Personal Log | Cdt Alinuari Sethestr

Posted on Sat Oct 31st, 2015 @ 7:04am by Cadet Senior Grade Alinuari "Ali" Sethestr

1,306 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala
Location: Andorian Transport Ship "Cavalry"
Tags: agua mala, Ali, apsha, Stenellis, summit, night crew, Sethestr, personal log

Somewhere, deep in the recesses of the Beta Quadrant, a lone starship barreled through space. An Andorian transport ship, not much larger than a runabout. The Immutable Ad'rek Thon was its' captain, whose First (and only) Officer was currently enraptured by a tale of heroism.

"There we were, 3 Starfleet Cadets against three... no, five Nausicaan swindlers all out for blood."

At only six years old, Arnral had already made Second-In-Command on his father's one-man private shuttle service. In his long career, he'd met many fascinating people, but none as inspiring as the young woman in front of him. The cadet, fresh from the academy was a short, pale, thin girl without much in the way of intimidation factor. And yet her purple eyes twinkled as she yet again recounted the tale of her conquest of the Nausicaan bullies. She had a host of other stories, of course, which she'd told throughout the week they'd been together, but he always begged her to tell this one again.

He looked up at the Tulisian, once again mystified by her heroism. It did seem odd, though, that the details seemed to change every time she told it. The first time her and her other Academy friends had defeated the bad guys easily. But the second time, it seemed like more of a struggle. When he asked about the ornate pink marking above her left eye, she told him it was a scar the Nausicaans gave her in the fight. And just last night, she said she had lost the fight, and they had to attach her head to an android body, and the pink mark let her interface with computers.

"The trouble is" she explained. "I can't use contractions, anymore."

Arnral realized he had missed part of the story thinking about this. He was about to ask the cadet to go back when his father interrupted.

"We're entering the Stenellis system." He interjected, switching on the intercom. "Alright folks, last stop. You kids better get your things ready for transport."

The bus lurched a little as it dropped out of warp. Still moving at about a quarter impulse, they were rapidly passing a gas giant which looked about the size of a basketball at that distance. It was deep red, but was undergoing some kind of storm creating blue lightning visible across most of one hemisphere. While the other four cadets in the living area were gathering their things, Ali and Arnral got up from their seats in the cockpit and tried to get a better look at the alien planet through the window.

"Is that Stenellis!?" The boy asked excitedly.

"I don't think so."

"Actually, the planet is called 'Apsha', I think." Ali chimed in.

After a moment's consideration, Thon reminded the Tulisian that she would need to be ready soon as well. Slightly dejected, she agreed and left the cockpit to retrieve her luggage.

Cadet Alinuari Sethestr said her goodbyes to her colleagues. These had been her classmates, but after over a week in a cramped little boat, trapped with her and her tall tales, none of them had quite the energy to get overly emotional about the departure. Each of them had been lucky enough to be assigned the Enterprise by request. Ali, on the other hand, had requested posting on The Vindicator. The Enterprise was legendary! The flagship of Starfleet! It would be far too great an honor to be this humble Tulisian's first assignment. So, naturally, she asked to serve on the bigger, more advanced ship on the same mission!

The other cadets had gathered their things on the transporter strip, which extended across the floor just behind the main door, which opened out the right side of the ship. The new officers stood in a row, awaiting instruction.

"All set? The Enterprise will transport your belongings now." said the captain over the intercom.

A second later, the arrangement of suitcases and boxes of personal affects erupted in a flurry of blue lights as the crystalline hum of the transporter spirited them away. The four other cadets arranged themselves on the transporter next, looking eager, despite their exhaustion.

A moment of confusion passed, as they wondered what was taking the Enterprise, when Thon chimed back in, "You have the honors, kid."

Ali beamed, privately considering this her first "official" duty as a Starfleet Officer. The shuttle's own transporter was alien to begin with, but also very out of date, but she recognized enough elements on the interface to work out what she was doing. Her grin hiding this moment of concern from her colleagues, as it would not do to have fearing for their lives be their last memory of her. After a brief hesitation, she activated the transporter. This time, a more purplish sparkle enveloped the cargo, and her friends were whisked away by a lower-pitched hum, but the transport still went smoothly. And then she was alone. That was it. The parting of ways. She new they were on the same mission, of course, but she couldn't help but feel a certain finality to the occasion. After a pause, she forced herself to assemble her own supplies on the transporter.

"Standby." said Thon. And then they too were gone, once again taken by a state-of-the-art Starfleet Blue shimmer.

Before he could tell her to get on herself, Ali rushed into the cockpit. She would not be denied her moment! As soon as she stepped through the door, her eyes fixed on the view in front of her. The planet dominated their field of view, half lit with oceans glowing vivid sea blue beneath the clouds, the other half in shadow with city lights outlining the scattered landmasses, some of them free-standing out in the black ocean. Slowly, they were closing in on two starships. The massive Vindicator drifting right, slowly aligning with the center of their trajectory, while the smaller Enterprise orbited left, farther North and to the right of their view. Both ships, operated by a sparse night crew while somewhere, miles behind them, their commanders dined with Stenellan Royalty, and scheming Romulans. This was what she waited four years to see. This was her moment.

"Can we tour the ship, dad!? Can we!?" the excited young Andorian asked as Ali was gazing.

Ad'rek Thon glanced at the cadet, taking a moment to understand why she came in, before responding. "Sorry. We can't. We'll only be there about an hour to refuel."

"Well, can we go down to the planet? I want to meet Stenellans!"

"We have to get back to Versailles, child. I need to get this place cleaned and tuned up for our next client."

"But dad!-"

"It's time for bed, Arnral! Say goodbye to Miss Sethestr."

The boy solemnly hugged her goodbye. He had said goodbye to enough clients to know better than to try and talk them into staying. He went into the living area to claim the upper-level cot he preferred when there weren't guests.

"We, uh..." said Thon, after an awkward silence. "We're gonna be docking, soon. They want you to transport over for some reason."

"It's kind of a tradition." She explained, trying not to show she was fighting back tears. Together, they went back to the living area, Arnral peeking his head out from the cot, looking down on them. She took her position on the transport strip, the Captain at the controls.

The comms chimed and a slightly groggy-sounding night-watchman said, "We're ready to begin transport, guys. Is something wrong?"

"Standby, Vindicator, we'll take care of it."

"At your leisure, then." Came the reply.

Thon glanced up at Ali from the controls, silently giving her the go-ahead.

After a moment, she got the message. She smiled and said

"Energize."

---

Cadet Senior Grade Alinuari Sethestr
Engineering Officer
USS Vindicator, NCC 78213-E

 

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