Executive Officer's Log

[Chirakis 1]

Executive Officer's Log

Stardate 2386072.6 Aegis Relative

Chirakis Kirel, Commander, SI-5

 

"Guinea Pigs?"

 

Fletcher's tousled hair framed his worn features and blended well with his disheveled uniform, but, given his recent accomplishments, Commander Chirakis was willing to overlook everything. Project TALIS, when completed, promised to be a considerable breakthrough in avionics. That R&D had chosen Aegis for a testing ground had garnered a certain amount of skepticism. Why would they choose such a remote area for testing? Security, danger, or both?

 

What threw her were the words guinea pigs. Though her Federation Standard had been perfected over the years, it took her a few minutes to recall the Terran term.

 

"Yes. I've done almost all I can on myself," he replied, slouching deeper into the chair. Fletcher never had been one for protocol, but this was not mere thwarting of protocol. He seemed to be approaching the point of total exhaustion. "I'd like to select some crew members for testing and peer evaluation. It's a necessary step in the device development process...and I believe it's time."

 

"Agreed." In Chirakis' mind, the time was overdue, but it was not for her to say. The shots were being called by one Risami Ogura, Chief of the Department of Defensive Technologies, Starfleet Corps of Engineers. Aside from the Fleet engineer's expertise, she was one pain where it hurt the most, and, though politics was not Kirel's strong suit, the commander had been able to pull herself together to confront said slave driver whenever necessary.

 

"I was going to take one from each department," Caelan continued in answer to her questioning expression. "Oggy is going to want that list, too. The pre-production Hephaestus and Ares class drones will be complete in a week. It'll take a few days to link them to the grid. Your OPS officer will need to be trained. As for the second deadline...I'll be late. Version 0.4 of GNOSIS is slow-going. Expect a COMM call."

 

His grin, though weary, showed his spirit hadn't been dampened.

 

"I'll take the comm and do what I can to calm the storm," Chirakis assured him. "And if Oggy has a problem, send her to me. She will receive the list as soon as the participants have been cleared by me. My concern is that all is done well and done correctly, regardless of deadlines. Have I your guarantee on that?"

 

"Of course. I'm hoping they name a university after me. I'm giving one-ten."

 

Fletcher University. She reserved comment, focusing instead on his immediate needs. "I see here that your progress is within acceptable parameters," she said, indicating the console before her. "I will do all I can to facilitate your progress." And keep you from having a complete physical or mental breakdown. "Anything else?"

 

"Should we walk out at the same time, or would that look suspicious?"

 

She narrowed her eyes as he turned to exit. Perhaps he wasn't as tired as he looked.