xxx

Shuttle Two has been waiting in the decompressed Shuttle Bay. There is not enough time to repressurize for them and depressurize the bay for Shuttle One. It's hot and uncomfortable, twelve grown men squeezed into a tight space, but nobody complains. They're all looking through the front window at the open maw of the bay, waiting on tenterhooks for Shuttle One.

There is a collective gasp of relieved surprise when Shuttle One appears over the horizon. The shuttle glides to a stop. The doors close and the Bay is repressurized. The field of stars outside changes as Enterprise goes to warp.

The Shuttle Two doors open and the men get out, stopping in their tracks as Phlox barges in with a gurney and orderlies. He rushes to Shuttle One, the door opens, a body is taken out. Cole disappears in a group of running orderlies. Now it is the turn of Shuttle One to empty itself of its occupants. T'Pol is still seating. The last woman turns to her "Need a hand, Captain?"

The Vulcan looks up, steels herself, allows a guiding hand. She's limping severely, stops at the shuttle door, trying to figure out how to negotiate the step down. Several hands are held out to her and she manages the exit. The crew forms a semi-circle around her.

And then they start applauding.

She's not sure what reaction is expected from her so she doesn't react. The irruption of Archer into the Shuttle Bay, Trip on his heels, is a welcome interruption. Except that they stop in line with the crew and join the applause.

She cocks her head to the side, her eyes wide with Vulcan confusion, and Trip can't help but come to her rescue. She looks like a lost bird when that happens. He comes to her side, taking her arm so she can use him as a crutch. He smiles at Archer, or tries to, half his face still swollen, "With your leave, Captain, I think we're both needed in Sickbay."

Archer is all business again, "Good. Debrief all around when you get back." He walks to the intercom, "Hoshi, give me a ship-wide channel," listens for her signal before he clears his throat, eyeing the crew in the Shuttle Bay meaningfully. "Attention all crew members, this is Captain Archer speaking. Everyone who was not prisoner on Aneukaria is on a mandatory eight-day leave starting immediately. I don't want to see any of you at your stations for a week. We'll manage. I repeat, eight days. Captain out." He pauses. "Oh, and I'm putting all of you in for a commendation." He shuts the connection, turns back around to the crew in the Shuttle Bay. They all need a bath, a change of clothes, getting back to normal. For him and the men it means getting back to work as soon as possible.

Trip is helping T'Pol hobble her way out of the Shuttle Bay. She stops as they pass Archer. "The Aneukarians?" she asks. "They were simply a people trying to survive," she adds, "Their actions were logical if ill-advised."

Archer stares at her for a couple of heartbeats. Only a Vulcan... Well, not only. Phlox too button-holed him on the bridge. But he can't let it be known, he'd have a riot on his hands. He lowers his voice, "I asked Phlox to beam down all our reserves of active male members DNA. It will give them a head start while we tell the Federation about the planet, see what they want to do." He winks at Trip, "We'll just have to replenish Phlox's inventory."

Trip raises his eyebrows at that, is reminded that half of his face is still hurting. He glances over at T'Pol, thinking about what he's going to have to tell her. She may argue with Archer to go back to Aneukaria and grab the DNA when she knows.

xxx

Captain's Log - The Federation is sending a diplomatic mission to Aneukaria. They have more scientific teams volunteering to take part then they need, it is not every day that one meets a race that only has a single sex. Operation Aneukaria has been renamed Operation Cole and Amanda Cole is being awarded the Medal of Valor. Archer out.