Colonel Bretams words written by himself in previous log *** Research Station....Shuttle Bay *** "Corporal.....help me with this." The tall marine stepped over to where Rangi knelt beside the stretcher and crouched down beside her. "I'm trying to fasten this" she said lifting a frayed strap "...but there's some missing.It needs to be secure for the flight." "Its ok ma'am " he said straightening up " ....be right back.." Rangi saw him head towards a corner of the cargo bay,picking his way between the crowded passengers.She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of Keylor and located him in the co-pilots seat once more.Everyone was getting settled, some in the few seats available, others in as comfortable positions as they could find. "Try this ma'am...it was used to restrain the torpedeos...should do as good as anything" Rangi smiled up at the corporal. "It's fine" she replied. He knelt down beside her and together, they quickly had the stretcher secured. "No improvemnet then?" he asked quietly looking at Ensign Hathaways motionless figure. "No" Rangi replied slowly "..not yet."A moment passed "You'd best get to your seat." Rangi said "Thankyou for your help" As the corporal stood up, there was a slight shudder through the shuttle. "Here we go!" he said. Rangi flickered a smile in responce and looked around for Mercedes. Pleased to see that all the civilians were seated and strapped in, she caught the AMO's eye."Any problems?" she asked hoping Mercedes would hear above the babble of the assorted passengers.The ensign shook her head "No" came the reply and a 'thumbs up' confirmed it. Rangi acknowledged the gesture and sat back on her seat, returning her attention to Hathaway. It was not difficult to see that Rangi was worried.She tapped at her tricorder and read off results, none of which were encouraging.A voice broke into her concentration and she glanced to her right, wondering who had spoken. "She was touched by a ghoul ?....thought so...Annie was too...we couldnt get her out...but I think it was too late anyway.She went out like a light...didnt move again." The man turned his gaze to Rangi who saw fear and a helplessness in his eyes. "We couldnt wait...just had to run, get away. We couldnt stay there to help her.." "I know" Rangi said, laying a hand on his arm. "..but most of your people are alright...look how many we have." The scientist turned his head, darting looks at the shuttle passengers. "Why...there's Heher!" he exclaimed in surprise. "I thought he was a goner."He weak smile formed as he turned back to Rangi. "We'll soon be back to Chimera.." she said squeezing his arm in encouragement "...my ship. You'll be safe there...... Colonel?" her tone altered.Her companion followed her gaze towards a Bajoran man, struggling to fit himself into an EVA suit that was obviously on the tight side. Frowning, Rangi unclipped her safety strap and stood up. {What is he 'doing' ?} she asked herself, stepping over legs and squeezing past the nearest passengers. There was a sudden yell from outside and Keylor, awkwardly trying to get both arms into the suit stumbled a step towards the open door. "Corporal, hold them off for a few more minutes. We are almost ready to go." he shouted. "Aye SIR!" Jasons voice could be heard in reply. "Sir? What are you doing?" Rangi asked unnecessarily, eyeing the EVA suit. Keylor made a last effort and managed to push the second arm in.he fastened the front and motioned for Rangi to follow him.{I'm not going to like this...} she thought tracing his steps towards the cockpit. She stood waiting as her reached for a pair of anti-gravity boots and pulled the first one on. "Doctor," he said, expelling a breath of effort and pushing his foot further into the boot. "Some one will have to open the bay doors manually. Because there is not force field over the doors, the bay will decom......press!!" He sat back and glanced up at her, the second boot held ready in his hands."I am putting on a suit to be able to accomplish this task." He bent forward and began a second struggle with his foot gear. Rangi looked back into the shuttle.There was no airlock. "Colonel? If the bay decompresses, how will you get back into the shuttle?" she asked knowing what the answer would be. Keylor stood up and grimaced a bit at the feeling of the small boots, grabbed his life support system and pulled it over his head. "Well doctor, I suspect I will not." he said bluntly. Glancing at her disapproving expression, he busied himself with checking all of his suit connections. "My guess is that the emergency transporter will not function in this blue haze." he explained tightening the 'intake' respirator valve."..... So I will have to try to hitch a ride on the shuttle until we clear this event horizon and I can be beamed on to the shuttle." Rangi could well imagine what Shanes reaction would be if he knew what the CO intended."Colonel...I really dont think thats...." Keylor gave a convincing smile and interrupted her: "Don't worry, should be fun. I always wanted to.... Ride a pitching and yawing shuttle much like old Earth cowboys bucked broncos." He could tell Rangi wasn't amused at the thought and shrugged himself more comfortably into his gear. Knowing her words would fall on deaf ears, Rangi said "You're needed here Colonel." They exchanged ameasured look. The echo of phaser fire sounded nearer to the shuttle."Well what about the aliens? You know that surely they'll try to stop you. Why don't you take the device Mercedes..." Keylor raised his hand to silence her suggestion."No" he said with a shake of his head "I want that to make it back to the ship." He lowered his voice a bit. "If the aliens are modifying a torpedo, we will need to come back here. That dice might give the next away team a chance at evading the aliens. They will need it more than I will. Anyway, I will only be out there for a minute or so." {A few minutes?!...riding a bucking bronco?! } Rangis eyes opened wide in amazement. " Once the shuttle is sealed, signal me and I will open the doors. Try to keep her slow so I can climb on board as you pass." he called to the pilot and started to turn. He paused and looked back, "Oh and try not to run over me." "Colonel...I really must insist you rethink this..." Rangi told him but her words were wasted as he side stepped her. Adjusting a clip on his helmet he a said tersely: "Doctor now is not the time to argue. Right now you need to make sure these people all get back to the ship. " and brushing her protests aside, he exited the shuttle. Sighing in exasperation, Rangi hurried as best she could back towards Mercedes, glancing through the doorway as she passed.Keylor was shouting instructions outside but she didnt wait to hear what. "Make sure everyone is as secure as possible." she said,he eyes running quickly over the waiting passengers. "Its going to be a rough ride." A marine clambered into the shuttle, looking back over his shoulder.A second followed and lastly Jason scrambled in, hurredly sealed the door behind him and headed for the co-pilots seat. Rangi saw him signal to Keylor somewhere outside and a moment later the shuttle moved, dipping slightly to the left. Through the windows unsecured obfects could be seen flying past and rangi closed her eyes for a moment knowing it showed the bay had decompressed. {Colonel} she willed and looked up towards the cockpit. The shuttle hit the deck with a sudden startling crash causing cries of fright and alarm as it slithered sideways before lifting again.Two, three times it rebounded from the deck, seeming to bounce itself forward. Rangi leaned forward, desperate for a sight of the Colonel as they edged towards the door. She saw the frame of the hull appear before a grinding jolt pushed her back into her seat. A moment later the bay door was gone to be replaced by the velvet beauty of deep space. Releasing her safety strap, Rangi got to her feet and hurried to the front of the shuttle. The console meant little to her and she asked the pilot urgently.."Is he there?...do we have him?" The pilot feverishly tapped at her controls, Jason leaned forward to watch. Slowly the shuttle moved forward, rangi, hands on the backs of the pilots seat looked out into space. "No Ma'am" The pilots voice was quiet and filled with defeat. " We dont" *** End Log *** Lt Cmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera