DaveJohnson

(As of Stardate 238305.12) NAME: David Michael Johnson TERRAN AGE: 25 HEIGHT: 6’0 WEIGHT: 180 EYES: Blue HAIR: Brown SPECIES: Human PLACE OF BIRTH: Earth, New York DATE OF BIRTH: 235904.04 PARENTS: Lt Cmdr Richard Johnson 232806.23 – CSEC, U.S.S Vermont Dr. Michelle Johnson 233002.09 - CMO, U.S.S Blackwell SIBLINGS: Emily Johnson – 226108.22 - 2nd Year Cadet – Starfleet Academy SPOUSE: Lt Rebecca Cohen - 235708.09 - ASEC, U.S.S Rhode Island OFFSPRING Julie Anne Johnson-Cohen - 238304.17 EDUCATION: Starfleet Academy – 237609.01-238005.28 SERVICE RECORD: 238005.28 - Graduates Starfleet Academy Promoted to Ensign 238005.31 - Assigned to U.S.S Republic as Assistant Engineer 238006.24 - Promoted to Lt Junior Grade 238009.18 - Promoted to Lt 238305.11 - Promoted to Lt Commander MEDICAL HISTORY: David is a typical human male with upper body strength, a short stocky neck and legs of an average length. He does not suffer from any known medical condition however he has been known to be somewhat nervous especially in high pressure situations. David's left middle finger was severed by a duck on stardate 238007.02 but was re-attached and David reports no problems since the incident. BACKGROUND: Life before the Academy David was born on Stardate 2359004.04 in the city of New York. Since the age of 5 David was pressured by both his father and mother to go to Starfleet academy. This made for a very difficult childhood. David didn’t have time to play with friends because his father kept him busy studying starship manuals. The lack of human contact caused frequent lapses into depression which continued into his teen years. He would often reject offers from his friends to go out to dinner or have some fun on the holodeck. However, all of that changed when David met his first love Emily Warren. Emily was just like David, a hard worker with ambitions even higher than David’s Her father was a Starfleet Admiral and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. David and Emily started dating and for the first time in his life David felt like he had someone who understood his personality. Emily helped David realize that there was more to life then work and because of her David made more friends. After his hard work he was accepted to the academy. At The Academy During his first year at the academy David’s work ethic earned him high praise both from his professors. However, during a training exercise he revealed one of his undesirable personality traits. Since an early age David had been subject to panic attacks and he accidentally shot at another cadet while trying to hit one of his opponents. The cadet was almost killed and although it was an accident David beat himself up for his failure. Two months later David suffered his worst blow. His girlfriend Emily, the one person who had brought him true happiness during his teen years was killed in a shuttle accident. David was completely devastated and even thought about quitting the academy. He did not leave his dorm room for almost two weeks which caused all of his professors and even the commandant to worry about him. To help him cope with his loss John spent many intense sessions with the academy’s social worker Meghan Jenzo a friend of David’s mother. Jenzo helped David to find himself again and after nearly two months David returned to his academy training. All of his fellow cadets were very supportive but loosing Emily had affected David emotionally. He had frequent panic attacks and was terrified to even step onto a shuttle. However he overcame his trepidations and soldiered on. During his third year at the academy David joined several cadets at the Starfleet core of engineers. One day a member of the Vulcan engineering core was touring the facility assigned when a power conduit in the main building exploded and David who was with the ambassador at the time pushed him out of the way. He was scarred permanently on the right side of his face and neck. For his heroism he was awarded the academy medal of bravery. David graduated the academy 9th in his class and he gave the commencement address. He told his fellow classmates that they all had a duty, just as he did to serve the federation to the best of their ability. Then in a very emotional part of the speech he spoke of Emily and told his fellow graduates that the love of companion is important for any Starfleet officer. After graduation David was assigned to the USS Republic as one of its assistant engineers Onboard the Republic David's first few months onboard the Republic were very hectic to say the very least. During a false intruder alert he shot the Chief of Security after having been given orders to do by the Chief Engineer not realizing that she had in fact been joking. David was sentenced to two weeks in the brig and it gave him time to think about following order blindly. He decided that he would always, "Look before he lept," sort of speak. After several months hard work David earned the respect of the Chief Engineer and was promoted to Lt Junior Grade. Though his career was getting better he missed his new girlfriend, Rebecca Cohen whom he had met at the academy and had fallen in love with almost at first sight. He knew that time was slipping away to ask what he had wanted to ask since the two had met. So, he decided to take a risk and ask Rebecca to marry him. Rebecca accepted and David arranged to go on leave to meet here. Before he did, he was promoted to full Lt. After making his way back to McKinley Station he married Rebecca in a ceremony in Boston.

Lt Johnson was promoted to Lt Commander on Stardate 238305.11

Lt David Johnson's wife Lt Rebecca Cohen gave birth to a daughter named Julie Anne Johnson-Cohen on Stardate 238304.17

"The Newest Addition To A Starfleet Family" A Log by Lt David Johnson (This log is dated before we lost all ability to get messages from Starfleet) David almost couldn't his eyes when he stared at the video message from his wife. There she was, their first born child. David have waited so long for this day. He'd been worried for weeks about how the pregnancy had been going for Rebecca. When he had first met her, he somehow knew they were right for each other. Then, when they married it became apparent that having children was the next step. David wanted so much to be a part of the moment when it came, but he knew that the Republic and its crew came first, and meeting his newborn baby girl in person would have to wait. But for now, this was enough He and Rebecca had decided to name her Julie with a middle name of Anne. They had also decide to give her a hyphenated name so that both the Johnson and Cohen line would continue on. Rebecca had thought it a perfect name for "The Newest Addition To A Starfleet Family." As Dave looked at his daughter, cradled in her mothers armed he hoped she would one day follow in his footsteps and her mothers and become a Starfleet officer, just as they had followed their parents, who had followed their parents. But, he knew wouldn't be disappointed if she didn't even though Rebecca had already gone to great lengths to replicate a tiny Starfleet uniform complete with black booties and a combadge that would serve as a baby monitor. David had made up his mind that as soon as the mission Republic was on ended he was going to get himself to Starbase 117, which is where Rebecca would be to re-join the Rhode Island and see his wife and his newborn. He had so many people to tell about the good news but he knew it would all have to be put on hold at least for now. END LOG

“When a hologram commits a crime…” A Log by Lt David Johnson Assistant Engineer – U.S.S Republic Dave sat in the Republic lounge writing his repair report on the deflector array on one of the shuttles. He found it hard to write the report because there was something else on his mind, something that disturbed him greatly. Less than two hours before he had a conversation with Joy about Holly, the nature of sentience and why she couldn’t be, “Punished,’ for her actions on the DS9 holosuite when she had appeared as an alligator in the Peter Pan scenario and had almost killed him. Oh sure, the holodeck safety protocols had been on and there was no guarantee that the, “Holly Gator,” would have actually eaten him but after learning a great deal about her and the trouble she had caused on Republic in the past he chose to believe the former, rather than the latter. But, that wasn’t really what disturbed him. Whether she had actually intended to kill him or not Holly had in his opinion committed a crime by making a threatening action against him. So, now the question was, when a hologram commits a crime, should they be punished for it, as any flesh and blood being would be. Joy had explained to Dave that Starfleet had exempted her from the laws of the federation because of her nature which meant that even if he went to the President of the Federation, he would not order Admiral BluRox to punish her. It also meant that she had, in essence been given carte blanche to torment Dave and the rest of the crew without fear of retribution. Dave had spoken with Lt Commander Jax about a plan he had to reduce Holly to nothing more than a holographic puppet by stripping her of her violent subroutines using a program designed by a colleague of Dr. Lewis Zimmerman’s. Jax said she would take his plan under advisement and discuss it with Admiral BluRox but he wasn’t holding his breath. After speaking with Joy he was all but convinced that the Admirals hands were either tied by Starfleet or that Holly had established a bond with so many of the crew as Joy had told him that the Admiral wouldn’t want to authorize such a procedure. As Dave sat at his table, sipping his Vulcan red wine and looking at the stars he thought about all the artificial beings that Federation citizens had created over the years. The Soong type Androids. The Mudd type Androids like Joy, and countless holographic characters. Most of these holograms were not considered to be sentient and therefore not responsible for any actions that they took because, with the safety protocols on, they were harmless, even if they were holographic representations of violent people. But, there were holograms like Holly that had the ability to adapt to such settings and harm or even kill people. Those holograms were shut down and decompiled. But, Holly remained in the Republic’s databanks and Dave had to wonder. Would it take the death of a Republic crewmember, perhaps even his own to make Starfleet realize that because of her nature, Holly should be considered sentient and responsible for her actions.

I object to part of the summary, I was sober and working on a power conduit, not getting drunk :)

While Colen and DAve are having a talk and getting to know Joy better. Cohen...Rebecca Cohen :angry: I know she is an NPC but still :)

Joy took Dr Weber, and Ens Johnson with her. Did I get demoted? ;)

Another Day Under The Warp Core A Log by Lt David Johnson David stood at the Impulse Manifold/Reactor console tapping buttons and re-calibrating the engines. Since the ship was sitting still and because Lt Commander Jax had left so hurriedly without leaving any instructions David figured he would help catch up on the engineering workload. There was a pile of padds on Jax’s desk as high as a wedding cake and it was obvious to David that he had missed something big in the two short weeks he had been away from the ship. Rebecca was in a similar position because Lt Commander Robinson and two of her new security colleagues had left the ship with Lt Commander Jax on a mission that neither David nor Rebecca knew anything about. So she was passing her time by re-organizing the weapons in the armory so they would be more easily accessible if the ship was boarded. For David, it was another day under the warp core, and he couldn’t have been happier about it. While he had enjoyed his wedding and honeymoon he had been somewhat restless and that restlessness had increased slightly when Lt Commander Jax had left without saying more than 5 words to him, “Go hold down Engineering Dave.” So when he saw that their was a mountain of work to do he got right on it and as he re-calibrated the impulse engines so they would function more efficiently for a longer period of time he took a look at another padd that he had grabbed out of the “To Do” pile on Jax’s desk. It seemed that the holodeck one had still not been repaired and was, so far as he knew still malfunctioning. He remembered that he had once been ordered to repair the holodeck but he had been stopped on his way there by a comm. call ordering him back to engineering where he was informed that there was a far more important task to be done; checking out a funky smell in one of the shuttles. As he remembered one of several demeaning tasks he had been given by Lt Commander Bob that particular week and he dreaded even having to ask him about the holodeck’s however Lt Commander Bob had given him permission to re-calibrate the impulse manifold so maybe, just maybe, Jax had spoken to him during the time David had been on leave, or maybe he was treating him with more respect because he was a Lt now. Whatever the case, David saw no reason to hesitate asking him because he had decided a while back that he would no longer be intimated by Bob. Even though he held a higher rank than he did, it was no excuse for disrespect towards a fellow Starfleet officer and although he hadn’t had a problem with months David realized that he was his same, “chipper” self when he had walked into engineering and greeted him only to get a grunt for a response. David put down the padd and went back to the re-calibration. He wanted to finish it as soon as he could because if for some reason the ship needed to get out of the area in a hurry, having the impulse engines offline would make things difficult. He tried to have a quick conversation with his wife over the comm. but he was quickly silenced by Lt Commander Bob. After having to cut his conversation short he chuckled to himself and thought to himself, “Nothing has changed around here, nope, nothing at all.”

A Shuttlecraft of Personality Traits A Log by Lt David Johnson David sat at the helm of the Republic’s shuttlecraft had used to travel from the ship to McKinley Station with the ducks and was now heading back there with his wife and the newest member of the Republic’s crew. Rebecca sat next to him looking over information David had provided her about the ships procedures as well as the crew manifest. She wanted to learn as much as she could about the members of the crew, particularly those she would be working with so she could make a good first impression. She had had some trouble making friends in the past because she was the type of person who kept mostly to herself except when she met someone like David or their mutual friend Lt Richard Hart who she felt she had a connection with. But she knew she had to try and change that especially if she was going to fit in on the Republic “Computer engage auto-pilot,” said David. “Now how about some dinner?” he asked Rebecca. Rebecca smiled and said, “Just so long as we don’t have to have ration packs…again.” “Oh no,” said David, “I made sure the replicator was working before leaving McKinley. The two chuckled and headed to the replicator in the hold. “Ladies first,” David said with a smirk. Rebecca smirked back, “Grilled Salmon over White Rice with Greens a Baked Potato and two glasses of Vulcan Red Wine,” she said. She watched the food materialize and David helped her with the wine and the baked potato then placed his order. “Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken,” David said. Once his food was replicated he joined Rebecca at the shuttle’s small table. As the two eat they talked about how they should set up their new quarters, how many shifts Rebecca would have David thought of something that he had neglected to tell her. “Sweetie, I know you are a fine officer, but I have to tell you that the crew of the Republic seems to be very friendly with one another. They had apparently been together for a while before I came aboard and I should tell you that it wasn’t easy making a good impression on all of them. I’ve already told you about the incident with Lt Commander Robinson, which I am sure he will bring up just to make sure you don’t do the same thing to him,” David said as Rebecca chuckled, “But I think it’s very important for you to just be yourself. I know it sounds cliché but I tried to…well force my way into the group by following orders and such, but it didn’t work to my advantage as I thought it would. I think it made the rest of them think that I was an ambitious upstart either that or a, “Yes man.” It wasn’t after I stood up for myself against one of the other engineers when he treated me badly that people seemed to realize I wasn’t a pushover.” Rebecca took a sip of her wine, smiled and said, “Well I appreciate the warning, but you and I both know you’re not a pushover and neither am I. If I have to assert that my first day on the job I will…but…that’s not who I am, at least that’s not who I was on the Rhode Island when I first arrived. You know that I am generally a very reserved person because I don’t trust just anyone and like you my first few months aboard ship wasn’t a bundle of roses either. My tactic was the same as it was at the academy; keep my mouth shut unless I knew whoever I was talking to was someone who would listen. The problem was that nobody noticed me, nobody recognized my abilities. That changed when I started to make my shipmates realize that I was not just your ordinary run of the mil officer. I started requesting more duty assignments, places on dangerous away missions. I was almost killed on one of them but managed to use my quiet personality to calm down that trigger happy alien I told you about. Now you have already established yourself on the Republic so whatever problems you had early one aren’t an issue anymore. I think for that to happen with me, I should balance my quiet personality with my ability to assert myself. That way people won’t think I am to over the top nor will they ignore me entirely. David raised an eyebrow and said, “You know I never thought of it like that, I guess if I had done that I might not have had as many problems.” “You got over those problems,” Rebecca replied, “Your colleagues respect you now and I am sure once they get to know me they will respect me as well. I just have to make sure I don’t shoot anyone and I will be fine.” The two chuckled as they continued to eat their dinner The two were only a few days from the Republic and though David had only been gone for two weeks it felt like two months or even more to him. He knew that a lot had probably transpired since he had been away especially on a ship like Republic that always seemed to be bursting with action, something he knew Rebecca would like and now that Rebecca knew how she was going approach social interactions with her knew colleagues he was certain she would make a good impression. It seemed as though the shuttlecraft they were flying in wasn’t just carrying their cargo but their personality traits as well and David hoped that the crew, especially Lt Commander Robinson would recognize Rebecca’s personality traits and make her a part of his team, just as Lt Commander Jax had made David a part of hers.

Always hard to say goodbye…even amid the stars A Log by Lt David Johnson David and Rebecca stood right outside docking port number 4 inside of McKinley Station. They were making final preparations before they departed for the Republic. As David checked over their cargo which included a gift for Admiral BluRox from Admiral Nakamura, ration packs in case the shuttle’s replicator went offline and of course the wedding gifts from David and Rebecca’s friends and family. They would certainly have quite a bit to decorate their new quarters with. Most of their wedding guests including Rebecca’s parents had gone back to their ships or Starfleet Headquarters but David’s father had promised that he would see his son and his new daughter in-law off. As they waited patiently, David turned to Rebecca and asked, “You sure this is what you want, to be on the Republic and not the Rhode Island?” Rebecca smiled at him “Of course it’s what I want, remember what I told you, that home is wherever you make it, even in space and I don’t want you to make any sacrifices for me just so that I can be with my friends. Besides, I am sure I will make new friends on the Republic,” she replied. “I’m sure you will,” David said, “It’s just one good thing about your personality.” The two chuckled and shared a quick kiss as David’s father strolled up to them. David turned to his father, who appeared far less agitated than he had been in the hotel room before the wedding. He smiled and said, “I guess this is it, thanks for helping to arrange everything, I know you and Mom had other priorities. I hope I haven’t set you back too far.” David’s father shook his head and replied, “Dave, you are our top priority, just as you always have been. Your Mother and I are very proud of you and I am sure that you will continue to prosper as you have been doing since the day you got accepted to the academy.” David smiled and said, “Thanks Dad, it means a lot not just coming from you as my father, but as a fellow Starfleet officer.” David’s father nodded and then turned his attention to Rebecca. “Before you two married, I told David that I knew he would end up with someone like you. You two are suited very well for each other and maybe one day you will honor my wife and I, and your parents as well, with a grandchild,” said David’s father as he kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Rebecca could barely hold back the tears as she smiled and said, “We will…that’s a promise.” David’s father saluted his son and David saluted back. The two may have been father and son but his father was a Commander while he was only a Lt. He then turned and head toward another docking port where his transport shuttle was waiting for him. David and Rebecca entered the docking port with their belongings and boarded their shuttle. As David went through the pre-launch sequence he said, “It’s always hard to say goodbye…even amid the stars, but I have a feeling that we will be seeing our parents again soon enough, or maybe, when we have our first child.” Rebecca kissed him on the cheek and replied, “One step at a time mister, lets get to the ship first.” The two chuckled as David activated the comm. System and hailed the dock-master. “Control this is Lt David Johnson of the U.S.S Republic requesting permission to disembark.” The dock-master pressed the comm. Button on his panel and replied, “Permission granted Lt. Safe journey to you and to Lt. Cohen” “Thank you,” said David, “Johnson out.” With that David activated the engines and disembarked from the station. The past week and a half had been very eventful for the couple. They had seen each other for the first time in months, and their parents as well, gotten married, gone on their honeymoon, said goodbye to their parents and had now embarked on a journey to the Republic where David would be settling back into his duties, and Rebecca would be settling into her new home.

Everything has two sides, and every side is different…even on a piece of toast. A Toast Themed Log by Lt David Johnson This log has been written especially for Admiral BluRox since it has become clear to me that she has an affinity for toast David and Rebecca sat at a table at McKinley Station eating breakfast with their parents. They were having what would be their last home cooked meal for at least a week as after breakfast they would be boarding a shuttle and heading for the Republic which David had found out was luckily in one place for the moment. Even better was that Admiral BluRox had approved Rebecca’s transfer to the Republic. Since their journey to the ship would take a while David planned to use some of the time making sure Rebecca knew how not to make the same type of impression on Lt Commander Robinson that he had. Then again, he figured that as long as she didn’t shoot him, she would be just fine and hopefully Lt Commander Robinson would recognize Rebecca’s qualities just as the Chief of Security aboard the Rhode Island, Lt Commander O’Hare had. As they eat and talked about various things like where the couple would be living and what mission Rebecca’s parents we’re going on next David picked up a piece of toast. One side of the toast was white, while the other was clearly burnt yet David began spreading some jelly on the burnt side. His father looked at him inquisitively and asked, “Why are you putting the jelly on that side?” David smiled at him and replied, “You of all people should know that, don’t you remember that story you told me, about when you were on that away mission to Virgo 4?” The others stopped whatever conversation they had been having and turned their attention to the one David was having with his father. David’s father looked at the group and said, “While I don’t exactly understand what it has to do with toast I think I know why my son brought this up. When I was serving aboard the U.S.S Lincoln as an Ensign I went on an away mission to Virgo 4. We had gone down there to investigate some strange readings our ship had detected coming from a federation outpost thought to be long abandoned. When we arrived, we were amazed at what we saw. There were people still living at the outpost who had obviously found some way of masking their life-signs and it was one of their replicator’s that had been giving off power signals just strong enough for us to detect. Now our Chief of Security who was leading the team made the assumption that they were squatters, and that we should just removed them from the outpost if nothing else, for their safety. But I wanted to find out why they were there, get their side of the story. So discretely I walked over to one of them and asked him why they were there. He told me that they were the descendants of the people who had originally settled the outpost, that it was their home but that they had no evidence to prove it. I told my security chief and he informed the Captain who now had a decision to make. Which side should he believe the side of one of his most trusted advisors, or the side of the people? Rather than contacting Starfleet command the Captain decided it would be best to continue to allow the people to live there, because descendants of the original settlers or not they were not harming anyone, they were not a threat to any species in the area and they could barely be detected. When he made his report to Starfleet they told him he had made the right decision and even arranged for some food, supplies and shelters to be transported to help re-build the outpost. By choosing to side with the people rather than with one of his subordinates the Captain had taken a risk, but he knew that in the end he had done what was right and that made it a risk worth taking. When David was a teenager I told him that story in the hopes that when he had to make a difficult decision he would remember that every story has two sides to it and every side is different in some way which is why even if one side seems, “better,” or in the case of that colony more trustworthy, it is not always the side that one should choose when making the decision.” David’s father picked up David’s piece of toast and showed the group both sides. “Now I think I do understand why he put Jelly on the burnt side. The white side may seem more appealing but by putting Jelly on the burnt side he is making it more appealing than the white side. Like the situation on Virgo 4 so many years ago, the gains, outweigh the risk. Because anyone that eats it is going to have to eat both sides, but with the Jelly on the burnt side I suppose it makes both sides tasty. The group laughed as David’s father handed his son his toast back who took a bite of it with a smile. As he had been all his life, David was fascinated at the way his father had explained things. It was almost exactly what David had been thinking when he had made the initial comment about the toast. And, just like the toast and everything else, the decision he and Rebecca had made to serve aboard the Republic also had two sides. On the one hand, they were going to be together. On the other, Rebecca had to say goodbye to all her friends and the only ship she had ever known. But in this case she was sure that the benefits of that decision outweighed the harms. And even though a healthy relationship was infinitesimally more important than a piece of toast with jelly, in the end, they were both good.

Well I've only been here for 6 months but I came to that determination because it said in your profile you like eating toast, you have mentioned toast in several sims, and there is an award for creative use of toast in a log. When I put all the pieces together it equaled you liking toast. :P

To: Rear Admiral Errika BluRox, Commanding Officer, U.S.S Republic From: Lt Rebecca Natalie Cohen, Assistant Security Officer, U.S.S Rhode Island CC: Captain Steven Robertson, Commanding Officer, U.S.S Rhode Island, CC: Commander Benjamin Peterson, Executive Officer, U.S.S. Rhode Island CC: Lt Commander William Robinson, Chief of Security, U.S.S Republic CC: Lt. Commander James O’Hare, Chief of Security, U.S.S Rhode Island Subject: Request for Transfer Dear Admiral, I write you in order to request a transfer from the U.S.S Rhode Island to your vessel. As you are aware, I am now married to one of your engineers, Lt David Michael Johnson and I understand that you offered to make me a member of your crew so that the two of us could be together. I am grateful for this offer and have decided to accept it. I do not want you to think however I am not a good officer and if my request is granted I will work just as hard for you as I have for Captain Robertson and Commander Peterson aboard the Rhode Island. Below please find my official Starfleet file which outlines my service record so far. I know that you would expect me to serve a function aboard your ship. As such I would like to request a post in your security department which David tells me is headed by a Lt Commander Robinson whom I have copied on this letter. I have already informed Captain Robertson and Commander Peterson of my request and though they are sorry to lose me but they have granted it on their end and given me permission to contact you. I am presently on leave with David and if you grant my request I would be returning with him. I know that you will probably want to discuss this with your Executive Officer and Chief of Security but if you have any questions or wish to speak to me further feel free to contact me. I also encourage you to contact Captain Robertson who can provide a reference for me. Thank You for your attention to this matter, Sincerely, Lt. Rebecca Natalie Cohen ASEC, U.S.S Rhode Island =^= OFFICIAL STARFLEET FILE =^= This document is an official file of an officer in the Starfleet of the United Federation of Planets. It is classified and should not be distributed to without permission from the person whose name is on it and/or there Commanding Officer. BIOGRAPHICAL DATA: Name: Rebecca Natalie Cohen Terran Age: 23 Birth Date: 235708.09 Birth Place: Earth, North American Continent, East Coat, Boston Species: Human Gender: Female Current Rank: Lt Current Assignment: Assistant Security Officer, U.S.S Rhode Island Family: Father: Commander Edward Cohen, 232710.02 - Executive Officer, U.S.S Pierce Mother: Lt Commander Laurie Cohen, 232904.16 - Chief Engineer, U.S.S Pierce Siblings: Elizabeth Cohen, 236805.11 - Student, Federation School Boston Spouse: Lt David Michael Johnson, 235904.04 - Assistant Engineer, U.S.S Republic Children: None Education: 237509.02 – 237905.29 – Starfleet Academy, San Francisco Service Record: 237905.29 – Graduates from Starfleet Academy 237906.11 – Assigned to U.S.S Rhode Island as ASEC 237912.09 – Promoted to Lt Junior Grade 238005.17 – Promoted to Lt EVALUATION FROM COMMANDING OFFICER STARDATE 238005.01 Lt. Cohen came to the Rhode Island directly from the academy. I often find myself with Ensigns without any service record and though most of my crew is made up of transferees I prefer officers who start their careers on my ship because they are in effect a blank slate. From the start my Chief of Security, Lt Commander O’Hare noticed Mrs. Cohen’s ability to defuse tense situations that ordinarily would result in hostility. Although a security officer she has a real flair for diplomacy and demonstrates something that many security officers do not; an ability to ask questions first, and shoot later. When she encountered a hostile alien or Starfleet officer, Mrs. Cohen would attempt to calm them, figure out why they were hostile and unless they were a direct threat to her or those around her IE: about to fire a shot from a weapon or attack, she would not fire hers. It is my belief that her philosophy saved many lives and it is something that I had Lt Commander O’Hare to stress to all the members of his security team. After she had proved herself to be an outstanding officer and upon recommendation of Commander O’Hare I promoted Mrs. Cohen to the rank of Lt Junior grade. I promoted her to Lt just six months later after she had demonstrated courage and quick thinking during an incident that took place on Virgo IV home to a species that only achieved warp drive two years ago. She had gone down to the planet as part of an away team to investigate a mysterious death in one of the colonies which could not be explained by their doctor because of their limited technology. Our doctor having performed an autopsy determined that the person had been murdered. No sooner had we received that information the team was attacked by the murderer. He shot and injured Commander O’Hare and was about to shoot Lt Jg. Cohen. But, she talked to him, convinced him that committing another murder wouldn’t solve anything, that it would only make things worse and that he himself would end up dead. After about 10 minutes of talking the murderer surrendered himself to Cohen and the backup team she had called for. For her heroism which saved the team and perhaps people on the planet I promoted her to the rank of Lt and Commander O’Hare put her in charge of two of the security squads on the ship. In conclusion I would like to say that Lt Cohen is one of the bravest, most capable officers I have ever met and will make a fine addition to any ship and I’ve no doubt that if she wants to she will become a starship Captain one day. Either that or a diplomat. PHYCOLOGICAL & MEDICAL EVALUATION The only weakness I have noticed about Lt Cohen during her time aboard my ship is that she does not like to back down. She is often convinced that she can solve a problem and will not stop even if it means skipping meals and sleep for days at a time or working with an injury. Our Chief Medical Officer has reported to me on several occasions that she found Lt Cohen sleep deprived, malnourished or even injured even days after a mission. It is quite obvious that she doesn’t like to waste time and I would encourage whoever becomes her direct superior or her chief medical officer in the future to order her to go to bed or to get something to eat if it becomes clear that she is working too hard for her own good.

Oh Come On! I reprogramed this thing in 30 seconds and it shuts down in half that time! Captain, can we please get a MAC

Paradise is only as good as you make it A Log by Lt David Johnson David stood in his morning robe on the balcony of Rebecca’s winter home in Concord, New Hampshire watching as the sun rose over the snowy peaks of the New England mountain range. Instead of going to Riza or one of the other, “pleasure,” planets, he and Rebecca had chosen to stay on Earth for their honeymoon so they could enjoy it without millions of tourists from every corner of the galaxy. David always liked peace and quiet so when the two were discussing their honeymoon plans he had suggested that they go somewhere where there wouldn’t be a lot of people and Rebecca concurred. She had spent many winter’s at the house that they were staying which had been in her family for many generations when had been a child. Snow blanketed the area where they were staying but thanks to the planetary weather control center there would be no snowstorms like the ones that David’s great, great, great grandfather who had served under Captain Sulu on the U.S.S Excelsior had described in his journals As David stood there just looking out at all he could see Rebecca walked out onto the balcony to join him. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. David turned his head toward her, smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning,” he said, still smiling. “Isn’t it so peaceful?” Rebecca asked him as she looked out at the snowy fields and trees with him. “Yes it is,” David said, “It’s funny, all my friends said we should go somewhere more…exotic. But, even though this may not be “planet paradise,” somehow seems even better.” Rebecca chuckled, “I think paradise is only as good as you make it sweetheart, and so long as we enjoy it, make the most of it, it will be better. Besides, I wouldn’t trade this place for any other place in the World” On that note the two walked back into their hotel room, got dressed and headed out into the woods for a winter stroll. They walked through quite a different environment than what they had been accustomed to for the past five or in Rebecca’s case six years since they had started their Starfleet training at the academy. Instead of classrooms, bulkheads, conduits and starships they saw trees, flowers and animals. They eat from a picnic basket instead of from a replicator and that night they watched the glow of the stars and the moon in the sky which was better for David than the glow of the warp core back on the Republic. As the two gazed at the stars from the balcony on Rebecca's house David turned to Rebecca, “Amazing isn’t it?” Rebecca looked at him, “What is?” she asked. “Just being back on Earth, in this environment, away from Starfleet, the pressures of work, it’s really intoxicating,” he said. “I guess it is,” she replied, “No matter how many generations of my have visited this quaint little place nothing ever changes here. I have always been one for new adventures but its nice having a place like this to come to when I need to relax, and now it’s even better.” “And why is that?” David asked. “Because you’re here with me silly,” Rebecca replied as the two chuckled. The next day the two traveled into town which had not changed much since Rebecca’s family had purchased their home there. Oh sure there was a transporter site, a few private shuttlecraft but nevertheless it was serene compared to battling the Borg or the Dominion. As they walked along the narrow streets they encountered a small antique shop. David had always had a fondness for antiques so he went inside while Rebecca went to get some ice-cream. Inside we’re artifacts that were two hundred, three hundred, even four hundred years old. Some were from when Starfleet was still in its infancy while others were from a time before it even existed. As he searched through the shop he came across something which caught his attention. It was a map of the United States of America circa 2000. David eyes widened as he looked at the map with all the states and he realized that for people back then this was as close to the UFP as they would have ever gotten. He knew that the unity which had existed back then and the unity of the Federation was much like the unity which existed between himself and Rebecca. Since it interested him and he needed a few things to decorate his new quarters he bought it and then headed out to meet Rebecca for some ice-cream. The couple had just a few days left to enjoy their honeymoon before heading back to McKinley Station and heading towards the Republic using the same shuttle David had used to get to McKinley with the ducks 10 days earlier. First, Rebecca needed to send her request to Admiral BluRox and get it approved while David contacted Starfleet command and find out where the ship was and if possible speak to the Admiral. Though he had only been gone for less than two weeks he knew that a lot could have happened and he hoped that there was a Republic for him to go back to, along with his new wife, who he hoped would also be the newest member of the crew.

A Reception for Reflection A Log by Lt David Johnson David sat in the middle of a very long table in one the ballrooms of Boston’s historic Ritz Carlton Hotel. To his right sat his new wife Rebecca. The room was filled with David and Rebecca’s family and friends, most of whom in Starfleet dress uniforms. At the table were David and Rebecca’s mother and father, Thomas, Jennifer, Admiral Nakamura and a few senior officers from the crew of the Rhode Island. As the group talked and eat David’s father who was sitting to the left of him rose from his chair with a glass and spoon in hand. He tapped the glass lightly with the spoon and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to him because they knew he had something to say. “I stand here before you,” David’s father said, “As the proud father of a wonderful son and the proud father in-law of a beautiful, intelligent woman who I am honored to call a member of my family. I am not surprised that these two ended up together even if it was an accident. Ever since David could talk, he has been a good judge of people. Once, when he was nine I took him aboard the starship his mother and I were serving on at the time, the U.S.S Maelstrom. Even though I had taught him about Starfleet from an early age it was David’s first time aboard a starship. As we toured the ship and I showed David the parts of it I knew he would understand we ran into our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Fagan who I am happy is with us here today,” David’s father said as he nodded to Dr. Fagan seated at a table in the ballroom who nodded back at him. “John greeted him and made a few remarks to me. David waited for us to finish our conversation and then, out of the blue, David looked at him and said, “You save a lot of lives don’t you Doctor?” John was stunned. He had never met David before and had only said a few words to me about a member of my security team that was in sickbay recovering from some wounds but somehow David not only knew that he saved lives but that he was a Doctor as well. John nodded at him and said, “Yes I do…how did you figure that out?” he asked. David smiled and said, “Your calm, collected, and to the point, all traits that my Doctor exhibits.” John smiled back at him and then said to me, “Your son is very perceptive Dick.” I smiled at him and replied, “I know, I think he gets that from his mother.” I know that David is perceptive to this day because I think only he could fall in love with someone at first sight especially a woman like Rebecca. May this happy occasion be the start of a long and happy life…for you both.” David’s father sat down as the room applauded politely. Then David got up to speak, “Since this wedding has been one filled with history and tradition I have decided to follow another wedding tradition; making a toast to my new wife,” he said as he smiled at Rebecca who smiled back at him. “So here is to the woman of my dreams, the woman who I did fall in love with at first sight and the woman that I am going to spend the rest of my life with. No matter where we go, what corners of the galaxy we may travel to I hope that the feelings we have each other just keep getting stronger. Because, in my view a good marriage is one in which the people that are married remain just as close to each other as they were when first they married.” David put his glass down, took his wife’s hand, gently pulled her out of her chair and the two kissed as the room again applauded. The two then headed out onto the dance floor as the band began to play their favorite song, “What a wonderful life.” David’s mother and father soon joined them followed by most of the couples at the reception. As they danced David’s father smiled at him then turned to his wife Laurie and said, “It’s funny, somehow I always thought one of us would be the one to help him find the woman of his dreams.” Laurie raised an eyebrow, “Why did you think that?” she asked, “He’s always been able to accomplish what he wanted to do on his own.” “I know,” said David’s father, “And he did tell me this was something he was certain about, but I never would have imagined that he would have kept this relationship going, especially over subspace, it’s very difficult even these days.” Laurie smiled at him, “You remember when we were dating?” she asked “How could I forget,” he replied. “Well, we managed pretty well didn’t we?” she said. David’s father smiled back and said, “Yeah, I guess we did. This really has been a reception for reflection.” “Yes it has,” said Laurie, “But it’s a reflection of memories that have made our family that much stronger and I know that the kids will be strong just as we are.” As he danced with Rebecca he looked at his parents and then Rebecca’s. Then he looked at Rebecca and said, “You know sweetie I’m not surprised that this day has finally come even after a long distance relationship.” “And why is that?” Rebecca asked with a smirk. “Because both your mom and dad and mine are Starfleet officers and Starfleet officers never let a little thing like distance get in the way of achieving their goals. And, now that distance isn’t an issue for us anymore, we won’t have any problem achieving anything that we want to,” David said. “Good point, and no matter what happens, I know that we will both go as far, especially since we’re doing it together,” Rebecca replied as she kissed David tenderly on the cheek. The two continued to dance almost side by side David and Rebecca’s parents just talking and joking about their future. From his seat at the front table Admiral Nakamura looked at the happy couple, then at their parents. He took a sip of champagne and smiled. Then he turned to Admiral Thomas Henry a friend of Rebecca’s father, Commander Cohen and said, “It’s amazing that no matter how many years may pass one thing about those two families have always remained the same.” “What’s that?” asked Admiral Henry inquisitively “All four of David and Rebecca’s parents are Starfleet officers, and whatever starship each couple has been on they have been on it together which is exactly what the newlyweds are going to do. And yet, despite the fact that such an arrangement would provide a distraction their careers have flourished as I expect David and Rebecca’s will,” said the Admiral. Admiral Henry chuckled and said, “Maybe it’s because they are together that they have done so well, since they have always been there for each other when difficult situations arise.” “I think you have the right idea Tom,” replied Nakamura as he continued to watch the Starfleet couple’s dance with a little smile on his face. Admiral Henry had made a valid point and as David and Rebecca and their parents had been reflecting so to had Admiral Henry. Most of the Starfleet officers he had married had chosen to be on the same starship with one another and their careers as well as their marriages had gotten better almost as a result. And, just like Nakamura he too hoped that would be the case for the two Lt’s that had just been married.

Lt David Johnson married Lt Rebecca Cohen on Stardate 238010.16

A Wedding Ceremony for the Generations Part II A Wedding Log by Lt David Johnson David Michael Johnson and Rebecca Natalie Cohen stood at the Altar of Temple Beth Israel in the city of Boston on the eastern sea board of North America on the planet Earth located somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. They were facing Admiral Nakamura a man who had performed many of these ceremonies through the years in his dual role as station/starbase administrator and unofficial spiritual leader. The Admiral cleared his throat looked at them, then the congregation of their friends and family and began the ceremony that would forever link them with one another. “We are gathered here today to join two of Starfleet’s finest in holy matrimony. The couple has written their own vows which they will now read.” The Admiral nodded to David who took Julies hands in his and began his vows. “When we first met the first thought that crossed my mind was, “Oh my God, I hope I didn’t hurt her.” But that was before I helped you up and really looked at you for the first time that I thought, “This woman is perfect for me, and I have to make sure I don’t lose her, because she has to be the one.” To quote Romeo, someone else who fell in love when he first sighted the woman of his dreams, Juliet, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” And like the summer’s we spent on Cape Cod together, you too are warm, bright and peaceful, but I know that you have a potential to be forceful like a summers storm, and that’s just one thing I have always admired about you and I promise to keep doing the things that make you love me, to honor you, to help you overcome your obstacles when you need me to and to always be with you, till death do us part.” David looked at Thomas who handed him a small gold ring that was made out of small gold leaves “May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love,” he said as he slipped it onto Rebecca’s ring finger. Rebecca smiled at him, looked into his eyes for a long second and then began her vows. “I remember a trip that we took about a year ago to Vulcan with T’Penna. She said she wanted to show us where she had been raised so that maybe we would have a better understanding of what growing up was like for a member of another species. After we visited the place she had been born and the Temple that she and her family had prayed at we hiked up Mt. Seleya. As we stood on the mountain’s peak looking out at all that there was to see, I realized just how small we were in comparison to the rest of the galaxy and how hard it really was being apart from you my first year in Starfleet when you were still at the academy. I realized then that if you ever asked me to marry you that I would want to stay in the same place, with you. But, being the person that you are you made that offer to me. Now I know that whatever corner of the galaxy we may travel too, we will be doing it together, and that is something that I am looking forward too. Rebecca looked at her bride’s maid Jennifer who handed her a ring identical to the one she had on her finger. He slipped it onto his ring and said, “May this ring symbolize our love for each other and the bond which will exist between us, to death do us part.” The two turned their attention back to the Admiral who continued the ceremony. “The union of two Starfleet officers is an event which had been practiced since its creation. As I look at you two I am reminded of another Starfleet couple that I married a number of years ago. At the time, the two of them were Lieutenants like you are now, but their marriage and their decision to serve aboard the same ship as you have made their relationship and their career’s even better. Eventually they both became starship Captain’s but when they went to command different ships it was so hard for them to be apart that when one of them was promoted to Admiral the other insisted that the Captain come and serve as first officer which they did. That kind of a gesture, like the one Rebecca is making to David is a testament to their feelings for each other and the bond between them which I hope will last a very long time.” “And now without further adieu,” said the Admiral, “Lt David Michael Johnson, Lt Rebecca Natalie Cohen. By the power vested in me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband…and wife.” The Admiral turned to David smiled and said, “You may kiss the bride.” David pulled back the veil covering Rebecca’s face and gazed into her eyes. The two looked at each other much as they had done the first time they met. David put his arms around her neck leaned in and the two kissed for the first time as a married couple. The two turned and faced the congregation of their family, friends and colleagues many of whom had tears of joy in their eyes. David interlocked his right arm with Rebecca’s and escorted her towards the door slowly. As they walked, they passed many Starfleet couples who had gathered for their happy occasion. They exited the Temple where a small transport shuttle was waiting to take them to the wedding reception. They stopped at the bottom of the staircase of stone steps where they were soon joined by their parents and other members of their family who embraced them. After David had hugged and kissed respective members of the Cohen family and his mother he came to his father who shook his hand firmly smiled and said, “Now I think I am ready.” David smiled back then he and Rebecca entered the shuttle and left the Temple. Their dream had come true and even though the moment David had waited for was over he knew that their journey was just beginning.

A Wedding Ceremony for the Generations A Wedding Log by Lt David Johnson David Michael Johnson, 22 years old stood at the altar of Temple Beth Israel in Boston. He was in his dress uniform which had been modified so that it would be a little fancier than usual. The Synagogue he was in had been standing for more than 750 years and in that time it had been the place for many holy services, for weddings and for funerals. And, on this day, it was the place of a wedding ceremony for the generations. On one side of the Synagogue sat David’s friends and relatives. His father and mother and three of his grandparents all current or retired Starfleet officers who had watched him grow, nurtured him, helped him gain acceptance to the academy and earn the commission as well as the rank he now held. His sister, who was entering her final year at the academy who couldn’t be happier for David…and more jealous of him because she hoped to one day, be standing at the altar like he was. And, his friends who had been there for him at the academy and we’re now all serving on various starships but had all taken the time to be with him on his special day. On the other side sat the friends and relatives of his fiancée Rebecca Natalie Cohen, 23 whom David had met during his very first year at the academy almost entirely by accident and as he waited for the ceremony to begin he reflected on just how this day had come to be. During his second year at the academy David had lost his girlfriend Emily Warren in a terrible shuttle accident. He spent weeks at a time in his quarters grieving and some of his friends thought that he would never be the same again. After a few months and many intense counseling sessions he returned to classes. He had just gotten out of his Interspecies Ethics class one day when he bumped into a woman that he had never seen before…literally. He was reading a padd and didn’t even see her coming. The two collided and tumbled to the ground. David shook his head, and slowly got up. As he did he looked at her, sitting on the ground, still a little disoriented. He offered his hand and she grabbed it as he slowly helped her up. The two looked at each other for a long second, and David would later write in a personal log that he believed the bond between the two of them was formed almost instantaneously. Over the next few years, the bond became even stronger as their relationship got more serious. Even when Rebecca graduated when David was just ending his junior year it did not affect things. It just made the brief times they spent together that much more special and even though he had no idea at the time that Rebecca would choose to go back to the Republic with him, it did not prevent David from asking her to marry him. Before departing for Republic he had spoken to Joy about the power of love between humans and what it felt like when one human had such strong feelings for another that they would be willing to do anything for the other. David would have been willing to transfer to the Rhode Island, or go to the ends of the universe and beyond just to be with Rebecca but the fact that she chose to make the sacrifice and leave her ship and friends was a testament to what kind of a person she was and why the two fit together so easily. To David’s left stood his best friend and his best man, Thomas Dichter. David & Thomas had grown up in New York and their parents had served on some of the same starships allowing them to spend time together. Thomas was six months younger than David and had only been in Starfleet for seven months but because of his bravery, his intellect and his quick thinking which saved three of his fellow crewmembers aboard the U.S.S Olympus he held the same rank as him. David had always admired Thomas for the bravery that he demonstrated during training simulations while they were at the academy and Thomas had admired how David put others before himself. Their qualities were part of the reason why the two of them had such successful simulations. It had been seven months since Thomas had graduated at the top of the Academy’s class the previous year but he was already on his way to what David hoped would be a fine Starfleet career and Thomas wished the same for his friend who was now doing something that Thomas told David he couldn’t even dream of, and that morning he had admitted that he was actually jealous, but nevertheless he was extremely happy for him. To David’s right stood Admiral Nakamura whom David had asked literally at the last second to perform the wedding ceremony. Upon being asked, Nakamura didn’t even have to think twice, and though age was beginning to take its toll, he said he would be honored to do it and made the trip from McKinley Station to Earth, dress uniform and all. It had only been a few days since David & Admiral had met aboard the station to discuss the report on the duck incident aboard the Republic but something about that meeting had reminded David of the Admiral’s integrity and why he and his father were such good friends. To the Admiral’s right stood Lt Junior Grade Jennifer Goodman, Rebecca’s bride’s maid who like Thomas, had known Rebecca since the two had been children. The two had gone to the academy together, graduated together and though they had been serving on starships in different quadrants they still kept in touch, and when David asked Rebecca to marry him it was Jennifer who had advised her to accept it. She knew David as well from their days at the academy and admired many of his qualities. Because they were all friends, Rebecca she asked Jennifer to be her bride’s made. Jennifer accepted had taken a leave of absence like David and Rebecca but when she had told her Captain about the situation, she wasn’t too eager to grant it having been a bride’s maid many times, but never a bride. But, she still granted Jennifer the leave because she knew that it was important for her to fulfill her obligation to her friends. David was thinking about the story his father had told him about how he and his mother had met when the organist began to play, “Here comes the bride.” David snapped to attention almost as if he had been ordered to. After a few seconds the doors of the Synagogue were opened and Rebecca came through. She was dressed in a traditional white wedding dress with a long veil draped over her head. It was so long in the back that the tail of it was being carried by her 12 year old sister, Elizabeth. On her right was her father Commander Edward Cohen, the Executive Officer of the U.S.S Pierce. Their shoulders were interlocked as he escorted her down the aisle. Commander Cohen was no stranger to these ceremonies having performed several himself on the request of his Commanding Officer, Captain Mathew Chen. But, this was the first time that he had been the one walking someone down the aisle, the first time he was the one giving away the bride, and instead of performing the ceremony he was witnessing the marriage of his eldest daughter, something that brought noticeable tears of both joy and sadness to his eyes. The two arrived at the altar and Commander Cohen whispered something in his daughter’s ear as the two smiled then took his seat beside his wife, Lt Commander Laurie Cohen, the Chief Engineer of the Pierce. Like David & Rebecca the two had decided to serve on the same starship when they had gotten married some 25 years earlier. Rebecca smiled at her parents and then looked at her fiancée and smiled at him. David couldn’t see her face very well because of the veil in front of it but he smiled back all the same. The two then turned their attention to Admiral Nakamura who was about to begin the ceremony that they had been waiting for since the day they had met. To Be Continued….

A Family Tradition Knows No Time. A Log by Lt David Johnson David stood in front of a mirror of his room in the historic Boston Harbor hotel. From his window he could see the well known harbor and beyond that the Atlantic Ocean. He had just finished putting on his dress uniform and was adjusting the pips on his jacket when he heard a voice from behind him. “You look good.” David quickly spun around. There, also in a dress uniform was his father, Lt Commander Richard Johnson “Thanks,” David said with a smile, “You look good too.” His father walked over to him and handed him a small box that he had been holding. “A pre-wedding gift for you,” he said. “Mom and I got you and Rebecca something of course, but I got these for you and I had to give them to you now.” David opened the box revealing two small cufflinks. On one were inscribed the initials, “M.J” and on the other the abbreviation “C.A.P.T” David’s eyes widened. He knew that the initials were of his great grandfather Captain Michael Johnson whom David had gotten his middle name from. “Before he died,” David’s father said, “My grandfather gave these to me, he said that he wanted me to wear them on my wedding day just as he had done, and then pass them on to my son, if I should have one when his day came.” He looked at David and said, “Now that day is here and these belong to you now.” David took the cufflinks out of the box and quickly replaced the ones he had originally put on with his great-grandfathers. Then he looked up at his father and said, “And if I have a son, I will pass them down to him so that great-grandpa Michael will always live on.” David’s father smiled at him and replied, “Great-grandpa Michael lives on through you Dave, its part of the reason why mom and I gave you the middle name that we did. Besides, A Family tradition knows no time so long as it’s continued.” “You know Dad, I’ve been through a lot of stuff in the last few months that I wasn’t prepared for,” David said as he turned back to the mirror and continued to adjust his uniform, “But…somehow I feel prepared for this, every friend I have that has gotten married was nervous on their wedding day.” “But your not?” his father asked him. David turned around and looked at him, “No, because I have been waiting for this day. From the moment I first met Rebecca I had this feeling like I was destined to marry her, and now that I am there isn’t any uncertainty left about this. The only uncertainty there ever was passed when she said yes,” David said with a smile. David’s father smiled back and said, “I think that’s because you’re our son, but then again, we didn’t meet by accident like you and Rebecca did, we were set up remember?” David laughed, “That story never gets old Dad. I guess I should be thanking Grammy and Grandma for “introducing,” you two to one another while you were at the academy.” “I guess so,” his father replied, “But, I think you and Rebecca make an even better couple, otherwise you wouldn’t be marrying her so soon. It just goes to show that the bond between the two of you is greater than anyone, your mother and I included could have ever imagine. It took me two years just to get up the courage to ask her out, let alone ask to marry her.” David finished straightening his uniform. “Ready?” he asked his father. “No,” he replied, “You may be ready to get married, but I don’t know whether your mother and I are ready for you to be married, but don’t worry, that will change soon. Especially when she sees you wearing these,” he said pointing to the cufflinks he had just given David. The two chuckled and headed out of the hotel room and began to make their way to the Temple for a wedding that David’s parents were obviously not prepared for, but he knew that they couldn’t be happier for him. After all, marrying fellow Starfleet officers was one more family tradition that David had always wanted to continue. Now he was doing so, and at the same time marrying the woman of his dreams.

Home Is Where You Make It…Even In Space A Log by Lt David Johnson David and Rebecca entered her quarters on the U.S.S Rhode Island. Because the ship was being re-fitted there we’re very few personnel on board, aside from a few engineering crews, but it wasn’t off limits, allowing the couple a private place to continue the conversation they had started in the lounge of McKinley Station. Holding Rebecca around her waist from the side, David sat down on her bed, gently pulling her down with him. She caressed his cheek and smiled as she said, “You know I can’t remember the last time we we’re alone like this.” David thought for a moment, “I think I do…the night after you graduated the academy, as I was helping you pack you’re things,” he replied with a chuckle as he looked around the room. Rebecca looked around, and then back at him. “What, what’s so funny?” she asked. David smiled at her, “I can see you keep you’re quarters here much as you did at the academy, you must have driven your cabin mate nuts when you were an ensign.” “I’ll have you know Mr. Johnson that we got along just fine for the short time that we were together, and if I remember, you kept yours just like you did your room at home,” Rebecca said. “That’s right,” David replied, “My room at home is clean.” The two laughed as Rebecca got up and walked over to her replicator. “You hungry?” she asked. “Are you kidding,” said David, “I’ve been eating nothing but rations for the past five days.” Rebecca giggled, “I’ll take that as a yes.” She replicated her favorite dish, Baked Cod with Peas, and David’s, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza as well as two glasses of champagne. She took the food off the replicator first then the champagne and handed a glass to David. He put his pizza down, held up the glass of champagne and said, “A toast…to…us.” Rebecca smiled and the two gently clinked their glasses together. “Not to long before we’re going to be sipping this at our wedding,” she said as she took a sip. David took a sip of his champagne and let out a small sigh. “There is something we need to talk about…You know that I love you, and now that we’re going to be married, I don’t think I could stand being apart from you for long periods of time. So, there is a decision to be made.” David moved closer to her and took her hands in his. “Either, you transfer to the Republic or…I transfer to the Rhode Island. The third option is of course that we both transfer to another starship, but I know how difficult it would be for you to leave everyone here, and my Commanding Officer has offered to make you a member of the crew, even allocate quarters that would accommodate both of us.” Rebecca nodded and said, “That’s a very generous offer.” “Yes it is,” replied David, but I want to do what is best for both of us. And, no matter what starship I am on, as long as I am with you I will be the luckiest man in the universe. Which…is why I think you should make the decision.” Rebecca moved closer to David and put her arms around his neck. “Now I remember why I fell in love with you in the first place…you have always put others before yourself, no matter what the situation, and you have always looked out for my best interests as well as just about everyone else we’ve met.” David let out a small chuckle, “It hasn’t always worked out well for me, but I guess it worked out well here huh?” he asked. Rebecca smiled back at him and said, “Yeah, it did, and I think I’d like to follow your philosophy for once, and put you before me. I may have friends here, but you are the most important person to me, just like I am to you.” “Are you sure you don’t want a home, maybe on Earth?’ David asked. “We can have one there too,” Rebecca said, “But like my grand-father used to say, “Home is where you make it…even in space,” and I think making our home on the Republic would work for me.” David’s smile broadened as he let out a happy gasp, then quickly composed himself and said, “I think looking out for others is a quality that we share, because your kindness is part of why I fell in love with you.” He leaned in closer and kissed his fiancé. “And I know that it will make you a lot of friends aboard the Republic allowing us to maybe, settle down, even if it is in space.” Rebecca chuckled, “One step at a time, now, have you given any thought as to who we should get to perform the ceremony?” As the two continued to discuss wedding plans, David felt happier than he ever had in his life, not just because Rebecca had decided to come and serve with him, but because they would no longer be apart, they would be able to raise a family. Now all that remained was for them to be married, something that David had been waiting for since the day the two had met. Back then it had been just a wonderful dream, but like some of the dreams he had had since then, this one was becoming a reality.

A Moment Frozen In Time Part II A Log by Lt David Johnson David stepped out of one of the lifts on McKinley Station and walked towards the lounge area following what he considered to have been a very successful meeting with Admiral Nakamura. It had been 4 months 2 days and 17 hours since he had seen his fiancée in person, and it had not been easy being away from her, only able to communicate over subspace. The two of them had recorded more than a dozen letters to each other but because of the distance and their busy schedules, it hadn’t been possible for them to have a live conversation. David entered the lounge and looked around. He saw a two Bolians at a table in front of him eating a meal, four human Starfleet officers, two much older than he was and two about his age playing a friendly game of what looked like poker and a lone Vulcan in the corner reading over a padd and having what looked like a hot drink of some type. The Vulcan had dark skin and three pips on his collar. He looked older than most Vulcan’s David had met but like most humans, David couldn’t guess his age. Though he had never met this one before, David was sure that he recognized him from somewhere. Before he could think of where…he saw her out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting at a table off to the side of the Vulcan’s table gazing at the stars with her blue eyes and sipping a glass of Vulcan red wine, a drink which she had introduced David to at the academy and was now his favorite drink. Her dark brown hair was at her side, tied in a single knot. She hadn’t bothered to do anything special with it, but David didn’t really care. He always joked that working under a warp core made fussing with his hair pointless. David walked over to her slowly and from behind her so she wouldn’t notice him. Remembering an ancient earth trick that a friend of his had taught him, he cupped his hands in front of them and then, without warning put them over her eyes. She giggled and said, “Dick is that you? Aren’t you supposed to be in Sickbay?” David shook his head with a smile; he knew that she was referring to their mutual friend Richard Hart who served with Rebecca aboard the Rhode Island. He let out a mock sigh and said, “Do you honestly think that Richard would surprise you like this, or is it that you don’t recognize the feel of the hands of the man you love.” Rebecca instantly spun around in her chair and looked at him, with an expression on her face that even David couldn’t describe. It was one of happiness, surprise, and passion all rolled into one. David had a similar look on his face and for a split second, the two just stared at each other, as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. Then, David slowly grabbed Rebecca around the waist and hoisted her out of her chair. He spun her around being careful not to hit anyone as she let out a laugh. He set her down and the two leaned into each other and kissed. Just as David predicted, kissing the woman that he loved made him forget any and all negative things that he had had since the two had parted that day at the transport station, and even though the kiss may have lasted for just a few seconds, it really didn’t matter. Time did seem to standstill as Rebecca hugged David tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. The others at the lounge we’re looking at the couple with varied expressions on their faces but nobody said anything, either because they didn’t feel they needed to, or because they didn’t know what to say. The Vulcan sitting in the corner raised his right eyebrow slightly for a moment as he looked at them and then went back to his padd. The two had yet to actually say anything to each other but it was very obvious how they we’re both feeling. After about thirty second or so, David pulled back, took his fiancés hand, knelt down, took a small box from his pocket and popped it open. Inside was a gold ring, with a diamond, which happened to be Rebecca’s birth stone. David had used two weeks worth of replicator rations to make it, but it had been worth eating ration packs for that length of time, just to see Rebecca’s expression, which was still one of surprise and happiness. He slipped it onto her ring finger and then stood up. Wrapping his arms around her waist again he smiled and said, “Do you like it?” “Of course…but…being with you is the best engagement present of all,” Rebecca replied as she smiled back and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. “Come on, we’ll head back to my quarters, I think that we have already made too much of a public display.” David chuckled and said, “What, you mean me grabbing you and spinning you around, or me bending down to give you your engagement ring.” Rebecca chuckled back and then took David by the waist out of the lounge. After they had left, one of the Starfleet officers that had been playing poker got up and walked over to the older looking Vulcan. He sat down smiled and said, “You know, I don’t think I ever did something like to Deanna. Isn’t it just wonderful when two young people, presumably about to get married have a moment like that, Commander?” The Vulcan looked up at him with no distinguishable expression on his face, and replied, “I don’t consider a public display of affection particularly wonderful Captain, but I must admit that it did tend to happen with regularity aboard Voyager, and I have no doubt that it will happen with regularity aboard the Titan.” The man chucked and said, “No doubt, Commander, and as my first officer, I expect you to make sure that if you see something like that, try to think as humans do rather than jumping to conclusions as you may have when you we’re serving with Admiral Janeway, not all of us are as logical as you. I’m sure she told you that,” he said with a smile. “Indeed she did,” the Vulcan replied, “But, Admiral Janeway had her own logic, which was shall I say, unique, especially when it came to her decisions regarding relations between crewmembers, and from what I have read, Captain Picard was much the same way.” The man smiled, and said, “Yes, yes he was, but then, he never actually had a wife, well, none to my knowledge. Marriage does tend to change a man” The Vulcan looked at him, again with really no expression in particular and replied, “Indeed it does, Captain, indeed it does.”

A Moment Frozen In Time A Log by Lt David Johnson David entered McKinley Station through docking port #4. The four day journey from the Republic at high warp and impulse had not been an easy one. Even though Joy had picked a design for the stasis containers holding the ducks that would consume a minimum of engine power, twice the units went offline and David had to quickly get them back online again before the ducks had a chance to wake up. It also explained why he hadn’t gotten more than a few hours sleep per night and because he had taken the replicator offline to conserve more power, he had eaten nothing but rations. Despite all this, David was still in a good mood. The ducks had been safely transported by two of McKinley’s science officers to their lab so that they could decide what to do with them. And, he had told Joy that he wasn’t going to let anything bother him for one very important reason. He believed that just the sight of his fiancé would almost immediately relieve any tension, or stress he was feeling and a kiss would make him forget everything negative that had happened since he had joined the ship. That would have to wait, if only for a few minutes as David wanted to carry out Admiral BluRox’s orders. He entered a lift and called up the deck the Admiral’s office was on. As he rode the lift he noticed that it looked a little worn. Certainly the station itself had seen better days. David still remembered the first time he hat set foot on the station with his father, when he was just three years old. He remembered being in total awe of its size and all the people on it, to say nothing of the magnificent starships he could see from the observation deck. And, of course, most of all he remembered seeing his home planet from space, for the very first time. There had been few times in his life where a moment had been frozen in time, where time seemed to standstill just for him, if only for a few seconds. The lift opened and David strolled towards the Admiral’s office. McKinley Stations chief administrator, Admiral Nakamura had known David since he had first came aboard some 18 years before, when the Admiral was the senior officer of Starbase 173 and was inspecting starship getting refitted there. He and David’s father we’re good friends, so at the very least he knew who he was talking to when he delivered Admiral BluRox’s report as well as his own. David arrived at the door to the Admiral’s office and rang the chime. The Admiral heard the chime and yelled at, “Come In.” David walked into the office and saw the Admiral sitting behind his desk looking at a padd with, and on his computer. His desk was covered with padds, no doubt reports from Captain’s and repair crews. David stood at attention his hands clasped behind his back and said, “Lt David Johnson reporting on behalf of Admiral BluRox sir.” The Admiral, put down his padd, looked at David with a smile and replied, “Well I must say you have grown since I last saw you…Lt, congratulations on your most recent promotion by the way.” “Thank You Admiral,” David replied. He was a bit surprised that the Admiral knew about the promotion but he assumed that Admiral BluRox had mentioned it, and that he was coming as well. “I have a report from the Admiral for you sir,” David said as he handed the Admiral the padd, and then added, “And my own report as well based on the information that I have.” Over the next fifteen minutes or so Admiral Nakamura looked over the report and asked David several questions about the duck incident. David answered as best he could and then gave the Admiral his own report which contained an analysis of what had happened and how it might be prevented in the future should ducks or any other wild animals manage to make their way onto a starship. After he had finished the Admiral cleared his throat, clasped his hands in front of them and put them on his desk. “I appreciate you coming here personally to deliver these reports. This must have been a very difficult situation to deal with,” said the Admiral.” “For the most part the Admiral and security personnel handled it well once we knew what was inside the eggs. Besides my finger bitten off, and Lt Cmdr Robinson’s allergic reaction which as I explained was mostly due to the malfunctioning bio-filters which I repaired, there we’re no other incidents to my knowledge but I never really read the Admiral’s report, its not my place to do so,” David replied. The Admiral nodded and said,” Well, I think I have everything I need, these reports and the Admiral’s suggestions as well as yours will certainly help prevent this type of thing from happening again. Now, Admiral BluRox mentioned that you were getting married and might request a transfer to another starship, is this true?” the Admiral asked him. “Well the first part is true,” said David,” However, I have yet to make a decision on the second part, I have to see what my fiancé wants, I will do what is best for her, but I would like to remain on the Republic, I have grown close to the people there and I would very much like it if my fiancé would transfer there so we could be together, but I know that she has grown close to the people on the Rhode Island. The wedding will take place in a week or so, and I will still have four or five days after that to make up my mind before my two week leave is up.” “I understand,” said the Admiral, “Don’t worry about the time; if necessary I will speak to Admiral BluRox and have her grant you an extension, and you need to think about this, it is a very big decision. Now, I think I’ve kept you long enough, you should go see your blushing bride to be.” “Thank you sir,” David said as he smiled at the Admiral stood up and saluted him. The Admiral returned his salute and said, “Dismissed.” David exited the Admiral’s office and walked back towards the lift. As he walked he thought about what the Admiral, and everyone else had told him about his future. But even though had received advice and suggestions from several people he knew that it was his decision to make, and that he didn’t want to make it without speaking to the one person that mattered most; Rebecca. With that he entered the lift and said, “Lounge.” The long wait to see her, to hold her in his arms was almost over but he knew that it was worth the wait. To Be Continued…

A Very Happy Turn of Events A Log by Lt David Johnson David walked out of security after a very interesting conversation with Joy after she had transferred two ducks into two stasis containers for him and Lt Bob had beamed them to a shuttle-craft. As David strolled down the hall he had a smile on his face and felt calmer than he had in days. All the uncertainty about being able to appear at his own wedding and what direction his career was headed in had disappeared…thanks to Admiral BluRox. Not only had she granted his request for leave but she had promoted him as well and all in exchange for a small favor which David was happy to do even though it as the transporting of two of the dangerous ducks, one of which was the one that had bitten his finger off. David entered a turbo lift and said, “Shuttle Bay One.” As David rode the lift to his destination he pondered something that the Admiral had said to him when granting his request. “Perhaps this will give you and you’re bride a chance to think about you’re careers.” Though David was not sure what Rebecca wanted to do, he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to stay on the Republic. He hadn’t even been on the ship a week when he was tossed into the brig, not even two when he had had his first confrontation with Lt Cmdr BobO, not even five when he had had his finger bitten off. As David contemplated his brief career in Starfleet he realized that he had had a number of experiences and not all of them had been pleasant. But, in the last few weeks there had been a very happy turn of events for David. He had made some friends, had been promoted, and most importantly he had gotten engaged. He had in a sense, found himself, if he had been lost to begin with and he knew that if he left the Republic, even with his new rank, he would have to start all over, and the last thing he wanted was to lose what he already gained. The turbo-lift stopped and the doors opened. David walked out of the lift and down the hall towards the shuttle-bay, still deep in thought. Just a few weeks ago, he had practically been begging Joy not to leave the ship because he did not want to lose her as a friend. Oh he could have sent messages to her over subspace but it wouldn’t have been the same. And yet, he had been doing that with his fiancé for almost a year. While he did not want to leave all his friends on the Republic and start anew somewhere else his most recent conversation with Joy had him thinking. She had outright told him to go to his fiancé and to never leave her, to do what she wanted, and he had to wonder whether staying on the Republic was in Rebecca’s best interest, especially since the two of them we’re going to be newlyweds. But, perhaps, just perhaps, Rebecca would ask to join him and put in for a transfer. The Admiral had offered to give him some bigger quarters for that specific reason. David entered the shuttle-bay to find the shuttle with the two ducks, safe in their stasis containers waiting for him. He entered it, activated all the power systems and initiated the pre-launch sequence. He was all ready to go except for one important task that needed to be done. David tapped his combadge, “Johnson to the Bridge,” he said. Admiral BluRox sitting in her command chair took his call, “Go ahead Lt,” she replied. “Permission to disembark ma’am?” “Granted,” said the Admiral, and then she added, “Congratulations, good luck, and come back soon.” David smiled and replied, “Thank You ma’am, Johnson out.” He ended the communication, activated the engines, waited for the shuttle-bay doors to be open and then piloted the shuttle out of the bay. As he left the Republic, he wondered whether he would be coming back in a few weeks, with a new addition to his family and a new addition to the Republic crew or whether it would be someone else returning the shuttle and he would be the one adjusting to life aboard the Rhode Island. One thing was certain, he wanted to do what was best for both he, and Rebecca, because that was the most important thing of all.