Captain's Log Supplemental
The away team and I returned to the Saratoga about an hour ago. Lieutenant Z'Rol will be remaining
here on Tkara; the crew is about to start their bi-annual leave and I told her that she could start hers
early. After all that she did for the away team, she's more than earned it. A Tkarite is deadly to
have as an enemy but very good to have as a friend and this ship is very fortunate to have her
as a crewmember.
Our next stop will be Starbase Alpha. We'll be there in two days. Then the Saratoga will have a break
in spacedock, while her crew goes on leave. Some will visit their home worlds and others nearby ones.
Alyen and L'Naym will be taking a transport to their nearby home planet of Nlia and I'll be going
with them. They're quite eager to show me their home planet and have put together quite a tour
for me. They're also eager for me to meet their family in person. I'm greatly looking forward to it
and even though I love being in command of a Starship and know that it's what I was born to be,
I'm also looking forward to not being in command for awhile. To have a couple weeks of just being
James T. Kirk. To just be…Jim.
But for the next two days I 'm still the Captain and am keeping a careful watch over both my crew
and my guests. The entire crew I know will go out of their way to support the Fieldings during their
stay. Our Counselor, Lieutenant Maria Sanchez will be talking to all of them. An hour after they
arrived, Crewmen L'Naym visited them as well. My Soul Sister is not a medic, but like her lifemate
she will always reach out to those in pain. She is truly the heart of this ship.
And my time on this ship keeps teaching me important lessons, even painful ones. That sometimes
danger is not where you expect. That when someone says 'no' they mean no and you'd better respect it.
That on e's choices always have consequences and effect not just you but everyone around you.
Sometimes consequences are sharp and cruel and sometimes even mercy can be hard.
But there are good lessons too. People who seem fragile to others can show surprising strength.
People who are very different and whom some may be wary of, can become friends. L'Naym has formed
a friendship with with Lieutenant Z'Rol's younger sister, Kaleeva, and plans to stay in regular contact.
She's already planning what sort of gifts she will get her and the rest of House Z'Rol while on Nlia.
She's even planning on getting something for that huge cat of theirs.
And a personal lesson for me, one that keeps being taught to me again and again, is that I can always
count on every member of my crew, in both good times and in bad.
James T. Kirk
Saratoga Bridge
4:20 PM
"Captain on the Bridge."
Kirk smiled at his Chief of Communications. Hearing the Caitian's soft, purring voice was always
soothing and now it was a reminder that things were returning to normal and that life was moving on.
"M'Ress please inform Tkara Control that we are ready to depart."
He turned on the comm. "All decks this is Captain Kirk, prepare for immediate departure."
He gazed out the viewscreen at Tkara, a mysterious, provocative world of amethyst skies. A world that
had many dangers and sharp lessons, but great beauty as well.
"We have clearance to go, Captain." M'Ress announced.
Kirk nodded. "Filars, how we looking down there?"
"All systems ready, Captain," came the calm, steady voice of his Chief Engineer. "Warp available at
your command."
He turned to his Navigator. "Arex set a course for the Norayis system."
"Aye, Captain," the Edosian replied.
"Akari, warp three, if you please."
"Hai, Captain."
"Punch it."
The Saratoga went to warp and traded amethyst skies for the stars.
END