On The Outpost

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11410.26)

 

John assisted Ensign Sabin in setting up the portable generator for his use, then enlisted the help of the two engineering ensigns to begin repairs on one of the generators on the outpost. He called the ship, and had some tools beamed down to help in the repair work. Some 45 minutes later, the engineers finished installing the new panel, final calibrations were made, and ensign Thomas hit the "on" switch. The buildings that were still haphazardly standing lit up with light as the power was restored to the section of the outpost where the away teams were investigating.

 

John told the ensigns to return to Challenger; he himself would stay behind and work on the antiquated oxygen supply tanks. The engineering ensigns beamed back to the ship, and the assistant chief engineer dialed his comlink to the suit frequency. "Randall to Rinax," he said, and the executive officer responded almost immediately. "Rinax here," she answered, and John gave her a status report. Rinax gave him permission to try to restore the air supply to the outpost, and John signed off.

 

He walked over to the building which housed the tanks,and took out his tricorder. After scanning a few moments, he located the valves to the tank, and began repairing them. About an hour later, he finished, and looked over to the gauge. It told him that the tank was operating, and there was air going through the lines to the other buildings. He waited a few minutes longer, then unsealed his helmet, and cautiously took it off. The air was a little stale, but it was breathable. He took his suit off, and was surprised that the building wasn't really that cold. He took his communicator from his belt, and contacted Rinax again, giving her the news. She thanked him for restoring the air supply, and he signed off.

 

John walked over to the second tank, and began repairs to it. About ten minutes later, however, he became more and more convinced that he was being watched. He whirled, and stared out into the darkness. He deliberately stepped over to the switch on the wall, and turned off the lights. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he suddenly saw what he thought was a humanoid shadow standing beside a wrecked building some 10 yards away. He drew his phaser, and whipped out his communicator. "Randall to Rinax," he said in a low voice. "Rinax here, what's wrong, Randall?" she answered. "Commander, I think I'm being watched, and I believe I have spotted who it is," he reported. "I am in pursuit. Randall out."

 

He flipped his communicator closed, unaware that Rinax had tried to respond to his report. He dialed the volume down on the device, and left the building, making his way stealthily toward the shadow. He made his way around several piles of rubble, then came to an abrupt halt as he glimpsed the shadow he was chasing standing beside a building some five yards in front of him. He remained motionless, watching the shadow from his position.

 

A few moments later, John cautiously peered around the corner of the pile of rubble which was his hiding place again, but, to his consternation, the shadow had disappeared. He muttered a curse under his breath, and broke from his cover, moving swiftly to the corner of the building. He arrived at the spot, but stopped abruptly as he saw a body lying on the ground a few yards in front of him. He approached the body, which was intact, and lying face down. He knelt down and turned the body over. There was an insignia on the left breast of the uniform; it appeared this had been some kind of officer, possibly the commander of the outpost.

 

Just then, his communicator beeped; he flipped it open, and heard the voice of Commander Rinax. "Rinax to Randall," she said. "Please return to our location so we can all go back to Challenger safely." John answered, "Commander, you might want to come to my coordinates. I think I just found the ranking officer of this outpost." "Pull back and hold your location until we get to you," the first officer replied. "No going alone today, everyone goes home."

 

John answered, "Acknowledged, Commander, I'll stay put. Randall out." As he flipped his communicator closed, there was a slight rustle to his left, and Lieutenant Dyan Sylvanis walked into view. She nodded when she saw John, then stopped as she saw the body on the ground. She looked over to Randall, and said, "Friend of yours?" John nodded back to her, and simply gestured at the body. The Marine lieutenant walked slowly around the body, touching the helm of her suit every few seconds; John knew she was sending images of the body up to Challenger for analysis, and received confirmation of that a few seconds later as Sylvanis spoke into her suit comlink. "Challenger, images coming your way," she murmured, and John gave the lieutenant plenty of room to do her work.

 

He didn't know the new lieutenant very well, so he made no attempt to engage her in conversation. About all he knew of her was she had the reputation of being a very, very good pilot. She and Hunter Matheson were the security officers of the away team, and she had been the pilot of the shuttle that brought the away team to the outpost. Rinax's voice then came over his communicator again. "There seems to be some confusion here," she said. "I need confirmation on the person near Randall. I'm getting two different answers. Please confirm and report."

 

She then said, "Randall, we are coming up on your six." "Acknowledged, Commander," John replied. "Lieutenant Sylvanis is at my location as well." A few moments later, the away team arrived at his location. Rinax walked up to him, and whispered, "Where are you seeing this body?" John pointed to it, and said, "Here, Commander. The body is quite dead." The first officer nodded, and and began issuing orders, taking charge of the situation. The ship's doctor, Gretchen Hanson, knelt down, scanning the body with her tricorder. John asked, "Doctor, I would inquire if you are picking up an energy signature from this body?"

 

The doctor straightened, and turned to him. "Not a thing, Lieutenant," she said. "Just ran out of O2." Rinax had overheard, and, after issuing an order, looked at John. "What's this about an energy signature?" she asked, and the assistant chief engineer replied, "I was only wondering if he had come into contact with a Klingon disruptor, but apparently not." Rinax nodded thoughtfully. "I see; thanks, John," she said, and Randall nodded. The first officer then ordered everyone back to the shuttle; John raised a mild objection, stating there might not be room for him, and he would beam back. Rinax told him since the other two engineers had beamed back, there would be room for him. John nodded, and the away team returned to the shuttle.

 

They took off from the outpost, and arrived back at Challenger a few minutes later. John exited the shuttle, and made his way to the turbolift. "Deck 3," he snapped as he stepped in, and the lift sped off. It arrived a few moments later, and he exited, striding down the corridor toward his cabin. He arrived, the door swooshing open as he neared the entrance. He stripped off his uniform, and went to the head to take a shower. Twenty minutes later, he stepped out, toweled off, and went to the bedroom to change into a fresh uniform. He completed dressing, and left his cabin, heading to the officers' mess just down the corridor, intending to grab a bite before returning to duty.

 

END LOG