Captain’s Log, USS Culver City

Lieutenant Varyn K’lev, commanding officer, recording.

“The Culver City is on her way to Starbase 420, in company with the Blythe and towing the damaged Shuswap.  It’s been a quiet trip so far, and we should be arriving within a day.”

“Ensign Pelix and I have been working with both our small engineering team and the survivors from Shuswap on beginning repairs to Shuswap while we tow her back.  We can’t conduct hull repairs while at warp – it’s unsafe to launch the Work Bees – but we have been able to restore partial auxiliary power; her warp core is a lost cause, though, and her primary power grid will need extensive repairs.  Her life support has been stabilized, too, though it’s limited to certain critical areas and accesses only.  We were even able to get her port impulse engine working at one-quarter capacity, so if Lieutenant Syranna and the others would like to do so, they could technically try to fly Shuswap into the starbase under her own power.”

A clearing of the throat.

“Ophelia – Ensign Lotharys – and Chief Bong have been working hard to integrate the Shuswap’s survivors into life on Culver City; some have helped us stand watches, and Chief Bong informs me that a handful may even want to transfer aboard Culver City full-time.”  A weary chuckle.  “It would certainly help us, but I worry about breaking them up after what they’ve been through.  Ensign Lotharys thinks I should leave that up to them, though, and to Command.  She’s probably right, of course.  I think that’s why we work together so well, we’re each good at things the other isn’t, and we’ve been friends long enough that we know how to help each other out.  I’ve asked her to join me in my quarters shortly, to discuss possible crew additions, among other things.”

A sigh.

“Speaking of the Shuswap’s crew, Ensigns Hilava and Ghimir tell me that the injured should make full physical recoveries, though all the survivors should probably be offered counseling services while their ship is being repaired.  It’s a tough thing they went through, and they shouldn’t be left to cope alone.  It just wouldn’t be right.”

“We’re still going over Shuswap’s sensor logs – Ensign Lotharys is leading that personally.  They still have a ways to go, but so far – from what she’s told me – it looks like the Shuswap and her patrol-mates were attacked by the Tholians, seemingly for no reason.  As an engineer, one of the things we’re taught to do is look for synergistic causes for observed behaviors in a system.  Sometimes things can happen ‘just because,’ but more often than not the visible cause is itself based on a larger invisible cause, and saying ‘just because’ feels too convenient here; I don’t know what the reason could be, though, but something just feels… wrong, I guess.”

The door chimes.

“Well, sounds like I have company; end recording.”

End Log.

Lieutenant K’lev, wearing his undershirt and pants and bare-footed, sat up from where he reclined on a small sofa in his quarters, swinging his feet to the floor and standing.  Stretching, he spoke.  “Ahhhh…. Come in!”

The door opened, revealing Ensign Lotharys, carrying a few PADDs, along with a small bag, herself also dressed casually.  “I brought some snacks!” she said with a grin as she held up the bag, crossing into K’lev’s quarters.

“Great!  I’ve got some drinks,” K’lev replied with a chuckle, motioning to a small cabinet with several bottles of varied-colored liquids placed next to the replicator.  “It’ll be just like our study sessions back at the Academy!”.  The door swished closed as the conversation continued, the two friends – captain and executive officer now, perhaps, but with none of their familiarity lost – returning to their old routine from their not-too-far-gone school days, bouncing ideas off each other as they discussed their current circumstances.