Stauch again looked cautiously around the corner of the small off shoot. No life sources registered on his sensitive ocular implants, so he crept forward, checking his footing
upon the uneven surface. The others followed, VanTedly somewhat reluctantly, his aversion to more flying menaces apparent.
"The source is getting stronger.", Stauch heard Lt. Scott mutter quietly. He hoped they would find it soon, the prospect of being buried beneath several tons of rock and silt not being what he had
pictured as his demise.
The tunnel ahead seemed to grow darker, and even his enhanced retinal abilities began to have trouble distinguishing features of the cave. He followed a wide curve in the passage and was nearly blinded by
the burst of light from his optics reflecting the ambient heat at the seeming end of the rough hallway. Closing his eyes against the glare, he motioned the group forward.
"Check your reading, Lieutenant.", he advised Number Two, "I think we may have found what we're looking for."
But the communications officer had already arrived at the same conclusion, his instrumentation registering an enormously high amount of the substance that had caused them such peril....
"Mercurion.", he whispered grandly, a relieved smile creasing his young face.
"Good work, Number Two.", Reed said, clapping his protégé on the back.
Stauch cleared his throat meaningfully.
"Oh, uh, you too, Sergeant.", the commander corrected.
"Now, how do you plan to extract it?", Mr. Proteau queried, running his hand along the wall, his contact causing the rock to glow softly.
They all exchanged curious glances.
"Nobody thought to ask how we'd retrieve it once we found it?", Stauch asked, a keen edge to his voice.
"Well", Reed began, "Mr. Jeffy was supposed to handle that part."
Stauch slammed his fist into the wall causing the stone surface to flare almost mirroring his mood. "Well, maybe he shouldn't have gotten himself shot then.", the sergeant pointed out angrily.
"Now let's not blame Mr. Jeffy here." Lt. Scott commented in his ever agreeable tone.
Reed stepped forward. "That's no way to speak to an officer, Sergeant", he reminded Stauch sharply.
Stauch turned his ire on Reed now. "Well, if one of you officers knew what the hell you were doing", he proclaimed loudly, "maybe we wouldn't be stuck here with our thumbs up our..."
"I believe I can be of some assistance.", Proteau interrupted calmly.
Stauch stopped his tirade abruptly as all eyes went to the security officer.
"On my home planet we had a modest, but successful mining business.", Proteau explained. "In fact, one could say it was..."
"Get to the point, Mr. Proteau.", Reed interrupted.
"The point is", Proteau continued unperturbed, "I have some knowledge of the process and believe I would be able to oversee the extraction of this substance."
Reed eyed him curiously. "Fine, Mr. Proteau", he affirmed, "then you'll be in charge of the operation." He stepped closer to the security officer, dropping his voice as he did.
"Nothing personal, but it wouldn't have hurt if you'd have offered this information earlier.", Reed advised. "You shouldn't be afraid to speak your mind once in a while, you know."
"Yes, Commander", he replied with a nod, "in fact, there is another issue that I believe bears some discussion..."
"Stauch", Reed interrupted, "go on up to the surface and contact the Escort. Let them know what we've found."
