"....and I strongly suggest you file a route plan next time you decide to wander up the mountains!" Stone firmly advised the young explorer. "You can thank us later."
The young explorer, shaken more from Stone's stern advise than the night lost in the mountains, stumbled out of USS Pennine and across the landing pad to the exit.
"Now sir, I'm sure there wasn't any real need for that!" Fisher complained as she shut down the runabout's systems and stepped away from the console. "He was only exploring after all."
"Exploring and costing us sleep and effort," Stone replied, still stern.
"But you go wandering round everywhere without even telling people you're going," Hedley called out from the rear of the runabout.
"Yeah, but there's one difference," Stone replied. "I don't get lost."
Stone picked up the PADD on which he was writing the report and left the runabout with a discreet smile. The crew could tell he was happy and had some sort of plan. As he entered the office building Hedley piped up, "I bet he's seen somewhere to have his aimless wander this afternoon."
Fisher nodded, both her and Marc had worked with Stone on his previous assignment and knew how much he liked exploring the wild open countryside. Their journey back from the mountains had turned into a bit of a sight-seeing and route planning trip for their boss, as did most of their flights.
That afternoon, Jan Fisher was sitting in the crew lounge reading a novel. She had downloaded her favorite books onto a set of PADDs prior to their journey, as getting a subspace network link through the Briar Patch was virtually impossible at times. She glanced up at the sound of a door opening and Stone emerged from the upper level crew quarters where his and Ensign Watson's quarters and a couple of other rooms awaiting the rest of the SAR personnel were. He was dressed in civilian clothing, a dark blue t-shirt, some black utility trousers with pockets in the legs and a dark brown jacket which looked to be made from leather, but was probably a synthetic imitation.
"Where are you going?" Fisher asked, knowing the answer before she asked the question.
"For a wander in the countryside, Jan," Stone replied. "Have a rest. If you need me, I've got my communicator and a radio."
"A what?" Jan said, confused.
"A radio, they use 'em 'round here; it's more reliable than the comm system, 'cos the tower got knocked out last week."
"Oh right, and how do I get hold of you on one of those then?" she asked.
"There's one built into the Pennine, on the co-pilot's board."
"That UHF key? Oh right, always wondered what that was," she laughed.
Stone picked up his rucksack from beside the coffee table and strolled out of the building. Jan shook her head in amazement.
"Strange hobbies these officers," she said to herself.
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