No More Blackened Catfish or Pecan Pie*

No More Blackened Catfish or Pecan Pie*

By Aquila

Rating: R
Disclaimer: This is a form of recreation that garners me no remuneration, but plenty of satisfaction.
Note: This does not adhere to canon, but does contain spoilers.
Summary: Trip, T’Pol and the Delphic Expanse.

Part One

==

She was one flick of his tongue from climax, when the ship rocked, tossing him out of his bunk and out of his dream. He scrambled to his feet, pitched to and fro by aftershocks. One hand kept him from falling against the bulkhead; the other hand punched the communication console.

“Engineering, report.”

“We appear to be under attack, Commander. The warp engine is still functioning.”

The voice of the night duty OIC in engineering was calm and unruffled, although he could hear muffled shouts in the background as her crew called in reports.

“I’m on my way.” He punched the console again.

“Tucker to bridge.”

“Sato here, Commander.”

Faintly but distinctly, he heard the Captain asking questions of his helmsman and weapons officer. Their replies were muffled.

“Inform the Captain that I’m on my way to engineering. I will report again when I have assessed the situation. Tucker out.”

==

Nelson pursed her lips for a brief moment when she saw her disheveled superior roll into engineering on the run. He was wearing his civilians, a soft, long sleeved knitted T and drawstring trousers. His feet were bare. She stopped counting the regulations he was breaking and turned her attention to the questions that were spewing from his mouth.

They dodged an array of sparks that erupted from an overheated control panel. Nelson shouted over the snap and sizzle, “Impulse engines are offline, but the warp core is sound for the time being.”

“So we can run, but we can’t hide?” Trip asked.

“Yes, Commander, if we dropped out of Warp we would be dead in the water.” She anticipated his next question. “I have a crew working on repairing the impulse engines.”

“Take charge of the repairs personally, please, Lieutenant.”

Tucker did not know that his demonstration of confidence in her ability to lead the repair had won him her undying loyalty. From his perspective he had merely put the right person in charge of an essential task. She mentally stowed the Starfleet manual. Trip’s way became her way in that moment.

==

“So my choice is to out-run them, knowing that Enterprise is space flotsam when we drop out of warp…” paraphrased the Captain.

“Or we ignite vented plasma and hope the pyrotechnics discourage the gnats that are buzzing us,” iterated the voice of the Chief Engineer.

“Mr. Reed, what is your assessment of the insects that are stinging us?”

“Not capable of more than Warp Two.”

T’Pol interjected, “There is no sign of a mother ship.”

“There may be no sign, Captain…” continued the armory officer.

“But there has to be a nest, or the gnat’s could not have reached us,” finished Archer. “Warp 4.5, any heading, Mr. Mayweather.”

“Yes, sir.”

==

They floated in the empty patch of space chosen by Travis Mayweather, the knowledge he had gained living on a freight vessel once again proving invaluable. The senior staff was gathered in the situation room for a debriefing.

“How long until we have impulse back?”

Archer directed his question to Trip.

“Nelson says she needs 48 hours. I took a look at the damage myself. My estimate would have been closer to 72.” Trip believed in giving credit where credit was due.

“Thank the Lieutenant for her diligence. We’ll split the difference. I want to be able to maneuver on impulse within 60 hours.”

T’Pol grabbed the opportunity, “We are behind on our crew evaluations. I would like to use the enforced downtown to complete them.”

“Excellent idea.” Archer praised and granted permission at the same time.

“In that case, sir,” Reed offered, “My crew and I will realign the phase torpedoes and conduct phaser qualifying rounds.”

“How many have volunteered for the weapons training?”

Crew training was T’Pol’s responsibility, so she answered, “Every member of the crew, including Chef, has volunteered.”

“Porthos’ name is not on that list, I hope.” Archer smiled without mirth, “From exploration to war fare. I am pleased that our people are adapting. I am saddened that it is necessary.”

His senior staff dispersed. Tucker lingering as if he wanted to speak to the captain alone.

“The crew needs some down time, Cap’n.”

Before the Xindi attack changed their lives forever Trip would have eased into his suggestion with a discussion of the latest water polo scores or a possible programming choice for movie night.

“What did you have in mind?” Archer regretted the erosion of their camaraderie, yet was thankful Trip understood the urgency of their mission.

“We need to reduce the tension between the MACO contingent and the original crew. I think we need some sort of activity that does not entail sitting in the dark and watching images flicker on a screen.”

Archer regarded the engineer for a long moment. The responsibilities of the Chief Engineer did not include morale. Traditionally the First Officer shouldered the burden.

“I have never thanked you for identifying a need and stepping in to fill it without criticism or complaint.”

“Vulcan’s aren’t people people, Captain.”

Archer noted the slight smirk. There was time when it would have spread from ear to ear and he would have found himself grinning in reply. Not anymore.

“Keep T’Pol aware of your plans.” He stopped. “Had you thought of making it a collaborative effort?”

Trip started, “No sir. At least not with T’Pol. I had planned to collaborate with Major Hayes.”

“Ask T’Pol if she would like to be included. If she says no, fine.”

Trip stared long and hard at his captain. If he objected, Archer would want an explanation. The Commander did not have one that he was willing to share.

“Aye, Cap’n.”

End of Part One.

**********

Continue to Part 2

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Four of you have made comments

Yay! I was so happy to come home and see a new story from you. Excellent start. Keep writing.

Loved the start! Please update soon, I'll be watching!

Great beginning to what I'm sure will be a terrific story. Just one question - why the asterisk in the title? Or should I just wait and see?

I can't wait to read more!