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+--- Thread: ZE/L01 - Captain's Logs (/showthread.php?tid=568)
ZE/L01 - Captain's Logs - Paul - 05-08-2025
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RE: ZE/L01 - Captain's Logs - Morad Ameen - 07-04-2025
Acting Commanding Officer's Log, Stardate 202506.27
The last forty-eight hours have been... eventful. What began as a routine summons to Deep Space Nine resulted in my being given acting command of the USS Zephyr, a veteran Steamrunner-class vessel, with an entirely new crew cobbled together from the Titania and other local postings.
Our initial orders were to proceed to Trill with all possible speed to take on a VIP passenger, the esteemed negotiator Kestir, for a diplomatic mission of critical importance between the Veld and Taveres systems. We departed DS9 and arrived at Trill after a forty-hour journey at high warp. The ship and the new crew performed admirably.
Upon arrival, however, the mission parameters changed dramatically. Communications with the Trill authorities were cryptic, mentioning a "delay" and an "urgent medical procedure." We soon learned why. The Kestir symbiont's elderly host, Aed'na Tlapo, had passed away. The symbiont was saved via an emergency joining with a new, much younger host, C'had Kestir.
This new host was immediately flagged by my Chief Medical Officer, Doctor O'Fee, as being in a critical post-joining period with a high risk of rejection. Our departure from Trill was rocky and slow due to these unexpected changes. All mission preparations related to the previous host have been discarded, and my senior staff is now adapting to the needs of our new, and rather... energetic, guest. At the moment, the Zephyr is cruising at the speed of warp five on our way to our destination. We are maintaining that speed in order to keep a specific schedule dictated to us by our guest's needs.
On a more personal note...
This command has come with complications I could not have foreseen. The most significant is that my new Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Amila Ra'an, is the same woman with whom I shared a personal dinner date just before this assignment began.
I have, as per regulations, disclosed this prior personal involvement to my acting First Officer, Commander Keir 77. The professional necessity of that conversation was... awkward, to say the least.
Now, I find myself in an untenable position. I am her direct commanding officer. Every professional interaction on the bridge is now colored by what came before, and my hope for what might come after. I find myself admiring her skill and initiative, proud of how she's stepping into her new role, while simultaneously having to maintain a formal distance that feels completely unnatural. I've made it clear to her, and to myself, that our professional duties are paramount. But the hope to see where that personal connection might lead... it remains. Navigating this will be one of the greatest challenges of this command.
End Log
RE: ZE/L01 - Captain's Logs - Morad Ameen - 08-15-2025
Acting Commanding Officer's Log, Stardate 202508.15
The Zephyr continues its journey to the Veld and Taveres systems, maintaining a cruising speed of Warp Five. All ship's systems are green, and so far, our route has been clear of any unexpected events.
Our guest, Mediator C'had Kestir, has been medically cleared by Doctor O'Fee and will be joining the crew for a formal dinner in his honor this evening. The initial medical concerns have been addressed, but the... unique nature of the new host remains a significant variable. It appears he is on a side mission of his own, actively pursuing personal connections with members of the crew. My official stance is one of neutrality; I am not here to police the off-duty lives of my crew, so long as all interactions are consensual and professional decorum is maintained during duty hours. To my knowledge, our guest has remained civil in his... attempts.
That is not to say this situation hasn't caused some headaches. Doctor O'Fee was, understandably, more strict and protective of the crew in her initial assessment. However, after a private briefing where I outlined our mission's priority—to keep the Mediator happy and functional—she has agreed to a more supportive, observational role for now. It's a delicate balance, but one we must maintain for mission success.
Personal Log, Supplemental
As I was preparing for the formal dinner tonight, I realized my pre-loaded dress uniform in the replicator was still that of an Engineering Lieutenant Commander. Seeing the gold instead of the command red... it made me feel a bit nostalgic. It was a stark reminder of how short my time as First Officer on the Titania really was. It feels like a lifetime ago already.
Who knows, the way this temporary assignment is going, I may be back to my old stomping grounds in Engineering sooner rather than later. For now, though, this is my command, and these are my responsibilities.
End Log