Shuttle Run

[Brian Graham 0]

Assistant Security Officer's Duty Log

Lieutenant Brian Graham Reporting

USS Excalibur

Stardate 200411.01

 

"How does it look?"

"Fine, everything is stable across the board."

"Good, I'd hate to get lost out here."

 

No one would. The Excalibur was currently on the fringe of an asteroid field, still searching for the Admiral. The one lead they had didn't go as far as they had hoped, fizzling out here in the asteroid field. While the Excalibur planned its next move, Brian had taken the opportunity to see how well the repairs had gone.

 

One of the Excalibur's shuttles needed repairs and Brian had helped out on it. Port thrusters weren't working and neither was the shuttle's access hatch. Both had been repaired in just under five hours and there really wasn't any other way to make sure that the repairs had been 100% effective. Since the Excalibur was near an asteroid field, there was no better opportunity than to test if a maneuvering thruster was working properly. After clearing the shuttle test with the Bridge, Brian and 2nd Shuttle Technician Keller took the shuttle into the field. It probably wasn't the best idea. The shuttle had checked out, but if something went wrong in the asteroid field and the shuttle was stranded, that meant the Excalibur had another rescue mission to deal with. Plus, if the ship found signs of the Admiral and needed to go, rescuing the shuttle would take precious time that could be critical.

 

I'd say let us stay out here Brian mused. If that situation did occur, he'd rather be left out there than be responsible for the loss of a high ranking, heck any ranking officer.

 

The hatch passed, that was evident when the shuttles atmosphere hadn't vented out into space as soon as the shuttle left the shuttlebay. The thruster would require more time, and that test would definitely be more fun.

 

"Hang on," Brian warned.

"Why? ... Gah!" Keller exclaimed as he was thrown back in his seat.

 

The shuttle whipped around to the right, circling an asteroid at high impulse.

 

"What was that for?!"

 

"Got to make sure the thruster can operate at that much power. Has the data come through yet?"

"Yeah, thruster performed optimally, well within specifications. Lieutenant, we've been out here an hour, don't you think the shuttle passed?"

"What, you want to go back already?"

"Preferably sir, that last maneuver sent my stomach spinning."

 

Brian glanced over, noticing he did look ill.

 

"Jeez you don't look good. I thought you would be used to shuttles."

"I am, as a technician, not as a pilot."

"Sorry, that's what I get for assuming, eh? Yeah we can head back, then you can stop by sickbay."

"Thank you, we have enough data to review, but looks like this shuttle will be ready for active duty. All that really is needed is for the Chief to approve it."

 

Brian brought the shuttle around and pointed it toward the Excalibur, trying to keep the shuttle as steady as possible. The shuttle had been fixed and it would be terrible to mess up the interior.

 

"Get us permission to dock will you?"

Several seconds passed as Brian lined up the shuttle's approach with the Shuttlebay on Deck 9.

 

"Bridge has cleared us on this approach, feeding coordinates to helm."

"Got them," Brian said, adjusting the shuttle to match the approach coordinates and slowing to 1/8 impulse. He stopped the shuttle at the designated the coordinates and cut the engines as the shuttlebay tractor beam took over. He sat up in his chair and looked out the forward window, scanning the surface of the Excalibur.

 

"What are you doing?"

"I always look to see if anyone is watching us out a window."

"Why?"

"I don't know, it's fun. Come here quick."

"What?" Keller asked, sitting up and looking to where Brian was pointing.

"We have an audience, wave," Brian said, sending a friendly wave to the person looking at the shuttle from the window of Deck 10. The person returned it and Brian sat back down in the chair and waited for the shuttle to dock.

 

"That's an odd tradition you have there Lieutenant."

"Hey, don't tread on me. See if I ever help you fix a shuttle again."