A Surprise Meeting

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 13003.06

05 July 1969)

 

The lunch break was almost over when John returned to the work

area of the VAB (Vertical Assembly Building). Suddenly he received a

message in the ear bud he was wearing (and had almost forgotten about)

to report to a nearby picnic area for a meeting. 'What is this about?' he

wondered, looked around for a quick second, but no one was paying any

attention to him, so he casually went to the side door of the assembly area,

and let himself out. There was a path that led through some trees and

ankle-deep weeds which he had learned led to the park.

 

He went over to a vending machine that was in close proximity to

the door, bought himself a Pepsi-Cola (in a can), and began walking down

the path to the picnic area. He arrived a few minutes later, and noticed

some of his shipmates had already arrived, and were taking things out

of a genuine picnic basket, laying them on the table. John shook his

head in slight amazement, and went over to an adjoining table that was

more or less under some trees next to the area. He sat down on the

shady side of the table, and took in the scene. After a few moments, he

was joined at the table by ship surgeon Gretchen Hanson, who seemed

as bemused at the situation as he was. She sat across from him with her

back turned to him.

 

After a moment or two, Hanson turned and whispered to him, "So,

what do you think of all this?" John looked at her for a few seconds, then

whispered back, "How in the world these people made it out of the 20th

century is beyond me, Doctor." Commander Zach Murphy then cleared

his throat, and said, "Looks like everyone's here. All right. Hope you all

managed to get settled into your new roles. We should begin with an initial

status update. Would anyone like to go first?"

 

As Murphy was talking, Hanson whispered to John, "Actually, I'm

more concerned about US making it out. I mean, look at us; does this

little group stand out like a sore thumb, or what?" Randall considered a

moment, then whispered, "Hm, now that you mention it....." He never got

the chance to finish what he was saying; apparently Commander Erica

Rinax had overheard the doctor, and looked at her. "Is this a major security

concern you were talking about, Doctor?" she asked a little coldly. Everyone

gave Gretchen their full attention, and it was clear the doctor was not pleased

that her whisper had been overheard. "So much for a small private aside,"

she said, and shrugged. "So...yes, Commander, I am concerned."

 

"Ok, Doctor, give it then," snapped the first officer. "We have a short

amount of time, and all urgent concerns must take precedence over general

updates." Hanson took a breath, and said, "Well, our number one concern

is going unnoticed by these people. If I were on the outside, seeing this group

all huddled together, with armed guards, I'd certainly be suspicious of

something." "Concern noted, Hanson," said Rinax coldly. "Anything else?"

Gretchen sat back against the table, and said, "I guess not, then." John

thought to himself, 'Apparently I'm not the only one who has caught on

that Rinax is becoming a cold fish.' Murphy quickly said, "Thank you for

your concern, Doctor. Ok, go ahead, Erica." Rinax said, "Don't hold back;

we have a short amount of time. Any other urgents before we get to the

standard updates?"

 

Starfleet Marine Corps Captain Cassidy Granger stood. "Commander

Murphy, I'm going to echo the doctor's concern, sir. All due respect, it might

not be a good idea for group updates. We are a disparate group, and the

standard coms unless absolutely necessary might be the best approach, sir."

Murphy nodded and said, "So noted. We'll conduct future updates at our safe

house, then." Major Kimiko Johnson chimed in. "I'm going to have to agree."

Granger said, "Aye, Commander," and seated herself. Murphy said, "Go ahead,

Commander." Rinax looked at him coldly, then said, "Fine; I'll continue." As

she gave her report, John sipped his drink. 'This is turning out to be a colossal

waste of time,' he thought. Rinax finished her report and said, "Who's next?"

John thought, 'I'm gonna get this over with.' He stood up quickly, and said,

"My report is short and sweet. Nothing out of the ordinary; though I'm not really

sure what the 'ordinary' is, at this point." He sat down as Rinax said, "Thanks;

next?" John gave her a cold nod, and sipped his drink.

 

As other reports were given, John sat sipping his drink, and staring out

at the small pond by the park. He wondered if this same pond was still next

to the now Cape Canaveral Space Museum, at it was known in the 23rd century.

If they got through this mission, the next time he visited Earth, he might have

to fly by this place, and see for himself. The meeting broke up a few minutes later

as Rinax dismissed everyone, and John tossed his can into a wastebasket next

to his table. As he began to walk back to the VAB, he brushed by Hanson,

whispering to her, "This was a waste of time." He walked on, not noticing the

doctor's reaction. He had almost gotten to the beginning of the path when he

heard the doctor's voice behind him. "John, want to walk a bit?" He turned, and

smiled at her. "Sure, catch on up, Doctor."

 

Gretchen came up beside him, and said, "Lots of new people, John. I need

some wisdom from an old face." Randall smiled down at her, and said, " 'Old' face,

huh? Ok, shoot." She made a wry face at him, then said, "Well, I'm certainly not a

security expert, but I can't see how a bunch of us gathering like a flock of geese

isn't going to attract attention; the kind our supposed adversaries wouldn't notice."

John nodded. "I couldn't agree more, Gretchen," he replied. "I thought that was why

we had a house, to hold meetings like this. Anyway, we've only been at this for just

over a half a day. Way too soon for anything significant, in my book."

 

"But not too soon to mess things up if we're not careful," said the slightly

agitated doctor. "It took me most of the morning just to get into position at the

medical facility. Women's lib is just taking hold this decade, and for me to present

myself as a doctor is a tough sell. Then to have to say 'well, gotta go to lunch'

didn't sit well, either." Randall nodded and said, "I bet it didn't. Are you okay besides

that?" To his surprise, Hanson brightened noticably. "Yeah. I couldn't have had an

easier cover. I can actually carry on a conversation without worrying about giving

myself away." John grinned at her suddenly light air. "It is nice to at least be in your

own field, isn't it?"

 

The doctor suddenly stepped close to him, and took him by his upper arm. "How

are you with all the new security people?" she asked a little urgently. John blinked at

the sudden change in topic, then guardedly said, "I'm okay with it, Gretchen. I've met

most of them, and they're top notch Marines, and seem to be pretty good people.

Why do you ask? Is something wrong?" The doctor said, "I don't doubt their abilities,

John. Perhaps that's what bothers me. I feel like we're a bit firepower heavy on this

mission." Randall regarded her for a moment, then said, "Well, the way I look at it,

we're on terra igcognito. I'd rather be a bit heavy than to discover the hard way we're

not; you know?"

 

Gretchen nodded resignedly. "Perhaps it's just my 'do no harm' doctor's thing,"

she smiled at him. "I'm always up for more stealth and finesse rather than force. I just

have a bad feeling that someone is planning on needing that force." John nodded.

"This was a very violent time period, Doctor. It's almost 100 years before World War

III; the one where humanity finally came to its senses." Hanson regarded him a moment,

then said, "But no one seems to be thinking as our opponents would. I mean, if they're

from the future, they're probably not going to make an open assault. It's going to be

subtle, with some stealth and finesse." John nodded and said, "That's why we have to

be extra alert on this mission. If they use something we recognize, to others from this

time period, it will seem like pure witchcraft."

 

The doctor frowned at that statement. "If they can time travel, I bet they're better at

it than we are," she said. "They would have the same timeline info we do; if not more

detailed." John nodded, likewise frowning. "That's one of the worries on my mind," he

admitted. "We know nothing about these...terrorists, for want of a better term." Gretchen

said, "Maybe that's something that should be brought up at the next meeting back at

the house." She glanced at a wrist watch she was wearing. "Rats," she said. "I need to

be going. Thanks for the talk, John." Randall smiled and said, "Me too, Gretchen. Any

time. Have a good rest of the day." He lifted a hand to her, and started down the path

toward the VAB. He ruminated over the conversation he had had with the doctor. She

appeared to share a lot of the worries and concerns he had about this mission. 'I guess

I'm not the only one having bad feelings about this,' he thought. This kind of company

was not what he really wanted (or needed) at this time. He wasn't the only one who was

hoping things would improve. This mission was off to a shaky start, and the little

meeting they had just had, in his opinion, had only made matters worse. 'We keep

on like this, someone's gonna get suspicious,' he thought. A scowl came over his face

as a very unpleasant thought entered his mind. 'And if somebody screws this mission up,

and I don't get to see my mother again, I'm gonna be somebody's worst nightmare come true,'

he vowed. That thought affected his mood the rest of the workday. The other technicians

thought he had received some bad news, and gave him a wide berth.

 

He got off work at 6:30 that evening, and was a little glad it was Saturday night. He

called a cab to take him to the safe house. He arrived, went straight to his room, changed

into civvie clothes, went to the kitchen to get a bite to eat, and went back to his room. He

turned on the radio, tuned in a local rock 'n' roll station, and ate. After eating, he stretched

out on the bed, listening to the '60s music play. After a while, he noticed he was really tired,

changed into his pajamas, turned off the radio, crawled into his bed, and went to sleep.

 

 

END LOG