Personal Log 41472.8

Posted on 24 Jun 2021 @ 12:41am by Lieutenant JG Elise Auray

With another space day concluded, Elise Auray sat at her small desk within her small quarters. To her, it had felt like an eternity since she was able to sit and get work done so simply. But indeed time had passed, wounds had healed some, and Elise felt remarkably more satisfied with her work that evening than she had been in general as of late. She considered herself relatively adaptable in terms of being able to rise to the occasion of the Boston's more intense and demanding missions, but would never deny that these more mundane orders could have their moments too.

The Boston's chief tactical officer had catalogued and filed all of the findings of the previous events, including data from all the shipboard sensors as well as the eight launched probes. Only the current status of the arrested poachers was missing, but Security would likely fill that in. With official business concluded, all efforts were now focused upon an alternative project, as well as doing her entry for the day.

"Computer begin my personal log for... Stardate of 41472.8

We are finished with setting up a conservation zone in this region of space. In the process we were able to track down and shut down a poaching operation underway. Truly.. we can replicate so much of our needs and desires. So what is it that drives someone to make their living in such a horrible fashion? I will be certain to revisit this problem in the future when I am perhaps a little more influential. Establishing the zone only goes so far. Had the Boston not been on hand to catch those hunters.."

In an apparent sensing that his guardian was hard at work, Halifax decided to hop up onto the desk to address the task at hand. His repeated swatting of Elise's fingers as she poked and prodded the desk screen was crucial in delaying the process and in obtaining scritches. Still the lieutenant went on, undeterred, with just one hand.

"Larger, more frequent patrols might be a solution. Buoys outfitted with scanners to ensure no passing ships are outfitted with tools for harming the local wildlife. Or perhaps arming the buoys is better. I think that Joe could design a small torpedo that could.. no.. no it might be best to let this go for now."

The screen was a splash of images of the zugmods and the varying states the Boston had encountered them in thus far. They had been arranged into a progression from the hatching footage to the larger forms that had played about the ship at impulse. Also included was the planet upon which more eggs were located, and scans of those eggs in question.

"In the midst of it all I had a meeting with Federation Commissioner Hudson. Some of it was about the Captain and his commanders' performances. Possibly for their promotion? But it mostly involved a number of events that took place on the ship in the past few month. Including some dangerous, curious decisions made by the Captain as well. Hm! I'm just glad Earth is still so worried about us! I would have thought after Paris we could have gotten away with anything.. Moving along though.. I'm pleased to report some progress on the career decisions I've made. As in, I have done something. Instead of just saying I will. I submitted an application to an institution to study at!"

Lieutenant Auray yelped when she felt the sudden chomp of Halifax's jaws down upon her patting hand. After shaking it free, Elise hid her hand and wrist in the safety of her sleeve before reaching out to gently jab and prod the cat threateningly. It was an insult that demanded he savagely claw and bite at the uniform fabric. All the while, Elise continued her work on the computer screen.

"Even though I could probably have returned to Starfleet Academy.. that didn't feel right somehow. I had the thought in mind that I have met so many different peoples now, and made friends among them all. If I were to learn instead from one of them, I might bring something new back home with me."

The lieutenant attempted to reclaim the use of her hand, but Halifax's refusal to surrender his claw and jaw-deep lock on Elise's arm would not give way. That ended with him being dragged close enough to receive a swift smooch upon the top of his head. It was not enough to coax him down from his indignant display at this point.

"And although there were lovely universities and academies on Trill and Vulcan that would have doubtlessly been a wonderful experience too.. there was a place we visited in particular that still has me captivated."

Her amateurishly designed collage was completed. She affixed a recent image of herself to the end of the document, and typed out a brief caption to go with it. 'Going to this planet surface soon. Will get as many pictures and sounds as I can. Sending this for now! Love, Elise'.

"But I probably need to be someone much more important than Elise Auray to be accepted there. Suppose I will find out sooner or later. Anyway.. one last thing before the end of the log. About the Captain. If he really is up for promotion like some have suggested, then it's nearly a guarantee he will receive it. Would he accept that? Would he have to leave the Boston to serve Starfleet as Admiral?"

Elise poked the screen to send the collage and message off, and then sat back in her chair. She took a moment to consider trying to answer the two questions she had posed to her log.

"..Yes, I think he might take the job. But leave the Boston for it? No he would never. This would become his flagship. Flying at the head of his own fleet. Imagine! We could all be serving on the U.S.S. Boston under Admiral Demarcus! And the Galaxy ships would follow our orders! His.. but ours!"

She spun about in her chair to face the opposite side, and glanced about her bedroom. Halifax made the decision to release his prize arm in order to avoid being unintentionally flung across the room by the spinning motion. As he landed gracefully onto the floor, his guardian considered the upcoming operations on the planet surface. Most likely Commander Raj would ensure the surface-bound crew would have proper equipment to carry out the surveying and analysis. But just in case, Elise decided to set up and ready her own camera to bring.

"If I don't learn to stop trumpeting about that simulation victory, they will eventually come back for a re-match. They will remember who started this. And then what will I do? Um.. hope by then that I have mastered the art of talking my way out of things. Computer, end log!"