Author's Note: For those readers who are not familiar with the 'In a Mirror Darkly' espisodes of Star Trek Enterprise, this is an episode in which Archer and the crew are seen as they would be in a 'mirror' universe. Archer is a power-hungry jerk. These episodes (a two-parter, actually) puts the 'Ho' in Hoshi.
This is a work of fiction, although loosely based on two particular episodes of a popular sci-fi series. I own neither the series nor the characters; but I do own the work presented here. I have taken significant liberties with the characters, and hope you enjoy it!
Enterprise – the Other Side – Chapter 6
Session 2, the Competition Continues
Archer had recalled Trip and Malcom from their pleasure break on Jural 4 after T'Pol reported several bogies on long-range sensors. The two men had returned as quickly as they could, and
Defiant
was now at worp 6 only a few hours from intercepting what appeared to be a five-ship force coming from Starbase Delta 4. Sensors indicated two Vulcan ships and three from the Terran fleet, one of them being
Columbia
, commanded by an old friend – and lover – of his.
"We are in com range now Captain." T'Pol reported.
"Hail them subcommander." Archer replied.
"We have a response from Captain Ramirez on Columbia sir." she said.
"On screen." Archer commanded.
The lovely Captain Ramirez stared him down from the viewscreen. "This is a most distressing situation Jonathan." she said. "First you disobey orders regarding the Defiant, and now you have destroyed a Vulcan ally. I'm asking you as a friend to stand down."
"I'm not going to do that, Katherine. But I will offer you – and your friends – an opportunity to join forces with us." Archer responded.
"You know we cannot do that Captain Archer." She told him, getting more serious. "We have orders to destroy Defiant if you do not comply."
Archer laughed. "Don't fool yourself into thinking you can do that. You know as well as I do that Defiant's shields and armament is more than enough to defend against your attack and make you pay for your attempt." he replied. "I will give you the opportunity to change your mind; but don't get too close. My armory officer gets a little frisky with his trigger finger some times. I will need your answer before you enter weapons range. Archer out." he told her, terminating the communication.
"Senior officers report to my Ready Room." Archer commanded. "Ensign Mayweather, you have the bridge. Let us know if anything changes." he added, striding into his conference room followed by T'Pol, Trip, Malcom, and Hoshi who was acting in her role as communications officer once again.
"I need a fool-proof battle plan to defeat this force, and I need it right now!" Archer demanded, pounding his fist on the table.
"Sir, they have chosen their weapons platforms well. The two Vulcan ships are the newest in the fleet, equipped with Type 7 disruptors, while the Terran vessels have J-class Phasers and Photon Torpedoes." T'Pol told him. "Our shields are not currently capable of defeating all three types of weapon simultaneously." she added.
Archer pounded his fist again. "I did not ask for excuses why we cannot defeat them, subcommander. I am well aware of this small weakness. What I need is a plan to either eliminate the weakness or work around it!" he told them. "Trip, what do you have for me?"
"Cap'n, I believe we may be able to set the shields up in multiple configurations and have them – uh – layered." Trip replied.
"Think that'll work, T'Pol?" he asked, staring at her.
"I'm not certain Captain. We have not run any simulations to show the interaction between the layers in the event that an energy charge passes through one layer and is stopped by the next. It is possible that our hull would be subjected to a significant discharge." T'Pol replied, her usual thorough self.
Archer looked around the room. "It sounds to me like Trip may have a shield solution. What about weapons?" he asked, ignoring the risk proposed by T'Pol.
"As far as we know sir, they have no answer for our more advanced Phasers and Photons. Not even the Vulcan ships can withstand two hits from either one. The first hit will wipe out shields, the second will surely disable or destroy the ships. The Terran ships have nothing more advanced than what Enterprise had, and we know those weaknesses. One Photon strike and they'll be out of the fight." Malcom reported.
"Very well. If they have not responded by the time they are in weapons range, I would propose a first strike to disable the Terrans. If the Vulcan's pursue, we'll deal with them as well. Any questions?" he asked. Nobody responded. "Very well, let's do this people. Take your stations."
The team returned to the bridge, Jonathan Archer in the lead. "Yellow Alert!" came the command. "Report!"
"Five minutes to weapons range Captain." Travis reported, returning to his station at the helm console.
"No contact since your last conversation with Captain Ramirez." Hoshi reported.
"Tactical Status!" Archer demanded.
"Shields at maximum in tri-phase configuration sir." T'Pol reported
"All weapons charged and ready!" shouted Malcom, always proud to shoot and kill opponents.
"Hail Columbia." Archer ordered.
"Captain Ramirez responding sir." Hoshi said.
"On screen." Archer ordered. Again Captain Ramirez' face graced the viewer.
"Jonathan, you know we cannot acknowledge your offer. Orders from Terran Command remain as they were before – to destroy you and your ship if you do not stand down." she told him. Her face was sad – almost scared.
"I'm sorry to hear that Katherine. Good by." Archer said, terminating the communication. "Battle stations." he ordered.
The bridge lights dimmed, status panels flashing a dull red as the ship and her crew made ready for a fight. The bridge crew had practiced similar situations in drills designed to maximize their fighting efficiency, and they were ready.
"Weapons range in thirty seconds sir." T'Pol reported.
"Arm six photons and target the three Terran ships. We want this to be as quick as possible." Archer ordered.
"Photons armed and targeted sir" Malcom told him. Thirty seconds later he added "Targets locked, ready to fire on your command."