USS Merlin http://uss-merlin.com/index.php USS Merlin en-us ahorman@gmail.com Copyright 2019 Messed up again http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/110 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/110
Computer, open a personal log - "Tonight with Sav was wonderful. It felt good to be held. Then the nightmare started. I've had my own share of them, but there's something behind hers that frighten me. Then the hand thing. I slipped, forgot she wasn't Cardassian, probably looked bad to both Sav and Caroline. That's a conversation for another date. The fact that Sav wanted to protect me, made me feel wanted, something I haven't felt in some time. I need to research more and talk to Sav and maybe some others about mating rituals. I know the few humans I tried to date, didn't understand some of what I was doing. Why is love so difficult to understand." Computer - soft save the log, I may want to edit or add to it later.]]>
Sun, 18 Aug 2019 21:18:14 +0000
The First Rule of Fight Club http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/109 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/109
"Everything you say to me brings me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break. I need a little room to breathe, 'cuz I'm one step closer to the edge" - Linkin Park, "One Step Closer"





Stephanie stepped onto the turbolift on the bridge and growled "Deck Nine".

As the Turbolift sped her away , she began to pace in the car like a caged animal. "Turbolift halt. Redirect t' Deck Four." When the lift stopped she made a bee-line to Holodeck 3. "Computer, run program O'Hara Bravo Oscar X-Ray."

"Program Running," Answered the monotone voice of the computer. "Enter when ready."

Stephanie stepped in to a Boxing gym with all the sights and smells that accompanied it. Along one wall, Heavy bags hung from the ceiling and a row of speed bags along another. But front and center was the ring. An opponent, a particularly unattractive Naussican, stood stock still about three feet from the center of the ring.

Stephanie ducked under the bottom rope and walked over to regard her opponent. "Tha's na what I'm feelin' t'day. Replace physical parameters only with those from file SC-XXXX-XXX-XX." The opponent faded and was replaced by an image of Councilor Miller in her Starfleet uniform. "Much better." She stripped off her Gold undershirt, then her shoes, socks and pants. When all the items of clothing had been tossed out of the ring and Stephanie stood barefoot in her bra and underwear, she held her arms in front of her , bent up at the elbow ."Gloves," Boxing glove appeared on her fists and she pounded them together. "Computer, Level 1. Fight."

The holographic Caroline walked to her corner, As did O'Hara, who found a trainer there to check her gloves and jam a mouth guard between her teeth. They waited for the bell. It. rang.

The fight didn't last long. Stephanie would feint left and when the hologram was out of position, she hit it with a right cross. Easy.... She repeated the exercise at levels 2 and 3 with similar result, though it was a bit harder to subdue the opponent each time. She kicked the unconscious form. "C'mon, ya fekin' bitch! Izzat all ya got?!" She kicked it again, then spat her mouth guard out on it. As she looked at the downed hologram, the realization dawned on her that this didn't feel nearly as cathartic as she had hoped it would.

When she called for level four, the Naussican reappeared. "Computer, Why was th' opponent restored t' original parameters?"

"At and above level four, opponent will use physical size to it's advantage. Modified avatar is incompatible."

Stephanie shrugged. It was just as well. It wasn't really making her feel any better. Why na, though?, she wondered. "Computer, restore t' Level 1, previous appearance parameters." The Naussican faded out of existence and was replaced once again with the image of Caroline. She stood toe to toe with the faux Councilor and stared into the unseeing eyes and vacant expression of a holographic character in standby mode. "Th' only thing I've wanted t' do t' you since th' second I laid eyes on ya was t' punch ya in th' feckin' gob. I just did it three times, an' I don' feel even a little bit better." She scratched her chin and thought on it for a moment. "Ye're na real. Ye're hollow. Ye're th' same Naussican I've fought in this program a thousand times, only now yer wearin' a Miller suit. Computer, use source file t' compile a personality matrix for th' opponent."

"Warning: Personality Matrix may have less than 60% accuracy."

"Compile an' install. Leave th' personality parameters open an' file under O'Hara Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, keyed t' personal access only. I'll change 'em as I go."

The hologram blinked as she turned her head slowly and took in her surroundings. She crossed her arms over her stomach and looked at the Engineer. "You can't be serious, O'Hara," it said in a rather imperious tone. "You want me to engage in your barbaric coping mechanism? This isn't healthy and I want you to stop it."

"Make her 20% bossier, 15% more condescendin', 30% more judgmental, and remove aversion t' physical violence. Recompile, save an' continue."

It was a moment before the hologram blinked again and sneered at O'Hara. "Why must you always parade about in your underwear, Lieutenant? Do you not not know any sort of decency?"

"Na, yer kind I don', bitch!" Stephanie growled. "I'm proud o' this body an' if I choose t' display it, it's m' own business an' none o' yers.!" She jabbed the hologram in the stomach. This was more like it. Now she had something to rail against. "Ya can' force yer version o' me. Yer morality, yer values, yer principles are NEVER gonna be mine! Stop tryin' t' make 'em!"

"You're Disgusting, O'Hara," the hologram said as it took a feeble swing at her and missed as Stephanie dodged out of the way. "You'll never be like me. You'll never be one of us. You're not Starfleet material. You're worthless. You can't follow orders, you can't treat me with respect.... You can't even say 'Yes Sir' to me." She let another couple punches fly, which O'Hara blocked easily.

"Respect is earned. Ya wan' it, show me ya deserve it. All ye've done since ya got here was shite on me every chance ya get and hold th' brass ring just a little bit further out of reach each time ya do." She let lose a one-two combo with a left jab to the solar plexus followed by a right cross. "Jesus Harold Christ onna whole wheat cracker! Wha' th' bloody feck d' ya wan' fr'm me, Woman?!"

The Caroline hologram was dazed for a moment as she looked daggers at Stephanie. "I want you to obey! I want you to do as you're told!"

"Yer jus' like m' wagon o' a mother! Do as I say, na as I do. Computer, Play music from archive. 'Killin' in th' Name of...'," Stephanie barked. Obediently the room was filled with the music, and the lyrics:

"Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me...."

Stephanie began the assault again, form and technique going out the window. She swung wildly at the Hologram, putting everything she had behind the punches in terms of strength and emotion. Three missed wide, but the fourth caught the hologram right in the nose... That was when the beatdown began in earnest as Stephanie used the opening to pummel the hologram. When she was down on the mat, O'Hara didn't stop. She straddled the hologram, using her knees to pin the arms and punched the fake Miller over and over and over until she just ran out of gas as Rage Against the Machine continued to espouse non-compliance...

All her energy spent, she rolled off the hologram and on to her back laying there panting on the mat. "That was actually more therapeutic than anythin' th' real one couldda done f'r me..." She mused breathlessly as she rolled out of the ring and began dressing herself...

LTjg Stephanie O'Hara
Chief Engineer
USS Merlin
]]>
Thu, 16 May 2019 21:35:54 +0000
Clarifications http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/108 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/108
Cale walked back into his officer after he and Melody Jones had their pow wow with the Captain and he was pleased with his decision as he thought the Captain had responded the way predicted. So he turned his attention to the new CSciO and the blowout with Lieutenant O'Hara. He noticed that MCPO Hale had filed a log concerning O'Hara's difference after her 'affair' with the Puppet Master.

"Computer, begin Executive Officer's log. Notate the current day and stardate," Cale said as the computer beeped its compliance.

"I am reading through Master Chief Hale's current log concerning O'Hara's experience during her tussle with the Puppet Master and she's noted a significant change in the Lieutenant. I've seen some of these changes myself but am still concerned that O'Hara needs more time to recuperate. But, as I'm not a medical officer or counselor Barstow has chosen to go with his Counselor's and Chief Medical Officer's recommendations instead despite my empathy mainly because I'm not trained to use it in this way. Perhaps, I should take Ki and Miler up on their offers to assist me in learning how to interpret the feelings I'm sensing.

"Also, I've noticed that we've managed to acquire a new Chief Science Officer in the form of Lieutenant, junior grade Artis Lomar. His service record is not that impressive for a man of his age, But I'm willing to work with him in fixing this how shall I say it 'misstep' on his or Starfleet's part. Because, I see that his assignments were mostly to starships during the Dominion War doing research into weapon's tech. I'm sure Mel would like to see that.

"But, I would like to steer him away from that by focusing on pure scientific research. That is, if we ever get the chance for he and I to do that. I've invited him to come to my office so we can meet and chat about some of this.

"Computer save log and file it," Cale said and the computer beeped its response to the XO's order.

Cale was quite pleased with himself after all he had been through and had accomplished during his tenure on the and other starships and in Starfleet itself. Beyond that, he felt he had continued to grow as an officer and as a person with a unique ability. He sat down in his chair and placed his hands on his desk and began reading through the current science logs filed by the assistant science officer and the department heads. And, he found himself impressed by all of what he was reading.

Cale sat back in his chair and looked up Lomar's service record to give it a last look over before he arrived. Boy, this man had a rough turn in Starfleet, by his analysis.]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:56:36 +0000
Hale's Personal Log - Evolutions http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/107 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/107
:I hope you're somewhere prayin', prayin'. I hope your soul is changin', changin'. I hope you find your peace Falling on your knees, prayin'..." - Ke$ha, "Praying"





"Blonde roast." Hale placed her usual coffee order from the replicator. The mug whirred and flashed into existence. As she took it up, she spoke.

"Computer, Begin personal log, Hale, Elizabeth K, Current stardate and record."

"File open. Begin when ready."

She sipped gingerly at her coffee for a few moments, then took a deep breath.

"While I'm sure everyone on this ship will have an opinion about what's happened on the Merlin in the last couple days, I thought I should lend my voice to official record in defense of my department head, Lieutenant Junior Grade Stephanie Iris O'Hara. Four days ago, I probably wouldn't have done this. I would like to share what I've learned about Stephanie O'Hara in those past four days. Four days ago, I thought that she was a brash, egocentric, glory-seeking, self-important, slave-driving asshole with a chip on her shoulder and delusions of grandeur... Well, I still think that...."

She sipped thoughtfully at her coffee for a moment and then said "Computer, Delete last two sentences and continue recording."

The computer beeped it's compliance.

"I won't document the incident, as I am sure countless other people have. What I want on the record is what I've seen since O'Hara was freed from alien influence controlling her. I could note here that she helped saved the ship from the cascade virus or that she has complied with every directive given to her by command and medical staff since her liberation... But I don't think that speaks enough to it.

I have seen a change in O'Hara since the incident. She is becoming a better person. O'Hara has shown remorse. She has shown growth. She has shown change. She feels a terrible sense of responsibility for what she's done, even if she technically didn't do it. She feels like she needs to save us from her. She was wounded by this in ways we may never know, but in the end I think she will become a better person for it.

So what did I learn? What was my takeaway from all this? I learned that in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, the Tin Woman does have a heart, and it's broken. Putting it back together is too big a job for just one person."

Sipping at her coffee again, she then said "Computer, Save log and forward copies to the CO, XO, CMO and CCNS."



MCPO Elizabeth Hale
Ranking Engineering NCO
USS Merlin]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:27:34 +0000
It withers quicker than the rose...... http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/106 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/106
On:

Personal log supplemental. Commander Melody Jones.

It never rains, but it pours.

Sansa has another growth spurt. My little girl looks so beautiful, well she always did. Now she looks about eighteen. Draxx has decided to transfer to the Merlin to spend time with her. That’s good but I’m not sure what he’s going to think of me and Sav’ena. I just managed to sort things out with her. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about Draxx being onboard. I want Sansa to have her father in her life and I want to get along with him. I’m going to try and make this work.

I’m still getting these weird feeling every so often. Sav even said I zoned out for about ten seconds or so. She even got a recording of it. Doctor Ki can’t find anything wrong so I’m hoping it’s nothing serious. Maybe I was just daydreaming. Still he suggested I talk to Caroline about these feelings. It will be good to have a talk with her.

The virus has been successfully removed from the main computer but, now the research station has reported a problem over there. An away team is being sent to investigate.

End log.

Off:

Commander Melody Jones
USS Merlin]]>
Sat, 02 Mar 2019 13:07:11 +0000
It's my Pity Party and I'll cry if I want to... http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/105 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/105
"Lying in my bed I hear the clock ticking and think of you. Caught up in circles, Confusion is nothing new
Flash back, warm nights, Almost left behind. Suitcase of memories... "
Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time"


Stephanie was currently relieved of active duty. She stepped into her quarters for the first time in what seemed like forever. She looked around at the walls, and started to wonder why she had unpacked. Her first mission aboard a starship, and she had fouled it up so bad that she was sure it would be her last. She stripped off her uniform and opened her drawer. She pulled out a pair of denim shorts and put them on. In the back pocket,she found a battered and dogeared photo. A much younger Stephanie stood next to her brother and their parents stood behind them.

"Everyone pays th' price for my feck ups," she scowled. "Go big or go home." She said sarcastically as she put the picture back in the drawer. She then opened the next drawer down and fished around until she came up with something in each hand. In her left hand was a black tank top with the name and registry number of the ship. In her right, a small stoppered bottle. She pulled the stopper with her teeth and drained it's contents. She tossed the bottle over her shoulder and sighed as she pulled on the shirt. She moved over to her footlocker where she pulled out a much larger bottle. She looked at it thoughtfully, , raised an eyebrow, dropped the bottle back in the locker it came from and then did an about face, left her quarters and headed straight for the Turbolift.

"Deck Four."

She exited the lift and made a bee-line straight to Holodeck 3. "Computer, Run program: Stephanie-Papa-Uniform-Bravo"

A few silent moments passed before the computer responded. "Program complete. You may enter when ready."

O'Hara walked through the door and found herself in a building that could have been anywhere on Earth. It was an Irish pub she had visited in Boston once. She had really liked it so she turned it into a holo-program... She hadn't asked the owner. The Rolling Stones were blaring from the speakers mounted to the walls at what most sane people would consider an unacceptable volume.

"War, children, it's just a shot away"

The bartender was a shorter woman with hair, skin and eyes all shades of deep milk chocolate. She was beautiful. She was wearing a short, pleated red plaid skirt, a half-tee , white knee socks and canvas sneakers.

The bartender brightened visibly when she saw Stephanie.

O'Hara's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't seen the face in a long time. She missed that face. She could never see the real thing again. This woman was another victim of O'Hara's good intentions. She hadn't been nearly as lucky as the crew of the Merlin. The original had been dead for three years. "Sarah," It's been postulated that a person will tell their bartender things they won't tell their doctor. Stephanie had hers on Isoliner chip. Stephanie had spent months on this matrix. Sarah knew she was a hologram. Stephanie had done this on purpose. It was easier to remember that this Sarah was a hologram if she knew it too.

"Come sit down, beautiful," The hologram said. "What can I get ya?"

Stephanie walked to the end of the bar and took a seat on the barstool at the ened of the bar. "Jameson. Leave th' bottle."

"I know that look, Miss Thing. Tell me what's wrong."

"Can we na talk about it?," Steph asked as the bottle and two shot glasses were deposited on the bar in front of her. "It's a very long story. I wanna drink 'til I forget it.." She thought about it for a second. "Computer, Download recent ships logs to bartender holomatrix."

"There was a few moments pause, then Sarah looked at O'Hara and reached across the bar and put her hand on the redhead's shoulder. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry."

O'Hara shook her off.

"That's not good," Sarah grimaced. "I'll call for the Karaoke stage for you. I know it makes you feel better."

"I don' wanna feel better I.," Stephanie locked eyes with the Hologram. "I don' deserve t' feel better. I wanna wander th' streets at two in th' morn' lookin' f'r a fight with a Naussican twice m' size."

"I feel bad for the Naussican," Sarah giggled. She slid a full shot glass.across the bar at O'Hara and picked one up for herself.

"You should," Stephanie said matter of factly. She then picked up the shot and said "Sláinte!" And downed it. She immediately reached for the bottle, filled the shot glass and repeated this sequence.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Look, Miss Thing," Sarah, the real one, had always called her that. It was as much a term of endearment as it was an admonishment. "I know you're not in the best head space right now but maybe, like, oh, I dunno, pace yourself?"

"It's na a 'pace yerself' kinda night, lass." O'Hara said as she reached for the bottle again, but Sarah snatched it away.

"Didn't you program me to be the angel on your shoulder? You drink here instead of with the rest of the crew because you needed me to save you from yourself."

"Na tonight," Stephanie grabbed the bottle back and poured another shot, then picked up the glass and stared through the amber liquid. "Th'' devil's th' driver's seat an' there he stays... I don' need an angel. "

"Stephanie, you know i can't encourage you to be self-destructive. I see the road you're headed down. There's nothing but more pain there for you, for everyone you care about... Punishing yourself won't accomplish anything. It will only hurt everyone. But the thing that I find most incomprehensible is that you see it too. and you're acting like it's your responsibility to walk into damnation." Sarah put her hands on her hips. "If you didn't need an angel, then why am I here? You could have had Orion Slave Women giving you a sponge bath in a tub of whiskey."

Stephanie took the shot and set the shot glass back on the bar. She made a face and began to pour another shot. Sarah snatched the bottle and put it on a shelf behind the bar.

"Why am I here, Stephanie?"

"Because I still haven't forgiven m'self f'r what happened t' ya. Because everyone in my orbit get's hurt because of me." O'Hara covered her face. When she looked up, fresh tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Because, Sarah, I needed t' see yer kind, sweet, beautiful face once more before th' end."

Sarah stared at Stephanie in simulated horror. "You can't be serious," she said flatly. "How the Hell will that solve anything?"

"Sarah, I can' keep doin' this. Everything I touch turns t' shite. Everyone I care about gets hurt because o' me. If chaos was lightning, I'd be standin' on a hill, soakin' wet, an' holdin' a copper rod. No one else need be hurt because of me. May I have my bottle back?"

Understanding dawned on Sarah's face. "I'm here because you need me to talk you down from the ledge."

Stephanie grimaced. "No yer na."

"Yep. And you don't want to talk to the councilor, because you don't want everyone to see that you actually do have emotions. So you called up the image of the only woman you could never truly say no to."

"Why'd I make ya so annoyingly like th' original?" Stephanie asked. "I didn't much care f'r her dime store psychoanalysis either."

"Maybe because my primary function is to save you from yourself... And if you think the 'dime store psychoanalysis', as you call it, is annoying it's because I'm usually right."

"No," Stephanie repeated. "Yer na. An' I'm still far too sober t' debate th' topic." She made a beckoning gesture. "Th' bottle if ya please?"

Sarah set the bottle back on the shelf and crossed her arms. "No," She said firmly.

Stephanie sighed and stood up. "Why'm I doin' this to myself? Computer, end program."

She walked directly to the Turbolift and ordered it to main Engineering.]]>
Wed, 27 Feb 2019 01:43:32 +0000
Daily Routine. http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/102 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/102
Karki had already run her normal laps and done her push up and sit ups. And had moved on to her favorite part of her hour long work out, a climb up the gyms rock wall. It had been there when she had arrived on the ship. But she had moved and organized one side to her liking. The odd combination of being short but having excellent upper body strength for her size blended well to make her a good climber. And she had enjoyed the action ever since she was a small girl.]]>
Sun, 03 Feb 2019 04:09:00 +0000
Take the Time http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/101 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/101
"Computer, begin Executive Officer's log, the first, once more," Llewellyn said.

"Well Captain Barstow has done it to us again. He's offered me the XO's position and Melody Jones the 2O's position. I haven't even spoken with Melody yet. We have much history to discuss; like our music, our lives after the Merlin and Caleb Mitchell and what happened to him after I left. No one else even seems to remember him. I haven't even told anyone about the Grissom yet. Like how I helped her escape a time vortex, and defeat a battalion of rampaging robots determined to become the master race, the only race in existence. Or how I fell in love with the First Officer on the ship I was serving on and how we almost got the ship and another destroyed in a quantum filament.

"I have so much to tell Mel and Caroline, if either one wants to know. I've grown so much over the past two years more than I ever thought I would be capable of doing on my own. I've advanced the frontiers of scientific knowledge and I've helped to push the frontier itself. I've made and lost friends, lovers and comrades in my years off the Merlin. Just as I did on the Merlin, I've even lost captains in my time on the other ships before the Merlin. I am so not the same person I was when I graduated from the Academy, so not the same at all.

"I was running when I went to the Academy and was still running when I graduated. I was even running when I joined Commander Barstow when we first embarked on our journey. I was a junior grade lieutenant when I joined the Merlin as Chief Science Officer but now I'm a commander and XO. I was promoted to lieutenant and second officer for a short time before I was promoted to lieutenant commander and to XO. Too soon I think when I look back on it. I made too many wrong moves in my career and with those came the wrong choices.

"I really don't want to make the same mistakes I did before so should I accept this position Barstow has presented me with or do I turn it down? That's the question of the day."

Cale sat back down in the XO's side of the bridge, closed the log he had just recorded and breathed a sigh. But what does he do next. Now that is the million credit question of the century! And I think I have my answer...]]>
Sat, 26 Jan 2019 16:24:52 +0000
Getting back into the swing of things http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/100 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/100
ON:

Commander Melody Jones personal Log:-

Well, here we are again. Back onboard the Merlin. It feels good to be back and nothing really has changed much. Captain Barstow is still the same as I remember, dropping Second Officer and CSO on me almost as soon as I'd set foot onboard. And here I was thinking it was only going to be a short visit to oversee the refit Starfleet Command had ordered. Still, I'm glad Sansa will get the chance to stay in one place for a while, it just means it will be harder for her see her father regularly. Draxx..... There's another complication.

sigh Why can I never have a normal romantic life? I've had to tell Sav'ena about Draxx and...... she didn't take it too well. I thought she might be interested in him as well. Was that foolish of me? And i haven't told Draxx about Sav'ena. That's another conversation where I'm not sure how he will react. Sav wants to be in Sansa life. That's good but I want her in mine too as more than a friend. We were closer than that before. Will we..... Can we ever get back to that again? I Hope so. She is worried that I think she is screwed up but I don't think that all all. I never did. All I care about is her. At least Sansa likes Sav'ena.

Nibbles has settled back on board with no problem. That hedgehog takes everything in her stride, as long as she is well fed..... and she stays away from my shoes.

Caroline is back onboard too. It makes it a lot easier with her to talk to.

I'm meeting Sav'ena tomorrow for lunch. Lets see if we can re kindle the fire.

End Log.

OFF:

Commander Melody Jones
Second Officer / CSO
USS Merlin]]>
Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:15:24 +0000
23950828 - Timelines and Friends http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/99 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/99
ON:

Sav was in her quarters in getting ready to go check out the Research Station's commissary for some supper. She decided now would be a good time to get a log in to catch up on what was happening, which was a lot for her, and the Merlin, right now.

===== Lieutenant Commander Tillatix Personal Log =====
===== Direct Access Initiation Mode Terran Date Stamp 1800 Hours August 28, 2395 ====

Hello log, so much has happened since leaving the Starbase after the refit. Merlin was damaged in rescuing Civies and Marines at an outpost from Unusual Borg, and then after repairs, sliced into by a Borg cutter beam in a rescue of a research outpost, besides using this time to capture a borg to study. Our chief engineer was taken control of because she linked with it, did even more damage to the ship, and is now in custody in medical.

So, during this time, several unusual events have occurred. One is that I have had a nice dinner date with Miles, he is cute. Yeah, me, miss wingman and dating David before I was put onto ice, had another date. Next was the arrival of my doctor, Caroline, yes, she is the one who initiated the surgeries to put humpty dumpty back together again. Yes, she is one of the crew who disappeared off the Merlin on June 21st, 2394. Yet, her paperwork shows on May 1st, 2394, she accepted a career path change an enrolled into counseling courses. So, yeah, she is now the counselor on board, making it rather nice to have a female counselor, even as I still balk at being near counselors. I am getting better, though. I am looking forward to sessions with her. I am just glad the Entity who made people disappear put Caroline in a time path and place so we could meet up again.

And, speaking of Caroline, I just ran into a kitling named Sansa. I gave her a tour and found out she is Melody's Kitling. Melody... my promised wife with David as our male once dating finished. I don't know where David has went to, but Melody... she is back into my life, maybe. You see, she has a daughter, and a husband of Draxx, and a Kitling... even though Sansa has said Mom has told her so much about me, and she still recalls the events of our switching bodies and the like, but yet, the switching bodies was during the Perez Nebula incident, which she never did in her new timeline because she also did the career path change. So, while Caroline doesn't remember anything of the voyage after the surgeries on the starbase, Melody does.

Anyways, Melody is here as a consulting engineer to help repair and upkeep the Merlin's engines. I will look her up tomorrow... and hope I don't become an emotional mess. Anyways, that is all for now. Catch you soon, Log.

===== Direct Access Lt. Cmdr. Tillatix Personal Log Termination ====

Commander Save'ena Tillatix
CFCO/Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin]]>
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 17:29:31 +0000
Destiny http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/98 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/98
"Computer, begin log," Llewellyn said as he rose from his chair, walked across the expansive bridge, stopped by the helm and sighed heavily.

"I'm worried for our new Chief Engineer and her mind. I was able to glean another personality residing within her mind. Though I'm no telepath, I was able to touch the other presence within there and felt the pure malice it was radiating. That was the one reason why I didn't want to be a part of the search. I needed to be as far from that 'thing' as possible before it overwhelmed me. Now, I'm worried about everyone else when they finally get a glimpse of that thing within her.

"It almost hurt to be near Lieutenant O'Hara. I had a horrible headache due to proximity to that presence. I've no idea what it is but it's malice in palpable. I could almost touch it. I've never felt anything so hateful before, of course I haven't always been fully empathic before either. At least not to my knowledge, anyway."

Cale looked out over the bridge and smiled as he gazed at each and every officer and non-com on the bridge at the time. Currently, he was the only senior officer on the bridge what with all of the rest of them off searching for Miss O'Hara running all over the ship. He hoped this search was just about done because he was growing wearyof this woman being the center of everyone's attentions. So all he could do now was hope and that hope was all that was keeping him going at this time.]]>
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:55:19 +0000
At the feet of the world http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/97 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/97
Bilhana stepped out onto the holodeck with her Niece right behind her, before them stretched out mountains, he tallest one's on earth, her native land. She appreciated the holodecks attention to detail. But she also resented it's safety features. "It's not cold enough..." Her niece flanked her giving her a nude with her elbow. "You always say that, OK. So which peak this time." The teen motioned to the largest of the peaks.

Bilhana shook her head. "No, It's almost a insult to climb Sagarmatha on a holodeck. you can't truly experience her unless she can kill you. Over there. We climb that one." She motioned to a smaller peak, one that could be knocked out in maybe three or four sessions in the holodeck.]]>
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:27:56 +0000
...Not in our Stars http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/96 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/96
The soft thump of the Starfleet issued duffel bag barely echoed in the barren quarters as it hit the bed. James' hand came up to run through his hair slowly as he walked away from his belongings and towards the mirror and faucet. His eyes scanning the light brown, gruff man in the reflection. A slow shake of his his head as he spoke out..

"Computer, Begin Log.. Star Date.." A brief pause, "..Today.." A roll of his eyes as he turned away from the mirror and walked back to his duffel bag - opening and beginning to unpack it.

"So.. I've been assigned to the USS Merlin.. NCC-84401.. Beyond Starfleet's ever delight in choosing vessels with some tie to myth.. I have been assigned as Wing Commander of the 29th Tactical Air Group.. The Dragons.. Under my command include the Uroboros, Longwings, Winchesters, and.. others.." The last word slowly fading as the Lieutenant pulls out a picture of a woman dressed in a green and brown tunic, her long red hair running down her back. His demeanor slowly shifts to one more somber, "Though it's not so bad. I only have to ensure the training and safety of dozens of people.. in a universe where phasers are pin point and Quantum Torpedos exist.." He walks away from the duffel bag yet again towards a counter, placing the picture - facing the bed.

A soft exhale as his arms cross, "To say I don't have trepidation is a lie. I don't know this ship..this crew. The life of a pilot is more than just the ship.. I have to get to know the Chief Engineer to make sure my ships are kept running.. The Chief Tactical Officer to make sure that we're on the same page with tactics and ship defenses.. and that's not even discussing the senior staff which I'm sure knows how to do my job a lot better than I do and so will have a lot of ... wonderful ... advice." A soft chuckle and his head dips.

"Truth be told.. I'm looking forward to the experience. It should be interesting. So to whoever listening to this.. Here's to new experiences.. End Log."

As the familiar beep of the computer signals out, James reaches up and taps his combadge.

"Parker to the Flight Deck.. I want to see operational effectiveness and how many ships we have on Ready 5 with in the next 30 minutes.. let the Wing Lieutenant know that I'll be seeing him for dinner in an hour.. regardless of when his dinner actually is.."

It's like the always said.. The fault is never in our stars.

OFF:
LtJG James Parker
Commander, Air Group
USS Merlin]]>
Tue, 01 Jan 2019 01:36:20 +0000
After Missiin Follow-Up http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/95 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/95
"Computer begin Strategic Operations Officer's log now."

"Though I wasn't part of the mission to infiltrate the Borg ship, I would like to add my own viewpoint for the official record: I feel the mission was a complete and absolute success. Though there were some blunders during said mission, I feel that the away team handled themselves in a professional enough manner according to their own accounts. Although one blunder I feel there was on the part of our new Chief Engineer when she decided to access the Borg Hive mind on her own. Now what could have possessed her to take on such a monumental task as this is beyond me. Maybe my experience with her in the coming days will prove to be an enlightening one.

"I have a meeting with our two doctors soon and I intend to put my small knowledge of biology to task. I'm currently studying up on neurology but am finding it hard to comprehend a few things. Though I am sure Drs. Ki and Miller will guide me through this, I still want to be able to keep up with them on my own and not look like a complete simpleton. (short laugh) My expertise is cosmology and not anatomy and physiology and I hope my assistance will be more than minimal.

"Computer, end log and save it."


]]>
Thu, 27 Dec 2018 18:39:45 +0000
The Road So Far - Plot Summary (cue Wayward Sonby Kansas) http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/92 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/92
Barstow was knocked out, however, that didn't mean his brain had stopped. He was looking down on himself sitting in the command chair. The ship was just out of space dock and Merlin had gotten a call from Vega Xu to stay away. So, what's a good Captain to do? Apollo ordered maximum warp to the colony. The CO, that is the observer CO, tried in vain to warn of the Borg behavior, screaming but not making a sound. He could hear the voices of the crew echoing like they were in a tin can, his vision hazy as he looked around the Bridge. The scene suddenly changed and he was outside the ship.

The Borg ship was firing it's green orbs and green beams lanced out lighting up Merlins shields as Sav conducted fighter like maneuvers. The red orange beams and cobalt orbs of Merlins weapons lanced out and hit the ship, Scarlet timing each cluster of shots with Tillatix's flying to get the best damage. However, even as the Borgs ship was damaged it would heal. Apollo reached out, trying to stop himself from giving the order he knew was coming. The shields suddenly dropped and he knew why, he had gambled how much damage could be taken while they beamed up survivors from the planet. His gamble failed and as he saw Merlins hull light up green he was suddenly back on the Bridge. The lights dimmed and power conduits blew out all over the ship, causing consoles to explode.

The CO saw himself hit the deck, blood oozing from the back of his head where he'd hit the barrier behind the command deck. All around the Bridge were injuries and he felt a pang of regret knowing that there'd be injuries all over the ship just like these. Then he saw a ship, but he couldn't remember seeing it before he'd been injured...Agamemnon, and the Borg warped away, "what's.....going on," he asked himself, was this still the dream or was he awake.

With all the damage he knew life support was out, he could only guess about other damage, "have to...wake up," he growled to himself, straining to will himself up, "cvan't just...leave the crew....like that...WAKE UP DAMN IT!!!"


]]>
Thu, 30 Aug 2018 16:41:14 +0000
Resistance is not futile.. http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/91 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/91
"I was angry when I met you. I think I'm angry still. We can try and talk it over, If you say you'll help me out" - Garbage,"Push It"




Chief Engineer's Log, Begin

Yes, I'm new here. I'm still gettin' settled in. Gettin' t' know th' crew, but most importantly gettin' t' know my staff. They say nothin' brings people t'gether like a crisis. I think m' staff has disproved that theory.. It started 3 days ago...





The interior of Stephanie's office was decorated more like a 21st century dorm room than a professional office on a 24th century Starship. There were plastic weapons hanging on the wall that read "Nerf" on the stocks. There was a foam-rubber Bat'leth hanging above her head... A model of the Merlin was suspended from the ceiling, next to models of the Sovereign, Galaxy, Ambassador, Excelcior, and Constitution classes. Her desk had several toys sitting on it; A Rubix cube and a micro-drone were among the most prominent. The only actual desk chair was hers, The rest of the chairs were beanbags and overstuffed, worn and comfy looking couches.

She sat on the edge of her desk, cradling a pen and a drawing PADD as the rest of the senior Engineers sat in the chairs and couches staring up as the image was projected on the wall, just under her fake bat'leth.

"Now that 'were all here, I'mma just rip the bandaid off, We have 72 hours to come up with a bulletproof defense f'r th' Borg," O'Hara stood as the gasps rose. "That's right. I'll give ya a minute. Get it out of yer systems now. Because when we start again, there's no stoppin' until we have given the captain somethin' he can use against the Borg. Why? Because We are alive, an' by God, I plan t' keep us that way." The volume of her voice was rising as s she spoke."When we get back t' work, We work. We don't lose our shite over what we can't change. We have t' prove t' these langers that we've got th' biggest brains in the galaxy!" Her intent was to sound like a battlefield general in an attempt to inspire her troops. She more or less completely failed to miss the mark.

=/\= An hour later =/\=


O'Hara growled. They were making no progress. A Bolian in a beanbag chair was arguing with a Tellarite about the viabily of running the warp core plasma exhaust into a plama collection tank and using it to create superheated plasma weapons. They were just starting up round 2 on the Delivery system when O'Hara snapped.

"ENOUGH!" She seethed. "One more word about this argument from either o' ya will get ya 2 weeks of Waste Extraction duty. The Tellarite inhaled sharply as a prelude to bringing it up again. Stephanie fixed him with a glare and he was shocked into silence.



Bayel an' Thilgrim are m' problem children. Bolians an' Tellarites love t' argue f'r it's own sake. I really wish th' two o' them'd jus' fuck an' stop makin' th' entire department bear witness t' th' foreplay.




"Everyone take a deep breath," Stephanie massaged the bridge of her nose. "Le's take it from th' top.'

On the PADD, she drew a crude cube in green. "What happens when the Borg attack?" She asked outloud as she drew what could be best described as a stick-figure Federation ship. "I'm an Engineer, na an artist," She said by way of apology. "So the Borg come in and they're all like "'We are the Borg', Blah blah blah... 'Biological and Technological', an' all that bullshite. What happens next.

"They scan us?" Someone offered up.

"Naw," O'Hara said. "They scanned us already an' decided that they want us. If they didn't they would've just destroyed us. They're givin' us a chance to surrender because they want us intact."

"Tractor beam," Liz said.



Liz is like th' cool mom everyone wishes they had. Master Chief Petty Officer Elizabeth Hale. She survived Wolf 359. She survived th' Dominion War. She has th' wisdom and the chops, an' I'll be damned if I've ever seen someone who commanded more respect. I even find m'self unconsciously straitenin' up around her. It's like ya wanna do better because ya wan' her t' be proud o' ya. She kinda reminds me o' m' own mother.





"Right!" O'Hara pointed. "They lock us in a tractor beam an' start carvin' chunks outta th' hull. An' what d' we know about how a tractor beam locks on t' a ship?"

"It establishes variable particle density within the beam so torsional stresses don't tear the ship in half," Raiek offered.



Raiek is a mystery t' me. He's smart, but never have I seen a young man so quiet an' reserved. And he's Bajoran. I've never met a Bajoran without 6 different opinions on everything. He's unsure o' himself. He doesn' know how t' assert himself. I'mma make it my mission t' coax that boy outta his shell.




"So what if," O'Hara began drawing a shield around the crude starship in alternating wavy and sharp pointy lines. "What if th' shield was irregular?" She asked. And she drew over the shield lines again. "An' it just kept changin'?"

"Then a tractor beam wouldn't be able to lock on," Liz said. "Starfleet did experiments with Varible Geometry Shielding when they first discovered the Borg. Power Consumption was off the charts."

"Then How d' we bring it down?" Stephanie asked.

There was no answer. They sat in silence for quite some time.



No one had any ideas until Bayel and Thilgrim started arguing again. They didn't know it at th' time, but they served me up a solution made to order.




O'Hara stood and said "Bayel! Thilgrim! Front and center."

The two of them approached timidly and stood at attention. "If you lot don't get it t'gether an stop squabblin' over every wee thin', I'mma break open yer brain boxes an' let all th' feckin air out! Two weeks Waste Extraction f'r ya both. Bayel opened her mouth. "D'ya care t' make it three, Missy?"

That was when it hit her..."Let all the air out... Like a balloon..." She began scribbling equations on the board.. "What if we flood the interior of th' sheilds with a charged inert gas?" The wheels were turning. "I think you two gave me an idea. Now, get out. All o' ya. I need t' think."




Bayel and Thilgrim were the first to get up. Th' idea was if I got distracted quickly enough they would be forgotten. I decided t' let them go. They'll know remembered all too well when next week's duty roster comes out.

Eventually between the five o' us, we hammered out a workable plan, and found a way t' reduce power consumption... Even as such, if we dump every scrap o' power on th' ship into it, it won' last f'r more'n three an' a half minutes. It's a kinda win. I'm jus' na sure it'll be enough.

End log.





LTjg Stephanie O'Hara
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Merlin]]>
Thu, 16 Aug 2018 02:05:48 +0000
Commander Bayushi Log #002 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/90 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/90
"Computer begin log," was the first thing Kachiko said as she stepped into her new office on the rebuilt Merlin. After the computer chimed, she sat down, "So the Merlin is back online and in space. The Captain hasn't said where it is we're going just yet."

"I'm going to have some difficulty ahead," Kachiko sighed aloud. "Our new Engineer has captured my attention and fancy. I guess that I have always been a sucker for red heads and now I'm on a vessel with two very lovely redheaded ladies."

Then a laugh, "Though I believe that Stephanie would reject the label of lady."

"Any which way, I have my little girl and my niece aboard now. Cai is a Senior Cadet and is going to work directly for the Captain as his yeoman," Kachiko smiled to herself. "I need to get Reiko down to Sickbay for her initial physical and I need to ensure that Cadet Sun likewise shows up for her own."

"I also need to consult Doctor Ki regarding the neurotoxin I'm administered, regarding possible alternatives," Kachiko sighed.

Returning to the prior and much lighter subject, "I imagine that Reiko will be nudging me towards either of the two lovely ladies. She knows me too well and has a penchant for trying to play matchmaker."

"I guess that we'll just have to see," Kachiko chuckled. "I need to get back to reviewing crew dockets. That's all she wrote. Computer, end log and file."]]>
Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:55:22 +0000
On the Road Again http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/89 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/89
"Computer, start log," Apollo ordered as he sat down with a sigh, "Captains log stardate two-three-nine-five-zero-eight point oh-nine, we have finally left space dock after a six month refit, the third for the Merlin. The crew is excited to finally be off and I am too, but, remembering how long this ship has been in service makes me feel kind o old. It doesn't seem like all that long ago I was the kid reporting for duty on the flight deck," he said and shook his head with a chuckle, "almost twenty years ago.

"We are once again headed out beyond Romulan space to explore the space beyond Federation borders. That is if we make it. There have been various reports of theft, including theft of Starfleet Starships, across the fleet. Merlin received a few experimental upgrades that mak her a target. On top of that I have gotten reports of colonies all over the quadrant going quiet, however, Starfleet told us to continue on course. To say all this makes me uneasy is an understatement. Strat ops is monitoring all comm traffic in the sector, so, hopfully we'll have a heads up to any issues.

"For now I need to head to the Bridge. Computer end log."]]>
Fri, 10 Aug 2018 19:56:30 +0000
"Home For a Rest" http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/88 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/88
"You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best. I've been gone for a week, I've been drunk since I left. These so-called vacations will soon be my death. I'm so sick from the drink, I need home for a rest." - Spirit of the West, "Home For A Rest"




Upon waking up to the door chime, Lt. Stephanie O'Hara was aware of exactly three things. Her first realization was that the door chime sounded a hundred times louder than it normally did. The second thing was that the room seemed impossibly cold. The third was that it was spinning.

In an effort to get her universe to right itself, or at least settle itself down a bit, she slipped one foot out from under her blanket and put it on the floor. She noticed, much to her shock that she was still wearing her uniform. The overly loud bell chimed again. "A'ight!" she exclaimed in her thick Irish brogue. "Wha' in th' bloody Hell d' ya want?! Open!"

The door slid open and a man entered the room. She wished she could make out who it was. "Computer, lights." she groaned. It took her all of half a second to realize this was a mistake. The computer brought the lights immediately up to full intensity, which elicited a muffled cry of anguish from the stricken Lieutenant. Bringing her hand up to her face she managed to croak out "Lights, Ten percent intensity." As she waited for the spots to clear from her field of vision, the man who had been standing in the open doorway cleared his throat as a reminder he was still standing there.

"Good God will I be glad to be rid of you," Came the gravelly voice. His features finally came into focus as O'Hara's vision tried to clear itself. "I don't know how you've managed to survive in the service this long, O'Hara. You're a disgrace to the uniform."

O'Hara groaned again. Even if she couldn't see the man, she would recognize the disapproving tone anywhere. "Commander Jameson," she said in a tone of voice that almost verbally implied she was rolling her eyes. "T' what do I owe the pleasure." She swung her other foot down to the floor and made a shuddering attempt to sit upright. As she did so, an empty bottle rolled across the floor, stopping only when it tapped the Commander's boot.

Jameson reached down and picked the bottle up, examining it for a moment. "Well," He glowered. "I hear 2309 was a good year for Bloodwine." He noticed O'Hara's attempt to sit herself upright and grimaced at her. "Don't get up on my account, Lieutenant. I'm just your commanding officer. I don't need any respect."

O'Hara fell back over on her bunk. The voice of reason was telling her that he was being sarcastic, but the aches in her body and brain didn't care and welcomed the reprieve. As a red alert klaxon began playing a private symphony for her between her ears her bleary eyes finally managed to fix on Jameson and before she knew it, a PADD was hurtling at her, landing squarely on her stomach. Waves of nausea passed over her and she knew Jameson was still droning on but she had stopped listening to him, instead concentrating to fight back the urge to vomit. She was snapped back to the present when Jameson said "Lieutenant? Are you listening to me?"

She tried to answer but what came out wasn't words. It was the contents of her stomach upending themselves on the floor next to her bunk.

"That's vile!" Jameson now looked like he was fighting to keep his own lunch down. "I expect you to have that cleaned up before your shuttle leaves."

"Shuttle?" O'Hara looked bewildered.

"Didn't you listen to anything I said?!" Jameson barked. A vein in his forehead began throbbing and the tips of his ears turned red. "The Merlin needs a Chief Engineer, and for reasons I can't even begin to fathom, you got the nod. The flagship? Did you blow an admiral? Your shuttle leaves at 1500 hours."

"Computer, Time," O'Hara commanded. This was as much as to get the time as it was to shut Jameson up, at least momentarily.

"The time is 1300 hours, 49 minutes, 27 seconds," The computer responded dutifully.

Some of the Commander's good humor seemed to return. "You have a little over an hour to pack up, clean these quarters, and make your flight. Failure to report for duty is a court martial offense."

Stephanie had recovered enough to stumble to the replicator and ask for a glass of water as she stared at the PADD, that's when it hit her. She turned to Jameson, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Sir," She said coldly, spitting the word out like it was curse. "These orders 're dated a week ago. I've seen ya at least a dozen times since then." She fixed a stare on him that could have melted the ice caps of Andor. "Why is this th' first I've heard of it?" She set the PADD down on the desk.

"Must have slipped my mind." The air of smug superiority he was adopting was enough to make O'Hara want to take a swing at him. She had to fight to relax her fist. "Go ahead. Try to file an appeal. Who do you think the Admiralty will believe? A tenured officer with twenty years of service, or a worthless drunken hacker? You have been the stone around my neck for six long years, O'Hara. This is win-win for me. Either way, I'll be rid of you. You best get to work."

Jameson turned to leave, and before she realized what she was doing, Stephanie had drawn back her arm and hurled the glass of water as hard as she could. Much to her chagrin, the only thing it hit was the closed door.




Against all odds, an hour and nine minutes later, she was standing on Landing Pad Gamma boarding her shuttle, the Red Alert Klaxon still blaring between her ears. Her final act of rebellion was the broken glass shards and the puddle of sick adorning her barracks room floor.

Thankfully the two day long shuttle ride was time enough for her hangover to subside.]]>
Thu, 02 Aug 2018 22:41:00 +0000
Rescued with Friends and Thoughts http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/87 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/87
==== Save'ena's Quarters ====

Sav had just finished breakfast. After the last check of her by meditechs at 0600 hours, she couldn't get back to sleep. She looked at the missive on her desk computer. There was to be a meeting at 0830 hours by all senior staff, which included her.

She sighed pleasantly to herself. She had had a good nights sleep, snuggled up with Kahiko on the couch. Of course, Kachiko left at 0600 to get ready for her work day as the Meditech took his readings and a blood draw, from several places. She shook her head with a small snort of humor. Until the Toluene poisoning was gone, that would be an almost daily occurrence.

She decided it was time for another log. The last one right before the entity snatched crew and put the Merlin on the bottom of an ocean several hundred light years from where its original position was. Well, now she was rescued, had saved Sierra, and was back as CFCO, albeit still on light duty for a while. While she was in cyrostasis, only a couple of hours passed for her, despite being in for six months.

===== Lieutenant Commander Tillatix Personal Log =====
===== Direct Access Initiation Mode Terran Date Stamp 0730 Hours January 9th, 2395 ====

Hello Log, I'm back after my time of just a couple of days, but real time of over six months. That is a story in and of itself. While investigating a planet discovered near a Lazarus Star near the Romulan neutral zone, some sort of Entity took umbrage at the Merlin being there and spirited away all the crew except for myself, and Sierra, the Captain's daughter. My tail kept us hid. To keep it that way, I placed us in Cyrostasis and waited to be rescued. Well, as I am writing this log, Sierra and I are rescued.

For right now, I am still CFCO of the Merlin. There is no indications that will change, at least right now. As I was rescued from cyrostasis, the Medical staff are checking up on my status all of the time, especially as I was already on light duty from the surgeries and getting rid of the toxic poison from my lymphatic tissues. I just hope the every three hour checks goes away soon to just twice a day.

Speaking of Merlin crew... Sierra and I are the only ones that were on board. I... miss Melody and David. As noted in my previous log, David, as in David Scarlet, and I were getting a couple more dates in. He was really taken by Melody, and understood about the Mephetian way of Marriage, and so was dating me... and getting to like me as well. And then, I had just gotten to keep Crewman Wyn Rhoderick as my personal assistant. We had just finished setting up CFCO office the night before. I really hope we can find them. Well, there will be more at the briefing.

However, I did have a neat surprise. My Academy Advisor, Kachiko Bayushi, is here on the Merlin. She is part of the rescue team and came by last night to catch up. She has had some hard knocks in her life as well. However, I was so happy I could talk to her about what happened in my past as the imprints stopping me are now gone. I found out she has a daughter and is coming to visit. I am looking forward to that, very much so. Kachiko says Reiko loves 'fuzzies', or furred races. So, I am looking forward to meeting her.

Kachiko slept with me last night after we had shared. I got some decent rest, and the medical staff stayed away until six this morning. I am hoping their every couple of hours visits are slowing down to twice, or even once per day. Fingers crossed.

Anyways, I had promised myself I would do more personal logs, so here it is. I will know more after the briefing. Hmm, I need to remind myself to ask about if I am to remain attached to the Merlin, and if I can pilot her sometimes as well, like I was before with four on and six off due to my light duty. Alright, enough for now. Next one will be after we arrive at the Starbase for the check over of the Merlin. after all, she was on the bottom of an ocean for six months, so she needs gone through with a fine tooth comb by engineering personnel. Signing off.

===== Direct Access Lt. Cmdr. Tillatix Personal Log Termination ====

OFF:

Lt. Commander Save'ena Amilia Tillatix
Chief Flight Control Officer
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin]]>
Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:42:26 +0000
Strategic Ops Log #2 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/86 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/86
Cale entered his quarters after his "meeting" with the new science officer. That could have gone better, but I think he will fit in with this group of misfits just nicely, he thought to himself. He still couldn't put his finger on what the man was hiding but didn't have enough to bring to the captain. So he would put off that particular discussion until such time as required to figure out if what Barel was hiding posed a threat to his crew and ship.

"Computer, begin log." And the computer beeped its response so Cale began speaking his mind.

"I've just had a not-so-well-handled meeting with our new science officer and I have come to discover something disturbing to say the least about our new officer. Not only is he extremely intelligent but he is also extremely rude and condescending and untrusting. But the latter could be from either his Romulan upbringing or his desire to remain aloof like most good scientists are.

"And while on the subject of good scientists, I may have to look into his background a little deeper. Not to say I don't trust him but because I want to get a better sense of him as an officer and what he's capable of as a scientist. Though I am somewhat trepicadious about what he's holding back I need to get over it.

"Computer, end log, file and send."]]>
Tue, 17 Jul 2018 13:01:40 +0000
Commander Bayushi Personal Log 001 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/85 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/85
The Merlin finally underway, Kachiko had time to stop and do nothing. She knew that she should keep a log of things. If anything, she could be killed at any time and thought that maybe these logs could be therapeutic for Reiko in the event of her passing.

"Computer, begin personal log, Bayushi Kachiko, Commander, Starfleet. Executive Officer, USS Merlin."

After the chime, the spritely white haired woman started pacing slowly across the expanse of the mostly empty quarters, "Well, here we are. We just recovered the Merlin and are enroute to Starbase Three Oh Six at Warp Three. I can't discuss details, for obvious reasons, but here we are."

"Commander Kilbane was called away in advance of our arrival at the Merlin herself. Once the vessel was recovered and about to depart her resting place, Commander Barstow requested that I return to my Fleet commission of Com and take on the duties of the Merlin's Executive Officer, to which I have agreed," Kachiko sighed as she turned about again and resumed pacing to the other side of her quarters.

"I have sent directions to Earth for Rita to board my personal Runabout, the Hiei,pick Reiko up and meet us at Three Oh Six," Kachiko smiled. "I have missed my little girl, whose not so little any longer."

She silently mused a moment, thinking about how Reiko was about her own height now. Then again, Kachiko was an inch under five feet.

"I was pleased to find that I will be serving with my favorite Cadet from when I was working for Vice-Admiral Chen at the Academy. Save'ena Tillatix is a very strange yet sweet young lady, whom I am sure that Reiko just adore," Kachiko chuckled audibly. "Speaking of Reiko, the Captain has a daughter, an adorable little redheaded girl named Sierra. Just the cutest thing. I bet that Reiko will be ecstatic to have another kid aboard to spend time with. Especially considering how much crap the kids on Earth gave her."

"These logs are for you, ReiRei," Kachiko said. "You have lost too much time with me, so I'm recording these so that you will eventually know your mother in a way that I can't let you know yet. This is just the first and an introduction. I love you, sweetie."

"Computer, end log, save and file in Bayushi Directory Six, Entry Zero Zero One, encrypt Bayushi Lima Three Three Seven November Zero Zero Bravo."]]>
Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:35:07 +0000
Strategic Ops Log #1 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/84 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/84
Cale walked into the lower level of the Tactical Information Center on Deck 5. He hadn't been in here since the ship launched and then only briefly; well at least not until he had joined the team on the Merlin that raised her from the ocean. He stepped up to the main control console and entered a command into it causing the room to come to life. The lights came on and the room buzzed with power. He then walked over to the central chair, sat down and began to speak;

"Computer, begin log."

"Well, it's official; I'm back on the Merlin but in yet another position: I'm Commander Barstow's Strategic Operations and Second Officer. Our new XO is a Marine and I'm more than a little dubious about two Marines being in command of a Starfleet starship. What is Command thinking? But then since this is a battleship I suppose they are the ones that should be in command. Everyone knows that having a Science Officer as second-in-command doesn't ever work.

"I've been thinking about stepping down as Second Officer since our new XO is more suited to being in command of this ship and also since our CFCO has more knowledge of the ship than I do at this point. I feel that Commander Barstow was being a little sentimental when he offered me the position since that's where I started out for him.

"Why would any commanding officer place a non-bridge officer as third in command? But then again I'm not in command and shouldn't second guess my commanding officer like this or even at all. It goes against everything I learned at Starfleet Academy. So why am I writing this into a log? Maybe I should delete this log and start over again or should I allow Commander Barstow read it allowing him the chance to assuage my fears and concerns?

"Computer, end log."]]>
Mon, 09 Jul 2018 09:46:23 +0000
Captains Log (Plot Summary) http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/83 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/83
John wiped off the seat of his chair in his quarters on Merlin and dropped into his chair, looking around the dimly lit room with a sigh. The last 24 hours had proven strange to say the least, "computer, begin Captains log," he ordered and the computer whirled before it gave him a fizzling sound, "computer, begin Captains log," he ordered again and rubbed his face, this time the computer beeped ready.

"Capain's log, stadate ..... computer, add stardate later. After a lot of work we have found the Merlin intact, though not in space, instead, it was on a sea bed. Myself, a few of my former command staff and a team from the USS Grissom have worked the last forty eight hours on repairs and getting her back into space. While this sounds easy we hit a few....snags," he replied and sat forward, leaning on his desk, "first, we found the ship nearly abanded, save for two people in stasis, Lieutenant Commander Tillatix and my daughter.

Doctor's Ki and O'Rielly acted quickly and got them safly to Grissom. They were woken and seem in good spirits for what they've been through. I plan to interview the Commander about what happened later. Another puzzling thing we found is that the systems on the ship show age of about two hundred years! On top of that I am seeing evidence of crew misplaced in time, though I can't be sure yet, I plan to ask the Docs to run a DNA cross reference and compare crew medical records with the historical database. The whole thing gives me a headache, especially since I know Temporal Investigations will be so far up my six I wont need a dental checkup after I file this log.

I am calling a briefing in the next hour. Computer, end log."


Commander John "Apollo" "Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Commanding Officer
Task Group 47-A]]>
Sun, 01 Jul 2018 15:41:31 +0000
A Jarheads Personal Log http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/81 http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/sim/viewlog/81
"Computer," Kachiko sighed, "begin recording personal log."

"Lieutenant Colonel Bayushi Kachiko, personal log stardate 95879.03," the tiny white-haired woman paused briefly to collect her thoughts. "We are soon approaching our destination, which I cannot discuss just yet. I am looking forward to the completion of this endeavor, as Reiko is getting anxious back on Earth. Thankfully, Rita is able to watch over her until the both of them can join us at our impending destination."

"Crazy thing, this morning. Out for a run on Deck Three, I came across an unexpected face in the gangway I had absolutely no idea that I would ever see Lord Ensign Kevin Kilbane again. After he wore out his welcome on the Cavalry and annoyed Captain Wentworth, he was suddenly transferred elsewhere," Kachiko reported, actually sounding a hint surprised. "Hopefully, when I finally reach my duty station, I can establish my network again. I don't like being surprised like that."

"So I met our impending Assistant Medical Chief. I hadn't expected to ever see a licensed Marine physician," Kachiko smiled, recalling the lunch shared with the pretty young redhead. "It's actually disappointing that she's a Marine. I do so love redheads."

The spritely woman laughed aloud. "Reiko will want to volunteer in Sickbay once she's back with us, and I get the distinct feeling that she will try to match me with the Second Lieutenant." Kachiko thought back to the doctor, wondering how the young lady would react to having the assistance of the RN educated 14-year old prodigy. "Maybe Cara O'Reilly could help Reiko's inevitable transition to Medical School? I imagine that Reiko will probably idolize the young Lieutenant."

A chime could be heard, before Kachiko sighed, "Computer pause recording and file under incomplete."]]>
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:29:52 +0000
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