Jim sat quietly beside a small stream, looking towards the mountains ahead of him to the west. This was what he loved about the countryside and work on the frontiers of space, unexplored nature. He looked around and thought about the world he was about to return to and wondered what his team had been up to for the few days he had been 'wandering', as they so bluntly put it.
As he put his hand on the ground to push himself to his feet he heard a tweeting noise from behind him. He frowned as it didn't sound like a bird, far too regular. Then he realized and became instantly disappointed at the fact it was the old style radio in his rucksack.
He took it out and pressed the switch on the side. "Stone, go ahead."
"We're on our way to pick you up, boss. We've got a critical situation," he heard the faint sound of Hedley's voice on the radio.
"Can't I get any rest?!" Jim complained to himself. He pressed the button again. "Received, standing by. I'll activate the locator beacon."
He reached into his rucksack and pulled out his combadge, tapped it twice and pinned it onto his uniform. Within seconds a Type 11 shuttle was above him and he was transported from the surface.
As the shuttle's engines began shutting down, the rear hatch opened and Stone walked briskly out and straight towards the SAR building. As he approached the landing pad he noticed Watson pulling an anti-grav sled towards the runabout.
"What's that?" Stone called out.
"Major incident kit. I'll brief you inside, boss," Watson replied.
Stone walked inside and straight upstairs to his quarters. Within a matter of minutes he emerged again clean shaven, hair styled, in his field uniform.
"Right," he called out as he walked down the stairs. "Let's hear it."
Watson sat down at the briefing table. As he did the front door opened and two males dressed in Starfleet uniform entered. Stone instantly noticed they were wearing royal blue undershirts.
"Lieutenant Stone?" one of them asked.
Stone nodded. "That's me."
"Warrant Officer Jonas Dural, Petty Officer Mitchell Grey," the taller male, who looked in his late 30's said. "I believe you were expecting us."
Stone looked bemused. "No, I can't say that I was."
Watson interrupted, "You were."
Stone looked at him and he nodded slightly.
"Sorry, it appears I was," Stone said looking questioningly at his deputy. "Sit down."
They took seats around the table and Watson began the briefing, explaining the situation as they had been advised by Command.
"....so duties then, boss and Marc, Rescue One, the Pennine; Jan and myself Rescue Two, a Type 11 from Starfleet Ops, and finally," Watson paused looking at the two new arrivals. "Jon and Mitch you'll be assisting Starfleet with evac duty, if you're needed for underwater ops we'll shout up."
"Any questions?" Stone asked. There was no reply. "Good, get to it."
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