Personal Log: FO Cmdr. Jeff Jalando

Stardate 2393.01.15.
Start log.

This is my first mission as Captain of the USS Odyssey and her crew. A disappearing crew, that is. I'll try to explain.

Two days ago, we arrived at Tarakana II, after Starfleet picked up a distress call. Apparently Tarakanans were disappearing: the reason was unknown to them. I ordered scans to be taken, and teams to beam down to the surface to assist the Tarakanans in their daily lives. Lives which were being torn apart because of these disappearances. All of this is having a huge effect on the Tarakanan social structure. Fear is the one thing all Tarakanans have in common. Fear of disappearing.

Actually, that's not true. There's this group who believe in the ToS: Time of Salvation. Their leader, Krikz, actually thinks that these disappearances are done by Devine powers. As if the Prophets would do something like this! Still, it *is* what some of these people down on the surface believe... and I have to respect that, whether I like it or not.

Now, two days after arriving at Tarakana II, the Odyssey only has about 25 people on board. That's not even enough to form a skeleton crew! I've let this happen, because the Tarakanans on the surface need our help. A large building near the government building in the Capital City just collapsed, and Commander Nerfertii wanted more people to help. So I sent those. Everyone I can spare.

The most senior officers who are left on board are, amongst others: me, Lieutenant Elan, Ensign Creevel, and... Lieutenant Greystone. The latter has been released from the Brig, because our helmsman disappeared...

Yes, the disappearances are happening to the Odyssey crew as well. Why, we don't know. We're still working on it. But we're running out of time. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to stop these disappearances... and if that's so, the Odyssey will become a ghostship to orbit a ghost-planet...

I hope Starfleet sends reinforcements soon. I know they can never get here in time, unless one of the Transwarp ships can be spared. But I doubt it. If that was the case, they would have send some other ship to begin with. One with more crew... Seriously, 200 people, having to help about 2 billion Tarakanans?

Well, if we do disappear, and if Starfleet doesn't have ships here in time, I'd like them to read this, and other logs. At least then they know what happened to us... what kind of persons we were.

Computer, end log.

Hello? Hello, is this thing on? Oh, uh hi! I'm Wahlis!

(pause)

Oh, uhm, mommy said I should record what I did today! So. . . uhm, I think I will. Because I bumped into the Captain! Yes. . . I really did! Now the other kids at school will think I'm so great, I'll get to play with the puppet Klingon now! Woohoo!

But anyway, I bumped into Captain Kane, while I was walking on the crutches of. . . uhm. . . the crutch lady. It was strange, that she was walking on crutches, since there are anti-grav things. . . but this lady wanted crutches so badly, it seemed. And she let me ride them! Or walk with them. . . or whatever she does with them. Well, I went very fast! But then I bumped into the Captain.

Well, he should have watched where he was going. . . he said it himself. But still mommy thinks I should be more careful! That's just mean! Just like the crutch lady. She was mean too. She said she wanted me to go home! Just when I was talking to the Captain! I mean, that's just mean!

But I did talk to the Captain! I did! Uhuh, I sure did! And. . . and we drank some lemonade together! We were on deck 6, and I thought the Chicken Palace was on deck 6, but then the Captain said it was on Deck 4, so we went to deck 4, and then it was there indeed! Can you believe it? Just because the Captain said it was there! But anyway, we had a drink, and I had some lemonade! And it was so yummy! I did spill some over the Captain's clothes though, but he said it was okay, so it's all right again!

When we had our drink! I got brought home! Mommy was surprised, and I'm sure daddy will be surprised too! He'll be so proud when he hears that I already talked to the Captain! Maybe he'll make me an Admiral now! Ooooh. . . I can see it already! Admiral Wahlis, coming to the rescue! Woo!

I think Captain Kane is my new friend now. Yes. . . he must be. We had so much fun, and I'm sure he had fun as well! So maybe I'll bump into him next time as well, so that we can have another drink!

What? Mom, why shouldn't I? I mean. . . he liked it, and. . . awwww, I wanna! Sorry log thing thingy, but mom does not know that the Captain likes this. Maybe she should bump into the Captain next time, so that she'll be friends with him. Yeah, maybe that's a good thing. Well, I have to go now! Gonna play in my room! I just got a new holodeck program, and mom said that if I can be a good boy and play in my room, I can play it later! Woo! Bye!

Finally... Something to do. I'm going crazy here... But I think I should just start with the stardate.

Hmmm... I don't really know what the stardate is. I've been either asleep, unable to move, or tortured since I got to this place. And don't ask me where I am... because I don't know, and Mr. Zytl -that Ythokan whom I fear so much- won't say anything about this.

It can surely be called a wonder that I was able to break in to this computer, and record my message. Not only does that give me something to do in this room where all I can do is lay in bed and look around, but if I can get this message to Starfleet, then I might be rescued!

Anyway, the situation is as follows: I've been kidnapped by a group of Ythokans. After beating me up severely -I can still feel the pain, even though they've healed me,- I was treated and put in this room, where I've been laying for about a day.. maybe more. I'm almost longing back to when they beat me up. I know it sounds stupid.. maybe even insane, but at least then I felt something.. knew that I was alive, albeit barely. Now, it's as if I don't exist, because nobody seems to come to check up on me. Have they forgotten about me? No... that's not possible, is it?

It is at these times that I think about the Prophets, and whether or not this was planned by them in order to make me believe in them again. If that's the case, then these are evil gods indeed. But I shouldn't think that way. I should thank for Prophets for being alive... even though I barely notice it. I pray every hour to the Prophets. They might go crazy over my prayers, and do something about my situation... Okay, that's not very realistic thinking, is it? Well, at least it'll give me something to do.

Well... I think it's time to save this file, and send it. If I can. Let's just hope Starfleet notices this, and comes to save me.

Computer, save message.

*Unable to comply... file will be deleted. Access to this terminal will be restricted, starting now.*

After a shocking message that Academy Commandant Robert Baine was in fact the devil, eating souls if cadets didn't do their best, one of the cadets reacted. "It's true!" Cadet Barry Oring told the press. "Once, I saw him as angry as hell! And that says a lot! I could have sworn flames were coming out of his eyes!"

Another Cadet, Iris 'Magi' Nation, reacted with fear. "He is? Oh my! We're doomed I tell you! Doomed! This is only the first step you know! Later, we'll find out that the Academy stands on a focal point with a hell-like dimension!" She paused, and looks at the reporter with big eyes. "By the gods! Did anyone ever realize that San Francisco and Sunnydale both begin with the same letter? It can't be a coincidence!"

Academy Commandant Robert Baine himself laughs at the rumours. "Yeah, I confess." he says with a big grin on his face. "I eat souls for breakfast." With a loud laugh, he continues. "No, this is probably a joke from one of the instructors... publishing a photo from the last Academy play. You do know that some of they hate to stand on a stage, and perform, don't you?"

There you have it folks. Admiral Baine just told us that he isn't the devil, or anything. Still, it is uncertain whether the joke he made, about him eating souls, is indeed a joke. Some cadets seem to be avoiding the Admiral. But whether that is because they haven't finished their assignments yet, or because the Admiral indeed wants to eat their souls, is unclear at this time...

Jalando's personal log, Stardate 2391.05.02, 1555.

I can imagine every commander going through this once, but I had never expected to experience it this soon in my carreer. The feeling of faillure. Because I've just failed my first mission: I failed to retreive a probe which was in orbit of the Pandora star. You could say it's because of inexperience, and that the next missions will go better. Well, that's exactly what I'm saying to myself now. But that doesn't make me feel any better.

This was my first real mission as First Officer of Pandora Station. And I blew it. I know it wasn't really my fault... or was it? Was there something I could have done? No. No, there wasn't. It was either us, or the probe. And I did what every commander would have done: I've chosen for my crew. At least... that's what most commanders would do right?

Well, now we're going back to Pandora Station again. I know the Venoghrians aren't pleased, and I can understand that. After all, this probe was pretty important to them.

And then there's also Captain Kane. I find myself having unreasonable fears... or at least I hope they are unreasonable. Captain Kane wouldn't really demote me, would he? No... right? Well, I think not. But that's just it: I don't know for sure.

And of course, if the Captain, or the crew, find out about the First Officer being emotionally less stable than he shows... Well, let's just say I have to make sure this log isn't shown publically...

Computer, safe this log, and let it only be accessable by me.

End log.

To: Diplomatic Headquarters.
From: Ambassador von Klinkerhoffen.
Stardate: 2391.04.19, 1135.

Subject: Daily Status Report.

Greetings, Diplomatic Headquarters. It is with great... *gasp* difficulty that I *sigh* am making this report. You must understand, I am currently *gulp* climbing some stairs, on the way to the bridge. That is why... sorry, just a moment... *pfff...* that is why I'm making this report by talking into my commbadge.

It appears that *pant* some unknown persons have taken over the ship. Or at least... *gasp* Engineering. Currently, I'm on my way to the Bridge, with Demetrius, to *sigh* propose to the Commander / Captain to allow me to talk to these *puff* people.

If all goes well, I'll continue this report. Right now, I'm getting a bit too tired.. Phew. Even one deck climbing is too much. Anyway, I'll save this message, and send it later.

Greetings, *phew*
Ambassador von Klinkerhoffen,
USS Atlantis.

Commander Jalando's personal log, Stardate 2391.04.29.

First Officer...

Who would have expected it. It's great to see that Captain Janssens had such confidence in me: he wouldn't have made me FO otherwise, now would he?

This certainly is different than being 2O. After all, I had science duties back then... Heh, listen to me: 'back then'. It's only been a few hours ago! Still, I miss those science duties. Scanning for anomalies can be boring at times, but it can also be relaxing. Ah well, I think I'd just reroute some of that sensor data to my office. Maybe I can monitor it from there.

Captain Janssens will leave tomorrow morning... together with Commander Holmes. It'll be sad to see them leave: I always looked up to them. But that's probably because they were here when I just came on board as an eager young ensign.

Pandora Station will get a whole new command team. Okay, not really: I'm still the same person I was as 2O. Only now, with more power to control everything on the station. But now, a new 2O, and a new CO will come. I've been thinking about who to put in the 2O position, and I think I've found the right candidate. I'll make sure the new Captain gets to know that.

And then... the new Captain. Captain Seth Kane. Actually, I've never heard of him. I did read his file though, and he seems like a nice person. Although, so did the Kotarrani, at first. And we all know how they became a pain in the... ehm.. rear.

Well, my break is over, I think I'll be heading back to Main Ops now. I'll report back in later: maybe I've learned more about being FO then. I'm really looking forward to it...

Greetings,
First Officer of Pandora Station:
Commander Jeff Jalando.