602

            “Nevertheless, the closer we can be, the better the data will return. It will be millennia before another such event occurs. The nitrogen build up is increasing exponentially.”

            “Don’t take this the wrong way, T’Pol, but if I’m headed for Eta Carinae, I’ll be going on Discovery. I appreciate the offer,” Archer added.

            “Discovery is not a science vessel.”

            “Discovery has something Endeavour doesn’t,” he said, recognizing he had a perfectly valid reason for calling Discovery to his use. T’Pol’s expression changed from perfunctory to accusatory. Vulcan or not, he saw through her attempt to hide yet another emotion. “Besides most of the fleet, the Klingons, even the Romulans, will be sending vessels as close as possible in the next month. This ship or that ship, we’ll all be out there, what difference does it make?”

            “Precisely. I would think you would, however, want to be one of the first deployed and therefore the closest to observe the hyper nova. Time could be of the essence.”

            “I understand. Archer out,” he said with a smile, closing the channel. He loved T’Pol, but not enough to forgo sleeping in the same bed with his wife, science vessel or not. The galaxy was beautiful from any bridge. A moment later the com chirped at him.

            “Hey, my Honey, did you hear the news?”

            “I was going to ask you the same thing. Eta Carinae! I presume Discovery’s coming home?”

            “Captain Mitchell promised, but it will be another month. How are Branni and Annaa?”

            “They miss you, like I do. You’re not coming now?”

            “Captain said October. You should ask him. I’m the doctor, not the navigator. I miss you, too.” Behind her someone called her name and she looked back quickly. “I have a patient, I have to go.”

            “We can talk later, call me tonight.”

            “I’ll try,” she said. Then to someone in the room, she laughed “I’ll be there in a minute.”

            “Go,” Jonathan said to her. “Goodnight.”

            “Goodnight, and to the children, too.” The com cut off abruptly. There was nothing left to do at the office but call Captain Mitchell, which could wait until tomorrow. So Jonathan headed home via the 602.

            “There’s a lot of military pressure coming from Andoria.” Captain Martinez flagged Archer down at the table before he could get to the bar. “It’s their new year coming up, and the two parties are fighting. It’s getting polarized.” It was only a moment before Lorelei spotted him and came over. “What’s the Imperial Command scuttle?” Martinez asked Archer. Archer did his best to ignore Lorelei’s provocations.

            “Just whatever’s on tap,” he directed to her. “It’s nothing new. Every few years it’s the same thing. There’s those that want to be the Federation’s military, some want to stay out, some are on the fence. I try not to pay a lot of attention to their squabbles and look out for Earth’s needs.”

            “Jon, I was over at IME last week and I didn’t see Riaan. Did she go back to her planet?” Martinez was taken aback at the barmaid’s boorish comment, especially directed at Admiral Archer, of all people.

            “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were part of our conversation,” Archer told her. He’d been quite clear that the brief encounter between them was long, long over and done. He thought she had more discretion than to say something about his personal life in front of another officer, much less in the bar.

            She left the table without any more conversation. While Archer and Martinez discussed Andorian politics, she returned and set the glass firmly on the table. Her heavy make up almost left a ghost behind when she left. This time Martinez gave Archer a curious look.

            “Old news,” was all Archer said in response.

            You don’t think she put anything in that, do you?” Martinez chuckled, nodding at the glass just as Archer was about to drink from it. He hesitated, then laughed as well.