First Officer's Log: Departures

[Cmdr Ayers 0]

Nick makes his way to the Bridge of the Pandora's Box, threading his way quietly through all the people taking up space.  Reaching the ship's bridge he moves to sit down in the First Officer's chair. He glances quickly over the displays before looking up at the viewscreen showing Aegis floating nearly dark against the backdrop of the stars beyond.  It's a long minute before he draws his attention away from the viewscreen.  He glances at Lieutenant Quark and tonelessly says "Lieutenant, set course for Starbase 405 in the Canar system, warp 7.  We'll leave as soon as the Captain is ready."  He knows he really didn't have to say the last but then Aegis had been the Captain's home longer then it had been his and the Captain was likely to not be in such a hurry to leave.  

 

      Not really wanting to see the station or the planet beyond floating across the viewscreen again, Nick fishes a Padd out of his bag.  Leaning back in his chair he calls up the Padd's keyboard function and types silently.

 

=Personal Log, Commander Nicholas Ayers.=

 

      "In a universe that doesn't seem to contain many, if any miracles, we managed to pull one off regardless.  We somehow managed to evacuate everyone from Cardassia Prime and the station and even somehow managed to do it ahead of schedule to boot.  I would list all the people who deserve commendations in my official report but I'm not entirely sure the Admiralty would like a list that long.  Still, it was a trying and exhausting effort and once we make sure everything and everyone is settled at Starbase 405 I intend to catch up on what feels like six months worth of lost sleep.  Then I intend to find something to eat and after that catch up on the other six months of sleep that I lost.  I'm pretty sure that my poor mental defenses have more holes in them right now then the Swiss cheese that Mom uses in her Shrimp Versailles.  Which reminds me, I never did get around to programming that in the replicator.  Suppose it's just as well now.  Of course Mom would nag me, saying that food tasted better when it wasn't "conjured up by a machine."  Of course, trying to find real shrimp out on the frontier is like trying to find a sane Q....some things are just better off not attempted."

 

      "For being a member of a race of wanderers, this departure is saddening in ways the other moves were not.  It's partly to do with the nature of it with it being a planetary evacuation but it's also due, I think, to it being a forced move.  It hits far closer to home then anything else, it hits closer to areas that not even Mom and the others are able to talk about much without being overwhelmed by emotions and memories better left buried, if not completely then as much as possible.  Though it's safe to say that the fact it is a planetary evacuation is bothering me on enough levels that Freud would have a field day."  

 

      "Of course, everyone is being affected by the evacuation and their emotions

concerning it are close to the surface and easy to pick up on even if most of them are trying to remain inscrutable about it."  Nick pauses and glances at Lieutenant Quark for a few seconds.  Smiling faintly he returns his attention to the Padd.  "Though some of my compatriots are better at remaining inscrutable then others.  Score one for Ferengi physiology.

 

      "Unfortunately, the Captain was vague when explaining what we'd be doing once we got to Starbase 405.  Though I suspect he is right when he said hit had to do with Command being swamped with dealing with all the affects of just the evacuation.  Still, part of me is concerned and even worried.  Though, I suppose I should try to keep in mind part of a song I heard once."

 

                  Whatever lies beyond this morning

                   Is a little later on

                   Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all

                   Nothing's like before*

 

=End Personal Log=

 

      Nick puts the Padd away and settles back in his chair as he closes his eyes.  

 

(*Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru)