[snip]

The Merrimack Shuttlebay replied that the Shuttle had been launched.

Within a few minutes the shuttle came into view, given the clustered nature of the buildings nearby they would have to trudge out of the small shack town to the clearing a few hundreds feet away.

Saelk looked at the shuttle in the distance and he grabbed a portion of the cases and started to trek onward to the shuttle.

The Shuttle landed in almost the same position that it had occupied earlier when the former XO Joe Milligan had brought it down. The doors opened and a couple of NE redshirts came out to help to carry the equipment and boxed samples.

“Sir?” The first NE Security asked Saelk, “Where shall we start?”

Saelk looked thoughtful for a minute. “Lets get the samples of blood and water loaded, then those that want to go back can with whatever room is left on the shuttle. I am going to stay here until the Captain returns.” He said and continued to help with the loading of the shuttle.

“Yes, Sir!” he replied, and the science and security officers began to load up the shuttle.

“Two science officers are to be on the transport to handle the materials. Get the samples to the Biology labs as soon as possible and get a team together to begin working on a detailed, and full spectrum analysis of the samples.” Saelk said and turned looking off towards the direction the others had went to. “I hope the Captain is fairing well in his endeavors.”

With shuttle now safely loaded they could return it and the samples back to the ship....

Guy made sure that he was first aboard. “Shuttle ready for immediate departure!” he announced.

Saelk had changed his mind and boarded onto the shuttle as well. He looked to any personnel left. “The shuttle will be making a return trip to come get anyone left.” He said before he went and found himself a place to sit. There was at least one other science officer able to find passage. Saelk’s face didn’t betray much but there was much on the Vulcans mind. “We are ready to return.” He said to the pilot.

As the shuttle took off, and yawed sharply to the right to avoid the hill that the landing party had first stood on. There was a ‘chinking’ sound of sample bottles touching. Guy got up and checked over the the cargo containers, making sure that every strap was tightened, and firmly attached to the cargo module. Then he nervously sat back down again. He now had an extremely bad feeling about this flight, and he rather wished that he had stayed behind. What could possibly go wrong? he thought to himself.

• Guy, Sec