Jaruq log -- 37908.20

[Thomas Jaruq 0]

Computer, begin recording duty log for Stardate 37908.20.

      It does appear as if we're saved.

      The doctors have determined that the virus which infected the citizens of the Lodi colony as well as Arcadia's away team is only effective in the presence of Lodinite.  I started feeling better as soon as I stepped off the shuttle from Lodi, but I thought it was only relief at being back on the ship.  Sure enough, all of the infected crew are getting better, and, thanks to the evacuation, the colonists are recovering as well.

      There are now 900 Lodi colonists being supported by a portable atmospheric generator on a Lodinite-free asteroid in the Granger belt.  The generator is capable of supporting no more than 1,000, but 900 is enough to bring Arcadia down to 4,900 passengers, just under our capacity.

      This does not eliminate our problems.  For one thing, 4,900 passengers is exacting a heavy toll on the ship's resources.  Life support is back up to nominal, barely, but other considerations include space, replication for food, water, and medicine, and the fact that there are 4,900 strangers on the ship and strangers love to ... touch things.  Whenever even 5 strangers are on the ship, things end up getting broken.  I'd advise that we get these people off the ship quickly.  For now, limits will need to be imposed on replicator usage.

      The 900 colonists on the Jaruq asteroid (as I've decided to name it in honor of myself) have enough breathable air.  However, our problem is that they lack food and water.  We have enough equipment on the ship to establish a local replication system, but it would only have enough power to support 200, maybe 300, people.  After the incident on Lodi, I'm assuming that many of these people are already malnourished.  They need supplies, and the only way they're getting enough for everyone is if we ship them down.  That's not to mention that many are probably in need of medical care.  I would advise that Sickbay set up a few triage units down there.  The cargo bays are all stocked up with portable triage units.

      Now I hear that the Lodi colonists do not want to leave the Granger belt.  Unless science can find some way to purify the atmosphere of Lodi, I'm afraid they may have no choice.  We face enough difficulties merely sustaining a camp of 900 of them.  The only way 30,000 of them are remaining here is if new colony facilities are constructed on Jaruq or the facilities on Lodi are disassembled and transferred.  Either process would require several months and a fully certified construction crew.  Their only option is to accept temporary lodging at the nearest starbase until such a construction is completed.

      Another matter still unresolved is apprehending any culprits still hanging around.  Lo'Ami reported that several of the conspirators were killed in the Lodi science directorate, but we still suspect that Tepi, the water plant keeper, was involved.  He is still unaccounted for.  I've given security my best description of the old man, and also suggested that they look into the intelligence report uncovered by Garnoopy.  The Commander Tepi who deserted Starfleet was in his 30's, but old man Tepi, if involved, fits his profile.  Expertise in engineering and genetics would have been valuable assets not only in pulling off this conspiracy, but in altering his appearance.  If he's being covered by an active changeling net, we can use internal sensors to look for its signature.  There might also have been surgery or even genetic mutation involved--medical, perhaps, could detect signs of that.  Either way, everyone should keep a look out for this man, based on my description and the visual record of the Starfleet Tepi.  Of course, there's a good chance he's on one of the colony freighters, which would rather effectively squash our chances of apprehending him.

      While I would advise against any future joint missions between security and engineering, I would like to put in commendations for my own officers, Seiben and Trichon.  Throughout the mission to Lodi, they were both cool and intelligent under pressure (more than I can say for some others, hahum).  They offered valuable input toward solving the mission objectives.  And, finally, they made the ultimate sacrifice, plummeting themselves into the depths of Lodi's water reclamation system, risking their own health against the ravaging virus in the murky waters for the sake of the Lodi colonists.  Of course, they could have been more careful about watching their steps down there, but the noble intentions remained.  They've also been very helpful in the efforts to evacuate the colony.  If we live through this (i.e., if Stardust doesn't ram us into the first ship that's crew insults Starfleet) I'm going to induct them both into the Arcadia Engineering Honor Corps.

 

      Computer, begin recording personal log for Stardate 37908.20.

      Trichon and Seiben will, of course, be inducted into the Arcadia Engineering Poker Club, but the Captain doesn't know about that and we're going to make sure he doesn't find out.