Covert Mission 2

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11402.17)

 

 

Admiral Baldwin and John materialized on the transporter pad of the Avenger. The two men stepped off the pad, and Baldwin led the way out of the room. He took Randall to his quarters aboard the Avenger, then told John to report to the conference room in ten minutes, and the admiral let himself out. John deposited his duffel bag on the sofa, and sat down, looking around the cabin.

 

'Well, here I am again,' he told himself. 'Wonder what this is about.' He got up and went to the head to freshen up. He then exited his cabin, and rode the turbolift to the bridge. He exited the lift, and strode across the top part of the bridge to the conference room. The door slid open as he approached, and he walked in to find three men staring at him.

 

John didn't know any of the men, so he simply nodded to them, and took a seat at the table. Barely a minute later, Baldwin walked in, and he was accompanied by a man whom John did recognize. It was retired Commander Alex Taylor, who nodded and grinned at Randall as the older man caught John's eye. Taylor sat down next to the engineer, and Baldwin remained standing at the head of the table.

 

"Well, I see we are all present and accounted for," he said with a grin. "Let's get down to it. This mission is classified by order of Starfleet Intelligence. I will now turn the floor over to Admiral Hastings." John raised an eyebrow, then turned slightly as Hastings walked in. The admiral nodded at the men, and took his place at the head of the table.

 

Hastings said, "Gentlemen, here is the situation. For a long time, we have suspected that the Romulans have managed to infiltrate our network of Vulcan contacts by posing as one of them. We now have solid proof that one of them has been found out. Computer, activate holoviewer." An image of a man's head appeared in the center of the conference table. It was the face of a Vulcan, or so you would think. "This is one of the infiltrators," announced Hastings. "He has been posing as Shrak, a confidential aide to Ambassador Shrvan. We have concrete proof that Shrak is indeed a Romulan.

 

"I cannot tell you how we came by this proof, as that is also classified," the admiral continued, and there were glances traded between the men. "Suffice it to say that he is at the top of our most wanted list, if you will. At the moment, we have a prime opportunity to capture him in Federation space, and that is the basis of this mission. Our trump card in this mission will be our engineer friend from the Challenger, Lieutenant John Randall," finished Hastings, and everyone immediately looked at the engineer.

 

"Lieutenant, this mission will have a personal meaning for you," said Hastings. "We have reason to believe that it was this Romulan, posing as Shrak, who was instrumental in blowing your father's cover on Romulus," he finished, and John could not believe his ears. He stared at Hastings, unable to speak. Hastings gave a small smile. "We knew this information would knock you for a loop, Lieutenant," he said gently. "But, you remember what I said to you that day you came to see me. I told you then I would continue the investigation into the matter of your father, and this is the culmination of 13 years of investigation. I want this," and he had to pause briefly to collect himself, "being as much as you do, John. That's why I had Jason bring you in on this.

 

"We have a plan set up, and ready to implement. We will be going to Vulcan, as that is where Ambassador Shrvan is now. He will soon be leaving for a conference on Earth. We want to apprehend the impersonator before the ambassador leaves, which gives us about five days. You have noticed there is a PADD before each of you on the table. The PADD explains your role in the mission. Please review it now." The men picked up their individual devices, and began reading. John's eyebrows climbed steadily as he read, and when he was finished, put the PADD down gently. He could not believe what he had just read, and looked up to find both Baldwin and Hastings staring at him. They both gave a small smile, and nodded to him.

 

After a few minutes had gone by, all the men were finished. Hastings looked around the room. "If there is any man here who does not want to be involved in this, this is your cue to exit the room now. Nothing will happen to you, you will simply return to your life." He waited a moment or two, but no one moved. He then smiled. "I had to know," he said. "Now, it seems some introductions are in order. Lieutenant Randall, will you stand, please?" John did so, and Hastings continued, "This is the man I mentioned earlier from the Challenger. This is also Lieutenant Commander Marcus Randall's only biological son." At that statement, the men all looked at Randall again, but this time, it was a different look, thought John to himself.

 

"John, you know the man next to you, of course," said Hastings, and John nodded, smiling down at Taylor, who grinned up at him. "The man next to Alex is retired Commander William Thomas," continued the admiral, and John nodded to Thomas, who returned it. "The next man is also retired, Admiral James Hughes," said Hastings, and John's eyebrows rose again at the mentioned rank. He nodded with respect to the former admiral, who returned it, along with a grin. "And finally, the next one is still in Starfleet," said Hastings, and a chuckle went around the table. "Meet Commodore Keith Janson, Lieutenant." John nodded to the commodore, who looked back at him. The man was older than John, and he soon proved it to the young lieutenant.

 

"Marcus Randall's boy," the commodore said, shaking his head. "The last time I saw you, young man, your daddy had you in his arms," Janson continued. "How old are you now?" "Thirty-five, sir," replied John, and the commodore's eyes widened. "Thirty-five years, my god," he said, shaking his head. "I am getting old," he finished, and the men laughed. Baldwin clapped Janson on the shoulder. "You're not ready to be put out to pasture yet, Keith," he said, grinning. Janson looked back at him. "I'm not so sure about that, Admiral," he said, and gestured at John. "It's the boys like him that make you take a long look at yourself. The first thing you think is: where the hell did the time go?" Another chuckle ran around the table. "I might just put in my papers after this one," Janson said moodily, and John sat down, Taylor patting him on the arm.

 

Hastings said, "All right, gentlemen, I believe we are in agreement. Operation Retrieve is hereby commenced. We'll set course for Vulcan, and put the plan in motion. So, you have time for a good, long sleep. Take full advantage while you can. I remind all of you again: this mission is classified. Dismissed." The men got up from the table, each pocketing their respective PADD. Baldwin caught John by the arm as the lieutenant was about to pass by. "A word, Mr. Randall," he said, and John nodded. The men all filed out, and Baldwin gestured for John to sit down.

 

Tha admiral sat next to him. "John, I would like to know your feelings right now," he said. Randall thought for a second, then looked Baldwin in the eyes. "A little overwhelmed, sir," he said, and Baldwin grinned. "I dare say you are," he breathed. "John, to be honest, we thought this day would never come. But Hastings was a bloodhound on this, and it amazes me how he found the Romulan chiefly responsible for the events that happened to your dad. I'm sure you've already had some vengeful thoughts run through your head," he finished, and John nodded. "I'd be lying if I said otherwise, sir," he said. Baldwin nodded. "Completely understandable," he said. "I would like to know for sure that you could keep your emotions in check during this mission."

 

John bowed his head for a moment, then looked the admiral in the eyes. "I can only promise to try, sir," he said. "Any farther than that, I can't go." Baldwin nodded. "Acknowledged, Lieutenant," he answered, then put his hand on the lieutenant's arm. "I wanted you here for this," he said gently. "I hope, after this is all over, that you and your family can finally put some closure on this." John nodded, but did not trust himself to speak. Baldwin looked at him a moment longer, then said, "Thank you for staying, Lieutenant. Go try to get some rest." "Aye, sir," said John, and got up, exiting the room. Baldwin stared at the door as Randall left, trying to put himself in the engineer's

shoes. After a few seconds, he decided he wouldn't want to be there, because he knew how he would feel, and probably act. He sat there ruminating on his thoughts as the Avenger jumped to warp, heading for Vulcan.

 

 

END LOG