Uneasy Alliances - Ch 3

Uneasy Alliances

By Quills

Contact: the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star trek and I derive no financial gain from this story.
Codes: A Captain Soma Adventure
Summary: The crew of the U.S.S. Argo, under the command of Captain
Jonathan Soma is ordered to rendezvous with a mysterious party in a remote section of space for a mission that may lead both Soma and his crew into the hands of an enemy.

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Chapter 3

Mission log, supplemental: It’s been six hours since we left the Argo and the Andorian cruiser Tellar. At maximum warp, we expect the reach the Anteus system in just under ten hours; then our work will begin. End log entry.

Soma tapped his finger against the console. The computer made a low beep, signaling that the log entry had been recorded. Looking up, he glanced around the cabin, studying the layout of the small Andorian fighter. It was definitely cramped, but Andorian vessels were not renowned for their comfort. Still, he admired the industrial look of the ship. It was simple and clean. A stark difference to the Starfleet vessels he was used to.

Turning in his chair, he looked towards the pilot seat at the front of the compartment. Thala had insisted that she be the one to pilot the ship. He hadn’t seen any point in arguing the matter, but that was six hours ago. He was getting restless. Something Soma never quite developed a discipline for. Boredom easy got the better of him.

Standing up - or rather hunching over - he moved towards the forward section of the ship; carefully navigating the narrow space between the storage compartment and the cockpit. When he reached the pilot’s chair, he leaned over, looking down at Thala.

“I need a change of scenery. Let me take the controls for bit.”

“I would prefer to stay here,” she said, keeping her attention focused on the star field outside.

Soma frowned at the Andorian. Did she intend to be difficult the entire trip? Closing his eyes, he reminded himself what his father had always taught him about being a gentleman towards a lady. Dad never met Thala,he sighed.

“Look, I’m trying to be amiable, but I’m getting bored out my skull,” said the captain in exasperation. “That’s the fourth log entry I’ve made since we left.”

“Yes,” she said. “I know.”

Looking up at the view port, he could see her reflection in the forward window. He could also see the smile firmly planted on her lips. She was enjoying his annoyance. Two can play at this, he thought.

Leaning close, he let his lips hover over her left cheek. “So, why don’t you let me pilot for a bit,” he said in a low husky voice, “and you can go get something to eat. You do eat, don’t you…Thala?” He let her name roll of his tongue with a hint of sexuality. He was certain if that didn’t annoy her, nothing would.

Thala swallowed reflexively as she felt his warm breath against her cheek. The sensation made her skin tingle and she gripped the control stick tightly. He knows how revolting I find his presence, she thought angrily. He’s trying to antagonize me.

Still, she had to admit that Soma was right about one thing; she was hungry. She had eaten before they left, but that had been ten hours ago. Although she wasn’t comfortable turning the controls over to the Vulcan, she realized she would have to be cooperative with him; at least for the duration of their mission.

Swiveling the pilot seat around, she started to rise only to find Soma standing in her way.

“If you wish me to vacate this seat captain, you’ll need to get out of my way.”

Soma didn’t move. He focused his attention on Thala’s eyes. He had found them hauntingly beautiful when he first saw them and this time was no different. He also knew he was making her uncomfortable. Deciding not to press his luck, he bowed his head, stepping aside.

Thala moved forward, but the cramped space of the shuttle barely afforded room for one person to maneuver, let alone two. Moving past Soma, her hip butted against the captain, knocking her of balance. As she fell to one side, Soma reached out, grabbing her by the waist as he pulled her too him.

“Careful sub-lieutenant,” smiled Soma. “I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”

Thala glared at Soma. She could feel his arm holding her tightly. She could tell he was enjoying this. “Kindly let go of me, Captain.”

Soma smiled and slid his hand from Thala’s waist. Moving forward, he settled into the pilot’s seat.

Moving to the rear compartment, Thala took the seat Soma had previously occupied. Leaning down, she pulled a small locker out from under the short worktable. Sliding it into the walkway, she unfastened the latch, and pushed the lid open. Looking down at the contents, she was greeted by a number of gray food packs with Andorian writing printed on them. Moving the packets around, she read the contents, debating what she was in the mood to eat. After reading several of the packs, she decided on Andorian Tuber root; deciding to stick with something simple. She always found complex food packs unsettled her. Looking up at the pilot’s seat, she contemplated whether to offer Soma a food pack. She wasn’t overly concerned about Soma’s welfare, but she also realized that she didn’t need him passing out on her from lack of food.

“Vulcan…are you hungry?”

For a moment she listened, but didn’t hear a response. She was about to call out again, when she heard Soma’s voice.

“What do you have?”

“Several food parcels.”

“Andorian field rations?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yes.”

Thala couldn’t see Soma’s expression, but she heard his very audible groan.

“You don’t have to eat it, if you don’t want,” she hissed.

“Thank god for that,” he said. “I had my fill of Andorian field rations when I visited the outer territories of your home world.”

Thala looked at the back of the pilot’s seat. She was surprised – shocked really – by Soma’s comment. She wasn’t aware that any Vulcans had ever been outside the main capital of Andoria. Then again, Soma wasn’t a typical Vulcan.

“When did you visit Andoria?”

Soma glanced back. From her tone, he could tell she doubted him. Shaking his head, he let out a sigh.

“I was a young Lieutenant, attached to a Starfleet cultural exchange program. We spent six weeks living in Andoria’s northern territory.”

“You were assigned to this exchange program?”

“I volunteered.”

Thala’s eyes widened in surprise, once again; she was genuinely astonished that a Vulcan had volunteered for anything concerning an Andorian.

“Then you were most fortunate,” she said with a genuine smile.

“How do you figure?”

“You have seen the beauty that is Andoria,” she replied proudly. “Few off-worlders…particularly Vulcans have seen our majestic planet.”

Soma’s brow furrowed. Turning around in the pilot seat, he looked directly at Thala.

“We are talking about the same planet aren’t we?”

Soma noticed Thala’s antennae rose, a clear sign of heightened emotion in an Andorian.

“You were not impressed by the wondrous sites?”

“What sites?” he said. “It’s a frozen wasteland.”

Thala’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped open in disbelief.

“I should have expected as much from a Vulcan!” she snapped. “You cannot possibly appreciate my home world.”

Soma shook his head. “Oh yeah…I particularly didn’t appreciated waking up each morning and having to defrost my toothpaste with a blow torch.”

Thala scowled at him. “No doubt you prefer the dry heat of your desert world.”

“Actually, I never cared much for that climate either,” he quipped. “You’ve seen one sand dune, you’ve seen them all. I was always partial to my father’s home on Earth, a place called Florida. It’s a tropical environment.”

“Oh, that’s right - you’re a half breed, aren’t you,” she said with a sly smile.

Soma’s brow went up slowly. He wasn’t sure if she was baiting him or purposefully insulting him. One thing he was certain of, he never cared for the term half-breed. He’d heard it enough times as a child. It had become a word, which provoked a heated response from him. If Thala were a man, Soma would have responded in an appropriate manner. However, Thala was not a man …a fact he was well aware of. His father had always taught him to never hit a woman …even if she deserved it.

Soma relaxed, sitting back in the pilot’s chair. If she wanted to play rough, he could more than accommodate her. “You should know all about half-breeds - considering you’re one yourself.”

Thala leapt up, anger filling her face. “How dare you!” she yelled, balling her hands into fists.

Soma held up his hand, pointing a finger at her. “Thala, daughter of Shran and Marta,” he said reciting. “Approximately twenty seven standard years ago, then Commander Shran of the Andorian Imperial Guard married artist, scholar and pacifist Marta of Tenla province. A marriage that raised more than a few antennae. As I recall, Andorian society doesn’t look favorably on its citizens fraternizing outside their respective classes, let alone marrying outside of them.”

Thala gritted her teeth. She was very close to strangling Soma. It was taking all her resolve not to wrap her hands around his throat.

“Andoria abolished the caste system over thirty years ago.”

“Yes,” nodded Soma. “I remember reading something about that. I also remember reading that although it’s no longer officially endorsed, it’s still commonly practiced.”

Thala straightened. Her antennae were up and her cobalt blue eyes burned with anger. Soma was quite certain that if he had been any closer to her, she would quite probably have killed him – or at least tried. Her noble Andorian honor had been smeared.

“A sub-lieutenant?” remarked Soma “You should be a commander by now. But Andorian society doesn’t look favorably on ‘dorme’ – untouchables; that’s what your people refer to you isn’t it. You're by your father’s side because no other self respecting Andorian captain would have a ‘dorme’ on his ship.”

Thala’s lip trembled at the word – dorme. The anger she had felt was overwhelmed by shame. She wouldn’t let Soma see her this way. Turning, she looked away from him.

“Why are Vulcans so cruel?”

Soma looked down. “Why do you hate me so much?” he asked.

“I do not…hate you,” she replied hoarsely. “But I do not trust your kind. Vulcan’s are duplicitous and without honor.”

Soma laughed in spite of himself.

Thala turned back, looking at Soma angrily. ”You find that humorous?”

“I should introduce you to Tav. He’s my security chief…a Tellerite. He said the same thing about Andorians.” He said smiling at her. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have laid into you the way I did. But you shouldn’t have called me a half-breed. I don’t like the word anymore than you do.”

Thala looked at Soma blankly. He was right. She had been equally at fault, calling him something she herself loathed and despised being called.

“I-I apologize…captain,” she said in a respectful tone.

Soma stood up and walking over to Thala. Looking into her eyes, he gave her a warm smile. “Apology accepted…sub lieutenant.”

They both locked eyes, staring at one another. For long moment, the compartment was filled with only the pulsing sound of the ship’s engines. Soma wondered what was going through her mind. He knew damn well what was going through his own; that was one direction he needed to steer clear of for both their sakes.

Clearing his throat, he moved the conversation to more pressing – and safer matters. “So what do you think we will find?” he said moving back towards the pilot’s chair.

Thala gaze followed his movement. She wasn’t certain, but she believed she had caught the redoubtable captain in an awkward moment. He certainly was making an effort to put some distance between them.

”I do not understand.”

“Don’t be coy with me sub-lieutenant,” said Soma. “I didn’t buy your father’s story about needing to retrieve some forty year old military probe for the good of the Federation. If you know what your government really wants from that probe then I suggest you tell me now and not later; for both our sakes.”

Thala studied Soma for a moment. From what she had read about him, Soma was not prejudicial about Andorians. It hadn’t made her trust him any more than other Vulcans, but she found his animosity curious.

“Why do you distrust my father so?”

Soma looked at her. He wasn’t sure if she was genuinely ignorant or just wanted to hear it from him. “Because of your father, a man I cared about died…needlessly.”

“Admiral Archer?” said Thala.

“Yes,” he replied flatly.

“My father was cleared of any wrong doing by the Federation Council. Have you chosen to place your own view before the wisdom of the council.”

Thala waited for an answer. She wanted to know why Soma still held her father responsible for the Admiral’s death. Although she had never met Archer, she had heard her father speak of the human on many occasions…always with respect and affection.
The fact that someone would hold him responsible for Admiral Archer’s unfortunate death seemed to border on the absurd.

Soma’s silence was all Thala needed. The man had deep issues, which he wasn’t going to share with her. And why should he? She was a stranger and worse…the daughter of the man he blamed…rightly or wrongly…for his mentor’s death.

“To answer your question,” she said. “No, I do know any more than you regarding the probe.”

Soma looked back at her with a hard stare. “Then you better hope your father doesn’t count us as being as expendable as Admiral Archer.”

Chapter 4

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Eight hardy souls have made comments

nice. really like soma but how many species of women is he going to go through? First Klingon and now andorian? where's the vulcan? anyway what happened to A. Archer? are you gonna update soon I hope so. Happy Muses

VE...

I hadn't always intended for Soma to be scoring so many alien babes, but quite frankly there is a discernable abscence of "action" on Enterprise.
I thought it fitting that Soma make up for the dry spell. ; )

Vulcan? He already had one...well...almost. She got killed. Her name was T'Cel. She was in the first few chapters of "Enemy of the State".
Q

I think next you should have him score with a Borg! LOL... I'm j/k! Nice chapter... here's to hoping for more very soon!

There's always 7of9...I actually had an idea for Soma to visit Voyager while it was in the Delta quadrant. Maybe I'll see about fleshing the idea out.
Q

I do like this story and the Vulcan/Andorian interaction. But are all Soma's reactions to women based upon sex? I don't mind Thala's relationship being based upon sexual attraction, because I am enjoying this dynamic, but at some point Soma's sexual response to every woman will get old.

I'm glad that Soma isn't into hitting women physically - I dislike that as well. Here's hoping he feels the same way about verbal abuse.

Myst...
I think he is a very sexually charged man. Being a Vulcan, all his emotions are much more powerful. He may not act on all of them, but they do exert a very strong influence on him. So yes...he does enjoy the company of women.

Will I always write him that way? No...you're right, it will get old; even though I try to give a different angle to each female interaction. With the Klingon, he was in a more submissive role(in over his head really). With T'Cel, the Vulcan, he was on equal footing. With Thala...well, we'll just have to see what happens.

As far as hitting women...neither Trip nor Soma strike me as men who would hit a woman for any reason. They have a chivalrous, gentlemanly code that prohibits that.
Q

I dunno Quills... everyone's banged Seven! LOL... oh wait, that's only in slash! Well then, never mind! Please work on it! Me lovin' the Soma stories!

Like the Seve of Nine idea. She's my second favorite next to T'Pol. or is it the other way.... anyway so long as you dont abuse that attracted to women part that's cool. and i hope you bring back T'Cel- its a time travel story so its possible.