Star Trek Enterprise
Rewrite of “the Expanse” at the end of season 3 Title;
“Meet Elizabeth”
BY: J. Wells, Rick Berman, and Brannon Braga
Disclaimer: Star Trek is not the property of J. Wells but that of Paramount Pictures. All Characters and some scenes are the creation of Paramount Pictures and associates.
In Space a large circular device shoots a golden ray of energy towards earth. Destroying everything in its path the golden ray makes a canyon traveling through schools, houses, across whole towns.
Looking up closer at the device, as it comes apart distinctive shapes on its surface can be seen. But the close up look is only through the view of a television screen, mounted on the wall in the kitchen of a small cabin. A label at the bottom of the screen says; “Attack on Earth”.
Birds are chirping outside. A woman with long straight brown hair, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, looking like she’s in her mid to late 30s is washing dishes. But seeing the footage on the news she quickly puts down the dish she’s cleaning, pulls up the drain to the sudsy sink, dries her hands on a nearby towel, picks up the remote, and turns off the TV. She grabs keys sitting on the counter and quickly runs out the door.
Once outside, the door of the cabin swings closed behind her, she climbs into a jeep, and pushes a button on the dash; “Call Starfleet Command” she says. She puts the keys in the ignition, starts the car, and drives off.
”Starfleet Command” a secretary says appearing on a monitor on the dash of her car.
“I know who attacked Earth.” The woman speaks with determination and a sense of urgency.
The credits play; the song is a classical song with upbeat tones that signify adventure and exploration. (The original theme song was nice in and of itself but it didn’t belong as a Star Trek theme song.) The pictures that accompany the music are pictures of Enterprise the NX-01 traveling from earth past the nine planets in our solar system in a flash. The characters appear as they would work on the ship while their names and actors’ name appears below. (The song lasts no longer than 30 seconds plenty of time to fit in all the credits. This will give me more time to have actual story lines.)
In space Enterprise travels at impulse. The stars retain their dot shape instead of becoming streaks of light as they do when the ship travels at warp.
In the briefing room; a room with a large table surrounded by chairs, most of the Senior officers, Malcolm Reed, Hoshi Sato, Travis Mayweather, and the Doctor wait for the Captain. In his British accent Reed speaks; “It must be something pretty serious.”
Through the door walks Commander Tucker, the ship’s chief engineer affectionately known as Trip “What’s going on?”
“The Captain wants to talk to us.” Reed says. Lieutenant Reed is Enterprise’s head of security.
“About what?” Trip says in his Florida drawl as he saunters to his place around the table.
“He’s speaking to Admiral Forest.” Hoshi says. As the ship’s communications officer she is the one to know the details. “It’s the third time in the last hour.”
Looking around the room at the familiar faces Trip says “Well something’s obviously up”
“I can’t remember the last time he asked me to join the senior staff for a briefing.” The Doctor, the only non human in the room says. From the planet called Denobula Dr. Phlox has cranial ridges outlining his forehead curving around his eyes and ending in the middle of his cheeks.
Hypothesizing Reed begins to say something; “Maybe it has something to do with the fact…” but he’s interrupted when the Captain walks through the door.
They all stand at attention.
“There’s been an attack on earth.” Captain Jonathan Archer announces. The mood of the room quickly changes. Only Trip, the Captain’s best friend has the courage to speak;
“What do you mean attack?”
Ever word is heavier than the one before as Captain Archer explains; “A probe. They don’t know where it came from. It fired a weapon that cut a swath 4,000 kilometers long. From Florida to Venezuela. There may have been a million casualties.”
“A million.” Reed utters in shock.
“We’ve been recalled.”
“Did they say why?” Trip’s understandably angry.
“I didn’t ask.”The Captain looks mournful.
“It will take awhile to get back sir.” Mayweather says for it’s his duty to know these things, as the con officer, the pilot of the ship.
A beep and a voice of an officer through the ship’s communication system interrupt the meeting; “Bridge to Captain Archer.”
Pushing the talk button on the wall behind him Archer responds “Go ahead.”
“It’s admiral forest sir.”
“Understood.” The Captain releases the talk button but before he leaves he turns to the young Ensign Mayweather, “Set a course Travis Warp 5.”
Travis Mayweather nods.
Outside Enterprise the stars become lines of light as the ship goes to Warp.
On a densely populated planet a castle sits atop a cliff.
Inside the castle there’s a lot of hustle. In tightly fitting black pants and jacket the women from the cabin enters and walks up to a reception counter. Leaning against the desk she speaks as if she’s in a hurry; “I’ve come for my shipment.”
A Rigelion behind the counter greats her in a way only a slimy sales man would; “Ah Elizabeth.”
Hoping to discourage any chit chat she barks at him; “I want it packaged in the containers we discussed.”
“Of course, just like before.” The Rigelian’s upbeat demeanor irritates Elizabeth. “But why so much more of it this time? And you never did tell me what you were using it for? It’s not worth anything.”
“That’s why I’m paying you very little.” She responds with a tone that should communicate her irritation she hopes is enough to get him to shut up.
The Rigelian doesn’t get the message “But why are you paying for it at all?” he asks
She yells; “It gets in the way of your mining operations here. You normally toss it aside and I’m paying you for it. What does it matter what I’m using it for?”
He turns fearful “I’m just curious.”
In a threatening manner she leans up close to him; “Well if you want me to buy from you again I suggest you keep your questions to yourself.”
“Alright. I’ll see that your shipment is loaded onto your ship.” Quickly he leaves the desk. Elizabeth waits putting on an irritated demeanor that should prevent anyone from talking to her.
Standing in the Reedy Room, the Captain’s office with Captain Archer, Commander Tucker looks saddened.
“The number of casualties has been revised.” Archer speaks solemnly “It’s up to three million.”
Trip asks in desperation “Why would someone do this?”
The Captain gives him a sympathetic shake of the head. As he does the doorbell rings. “Come in”
T’Pol, Enterprise’s Vulcan science officer enters the Ready room.
Trip walks up to the wall to compose himself before turning back to Archer and T’Pol.
T’Pol speaks “I spoke with Ambassador Soval.”
“And” Archer barks eager to hear news.
“A Vulcan Transport located the pod in Central Asia. They retrieved it and brought it to Starfleet Headquarters.”
Archer steps up to T’Pol while Trip watches with anticipation. “What do they know?” Archer asks.
“Very little, there was a pilot killed on impact.”
“Who the hell was he?” Trip asks with bitterness. “What species?”
T’Pol turns to him and calmly says, “They don’t know.”
With eagerness and sadness in his tone Trip speaks; “Did they say anything about what part of Florida was hit?”
When T’Pol says “No.” Trip looks at the floor mournfully.
“Trip’s sister lives in Florida.” The Captain informs T’Pol.
She offers Trip a sympathetic glance just as there’s a beep at the com.
Captain Archer walks over to his com station. “Archer” he announces pushing the com button.
Reed addresses the captain “We’ve got Suliban ships, eight of them. Approaching at high warp.”
Frustrated and emotionally exhausted the Captain responds with intense sarcasm. “Just what we need.” He orders a Tactical Alert.
Outside the ship Enterprise is being surrounded by small spherical ships.
On the bridge the Captain barks; “Hail them!”
At her station Ensign Hoshi Sato does as he asks. “They’re not responding.”
“Try again.” He orders in a frustrated manner.
Suddenly the lights on Enterprise begin to flicker Suliban, green scaly aliens can be seen crawling all over the bridge and the lights fail. A moment later the lights come back on but the Captain is gone.
“The Captain.” Reed exclaims with surprise and disappointment.
T’Pol even looks troubled by the turn of events.
On a Suliban vessel Captain Archer paces in a room with illuminated consuls and a flickering gadget.
The door to the room opens and three Suliban enter. The middle Suliban speaks with a grading voice. “There’s someone who need to speak with you.”
In anger Archer responds. “Silik!” he yells. “I know you’d have something to do with this.”
Silik, the middle Suliban speaks calmly. “Do with what?”
“Millions of people.” Archer yells “You killed millions of people!”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Archer moves to attack Silik but the other two Suliban pull out weapons.
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be wise Captain.”
“What the hell am I doing here?”
“There’s someone who needs to speak with you. He has information you should find helpful. Don’t worry you won’t be harmed.”
“Information about what?” Archer is getting impatience.
“Something to do with your species. It’s in great danger.”
Silk escorts Archer to another room. When they enter Archer can see a shadowy figure inside a cone of energy, which emerges from the ceiling.
Softly Silik speaks to Archer “He can see you more clearly if you move closer.”
“Who is he?”
“He wants to talk to you. It would be foolish to ignore him.”
Archer looks to Silik and then walks up to the Shadowy Figure. “What do you want?” The Captain speaks annoyed.
The Shadow Figure talks with a muffled voice which sounds more like a computer than a person; “Your planet was attacked.”
“I’m aware of that.” Archer yells bitterly annoyed.
The Figure responds without expressing emotion; “What you’re not aware of is why. The probe was sent by the Xindi. They learned that their world would be destroyed by humans in 400 years.”
With a baffled look on his face Archer responds; “How would they know what’s going to happen in 400 years?”
“They were told by people from the future. People who can communicate through time.”
“Are they the ones the Suliban are working for?”
“The Suliban work for me.” The Figure speaks with pride.
Archer is angered “So you’re the one who tried to start a civil war in the Klingon Empire. The one who’s manipulated my mission from day one.”
“The people who’ve contacted the Xindi belong to another faction. The probe was only a test. The Xindi are building a far more powerful weapon. When it is completed, they will use it to destroy Earth.”
“Annihilate us before we can annihilate them.” Archer says quietly to himself. He ponders for a minute before he speaks to the Figure. “Why are you telling me this?”
“The Xindi were not supposed to learn about their future. If they deploy this weapon, it will contaminate the timeline. You must not let that happen.” The Figure responds adamant in the last fact.
Frustrated and angered Archer turns to Silik before he looks up to the Figure, “Why should I believe you?” he yells.
The Figure answers in a deep confident tone; “You have no choice but to believe me.”
Outside Enterprises the spherical ships move off leaving Enterprise alone in warp.
While Enterprise travels through warp the Captain makes a log entry; “It’s been months since the attack. T’Pol is still hopeful there’s a logical explanation of who attacked earth, an explanation that doesn’t involve time travel.”
Silently Archer, Hoshi, Travis, and T’Pol man their stations on the bridge. They can feel the buzz of the warp drive as they travel at warp five.
Hoshi breaks the silence. “Captain we’re being hailed.”
“On screen” Archer orders calmly.
Elizabeth, the woman from the cabin in the mountains, the same one from the mining station appears on the view-screen.
“Captain Archer.” She says with relief.
“Do I know you?” Archer looks confused.
“No. But everyone on earth knows you.”
Surprise appears on his face. “You’re human?”
The smile slowly fades from her lips. “From Earth?” she says and her look turns glum “I came to find you.” she speaks with urgency. “I need to speak with you about the attack.”
Captain Archer is hesitant.
“I know you’re on your way home. Can I park my ship in your bay?”
Hesitantly he nods. “We’re sending you the location now.” He says turning to Hoshi.
Hoshi pushes buttons on the consul in front of her.
“As soon as I’m in feel free to head back into warp.” Elizabeth again speaks with the same urgency.
Captain Archer nods.
In Space a large door on the side of Enterprise opens. Elizabeth flies her ship inside but scratches the wall making a sound like a dying cat.
Captain Archer is waiting for Elizabeth in the hallway outside the bay.
“Sorry” she says as she exits the bay. “I’ll repair the damage.”
He looks at her confused, pokes his head inside the bay, and his eyes widen with surprise when he sees the gouge in the launch bay wall.
“It was a tight squeeze and I was never very good at threading the needle.” She says sheepishly.
Looking back to her he forces himself to smile “It’s alright”
As he pushes the button closing the door he speaks to her with eagerness. “You said you had information about the attack on earth?”
“Yes,” she speaks confidence, yet with innocence, “A species called the Xindi are responsible. I recognized the topography on the probe from the satellite footage they aired on Earth. I’ve visited the region of space they’re native to.”
Archer sighs disappointed. “We know about the Xindi.”
“How?” she utters dismayed.
The Captain sighs at looks off into the distance ahead of him, “It’s a long story.”
“I have the time.” She looks to him with a pleading expression.
Distracted by his thoughts, he doesn’t notice her expression, as he continues to look into the distance ahead of him.
“I have information you’re going to need to travel through their space. I hope you mean to find them and ask…” her voice fills with sadness as she continues “why?”
He looks to her sympathetic. “We will.”
She looks to him hopeful and quickly collects herself.
“Join me and my first officer for dinner?”
She responds in an unemotional manner, “Your chief engineer should join us. I have information he’ll need to be privy too.”
Archer nods.
“My name’s Elizabeth by the way.” She holds out her hand for him to shake.
Shaking her hand he smiles weekly. “It’s nice to meet you Elizabeth.”
T’Pol, Trip, Archer, and Elizabeth sit in the Captain’s dining room eating. The mostly empty plates indicate they are at the end of dinner.
Elizabeth speaks angelically; “I don’t know anything about this Shadow Figure or why the Xindi would be under the impression Earth would destroy their home planet in 400 years. All I know is what I told you.”
T’Pol interrupts with skepticism in her vocal inflections “How is it that you know about the Xindi?”
“I’ve traveled in the Delphic Expanse, the region of space where the Xindi come from.
“You have?” Commander Tucker exclaims with exuberant intrigue.
She speaks to the entire room; “My shuttle may not look like much but she can reach warp three, four if I push the engines beyond their limit.”
“Wow.” Trip exclaims and looks to her with admiration as he starts to blush.
“I was a little impressed with myself when I built it.” Picking up her glass she takes a sip of water.
Trip’s blush turns bright red and his eyes light up. “You built it?”
Swallowing Elizabeth nods.
Looking curiously at the Commander T’Pol interrupts, speaking without emotion, “Do you have any more information on these Xindi?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth says as she puts her water glass down. “I have a data packet prepared for you communications officer.”
Without emotion she asks “Why didn’t you give this information to Starfleet command?”
“I did. They didn’t believe me.” Elizabeth carries no resentment in her inflections. “Being a grade school teacher” she says “didn’t make my information seem like it could be relevant.”
“A grade school teacher,” Archer puts down his glass of Iced Tea and speaks with curiosity, “I thought you said that you explored this Delphic Expanse.”
“I did for a few years, but it was just me in my shuttle and it was lonely so I decided to go back to Earth.”
“And Teach Grade school.” Trip says as if it’s the punch line to some joke.
Irritated Elizabeth turns to Trip; “Just because it’s not as high and lofty as joining Starfleet doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful.”
Tucker’s smile turns into a frown as he stutters “I didn’t mean to offend you.” A flirtatious smile begins to appear, “Being a grade school teacher’s kind of sweat”
“You have to admit,” Archer says.”Joining Starfleet would have made more sense.” He leans against the table, “Why didn’t you join Starfleet?”
“I have my reasons. But they’re irrelevant now. I care about Earth and I want to know why the Xindi did this.” She pants fighting back tears.
“We all do.” Trip looks to her with compassion, “what do I need to know?”
Elizabeth looks to Trip confused.
The Captain looks to her “You did ask that the Chief engineer join us because you had information for him?”
Elizabeth nods. “Yes,” she quickly relays a speech that has undoubtedly been rehearsed. “I have 200 kiloliters of a mineral in my cargo hold. You’re going to need to insulate your hull with it because the region of space that the Xindi are in is filled with special anomalies. This mineral, Trellium-D is the only thing that protects ships from them. In the data packet it explains how the mineral can be safely melted into the hull.”
“Safely?” Archer says with concern. “Is it dangerous?”
Elizabeth looks to Archer. “Not to humans.” Her eyes veer towards T’Pol “But to Vulcans the element is toxic. But I’ve found a method of melting it into the hull that neutralizes the toxic effects and retains the element’s protective properties. It’s all in the data packet. And I had the mining facility store the mineral in bio-hazard containers. But if you’re going to open them I suggest you tell T’Pol where, so she can maintain a 20 meter distance.”
Trip turns to Archer “We’ll set up a containment field in the aft section of E deck.”
Archer nods and looks to Trip. “Have a team unload the mineral from Elizabeth’s cargo hold.” He turns to Elizabeth. “Of course if that’s alright with you?”
Elizabeth nods.
Trip gets up from his chair and takes a few steps to the door as he speaks. “I’ll get right on it sir. It was nice meeting you.” he looks back to Elizabeth and holds out his hand for her to shake. She leans into the table and doesn’t respond to his gesture behind her.
Trip hesitates, but puts his hand down, and looking wounded he walks out of the dining room.
“There is one thing Captain.” Elizabeth pauses sure to get Archers attention before she continues.
He looks to her ready to listen.
“I want to go with you.” she blurts out.
He looks to her surprised.
“I have contacts and know the region which could improve your chances of finding the Xindi that did this.” She speaks quickly and as if she’s pleading. “I know I’m not a member of Starfleet so strictly speaking I would be a consultant, a guide but it could improve the chances your mission would be a success. It’s not a demand just a request, think about it.”
“I don’t have to.” He smiles. “I think I’d be a great idea.”
“Captain?” T’Pol says indicating an objection.
Elizabeth bows her head glancing over to the Captain. “Perhaps. You should check with your science officer before agreeing to anything.”
T’Pol speaks in a matter of fact way. “Starfleet hasn’t yet agreed to this mission.”
“Starfleet has to approve this mission.” Archer says with desperation. “And if we’re going I think having someone who knows the area would be a good idea.”
T’Pol looks over to the Captain conveying her misgivings about the idea in a subtle look. Elizabeth, seeing the gesture smiles, acting as if she doesn’t see it. She stands “I should transmit the data packet to Enterprise.”
Archer rises when she does out of respect. “I’ll have someone show you to guest quarters.”
“Thank you Captain.” She blushes as she continues “And I will help Commander Tucker with the repairs to the bay.” She doesn’t wait for Archer to object to the idea but quickly walks to the door.
But when Elizabeth gets to the door she just stands in front of it giving Archer a chance to speak. He smiles as he talks to her back “You’ll have to talk to Commander Tucker about assisting with the repairs.”
Elizabeth remains standing at the door.
With a curious look he walks up behind her “Can I escort you to the launch bay?”
“No, I think I can find my way.”
Archer reaches around her “You need to…” he says and pushing the button that opens the door.
She looks back to him embarrassed. “My shuttle has automatic doors.”
Archer smiles cheerfully. “It’s not a bad idea.”
Elizabeth quickly grins at him and leaves.
Elizabeth enters the launch bay where her ship is. She walks around the officers carrying the bio-hazard containers out of the rear hatch on her ship. She walks up to Trip who is supervising the transfer. “Be careful with that.” Trip barks.
“Commander” Elizabeth says trying to get his attention.
Trip still distracted, looking out of the corner of his eye at his teams turns to her.
“I want to help with the repairs on the launch bay. What time should I be here?”
Turning his attentions to her he responds. “Oh, ah I didn’t really have any specific time planed for repairs. The truth is nothing essential was damaged and we can’t really work on it until your ship is out of the way so I thought I’d just leave it for Jupiter Station to deal with.”
She looks disappointed.
“But I appreciate it.” He says with a smile and blushes.
Paying no attention to his flirtatious posture “Okay” she says and turns away from Trip. She walks up to her ship and opens a side hatch; “I’m going to get that data packet to Ensign Sato.”
Trip nods with a disappointed look.
On the bridge Hoshi is sitting at her post. She looks confused. “Captain,” Hoshi says pushing down a button at her station.
Captain Archer still in the dining room with T’Pol pushes the receiving button of the com; “Yes.”
Relaying her confusion in her voice pattern Hoshi explains; “I’m receiving a transmission sir… from inside the ship?”
“It’s alright Hoshi. Our guest Elizabeth is sending you a data packet.”
On the bridge Hoshi relaxes.
Archer continues speaking through the com. “Have a copy of the information transferred to my ready room.”
“Yes Captain.”
In the dining room T’Pol steps up to the communication speakers. “And Ensign, Have a copy of the data sent to my quarters as well.”
The speaker relays Hoshi’s “Alright.”
Archer releases the talk button from the com and turns to T’Pol “You still don’t believe her.”
“I merely wish to look at the information.”
With great upset Archer raises his voice, “You don’t trust the time traveler and the fact that she’s telling us what he told us is what’s bothering you.”
She looks to him emotionally unaffected by his assumption.
He speaks sternly, “I need to know that you’ll back me up when we reach Command!”
T’Pol speaks calmly. “If the evidence is convincing?”
“I have a feeling you’re going to argue with the evidence even if it is convincing!” Archer yells as he paces his upset growing. “I’ve always valued your opinion T’Pol but millions of people were killed. I know it wasn’t Vulcan that was attacked but I need your expertise on this mission! I need to know I can count on you!”
She responds unemotionally, relaying the facts of their relationship, “I have always supported you in whatever you’ve decided, whether I’ve agreed with it or not.”
He thinks for a moment. Realizing she’s right he sighs. “I apologize. The attack on earth has put me a bit on edge.”
She nods “It’s understandable.”
Captain Archer in civilian clothes sits in his quarters at his computer. There’s a beep at the door. “Come in.” he says, swiveling his chair towards the doorway. The door opens and Elizabeth stands at the entrance.
“Captain” she says. Unable to see the Captain she looks left then right. But a bulkhead blocks her view to his desk.
Archer gets up from his chair and walks to the door. “Elizabeth.” He says surprised to see her.
Elizabeth looks to him and manages to smile a little. “I tried to catch you in your Ready Room,” she says apologetically “but T’Pol said you’d probably be here after dinner. Can I come in? There’s something important I want to talk to you about.”
“Sure” he steps away from the door, allowing her entrance.
As soon as Elizabeth enters Porthos, the Captain’s beagle rises from his doggy bed in the corner. He walks up to her, sniffing all around her.
“Porthos.” The Captain scolds.
“It’s alright Captain.” Elizabeth leans down to Porthos holding her hand out for him to sniff. He sniffs and finds her acceptable. Elizabeth’s eyes light up as she speaks, “I love dogs. I always had one.” As she begins to scratch behind his ears Porthos licks her face bounding into Elizabeth’s arms. She’s forced to sit down on the floor.
“So you have a dog at home?” Archer asks smiling.
She frowns looking down to Porthos as she continues scratching him, “No actually, my dog Sandy died last year.”
“I’m sorry.” His expression of sadness reveals that he knows how great a loss a dog can be.
Elizabeth looks to the Captain hopeful, “Maybe after all this is over I’ll be ready to get a new puppy.” She rises from the floor and Porthos wines. He paws at her leg hoping she’ll scratch him some more.
Picking Porthos up and giving him a pat the Captain looks to Elizabeth, “You raised her since she was a puppy?”
“Yeah, she even went with me through the Delphic Expanse.”
“Where no dog has gone before.” Archer says smiling. He looks down at Porthos, who licks his face.
Elizabeth looks to Archer in a serious manner, “I need to tell you something Captain that you’re not going to want to hear.”
The Captain looks to Elizabeth worried. He puts down Porthos who goes back to his bed in the corner by the window.
“It’s about the Xindi. I didn’t tell you at dinner because I didn’t want to make the Shadow Figure’s story seem wrong. I didn’t want to make you look bad in front of your crew. He got most of it right perhaps all of it.”
“What is it?”
“When I was in the Expanse people knew about the Xindi had dealings with them. I never did but there was one story that traders told because the Xindi had told it to them. On the Xindi home world there were six different species that evolved together from different specie types.”
“I was just reading about that; Aquatics, Insectoids, Reptilians, Primates it’s amazing they didn’t try to kill each other.”
“They did and the war caused the destruction of their planet over 100 years ago.”
He looks to her upset.
“This doesn’t mean that the Shadowy Figure was wrong. After the destruction of their planet it stands to reason one of the first things the survivors would do is find a new home world. They may have settled on one since I visited the Expanse this information is a few years old.”
The Captain ponders silently.
“And perhaps,” Elizabeth continues “their new home world is the one they believe humanity will destroy.” She looks to him with confidence “I know it was the Xindi, Captain. The topography on the weapon was unmistakable!” She raises her voice slightly.
He looks to her with confusion yet speaks with sincerity, “I believe you.”
Elizabeth is surprised, “You do?” There is sweat dripping from her forehead.
The Captain jaunts across the room as he continues. “The Shadowy Figure and you said it was the same species it’s too much of a coincidence to dismiss.” Once he reaches the window he turns back to Elizabeth, “And you’re right the Xindi may have found a new home world. I know humanity would want to if anything happened to Earth.” He looks down solemnly.
“It won’t happen Captain, it can’t.” She’s insistent. She wipes away the sweat on her forehead and looks down at her soaked fingers. “Oh no.” she says.”No.” She looks to the Captain madness grows in her eyes. “Do you think I would have risked my life if I wasn’t sure!” she yells. She turns to exit the room.
Alarmed by her dramatic shift in demeanor he grabs her by the arm. “What’s wrong with you?” he demands to know.
“The Trellium is killing me!” She yells. “Let me go!”
It takes all his strength to keep holding onto her she’s pulling away so violently.
“Let me go!”
A look of realization appears on his face. “You’re Vulcan.” She goes limp, a stream of tears trickle down her cheeks as she nods repetitively. He loosens his grip on her arm and she falls to the floor. Porthos winning bounds up to her and licks her tears.
Archer leans down and pushes him away. “No boy, No.”
Elizabeth puts her arm around Porthos hugging him close. Comforted she stops crying. “I’m having trouble controlling my emotions. It’s what the Trellium does.”
Softly the Captain speaks; “I’ll help you get to sickbay.” He puts his hands respectfully around her back to try and help her up. Quickly she pulls away backing as far away from him as she can get.
“No get away from me!” She yells.
Porthos still in her arms yelps and she looks to him; a look of apology appears on her face. She puts him down on the floor and he quickly goes over to his bed.
“I’m sorry Captain. It’s my Vulcan Paranoia.”
He looks to her concerned and yet uncertain what to do.
“Please help me.” She begs.
He nods. “I’ll lead you to sickbay.”
She nods with relief but fear is all over her face.
In sickbay Elizabeth is lying down on a bed. Across the room Doctor Phlox speaks privately with the Captain.
“Will she be alright doctor?”
Phlox speaks with his usual caring charm. “The damage done was minimal. She came to me in time”
“So she’s Vulcan.” Archer says skeptical.
“Half Vulcan.” Phlox says cheerfully. “On her maternal side, her father was human.”
Archer is shocked. “And she’s physically alright being half Vulcan and half Human.”
“Quite.”
Archer nods with a sigh. “Keep me…
“… apprised. I always do.” The doctor says grinning.
Archer then walks towards the door.
“Captain,” Elizabeth says.
He turns towards her.
“I’m sorry for my behavior.”
He steps up to her bed a sympathetic look on his face.
“Tell Porthos I’m sorry.”
Archer smiles, “I’m sure he’ll have forgotten about it by tomorrow.”
“T’Pol.” Elizabeth exclaims in panic as she sits up on her elbows.
The doctor steps up to Elizabeth’s bed, “She’s fine. She wasn’t exposed.” He urges Elizabeth to lie back down.
The Captain explains, “Commander Tucker informed me just before you stopped by my quarters that he found a damaged container in your cargo hold. If we had known about your physiology we would have notified you right away.”
Elizabeth lets herself fall back down against the pillow. “I’m sorry.” She says almost breaking down in tears. “I’m sorry I’m causing all this trouble.”
“Non-sense.” The doctor speaks cheerfully. “You’re helping us. And the trouble you played a small part in has been sorted out.”
“While you were in treatment I asked Tucker to scrub your ship. It’ll be done by the end of the day tomorrow.” Archer says.
“Thank you Captain for everything; helping me here and cleaning my ship. I couldn’t really do it myself.”
He nods.
She smiles but it quickly fades. “I assume the doctor told you about my unusual heritage.”
“Yes,”
“Have you told anyone else, Commander Tucker?”
“No”
“Good I don’t anyone else to know.” She pleads.
Archer looks to her confused, “Why?”
Elizabeth sits up and thinks before she answers. “Humanity isn’t ready for it and neither are the Vulcans.”
“At least one Human and one Vulcan were.” Phlox points out.
Elizabeth looks down and shakes her head.
“Your mother and father…” Archer says waiting for a response from Elizabeth.
Uncomfortable Elizabeth thinks hard as they look to her waiting for more information about herself and her parents. “They are unaware of my existence.” is all she can say.
Archer looks confused and Phlox is intrigued.
She sighs “I didn’t want to get into this but I suppose there’s no way out now.” She sighs again.
Captain Archer and Phlox step up closer to her bed.
As Elizabeth speaks she looks beyond them ignoring their facial expressions. “I was an experiment; a group of humans unrelated to Starfleet or United Earth acquired my parents’ genetic material illegally. They wanted to know if it was possible to make a hybrid and they wanted the experiment to fail. They didn’t want the human genome to be corrupted. And I imagine the Vulcans would see me the same way, a corruption.” Elizabeth looks glum.
The Captain looks disturbed the doctor saddened.
“But it’s not all bad.” Elizabeth’s eyes brighten “An Earth woman took pity on me. She raised me as if I was her own.”
“That’s why you don’t suppress your emotions” Archer says, “because you were raised by a Human woman?”
“No” she thinks deeply before she responds. “The emotional center of my brain is mostly human but I do meditate to suppress the more intense Vulcan emotions. The Paranoia being one of them.”
Archer smiles.
Cheerfully Phlox speaks, “I noticed the emotional center of your brain was human. But I would think your ears would be Vulcan. It is a very dominant trait.”
Elizabeth thinks for a moment before she explains. “My ears were surgically altered when I was young so I could blend in on Earth.” There’s no anger or resentment in her voice.
“It was done quite well, there’s no scar tissue.” Phlox’s impressed.
Realization covers Archer’s face. “That’s why you never joined Starfleet because of the Starfleet physical.”
“Humanity is allied with the High Command if Starfleet knew so would the High Command. Please don’t tell them. It shouldn’t matter what I am just what I have to offer.” Elizabeth pleads with Archer.
Archer nods. “Alright, you’re right. I’ll keep it out of my logs, as long as it doesn’t become relevant.”
“Thank you Captain.” She turns to Doctor Phlox. “And thank you Doctor.”
“You’re quite welcome. It was a pleasure to see how Vulcan and Human physiology can be blended in such harmony.” The Doctor gives Elizabeth a gentle smile.
Elizabeth swings her feet around the side of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Phlox reprimands Elizabeth.
She looks to the doctor surprised by his tone, “To bed?” she begs.
“I don’t think so. I’d like you to stay overnight for observation. I know I can’t order you but, if you don’t mind? I think it would be best.”
“The Doctor is usually right about these things.” Archer says apologetically.
Elizabeth looks to the Archer with pleading eyes, “What will you tell the crew?”
Phlox looks to the Captain hopeful “Perhaps that she was exposed to a toxic compound at the mining planet, it won’t be untrue.”
Archer nods. Elizabeth lies back down letting out a sigh of relief.
“Feel better.” The Captain makes his way to the door. And when the doors open, he exits sickbay.
In space Enterprise travels through warp as Captain Archer records a log entry; “Captain’s Star log April 24th, 2153. The journey home has been very difficult. We’ve now learned 7 million people were lost.”
Elizabeth is seen speaking with the senior officers around the monitors to the aft of the bridge and helping the crew in Engineering as Archer continues his log; “Elizabeth has agreed to come with me when I speak to Admiral Forest about the mission through the Delphic Expanse. After she convinced T’Pol that the Xindi were responsible I don’t think she’ll have a problem convincing the Admiral. And after watching her interactions with the crew I strongly believe she’ll be a fine addition on this most important mission.”
Travis, Ensign Mayweather is at his station, piloting Enterprise. He looks up at the view-screen. “Captain.” Travis says looking back at Captain Archer.
Captain Archer, Commander Tucker, and T’Pol standing at the back of the bridge around a monitor look to Travis.
“That’s our sun.” Travis says looking back at the monitor. On the monitor among the many dot sized stars stands out a bright dot.
Reed looks up from his station and smiles.
Archer walks to the front of the bridge and gazes at the view-screen.
An alarm sounds.
“A vessel’s dropping out of war.” Reed announces.
Commander Tucker scurries in the background to get to his station.
“Where?” The Captain says walking up to Travis.
“200 kilometer off port.” Travis answers.
“Who are they?” Archer says looking to T’Pol.
She looks to her station and pushes some buttons.
Another alarm beeps at Reed’s station. “They’ve fired some kind of…” Reed says and the ship is hit.
In space weapons impact Enterprise; one hits the port side, one misses the port nacelle, and one hit the starboard side of the ship. A Klingon Bird of Prey comes up behind Enterprise.
Elizabeth in her room, looking at data on her computer feels the impacts. She gets up quickly and runs into the door as if it’s instinctual. She puts her hand to her head in embarrassment and pushes the button to the left of the door, opening it. She walks out then turns around as if she’s going to walk back in again. She stands there for a moment thinking then pivots to the right and quickly walks down the hall.
On the Enterprise Bridge, as they are bombarded Captain Archer hangs onto the con station.
Alarmed Reed announces; “That one took out both forward phase-cannons.”
“You still have torpedoes.” The Captain reminds Reed.
“It’s a Klingon bird-of-pray.” T’Pol announces looking to the Captain.
In space Enterprise fires torpedoes at the Bird-of-Prey. Hitting it but the torpedoes are deflected by shields. The Bird-of-Prey fires another shot at Enterprise damaging one of its nacelles. Enterprise starts venting warp plasma.
Inside the ship there are alarms beeping. Hoshi with her earpiece on announces “They want you sir. They’re saying they won’t destroy Enterprise if you surrender to them.”
T’Pol looks to the Captain curiously.
The ship is hit again and the crew is shaken by the turbulence.
“Archer’s an enemy of the Empire.” Hoshi begins to relay the message. “He must be brought to justice if honor is to be regained.”
“Duras” Archer says knowing who’s behind the attack.
Enterprise is hit again, conduits start exploding all around them.
On the Klingon vessel one of Duras’s men at his station announces “Both their nacelles are crippled.”
“Weapons?” Duras asks.
“Their cannons are down.” Another crew man reports.
“Cease firing.” Duras orders. “Prepare a boarding party.”
But then the first man reports “Three ships approaching.”
In space the three ships fire on the Klingon bird-of-prey. The Klingon’s fire back.
Inside Duras’s ship the first man shakes as the vessel is being bombarded with weapons fire.
“Earth vessels.” Duras announces “Return fire.” He orders standing in frustration.
“Shields are failing,” the second man announces.
“Are they offline?” Duras demands to know.
“No sir.” The second man responds.
“Then keep firing.” Duras demands.
The Klingon vessel is being hit constantly and the crew are jostled as they are bombarded. But one major hit causes the first man to speak, ‘We’ve lost disrupter banks 3 and 4.” He announces.
Duras pounds on the chair and groans angrily. “Withdraw! Go to warp speed.” he orders frustrated.
In space the Bird-of-Pray enters warp speed and disappears. Two of the earth vessels follow it firing on it till it’s gone.
On Enterprise Hoshi speaks; “it’s Captain Ramirez, sir” she looks to the Captain. “On the Intrepid.”
Captain Archer looks to her and nods then looks to the view screen.
On the view screen Captain Ramirez appears. “What the hell was that all about?”
“A Klingon named Duras.” Archer steps closer to the view screen looking to Ramirez “He’s not very fond of me.” Archer smiles.
“Welcome home, Captain. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Archer nods with a sigh.
In space Enterprise flies over Earth. Compared to the planet the ship is a tinny bug.
On the bridge of Enterprise Hoshi and the rest of the crew step closer to the view screen as they look at the damage the Xindi weapon caused. Archer and Tucker already at the far front of the bridge look sorrowful as they look at the view screen. Reed stands mournfully next to Tucker.
The screen shows a trench visible from space spans all the way down Florida.
On Enterprise Archer walks to his quarters. In the hallway Elizabeth is sitting against his door. Porthos is in her arms. He licks her face enjoying the affection Elizabeth is giving him as she rubs his fir. Archer looks confused. Seeing the Captain Elizabeth stands leaving Porthos wining on the floor. She looks to the Captain nervously, “I’m sorry. When I felt the impact I wanted to be helpful. I thought of going to the Bridge then Engineering but realized I’d probably just be in the way. And when I thought of Porthos, I knew I wouldn’t be in the way here. I didn’t actually think your door would be unlocked. And I didn’t go inside, he came out.”
The Captain nods giving her a surprised smile.
“I didn’t mean to betray your privacy. I just wanted to be helpful.”
“Well, we’re going to have to get you something to do during a combat situation.” He says with a smile.
She smiles and relaxes with a sigh of relief.
“Are you ready to go?”
She nods.
It’s night on Earth in San Francisco. A large building has many of its lights on.
Inside the large building, Starfleet Command, Archer and Elizabeth stand in Admiral Forest’s office. Both Admiral Forest and the Vulcan Ambassador, Soval are also there.
“I told Command about your experience on the Suliban vessel.” Admiral Forest speaks with regret. “They’re having a hard time buying it.”
Angered by the rejection Archer speaks with passion. “Do they have a better idea of who did this? And how about the Vulcans?” Archer Turns to Soval “I suppose you think I’m hallucinating.”
Soval responds with a company line “Our Science Directorate has determined that time travel is imposable.”
“He’s not a time traveler” Elizabeth interrupts. Archer closes his mouth; he was prepared to speak,
Elizabeth continues “the Shadow Figure can’t actually travel through time only communicate into the past.”
Soval looks to Elizabeth with curiosity.
“He claims to communicate into the past. Ultimately we don’t know if he’s telling the truth but I know the Xindi are responsible for the attack on Earth and the rest of it makes logical sense knowing what I know.”
“We received your data packet and were informed of your claims.”
Archer looks to the Admiral. “All we want it to take Enterprise and find these Xindi. What do we have to lose, a single starship? Seems like a small price to pay if there’s one chance in a million that…” he pauses, turning to Elizabeth “the Shadow Figure is right.”
The Admiral looks to the Captain “With Elizabeth’s evidence Command has agreed to the mission.”
“Against the Advisement of the High Command.” Soval says with great objection.
Archer looks to the Admiral. “Why didn’t you just tell me this at the beginning?”
“All of this sounds crazy Jon. The fact that the Xindi think we’re going to destroy their home world in 400 years so they’re going to destroy us.”
“It sounds like sociology 101 to me.” Elizabeth says.
“The region of space you are heading into is dangerous.” Soval explains “There are fierce and dangerous species, unexplained anomalies. In some regions, even the laws of physics don’t apply.”
Elizabeth speaks softly; “We’re aware of that.” She takes a breath to continue but Archer interrupts.
“You didn’t read the information Elizabeth provided.” He shrugs, steps up to the Ambassador, and yells with distain in his voice “Of course not, because no one’s capable of gathering any information without the High Command!”
“Jon that’s enough!” Admiral Forest yells.
Archer backs away from Soval looking very much like he was going to punch him.
“Soval has to show you something.” Admiral Forest pleads with Archer to calm down. “The Vulcans have had experience with the Expanse as well as Elizabeth. You would be wise to listen to him.”
“It can’t hurt.” Elizabeth looks over to Jon with pleading eyes.
Seeing her pleading eyes Archer relaxes. But as he looks to the video screen he’s still irritated.
“The Vaankara was in the Delphic Expanse for less than two days when we received a distress call. This transmission arrived six hours later.”
On the monitor Soval plays footage of Vulcans being violent. They kill their fellow crewmates and rub their shipmate’s blood on their faces. They bang their own heads against walls continuing even as their head bleeds. Elizabeth watches with pity. Captain Archer is shocked. Admiral Forest has a hard time watching it as well.
“Less than an hour later the Vaankara was destroyed.”
Interrupting Elizabeth speaks softly “I can provide a logical explanation for their behavior.”
Soval looks to her intrigued.
“As my data says there’s a mineral that’s used to insulate the hull of ships, protecting them from the anomalies that are common in the region. Most likely the Vaankara was attempting to insulate their ship. But the crew realized too late that the mineral disrupts the synaptic pathways that allow Vulcans to control emotions, causing extreme inhibition.”
Soval looks to Elizabeth speechless. Tension builds between them. She smiles trying to relieve the tension but it just makes things worse, so she quickly turns her smile into a frown.
Forest sighs and looks to Soval; “We have some of the mineral if you wish to have a sample. Elizabeth was kind enough to procure a large amount for Enterprise. She even came up with a way to insulate that will eliminate the toxic effect. It’s all in her data packet.”
Although Archer’s trying to hide it, thinking it’s inappropriate after the shocking video he just saw, there’s pride in his stance. Humans finally have something to offer the Vulcans, something they need.
Soval takes a deep breath agitated. He looks to Elizabeth, “I may have been quick in my assumption that a grade school teacher could not procure any relevant information. I will look over the data and if I am satisfied we will provide our full support in this mission.”
“T’Pol can stay?” Elizabeth blurts out.
Both Archer and the Admiral turn to Soval with surprise. The Admiral speaks with offence; “You were going to take T’Pol from Enterprise if you didn’t give us your support?”
Soval is unmoved emotionally, “She is Vulcan. It is our prerogative.”
Archer is irritated.
Soval walks to the door with an eager pace “I must speak to the High Command about these developments.” As he reaches the door he turns back to the others. “A sample of the mineral would be appreciated.”
“We’ll get it to you before the end of the day.” The Admiral says.
Soval gives them a nod of respect looking curiously to Elizabeth before he leaves.
Once Soval has gone the Admiral turns to Archer, “I have never seen Soval so agitated.”
“I hope we didn’t offend him.” Elizabeth says in earnest.
Archer looks to her surprised at her compassion; “You’re not upset that he didn’t read your data.”
In monotone Elizabeth responds. “I was a little but it wasn’t going to help the situation to yell at him.”
The Admiral smiles, “You could learn something from her Jon.”
Jon smiles at the Admiral nodding in agreement. Sheepishly Elizabeth also grins.
Captain Archer stands up straight looking all business. “Did you get a chance to ask Command about Elizabeth joining us?”
“Yes. They were very agreeable to the idea.” He turns to Elizabeth. “They agreed to all of the suggestions you made in the data packet. You were very thorough. The idea of going to the wreckage of the Xindi’s former home planet and leaving a beacon they particularly agreed with. We need to make contact with these people make them understand we have no intention of destroying their planet. It made sense to me that they would monitor the debris.”
Elizabeth nods. “That was my thinking.”
“I trust you’ll be able to keep the new Astrometrics Lab up to date while you’re on Enterprise.” The Admiral asks Elizabeth.
“It was my design and request to be in charge of it.”
The Admiral looks over to Jon. “I hope you won’t have problems with military on board, General Casey is sending his best people.”
“I advocated her suggestions. I don’t have a problem with non-Starfleet personal and we’re gonna need all the muscle we can get when we cross into the Expanse. “
“This weapon they’re building,” The Admiral looks to Jon “Did the Shadow Figure say how long it was going to take them?”
Captain Archer looks to the Admiral with confidence “I don’t think he would have warned us if we didn’t have a chance of stopping them.”
“I’ll have Jupiter Station start on the retrofit right away…which” he turns to Elizabeth, “will include insulating the hull with the Trellium in the manner you laid out for us.” Admiral Forest walks behind his desk.
“If you don’t mind Captain, after I get my ship out of the launch bay I would like to take a few hours to settle my affairs at home before I’m officially yours.”
“Take a few days. We won’t need you until we leave.”
“I’d actually like to see to the installation of the Astrometrics lab.”
The Admiral turns to Elizabeth; “I’ll have an all access pass made out for you when you get back from Ohio.”
“Thank you Admiral.”
“There’s just one thing. You gave us all that information but you failed to mention your last name.”
“Oh yes, it’s Tucker.”
“Any relation to Commander Tucker?”
Elizabeth hesitates. “Tucker is a pretty common name.” she says and lets out an unnatural giggle.
The Admiral nods.
Trip looks around mournfully. Reed stands behind him.
“I’m so sorry.’ Reed says.
There is a large canyon before them. Rubble and the wreckage of buildings are around them.
“The house was over there.” Trip says, “Less than a kilometer.” He thinks for a moment before he speaks. “See over there? That was the old Movie theatre. When we were kids if I didn’t take my sister with me she’d scream like a banshee.” He lets out a deep sigh.
“Are you certain she was here when this happened?”
“Someone would have heard from her if she wasn’t.”
The Captain steps onto the bridge of Enterprise. Elizabeth follows him from the turbo lift. The senior officers all look to him wondering what happened on the surface. He turns to Hoshi who is at her station. “Make this ship wide.” Hoshi nods understanding that he means to make an announcement. She pushes buttons on her consol and turns to him giving him the green light. “Thanks to Elizabeth command has approved the mission into the Delphic Expanse. We’re going to find these Xindi. But I know it’s not the mission that any of you signed up for. It will be more dangerous than anything Enterprise has done before. And I won’t think less of anyone who decides not to go. I’ll need your decision by the time we leave.” As the Captain speaks the crew scattered across the decks are listen intently. He turns to Hoshi and nods. She pushes buttons at her station. He turns to Elizabeth “I don’t think more than eight or nine will be leaving.” She nods to him with a hopeful grin.
In the armory on Enterprise Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker stand on riser in front of a monitor facing tubes filled with weapons. An elevator carrying the racked tubes moves downward. A tube by a mechanism is pushed underneath the platform Reed and Tucker are standing on. Reed speaks as this happens.
“Photonic torpedoes. Their range is over 50 times greater than our conventional torpedoes and they have a variable yield. They can knock the comm. Array off a Shuttlepod without scratching the hull. Or they can put a three-kilometer crater into an asteroid.”
“How long’s it gonna take to reconfigure the tubes?”
“Well we’ve got three teams working on it. They promised it’ll be done before we leave Spacedock. But I’ve got to start integrating them into the power grid.”
“Let’s go.”
Walking off the turbo lift into a hallway Reed and Tip continue talking;
“Is there going to be some kind of service?” Reed asks.
“For Lizzie?” Trip shakes his head irritated. “If you’re talking about a funeral, it’s kind of pointless when there’s nothing left.”
They turn a corner; sparks are flying in the hall behind them as crewman uses a plasma torch.
“I guess I was talking about a memorial.” Reed says.
“My sister wasn’t bit on memorials.”
“I read there was a day of remembrance for the victims a couple of months ago. I’m sorry you missed it.”
Trip getting very irritated raises his voice, “Why are you so obsessed with memorials?”
“I’m not obsessed.”
Trip steps ahead of Reed and turns back to him giving an angry shrug. “She’s dead.”
Reed stops walking
“So are seven million others.” Trip continues pain turned into anger is all over his face, “She was no more important than any of them.”
Reed takes a step up closer to Trip “She was more important to you. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that.”
“I’m getting real tired of you telling me what I can and can’t do.”
Reed looks confused and irritated but also sympathetic. He knows that Trip is in pain.
“And while we’re at it.” Trip continues. “I don’t need you to remind me that Elizabeth was killed. So just let it alone.” He yells and continues walking forward.
Reed follows one step behind.
Suddenly Trip turns back to Reed. Reed stops. “Maybe you should pay more attention to upgrading your weapons.” Trip says anger builds in his face. “So you can blow the hell out of these bastards when we find them.” Trip walks away angrily.
Reed stands where he is.
In a decent sized room on Enterprise, Elizabeth is on the floor on her back underneath a monitor connecting wires. She wipes sweat from her brow with her sleeve and continues working.
T’Pol walks inside the Plaza next to Starfleet headquarters. She respectfully approaches Soval “You asked to speak with me Ambassador.”
“Yes, Before Elizabeth provided her data Captain Archer informed you of his experience aboard the Suliban vessel correct?”
“I was informed immediately.”
“What was your reaction?”
“I was skeptical.”
“Would you have followed the Captain if Elizabeth had not presented her data?” Soval says stopping to look at T’Pol.
“He is my Captain I would have given him my support, as I always have.”
“The High Command is concerned T’Pol that you have spent too much time with the humans. They want you back on Vulcan.”
“I cannot abandon Captain Archer. He will need me for this mission.”
“I agree. And since the High Command has decided to support the mission I managed to convince them it was not appropriate to take you from Enterprise as this time. Minster V’las was extremely adamant that you take a position in the ministry of information. Even after the High Command saw Elizabeth’s data and decided to support the Captain’s mission V’las was against it for reasons that elude me. I intend to investigate minster V’las without the High Command’s knowledge.”
“That is treason.”
“This is not the first illogical action V’las has taken. I can no longer overlook his illogical behavior. If I find any incriminating evidence against V’las I will send the information to you for safe keeping on Enterprise. Will you assist me T’Pol?”
She nods.
“And if I am not the Ambassador to Earth when you return, you will know why.”
She nods.
“If anyone asks I spoke to you about whether you wanted to go on this mission and offered to assign a replacement for Enterprise if you refused.”
Abruptly he leaves walking inside. Slowly she makes her way to the exit of the compound.
In gray body suits, carrying arms full of equipment, men and women walk on Enterprise through the shuttle bay.
Hoshi, standing across the hall turns to Travis, “Military Assault Command” she whispers.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting them.” Travis says. Leaving Hoshi he walks up to one. “Hi can I help you with your gear?”
Elizabeth carrying two bags walks into the hall from an adjacent door.
Hoshi sees her and smiles walking up to her. “Can I help you with your bags?”
“Oh sure.” Elizabeth hands off one of her bags to Hoshi. Side by side they continue walking down the hall.
“It will be nice to have another Female on the bridge. One that has emotions.” Hoshi says smiling.
Elizabeth smiles wide.
“It’s nice to be here. And I managed to fly my shuttle in without damaging the bay this time.” She giggles.
Hoshi giggles too. ”Well that’s always good.”
“They just finished the retrofit?” Elizabeth asks.
Hoshi nods. “We’ll be taking off once everyone’s on board.”
Out in Space Enterprise is in the docking port. Tubes connecting the ship to the docking port are released. The engines heat up a bright blue and Enterprise slowly makes its way out of the docking port. Inside the docking port on a bridge above the ship two men in Environmental suites watch as the ship departs. Compared to the ship they look like bugs on a windshield. The ship pulls free of the port.
On the Klingon vessel, Duras and his crew wait. “Have they gone to warp?” Duras asks the first man at a consul near the back of his bridge.
“Not yet.” The crew man responds.
“Stepping towards the front of the bridge Duras orders, “Charge weapons and prepare to bring them online.” His face shows an expression of eagerness. He is eager to go to battle.
THE END!
CREDITS PLAY!
