Operations Officer's Log

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

Operations Officer’s Log, Stardate 511102.06

Cmdr JFarrington, MD, PhD

USS Manticore NCC-5852-A

 

The PADD on the desk in her quarters loaded with psychological files was enough to make Jami consider retirement. Again. But not in this universe. Not until they got home. If we ever do.

 

“Computer, begin recording,” she said, her tone taking in all the fatigue and not a little frustration of the past few weeks as she accessed the first case file.

 

“With the knowledge that we are still not ‘home’ - in our home universe, the one in which we began a few weeks ago - has come an increase in Counselor Asteria Jaxa’s case load. Actually, it’s doubled, but that’s not much of a surprise.” She stopped paging and began to read. But it only took her a minute to put the PADD aside.

 

“This is the second time we’ve landed in the ‘wrong’ universe - or a different universe, whichever you prefer. The first time we landed smack dab in the middle of the Federation-Arcturan War - which never happened in our history. As soon as we realized something was wrong we traced our jump to its source and tried to jump back the way we came. Quantum physics being what it is, we must have been one quark or one neutrino or one whatever off, because we landed here. In another one, one of an infinite number of possible realities.

 

“Talk among the crew has run the gamut from ‘we’ll never get home’ to ‘let’s stay here and see what we can make of it,’ mostly because in both universes the ship that carried the name Manticore was destroyed. In the words of security officer McFly, ‘The good news is: even if we don't get back to our original universe we now have two others that are Manticore-free we could occupy.’ Resignation to our fate? Putting a positive spin on the situation? And how many alternate realities are there in which the Manticore was destroyed? How many are there in which the Manticore was not destroyed?

 

“There has also been talk of accessing the Federation database to see how our ‘alternate selves’ performed - or if they ever existed.” Jami gave a sigh as she picked up the PADD once more and accessed the quick reference database.

 

“Ensign Greg Mancuso, age 22, stellar cartography... recent Academy graduate cum laude, posted to Manticore just before our jump to the Federation-Arcturan War. Newly married, wondering if he’ll ever see his wife again, ever see the child she is carrying....” She flagged his file and moved on.

 

“MCPO Katrina Harvester, age 35, structural engineer, career officer, several commendations. Mother is terminally ill. She wonders if her mother is alive in this universe, has already died, or if she was ever born. On the edge of mental breakdown. Computer, flag file for immediate attention.”

 

Over the next half hour, Jami had narrowed the field to five urgent cases. She forwarded her findings to Counselor Jaxa, to keep her up to speed and to verify the choices.

 

“As for ship operations, we’re in the process of collecting the pieces of the Hexacosichoron 600 Engine from the USS Coxeter to see if it will work on the Manticore. If it does, there is a chance we can return to our universe....” Or another one.

 

“Computer, end log. Encrypt. File.” Putting her now-cold coffee aside, she picked up the first case file and exited her quarters for engineering, hoping she could find the right words for MCPO Harvester.