Personal log, Stardate 40934.4

Posted on 11 Aug 2020 @ 9:56pm by Lieutenant JG Elise Auray

"Computer, begin recording,"

The confirmation chime rang, and Elise Auray fell back into a cozy chair in her modest junior lieutenant's quarters.

"Personal log for Stardate 40934.4.."

After pouring herself a small glass of wine from one of the many bottles that could be found stashed about her room, she curled into the chair and nestled between the arms, letting her feet dangle off the opposite side.

"We've-"

Within seconds of her gaining a comfortable position, Halifax trotted out from a dark corner of the room and leaped up onto Elise's stomach in search of his next place to fall asleep. Elise narrowly managed to not spill, and set her glass on the nearby table in order to hold the cat down against her. She would suffer no series of interruptions this time.

"We've got quite an impressive shuttle! I wish I knew enough to have participated more actively in souping it up but when I arrived from the bridge, it looked like nearly everyone I knew was working on the craft in some way. They should all be very proud."

Halifax was then released, cautiously, but he abused his newfound freedom by beginning to wander the length of the chair and lieutenant with impugnity. As ever, his interest was less in Auray's recording and more in being as much of a nuisance as possible.

"So! A few weeks ago I was in tears believing that the time of coldness and distance with Romulus may be at an end. I didn't just get to meet Doctor Vrius but also was able to see the ship. All of this taking place without any shots being fired."

Elise plucked Halifax from his pester marching and held him suspended above her. He stared down, silently, and contributed no remarks to the log recording thus far. She continued to hold her staring contest with the ship's cat as she recorded.

"Then.. somehow things went from that, to being hunted down by three Orion ships over an appropriated shuttle and liquid gels. And the longer this current Romulan guest is on board the less likely it feels that the coldness and distance are going to come to an end. Was I wrong to be hopeful, or is it wrong to give up hope?"

Eventually Halifax lost interest in staring at the officer. Elise lowered him, and he hopped away back into the darkness of the rest of the room. Possibly to seek affection from a different officer who would not prioritize a personal log over his needs.

"Three Orion vessels at once. We're lucky to be alive, I think. A trio of Cardassian vessels might have meant a very different outcome. I'm glad to be on the Boston for these fights and not, say... the Triton. Courage and confidence come so much more easily when your ship is big and powerful."

She picked up her wine glass again after having neglected it, and took a long sip. Elise was not in denial about the atrocious taste of the wine and it was love that compelled her to drink it rather than any true preference for it.

"Lieutenant Vos and I were asked by the Captain to review the tactical data from the skirmish. We don't engage in very many fights of this magnitude so I can understand why. We can only get so far on simulations after all. But honestly I am not terribly excited to do this review. Because I can't help but wonder.."

She swirled her glass about slowly, then lowered her eyes to look into it. She took her time nursing the glass, not considering if anyone else who happened to listen to this log at some point might be bothered by the long pauses.

"..if the real difficulty in the battle perhaps came not from the enemy disruptor arrays or torpedo bays but in a lack of cohesion among the bridge crew. There was someone in particular whose ..actions may have cost us time and may have allowed the Orion vessels to escape despite our considerable damage done. Even before reviewing the data, I know what precisely it is that went wrong in that fight."

Elise sat in silence for a moment and then drained her glass fully, then sighed.

"I'm referring of course to the fact Crewman Platts and I could hardly cooperate. I am so used to working with Joe by now that I.. blundered through several calculations and processes. It was unfair of me to expect Platts to have the same reaction times and styles. I know I will have Monsieur Harper more often than not, but.. Platts is a part of this operation too. We will need to train together, and build trust and partnership. I don't know how I am going to fit this all in but I swear I am going to do it."

She nodded. Very, very slowly. And then shuddered.

"The weight of this new rank is heavier than I thought it would be ..Computer, end recording."