Comrades Once More

[J. Shamor 0]

Kat walked into engineering with her head held high. She knew that she was being watched not just by the Captain but by all of the crew as well. Some of which she wondered if even they wanted her back. She had to prove herself capable as well as stable for this mission as well as stable enough to remain on the ship. It still felt odd to her that she was asked to come on this mission to begin with but she knew she was the best for the job at hand. She spoke up seeing Jon standing near the computer looking over something. "What have we got so far Jon?" she asked walking up next to him looking over his shoulder.

 

Jon is reviewing the current telemetry on the planet's surface to find the safest way to extract the probe. Given the current amount of interference generated by the local minerals alone, using the transporter does not guarantee success. "Even if we boost power to sensors it might not be enough to get through. There has to be another way to get to it but the question is how," Jon said thinking aloud. He turns his attention to Kat who has just entered the area. "Good thing you showed up, perhaps two heads are better than one as the old saying goes."

 

"Do you have any other ideas on how to get it out?" Kat says looking at the info.

 

Motioning towards the current scans "using the transporters is going to be iffy, do you think we should take a different approach?"

 

Kat looked to his face seeing his concern. "Do you have a way that we can either increase the power to the transporters, or enhance the field at all?"

 

"To get an exact lock, even with boosted power, is no easy task to say the least. Maybe we should look at it from a different perspective." Thinking for a moment, "what about the shuttles? They could get close enough to where the probe could be towed back via tractor beam."

 

"That's a possibility. Will it take more than one? Or will one be enough?" Kat says looking back to the scans.

 

Checking the scans, more specifically the specs on the probe, then nods with approval. "From the looks of it we can pull it off with one shuttle. There might be one problem about it, the changeling. If it's alive and present on the planet, it could cling to the probe as we are towing it back to the ship. We would have to be careful."

 

"Extra careful. We could do a residence scan of the probe to see if there is anything out of the ordinary about it. That SHOULD pick up if there is one aboard." She then thought to herself 'hopefully'.

 

"Sounds like a plan. Besides, I have security measures in place to detect and contain one if it gets aboard. I'm not taking any chances on this mission." Pointing at his armband as proof that he's not taking any chances.

 

"I don't blame you and I do not want any chances being taken either. Shall we call the captain and give him the news?"

 

"You can tell him" Jon transfers the information to a PADD and hands it to Kat. "I'm going to make a trip to the shuttle bay to have one prepped and ready to go on a moment's notice."

 

"That will be fine Jon, Inform me when you're ready. I want to go with you on this one." Kat takes the PADD and looks it over real fast then heads for the doors. "I'm heading to the bridge."

 

"No matter what happens, it's good that you're back," Jon said with a smile on his face.

 

"Thanks Jon. That means a lot. I was wondering if anyone trusted me or not. I'll do my best for this ship as I always have. Let me know when you're ready." Kat turns back towards the door with a reassuring smile on her face. The first one since she came back.