Copyright © 1997, 1998
=== 019-1120
ANDON SHRIKE
Day 12: 019-1120
It's been an interesting trip so far, much less tense than on
the Alcyon. No poisonings or out of control robots make's it a
lot easier for people to relax. The most pressing problem most
people have on their minds seems to be the plumbing.
Lots of stuff to do this time out, lectures and classes, some bad movies, swimming and some good poker sessions. I attended a a few lectures, but gave up after a few, talk about dry. The only fun thing about 'em was Merkle, some of his questions were so far off the topic I wondered if he was in the same lecture, but then afterwards it makes you think. Interesting guy, I'll have to talk to him about that.
Bishop? Now there's a strange one. The guys weird, ever since he died and came back he's totally different, real creepy. I was watching him down at Doejin's pool yesterday, back and forth, just like a bloody machine or something, only I've known machines with more personality.
The simulator has worked out great with Pater's help, sometimes I forget it's just a simulator. I've been able to ride along with almost everyone who's come down. Hfolraw is the best so far, Azani and Edmondson are good, so's Talon. Vouf used to be good, he's got the right reactions but he's way out of practice. The competition tomorrow ought to be pretty interesting, not much of a bet on second, but third place should be hotly contested.
I know I shouldn't, but I've been ragging on Niigurd again. I know I shouldn't, but hell, every time I see her I just have to refer to her as "Dear", "Dear Alli" or "Yes dear", boy does that piss her off. There's just something about her that makes me do it, I wonder what it is, some shrink would probably tell me it's cause I like her or something. Ha, what a joke. End.
DAN SILVMANE
"Personal Log. 0043 019-1120. C-shift just completed. No major faults
or future projects to report. All well, except Grey, who should be
back on duty by next C-shift according to Doctor Yorblin. Chief Engineer
unavailable for comment. Science Division reports success with latest
simulations of hole formation; Doctor Abuko looked happiest I've seen
him in ages. Apparently the simulation actually made PATER slow down.
"Planned activities: six hours' sleep. Brunch. Exercise in pool room. Another chapter of music encyclopedia. Target practice. Dinner. Talk with Shrike about grav-systems maintainance. Unstructured. On shift at 1600 hours. Entry ends."
=== 020-1120
MORTON LIMNER
Personal Log, 020-1120
0900: Got off SB coverage at 2400, so made myself sleep in a little later this cycle. Clinic last night was quiet. Couple of cases of muscle spasms due to overexertion. Not work related, of course. This crew seems to all have a common need to impress their fellows with their prowess. Some are starting to pay the price. Speaking of which, Mr. Grey was released yesterday. Seems to be mending well.
In that same line, several people have quietly approached me regarding their options vis-a-vis anagathics. I'm not sure if one of my fellow physicians has been indiscreet, or if some of those questioners actually have knowledge of my expertise in that area. In all cases (except one) I requested they not consider it until after this tour was over. That single case was one of continuation, and an arrangement has been made.
0945: I broke fast in the Crews Mess, as is my habit. Food seems to be well balanced, for the most part, though this `beverage' they serve tastes as if it were retrieved from the pool's skim filter. Some of our more enthusiastic carnivores (and I'm not strictly referring to non-solomani here) seem to delight in carnage, even this early. Maybe a routine lipids exam is in order.
1100: After a random check of a few of the Bio-threat monitoring stations, I stopped by SB to chat with Yorblin. Good man, even if he does take a bit of getting used to. He was dressing a mild burn to Mr. Blaine caused, I understand, by his trying to flambe' a recipe with brandy. He's lucky he didn't set off the ships alarm system! This seems to be one more example of a phenomena I see more of every day. All aboard seem to be moving faster, doing more, strung ever so slightly tighter, and yes, a bit more inattentive. The cause is of course the approaching emergence into normal space at the locus of the so-called `hole in space'. (This reminds me of a problem Dr. Machnik gave our Space-Time Topology class all those years ago: "What's left when you take away a hole?"...). Everyone is coping, some better than others, with the unknown of what MIGHT be there. I even find myself starting to.... well, think.
1200: The midmeal crowd was boisterous, to say the least today. I had several opportunities to enter a Jump pool, but declined. This seems to be, for the most part, a good, seasoned crew. And yet the edge of tension is getting closer to the surface all the time. If there were more than 2 days left before emergence, I'd consider trying to talk to the CMO and Captain about it. We could easily become our own worst hazard. I especially worry what one unscrupulously `Talented' mind could do here. And yet, while I have many indices that psionic talents are present on board, I have not detected any overt malevolent influence. And, I have been looking. I'm going to pay Very close attention to the Captains talk tomorrow, what is said, how it is said, and who is listening. I may bring my PDRD.
1630: Spent several hours running a diagnostic sweep of Igor. In addition it gave me a chance to get out of my psishild for a little while. Used that time as well to review my notes about the Bishop construct. I cannot think of it yet as Mr. Bishop, even though it has all semblance of him. It is obvious to me now that what we have here is not a simple case of resurrection, albeit by one of the strongest psionic entities ever imagined. There is something more. I believe that Bishop is somehow being supplemented by the ships AI unit, although in what way or capacity I do not as yet understand. I have observed too many incidents that lead inexorably to this conclusion. I am tempted to leave my psishield in Igor, but, a control must be maintained, and that was my choice. I must see it through.
1800: Inspected the remaining Bio-hazard monitoring stations, and popped in on Engineering for a quick check before eating. Found nothing out of the ordinary. No reason to downcheck them anymore. They have either gotten over the habit of leaving dangerous tools lying around, or have gotten adroit at anticipating my arrival. The result is the same. Not since that first day when I found a lazertorch, unsafetied, lying on the floor next to a solvent tank, have I had to speak to the Engineering Chief...
Evenmeal was uneventful. They have been very pleasant, more so since I discovered days back that Dr. Tabor shares my passion for `lakintac, or what the ancient solomani called cribbage. We usually play several rounds while eating, but he is on duty tonight in SB, and I'm on at OhEightHundred tomorrow, or I'd go sit up with him for a while.
2200: Turning in so I can be alert in the morning. I hate this time of cycle. Even with REM inducers, I know I'll have trouble sleeping. The dreams. Reena in my arms. Flames. Life ended, begun again. The eyes. Evil. Crazed. Still human. Reena twisted, a discarded doll. A shot. Screams. So late the screams. Please, let me sle....
[line timed out: end entry]
VANESSA KOR
"Personal log. Vanessa Kor.2300 hours. 20-1120.
So far the trip has been what I expected. There are some
interesting/different/weird individuals on board. But amazingly
everyone gets along well.
Bishop is a little perplexing, doesn't seem quite human? and is acting a little too secretive but everyone seems to think this is okay so my harping upon it will just fall on deaf ears.
Doejin is much happier here than at the base on Tuvir. And I don't blame him. His treatment could have been much better. Again, pointing this out didn't do much but get me put on a different schedule. The pool they built is really nice.
'Vouf seems to be a totally different individual. The reports from the first expedition hardly match what I've been seeing. He's actually pleasant to work with, at least those few times I've had contact with him.
And the schedule created by Lazer is certainly different! Not what I expected but it does make some sense. I suppose! I do get to see what happens at all hours, though it did take some getting used to. Another couple of days and we're back in real space. I wonder what we'll find?"
=== 021-1120
ADRIAN BISHOP
"Begin personal log, 0202, 021-1120. In spite of the redundancy of this act,
I've decided to keep a running commentary of my experiences during the trip.
I think it might interest somebody else eventually, and it helps remind me
that I'm still more protein than processors. I wonder how long that'll last?
"The new ship seems to be working out, and the crew is adapting to the less than pristine surroundings. It's interesting to note how coincidentally the shipboard failures occur. For the most part, everything is functioning within tolerances, but seventeen of the cabin toilets have malfunctioned since the first day in jump, including my own. Munro's people are doing a good job of keeping things working, but I don't envy them that particular series of repairs.
"The Aslan are making noticable progress streamlining their interaction with a mostly human crew, and I think even 'Shurv enjoys being around such an odd collection of characters. I suspect he'd never seen a human female naked until Munro started to spend all of her pool time in the nude. She's quite a lovely woman, and it's fairly obvious the other crew-members think so as well, considering the way pool usage has gone WAY up during B and C shifts. This has led to another unpleasant discovery: my lust appears to be as dead as my memory.
"I personally have made no close friends, as such. Even doctor Limner has finally stopped following me around during every waking moment. I think the 'Siamese Twin' remarks and constantly whistling 'Me and My Shadow' may have helped. In any event, he seems satisfied that I'm not going to grow bolts out of my neck and attack the crew. Little does he know.
"Augmentation is proceeding without interruption. I was able to find the data chips and processors I needed in the engineering fab shop. Assimilation is uncomfortable, but only because I'm required to remain motionless for such a long time. I was concerned that one of the engineers would wander in and find me with micro-circuits growing out of my forearms, but the crew is small enough that privacy is apparently not an issue, although I'm sure doctor DaSilva would say otherwise. Be that as it may, the components dissasemble easily enough under the attention of my nanocytes, and seem to provide the necessary base compounds.
"I've been able to absorb enough raw material to provide fully-redundant back-ups for the IASIC partial, and repair all the nanocytes which have expired since doctor Yorblin's original injection. After a couple false starts, I've actually been able to effect organ repair in several locations. In it's present condition, my liver would never give any indication of the abuse it used to receive. Assuming that I continue to have access to raw material, and I come to no violent end, I might just live forever, and wouldn't THAT be a thrill? Even so, some of the experiments have been failures. I've had the nanocytes remove the dermal and joint modifications, as the first one was painfully visible, and the second was just painful. The digital modifications went much more smoothly and I'll leave them the way they are. As I've been ignored by the medical team since our return to Tuvir, the chances of the changes being discovered seem reasonably low.
"I just can't convince Morgan that 'Vouf isn't cheating at cards. I must admit, the eye/hand coordination he demonstrated was impressive, but a bit ill-considered, just prior to the game. Maybe he'll learn a lesson from it. For myself, I regret not being able to play. It would give me a wonderful opportunity to interact with the other crew-members, but it would require more effort to lose convincingly than I am willing to expend. Ditto for mister Talon's chess tournament.
"I confess, I was actually surprised for the first time in my new 'life' yesterday when 'Vouf hit me without warning. I knew he'd been planning it ever since he came aboard, but, unlike PATER, I can't be vigilant constantly. Well, OK, I can, but it wouldn't be appropriate for the 'old' Adrian Bishop. I also made a pleasant discovery. I still have a bit of a sense of humor. I shall cherish the look of utter shock on 'Vouf's face when I collapsed on the deck for a long, long time to come.
"I've been spending less and less time inside my simulations. At first, it was because of the constant 'simulated sensoria' advisories, and their reminder that what I was experiencing wasn't real. After very careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion that they're the only thing that allows me to identify the simulations in the first place. As a result, I suppose I'm going spend the rest of my life trying to convince myself that the rest of this isn't just another one.
"My sleep requirements are down to about one hour per day. I don't dream any more, as such, but I wish I did. Sometimes, the 'garbage collection' is worse than any nightmares I can imagine.
"Speaking of simulations, Abuko's simulation of the hole two days ago had a disturbing effect on me. I'm glad we're in jump, otherwise it might have actually affected my performance on the bridge. Goughzar said I just faded out in mid-sentence and sat there for a few seconds. I have no direct memory of this, save for several large gaps in the timestamps on data packets, but the bridge SecureCams show that his description of the event is pretty accurate. I need to make sure to avoid deep interaction with PATER or the databases while on duty, even if my Bishop simulation does pass the Turing test repeatedly. It's kind of entertaining, in a way, to be able to run your 'personality' as a background process, and continue to chat with somebody else, while you're really off chewing through census records. I've narrowed down the search to seventeen 'Lydias' in the ships memory, and am continuing to search for data that will eliminate even more of them.
"I think... I'm married. End log."
NANADH NGGEMEN GER
Personal Log, Count Nanadh Ger, 021-1120 0610
[Translation from Darrian. Words delineated by * are uncertain]
*Fritz* I don't think I'll ever solve this last exercise for the helm "Surface emergency liftoff of unsreamlined carrier in Gale force crosswinds with intermittant engine failure". Of course if I ever did I'd be bored out of my *Merkin*. A helmsman has little enough to do in jump space, but at least I can run these simulation exercises. Maybe I'll write another set next time I'm groundside. While I am OOD, ha, I can't do more than read. That is a real difficult task, run interference between the crew and the command sounds like some decision making, except when the two *execs* are on duty at the same time, if it wasn't for the Aslan's instance on following procedures I'd just route all my communications directly to the helm as he isn't really busy when he's here anymore than I am.
The talk on stellar interiors seemed to go well, though I didn't like having to deflect those questions on the manner in which the data was aquired, just getting too close to security matters. I had more fun at the Vargr-Darrian cultural mixology "lecture". Was real nice of Zben to bring along so much of my favourite drink. I'll just have to remember that I'm on the midnight shift next time, again its a good thing that *helmspeoples* have little to do...
I told 'Vouf that that pool thing was not a place for any reasonable (non-marine) sophont to spend time at. Especially one with fur. *ughn*. Water is for drinking, no not even that it's for mixing things in.
I don't seem to be having too much difficulty getting along with the crew though I do seem to have better success with the new members especially Boris. If I eat any more chocolate I think I'm going to die of heat prostration though. *Oh yea* the Aslan, I beginning to think that there are more significant differences between Darrian Aslan and *Hierate* Aslan than I thought, either that or being in command makes a really significant difference. Of course it would probably help if I wasn't so difficult with them, especially in being so informal. Well, it isn't a military mission right, besides I can't help myself.
I'd better get back to not doing anything. *Akhouw* is glaring at me for something or the other, either speaking in Darrian, or maybe even taking time out of my "busy schedule" to make this entry. [End of Log Entry]
GOUGHZAR
LOG, 021-1120, Translated from Vuakedh.
"Timestamp 0023. Just got off shift, nice to be aboard my own ship. After
those damn toilets, It's just easier to keep myself aboard the Paladin. I
didn't really like my stateroom there anyway. Time for some sleep!"
"Timestamp 0816. Finally met with Akhouw today. I'm glad I took Vouf's advice to talk with him. After that scene in the command room the first day I was a bit nervous. And I'm sure going to remember to read up on races I'm not familiar with if I ever serve under them again. It was a damn good thing, if I hadn't, then I'm sure I would have offended Akhouw somehow - there just seems to be so damn much they take offense at!
It ended with an invitation to spar with him. I think'll be fun, as I haven't had much chance to do any infighting in years."
"Timestamp 1153. Lunch in the Paladin - a quiet change from the mess on the Elissa. Preparing the Paladin well ahead of time for the aekhea [translation unsure - Void, Hole, Nonspace]. I've been through the sensor logs a dozen time already, and I'm not sure what Vouf is going to want to do. I've got some ideas of my own, but I think I'll save them until I'm a little more sure of what's happening when we arrive."
"Timestamp 1352. Well, the doc said I was okay for duty - the lascerations that big cat gave me aren't too bad. It was a hell of a fight - I think I might have even scored some points of tenacity. I'm really damn glad he didn't stay sitting on me very long though. If it wasn't for the honor thing they have, I'd be ribbons now. Of course, when he let me up, I didn't just stand still. Gotta run to see what kind of things 'Vouf is going to stir up with this crazy topic of his."
"Timestamp 1550. Oh damn. I forgot today was my turn for OOD. This is going to look just bloody wonderful with all these bruises and cuts. I'm going to have to tough it out, cause if Akhouw catches me slouching I'm never gonna live it down. Then again, he's not going to be walking easy either..."
AKHOUW
(2317/021-1120) This is the personal log of Akhouw, son of
Tra'Ekhaultao', vassal to Khaukheairlko, made this iylrkhu day of the
Imperial year 1120 as Commander of the ISR Elissa, on an expedition
under the command of Captain Bhyarrvouf.
The saying of my people is that lean honor is better than fat shame. I have meditated upon the wisdom of these words for many eakhau. Their truth is plain, yet my disquiet is still within me and I continue in my efforts of haaealri. Honor is a hard taskmaster, as I learned when I killed Woktoihoil in aisaiaokheh, and I had little choice when the Ring disappeared and we were forced to leave -- only to find this 'hole' in space.
Fortunate that a solution was at hand, yet one which requires my small cadre of fteirle, and myself, to work and live in an alien land with such a collection of humans, mostly, except for a few, notably my friend, uakoweih Bhyarrvouf. He and I are the closest of all, and yet while he may understand me, he does not know me, nor do any but my small crew, Aiwi, Aolrkhea', Hfolraw, Hryawi. Were it not for my years of experience with hisol'i, and with fiyfiyalr, I doubt matters would proceed as smoothy as they do.
The Khtaliyr has been fully examined and level one diagnostics completed in preparation for our arrival at the 'hole.' Somehow it does not seem right to have such a small ship; even now I miss the close ekho bonds from the Trakh. The leashed passion of Ekharl and Ekhaw, young troopers eager for adventure and honor... The wise counsel of Eihoftyah... Their reward by Khaukheairlko is deserved, for they bear no shame. Such is mine alone to accept and bear.
I do not wish to think about the future, but I cannot escape its lure. This expedition will end, and then I must face my decision. Can I ever hope to return to the Hierate to live out my days on my estate on the khalifakht of Kusyu -- or must I face sai-iysa in perpetuity? The Brotherhood is strong, and I am not sure of Khaukheairlko. If he will not stand for my brother, will he stand for me? The day when these decisions is not yet here, for which I am thankful. Honor will show the way at the appointed time.
Earlier this day I visited the 'pool' where the Phin, Doejin, resides -- yet it seems more notable for its use by the less aquatic members of the crew. Captain Bhyarrvouf was there, and chose to cause me to involuntarily enter the pool, of a high salt content, as I discovered to my distaste. Sometime later his attention was momentarily distracted, a small but sufficient opening. The Captain is fortunate that the ship is not set to a low-grav standard, as my error in estimating his mass might have led to a more eventful retaliation, but the resulting trajectory was most satisfactory. I will apologize to him, of course, as my laughter was most shameful.
Young Goughzar, the human trained as an arlaeaha, requested to see me today. He desired to discuss bridge procedures and protocol with me, as he had never served with a commanding officer of the ftierle. I thought him most wise and attentive, I can see why Captain Bhyarrvouf likes him. We ended up discussing close quarters combat, or 'infighting' as Mister Goughzar put it; my training was in need of refreshment, as was his, so we later adjourned to an exercise area and conducted a series of sparring drills. His intensity and tenacity are noteable; a greater level of skill and he will be a most dangerous opponent, and yet even I did not escape without some small mementoes of our drill. My pride does compel me to note that his efforts were more than repaid in similar coinage.
The Bridge crew is smoothy proceeding, a group of professional and skilled crew, confident but not arrogant. Yet there is Nanadh Ger, who shares the A-shift with me. I admit his expertise as a command pilot, for to say otherwise is foolish dishonor. I cannot relate the usually quiet and unremarkable Darrian I now see to the man whose exploits aboard the Alcyon are now painfully and publicly known. Neither can I explain the contrast between the long career of honor in the Darrian Special Arm and the muddled morass of dishonor that his last command created. Captain Bhyarrvouf thinks well of him, so I attend to my inner strength and balance, and I accept this Darrian as a Bridge officer. However, I do not and will not forget what I know, and his dishonor marks him as one to watch.
Time is short before I will assume my duty station, and few tekhaao will pass before we arrive at our destiny, our mission, my chance to redeem honor. Honor is everything. Honor is all. Lu'uifakte, khah!
=== 022-1120
YOLANDA CELINA MUNRO
"Personal log of Yolanda Celina Munro: 2300 022-1120. Engineering
seems to have shaped up. Everyone is working hard to fill the shoes of
more people than we've got. Poor Grey. Had some problems with him at
first. Seems like I always show up at the tail end of one of his
stunts or mistakes. Half the time I wanted to do a good floor roll,
but it wouldn't have been appropriate for 'my station'. Caused some
problems. He got so paranoid about it, me catching him in the act so
to speak, that he didn't talk to me when he hurt himself. Too afraid
that I'd think he was goldbricking. Sigh. After he really hurt
himself, we had a talk. Hopefully I've impressed upon him that I'm not
an ogre."
"The rest of the engineering crew have had no problems. Hur'Shurvan and haut-Frieder are excellent EOOWs. Even if I do get a crick in my neck every time I talk with them. To get to their eye level, I need a step ladder."
"Angus seems to be getting into his usual bag of tricks. He and Doejin cobbled up a grav-bike simulator. He's happiest when tinkering with gravitics. Hope he's not upset about not being named EOOW. It was a tough call between him and Hur'Shurvan, but the Verushi has him beat in the general engineering category and those types are better for EOOW. But Angus is our Gravitics expert. Never saw or heard anyone else get those kind of tones using gravitics."
"Bishop is spending alot of time in the fabrication shop. Don't know what he's doing. Maybe he's got a new hobby. To each their own. Just like Hur'Shurvan was rather secretive about why he'd been spending most of his free time in his quarters. Seems he was making a chess set for his friend Talon."
"I seem to be getting along with everyone, except I feel defensive around the Crew Chief. That Aslan's a stickler for details and makes you feel a millimeter tall if you don't succeed 110%. Blimey, the way you learn is by making mistakes in drill. That's what drills are for! That's why we're doing the blasted drills! All in all, everything has gone good except the rad leak test. Silvmane had his Walkman running too loud and missed one of the alarms. Got to double check later to make sure he's modified it so that when alarms sound, the Walkman cuts off."
"Humph. Speaking about Silvmane got me thinking about the Captain. Great engineer, music spinner and conversationalist. We've had some wonderful talks. I feel like a real friendship is starting. Though, I wasn't so sure at first. He has a bit of a temper like mine. Chewed my tail but good about Silvmane messing up. And in front of the engineering crew no less! Grrrr. Took him into my office and gave him a piece of my mind I'll be telling you! Took it well he did. First captain I've ever had that didn't mind receiving a blast back, when deserved. Michael was that way. I .... gerrf."
"Christian and I have been having long talks, also. Though at times they weren't as pleasant as those I've had with 'Vouf. Christian seems to need a sympathetic ear and a shoulder. He's been dealt a raw deal. But there isn't much he can do. Or I can do, except listen. Hopefully that will help. Actually, it's been helping me. Till he opened up and got me talking I hadn't realized how much I was holding in. It's still hard to believe that one of the flames has been snuffed out and the other is sputtering. If only I had....No, I did what I could. I couldn't let Keith.... I'm not.... Aaarrrgh!!!! Enough of this emotional indulgence!"
"Some of my free time has been spent tuning the various systems on board. Oh, not enough to make a big difference. But enough to be worthwhile. Also, I've made sure that the changes are such that anyone can fix or maintain them without wrecking the whole system. No more of the 'Munro Magic'. Learned that the hard way. Besides, have to give this old girl back someday. The owners would not be amused if everything broke the first time one of their so-called engineers tried to re-tune the system. Adjusted the jump drives based on the data collected over 20 some years. Again, more of a tweek than a major adjustment. Don't want to spend two weeks in jump just because I used the wrong data. Should give us a little more on this jump, but won't really know if it worked until we do several jumps. Of course, it's all affected by the navigators. I could have an instantaneous jump drive and it would be useless if the navigator screws up."
"The rest of the time I've been catching up on my journals and swimming. Ahhh, it's so good to feel the warm water against bare skin. Unfortunately it appears that some of the crew have a nudity taboo. They either get up and leave or get very flushed when I show up for my dip in Doejin's domain. Others, I'm glad to note, are not so prudish. I'm really enjoying being around people. I don't really care if I join in the conversations, though I've been enticed into a few. It's just nice to listen to others talk about something other than sexual prowness and profit margins."
"Doejin, Merkle and Bishop occasionally have races. It's fun to watch those two try to outdo a Phin. Though, I wish Doejin would be more careful about his acrobatics. I don't think the salt water is very good for the chip reader even if it is suppose to be water proof."
"Well, it's almost time for watch. We should be coming out of jump on this shift. This 'hole in space' has me intrigued, but haven't had the time to investigate further. Been too busy in engineering. Oh, well. That's what they hired me for. End diary"
BHYARRVOUF
"Personal Log, 2357 022-1120. Last full day in Jump space is over,
unless something untoward happens. Hrf! I can't believe it's almost
time to go through this tsakha again. Everyone's wound tighter than a
Kforuz's sphincter, but it's more poni-at-the-starting-gate tension
than real fear, near as I can tell. We ran consecutive drills for
vacuum-breach, plant-scram, and rad-leak at 0710. This one was a lot
better than the last two or three; I think the screaming I did made an
impression on a lot of people, after that last debacle on the Power
Deck. Like Munro. Kah, was she MAD. Thought she'd try to bite me there
for a second. Well, it goes with her job. I know it was actually
Silvmane's fault, and SHE knows I know it was actually Silvmane's
fault, but most importantly HE knows she knows I know it was actually
Silvmane's fault. I don't think he'll make the same mistake again any
time soon.
"0900 to 1000, meditation and exercise with Akhouw. Asked him about the guulyas he was sporting. His only comment was that he liked Goughzar as much as I did. That explains why Zar looks like he picked a fight with an ore crusher... I think. 1000 to 1030, practice with the Long Reach. 1030 to 1045 at Sickbay, treated for cuts and bruises. Tabor wants to know if I've taken up, hrrrrm, "autoerotomasochistic flagellation," whatever THAT is. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.
"1045 to 1100, snack in the Mess; Grey still won't let me back into the card game. Memo: never demonstrate a Vilani tripleshuffle to people you want to play cards with. EVER. Hrf, hrf, hrf! I'm not sure I care, actually.... as the days go by, I'm playing fifty-two pickup less and less, and getting all my old tricks back. Hands. I have HANDS! I find myself just TOUCHING things sometimes, out of the sheer joy of being able to FEEL them. Deck plates. My old silk shirt. The picture of Keeyo. Fur. Hair! SKIN! It's AMAZING to think I ever lived any other way. 'Course, there are down sides to it. I scalded myself on a hot snapjoint in Engineering last night-- grabbed it before I remembered I didn't have indestructible hands. Had to wake poor Jan up to treat the blisters... he says I was lucky I didn't have any third degree burns. Munro walked me to Sickbay, looking at me like I was a retard or something. I guess I ought to tell her about the gloves someday. Surprised no one else has."
"1100 to 1130, target practice in the shooting range, including that fast-draw/rapid-fire contest I've been trying to set up for such a long time. Most of the contenders were on the usual curve; Kor and Hfolraw tied for fourth with weighted 69's, and Horne pulled a 76. I managed an 84, but Edmondsen got a 91 without even breaking a sweat, and HE was cussing blue murder about the nine points he missed. That guy makes me so mad I could puke sometimes. Memo: add an extra half hour's practice every day until I can get my score up again. Laser weapons were barred from the contest; Abdul and Lazer were whining about that, but everyone KNEW they'd have won hands down otherwise."
"1130 to 1200 in the simulator. The kludge for gravbiking isn't very convincing at all, but I sure give Angus and Doejin credit for trying. They say that another week will see much better results. I told them to talk to me in a week, and to ASK next time before cannibalizing one of the gravcycles so the simulatee would have something convincing to sit on. I thought Shrike was about to void his liver. Hrf! Kids.
"1200 to 1300, sleep. Dreamed about Keeyo. Of course. Women.
"1300 to 1800 on the Bridge, reading up on the latest simulation runs from Abuko's people. Morser's pleased as a pregnant Prt' with the latest; he says he thinks this may be a viable mechanism for how the Hole formed. Well, we'll see.
"1800 to 1900, sleep. Dreamed about Kara. Of COURSE. WOMEN!
"1900 to 1930, dinner in the Mess. Sat with Aiwi, and discussed Rraah the Mad. I think I kept up my end of the conversation, but I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't know AEKHEA about cubist art trends. That woman can make me feel about THAT tall without even trying. She'd make a hell of a wife, assuming I survived.
"1930 to 2000, flat on my back in my cabin, fixing the kenegh uy bhasto toilet AGAIN. Munro came in in the middle of it, found me under the catchbowl with my feet flailing in the air. Told me I should call for help before "going down for the third time," whatever THAT means. Kakh plumbing. I wonder if Olav haut-Plankwell had to fix his own toilets?
"2000 to 2345, paperwork and open office. Let's see here.... Smythe wanted approval to go out alone with the VLA to do setup, because he didn't feel any of my people had enough Pod experience on the simulators. I told him he'd go out with Shrike as a buddy or he wouldn't go at all. He started complaining and I started yelling. He backed down. As Daycart once said, 'It's GOOD to be the King.' Aolrkhea' came up to thank me for my speech on objectivist attitudes toward psi-talents, and asked if she could distribute transcripts. I said sure. Apparently my views on psionics have raised a few hackles among some of the more Imperially-minded crew. Pfouagh! Nanadh, I can understand; for him, psi shielding's been a way of life for decades. But a lot of these people have never even SEEN a psionic, and wouldn't know one if they did. Ridiculous. Anyway, who else... kaefe, Akhouw apologized for throwing me in the pool yesterday morning. I told him that I didn't mind, REALLY; after all, I pushed HIM in FIRST. But he had this 'honor' thing he had to work out. Hopefully the matter's at rest now. Lazer came in to ask for permission to run another intruder/ repel-boarders drill, not just for Security but for the whole crew, sometime before Jumpout. I told him I'd think about it. I think he misses swinging across power decks with a dagger between his teeth sometimes. Still, it lets them blow off steam; they're feeling about as useful as scales on a K'Kree right now, so maybe it wouldn't hurt to let them whoop it up a little. Kaefe, and managed to slip in about an hour's practice on the shivangha between visitors.....
"And so to bed. Sleep until 0200, then back to the Bridge to check on A-shift, then down to Engineering until the Jumpout bell sounds. Wonder who I'll dream about tonight? Keeyo, or Kara, or... HRMF! End entry."
END OF PART 2.
Turn 93.01 will begin at a timestamp of 0200 023-1120, on A shift. Crew should have prepared themselves over the previous sixteen hours or so for Jumpout by grabbing extra naps and so on; when the ship comes out, everyone's going to need to be awake and functional. Assume B shift people are doing fine, C shift maybe a little bit bleary eyed but not dangerously overtired (unless you want to be; talk to the Refs if you have a reason). The first move will be posted when we drop the green flag on the new Turn tomorrow.
Copyright © 1997, 1998 |
|