Johnny was in the ship's armory preparing to accompany the away team that would install the new comm relay on Morristown. The discovery of the dead bodies had troubled him; Lieutenant Redinium's seemingly unfeeling urgency about performing an autopsy troubled him more. Violating the dead went against his most cherished beliefs.
But then again, he thought as he inspected his phaser, it was the Mullurans who did the real violating. An autopsy will allow us to put their spirits to rest once and for all. There. Reason triumphs! Johnny tapped his combadge. "Chee to Dr. Redinium."
[Go ahead, Commander.]
"I'm officially withdrawing my objections to the autopsies on the bodies. Under the circumstances autopsies are not only warranted but mandatory. How many bodies do you need?"
[I'm going down with Carter to retrieve Mr. Xander. To be thorough, we should retrieve an adult human female and any non-humans that may have been amongst the colonists, so we can understand whatever pathology may be occuring.]
"I'm going to detail a second Security team to accompany you, to assist in handling the bodies."
[Thank you, sir. Have them meet us in the shuttle bay in 45 minutes.]
Okay, that went well, Johnny though. He was still trying to get a handle on the new crew and wasn't quite sure just where he stood. The circumstances of his posting aboard the Hornet had become more widely known, and Johnny wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not.
He called the second team and directed them to meet Redinium and Carter at the shuttle bay. Meanwhile, he met the first team at the transporter and beamed down to the surface to meet the Engineering team setting up the relay.
The relay site was several kilometers away from the colony, in an area that as far as Johnny could ascertain wasn't better for much of anything else. It was rocky and dry, and offered only scrubby vegetation. They took their positions around the relay site in silence, directing their attention away from the engineers who were tinkering away with the delicate electronics and toward the horizon.
Three hours passed, and not so much as a tumbleweed moved against the background. "Welcome to the exciting world of Starfleet Security," Johnny said quietly to himself.
[Takashi to Commander Chee -- come in please!]
Johnny tapped his combadge. "Chee here."
[My tricorder is picking up some strange lifesigns. Six of them, moving in our direction.]
"Do not engage them on your own, Ensign. Chee to all Security -- converge on Ensign Takashi's position. Engineering team, prepare to take cover."
It took ten minutes over the rocky terrain to reach Ensign Takashi. Johnny had his tricorder out, and was monitoring the situation. There were very definitely six lifesigns, humanoid, and apparently armed.
"Take positions behind that moraine," Johnny directed his team. "If you can, set up an enfilade. Chee to Engineering team -- six potential hostiles headed in your direction! Take cover or return to the ship!"
[Acknowledged, Commander. We're beaming out!]
They're nobody's fools, Johnny thought as the figures began to resolve themselves. They looked like Mullurans, but something was wrong...
"Hold your fire," Johnny said. "We want these guys alive if we can do it!"
The Mullurans moved closer, within five meters of their position. "This area is under Starfleet control. Put down your weapons and surrender peacefully, and we will return you to your people at the first opportunity!" Johnny called out.
His request was met with phaser fire. Uncoordinated phaser fire, but phaser fire.
Johnny's Security team had the advantages of high ground and concealment. It wasn't long before all six Mullurans lay on the ground stunned. The team emerged from the rocks and disarmed their attackers.
"These guys are too well-fed for stragglers," one of the security officers commented.
"There were no stragglers here, Valarian. According to Colonel Tarik's after-action report there were no Mulluran survivors when Morristown was retaken. Most of them died of radiation burns, and these guys look to be in the prime of health!" Johnny replied. "Chee to Hornet. Ten to beam up. We'll need a medical team for six prisoners."
Who are you guys? he thought. Another question for Dr. Redinium to answer.