matching speed Captain," Travis said.
"Archer to Tucker," he said depressing the comm.
"Tucker here."
"We need more speed Trip, we're being pursued by an unknown species and we think they may be hostile."
"I'm on it Captain," Trip replied.
"Captain, we are already at warp 4.8," T'Pol interjected.
"If Trip says he can give us more speed, he can give us more speed," Archer replied.
"Captain, we're at warp 5," Travis replied. "Warp 5.2….warp 5.5! We can't stay at that speed for long! And the aliens are matching our speed."
Suddenly a blast hit the ship. "Damage report!" Archer called out.
"Significant damage to decks C and D," Hoshi replied. There was another blast and several of the bridge crew went flying.
"Hull plating down to 69%," Malcolm called out.
"Evasive maneuvers Travis. Malcolm, fire phase cannons, target their engines!" Archer ordered. There was a powerful blast and this time Captain Archer went flying across the room hitting the wall. He lay there bleeding and unconscious as T'Pol depressed the comm.
"Bridge to sickbay, Medical emergency on the bridge," she stated. "Mr. Reed, we need more weapons fire."
"Weapons just went off line!"
"And we just dropped out of warp!" Travis added.
"Commander, we're being boarded!" Hoshi shouted. "Transported in,
Engineering and the Armory!
"Mr. Reed, get a security team with the MACOs to those areas now!"
"Commander, I'm also reading alien bio-signs on C and D decks."
"I'll assemble two more teams!" Malcolm replied before the order was given.
Engineering.
Four aliens had beamed right into engineering. Two looked like a large ant and two others looked like some type of reptile. They shot several of the engineering crew members immediately. The other crew members started to run and take cover. Before Trip could react, someone grabbed him from the back and held their arm around his neck. He jabbed his elbow into their mid-section, bit the alien's arm and bent over throwing the alien over his shoulder. Once he landed in front of him, Trip kicked him in the head rendering him unconscious.
He then ran to assist Rostov. He quickly came up behind the alien beating Rostov and twisted his neck, killing him instantly.
"Commander!" Rostov shouted. "The warp reactor, they set it to blow!"
"Get everybody out of here!" Trip shouted back.
"What about you Sir?"
"Get out of here Ensign, that's an order!" Trip then raced up the stairs and begin trying to shut off the warp reactor. He was attacked by another reptilian looking alien. They fought for several minutes. Then Trip administered a blow to the creatures' mid-section. His hand penetrated the alien's body and Trip withdrew his hand, bloodied from the alien's insides as Rostov and several others watched in horrific awe. The alien fell to the floor dead.
"Everybody out!" Trip yelled out wiping his hand on his uniform and gesturing for the staff to get out as he ran for the warp reactor.
Once every one was out he sealed the doors to engineering. Rostov and Hess were helping some of the injured in the hallway when Lt. Reed and several MACOS arrived.
"Where's Commander Tucker?" he asked.
"Still in there Sir," Hess replied. "He ordered us all out and sealed himself in. A warp core breach is in process and he's trying to shut it down!"
"Bloody idiot!" Malcolm yelled. "Hess, Rostov, get everyone as far away from here as possible, move!"
"Begging your pardon Sir, but if that thing blows, it won't matter much anyway," Hess said.
"Just follow my order Lieutenant," Malcolm replied. Hess nodded and she and Rostov proceeded to help the injured get away from engineering. Malcolm hurried over to the engineering doors with his team and they tried to get the doors open.
"Damn it!" Malcolm shouted and banged his hand on the bulkhead. "Trip! Trip!" he tried to shout over the alarm. "Trip, get the hell out of there!" But nothing happened. Malcolm then gestured for the MACOS to move out of the area. As they were turning to run, suddenly, the alarm shut down. He had done it. Trip had prevented a warp core breach. A few minutes later the doors to engineering slid open.
"If I weren't so grateful for you saving everyone's lives, I would punch your lights out for being so stupid!" Malcolm said when he saw Trip emerge.
"Are the aliens gone? Is everyone all right?" Trip asked.
"There are injuries all over the ship, mostly minor. The Captain was hurt, Phlox was with him when I last saw him," Malcolm replied.
Trip moved over to the comm. "Tucker to the bridge"
"Commander!" Hoshi shouted. "They've taken Commander T'Pol, they're headed for launch bay two!"
Trip did not respond, he, Malcolm and the two MACOS immediately sprinted for the turbo lift. Malcolm handed Trip a phase pistol when they got in the lift. They sprinted for launch bay two and as soon as the doors slid open, they saw one of the aliens holding a phase pistol on T'Pol as she opened the door to shuttle pod two. The alien grabbed her and pulled her in front of him.
"One more move and she dies!" the alien spat out.
"It's over," Reed responded. "All of your comrades are either dead or being detained, so lower your weapon, now." As soon as he finished speaking two more aliens appeared from behind the shuttle pod.
"Yes, it is over," the alien said. "Now throw your weapons down and back away or she dies. We are leaving in your vessel, and we are taking her with us to ensure you won't blast us out of the sky."
"No!" Trip shouted. "Let her go you freak-show bastard!"
"Commander!" T'Pol interjected. "The Captain's injured, you're in command, you must stand down and ensure Enterprise's safety."
"I'm not letting them take you!"
"Can you take him?" Malcolm asked Trip.
"I can take him!" Trip replied.
"Do it!" Malcolm shouted. But Trip had already taken the shot. The reptilian creature fell backwards having been struck in the head. One of the aliens fired and struck one of the MACOS. Malcolm and the other MACO fired upon the two remaining aliens, killing them as Trip ran to assist T'Pol.
She had fallen and hit her head when the alien fell dead. '"Y-you, dis…obeyed …my order," she said to Trip as he pulled her up from the floor.
"Well you can put me on report later," he replied as he scooped her up in his arms and headed for sick bay.
That Evening, Planet Surface – Medical Conference.
It had already been one hell of a day. Trip, Malcolm and his security team, along with several MACOs had escorted their guests back to the surface, but was invited to attend a reception. Trip and Malcolm hadn't wanted to but knew it would be politically incorrect not to do so.
Trip had surveyed the room when they entered, inspecting it to determine if there was anything suspicious going on. "Something's not right Mal," he whispered to the armory officer. "Just can't put my finger on it."
"Agreed," the Brit replied, surprised at Trip's awareness and suspicious nature.
"Let's just stay sharp, somethin's gonna jump off, I can feel it." Malcolm nodded as they went separate ways, watching, surveying. They both nursed drinks and mingled a little, but continued to maintain eye contact with one another.
Suddenly, several unhappy guests, and several members of the security team, pulled out weapons and begin to round up the delegates to one side of the room. Before Malcolm and his team could react, they were relieved of their weapons. The assailants were a group of terrorists, intending on taking hostages and using them to force their government to meet their demands.
"I can not believe this!" Trip whispered to Malcolm as they huddled against the wall along with over one hundred other people. "We have got to be the most unlucky sons-of-bitches in the universe."
"And here I thought we were done with having such great fun today," Malcolm said sarcastically.
"Listen up," the lead assailant shouted, firing his weapon into the ceiling. Many of the delegates screamed in fear and cowered to the floor. "As long as no one misbehaves, and no one tries to play hero, you may just get to walk out of here, rather than being carried out, feet first!" He continued to speak as his comrades held weapons on the delegates.
"There's only twelve of 'em" Trip whispered to Malcolm. He looked at Trip incredulously.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Not sure," Trip replied. "But you know I'm not gonna allow myself to be taken hostage."
"First thing we're gonna do is get a few volunteers to help us tie up a few of you lovely hostages", the leader said. Any volunteers?"
Trip held up his hand. He looked over at Malcolm, who slowly held up his hand.
"Aw, a couple of brave aliens," the leader with the phase rifle said. "Thank
you. And, be advised that because of your brave act, I will kill you last!"
He beckoned for Trip and Malcolm to follow him. They walked about 15 feet away suddenly Trip made a running leap onto the wall; and for a few seconds, it looked as if he was actually running on the wall. Using the wall as leverage, he pushed off of it and landed just in front of the lead assailant. He turned his body into the assailant's body, grabbed his arm and pointed his weapon at his fellow kidnappers. With Trip guiding the weapon, the assailant mowed down seven of his own people. Still a bit stunned by what had just happened, Trip then snatched the weapon from the leader and turning quickly hit the man in the head with it. He fell to the floor unconscious.
The commotion caused the remaining assailants to turn away from the hostages just for a moment, allowing Malcolm and his security team members to pounce on them and subdue them before they could effectively fire their weapons. Although several delegates were grazed or hit in the leg and/or arm by random weapons fire, no one was seriously injured.
Malcolm hurried over and took control of the situation, rounding up the remaining assailants, and turning them over to local law enforcement. Suddenly, another terrorist appeared from nowhere brandishing an assault weapon. He yelled something to the group and tried to fire a shot into the ceiling. But before he could fire a shot, Trip ran straight for him and did a flying leap, grabbing the assailant by the neck with his feet and brought him to the floor with him. The weapon went flying. Then, Trip kicked his captive in the head with a booted foot, knocking him unconscious. Everyone erupted into applause and cheering.
Back On Enterprise-Sick Bay.
Captain Archer sat on a bio-bed listening to Lt. Hess describe what had occurred in engineering when the aliens invaded them.
"They managed to sabotage the plasma flow inter-mix, Sir. It's going to take some time to sort it out," she reported. "But, Captain, it was Commander Tucker. He fought off three of those aliens single handedly, Sir."
Archer looked up at Hess. "Go on," he said.
"He fought off the first one, and was able to render him unconscious. We know because the aliens beamed out the ones that were still alive. They left the dead. There were two in engineering."
"Commander Tucker?" Archer asked. Hess nodded. "What exactly did he do?"
"Well, Sir, one of the aliens had Rostov. The Commander just came up behind the alien and twisted his neck," she said, still not believing what she had witnessed with her own eyes. "I didn't know he knew how to do something like that! I mean, I've known Comm…"
"Lieutenant," Archer interrupted. "What else happened?"
"Captain, what he did next…at least what I think he did…" Sir, he was attacked from behind. He fought the alien, flipped him over, then… then Sir, he…'
"Go on," Archer said.
"Commander Tucker, he, he put his hand through the alien's mid-section. I mean all the way through, l-like a knife! And, and, he pulled it out…and his whole forearm was covered with the alien's blood!"
"How the hell did he do that?!" Archer snapped.
"I dunno Sir. But there's more."
"More?"
"Yes Captain. He threw us all out of engineering, sealed himself in, and… prevented the warp core breach all by himself. He was… amazing Sir." Captain Archer sat stunned. He didn't know what to think or believe right now. He swung his head over the side of the bed in an attempt to get up.
"Oh no," Phlox said running over to where the Captain was. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I've got to meet with my senior staff, Phlox, I've got to go." As he slid off the bio-bed, he nearly fell to the floor from dizziness. Phlox and Hess caught him.
"You have a concussion Captain, a serious concussion. If you're lucky, I may release you tomorrow morning, but not a minute sooner. Now lie down." Phlox then turned to Hess. "You may leave Lieutenant," he said with a big smile.
Just then Malcolm and T'Pol entered sick bay as Hess exited. "Captain, "T'Pol said.
"I heard you'd been injured T'Pol," the Captain asked.
"Just a bump on the head," she said as she touched the bruise on the right side of her head.
"How are you feeling Captain?" Malcolm asked.
"Fine, forget about me. I've heard a couple of incredible stories today, about what happened in engineering when the aliens boarded us." T'Pol and Malcolm glanced at one another.
"If you're talking about what Trip did down there Captain," Malcolm began, "it's all true, every word of it. We've got the footage to prove it." Archer frowned and shook his head in disbelief. He immediately grabbed it as if in pain.
"Phlox," T'Pol called out. The doctor hurried over with a hypo spray. Archer pushed it away.
"Captain, don't be foolish, this will ease the pain."
"I'm sure it will, and knock me out in the process."
"A little rest will only help your recovery," Phlox said as he once again tried to press the hypo against his neck. Archer moved away.
"Not now doctor, I want to hear this," he said and waived the doctor off. Phlox grumbled something about stubborn humans and walked away to attend another patient.
"I want the disc," Archer said to Malcolm. "I want to view it for myself, right away."
"Aye Captain,' but there's more." Archer raised both eyebrows and looked at Malcolm, then T'Pol.
"Well?"
"Captain, while you were unconscious, the aliens attempted to abduct me. I was taken to shuttle bay two at gun point. The alien wanted me to pilot the vessel and hold me hostage to ensure Enterprise did not destroy it."
"Well, you're standing here, so obviously it didn't work."
"No Sir, it didn't," Malcolm interjected, "thanks to Commander Tucker. Myself, Trip and two MACOS found out where the alien had taken T'Pol. We made it just as they were about to enter the shuttle pod. We were greeted by two other aliens with weapons. We were at a standoff."
"One of the aliens lifted me in front of him in order to shield himself from harm, while he held a weapon to my head," T'Pol explained. "They ordered the Commander and the others to throw their weapons down or I would be killed."
"But, Trip had something else in mind," Malcolm said. "Captain, he fired a perfect shot, just over T'Pol's head, hitting the alien right between the eyes. It was an amazing shot Sir. Only an expertly trained marksman could have done it." Archer just stared.
"He saved my life," T'Pol said.
"Actually Sir, Commander Tucker is responsible for saving over 200 lives today," Malcolm said. Archer's eyes bulged out as he raised both eyebrows.
"What?" he asked puzzled.
"Captain, once we got the delegates back on the surface, we were invited to a reception. A hostage situation occurred."
"You've got to be joking," Archer said, shaking his head.
"If only Sir," Malcolm replied.
"Let me guess, Commander Charles Tucker III, did something to prevent it?"
"Something quite phenomenal, if I might say Sir. But, you have to see this to believe it. I couldn't begin to describe it."
"Get me that footage Malcolm, right now, as well as the footage from Engineering."
"Aye Captain," Malcolm said and turned to go. T'Pol followed.
For the next few weeks there was talk all over the ship, about the Aphrodite Mission, how Trip had faked a warp core breach to scare off an enemy vessel, caused a warp core breach to destroy an enemy vessel, and prevented a warp core breach back on Enterprise to save the entire crew. There was gossip about how he had killed a Xindi Reptilian with his bare hands, reaching into his chest cavity and pulling out his heart; some said he then ate it!
The crew couldn't stop talking about how he fought off intruders on the Aphrodite, running back and forward between the bridge and Engineering, all while having been shot and with several large pieces of shrapnel literally hanging out of his chest, just a fraction of an inch away from his heart.
There was also talk about how he fired an impossible shot over T'Pol's head to kill the Xindi that was using her as a shield in front of him, hitting him right between the eyes. Some said Trip had fired the shot so closely that it had parted T'Pol's hair right down the middle, and that you could see the phase pistol debris on the tips of her ears.
And last but not least, everyone had heard about what happened on the planet surface at the conference where the delegates were almost taken hostage, where people swore that they had seen a man fly. And the rumors just kept flying as well. There were a lot of stories floating around. Then, there was the truth, and it was amazing all by itself.