Aftermath

[Cptn_Giovanni 0]

"Aftermath"

Log entry 50: 25 April, 2161

Sergio watched as the Challenger drifted helplessly in space next to the McKinely Station. By the skin of their teeth, they had sucessfully managed to fend off the Romulans and once again, save Earth fron a major threat from an alien race. But at what cost? His ship was severely crippled, adrift and still leaking plasma, Westler was dead, killed in action when a bulkhead fell on him, and his XO Commander DeGenza was fighting for his life in another explosion that rocked the Challenger before the Surak beamed them out.

 

The Vulcan captain ordered his helmsman to move closer to the stricken ship. A bright light emenated from the ship as the Surak's tractor beams grabbed hold of the Challenger. The ship was towed to Mars where grappling hooks from the spacedock facility orbitting the planet took it from the Surak after she dropped her tractor beam. That done, Sergio turned to thank the Vulcans. "Thanks awfully for all your help in assisting us against the Romulans"

 

"No problem, Captain" replied the Vulcan captain. "And might I say. You and your crew performed quite admirably out there. You have my respect" the Vulcan nodded and gave Sergio a salute. Sergio manipulated his fingers to return the salute. It hurt, but managed to pull it off. "Live long, and prosper" he said uneasily, hoping that was the correct line. It was, and the Vulcans nodded. "Live long and prosper, Captain Giovanni" replied his Vulcan counterpart.

 

Just then, the Sir Edmond Hilary pulled along side the Surak. Sergio was once again enveloped in a transporter beam and transported to the Hilary. "Welcome aboard, Captain" replied a Lieutenant at his side. "We're under orders to take you and your crew back to Earth" Sergio joined some of the other Challenger crewmembers that the Hilary beamed from the Surak and other ships. In relative silence, they made the short trip to Earth.

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

 

ONE WEEK LATER

 

Sergio walked down the corridors of the medical facility. He finally saw an information booth which was currently manned by a nurse. "is the Commander in here?" he asked. The nurse glaced up at the Captain. "Yes, he is" she said simply. Sergio thanked her and walked in. beyond closed curtains and security barriers, was the large metal stasis pod which contained Commander DeGenza. It wasn't the first stasis pod he saw, Captain Neptune briefly inhabited one, the reason why he took command of the Challenger in the first place four years ago. DeGenza was unconscious in the pod, as life support machines flashed and beeped in the background.

 

"Well, you did it" Sergio said. "I gotta hand it to you. Stayed at your post til the end. I've already lost alot of crew, but I hope you can pull out of this eventually. Thanks for everything" he said quietly. He felt a pang of guilt inside him. He wished he could have done more, but there wasn't anything he could've done. He didn't need no fancy psyciatrist to tell him that.

 

"I'm not sure what's going to happen next. Challenger's pretty beat up, and I don't know if Starfleet will decide to repair her or not. But I guess we'll see. Did great out there, and come out of this, eh?" Another nurse came in and told him that visiting hours were over. He nodded and walked out of the room, glancing at DeGenza's pod once again.