An Unexpected Encounter

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11610.16)

 

John continued to oversee the engineering department on the training vessel Arizona. He was the chief engineer of the ship, having been 'volunteered' by Admiral Jason Baldwin, and had been warmly welcomed by the Arizona's captain, Amanda Russell.

 

The ship would be run mainly by recently graduated cadets from Starfleet Academy with a few seasoned officers acting as the command crew. John found himself to be the third-in-command aboard the Arizona as the chief engineer; only the first officer, Commander William Thomas, and the captain herself, Amanda Russell, outranked him, though Russell had told him in private that as far as combat/space experience went, Randall was second only to her; she had been in Starfleet for 7 years, and had risen rather quickly to the rank of captain that some were saying rivaled that of the rise of one Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

 

The ship was cruising along at warp 4 on the training cruise. John had invented a few small problems in engineering that might take place during a mission (and actually frequently did), and the cadets, for the most part, had handled the situations well, much to John's approval (and sometimes small amazement). He kept the captain up to date on the crew's progress, and Russell informed him she was pleased, and was very glad to have him aboard.

 

Suddenly, red lights began flashing, and the computer voice came over the intercom. "Red Alert, Red Alert," it intoned. John quickly ordered the suddenly frightened cadets to their posts as the captain's voice quickly followed the computer's over the intercom. "Battle stations!" said Russell. "This is NOT a drill! Lieutenant Randall, report to the bridge immediately! Russell out!"

 

John quickly punched the 'comm. "On my way, Captain," he said, then looked around for his second in command, ensign Mac Taylor. "Ensign, you have engineering," he said as he went over to Taylor. "Keep your wits about you, you've been trained for this. Take a deep breath, and make sure everyone does their job. Tell them not to ask questions, that can come later. You can do this, ensign, and I'll be on the bridge if you need me, but don't contact me unless it is absolutely necessary, all right?"

 

Taylor nodded. "I have command, sir," he said, and Randall smiled at him. He then turned and punched the department mic. "This is Randall," he said, and the department went silent. "Ensign Taylor will be in command while I'm gone. Obey his orders as you would mine, and he is here to help you. Do not badger him with questions about what is going on, he doesn't know any more than me at this juncture. Do your jobs, and we'll be fine. Randall out."

 

He smiled at Taylor once more, then left engineering and ran to the turbolift. "Bridge," he said as he entered, and the lift whisked him away. He emerged onto the bridge a few moments later, and went directly to the captain's chair, stepping down into the well. "Lieutenant Randall reporting as ordered, Captain," he said crisply, and Russell turned sharply to face him, an expression of relief briefly crossing her face.

 

"Lieutenant, glad you could join us," she said. "Hop over to the sensor array and tell me what you see." Randall nodded and went up the stairs to the station where a cadet showed him the image of a ship the sensors had recorded. John stared for a few seconds, then his face took on a grim expression, and he turned to face the captain.

 

"Unless I'm very much mistaken, or they have a new class of ship I haven't heard about, that looks very much to me like a D-7 Scout class vessel, Captain," he reported, and every eye on the bridge was fastened on him. Russell's face adopted the same grim expression, then she said, "And who does that class of ship belong to, Lieutenant?" John's eyes went ice-blue as he answered, "That would be the Klingons, ma'am," and some faces paled on the bridge as absolute silence descended.

 

Russell nodded, then slowly looked around the bridge. "Now you know why I ordered an immediate red alert," she said. She turned to face Thomas. "Commander, what I am about to do is in no way intended as a slap in the face to you, but under the circumstances, I am immediately temporarily promoting Lieutenant Randall to first officer," she said, and several eyes widened across the bridge. "It is for this reason only: he has more combat experience than you, and I want you to learn from him. I regret the circumstances, but no one could have foreseen this. Do you understand, Commander?"

 

Thomas, who had known all this in advance as it related to his lack of combat experience, simply nodded. "Understood, Captain," he said, and turned to Randall. "I look forward to learning from you, Lieutenant, and while you are the acting first officer, I will call you 'sir'." John immediately held up a hand. "There's no need for that, Commander," he said. "Let's just say we are the same rank for now. I am John, what do you like to be called?" Thomas smiled and said, "Bill will do fine." "Very well, Bill, let's get this bridge combat ready," replied Randall.

 

"You actually think it will come to blows, John?" asked Thomas as they got busy preparing the crew. "The Klingons take no prisoners, Bill," answered Randall. "They have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later. If you ever come across them, you better have your ship ready for battle. They may talk to you, but they never will if you don't show a position of strength; otherwise they just start blasting."

 

Thomas nodded. "I think I just got my first lesson," he smiled, and Randall grinned. "Whatever you were taught at the academy about the Klingons, it's all true and then some. They are all about conquest and the thrill of battle, it's just that simple," he said. Thomas nodded again. "I will keep that in mind from here on out, John," he said, and Randall nodded.

 

The captain had already ordered the shields to full power, and John went to the sensor array, helping the cadet scan for the Klingon vessel. Thomas moved around the bridge, instructing the cadets on what to do and how to do it, and Russell was secretly pleased at the way the first officer was responding. Suddenly the alarms blared again as the Scout class vessel shimmered into existence on the viewscreen directly in front of them, and the communications officer turned in her chair.

 

"Captain, we're being hailed," she said, and John immediately went to stand beside the captain's chair. Russell said, "On screen," then turned and smiled at Randall, and John knew she was very glad to have him there. The screen then showed a glowering Klingon face and some of the cadets involuntarily recoiled slightly.

 

"This is the Klingon vessel Tak'rall," said the Klingon. "Who am I speaking with?" Russell sat up in her chair. "I am Captain Amanda Russell of the Federation starship Arizona," she replied in a firm voice. The Klingon's eyes narrowed. "A woman," he spat, and Russell's eyes narrowed as well. "And don't you forget it," she snapped, and the Klingon's eyes widened.

 

"I will not speak to a woman," he snapped again. "I will address the human standing beside you." Russell looked up at John and nodded. Randall faced the screen. "This is Commander John Randall, chief engineer of the Arizona, and second in command," he said in an iron voice, and several of the cadets exchanged glances.

 

The Klingon's eyes narrowed again. "Commander John Randall?" he said in a puzzled voice. "We were not aware you had been promoted." Randall gave a savage smile. "Perhaps you need to upgrade your information network," he said, and almost every person on the bridge immediately placed their hands over their mouths.

 

The Klingon's face grew angry. "What do you know of our---?" he began, then thought better of it. "Ah, I see; well played, Commander," he said with an oily smile. "May I ask what business your ship has this close to the Neutral Zone?" John smiled again. "You may ask," he replied. "Who am I talking to?"

 

"I am Captain Kruden," replied the Klingon. John quickly said, "Greetings, Captain; now I will ask you, why are you in Federation space?" The Klingon's eyes widened. "I was not aware that we were," he stated lamely, and Randall quickly replied, "Then I would discipline my helm and navigational officers, Captain; they have led you to commit an act of war by invading Federation territory."

 

The Klingon's eyes bulged, and he immediately rapped out an order in Klingonaisse; a few moments later, he faced the screen again. "I have reprimanded my officers, Commander," he said. "If we agree to go back to our side of the Neutral Zone, will you agree to not fire on us?"

 

Randall made a show of considering it, then looked down at Russell. "What do you think, Captain?" She looked up at him, then at the screen, and whispered something to John. He nodded and replied in a whisper to her. She shook her head and Randall sighed deeply, then looked at the screen.

 

"My captain is not at all pleased that you have encroached upon Federation space, Captain Kruden," he said. "However, she feels that you may have some young officers on your bridge who simply made an error in their navigations. We have several young officers on our ship as well, and it is understandable that mistakes happen. She wants your word that you did not intentionally violate our space before she considers any action."

 

Kruden's eyes narrowed as he stared at Randall and Russell, then he nodded. "Very well, Commander, you may inform your captain such was the case," he said. John looked at Amanda, who nodded. "Then, Captain, you are free to return to your side of the Zone," Randall said. "Bear in mind, however, this encounter has been recorded, and will be forwarded to Starfleet Headquarters. Your ship has now been registered, and you will be watched. Good day, Captain."

 

Kruden stared at John for a few long moments, then the viewscreen went back to the view of space, which showed the Klingon vessel turning, then went into warp toward the Neutral Zone. There were audible sighs of relief on the bridge, and Russell stood up. "Stand down from red alert," she said, and the lighting returned to normal. She then turned to John.

 

"Well done, Lieutenant," she said. John quickly smiled. "Captain, I did not mean----," he began, and Amanda quickly placed her hand on his shoulder. "I know you didn't, John," she smiled. "I knew the Klingon would never talk to a woman, and I'm glad you were here. I think my first officer got some good training there," and she turned to Thomas, who gave a sickly grin.

 

"I'm glad Lieutenant Randall was here too, ma'am," he admitted, and the crew laughed gently with him. "And you're right, I got some valuable experience there. Not to mention I was scared to death the whole time," he said ruefully, and the crew laughed more loudly this time.

 

"As I think we all were, Commander," said Russell, and there were many nods across the bridge. "Except maybe the lieutenant here," she continued, turning back to John. "You had no fear whatsoever, John. You must have nerves of steel." Randall gave a small smile. "I actually had a fight with a Klingon, ma'am." he said, and silence descended immediately on the bridge, many of the cadets now gaping openmouthed at the chief engineer.

 

Russell's eyes had widened. "I'd love to hear about that, Lieutenant," she said. She turned to Thomas. "Commander, you have the bridge, and you are to resume your rank as first officer. Stay on the prearranged course. Lieutenant Randall and I will be in the ready room." "Aye, aye, ma'am," replied Thomas, and Russell and Randall walked to the left of the bridge through a door which slid open as they approached.

 

They walked into the rather spacious cabin, and Russell motioned John to a chair in front of a desk. She walked behind the desk and sat down in the chair behind it. "So, Lieutenant, tell me about your fight," she said. John said, "May I access the computer, Captain?" She nodded consent and John quickly pulled up the file that was available to the general public detailing his fight with the Klingon Krenn. Russell began reading and her eyes widened as she read.

 

END LOG