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MISSION LOG 00.6 "Romulan...friend, foe, or both?"
Klemendat shrugged off his uniform, folded it neatly and set it in his clothes compartment. He slipped on robe made of Rigellian syntho-silk, the best he can afford on Starfleet's miserly credit vouchers. He poured himself half a glass of Casa Molinieri red, tasted it, and spat it out in the washbasin.
"Blast it! I told those idiots in the cargo bay they can't use transporters on a quality vintage like this. What a stupid waste!" He threw the bottle down a disposal chute, then sat down to open his private computer. He tapped up a screen showing impending crew changes and additions. By rights, Captain Dothan should have been the first person advised about the arrival of new personnel, but...there were good reasons, he thought, why this first officer should also be the first informed. "Let's see... ah. Interesting. They're sending us a Romulan."He studied the sketchy details, growing increasing annoyed at the lack of information. Name: Rakh'bar, Ensign; Graduated StarFleet Academy with honors; first posting, USS Melbourne as junior deck officer, performance level superior-- hmmm, If he was so superior, why are they so willing to get rid of him? Now assigned to flight control, USS StarQuest, arriving by shuttlecraft 0640 hrs, day after tomorrow. "That's it-?! Where's the background, the psyche profile- anything the least bit personal? Romulans are the only race in the galaxy capable (sometimes) of matching the Zakdorn intellect, and I have to deal with one on my own ship- armed with this?" He slammed the screen closed and took a deep breath to steady his anger. I'll just have to get to know him some other way, he thought. As a Romulan, he is likely to feel lonely among so many lesser beings. He's going to need the company of a congenial intellect.
Klemendat went back to his secret storage compartment and pulled out a bottle of Bordeaux, Chateau Remy, vintage 2375. One of the four bottles he carried aboard himself, without transporters. "I was saving you for a special occasion, my friend. But if we can manage this Romulan as well as I hope we can, then we soon will have something to celebrate." He poured himself a new glass of the shimmering red liquid, and savored the first sip with his eyes closed, a most gratifying foretaste of real satisfaction.
Meanwhile on the bridge Dothan looked extremely annoyed. Sitting in the center chair he glanced at the communications station, the crewmen manning the station realizing he was staring at him, looked up at the Captain and just slightly shook his head.
"Why the bloody hell don't they give us an assignment?"The crew had been sitting here with engines primed and ready to go for 3 days now. Perhaps in the next day or two this new Starship would finally get to fulfill its destiny as the most superior fighting vessel in the fleet. Dothan slapped the top of his arm rests with his hands and stood erect, then calmed once again soothing his Klingon fury and he settled back into the chair.
"Communications, any messages from command?"The crewmen on duty reported,
"Just one sir, the report of a new pilot being transported here by shuttle craft, a Romulan I believe sir." Dothan, slapped the ridges of his forehead..."D'OH!" he said curtly.
Originally posted by:
Lt. Vorun Klemendat / First Officer
Captain Dothan / Ship's Commanding Officer
USS StarQuest, NCC-71804-A