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Stardate 56036.9 Personal Log Entry, Cadet Icheb Hansen
I was called into the superintendent's office early this morning. He told me my training mission has been moved up, and I'm to pack my duffel and leave with a group of other cadets at 1300 hours for Spacedock. We're to be transported to our ship - and it's Voyager! The superintendent noted that I'd already been named as the leader of an Astrometrics training group. Because of my experience on Voyager, it made sense for my group to staff that ship. Then he said, "Cadet, this is a practical mission. We need additional bodies to staff Voyager." And then he explained what this was all about.
A rift is forming in space in an area between Vulcan and Earth. A convoy of ships will travel to the area to guard against whatever might come through it. He handed me a PADD with long range sensor telemetry. It wasn't a transwarp conduit aperture, and because of my experience in Astrometrics when the admiral came through, I knew it wasn't a temporal rift, either. And then I realized what it must be. "Fluidic Space?" I asked the superintendent, hoping I was wrong. He told me that's what it looked like to Professor Reagan and his colleagues, too.
When he informed me that Captain Janeway and her senior staff will be manning Voyager, I felt a little better. They've had experience inside Fluidic Space. I couldn't be assigned to a better place, and I knew it. I didn't say this to the superintendent, however. As I was about to leave, he told me that the names of the cadets in the group I was to supervise were on the PADD, too. I quickly checked the list. I didn't see many names I recognized at first, but then I saw Verit's. She seemed to be the only Xenobiology major included. I asked the superintendent if that was deliberate.
"It is, Cadet Hansen. Many of Voyager's original Science Department staff are still available in Sector 001 and will serve on Voyager. Although Cadet Verit specializes in Xenobiology, she possesses excellent credentials in Astrometrics, too, as I'm sure you're aware. Just as vital in this situation, you know her well and know you can trust her. When I suggested to Starfleet Personnel we add her to your unit and provided them with my rationale, they agreed, even though both of you are still in your junior year. Most of the other cadets are senior Engineering majors. A few are majoring in Astrometrics, but you've got practical experience all the others lack. We're putting you in charge. We believe you'll be up to the task."
I thanked him for his confidence in me. He told me that by this time, the other cadets had been contacted by their advisors and were packing to join me. He dismissed me, and I rushed off to Archer Hall to pack my own duffel.
Farys and Austin were upset they weren't going with us. Word hasn't gotten around yet about the real reason our "training cruise" has been pushed forward so abruptly. Verit nodded slightly in approval when I told them we didn't have time to explain now, but I was sure they'd learn all about it before we got back. When they heard me say that, I think they got the message this isn't a normal training mission.
There are twenty of us. While I'm nominally the leader of the cadets, my true leadership role will be in Astrometrics. The engineers were called in to supplement Commander Torres' staff. She has more vacancies than anyone else, since more of her staff took positions on other ships. Some, like Freddie Bristow, had decided to resign their commissions to find work in the civilian arena. We've been waiting for a long time for Voyager to relaunch.
The ironic thing is, Freddie's here on board. In the zoo that was Spacedock, I saw him standing with - of all people - Marla Gilmore and Mortimer Herron. Mortimer was on vacation from his dream job on Orion One. His leave was cancelled, and he was sent up to Voyager to serve with us. Marla was even more of a surprise. I'll have to speak with Marla later to find out how she managed to be here. I didn't have time then because we were placed on different transports bound for Utopia Planitia. Voyager was waiting for us there.
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Stardate 56041.2 Personal Log Entry, Cadet Icheb Hansen
It's been difficult keeping up with my personal log. We're very busy with drills of all kinds. The refit changed some ways the ship is controlled or handled, but after the first few practice runs, I was able to get a good feel for the changes. I figured out how most of Astrometrics worked on my own, even before Seven came in and gave me and my staff a quick lesson on how to work all the controls. It feels very funny to call my fellow cadets "my staff," but I'm in charge of the ones who work in Astrometrics or Stellar Cartography more than I expected. Megan Delaney, who's now a full lieutenant, is in charge of Stellar Cartography, so that's good. Jenny isn't on board. She's on Deep Space Nine, interviewing for a position on that station. If we survive whatever happens here, I think she'll be annoyed she isn't with her twin. Seven is the head of Astrometrics, of course, but I'm second in command, even over any regular crew who might serve here. Seven believes the captain will want her at her bridge station once we arrive at the rift's location, so I'll be in charge of Astrometrics then, since I know more about how everything works than anyone but Seven or Harry. He'll be on the bridge at the rift, too.
I wish I hadn't put, "if we survive," in my log, even though it's true. We have no doubt now we're dealing with a rift between our space and the realm of Species 8472. I've held a couple of meetings in the Mess Hall, familiarizing the cadet crew with Fluidic Space and its people. Most of what I know comes from the logs, since Voyager's contacts all predate my arrival on the ship; but I've had more time than the others to study our encounters with the species. Commander Tuvok assigned me to study them when he was tutoring me. None of the others had such access.
Commander Tuvok was on Vulcan. He's traveling to the rift's location on another ship and will meet us there. Until he arrives, Lieutenant Ayala is heading Security and Tactical. Admiral Paris is with us on Voyager. Sam Wildman and Gres are both here, too, but Naomi remained behind with Mrs. Paris and Miral. Tom and B'Elanna are here. While Mrs. Paris is used to having her husband and son go off into space, caring for Miral and Naomi is a new experience. Tom told me, in private, that she's very worried about all of us, "but she knows it's our duty." Naomi begged to be allowed to come, but her parents told her very firmly they wouldn't allow it. Naomi eventually realized that accepting her parent's edict would be a sign of her maturity when her application to the Academy was submitted this spring. She wants to enroll this September. I certainly hope that can still happen. A lot will depend upon how this encounter turns out.
I finally caught up with Marla a couple of days ago in the Mess Hall with Noah Lessing! They told me, as far as Starfleet Personnel is concerned, that their post-resignation "benefits" from Starfleet included being reservists for the next three years. When they were called up, they were shocked. Marla told me it's a good sign, though. It means Starfleet Personnel didn't know about the forced aspect of their resignations. The secret of the Equinox must be holding. Admiral Paris himself contacted them and told them, under the circumstances, they didn't have to serve. Marla and Noah both told him they wanted to be here with their crewmates. Marla's sister's family is caring for Aimee.
At this point, we're all as ready as we can expect to be after a shakedown cruise of such short duration. Fortunately, the rift is opening very slowly. According to Tom, when they went into Fluidic Space years ago, when Seven first came as a Borg to Voyager, the rifts opened more quickly. However, they didn't have to be that big for one ship to slip through. As this one grows, we're wondering how big the ship or ships will be when they finally emerge.
Just in case, I prepared a "last message" for Mezoti , and one for Seven, too, even though she's on Voyager with me. It's possible she could survive even if I don't. The message for Mezoti was sent back to Earth and will be sent through the datastream if anything happens to me. I wanted her to know that whatever happens to us here, "I treasure my little sister. I've always missed you, Five of Six. I'm very glad I got the chance to know you. Be happy in whatever you do." It goes without saying I hope there's never a need for Commander Harkins to send it to her (even though I just did).
He'd be the one to transmit it, because Lieutenant Commander Barclay is on Voyager with us. I think he's the only one here who's truly delighted to be serving during this crisis. His fondest wish has been granted: Lieutenant Commander Reginald Barclay, serving under Captain Kathryn Janeway on Voyager - just "one of the guys."
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