Enroute

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11409.16)

 

John had just awakened from a nap in his cabin (he had inadvertently nodded off while watching a movie on his holovid player) when a voice came over the comm at his computer terminal. "Ja'Lale to Randall," it said, and John moved over to the terminal in a hurry. "Randall here," he said. "Lieutenant, report to my ready room in five minutes," the captain said. "Aye, sir," answered Randall, and the captain said, "Ja'Lale out."

 

John closed down the comm, and hurriedly went into the bedroom to change into a duty uniform. He then left his cabin, and walked quickly down the corridor to the turbolift. "Bridge," he said as he entered the car, and the lift sped off. A few moments later, the lift arrived, and he exited the car. He stepped onto the bridge, and strode across the upper portion to the captain's ready room.

 

He pushed the button on the door panel for the chime, and heard a voice say, "Come." John walked in as the captain looked up from his chair where he was seated behind his desk. "Ah, Lieutenant Randall," he said. John nodded, standing at attention. "Oh, sit down, John," Ja'lale said, waving toward the empty chair. "Thank you, sir," replied the lieutenant as he took a seat.

 

"John, I called you up here to hear about your meeting with Admiral Baldwin," continued the captain. The assistant chief engineer nodded. "I thought as much, sir," he admitted, smiling slightly. "I take it he tried to recruit you again," said Ja'Lale, and John nodded again. "Guilty as charged, Captain," he answered. "Well, fill me in, Lieutenant," said the captain, and John took him through the details of the meeting.

 

Ja'Lale sat staring at him for a few seconds after John had finished. "Well, he really gave you a pitch, didn't he?" the captain asked, a smile playing at the corners of his beak. "I have to admit, sir, I was intrigued," John said, and Ja'Lale actually did smile this time. "Of course you were," he said gently. "That's his job, to 'sell' you on the mission. But, I am curious about one thing, John," and he leaned forward, his gaze now squarely fixed on his engineer. "Baldwin could have just pulled rank, and taken you away from us. Why did he want you to clear it with me? Why did he feel that he needed my permission to let you go on that mission?"

 

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" asked Randall, and Ja'Lale nodded. "Sir, you remember what happened on the first mission they 'borrowed' me for," John said, and the captain nodded, a frown appearing on his face. "All too well, Lieutenant," he said. "We were without your services for close to two months, as I recall." "That's correct, sir," replied Randall. "The second one went better, but I was injured in it as well." Ja'Lale sharpened his gaze at that revelation. "I wasn't aware of that, Lieutenant," he said. John shrugged. "It was just a minor disruptor burn, sir, nothing serious," he said. The captain nodded again. "Yes, I read your report about that," he said. "You were lucky on that one, as far as I'm concerned, John." "That makes two of us, sir," smiled Randall, and the captain smiled with him.

 

"Sir, I think that, especially after the first mission, Baldwin felt responsible for what happened to me. He practically admitted it to me when he recruited me for the second mission. So, I think that, because of those circumstances, he wants your permission before he 'borrows' me from now on. I told him how you felt about it, and he said not to worry; he would contact you on my behalf should it be necessary to do so," John concluded.

 

Ja'lale said, "He has taken sort of a personal interest in you, hasn't he?" John nodded. "He and my father were colleagues, so he says. I don't remember ever seeing him around Dad, but my father never brought his work home with him, so to speak," he said. Ja'lale nodded. "So, you're leaving the decision up to me, then?" "You are my commanding officer, sir," replied the engineer, and the captain smiled. "Well, then, here is my decision: you will stay aboard Challenger; we have a mission of our own to fulfill. You are a valued officer of this crew, and I need you in engineering. Are we clear?" "As a bell, sir," answered Randall. "I will inform Baldwin of my decision," said the captain. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant." John stood up, came to attention, and said, "Sir." He then turned, and strode toward the door. Just before he reached it, the captain said, "Lieutenant." John turned, and Ja'lale said, "I know Starfleet Intelligence thinks pretty highly of you. Rest assured, you are thought of the same on this ship." "Thank you, sir," replied Randall, and the captain nodded, turning his attention toward his computer.

 

John exited the room, and as he strode across the upper portion of the bridge, he briefly met the gaze of the first officer, Commander Erica Rinax. She arched an inquisitive eyebrow, and he nodded, smiling a little. The first officer nodded slightly back to him, then turned her attention toward the viewscreen. Just before he entered the turbolift, John also caught the gaze of the navigator, Lieutenant H.G. Reed. He gave her a quick smile, which she returned, then he entered the lift. "Deck 12," he said, and the lift sped off.

 

END LOG