Gateway- Part 7

Gateway

By Quills

Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13, angst, drama, romance, humor, action/adventure
Disclaimer in Part One

PART SEVEN (Chapters 19-21)

Chapter 19

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"Captain's...'log'...Star date 30463.6, This is my first official entry as Captain of this vessel.I have no doubt that Starfleet will classify my logs for security reasons. However, I believe recording them will help me sort out my thoughts. Starfleet believes I'm qualified to assume command of this Enterprise of the future. They sent me technical information on the ship as well as crew bios on the senior staff. It's helped me in acclimating to this assignment; ...however...I would be less than truthful if I didn't say I'm feeling out of sorts. This ship has a Captain. Unfortunately, he's on MY ship. I have to wonder if Captain Soma is fairing any better adjusting to my Enterprise....Computer, Pause..."

"Doesn't exactly instill confidence." Archer said to himself. "Fortunately, these logs aren't for the crew."

"Computer, Resume...I've ordered Enterprise to head for the Martez Colony, where I hope to find the Mar'tek, the Klingon ship that transported Silik. I believe finding the Mar'tek is our best option for finding Silik."

As Archer continued his recording the door to the Captain's ready room chimed.

Archer signaled the computer to save his log and to discontinue before responding. "Come in."

The door slid open and Travis Mayweather stepped in. "I'm not disturbing you?"

"No, not at all." said Archer. "Have a seat."

The two men sat down in the circular couch area the ship's Captain used for informal conversations with visiting guests and dignitaries. The two men had not been able to sit down and talk since they returned from Gateway. Now that they had finally afforded a moment of time while Enterprise warped to its destination...neither man knew quite what to say.

Travis Mayweather broke the silence. "So...what do you think of her?"

"She seems capable...strong...can hold her own in a fight." said Archer. "She's definitely beautiful."

"I wasn't talking about the Enterprise." Travis said smiling.

Archer smiled back. "Neither was I."

Both men laughed. This time Archer spoke. "What the hell are you doing here Travis?"

Travis looked at his former Captain for a moment. "I assume you mean what am I doing in the 24th century."

Archer nodded his head.

"Its a long story, sir." replied the former Ensign.

Archer sat back and adjusted himself. "I've got the time."

Travis smiled "Well, after the Enterprise, I went on with the rest of my Starfleet career..various posting to starships.I worked my way up the ranks. Eventually, I made Captain...got my own ship...the Heracles. Now there was a misnamed ship if there ever was one. She was a tiny forty crew science vessel...limited armament...weapons...but she was a tuff little ship. Other starship crews called her 'The Runt'. "

"Sounds like quite a ship." said Archer.

"She wasn't Enterprise." said Travis, "but she was mine and she got us out of a lot of scrapes."

Travis paused for a moment and Archer knew what was coming. He had seen it in fellow ship Captains. That look of defeat the one time your ship failed you.

"We were on our last mission." explained Travis. "The Heracles was ready for pasture and I was offered an Admiralty."

"Admiral Mayweather?" said Archer with a smile.

Travis just shrugged his shoulders. "I was ready for retirement." he explained. "I had three great kids and a wife I only saw in between assignments or on leave."

Travis adjusted himself in the chair. Archer could see a twinge of pain on his friends face.

"Anyway, we were assigned to transport a delegation of Tellarites to Earth." explained Travis "At the time they were a new species petitioning admittance into the Federation. The mission was rather routine and anti-climactic for a ship that saw a lot of action during its career...or so we thought. On route to Earth we discovered, to late, that the delegates were actually Tellarite separatists who were against their people joining the Federation. Somehow they had taken the real delegate's places. They had killed ten of my crew and taken over engineering before we knew what was happening. I organized a security team and led an attack on the engine room. Several more of the crew were injured or killed but we were able to regain control. The Tellarite separatists all took some kind of poison they carried with them. We weren't able to question them, so we conducted a search of the engine room."

Mayweather paused. Archer looked at his friend. "Travis, you don't have to..."

"No." said Travis, "I do...I haven't talked to anyone about this for a long time."

Archer nodded.

"While we were searching the engine room," said Travis, " I came across a 'gift' they left behind in case they were weren't successful in holding engineering. A proximity grenade."

Archer straightened.

"Before I could react I set off the proximity sensor and I was blown to the other side of the engine room." said Travis "I was rushed to sickbay and they stabilized me, but a large fragment had passed through my chest literally ripping my heart out. Doc Bryson had me on life support, but he didn't think I would make it. He told he had to put me in the ship's suspended animation unit until we got to a Starbase. So...my XO took command and I was put into the ship's SA unit."

"Looks like it worked." said Archer.

"Yeah" said Travis "It worked all right. My crew checked the engine room. There weren't anymore proximity grenades. They must have thought the Tellarites only had time to set the one. It never occurred to them that it was a blind. The whole thing was...trying to take the ship...the fight in engineering...the proximity grenade...they were all used to mask the Tellarite separatist's true plan. They wanted to make a statement. What would be better than striking at the heart of the Federation with one of it's own ships."

Travis stood up and walked over to the food slot. "Do you mind?"

Archer just shook his head as a look of worry came over his face.

"Scotch" said Travis.

A glass materialized in the slot and Travis picked it up. He put the glass to his lips. His hand trembled momentarily and he drained the glass.

He turned towards Archer "They had planted a mutagenic bio toxin on board. It was in the air filtration system. That way the entire crew would be effected." said Travis "Ingenious little thing really. Designed by a Malthusian custom bio weapons designer I was later told. It was 'programmed' to adhere to the host's blood system while it lay dormant. Apparently it was supposed to activate after a certain period of time had elapsed allowing the Heracles crew to spread it when we arrived at Earth or a Starbase. The designer miscalculated; the toxin activated before we were even halfway to Earth. He was supposed to be a genius. I guess he wasn't so smart. He couldn't even get the math right."

Travis sat back down laying his hands in his lap as he looked down at the floor. "I..I didn't see my crew actually die John."

Archer wanted to say something but the words just wouldn't come.

"I mean, I was in the ship's SA unit." said Travis. "It protected me from the toxin until they could get me out. They didn't want to tell me...how my crew died. I insisted...so they gave me the report the bio hazard crew submitted."

Travis closed his eyes " 'Our findings bring us to the conclusion that the crew of the Heracles was subjected to a mutagenic bio toxin which radically altered the crews bio chemistry causing each person's own blood to become a toxic plasma which destroyed the individual from the inside out.'"

"Travis," said Archer, "I'm sorry."

"Do you think it hurt? John?" said Travis.

Archer looked at his friend.

"They didn't say in the report." said Travis swallowing. "If it hurt or not."

Travis took a deep breath. "So...we didn't make it to Earth." said Travis. "I guess that was the only good thing. My XO had the ship set a programmed course for a nearby star. I guess he wanted to make sure no one was infected while he was still able to prevent it. Unfortunately, the programming had an error and the Heracles missed it's target but came close enough to cause extensive damage sending the engines into automatic shutdown. By then, I guess there wasn't anyone left of the crew to bring the engines back online and try again. So the ship eventually lost main power and drifted until it was discovered by the Enterprise -C...ninety years later."

"Ninety years?' exclaimed Archer.

"By missing the systems star," said Travis, "the Heracles traveled into a part of space that had been charted but not explored. It was shelved for later exploration. Ninety years later...the Enterprise-C found her in a decaying orbit around the fourth planet in the system. Apparently she had drifted into the system and gotten pulled into the planet's gravity. Enterprise boarded her and found my crew. Thank God the bio Toxin had a short life outside the host or the Enterprise's crew would have suffered the same fate."

Travis stood up again. "Anyway, they found me in the SA unit, which was operating off an independent power source in case of just such an emergency. I was transported to a Starbase where I was fitted with a cardio replacement. After three months of physical therapy, I was declared physically healed. The...uh...mental healing took a bit longer."

"Travis..." Archer began.

"I know John." said Travis. " I know. I lost my crew...my ship...my family...my century. The only thing that kept me from. killing myself was Jonathan."

"Jonathan?" said Archer.

"Captain Soma." said Travis. "Jonathan is his human name. He was the only part of my old life that I could grab hold of...he stayed with me as long as Starfleet could spare him. Then he talked to me every day by sub space. He reminded me I wasn't alone."

"Sounds like a good friend." said Archer.

"He's one of a kind." said Travis. "I've known him since...for a long time."

Travis took a deep breath "Eventually, I came to terms. It was about that time I found out I had family. A great great grandson started my Dad's old business back up...hauling cargo between the colonies. I took a shuttle out to see him and came on board to help him run the business. I turned my Starfleet commission in and never looked back. I had a second chance at a family and I wasn't going to let go. "

"I'm glad Travis." said Archer "You deserve it."

"Don't get me wrong Captain." said Travis "I don't hold anything against Starfleet. Not anymore anyway...I came to realize that what happened was the cause of a tragically misguided group of individuals. I made peace with it and what they did...not for them, but for me. Now I have a family again...a daughter. She isn't exactly mine. I found her about 2 years after I started working the family business. She was just a little thing...four...maybe five; Her parents had been killed by Orion pirates. They just left her for dead. So, when I couldn't find any family members to take her...I adopted her and raised her as my own."

Travis took out a small disc and pressed one the buttons on the corner. An image formed on the small screen.

"Her name is Rory." said Travis.

Archer smiled.

"She takes after her old man." Travis said smiling. "Helps me run the 'Venture,' one of the company ships."

Archer looked at his friend. "As much as you've gone through...I'm glad you’re here Travis."

Travis nodded. "I know Jon." said Travis. "Stranger in a Strange land."

Archer nodded. "I think Starfleet is out of its mind. I'm not a combat commander. Not like your Captain Soma. I've read his record. He makes me look like a pleasure cruise Captain."

"Jon, believe it or not, I think Starfleet couldn't have made a better choice with you." said Travis. "You may not have done it yet, but your gong to make history and be the guiding force behind all the starship Captains that come after you...me...Soma...Kirk...we all looked to you sir."

Archer looked at Mayweather, he wasn't sure if the man was trying to build his confidence or he was actually telling him the truth. Not that the truth didn't send a chill down his spine. Being the model for future starship captains seemed a bit much to ask when you weren't even sure about yourself.

"Thank you Travis." said Archer.

"Thank YOU Captain." said Travis. "I'm glad I got to see you again. None of the old Enterprise crew is left...except T'Pol."

"T'Pol?" said Archer. "She's alive?"

Travis nodded. "Yes, She showed up one day when I was recovering at the Star Base. Almost gave me a heart attack to see her. She's semi-retired now. She lives on Vulcan and teaches at the Vulcan Science Academy. We talk every couple weeks on sub space. I stop by whenever I can and pay her a visit."

"How...How is she?" asked Archer.

"She's good sir." said Travis. "She had a good life. Got married...had three kids...she even took Ambassador Soval's place as the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth for a while."

"Really?" said Archer incredulously. "I guess we'll grow on her."

"Enterprise was like family sir. Even after the mission we all kept in touch." said Travis. "We all felt that way...because of you. You always managed to pull us together."

"Please Travis, I hear enough of that from this Enterprise crew." said Archer with a smile.

"It's the truth sir." said Travis.

"Well, I trust YOU will remember I haven't done all these great things yet, so I'd appreciate all the help I can get." said Archer.

"That's why Captain Soma asked me along." said Travis.

"Speaking of the Captain." said Archer. "Why don't you tell me what the story is between you two. I have a feeling there is more to that Vulcan than meets the eye."

Travis couldn't help smiling...he would never believe him.

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Chapter 20

Captain's Log November 22, 2156...Captain Soma reporting...The Enterprise crew is currently conducting repairs on systems that took damage during the battle over planet Gateway. An alien vessel, which we have discovered was crewed by Andorians, attacked Enterprise while under the command of first officer T'Pol, who received injuries during the battle and is recovering in sickbay. It was through the Sub Commander's quick thinking that Enterprise defeated the attacking vessel and came out of it in one piece...relatively. The surviving members of the Andorian crew have been transported aboard Enterprise and I have ordered them held in the ship's brig. Unfortunately, the Sub Commander's plan required the ejection and subsequent detonation of Enterprise's warp core. Without the warp core we're years away from the nearest outpost and may well be out of range of the nearest sub space communication buoy. Chief Engineer Tucker and an engineering team have transported over to the Andorian's ship. It is his opinion that their warp core can be removed and adapted to our own systems. I have made the warp core removal/adaptation his top priority. Meanwhile, I will be interrogating the Andorian crew.

"Open it up Lieutenant." instructed Soma.

The Lieutenant hesitated a moment before acknowledging. "Yes, sir."

The security officer drew his phase pistol as he pressed the access panel that opened the door to the ship's brig. It looked like one of ship's bulky cargo doors and in point of fact that's exactly what it was. The door rolled to one side. Inside sat six Andorians in various degrees of dishevelment. The ship's doctor had already been down to see them and tended to any of their injuries.

Soma nodded to the security guard who stepped in. Soma followed him into the room. The Andorians immediately straightened when they saw the Vulcan. The Captain did not miss the scowls they gave him.

"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of the Andorians.

"I am Captain Soma, commanding officer of this vessel." replied the Captain.

"YOU command these pink skins?" spat an Andorian in the far corner.

"I command the Earth vessel 'Enterprise'." corrected Soma. "The 'pink skins' are called humans."

"Pink skins will do for me." said the Andorian smiling.

"But not me." replied Soma.

"Why not?" asked the Andorian still smiling.

"Because I don't like it." said Soma as he gave the Andorian a hard stare.

The Andorian stood up abruptly. The security guard immediately trained his phase pistol on him. Soma waved him off. The Andorian moved towards the Captain, stopping half a meter away.

Looking over his shoulder to his fellow prisoners, the Andorian smiled "He says he doesn't like it."

The other Andorians started to laugh. "Maybe I should apologize." he told them as he snickered.

"Yeah, why don't you 'apologize' Tresh." said one of the Andorians sitting down.

Soma's eyes darted from one Andorian to the next as he gauged them. The Andorian standing in front of him, the one called Thresh, turned his attention back to Soma. He gave the Captain a huge Cheshire cat grin and promptly swung a hard right fist at the Captain's face. Unfortunately for Thresh, the Captain saw him telegraph his move before he made it. Soma ducked under the Andorian's swing, bringing himself in close to the Andorian's mid section where he delivered a hard upper cut to Thresh's solar plexus. This knocked the wind out of the Andorian and made him stagger back. Soma grabbed the Andorian by his tunic and pulled him in as he simultaneously threw his fist into the man's face as he released his tunic. This sent the Andorian careening backwards and over a table.

The other Andorians immediately stood, fists clenched. The security guard raised his phase pistol, alternating to which Andorian he trained it on.

"Who's next?" said Soma giving the Andorians an icy stare. "I trust I've made it clear that I am in no mood for games."

"What do you want Vulcan?" said one of Andorians.

"For you to sit down and shut up." answered Soma. "I'll ask the questions. If your answers aren't satisfactory, you'll be joining your friend on the floor."

The Andorians looked at one another for a moment. Then one of them nodded to the rest and they sat down at the tables. Soma took note...he must be the leader.

"You don't act like any Vulcan I've ever met." said the Andorian who had ordered the others to sit.

"I'm the kind with a short temper." said Soma, "and if I don't get some straight answers I'm gonna put my boot in yer ass!"

The security officer had to stifle the urge to laugh.

"What do you want to know?" asked the Andorian.

"Your name for one." said Soma.

The Andorian stared at him for a moment. "Commander Shral, second in command of the 'Vindicator'."

"Why did you attack my ship, Commander?" asked Soma.

"We were hired to." said Shral.

"By whom?" asked Soma pressing for answers.

"I don't know." said Shral.

Soma moved forward with lightening speed, grabbing Shral by his tunic and slamming him against the wall.

"Try again." said Soma.

"I DON'T KNOW!" shouted the Andorian "We were hired by a third party."

Soma scrutinized the Andorian for a moment and then pushed him away.

"Sit down." Soma ordered.

The Andorian glared at the Vulcan for amoment and then returned to his seat.

"Who was this third party?" Soma asked impatiently.

The Andorian looked at his fellow prisoners and then back at Soma. "A Coridan trader. He called himself Selesh."

"Where can I find this...Selesh?" asked Soma.

"How should I know." said Shral.

Soma leaned over the table and stared at the Andorian, smiling as he did so. The Andorian wasn't sure which unnerved him more...the thought of what this Vulcan would do to extract information from him or the fact that he was smiling at him. In either case he didn't like the prospects.

"Look, he approached us when we were having repairs done to our ship at the Pentax facility." said the Andorian "He said he needed some freelance troubleshooters...to get rid of some people who were causing problems for his superiors. He said we would be well paid for 'no questions asked'. He told us your ship had minimum armament and wouldn't pose a threat to us. We were told to get rid of your ship and anyone on the planet."

"Your ship was equipped with a cloaking device." said Soma. "Where did you get it?"

"Selesh." replied the Andorian. "He had it installed. Said it would make the job even easier. That's all we were told. We were paid up front."

Soma smiled at Shral. "See how easy that was, Commander."

Just then, Soma's communicator chirped. He pulled the device from his arm pocket flipping it open. "Soma."

"Captain," said Ensign Sato. "Commander Tucker reports that he's returned from the Andorian ship sir."

"What are you doing on our ship?" spat Shral.

"Stand by Ensign." said Soma as he glared at Shral.

"Your ship has been impounded." replied Soma. "Let’s have an understanding commander. You and your men are criminals. You attacked my ship and killed members of my crew. You have no rights aboard this ship beyond prisoner. Cooperate and you will be turned over to the authorities to stand trial. Any other behavior from you or your men....an flush the lot of you out the nearest airlock."

The Andorian commander stared at the Vulcan. He didn't trust Vulcans. He considered them a duplicitous species that hid behind the veil of logic. This Vulcan was different. He couldn't discern him very well but one thing he was certain about...this Vulcan meant exactly what he said.

Shral nodded in agreement and Soma turned and signaled the security guard to exit.

Once the door was closed he resumed communications with Sato. "Go ahead Ensign."

"Commander Tucker has brought the Andorian warp core aboard, si,r" reported Hoshi. "He said he'll start installing it as soon as he's checked it for micro fractures."

"Understood Ensign." said Soma. "What's your progress on raising Starfleet?"

"Not good sir." said Hoshi. "We're too far out of range of the sub space buoys."

"Understood," said Soma. "See if there is anything you can do to boost the range of our signal. If Commander Tucker doesn't get that Andorian warp core online were going to need to get word to Starfleet."

"Yes, sir." replied Hoshi "I'll try sir."

"Good, Soma out."

************

Chapter 21

Captain Soma made his way through the winding corridors of the ship he once called home. He knew the layout as well as any Enterprise crewmember...better in fact...for none of them had served much more than a year aboard her while he had spent an appreciable part of his life exploring the nooks and crannies of the starship.

The Captain approached the main entranceway to the ship's engineering section. Stopping, he paused at the opening gazing into the expanse where he could see the main warp drive conduit travel back into the bowels of the ship. Men and women hurried about, some with data PADDS, others with sonic screwdrivers, plasma coolant casings, electro spanners ....he smiled to himself, it was exactly as his mind's eye pictured it.

Straightening himself, Soma took a deep breath and entered the engine room making his way towards the Chief Engineer's main work area. There, he saw a young blond woman bent over what look like a field coil. She was welding it with a micro laser.

Soma stopped behind the young woman...a Lieutenant he thought, but he couldn't be sure. "Excuse me."

"Take a number," the woman replied as she continued working on the field coil.

Soma suppressed the urge to laugh and assumed a serious tone. "I'm looking for Commander Tucker."

"Trip's busy." replied the woman not looking up from her work. "He was given standing orders to get the replacement warp core installed and online. So he can't be interrupted."

Soma gave a slight smile. "I know. I gave the order."

The young woman's eyes looked up and she straightened herself suddenly. Hesitantly, she turned around to see that it had been her new Captain she had been so cavalier with.

Coming to attention she straightened herself. "Captain! Sir, I didn't know it was you sir."

Soma put up his hand. "At ease Lieutenant. You look like you’re about to sprain something."

"Yes sir, sorry sir." stammered the woman.

"Where can I find Mr. Tucker?" asked Soma again.

The woman pointed down the corridor "He's in the maintenance cubicle at the end of the corridor...on your left, sir."

The 'Workshop,' Soma smiled to himself. "Thank you...Lieutenant..?"

"Biggs, sir," she replied.

"Lieutenant Biggs," he nodded. "Don't let me keep you from your work."

"No sir, thank you sir." responded Biggs as the Captain made his way down the narrow corridor. Once he was out of site she leaned against the work table and breathed a sigh of relief.

Soma made his way to the end of the corridor. He could see an open room where light was filtering into the corridor. A flood of memories suddenly invaded his mind. Memories from an earlier part of his life,..a pleasant time when he spent hours in the 'workshop'...his nickname for the secluded workroom the Enterprise's Chief Engineer could always be found in.

He stopped at the entrance and looked in. On an oversized work table sat the sectional components of a ship's warp core. He noticed the segments had been 'surgically' separated so the core could be transported aboard the Enterprise. Standing over the core sections were two men. One, the Captain had already met, Ensign Travis Mayweather. The Ensign was running a scanner over a section of the core and inputting the results into a nearby data PADD. The other man...was crouched down in front of another core segment further down the table. Soma's eyes focused on the other man. He studied the man's face, making out the lines and contours that made up Charles Tucker.

"You know Travis," said Tucker. "I think we might actually be able to pull this off...with a little luck."

"Let's hope so Commander." replied the Ensign. "I don't feel like spending five years getting back home."

"I hear ya." replied Tucker as he picked up a scanner and started running it over the segment. "I stopped by sickbay earlier and spoke to Lieutenant Reed. Malcolm says our new Captain is somthin' else."

"He's definitely that." agreed Travis. "He's not like Captain Archer."

Trip looked up and gave Mayweather a hard look.

The Ensign looked back sheepishly, "I...I didn't mean.."

"It's ok Travis." said Trip shaking his head. "I heard he saved the landing part."

Travis nodded his head, "We would have been finished if it wasn't for Captain Soma."

Trip laid down his scanner and leaned on the work table. "I don't know. I guess I'm just havin’ trouble not havin’ Cap'n Archer here. I know the Cap'n wouldn't let someone else take command unless he was sure about ‘em...Starfleet orders or not...and Cap'n Soma seems like a pretty good guy...for a Vulcan."

The two officers started laughing.

Soma grinned "I hope you won't hold that against me Chief."

Trip Tucker spun around towards the entrance, as Captain Soma entered the room.

"Cap'n!" shouted Tucker as he and Mayweather came to attention.

Soma looked over at Mayweather. "Could you excuse us for a minute Ensign?
I'd like to speak to the Chief for a minute."

"Of course sir. " said Travis as he put his scanner down and headed for the exit.

Once Tucker was sure Mayweather had gone he spoke, "Sorry for shoutin’, sir. You startled me. I didn't know you were there."

"Yes," said Soma. "I gathered that."

The engineer winced, "Oh...you...uh...heard."

"I heard you." said Soma smiling slightly.

Tucker let a deep breath. "I'm sorry sir. I got no right questioning yer ability or ...or yer background."

Soma stared at the engineer. Trip Tucker met the man's gaze and the two men momentarily studied one another. He wasn't sure what to expect from Soma. He knew he was half Vulcan and most of the Vulcans he had ever met did a good job of concealing not only their emotions, but their intentions. Soma appeared to be doing both, but there was something in the Captain's face. Trip couldn't quite put a finger on it, but he was certain that whatever the Captain was thinking it wasn't malicious.

"It's all right Chief." said Soma. "I understand how you feel. You've served with Captain Archer a long time."

Tucker nodded, "Yes sir."

Soma stepped closer to the engineer. "By making you his Chief engineer, Captain Archer put his trust in you, Mr. Tucker."

Tucker shook his head, "I'd like to think I earned it sir."

Soma nodded, "I'm also putting MY trust in you Chief...that you will make sure this ship is ready for whatever we might encounter. I hope that I can count on you as Captain Archer has. "

The engineer straightened slightly. "She'll be ready sir. You have my word on it."

"Good," smiled Soma, "and you have my word Chief...we will complete this mission... and I will bring this crew back in one piece."

Tucker gave the Vulcan a slight smile.

"One more thing Chief..." said Soma hesitantly. "I realize that this is an Earth vessel and that...the general feelings of the crew towards having a Vulcan Captain are...uncomfortable."

Trip Tucker was about to speak, but Soma raised his hand "The Vulcan's of this era mean well Mr. Tucker...but many of them have tended to be a collective 'pain in the ass' for this crew and her mission."

Tucker suppressed the urge to laugh "Yes sir, that about sums it up."

"Like you...I'm a Starfleet officer." said Soma. "My interests and loyalty lie with Starfleet and the Federation. The crew may not be in a position to appreciate that. Particularly since the background they have been given on me is a fabricated one. To many of them...I'm just another 'interfering' Vulcan'. Worse yet, I've replaced Captain Archer. A man they respect and are loyal to."

Tucker felt a sudden twinge of guilt. He regretted the comment he had made earlier and realized that he had said what many of the crew were thinking. He had only been concerned with how he felt about Captain Archer being replaced. It never occurred to him how Captain Soma might feel. Maybe he just didn't think about it because Soma was a Vulcan, but he was only half Vulcan. Also, he wasn't exactly your typical Vulcan. For one thing, he smiled. Maybe he could give lessons to T'Pol.

"You are this ship's barometer Chief." said Soma. "Your fellow crewmembers look to you to set the tone and mood."

Tucker looked at Soma quizzically. He had never really thought of himself that way, but the Captain always seemed to ask him how the crew was doing. He always thought Archer was just bouncing the question off him. What was odder though was how Soma could know something about him that he himself didn't know. He hadn't even met Soma before today. Had Jon talked to him?

"I would appreciate your setting a tone of trust and friendship, Chief." said Soma extended his hand to the engineer.

Tucker looked down at the open hand being extended towards him and then looked up at Soma.

Tucker smiled and grasped Soma's hand "Charles Tucker III."

"Jonathan Soma." responded the Captain with a smile.

Trip Tucker smiled at the Vulcan. "Just in case nobody’s gotten around to it, sir...Welcome aboard."

**************

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