Tripp looked around the conference room and saw all who were standing there. He saw the Vulcan captain who was leading the Vulcans, Tripp thought he would see Shran and that he would leading the Andorians, but it was some other commander, and the general that was leading the Tellarites. They were all watching Archer who was leading this attack on the Romulans. There were other captains from Starfleet. Tripp tried to think about why he was here. He didn't think that he had to be here, he glanced at his wife who was next to Captain Archer.
"This is the plan for what is going to happen," Jonathan said to the room. "We need the Romulans to come up and fight us. From what I heard they outnumber the Starfleet ships, but they don't know about our alliance. For some reason they think that our alliance is not real because no one likes anyone."
Jonathan smiled at them and pointed to the screen behind him. "This is the planet Cheron, and this is where Romulans ships are being built. Starfleet is going to go in first, followed by everyone else. We are going to take them down."
Everyone threw in their opinion about what they should do. Tripp stood behind and listen to what was being said. He was nervous about what was going to happen to them. This battle could be over before it gets started or it could mean a victory for the humans and their alliance. Tripp was thinking about the two small children on this ship. He didn't know how long they were going to be in this battle, and they couldn't keep the kids in their safe spot for the whole battle. Tripp knew that Enterprise was leading the battle, and something could happen to them. He could die. Tripp glance to see that his wife was in the mix of the talking. T'Pol could be killed, or they could both be killed. Tripp knew that the crew of the ship would take care of the kids until they could reach his parents and give the children a life without their parents. Tripp listen for a few more minutes before he slipped out. He had to make sure that his engines were working.
"I saw you slip out early," T'Pol had found him later in the engineering.
"Sorry," Tripp looked up from what he was doing. "I felt that I wasn't needed. It looked like you and Jonathan had everything planned." T'Pol gave him a look. Tripp looked around before grabbing T'Pol's arm and taking her to his office. T'Pol raised her eyebrow at him as the door to his office closed. "I want to talk about our children," T'Pol closed her eyes. Tripp knew that she was thinking about them too. "I don't want them on the ship. We don't know how long this battle is going to be. Something could happen to one of us or both of us. I rather not leave my children at the hands of the Romulans."
"I agree," T'Pol said. "What are we going to do? I don't think you or I want to take a ship back to Earth with the children."
"No, we are both needed here, but something could go wrong." Tripp leaned against his desk.
T'Pol leaned against him. "What are we going to do?"
Tripp wrapped his arms around her. He was glad that he was close to her right now. "Put the kids in a shuttle with Ella and a pilot. Have them in a spot where a ship could pick them up if the battle goes wrong and takes the kids back to Earth to my parents."
"That's not a bad idea, but what if all of Starfleet is destroyed and they can't pick up the children." T'Pol wondered.
"We'll have to tell the others apart of our alliance and hope that someone will take our children back to Earth and their grandparents or to Vulcan with your family." Tripp could only think that this was best they could do.
T'Pol nodded. She knew that this was the best plan that they had for their children. She didn't want anything to happen to her children, but she didn't think that these were the kind of plans they were going to make when they were in the middle of the war. "I'll talk to the captain," T'Pol had to release Tripp so she could go back to work, but she felt safe in Tripp's arms. She didn't know what the next few days were going to bring for their family.
Tripp kissed T'Pol on the top of her head. "Just remember that we have something worth fighting for," Tripp looked in T'Pol's eyes. "I want to see where our future is heading and watch our babies grow up."
T'Pol sighed. "I want the same thing," T'Pol looked up at Tripp. "Did we do the right thing by raising a family in the middle of a war?"
Tripp smiled. "Yes, we talked about this before, and our children are going to know that we got to live our dreams. You know that our children might decided to follow in our footsteps." T'Pol closed her eyes she didn't know how she was going to take it if one of children decided that Starfleet was the path they wanted. "They have space in their blood."
"I know," As much as T'Pol wanted to stay in her husband's arm, she needed to talk to the captain with the final battle coming so soon. They needed the kids off the ship. She pulled out of her husband's arm and headed out of his office. She gave one more look. "I'll see you tonight," Tripp nodded as T'Pol left the office.
T'Pol finished her day and headed home just to be with her children. She had talked to the captain, and he agreed with her and that they should make plans for the children. T'Pol had a feeling that if anything happened to Tripp or her, Jonathan Archer would find a way to get those children home to Tripp's parents. T'Pol knew that her children were in good hands with their grandparents.
T'Pol opened the doors to their quarters to find that Charlie was playing on the floor with his sister. Charlie looked up at her as she entered. There was a big smile on his face. She was going to miss that smile if anything happened to her. T'Mir held out her arms for T'Pol to take. T'Pol reached down and picked up T'Mir.
"Mama," Charlie said as he held up a toy that he was playing with. "I made this," T'Pol could only see Tripp in Charlie in that moment.
"That is beautiful," T'Pol said.
Ella had come out of the kids' room. "Hello, Commander. Everything went well with the children." Ella started to gather her things.
"Miss Haiden, if you could wait a moment. There is something that Mr. Tucker and I would like to talk to you about," Ella nodded and frowned. She had a feeling that she might know what this might be about.
It didn't take long for Tripp to come home, Charlie had to show Tripp what he made before Tripp and T'Pol could talk to Ella. T'Pol started to rock T'Mir as she made a fuss. "I'm sure that you heard about the battle that is going to happen," Ella nodded. "We would like for you and a pilot to take our children on a shuttle during the battle," T'Pol took a breath. "If something happens to us, either Enterprise or another ship is going to come and take you and the children to Earth where Mr. Tucker's parents are."
Ella could see the worry etched on Tripp's face and see it in T'Pol's eyes. They really cared for their children and only wanted what was best for them. Ella was already in love with the children and would do anything they needed. "I would gladly take care of them until they are back in your care or the care of your parents," She looked at Tripp as she said those words. Ella could see some relief in their eyes that they knew their children would be taken care of. "I'll leave you to spend some time with your children," Ella left the family.
Tripp and T'Pol traded a look because they were happy that their children would be taken care if anything happens to them. Tripp and T'Pol spent the rest of the night with their children.
They stood around the command table on the bridge. It was the eve of the battle, and they were going into battle tomorrow. Jonathan looked at his senior staff and he knew that they all knew battle. They have been in this battle for the four years. A lot has happened in the last four years. He knew that his crew knew what to do.
"We are the lead ship," Jonathan looked at each of them. "We are going to first in. I know that I have an amazing team and we have all seen some things. We know how to battle in space. From the Xindi to this war. We didn't think that when we set out for space that we would be in a war with different species that doesn't like us because we bring a different way of thinking to space. We have made friends out of enemies. They are standing by our side in this war. I know each one has what it takes in battle. We defeated the Xindi and the Creators of the sphere, we can do it again.
"I'm not going to tell you what is going to happen when we lose this battle, you already know what is going to happen," Jonathan looked at his first officer and second officer before saying. "We all have family to think about and we want them to see them again. Are we ready for this war to end?" Jonathan looked at his armory officer.
"All weapons are ready," Lt. Reed said. "I also think that every crewmember should have phaser on."
Jonathan nodded. He liked that idea. "Good idea. Also talk to Major Laramie about the MACO and having them ready to board again ship or to get on the ground." Malcom nodded. Jonathan tuned to communications. "Do we have a channel opened to all other ships?"
"Yes, sir," Hoshi said. "I got confirmation from every ship yesterday."
Jonathan nodded. "Are we ready for casualties?" Jonathan asked the doctor.
The doctor nodded. "I have all the supplies I'm going to need."
Jonathan looked from the doctor to his engineer. "How are the engines?"
"As long no one takes out our wrap nacelles, we are good." Tripp tried to smile, but he had a feeling that he wasn't going to really smile until everyone is alive, and this war was over.
Jonathan nodded. He looked at his science officer. "I'm going to need you keep me on the right path," T'Pol nodded. He turned to Travis. "I'm going to need some amazing flying so we can survive this war." He looked at each one of them. "We can do this. I believe in you."
The crew was dismissed. Tripp and T'Pol made their way to their quarters. It was time say goodbye to their children. Tripp didn't care who saw as he reached for T'Pol's hand as they got off the turbo lift at their deck. They made their way to the down the corridor to their door. Tripp took a sigh as he opened the door. They stepped in.
"Mama, Papa," Charlie got up from the floor and ran towards them. Tripp bent down and picked him up. Ella came out of kids' room with T'Mir. T'Mir saw that her brother was being held by their parents and she wanted to be held too, so she reached out her arms for them. T'Pol took her. Tripp saw that she was holding T'Mir a little closer then normal.
Ella looked at the family and knew that they needed a moment to be a family. "I'll meet you that the shuttle pod," Tripp nodded. He didn't notice that she had left.
"Charlie, would you like to go on trip?" Tripp chocked out. He could feel the tears pooling in his eyes.
"Sure, Papa," Charlie looked from his father to his mother. He could tell that something was wrong.
Tripp took a breath before saying. "I don't know how long this trip is going to last, but…" Tripp didn't know what to tell his son. He didn't want to tell him that he may not see Mama and Papa anymore. "Remember that I love you."
"I love you, too, Papa," Charlie leaned over and wrapped his arms around Tripp's neck in hug. Tripp held him close.
"Tripp," T'Pol said. Tripp could hear a catch in her voice.
"I know," he said. "Can we trade for a moment?" T'Pol nodded and they traded children.
Tripp looked down at T'Mir and saw how beautiful was going to be. She looked so much like her mother. She reached her hands up at him. Tripp kissed each one of them before kissing the top of her head. Tripp hoped that she would know that her parents loved her with everything they had in them. He might never hear her call him Papa or T'Pol, Mama. He leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear.
"I love you, T'Mir," All she did was laugh. She liked hearing his voice.
"We have to go, Tripp," T'Pol said. Tripp nodded. He handed her T'Mir after she set down Charlie. T'Pol took Charlie's hand as Tripp grabbed the bag for the children.
In the bag was toys, clothes, and two letters for each of them from both Tripp and T'Pol. The letters were something that was Tripp idea. If he wasn't going to see his children anymore then he was going to tell them how much he loved them, and they could do anything when they grow up. Tripp didn't know what T'Pol put in the letters to the children, but he hoped that the letters would give a small comfort to them.
Tripp followed them out of their quarters. Tripp took a mental picture of his family as they walked in front of him. Charlie was talking his mother's ear off and T'Pol didn't want to stop him because she wanted to hear his voice for maybe the last time.
They were at the shuttle bay before they knew it. Standing at the shuttle pod doors was Ensign Miller and Ella. Ensign Miller took the bag from Tripp and put it in the shuttle. Ensign Miller wasn't his fun loving self right now because he knew what his job was. Ensign Miller and Ella went into the shuttle to give the family a moment.
Tripp bent down to Charlie's level. "On this trip Mama and Papa can't go with you, but I need you to listen to Ella and Ryan."
"Okay, Papa," Charlie hugged him. Charlie turned around and his mama. He turned to the shuttle. "When are you and Mama coming?" Charlie smiled.
Tripp traded a look with T'Pol. "I don't know, Four, but we hope to see you soon."
Charlie didn't like that answer and his bottom lip started to tremble. Tripp didn't know if he could take his son's tears. Tripp took a breath. "Charlie, get on the shuttle," Tripp watched as Charlie stepped on the shuttle with the help of Ensign Miller.
Tripp watched as T'Pol handed T'Mir to Ella. Tripp watched as they closed the shuttle doors. Charlie had his face pressed against the window. Tears were running down his face. Tripp reached for T'Pol hand as they moved away so the shuttle could leave. They watched as the shuttle left with their children.
Tripp could feel the tears falling down his face. He knew that he could wipe them away but for some reason he couldn't. He doesn't know how long they stood there looking at the spot where their children were until they knew that they were needed somewhere else. They told each other that they would see each other tonight.