Identity Crisis

[Brian Graham 0]

Assistant Security Officer's Personal Log

Lt. jg. Brian Graham

USS Excalibur

Stardate 200407.05

 

Brian Graham shook his head, violently trying to clear the sleep from his eyes. The shuttle was currently on it's way back to the Excalibur from his recent visit to Klingon space. The trip didn't go too bad, but Brian had seen enough gagh to last him three lifetimes. Good thing he wasn't a Trill. On the return trip Brian had dozed off but was shaken from that sleep when the computer informed him the shuttle was being hailed. Brian swung his chair around to face the communication monitor and activated it, displaying a face of someone in Starfleet something, but no one he recognized. Brian did however recognize the four pips on the side of the man's uniform. "Captain," Brian said and began to stand up.

"Sit down Lieutenant. I'm sorry to interrupt your travels. Brian Graham correct?" the captain asked.

"Yes sir, is there a problem?"

"Not exactly, more of a favor. Word around the galaxy is you and the rest of the Excalibur is on shore leave, right?"

"Yes we are"

"Alright, that's what I figured. I'm not ordering you to do this, but Starbase 343 could use your services."

"My services? What do you need?"

"Nothing technical really. There is a Federation scientist in the Celes system and he has some samples that need to be delivered here."

Brian quickly looked at his navigation board, showing the shuttle about to pass quite close to the Celes system. Having Brian pick up the samples now would save the Starbase several days instead of it sending one of it's own shuttles.

"No problem Captain, I'll do it."

"Good, I'll inform Doctor Farmine your shuttle and approximate arrival time. Thank you Lieutenant, Starbase 343 out."

The Captain's face was replaced with the seal of the United Federation of Planets and Brian slightly altered the shuttles course that would have it arrive in the Celes system in seven hours. Going back to the Starbase would add another day to his journey but he would still be back before the Excalibur departed for the Gamma Quadrant.

 

"Shuttle Riley to Doctor Farmine, please respond."

Still nothing. Brian had been hailing the station for two minutes and hadn't gotten a response. No wonder Brian thought, looking out the shuttle's cockpit viewport. Celes II was a Class-K world, requiring the Doctor's base to be encased in a pressure dome. It also wasn't very friendly, continually plagued by ionic disturbances in the atmosphere.

"Yes, this....Doc....armine"

Blast, the disturbances were also interfering with communications. Brian boosted power to that system and the voice cleared up, but the image was still severely warped.

"Doctor Farmine, are you receiving?"

"Yes, that's better. Shuttle Riley? Excellent. There will be a window in the storms in seven minutes. You should be able to beam down then. I look forward to your arrival, transmitting coordinates. Farmine out."

The screen went dead, for the second time that day. The Doctor wasn't much for conversation, but that wasn't a problem, since Brian didn't really have the time to talk for awhile. Moving to the back of the shuttle, Brian quickly holstered a tricorder and a Type-II phaser, input the coordinates of the base into the transporter and waited until the storm cleared enough to beam out. After six more minutes, Brian activated the transporter.

Brian rematerialized in an office and caught sight of the Doctor sitting in a chair, looking at a wall monitor and working on something on a PADD. At the sound of the transport, the Doctor turned in Brian's direction. "Hello Lieutenant, welcome to--" the doctor paused when he caught site of the holstered phaser. "I don't think you need a weapon Lieutenant."

"Sorry Doctor, but this is standard equipment on an away mission."

"Of course, of course, you Starfleeters. Anyway, come this way."

Brian was amazed at how quickly the Doctor changed his attitude but dismissed it and followed the scientist through the base.

"Here we are!" the scientist yelled for some odd reason since Brian was right behind him, and opened a door into a work area. There on the table was a standard Starfleet carrying container.

"In this container is what the Starbase needs. It's actually a funny story this whole matter--"

Oh jeez Brian thought and kind of just smiled and nodded, hoping this guy would tell the short story. He didn't and the anecdote dragged on, and Brian figured he'd heard enough. Brian politely held up his hand "Doctor, I'm sorry to interrupt but I think I should be going."

"Going? Oh yes, your right, you'd better leave before the storms return."

"Return? How long was my window?"

"Fifteen minutes."

"Blast I need to leave now!" Brian quickly grabbed the container. "Nice seeing you Doctor, I'll get your sample to the Starbase immediately. Shuttle Riley, one to beam up."

Brian hoped he wasn't too late as he began to materialize, seeing the Doctor leave the work area. The answer came back quickly enough when he found himself back in the base.

"Oh no. Shuttle Riley boost all available power to the transporter system and beam me up."

Brian felt himself again materializing. He noticed the transport seemed to be taking longer than usual but was relieved to begin seeing the familiar interior of a Starfleet shuttlecraft. That is until the transport finished and Brain started coughing violently, barely able to breath. Brian dropped the case and moved over to the environmental controls, which read normal. Still hacking he stumbled over to the helm and went to input a course to the Starbase. It was the closest place he could go since the Doctor's base was already covered in another storm. Then Brian saw his hand, which was a distinct shade of blue.

"What?" was all Brian could say. He may have been seeing things since he couldn't breath well.

"Computer... ... set course for... Starbase 343, maximum warp. Send... distress signal.... requiring immediate...assistance."

Hopefully the computer heard all that because Brain blacked out.