Aboard the starship, USS Escort, the mood was somber. Having suffered a number of casualties and being no closer to achieving their goal, spirits began to wane in the command center.
Mr. Schultz sat lethargically atop Reed's throne thumbing through his address book, lost in a deep funk. Anda, the assistant communications officer and hybrid, bio-mechanical wonder cleared his throat meaningfully.
"What is it?", Schultz inquired gloomily, unwilling to raise a trademark eyebrow to feign real interest.
"Sir.", Anda began excitedly, "I've received a transmission from the planet's surface."
The science officer turned his head to regard the android with thinly veiled disinterest. "And...", he prompted.
"Well, it's from Corporal Broski", Anda continued, "and he says that the search party has found the entrance to a mine that they believe may lead to the Mercurion supply we're looking for."
Schultz sighed wearily. "So", he summarized, "they may have found the entrance to the place that might hold the key to our continued longevity. Is that what you're saying, Mr. Anda?"
"Affirmative, sir.", Anda confirmed, oblivious to Huckster's sarcasm.
"Well that's just super-duper, Mr. Anda", Schultz replied dryly, "then there's a possibility we might just get the chance to prolong our miserable existences. Neato.", he commented sourly,
"I'll alert the crew." That said, he returned to his ruminations.
After several seconds of silence, Mr. Anda again cleared his throat.
Schultz slumped dramatically in his chair. "Yes, Mr. Anda.", he said, irritation evident in his tone.
Anda shifted uncomfortably at his console. "Well, sir", he began, "I was just wondering if something was wrong."
The science officer regarded him blandly. "Wrong", Schultz queried, "what could possibly be wrong?" He leaned forward in his seat, his eyes intense. "We're more than a thousand
years from our time. We're low on fuel. We still haven't found any Mercurion, and if by some act of fate we do, the only person that can make it work is laying unconscious on a cot in sickbay."
Spittle flew from his mouth as he continued his outburst. "What could possibly be wrong?!?"
Anda looked at the science officer curiously. "So nothing's bothering you?"
Schultz stared daggers at the pseudo-human crewman who smiled benignly and returned to his duties.
