Stardate: 19915-2237

Uh oh. Looks like ONI is already conducting strategy briefings. No point trying to work on Build 2291 if action is imminent. Right. Real espresso to brew while showering.

Pause log.
***
Personal log, continued.

Amazing what good coffee does for the mind. I was so tired by the end of last shift I forgot all about my promotion. Hardly surprising given the announcement of senior officer promotions the previous shift with a new Lieutenant Commander and the promotion of Commander Evans to full Captain. Taking the training wheels off my humble Ensign’s rank doesn’t have quite the same ring, but it certainly squared my shoulders to hear all the good natured congratulations going around. When someone gets promoted it is an endorsement of effort and teamwork for all of us.

It is strange to see that coveted shiny pin as I pull on and straighten my uniform. I am a real officer. I made it and be damned to all the Earth Company MBAs they could have walked me into.

Heck. Compressed sim scheduled. Looks like a mission is coming up soon. Raven is heading out to do mischief on her own.
***
I am very glad we had the chance to run a simulation together before going into combat with a new crew. With ships so busy and stations crowded with transit, lots of crews are in flux. Light Cruiser TSN Hawk was my assignment this time out. Captain Evans was under the weather, and I wasn’t familiar with any of the other crew. Plus I volunteered for a different station since it was a sim and several people were new to working with each other. It is going to take me a while to get the hang of Helm. I only scraped the paint egregiously once. I made some good turns but finding the right path quickly through enemy formations to close for Delta 2 or clean Echo runs needs much more practice.

Every time simulated casualties flashed up, I remembered the haunted look on Kaplan’s face.

With all that going on and maybe just a little nervousness about that new gold pip, I was hypercontrolling and missing some cues, I was concerned to keep us energy efficient and we took damage early on pulling enemy fleets out of position and so I was absorbed with DamCon. But I was grateful to Lt. Thantos for keeping an eye on the overall energy level even if I was crimson with embarrassment whenever he called out a key level I should have got to first. He passed it off as being of prime interest to a Weapons officer, but his specialty is Engineering so that’s why it is second nature. Apart from that the Captain commended me for a good job and I did feel that power was almost always exactly where it was needed.

The mission was to strike into enemy held territory and take out their bases while leaving alone enemy-occupied TSN bases until we receive contingents of marines to retake them. Getting past the heavy defensive forces took some coordinated movement and tactical strikes by the fleet. It would have been easy to get swamped but we did it. We did it when it looked as if we couldn’t. And our new missile cruiser laid as pretty a pattern of mines as you could wish between us and the flock of fighters bearing down on us as we headed for sector transition.

I heard a suggestion at one point, that recharging shields can take longer than repairing shield nodes after collisions with asteroids. If that was meant to be a joke or a compliment to the DamCon teams, I hope Crewman Kaplan doesn’t hear it. Last I saw of her, she was helping a medical team stabilize an injured colleague for transport.

End personal log.

Stardate: 12915-2237

No luck with the last couple of replicator espresso builds. Can’t recover whatever it was I set up in 2288. We’ve been running sims all day. Command officers terminated the last one in a hurry, gave us a serious break and were all seen heading into Senior Officers’ territory. Scuttlebut has it that a real mission is in the offing so I am firing up the real espresso machine while I dive into a shower.
***
That’s better. I know this isn’t what great-grandfather had in mind when he took over the Earth Company, but I’m happy to take the perks, even if I’m living up to them in a way he never imagined. Drinking the real thing before a real mission is becoming a personal tradition. Here’s to the day when heading for a bridge doesn’t feel like life or death.

No sign of the call up yet so while I sip this brew, lets track the day. No one is wasting time while ONI come up with mission scenarios. The sims are unrelenting. As part of standard Prometheus Command rotation for new junior officers, I am still getting varied assignments. Today all three were with TSN Phoenix under commander Expree. He has an interesting style. He is decisive and cool but has a levity in his tone as if any mission is just another exercise. It is quite calming. He keeps the crew on their toes however. When there is a moment he will ask each how they are doing. It seems like a joke and some answers come back as jokes but you can still hear the underlying tension or excitement or disconnectedness in the response and it pulls the team back together. The rest of the crew were Lt Zelreich | Sci XO, Lt Zargon SciCom, Ens Matsiyan | Eng, Cdt DuKane | Wea, Cdt Quinn |Hlm@Com.

Standard sector defense exercises against fairly heavy incursions. I was scrambling a bit to adapt to a light cruiser after several tours on a scout. I lost track of overall energy levels to start with but got back on track. By the third run I had my console configured to meet the skipper’s expectations and with an auxiliary tac screen, I was interpreting the bridge chatter to deliver energy where it was needed before it was explicitly requested and keep overall energy usage contained so our endurance was longer between station calls. It feels anticlimactic down in Engineering because if you do a great job no-one should need to notice anything and there are hardly any occasions to call directly on Engineering. Even so, I was kind of bowled over when I received a commendation during debrief for “exceptional performance”.

Oh crap, scramble alert.
Pause log.
***
Personal log, continued.

Dog tired. Had to strike into enemy occupied territory and catch a key transport convoy without getting close to our occupied stations. We don’t want the enemy taking out on captured populations. Mission objectives achieved though it got hairy when two of them broke for the cover of nearby fleets and we had to dig them out.
The Hydra didn’t make it. After her couple of recent scrapes I guess something just couldn’t be repaired like new. Something gave and she is drifting wreckage and plasma.

I thought that was sobering but when we returned to base, I sent the injured Damage Control casualties off to the base medical bay and then helped with the ceremonials to deliver the shiny black coffins of those who did not make it. The base is so crowded with all the transfers underway that they had our DC replacements assigned and in the docking bay before I left after the honours for the coffins.
0The first one was Crewman Polano, short, broad, ex-marine with too much tech aptitude for his own good. He had been injured aboard the Phoenix before the last tour and was cleared to come back aboard. The next one was a pale young woman with haunted eyes; Crewman Kaplan. Her last berth had been aboard the Hydra. She had been out for a long time after being put in a coma the last time the Hydra got caught in a firefight before she raised her shields.

Not sure how well I’ll sleep tonight.

End personal log.

Stardate: 17915.2237

And so ends the stream of the TSN Hydra. No second chances. Her black box was recovered and a radiation cloud lingers. May her particles drift in the vastness of space forever. Better than the pirates boarding and capturing her…but still.

It’s only been a few days, but as Humans might say, everything has gone to below the earth, in a breadbasket. Something like that.
Simulations were par for the course yesterday. As usual. We have an armada at our doorstep and we seem to do more training then I had at the Academy? But perhaps it’s for the best. Somehow, the Pirate alliance has managed to bring in more ships, take over our old stations and mine the area in record time. Like waves still crashing about the shore after a tsunami.

We had one job yesterday. Head back into our old sectors and destroy a transport convoy. Four ships. Seemed a perfect dive, if we became like the Terran Barracuda, instead of the Shark.
In fact it was, for the first sector. The division managed to make good use positioning and only had to deal with a few patrols, and strangely enough a Caltron once again just…observing? We avoided the main force, and headed to the next sector.
We arrived to see an entire minefield keeping us from a direct run. I was only too happy to see Fulvus back on Weapons, as I took Science. We had to find a pin in a clothes-stack, as the Human expression might go. Nothing but red IFF’s all over sensors.
So, we went around the minefield, keeping all four ships together. Sensors found the three transports behind the seemingly endless waves of alliance ships. In Gregorian, we would call this moment the rising of the bubble, before it bursts. Humans might say something that makes even more sense, the calm before the tempest.
We had one take, to do a hit and swim on them and leave. We did that objective, to the divisions credit, but failed in the execution. Miserably.
For the Hydras part, we did what we usually did…took on enemy ships. On my sensors I saw two of the transports slowly moving away towards the safety of their numerous ships, un-molested. By the time the division had caught upon them, they had made the safety of net. Again though, the division did the job. The transports were taken care of. But our ships were outgunned and outnumbered. We didn’t swim away. The Hydra went down making what I’ve researched to be a Kamikaze mine run the pirate alliance ships. The outcome has already been recorded.
We survivors spent the rest of the mission picked up by the TSN Hawk, and watching our almost routed retreat. The Raven and the Hunter took serious damage, and were almost destroyed themselves.

But they warped their way out, against incredible odds. Still, the price was a tad too deep for such a trivial objective. It had better have been worth it.

End Duty Log.

Personal Log:

Seems I’m going to be recovering in a tank for longer than I thought. Medical just scanned me again; another rupture of my leg cartilage. Note to escape pod designers, add more cushions, perhaps? Actually maybe I need one filled with water, just for myself. Wishful thinking.

The Hydra was a good example of what happens when a ship has a few non-regular bridge officers coming and going. And like a school of fish, it’s not good when individual ones aren’t used to the currents; the whole are then easy prey.

Ever since we returned from Expanse, the Hydra had no serving Helms officer, or Engineer. The Captain…well she’s a busy person it seems. Our XO was basically it most of the time. Lt junior Fulvus pulled double-duty as the Engineer, when he was usually around, and I would take weapons. The three of us were a sight to see as we were a crew. But with two bridge officers never the same person twice, we’d be re-setting our teamwork and co-ordination. Especially a pilot and an engineer, two key roles that need to be in-sync with the Captain.

I am not making excuses though. But to be honest…perhaps I should have been more vocal about retreating, from the view I had at science station. Perhaps, I finally understand what Humans refer to as ‘behind-sight’?

We’re going to hold a quick burial at space ceremony for those who didn’t make it into the escape pods from the Hydra. Afterwards, I’ll be awaiting whatever the currents will flow into, for orders. Perhaps, if I’m fated, I’ll transfer to a new ship.
Whatever happens, I’ll say this for those we lost. Hail Hydra.

End Personal Log.

Stardate: 5915-2237

Still yawning despite a full sleep period, shower and breakfast. Maybe the coffee will kick in soon. I am savouring every shade-grown drop. I know my supplies can’t hold out forever and even an Earth-Company brat can’t arrange infinite care parcels. I am still working on the replicator programming for the espresso formula, but build 2287 came out too burnt when I tried to go for the more robust body. Sticking with those precious vacuum packed beans for when it really matters. Like now. Can’t take them with me.

Last shift was long and grueling. Not only are we in the middle of what promises to go down as a major Interstellar War but crew assignments were shuffled. I suppose it shouldn’t feel so disruptive. I am still in the general Promethean Command assignment pool and not in a permanent ship berth. But it is odd how even two shifts with largely the same crew on a single vessel begins to create a sense of stability. Strange word to be using for the madcap crew of the Hunter. And the Hunter is where I was assigned again as she was tasked with CL-262, TSN Phoenix to penetrate highly occupied enemy space and dismantle as many of their Sensor Relays as possible to disrupt their fleet intel, command and control network.

The new Skipper is Commander Jemel with LtCmdr del Pino as his XO. Flashheart’s languid drawl was missing from this shift – wonder what trouble he got himself into? Anyway, the easy automatic understanding of the Hunter’s crew was absent. On my first time aboard, I did not immediately understand that they were working well together. Frankly I was shocked by what appeared to be a chaotic breakdown of command discipline. Etiquette was very lax and there was a lot of banter, but looking back, things worked remarkably smoothly because people knew the ship’s handling characteristics and each other’s odd communications styles. Today was more by the book and more tense and with a few rough edges, but still effective – it damned well had to be.

We completed our sector transition in good order keeping station with the Phoenix. Eyes widened across the bridge however as the sensors painted the picture of the new sector from our entry point in Delta-5. A massive curve of minefield lay ahead of us, leaving only a single opening in Charlie-5. Heading for that opening at a leisurely pace were more sensor contacts than I had ever seen, even in academy simulations. The only difference I could see between this and the ancient Kobayashi-Maru sim, was that we weren’t in the middle. I had combat systems offline and cruise configured straight away as the Skipper had us cruise up to the opening in the minefield and nose through. We paused to synch operations with the Phoenix and then plunged through a narrow gap between an oncoming fleet and a Kralien-occupied space station to slouch through as much nebula as possible heading to the nearest SR. Given we had orders not to engage and it was obvious some of the fleets were headed right past some of the Sensor Relay buoys, I cranked the warp drive to minimize flight time and then shut down while we loitered at the buoy for the techs to get aboard and disassemble it.

That first one was uneventful. The next one was too though enemy vessels were a lot closer. Heading for the third one we encountered enemy vessels who engaged but Phoenix took their attention off us after they must have already dealt with at least one other SR. Energy usage high and I was tweaking every system to reduce power draw. Helm afterwards pointed out that I left him without responsive manoeuvre a couple of times. Noted and promised to do better.

Then came the general recall and we threaded the needle at highly boosted warp through the middle of the sector like a speed-skater slaloming through cones. We cut it too fine close to the end of an almost perfect run. Not only did we catch attention and a target lock but I felt the whole ship judder as a tractor beam latched on to us. Helm and Weapons were on it like a pair of dancers. I was frantically routing power first to manoeuvre as we spun hard about in a High Energy Turn and then heating Primary Beams ’til they glowed crimson as we beat desperately at the bully who had clothes-lined us. The whole thing was probably over in twenty seconds and we were away and running free for that beautiful gap in the minefield.

The rest was just a flat out race with Phoenix to return to base. There is nothing like that high keening vibration the Hunter makes when all systems are minimised except the warp engines. She’s a fine little sprinter.

But that wasn’t the only time that day that I had to redline the Hunter’s warp core.

We only had a brief stand down while ONI absorbed our sensor logs, the Skipper attended debrief and we were called for briefing. I managed to change my shirt and wash my face. I looked longingly at my little espresso maker but knew I did not have even those few minutes. I recalled build 2287, tweaked a couple of parameter values with a softly breathed imprecation and launched 2288 into the replicator. You know, that may be what got me through the next mission. The bitterness was gone, the body was full, robust and earthy, the edge had just a mild hint of acid and there wasn’t a single part of the flavour profile missing. The angelic replicator even frothed the perfect crema.

The next mission frankly is a blur. Large enemy fleets were everywhere. Our helmsman was taken sick and the XO jumped in to helm. My guess is he is used to larger ships. The Hunter tended to overrun his expectations. Often we were having to dash about at highly boosted warp in order to be in the right place at the right time. Towards the end of the shift I was learning to taper off the energy boost to help avoid overruns. We picked off stragglers and we ran interference to slow down enemy formations by taking Tango and diverting them. We ran sensor sweeps around the sector several times. We hared over to pick up life-pods from a TSN wreck, whose name I am ashamed to admit I do not remember. I do remember the Raven got hit so hard she was offline for a minute and we thought she had gone down. We were Johnny-on-the-Spot when the singularities started opening and the little Caltron buggers came barreling out. And no-one ever remembers the names of the Damage Control team casualties. I see them diving into the smoking, twisted wreckage in the corridors and I tally the count as we head to the stations for repair, refit, fresh ordnance, energy top up and fresh new faces replenishing the DCTs – one for every shiny black coffin consigned to the station chaplain.

I know there was one time I had us at max boost and then got distracted by a firefight until I realized the warp engines were taking damage from the overload. I think that’s when I picked up the blisters on my hands and the smoke damage to my tunic.

My throat was raw and my eyes sore when we finally stood down after a terse debrief. Maybe it was just the smoke in my eyes when Hunter and Phoenix were recognized for the long run they had made that day.

That’s one tunic I won’t be seeing again. Let me finish this last sip of coffee and hit the replicator up for a fresh tunic. Ah, here it comes. Wait, it still has ”Acting” Ensign insignia? Well, I suppose there are other priorities today. Let me check the replicator update log. No changes since the beginning of last shift.

Wait a minute. The replicator. Build 2288! It was perfect. If I get that published I could be a celebrity. What were those tweaks I made?

”Replicator, recall Matsiyan, Espresso, 2288.”
What do you mean ”Version unknown”? Replicator, read final log entry.”

”Replicator Unit, Engineering, TSN Hunter, latest entry: System rollback restore point initiated by Damage Control automation due to collateral damage from warp core overheating event.”

End personal log.

Stardate: 29815-2236

An eventful ”snotty” cruise! Having swotted hard for the exam, I wasn’t really thinking much about my first deployment in the chain of command. Swallowed hard when I realized that, for what would once have been called my first cruise as Midshipman, I was assigned Engineering aboard the flagship, TNS Raven. At least I was working my specialty, even if I thought something was wrong as we cruised hurriedly to our assigned sector. I had combat systems offline but still power was being consumed at an exaggerated rate. It was embarrassing to report to the Fleet Captain the ship’s systems were at 50% before we were even on station. But I had all non-essential systems minimised! Space Vampires?

It was cool that there was enough of a time shortage that I had the chance to max out power to the warp drive of a battleship, even if I had to throttle it back fast. Hearing that thrum of energy singing through the warp nacelles was not something I expected first time out.

Looking beyond my own little headspace though, the situation was grim. We had free license to engage pirates, of course, and Kraliens with whom there is an open declaration of war. The Arvonians in particular we had to avoid if possible, and engage at lower power to encourage a surrender without destroying any. I did see other fleet vessels having some success with that, but most of my attention was occupied by those few sliders and buttons and listening to the bridge chatter. It was difficult deciphering the comms flow of a different crew and I wasn’t fast enough to understand engagements were beginning on a couple of engagements, which meant Primary Beams were slow to come online – not something you want once you enter his engagement range! During the debrief I did get some recommendations for alternate secondary display options that might clue me in to combat proximity. For some reason close in enemy vessels were not showing up on my data display.

We covered the retreat of several passenger ships evacuating stations, but there were too many for the fleet to hold off and we had to retreat with the refugees. Before we could regroup and re-engage, pirate netrunners had hacked the manual console command net and defense had to be turned over to automated systems. It felt very strange training instead of engaging, but the very best we can do is hone our skills while we wait for fleet cybersecurity to catch up.

My appreciation for other stations improved. I’ve only sat helm once before and suddenly I was navigating the flagship. I managed not to scrape the Raven’s virtual paintjob, but I missed several opportunities. Admitting where I had problems during the debrief required a depth of honesty not called for every day. I was however somewhat relieved when the (acting) Engineering chief confessed his Echo manoeuvre config neglected to assign power to warp, which explains why I wasn’t able to manoeuvre as planned!

For the second simulation you could have heard a pin drop when Fleet Captain Xavier asked if anyone wanted to take command of the Raven while he concentrated on Fleet Ops and evaluations. Very quietly I slid back as far out of view as I could. Someone else bent down to examine the maintenance hatch behind their console. The Leftenant-junior who took it on had all my sympathy. And at least I got one Echo manoeuver vaguely right!

Time to wipe down my sweat-drenched console and hit the sack.

End personal log.

Stardate: 9815.2237

A pirate alliance. If I wasn’t staring at the latest casualty reports, I would almost be congratulating myself for understanding why it happened.
Like some species, Humans are not an entirely unified front. My own species once had a caste warfare, over who was in charge of our limited land. The halfs and halfs not, is the Human term? Or is it haves?

The TSN is still struggling overall. Two of the fourth division ships went after the flagship of this so-called alliance. Our only triumph so far. I only hope they got the General leading them. But I doubt things are so easy or simple.

And such it was, the events of the Pirates coalition ship being destroyed, caused ripples on the water, as most do. We were once again called to alert. I’m happy to report my fellow Lt.jr Fulvus once again took the weapons console. I needed to re-calibrate my data tablet for the still under-repair Science station as it was. Having a bad leg didn’t help either.
Ships of every make, save Arvonian, which is a good sign, showed up on our floor step? Something step. We did have orders not to destroy the N’Tani, but they left us little choice. Again, not all species take on a single harmonious front.
We lost two research stations, but managed to evacuate the sector successfully, with minimal losses. If calling another retreat is successful.

It was during our final withdrawal that I noticed a radiological alert on the Hydras sensors, as we swept the nebula for any stragglers.
Let’s see if this information isn’t entirely restricted anymore. Moments later a Caltron ship appeared.
As if things couldn’t get worse. It was dispatched easily though, and we reported the temporary radioactivity prior to it showing up. It was odd, but a key piece of information.
However, we had not the time to study the findings, as once again yet another sector came under attack.

I barely remember much of what happened. My webbed hands danced over every sensor contract I could see, identifying the masses of ships converging on three of our stations. The Pheonix and Hydra were in one group. Again, perhaps anger or a bad bloodlust was with the Hydra, but we made a poor showing of ourselves, having been almost overwhelmed yet again. Our offence was great, no doubt, but our defence? No. We failed, dearly.
Selona station and all of her five thousand crew were lost. The one clear part of that debacle that still stands out in my mind. I called out the station was under attack. Then that her shields were critical. And then…it was just gone from sensors. We didn’t even dock when we had orders to evacuate whom we could.
What shocks me is that no one on our bridge seemed to care at that moment. I hope they didn’t know someone on that station.

We had a few more Caltron interruptions. The division noted that they did not target any surrendered pirate coalition forces that passed them. I theorise it may be the surrendered status, not any kind of pact.
I did manage to record a brief artificial singularity near Cerberus command, along with the now usual radiological alert. The fact that they can appear almost anywhere is…discomforting. Yet these seem more like scouting probes than any aggressive movement on their part.
Let’s hope it stays that way. We don’t need yet another front in this retreating action.

End Duty Log

Personal Log:

Before the attacks occurred the Hydra and the remaining crews did more simulations. We needed them because of the fresh influx of…hmm…odd cadets. Perhaps it’s the losses we’ve been taking, but the newest officers seem to be in a hurry and quick to rush into what they think is the optimal course of action.
Disappointed would be my reaction. Especially since Lt.Cdr Verok seemed to encourage one in particular on the Hydra. We don’t need internal contradictions from subordinates at a time like this. Again, it may just be the stress getting to us though.
Still. Hearing a cadet on the bridge complain that escorting an evacuation ship is taking too long to get to a destination? Unacceptable. I was actually quite serious that the cadet take an airlock out. We don’t need uncaring officers, especially ones who seem to think like pirates might.

Side note: I took helm and did not crash the ship in a simulation. Oddly invigorating. I actually didn’t mind it so much. Conflict makes for, what do Humans call it…strange bunkmates?
Now, back to the water tank to heal and contemplate.

End Personal Log

Stardate: 9115.2237

Didn’t believe I was going to be putting this ship name on my logs for a long time, if ever again. TSN Engineers are, what is the phrase, sorcerous workers? Whatever it is, instead of facing the wrath of her Captain, I was instead, back aboard her bridge, albeit in shambles. Some quick thinking Destroyer commander had tractor beamed the salvageable wreck before the pirates could swarm upon her hull. To whomever that was, my personal thanks. I’m liking those destroyers more and more.

Back to the Hydra though. The Fleet Captain had her brought along with the Raven, into service again, ahead of repairs. Battle repairs indeed. For a ship over one day from having been abandoned, she was rushed back into the evacuation of the Cerebus sector.
Defence and escort were the orders of the day. Our Captain however, was perhaps feeling vengeful? Hard to tell, since Human vocal speech does not have the full range of emotion I’m used to. At first we were on the offensive, along with escorting passenger liners evacuating multiple stations. If it hadn’t been from command and control reminding her that a station was still awaiting the liners, I think we might have actually had civilian loses in the thousands. The stress is affecting all of us, even our commanding officers.
Note: A lone TSN scout ship can not evacuate a station of that size. I’ll never forget that lesson the Captain had made for us.

But all is still not well. For every positive gain with the tide, the undertow is, as always, taking more away. The TSN had another ship wrecked, and the Hydra quickly picked up her life pods. After that, the division as a whole began to experience a complete shutdown of most of our external sensors and tablet functions. Pirate Electronic Warfare, according to higher ups. Our mission was cut short, and we had to retreat on autos. The Human expression of an appendage between our legs comes to mind; something to do with a domesticated animal.

The last few hours have seen us in simulations again. Morale is low. My hopes are still with the Arvonian peace talks, should they still be ongoing. Nothing is ever easy though.

End duty Log.
Addendum: Recent talk amongst the division has been the TSN ships lack of weapon arc coverage and overall capacity; especially after a simulation against ships of extreme power, and our dependence on having to use black holes as if they are our personal rubbish bins for aggressive ships. Seems odd ships would be suicidal enough to go on an obvious course through one in the first place, taunted or not. Well unless they’re the *redacted*. Needs further studies.

Personal Log:
If I was having doubts about being a weapons officer, then they may be fading to the background fast. Science is still a passion of mine. But with events as they are…
Well, firepower seems to be demand now.

Recovery goes well. Walking out of the water with this cane, has been interesting. It shall still be another two weeks, but I’m to continue using it while my leg regenerates in a tank. Found a use for this piece of titanium; tapping on any superior officer who asks me to be a Duty Officer again unprepared. A horrible experience, I have no desire to repeat soon.

End Personal Log

Stardate: 21815-2236

Almost a week since we arrived back at Atlantis command. The events of the *redacted* at the *redacted* are behind us.
The Hydra has been once again in a fair state of repair ever since the, shall I say, embarrassing, live fire exercise almost made her a wreck. The captain was none the pleased to be sure. Details of the *redacted* ships were re-created a tad too much.
Of note: The people at R&D, if able to create such replicas for training, may want to consider using such ships as decoys, for the TSN in future engagements with the *redacted*.

With the Hydra out of action temporarily, we did not participate in the last mission. Rumours of something to do with Arvonians and negotiations are abound. The Humans call it scuttle-bread, I think? Whatever the case, progress with them can only benefit the USFP, if this is true.
For our part, the Hydra instead performed more simulations, under our XO, Lieutenant Verok. The Captain is hopefully taking note of his performance.

On the whole, pirate activity increased slightly. This is…puzzling at times. It seems no matter how many the TSN engages, the more seem to loiter and harass ships in this sector. I just hope it’s not related to the *redacted*.

Last note: Our ships roster is still out of date. Then again, I doubt it will ever be current. Some TSN officers seem to come and go at random assignments.

End duty log.

Personal Log:
Prototype construction has been ongoing with my uniform. Project Dune, some of the Humans call it. I do not know what a dune is, beyond a mound of Terran sand, so I’m confused on how it relates to water retention. Remind me to research this further.
Back to it though, the closest I can compare this invention to would be like having an outer circulatory system exoskeleton. Something called catch pockets as well?
However the prototype is a tad bulky under a standard TSN uniform. I think I have a rash on…no, never mind.
I’ve also suggested replacing some of the material with some more water porous or absorbent. At this point I wonder if I should just wear a wetsuit, with a water-skin tube and be done.
But I have to thank all of the engineers who are putting their free time on this endeavour of mine. I believe it might be Human custom to find a rare alcoholic beverage for them, sooner than later.
Let’s hope the waters are calm as the next duty cycle approaches.

End personal log.

Stardate: 6815-2236

Simulations. Simulations. And more simulations.
Our Fleet Captain has been out of the division for a tad. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say someone is planning something. Or maybe they’re finally promoting him to Commodore?

Whatever is going on, it’s been quiet besides from another two ships from our division on another assignment last duty shift. No information was officially released on it, so I’ll as Humans say, keep aunt about it. Correction, mum. I’ll get these idioms someday.

Nothing else to report, besides the XO getting some Captain time. I’m finding simulations with him to be almost enjoyable. If he ever decides to go for a command, well it might be a good thing in my limited experience as an officer.

Still no results for tracing the pirate hacks to the newer systems functionality. Luckily, our simulations have shown no degradation to the Hydras ability to perform our duties. Personnel wise, Lt junior Luna will be leaving our ship. Re-assignment, such is the life in the navy. Note to the ships Yeoman, update our roster. It’s out of date.

End duty log.

Personal Log:
Having some difficulties with my fully Human bunkmates on the Hydra. My species requires some time in the water, and anything above Human room temperature becomes almost, intolerable.
Instead of being as Humans say, a mammal out of water, I’ll have to see if R&D can modify my uniform to fit my needs. Perhaps a water filtration/cooling system?
I’m sure my fellow officers would appreciate not having the shower allotments taken up any more.
And a note to the galley. Yes, I do eat seafood. I’m half Human after all.

End personal log.