CAPTAIN'S LOG Stardate 100366.5
I’ve completed the annual fitness reports for the crew. It was a relatively smooth process and I’m confident that we’ll make some professional development headway with individualized plans. I learned that Lieutenant Kholoi intends to put in for a transfer for health reasons. I can certainly understand wanting to get off the ship, after being in isolation for such a long period. If she feels up to returning at some point in the future, I’d gladly welcome her back. I’ve also been made aware of Ensign Sadaann’s desire to return home to M’talas, on leave. I intend to facilitate this as soon as it’s reasonably close to our mission route.
Though, it may be a while.
We received word from 38th Command tonight, that there’s a better than decent chance war is going to break out between the Romulan Star Empire and the Romulan Republic. Intelligence is reporting a three-prong invasion of strategically vital systems. Official word is we’re staying neutral, but … Starfleet’s put five fleets on a war footing and declared five sector-wide yellow alerts. Though it’s currently only ‘precautionary’, we’ll be complying with a directive to begin combat readiness drills.
Reyga is presently on course for the Sierra Sector at high warp, in order to deliver Doctor Xadd and her project to an appropriate facility. I’ve ordered our course to be adjusted to keep us outside the yellow alert requirement for as long as possible.
PERSONAL LOG Stardate 100367.4
I should have known we could only go so long without being pulled into a conflict. That seems to be the mantra of the 25th Century. I tried to comm a friend of mine, at Republic Command, but I couldn’t get through. I guess that’s to be expected, given the situation. It’s probably for the best. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to her, anyway.
Admiral Aluk made sure to remind his Captains that we are technically neutral, and that diplomacy is our first defense. But I couldn’t help feeling uninspired by his message. Even coming from a Vulcan. Even if the diplomats are successful, it still feels like we’re doing little more than delaying the inevitable. The Empire and the Republic don’t even recognize each other as legitimate entities, how can we expect to mediate that? What compromise can be made when both sides say the other doesn’t exist?
I’ll be honest. I’m feeling pretty nervous. If it comes to it, it won’t be my first time taking a ship into combat, but it will be the first time – the first real time, with this ship, and this crew. It’s a different role than the one we’ve spent a year practicing, and one that I probably haven’t emphasized enough before now.
This is not a test I wanted to have to put them through.
CAPTAIN'S LOG Stardate 100372.5
We’re currently at Condition Yellow. Doctor Xadd and the lifeform have been safely offloaded. I’d intended to return us to the 38th’s area of operations, right back the way we came, but we’ve received new orders.
Reyga’s being diverted to meet a 38th Fleet task force carrying diplomats to Rator III. Our role in the mission is tactical reconnaissance, ensuring that the main force isn’t surprised or prevented from retreating.
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