Civilized Savages

By Didi

Disclaimers: Star Trek is owned by the late and great Gene Roddenberry. I own nothing within this story except the improbable idea behind it. Paramount owns the rights to the show and I do wish they would run of the wonderful reruns of the older series. Please don't sue me cause I have no money and will have to pay you in lint.

Summery: When one of their own goes missing, Enterprise crew goes on a search as to why.

Acknowledgement: To my darling Julie who loves Star Trek and is always willing to listen to me either rag or rave about episodes. Always know that you're opinion is more important than the stupid producers.

RATING: Rated R for content.

Note: I know that Enterprise hasn't been on television for long and the characterizing of the characters on the show may not be accurate but it's the way I see them. Bear me with here as I attempt to give some life to this.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Eleven

~~~~~~~~~~

Klingon Warbird Kollarg

"Is it wise to keep the woman onboard?"

"We have not the luxury of leaving her anywhere."

"Perhaps..."

"No. We will not do that. I gave my word."

The conversation did not end there and Hoshi would have screamed in frustration if she could. Who would have thought that anyone would be in the mass hall after hours? The massive amount of snoring that she heard as she went through several corridors had assured her that she would not be in much danger of running into anyone while she got a little snack. She must be getting more accustom to this rough environment for her appetite was coming back by leaps and bounds.

Klaang and Neto, one of the older warriors, caught her completely by surprised as she crouched behind the large counter, under which was where she found bread and some strange crackers. It was too late for her to make her presence known to them when they started to talk.

"She is a 'humon.' You need not keep your word to a..."

"My word is my honor. I would not dishonor myself or my house to convenience this ship."

"Do not allow your sense of honor to endanger this ship and crew."

"You would have me break honor and have my men question my word when I give it."

There was a grunt. "You are stubborn."

"As all Klingons are."

Hoshi was more than a little startled by this. If she didn't know better, she could have sworn that was a joke.

"She will need to be kept in the brig when we...."

"No."

"Klaang..."

"I said no. She has proven her worthiness, we will not treat prisoner."

"Klaang..."

"Do not nag like an old woman."

"Your mother would make much offense to that."

The young ensign clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Good grief, these guys were joking like Reed and Trip did sometimes.

"The woman will stay in her quarters and out of harm's way. It will take us no more than a few hours to crush the Kocklonds. Once that is done, we will find her people and return her to them." Klaang grunted.

There a brief moment of silence, in which Hoshi prayed that they would go away and allow her to search the pantry in peace. But not such luck was in stored for her. For some bizarre reason, the Klingons have a bad habit of being unlucky for her.

"You can save much trouble and just keep the woman."

"And do what with her?"

"You are a warrior, need you ask that question?" There was a guttural laugh that turned Hoshi's belly upside down and inside out. Even if they weren't looking at her, she could still feel her face become infused in heat.

"She is weak."

"She is stronger than she appears," that got a real surprise from Hoshi. It was an assumption on her part that other than Klaang and maybe M'Pai, the others thought of her as weak and frail. Now to Neto say it... well, it certainly does alter her opinion of these people...but only very little.

Klaang made a non-comment sound then said, "Lucudur and Frukra have both asked for her. There is to be a challenge after we have rid ourselves of the Kocklonds."

Hoshi frowned, not at all sure what that meant.

Neto laughed with great amusement. "So the boys have taken to her. Have you told our guest that."

"I doubt she would welcome the idea."

"They are both young, make great warriors one day."

"Perhaps," there was sound of goblets being dripped I into wine barrels, reminding Hoshi that she was still hungry. "But she is humon."

"You think that high council will not approve."

"I do not think our guest would approve."

"Have you told her?"

"No, and I will not." The door to the mass hall hissed opened. "She will leave soon, she needs not know."

Then the door shut and there was silence again. Hoshi stayed behind the counter for a while longer until she was sure that they were really gone before crawling out and heaving a sigh of relief. "What the heck was that all about?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Enterprise - Engineering

"It's like hitting them with a baseball," Trip explained happily. The four hours of work got all his senses humming like a well-oiled machine. "They won't even see it until it hits them in their pretty little behinds."

"Literally," Reed added, forcing his face to stay completely professional and neutral in the face of his extreme pleasure. "We just need a go-ahead from you, Captain."

"And please say yes," Commander Tucker placed his hands together in an eager plead.

"Okay, let me get this straight." Archer paced around the conference table. "The 'ball' is a alloy of iron, nickel, steel and sulfur. And it's going to be the size of a volleyball aimed at their rear flank ship toward the exhaust engines."

"Right," Reed pointed to the chart on the table. "The beauty of it is that our little ball isn't something that most ships would be looking for in the ways of a weapons."

"We're going to hurl that sucker and watch it light up that last ship like fireworks on the 4th of July." Tucker grinned.

Archer nodded. "The Sulfur will be ignited once it hits the exhaust."

Reed nodded. "Yes sir."

"And if they were to shoot at it, they'd still give themselves away." Archer reasoned slowly, allowing his mind to see all the angles. "And if they were to move the ship?"

The chief engineer shook his head. "No way they can move all three that quickly."

Archer nodded his head again, his mind wrapped itself slowly and eagerly around the idea, just imagining the memos he was going to get from Starfleet over this little stunt. "T'Pol?"

The Vulcan science officer looked at the three eager faces and knew that she was going to be over-ruled no matter how she put it. "May I remind you, Captain that that there are other options to..."

"But will this one work?"

Those exotically cool eyes met the captain's steadily. "Yes." She pronounced slowly, drawing out the word.

Archer's brow raised for a moment. "I hear a but."

T'Pol tilted her head. "But only if someone can aim it correctly."

The captain's lips curled into a grin. "Mr. Reed..."

"It would be my supreme pleasure, sir."

Civilized Savages
By Didi

Disclaimers: Star Trek is owned by the late and great Gene Roddenberry. I own nothing within this story except the improbable idea behind it. Paramount owns the rights to the show and I do wish they would run of the wonderful reruns of the older series. Please don't sue me cause I have no money and will have to pay you in lint.

Summery: When one of their own goes missing, Enterprise crew goes on a search as to why.

Acknowledgement: To my darling Julie who loves Star Trek and is always willing to listen to me either rag or rave about episodes. Always know that you're opinion is more important than the stupid producers.

RATING: Rated R for content.

Note: I know that Enterprise hasn't been on television for long and the characterizing of the characters on the show may not be accurate but it's the way I see them. Bear me with here as I attempt to give some life to this.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twelve
~~~~~~~~~~
Enterprise - Bridge

"Mr. Reed," Archer called as he rounded his seat with the first light-hearted step he's taken since his communications officer disappeared unexpectedly. "Tell me you and Trip have got all your little ducks lined up in a row. I'm looking forward to whatever you can give me right now."

"As soon as Commander Tucker loads the 'missile' into the torpedo bay, we're good to go, Captain." Reed nodded his head and exchanged quick glances with Mayweather. The young pilot looked ready to bounce out of his seat with excitement.

"Good, then we should..."

"Launch bay to Bridge." Trip's heavily accented voice called through the intercom.

"Bridge here." Archer raised in eye brow and looked at the less than amused Vulcan at her post. "Talk to me, Trip."

"We're ready down here, sir." The happiness in Trip's voice was more than a sign that they were eager to get this display on the road.

The Captain nodded his head and looked toward armory officer. "Then we're ready to rock and roll, people. Malcolm, if you please..."

The usually serious-faced officer cracked a smile and turned to his panel of dials and knobs. "'Missile' away."

All those that had a screen before them watched as the tiny object traveled at an incredible speed toward its target. Everyone held their breath, not sure if they wanted the plan to work or fail. On the one hand, if it failed, the chances of them engaged in combat would be greatly decreased but they would still be missing a highly qualified linguist. On the other hand, if it worked, they could be looking at.... That option never manifested itself in any shape or form.

The explosion turned out to be not quite as spectacular as they had hoped for but more than enough to give off a flare that any dark-aged vessel would be able to pick up on long range sensors. Crossing fingers and toes, the crew waited with abated breath.

"Captain," T'Pol every cool even voice cut through the tension. "The Klingons are turning about."

~~~~~~~~~~
Klingon Warbird Kollarg

Hoshi's sensitive senses felt it when the ship dropped out of impulse and turned about. Her heart raced for a moment, just for a brief second, she thought Klaang had changed his mind and was going to drop her off somewhere while he went to fight his battle. But no, she knew that was not possible, the Klingons wouldn't care enough to about her to do that. Their empire was at stake here, and god only knows she understood that.

The doors to her quarter slide open with a hiss and Frukra stepped in with an arm full of armor. "The captain would have you changed into clothes that will protect you in an attack."

"What?" Hoshi was sure her ears were paying tricks with her. He did no just say...

"An attack, we engage in battle now!" The firry look in Fruka's eyes reminded Hoshi that the Klingons were a warrior race, no matter their sophisticated system of economy, culture, or language.

Taking the heavy armor from the young warrior, she almost collapsed under the enormous weight of it all. "Holy cow, I hope you don't expect me to wear all this."

"It will protect you from..."

"I won't be able to walk much less defend myself in this." Hoshi made a face and dropped the whole pile on the ground. "No thanks, I think I'll take my chances with the leather and metal."

The look in the man's face did not bode well for her. But if there is one thing Hoshi has learned in her little 'visit' with the Klingons, it is they may right and wrestle with one another, but when it comes to her they were not so rough. But then again, there sheer size usually gets her to do what they want.

"You will wear the armor."

She frowned. "I will not!" She crossed her hand over her chest and stared up at her, amazed at her own audacity. "Besides, what you do care? If I die in this, it would save you all a trip in taking me back to my ship."

Frukra frowned darkly at her and opened his mouth to say something, fortunately for Hoshi, Klaang choice that moment to enter the room. The formidable captain of the ship frowned at the pile on the ground. "You will wear the armor to protect yourself."

The young ensign often felt like she was talking to herself when it came to communicating with these people. "Those things must weigh fifty or sixty pounds at the least. I won't be able to move if I have that on." She sighed and sat down on the uncomfortable hard-back chair. "Thank you for thinking about me though. I know that you are probably very busy with..."

"You will come to the bridge after you have put the armor on." Klaang announced without so much as looking at her. Picking up the armload of metal and leather, he thrust them in her lap again. "You will tell the Kocklonds why they are dying this day."

There was a moment there that she thought for a mili-second that he might have been joking with her. But that moment came and passed without much effect. "Let ma get this straight, you basically want me to declare war with these... these.... Kocklonds. You want ME to declare war for you."

"You speak the language well."

"I don't want to."

"You will."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will." Klaang said forcefully and turned to the younger warrior. "She will change and come up to the bridge."

"Am I even in the room any more?" Hoshi said through tightly clinched teeth. Her anger did not have much to back it up but she did possess a temper. "Didn't I just say that..."

Klaang turned to pin her with his dark eyes. "Your Captain has come for you."

That shut Hoshi up nicely.

"Once we are finished, you will be returned to your ship."

She digested this slowly. Captain Archer and the Enterprise crew had come for her. Her, a little lowly ensign. How... sweet! Glancing down at the armor. "I'm going to need help getting to your bridge."

Frukra grunted something non-commenting and nodded his head. "I will take you."

She nodded and unzip the front of her jumper. As she pealed back the jacket, she glanced up to see that both men were watching her. "Do you mind?"

~~~~~~~~~~
Enterprise - Bridge

"Captain," T'Pol turned from her observation viewer. "The Klingon ships have altered course and moved themselves into battle formation."

"Look like your signal flare worked, Mr. Reed, Trip," Archer nodded his head. "Now let's see if we..."

"Sir," Reed's eyes narrowed. "Third ship on tail-gaters have turned toward us. I think they've detected us."

"You think?" Mayweather asked as he pulled the ship to the full stop. "Captain, maybe should..."

"Shields up," Archer ordered, his voice going from soft teasing to all seriously in two point two seconds. "Weapons on stand by. Don't shoot until you can see the whites in their eyes."

"Now is hardly the time to quote American history," Trip frowned and adjusted the energy output on the shields. Frowning, he got up. "I'll be down in engineering keeping us flying if you need me."

"Go ahead," Archer sighed and leaned back into his seat. "Let's see how this is going to play out cause right now we appear to be in somewhat of a ...."

"Captain," Ensign Williams called quietly. "We're getting a wide-band transmission."

"From where?" Archer moved to get out of his chair.

"The Klingons, sir."

Civilized Savages
By Didi

Disclaimers: Star Trek is owned by the late and great Gene Roddenberry. I own nothing within this story except the improbable idea behind it. Paramount owns the rights to the show and I do wish they would run of the wonderful reruns of the older series. Please don't sue me cause I have no money and will have to pay you in lint.

Summery: When one of their own goes missing, Enterprise crew goes on a search as to why.

Acknowledgement: To my darling Julie who loves Star Trek and is always willing to listen to me either rag or rave about episodes. Always know that you're opinion is more important than the stupid producers.

RATING: Rated R for content.

Note: I know that Enterprise hasn't been on television for long and the characterizing of the characters on the show may not be accurate but it's the way I see them. Bear me with here as I attempt to give some life to this.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirteen
~~~~~~~~~~
Enterprise - Bridge

"Somebody get me a translation of everything Hoshi just said!" Archer growled in frustration. The first sign they've had that their communications officer is alive and well and she's spouting gibberish to them.

"Sir, it's not a language in the archives." Ensign William said in a near panic. The whites of his eyes were showing, revealing more of his fear than anything else could. "I cannot find anything that even comes close."

"Then you better hope she didn't give the order to blow everyone up," Archer said sarcastically and turned to T'Pol. "Can you give me anything?"

The ever-calm science officer merely nodded. "I believe Ensign Sato was speaking Kocklond."

"What the hell is that?" Mayweather muttered just a little too loudly.

"That would be... the 'space pirates.'" T'Pol explained with an arched brow. "It would appear the semi-truce the Klingons and the Kocklonds have had for some time now is at an end."

"You think?" Archer asked unnecessarily. "Tell me anything else you may have slated as classified before now. We need everything there is to know about these..."

"Captain," Reed's eyes were on the instruments before him. "I don't think now is the time for a quick briefing on our little 'friends' out there."

"Why?" Annoyed beyond belief.

"I'm showing energy spikes all over the place. They're definitely charging weapons, sir." Reed moved around his station, allowing another officer to take over tactical. "I think I'd be more effective down in armory, sir."

"Go!" Archer said quietly as he took his seat. Heaving a sigh, he sat down in the command chair again and prayed that his ship and crew made it out of this in one piece.

~~~~~~~~~~
Klingon Warbird Kollarg

"Ahhh!" Lucudur grabbed her arm and kept her upright before Hoshi had a chance to disgrace herself by falling on her ass. Grabbing his hand, she took a deep breath before thanking him.

The young warrior did nothing more than shove her against the wall by his station before turning back to monitor the weapon's output. From Hoshi's vantage, she could see that this was not the kind of battle she ever wanted to be caught in. While the Klingons had the speed and sleek Bird of Prey, the other side had heavily armed vassals that were doing some real damage to the small ships.

"Shields!" Klaang roared above the hum of the engines.

"Eight-six percent and holding." Fruka called out.

"We should outflank them." M'Pai advised quietly from the side.

Klaang nodded his head in agreement before punching a panel that allowed for communications with the other ships alone.

Hoshi lost track of the conversation as the ship was rocked by another explosion and she had to hang on to the side of the wall for support while sparks exploded around her, showering the control room for a brief moment with light. The bridge of the Klingon ship was every bit as cramp and dark as the rest of the ship. She got the feeling the only thing bright to these people can in the form of battle-axes dripping blood of the enemy.

The sudden screeching sound from around her alerted Hoshi to the fact that that hit was stronger than the others. Warriors that could possibly dubbed as engineer rushed around the room, putting out fire and re-routing power to controls. Through the various grunts and shouts, Hoshi understood that their main deflector shield had sustained damage.

Klaang gave an order at a near roar and the rest of the bridge crew joined in. The sound emanated from the throats of these massive giants can only be described as a war cry. It took a moment for Hoshi to decipher the meaning behind the howl and another minute for her to shake herself out of the stunned stupor.

~~~~~~~~~~
Enterprise - Bridge

Travis Mayweather rolled out of his seat as the entire ship took a sudden dive to the right. Scrambling back into the control, he prayed that no one else saw that the pilot had been toss from his position.

"Ensign Mayweather!" Archer's voice carried over the hissing of the fire extinguishers. "Tell me that's not going to happen again!"

"Sorry, sir," Travis said as he pulled the ship upright in time to avoid another torpedo from the enemy. "I didn't even see it..."

"Mr. Jankins," the captain's head twisted around to pin the young tactical officer. "Keep our pilot on alert of possible bogies."

"Yes, sir." The poor officer looked like the admiral himself had just reprimanded him.

Punching a button on the panel by his chair, he growled, "Mr. Reed, we're getting the stuffing knocked out of us up here. Where are the weapons?"

"Sir, we are..." The launching of a torpedo from their torpedo bay cut off Reed's voice. "Torpedo away sir."

Archer rolled his eyes but smiled as the missile made contract with the ship chasing them. "Thanks for informing me after the fact."

"Any time." Reed's voice was cut off once again but this time by a rather urgent Commander Tucker.

"Hey, what's going on up there?" Trip called rather indignantly. "I've got my people running around like mad down here."

"We're just getting rid of some unwanted company, Trip. Hang on tight and get your people to the emergency stuff. We're still not out of the woods yet." Archer answered. "Mr. Reed, please make sure that our guest find the backdoor wide open to them."

"Will do, Captain. Just let me..."

"Torpedo in route!" Mr. Jankins called out with wide eyes.

"Mayweather!" Archer instructed.

"Not going to make it in time, sir." Travis answered even as he maneuver the ship away from the incoming missile, giving the target the least amount of surface to hit.

Archer tapped the ship-wide intercom. "All hands, brace for impact!"

Civilized Savages
By Didi

Disclaimers: Star Trek is owned by the late and great Gene Roddenberry. I own nothing within this story except the improbable idea behind it. Paramount owns the rights to the show and I do wish they would run of the wonderful reruns of the older series. Please don't sue me cause I have no money and will have to pay you in lint.

Summery: When one of their own goes missing, Enterprise crew goes on a search as to why.

Acknowledgement: To my darling Julie who loves Star Trek and is always willing to listen to me either rag or rave about episodes. Always know that you're opinion is more important than the stupid producers.

RATING: Rated R for content.

Note: This was written before last night's episode, "Sleeping Dogs," so I didn't know that the Klingons don't have any life pods. So please cut me some slack!
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fourteen
~~~~~~~~~~
Klingon Warbird Kollarg

"Ramming speed?!?" Hoshi shouted at the top of her lungs over the roar of the engines and the hissing of the live wires hanging everywhere. "Are you people nuts!"

Klaang turned to look at the young ensign with deep eyes that seem to be considering all the options in the world, except the one that would reverse their present course. He pulled M'Pai over to him and said something too softly for Hoshi to hear as she made her way over to the Captain.

"You cannot possibly mean to do something so... so...." She didn't know the word for 'suicidal' in Klingon, so she opinioned for something equally applicable. "Something so stupid!"

M'Pai grinned at her. "It is a good day to die."

Hoshi stared at him opened mouthed. "It is not a good day to die!" She turned to look at the captain of the ship. "You promised to return me to my ship. How can you do that if you are dead?"

Klaang nodded his head and motioned to M'Pai who merely nodded his head and grabbed Hoshi by the arm. "We return you to your ship now."

"What?!?" She turned her head and got one last look at Klaang as he watched them go. "What are you people talking about?!?"

~~~~~~~~~~
Enterprise - Bridge

The blinding light had everyone on the bridge, and everyone throughout the ship for that matters, shielding their eyes from the intense blaze. It was so bright that the pain it caused for anyone unfortunate enough to be looking out a space portal to suffer some retina damage that Dr. Phlox would be treating for the next week to come.

"Missile intercepted, sir," Reed called out through the intercom, one of the few people that had been safely shielded away from the light. "One of the Klingon's Bird of Prey fired an intercept beam."

"Really?" Archer asked, surprised as hell. From where he was sitting, the Klingons, though holding their own, certainly didn't look to be any position, not to mention inclination, to help them out. "Anyone want to speculate why they would..."

"Incoming message," Ensign William looked up clearly startled. "Klingon lead ship, sir."

"Put it through."

The massive head of wild hair and sharp teeth appeared on the screen only long enough to growl out a few incomprehensible words to...no, at Archer before abruptly cutting off.

Turning to Ensign William, who was scrambling through the computer translating the message, Archer did some growling of his own. "What the hell was that?"

Ensign William took an extra moment to double-check himself. "He said, 'Pick up your woman.' Whatever that means."

"Captain," T'Pol's cool voice carried smoothly through the near panic of the other, younger crewmen. "The Klingon lead ship has release a life pod."

"They've what?" It took a moment for Jonathan to understanding what the Vulcan was saying. "Scan for..."

"It is humanoid. Earth human to be exact." She answered smoothly and with a slight tilt of her head.

Archer's eyes lit up like a kid's eyes at Christmas. With a quick twist of his lips, he touched the intercom. "Trip, I need you to..."

"Way ahead of you, sir." Trip called out through the system even as he raced toward the shuttle bay. "We can try the grappling. It's safer than putting another ship out there."

"Agreed," Archer said nodded his head. "Get Mr. Reed to assist you with that."

"Shouldn't he be at the armory in case..." Trip suggested.

"The Klingons appear to be giving the life pod and ourselves plenty of cover." T'Pol answered quietly.

Reed's voice came through clearly. "Give me two minutes."

"With the kind of fire being used out there, Hoshi may not have two minutes." Archer called out. "Mayweather, can you get us any closer?"

"Yes, sir," Mayweather answered as he pushed the ship closer to the life pod that was moving steadily toward the Enterprise.

The rest of the crew held their collective breath at the sound of the grappling hooks shot from their bays, reaching desperately for the small pod. The first one miss by a mere three feet, but the second one caught. Strong magnetic forces clasped together and everyone sighed as the small object was pulled into the safety of the shuttle bay.

Archer waited until the shuttle bay door closed before giving his next order. "Trip, get her to Dr. Phlox." He smiled as he turned toward his pilot, "Ensign, I think maybe we should be leaving this little domestic dispute. Get us out of here at warp..."

"Captain!" Hoshi voice came through the intercom, a little shaky but definitely strong.

"Ensign Sato," Archer grinned, relaxing for the first time in a while. "It good to hear your..."

"We have to help them," Hoshi said urgently as commander Tucker helped her out of the life pod, which the Klingons had padded for her before literally stuffing her into it. "Klaang plans on ramming his ship into the Kocklond's ship." She winced as she forced her cramped up legs to move, with a concerned Reed and Trip following behind, both ready to catch her if she should fall.

"Hoshi, what are you saying?" Archer asked quietly, holding up a hand to stop Mayweather who had been inputting his orders, ready to high tailed it out of there.

"We have to help the Klingons." Hoshi said, having to shop when the heavy Klingon armor she was still wearing tripped her up. "Help me get this off," she pleaded.

Trip and Reed pulled the plating from the arm and shoulder, neither one brave enough to reach for the leg and chest guard.

"Hoshi, they abducted you and..."

"I know but they had their reasons." She was slightly annoyed with the fact that she was standing here having to defend the very people that caused her so many headaches not too long ago.

Reed was getting peeved over the fact that Hoshi was sticking up for those...those... "What possible reason could they have for..."

"Captain, the Kocklonds were trying to assassinate the Klingon High Council. Klaang and his crew were simply trying to prevent the massive destruction of their empire." Hoshi pleaded with Reed and Tucker with her tired eyes. "Please, I truly believe that the Klingons have been wronged in this."

Tucker groaned while Reed merely sighed. "Captain," the armory officer said rather reluctantly. "I think you might want to listen to her."

Hoshi offered a smiled of gratitude. "Thank you."

Reed shook his head and helped her toward the bridge once more. "Don't thank me, just don't make me regret sticking up for you."

"Ah can't believe we're doing this," Trip muttered darkly as he jogged along side them.

Archer turned in his chair the three officers came through the door. He raised a brow at Hoshi's new fashion statement but otherwise welcomed her back with a gesture toward her station, which was quickly vacated by a grateful Ensign William. "Mr. Reed, why don't you see about armory and Trip, get those shields running at full again. People, we're going in."