Ensign VanTedly turned rapidly in his chair, spinning like a dervish, until coming to rest facing the direction he'd started. He'd been doing this for quite some time, and though Schultz was reluctant to
spoil the young officer's fun, he could see that the Ensign was becoming quite dizzy, and perhaps a bit nauseous.
He cleared his throat, "Mr. VanTedly, perhaps you should desist in your lively game of 'spin the chair'."
VanTedly smiled, "I don't wanna.", he said as he prepared to launch himself once more.
"I'm afraid I must insist, Ensign."
VanTedly cast a pleading expression at the senior officer, "Just one more?"
Schultz pondered the request for a moment, "Okay, just one more, but be careful."
VanTedly spun with reckless abandon, completing two full circles before being thrown from his whirling stallion. He came to rest at Mr. Schultz's feet. Schultz gazed down at the prone officer, preparing
to unleash a strong tongue lashing, when Lt. Scott spoke.
"I have Smedley-7 on the monitor, sir."
Schultz swallowed his rebuke, motioning VanTedly to his seat, "Attempt to make contact, Number Two."
The Lieutenant shrugged, "I already have, sir. We're receiving no transmissions."
"Mr. VanTedly", Schultz ordered from the command chair, "run a diagnostic of the planet surface, and scan for potential hazards in the outlying areas."
VanTedly smiled at him vacantly, "Huh?"
Schultz sighed, "Never mind, I'll do it myself."
"Aye-aye, sir.", the Ensign said crisply.
Satisfied with the results of his scan, Schultz toggled his com-link. "Mr. Proteau."
Proteau answered quickly, "Yes, sir?"
"Assemble a security attachment to accompany Lt. Scott to the planet surface."
"Aye-aye, sir", Proteau responded with characteristic competence.
Schultz turned to the Lieutenant, "Number Two, you'll be in charge. Who do you want on your team?"
Scott looked around the room for a moment, sizing up his crew mates, "Mr. Jeffy, Proteau, and Lt. Schrader, if he'll come."
"You bet, brother.", Schrader agreed readily.
Sgt. Stauch stepped forward, addressing Lt. Scott, "Permission to join your team, Lieutenant?"
Number Two eyed the sergeant momentarily and looked over to Schrader who shrugged noncommittally. Scott nodded, "Permission granted."
They all stepped toward the door. Lt. Schrader thrust out his hand to the sergeant, "No hard feelings, Sergeant."
"If the Fleet wanted me to have hard feelings", Stauch said, shaking the Lieutenant's hand, "they'd have issued me some."
