Covert Mission 3 - Log 4

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate May 24, 2161)

 

The mission team passed through the airlock and boarded the Columbia. An ensign met them as they came onto the ship, and requested they follow him to the cafeteria. He led them there, and they stepped in to be greeted by a man wearing a captain's uniform. He smiled as he arose. "You must be the crew sent from Starfleet HQ," he said, and John stepped forward.

 

"That's correct, sir," he said. "I am Lieutenant James Reynolds, commanding officer of this team." The captain stared at him. "Reynolds?" he said. "Are you the one who was on board the Melbourne?" John adopted a downcast expression. "I am, sir," he said in a low voice, and every eye in the room was instantly upon him.

 

John's cover story (provided by Hastings and Baldwin) was that he was to assume the identity of a Lieutenant James Reynolds, who was chief engineer of the USS Melbourne, a ship that been attacked by three Romulan warbirds in an ambush not far from the disputed area of space between the Romulans and Earth. The ship had been destroyed, and all aboard were assumed dead. The story was that Reynolds had become trapped in a alcove in the engineering department, and was discovered alive by a rescue and salvage team. He was taken to Starfleet General Hospital in San Francisco where he underwent numerous surgeries to repair his battered frame. Plastic surgery had been required to repair his facial features, and the Starfleet operatives that had been sent ahead of the mission team had been able to upload John's face and updated story into the main computer. John supposedly had spent nine months in the hospital, and was only now returning to duty.

 

The man wearing the captain's uniform stepped forward. "I am Captain Mark Sherman, Lieutenant," he said, placing a hand on Randall's shoulder. "It's a damned miracle you're still with us. I can see where they had to rebuild your face, you don't look anything like your previous ID shows." John nodded dejectedly. "Longest nine months of my life, sir," he said, and there was instant sympathy in the room for the man who was the sole survivor of the Melbourne.

 

"I can't imagine what you have went through, Lieutenant," said the captain. "But I'll bet you're eager to jump back into the fire, eh?" John looked up and met Sherman's eyes, his own turning ice-blue; the captain dropped his hand and actually took a step back from Randall as John assumed a very angry expression on his face. "You have no idea, sir," he growled, and everyone in the room looked at each other, even the mission members. John was allowing his natural hatred for the Romulans to come through, and at this point, even he didn't know if he was acting or if it was real anger.

 

Sherman then said, "Well, let's not waste any time then. I'll accompany you to engineering, Mr. Randall, I'm eager to see this new technology myself. Disperse your team, Lieutenant." "Aye, sir," said Randall, and he turned to face the mission team. "Major Hunter, take your team and assume your duties." "Aye, sir," said the blonde-headed Marine, and barked an order to her team. They left the cafeteria. Randall turned back to the captain, and indicated Sara Edwards with a gesture of his hand.

 

"This is Lieutenant Sara Edwards, Captain," John said. "She is your new navigator, and has an elementary knowledge of the new technology we are about to install." Sherman nodded to her. "Good to have you aboard, Lieutenant." "My pleasure, sir," she replied. "Take your station, please," said the captain, and Sara nodded. She caught John's eye as she turned, and he nodded at her. She gave a brief smile, and left the room.

 

John then turned to the big Andorian. "This is Shrav, Captain," he said. "He will be assisting me in the installation, and he is also representing the Andorian people." Sherman regarded the blue-skinned being, who was at least a head taller, and Sherman was about six-three himself. "Welcome aboard," he said. "We are indebted to your people for providing us with this technology." Shrav regarded the captain impassively for a moment, then said, "We are glad to assist you. Someone has been needed to step up and teach these people a lesson. Frankly, we were surprised it would be you pink-skins. We have watched you fight them for almost 5 of your years now, and we felt that, since you have shown the fortitude to clash with them, it was only right that we help put you on a 'level playing field', as I believe you humans put it."

 

Sherman glanced in surprise at John, who merely smiled. "Shrav has been around humankind for a little while now, Captain," he said. "He's actually starting to pick up on the nuances of our language." The captain shook his head. "Just caught me by surprise, Lieutenant," he said, his eyes never leaving the big Andorian. "It's a common reaction, sir," replied Randall. Sherman smiled. "I'll bet it is," he said. "Come on, let's get you two to engineering." "Aye, sir," said John, and he and Shrav accompanied the captain to the engineering department.

 

**********************************************

 

The three men arrived at engineering, and they stepped through the door. All activity stopped as the crew saw the captain and the strange human with him, then they were all taken aback as they saw the big Andorian. An officer stepped forward. "Captain," he said, wiping his hands on a cloth. "What's going on?" Sherman turned to John and Shrav. "Gentlemen, this is my chief engineer, Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omen. Jerry, these two are from Starfleet HQ. They're going to show us how to install and operate the new technology." Omen looked at the two men. "Just what are you about to do to my ship?" he said.

 

John said, "We're about to improve it, Commander. This technology will help you, or I should say, us, against the Romulans. This technology has been in development for the last year and a half," and the crew looked at each other at that statement. "It was classified at the highest levels," John continued. "That's why you haven't heard anything about it. Commander, we're about to make the Columbia the lead vessel in this war. Our technology that we have brought you today," and he paused for a moment, aware that every eye in the room was upon him, and every ear was listening.

 

"We are about to equip the Columbia with shield technology," he finished, and there was stunned silence in the room for the next ten seconds. Omen took a step toward John, his mouth open in disbelief. "Did-did you just say shields?" he whispered, and Randall nodded. "Covering the entire ship?" asked Omen, and John nodded again. "You can thank the Andorians for this, Commander," he said, gesturing toward Shrav. "If it weren't for their contributions, we'd still be in the labs trying to figure it out." Omen looked at the big Andorian. "I-I don't know what to say," he said, and Shrav returned his gaze.

 

"Your gratitude is evident, there are no words needed," he said in his deep bass voice. Omen looked at Sherman, who was regarding him amusedly, then let out a loud whoop. "Well, all I can say then is, it's about damned time!" he shouted, and the entire room began laughing. Sherman got them calmed down after a few moments, then said, "Gentlemen, I think we're ready. Let's see what you got." "Has our package arrived, Captain?" asked John, and Omen said, "Follow me." He led them toward the rear of the room where a huge box rested on a plastic pallet. John nodded. "That's it," he said. Omen grinned hugely. "Then I suggest we start work, Lieutenant," he said. "And, as of right now, you are the commanding officer here. I want to learn this backwards and forwards, so we are at your command, sir."

 

John nodded, glancing at Shrav, who was keeping a smile from appearing on his own face. "All right then, let's get started," he said. The box was opened, and Randall and Shrav began explaining the technology to a very attentive engineering crew, not the least of which was Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omen.

 

END LOG