Captain's Log
Stardate 2261/11/5
We've spent two days at the depot, being restocked and undergoing remaining repairs. I had a couple
of on-screen meetings with Admiral Pike and a couple other admirals as well. Before leaving the
area of the V'drass Cloud we left behind warning beacons to steer other ships away. Starfleet plans
to launch regular probes to try to learn more about the radiation the cloud emits so that we can
possibly come up with shielding against it.
I had a lot of talks with my crew, particularly the 'Castaways.' I'm proud of all of them. During their exile
they didn't just sit around waiting to be rescued, they put together and implemented long term plans.
I doubt that they would have stayed on that planetoid for the rest of their lives; the Andaman was looking
for us after all and if they hadn't found anything, other ships would have come to check. There are some
benefits to being a high profile Captain-if you turn up missing people want to know why.
But still…they might have been there for months or years. I don't think when any of them joined Starfleet,
that spending months or years on a barren rock was what they had in mind. But Starfleet teaches you
to expect the unexpected.
I'm proud of the rest of my crew as well. All of them held together during the crisis. Even Dr. McCoy,
who never once stopped complaining about having to wear an environmental suit and helmet non-stop
for six days. I can still hear his voice in my head: "Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to
sleep or work in these things? I'm a doctor, not an astronaut!"
I knew how he felt. When I was finally able to take my helmet off I wanted to burn it. And I don't
want to see another environmental suit for at least a year.
We and the Andaman are now on our way to the Golee Cluster, a large cluster of G and F type stars
that stretches across two sectors. The Andaman's focus is the study of astronomical phenomena
and this is right up their alley. The Saratoga's scientific focus is more general but we exist
to take a closer look.
And I sense that all of this is a chance for things to get back to normal for the crew. As normal
as possible for a Federation starship anyway.
James T Kirk
11/16/2261
Alyen and L'Naym's Quarters
11:00 AM
L'Naym rubbed her stomach gently. She was six months along. Four more months to go until she
and her lifemate could hold their son in their arms. They were counting the days.
While at the depot they had made an official request. It was a little sad to leave the quarters that
they had had for nearly three years, but with a child coming they needed the extra room.
The request had been readily granted and they had spent much of the two day docking period
moving their things. (With help from their many friends of course)
She glanced down at her arms noting another change made. From the time she had come to the
Saratoga she had worn the short sleeved dress uniform. After returning from Haven she had started
putting on the long sleeved one. On Nlia it was common to changing the one's dress style when
going through a major life change.
And so much has changed she thought happily. I'm going to be…no, I am a mother. My son may
not be born yet but I have a son.
The Joined Soul gently reached out and caressed the soul of her unborn.
And rejoiced when she felt him reach back.
Her smile broadened when she felt stirring. At six months she could now feel her child physically
and loved the feel of his tiny movements.
She focused her attention back outward to the others surrounding her. Lieutenants Richards,
Rodriguez, Deerhorn, Silverstein, Chief Petty Officer Mayberry and Matthews, Natasha and
Trisha had all come together to give her what Humans called a 'baby shower.'
Humans had some different customs than she was used to. On Nlia there were many ceremonies
to celebrate the birth of a child and both males and female participated. But her Saratogan friends
had insisted that a baby shower was a 'woman's only' event. Well, in a few months she and her
lifemate would hold a proper Naming for their son and everyone would see how Nlians celebrated.
Her own Naming had been tinged with sorrow. Her mother, Kalii, had died seven days after giving
birth; the very same day that Namings were traditionally held. On Nlia the deceased were buried
as quickly as possible due to the hot, desert climate and the funeral had taken place two days later.
The Naming had taken place two days after the funeral. Before Kalii had died, family and friends
on both sides had already gathered to say their farewells to her and to comfort her lifemate,
so they had simply stayed longer, first for her Burial and then the Naming of her only child.
For the Naming, Farseen L'Naym had had the house lavishly decorated and the Naming
accompanied by music, feasting and celebration. But everyone had felt his grief.
L'Naym's hand once again went to her stomach. Hopefully her son's Naming would be a time
only of joy.
She once again focused her attention on her friends. She had been part of the shower held
for Matthews and always delighted to put together parties and events for the crew. But it was
another matter entirely to have one held for herself and it moved her no end.