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Personal Log, Lt.Sr. Mundy, TSN Horizon, 2nd Flt. 4th Lt. Div., 30716-2237
During the briefing at the beginning of this shift we were introduced to Cmdr. Tuor Elanesse, who has just returned to the Division after spending two years away, first as a prisoner of war, then recovering from the medical issues that resulted from imprisonment. It must be strange to return to your post and find new ships and new crews. We welcomed him back, of course, though only the senior officers know him; and once he regains familiarity with the ships and crews, he’ll take his place in command again. It’s about time for a crew reshuffle, we were told, and Cmdr. Tuor’s return will fit in with the imminent reorganisation.
Hall’s promotion to Lt.Sr. was announced, amid the customary cheers. The briefing proceeded: we were to conclude the simulation that we started last shift, then move on to our mission by Sierra gate, to establish a forward operating base and clear any remaining enemies.
The simulation went passably, I suppose, though we did not achieve all its objectives: we were supposed to recover an anti-matter weapon that a scientist had taken with him to Prometheus sector. We did not, as at the end of the allotted time the weapon exploded, destroying two stations. As I understand it, the stations had been evacuated by that point, but on Horizon (Allard in command) we were dealing with multiple malfunctions on the Engineering and Helm consoles (Graybeard and Zephyr), and I lost track of the bigger picture several times. We also lost a TSN transport ship because we, and I mean Horizon specifically, flew right past it in our eagerness to engage the enemy. I did try to redirect the transport to a safe area, but it was not obeying orders. Perhaps we were out of range by the time I contacted it. I counted five definite surrenders, perhaps six, for us (well, all right, Computer, for me, since I was running Comms), out of a total twenty-four. Hmm. Could do better.
We were ready to set out towards Sierra gate, with instructions to set up a forward base in Sierra sector 2, when we were told that the gate was still damaged, and in the process of being repaired. So while we waited for the signal to go ahead, we took part in a live fire exercise. An unusual number of the exercise drones were set up to mimic USF ships; and probably because of that, my reaction was to demand surrenders as soon as I saw their shields drop. Unfortunately, that isn’t the point of a live fire exercise… Hall, who was coordinating in C&C, complained that we were getting too many surrenders. I think I only counted four or five myself, I’m sure Slate got at least as many. Again, it’s not easy to keep track. But then we had to stop. Sigh. I know they were just fake surrenders of fake ships, but still.
We were alerted, as we were still taking part in the live fire exercise, that Sierra gate was operational again, and we would proceed directly to our mission, escorting an engineering ship through Volantis sectors 2, 3, and 5, clearing them of any remaining enemies, then through the gate itself. Naturally we were to defend the engineering ship as its crew worked to establish the forward base, but fortunately there was little for us to do other than watch the base take shape (I’m always amazed by the way the skeleton and skin of the structures float together, nudged by the little thruster robots), and occasionally scramble when our patrols found a pirate.
Returning to Volantis base at the conclusion of this unusually restful shift, we really switched things around, as the senior officers decided that they would take a console, and let the junior officers take command, including Assassino in command of the fleet – and dammit, now I have the old song running through my head:
Lydia oh Lydia, oh have you seen Lydia,
Lydia the Tattooed Lady!
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat
And now the old boy’s in command of the fleet,
You can learn a lot from Lydia!
Totally irrelevant. Totally. Computer, play something from my list, I need to get this earworm out of my head.[heard in the background, to the tune of Over the Hills and Far Away]
Through Sol system to the stars
Past Venus, Jupiter and Mars,
TSN commands and we obey,
Out to the stars and far awayThrough beam and nuke, P-shock and shell,
And to the very walls of hell,
Still we shall stand and we shall stay
Out to the stars and far away
Dammit, Computer. Really? Stop it. And don’t tell me it was a random selection. Play a Boccherini guitar quintet, dammit. G445 in D minor.To get back to the sim, I was running SciCom on Lancer, and it was odd being on the same ship as Matsiyan for a change. At last, the Engineering console I could see was actually relevant to the ship I was on!
I think the Fleet Captain was disappointed that we didn’t use the existing mines and other terrain much, but at least the ships were talking to each other and working well together, so considering we had inexperienced officers in command, we did pretty well.
At the end of that exercise, we were reminded that as the time for awards was approaching, there would also be a fleet restructuring; in preparation for which, we took part in a simulation where we were encouraged to serve on a different ship, and with a different captain, from the one where we are normally assigned. The cadets, who have the least experience, were given first choice, then the Acting Ensigns, and so on up the ranks. By the time it was my turn most ships had full crews, but there was a spot on Viper with Lt.Cmdr. van Leigh in command, and Cmdr. Verok aboard, commanding the fleet; which suited me very well.
The simulation was an invasion in a civilian sector, so one thing that affected our actions was the slow rebuild time for ordnance. Aposine, who was on Helm, and who is used to Lancer‘s speed and agility, commented that Viper responds more slowly than he’s used to, which made Draeco, who had taken Engineering, feel just a smidgeon defensive, I think. Our cadet did well on Tactical, I took my usual post.
And I shall miss them all, customary shipmates and new ones, for the next few shifts. I shall have to delay my request for a posting until this is over: alter-day and archives for me, for a while. Unless and until… well, until my next memory palace stroll.
//I don’t know if you’re talking about Nightwish or Led Zeppelin, but it sounds like Nightwish to me. I did manage to sing it in my head to that tune.
//A nice log as always. I still don’t know if I’ll be online for the next shift, but then I’m out for three.
//Thank you. The song is traditional, dates back at least to the 1700s, and there are lots of different lyrics for it. It was a soldiers’ song, and they probably made up new lyrics for it whenever they marched. One of the well known, author-written set of lyrics goes:
Our ‘prentice Tom may now refuse
To wipe his scoundrel Master’s Shoes,
For now he’s free to sing and play
Over the Hills and far away.
Over the Hills and O’er the Main,
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,
The queen commands and we’ll obey
Over the Hills and far away.
We all shall lead more happy lives
By getting rid of brats and wives
That scold and bawl both night and day –
Over the Hills and far away.
Over the Hills and O’er the Main,
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,
The queen commands and we’ll obey
Over the Hills and far away.
Courage, boys, ’tis one to ten,
But we return all gentlemen
All gentlemen as well as they,
Over the hills and far away.
Over the Hills and O’er the Main,
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,
The queen commands and we’ll obey
Over the Hills and far away.//Actually, that’s good to know, thanks. I don’t recall what I said that seemed defensive, but whatever it was, I’ll try to avoid that in the future as I don’t want to discourage anyone giving me detailed feedback.
//I can’t recall exactly, either. It didn’t sound hostile or anything, just, you know, a capable engineer maintaining that he was doing his job.
// A couple o my favourite verses
If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades did before,
Then ask the fifes and drums to play.
Over the hills and far away.Then fall in lads behind the drum,
With colours blazing like the sun.
Along the road to come-what may.
Over the hills and far away.It might have sounded a bit like this
A famous modern version
Nightwish seem to be playing Gary Moore’s version. A different song from 1987.
//I was saving those two verses for a dramatically appropriate time… That’s why I introduced the song now: it’s called foreshadowing. I’ve been planning this for a while, you know, I play the long game… 😉
//Sorry, Draeco. Part of it was my fault, if you felt uncomfortable. I believe that helm and weapons are the stations that get the best image of how well the engineer is doing, so I normally ask for their imput during the debriefs. Aposine is a specialist when it comes to light ships, so his expectations are very different from the ones you’ll develop in a cruiser, and I wanted his thoughts on that as well, because it was his first time on a Valkyrie-class. I didn’t want to put forwards an assesment of your abilities I wouldn’t be able to justify.
//Reminds me of It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
Up to mighty London
Came an Irishman one day.
As the streets are paved with gold
Sure, everyone was gay,
Singing songs of Piccadilly,
Strand and Leicester Square,
Till Paddy got excited,
Then he shouted to them there:It’s a long way to Tipperary,
It’s a long way to go.
It’s a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It’s a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart’s right there.(repeat)
Paddy wrote a letter
To his Irish Molly-O,
Saying, “Should you not receive it,
Write and let me know!”
“If I make mistakes in spelling,
Molly, dear,” said he,
“Remember, it’s the pen that’s bad,
Don’t lay the blame on me!It’s a long way to Tipperary,
It’s a long way to go.
It’s a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It’s a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart’s right there.Molly wrote a neat reply
To Irish Paddy-O,
Saying “Mike Maloney
Wants to marry me, and so
Leave the Strand and Piccadilly
Or you’ll be to blame,
For love has fairly drove me silly:
Hoping you’re the same!”It’s a long way to Tipperary,
It’s a long way to go.
It’s a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It’s a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart’s right there.
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