First Officer's Log: 18 Hours

[Cmdr Ayers 0]

      Nick ignores the looks thrown his way as he enters Ops and angles for the door leading into his office.  He knows he looks like he got into a pit fight with a Klingon with the bruise forming above his right temple. the dried blood from a cut behind his left eye and several tears to his uniform but considering what had happened to cause the injuries, they could have been far worse.  He enters the office and when he chair he removes the body armor and lays it aside next to the phaser which he removes from it's holster.  Fingering a control on the force staff it retracts down to something that resembles a small metal solid and he sets it down on the desk before him.  He never had carried it before but when one was facing a potential riot scenario one usually didn't worry about such civil niceties about weapon restrictions.  Besides, the Klingon he had to use it against displayed no compunction against pulling a knife out and brandishing it at Nick.  

 

      He slumps down into his chair and says "First Officer's personal log, Commander Nicholas Ayers.  Stardate 0211.26."  The computer beeps, indicating it's recording.  "Eighteen hours...it's been eighteen hours since the Chancellor's speech and ever since it's been eighteen hours of pure unadulterated chaos...some of it controlled, most of it not.  I can't remember when I last got any sleep and so far I've been involved in three...altercations.  Security is getting stretched thinner and thinner and not having anything more immediate to do I and a few others from the other departments tried to assist where we could.  The first two altercations were people trying to get off the station and not liking being told they would have to wait.  The last one...the one that actually resulted in fighting involved the crew of a Klingon scout ship, which has been taking leave here for the last few days, deciding that since Cardassia Prime was apparently about to blow up then naturally the Cardassians must be to blame.  They and a small group of more militant Cardassians who thought along the same lines in reverse decided to have a fight down in the lower nether area of the Station.  Before we managed to break up the fight, two of the Cardassians had been stabbed, one seriously and one of the Klingons had his arm broken.  That's what they managed to do to each other and lord knows if the two Cardassians are going to make it with the way medical situations keep cropping up.  The uninjured ones are all down in the brig sleeping off the effects of being stunned by Federation phasers while the injured ones are being tended to by the medical personnel.  Considering how full the brig is getting and how backed up the Sickbay's are I can only hope that Starfleet keeps their promise of sending as many ships here as possible, preferably large Galaxy and Sovereign class ships."

 

      Nick pauses to rub the bridge of his nose, trying to will away the pressure spreading from his forehead.  He continues "Neither I or the members of the security team that responded were seriously injured though I doubt the glancing blows I took to the head from one of the Klingons is going to help my headache any.  As weak as my empathic senses are, I can feel the emotions of everyone on this station trying to pierce through my shields.  From the stoic determined control of the Captain and the controlled emotions of the Station's crew to the anger, fear and growing panic emanating from the others onboard.  I can even pick up, to a small degree, on the chaos, panic and fear on the planet below because of the sheer numbers involved and the riots.  It's taking a large portion of what I got now to summon the control and discipline necessary to keep from getting lost in the emotional stain forming around this place and I can only hope that I have the stamina, both mentally and physically, to keep my mental blocks in place for as long as it takes to get through this situation.  I'd hate to be Mom in this situation but damn do I wish I had her empathic fortitude.  Lord knows how the Betazoids manage to keep their sanity and self-identity in situations like these."  

 

    Nick pauses again, trying to decide whether to continue or not.  He instructs the computer to end recording as he pushes himself to his feet.  He exits his office and steps down to where the Captain is standing.  After a minute he says quietly "I can mind the store if you want to get some rest, sir.  Granted, I'm not an expert on Andorian physiology and emotional cues when it comes to extreme situations like this but you look beat."  If Nick notices the irony of his words he doesn't show it.