Even Space Girls Get The Blues

Personal Log: Cmdr. Kitsune Yamashita

[Feb 25, 2386 04:00] (Sec Lev 18)

Loc: UTFS Victory in orbit around Rhynoa

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-22:00 hr

The final countdown has begun. We have been rotating some of the crew to have a slim percentage who have rested. All stations are reporting nominal and we are ahead of schedule. Why am I still fearful at this late stage of the game? That fear may be what stands between me my own folly. We've been faced with a Gordian knot. My solution was to draw my sword. Slowly the rest of the crew had to agree to my plan. Fate gave us what we needed to survive. Whether we use it is our choice to make.

Our original experimental Chimera drive had an application nobody involved in the project considered. Simply put. Size does not matter. It is a question of power and matching the mass of a given remote point. It is not so much moving as an exchange of matter. Call it entanglement or Einstein's bugaboo, Spooky Action The key is being just barely less massive than your new target location.The most important thing is my discovery rewrites the book on space travel as we know it.

Anton is working the new enhancements to the drive. It is a massless system which will allow direct jumps without the matter exchange. If we survive the next week we can take this idea up again. Now is a time for immediate action.

Gunny is on Rhynoa locking down a huge underground spaceport/arcology. Someone has functioning fusion reactors hot and running. The bad news is it is surrounded by 38000 lizard heavily armed Sylvean war-band. I have started working on a diplomatic mission. I have meetings with a splinter group out to depose the current Warlord and replace him with more reasonable leaders. I have ideas about how to instigate a coups. They are leaving us no choice. For the good of the planet's inhabitants there are two paths. One path leads to cooperation and a member's seat at the table in Rhyoan affairs. The other path leads to genocide. Personally I would prefer cooperation. However, I will take any action called for to unify this planet so they can become members in the UTFC.

I'm keeping an eye on my new XO. He is charming, loyal, eager and always comes down on the side of by the book. This is a double edged sword. Some day if he survives I have an important decision about his life. Do I promote him to his own command, recruit him as an asset for the Terran Intelligence Directorate, or give him the kiss of death? Only time will tell. I hate when my ruthless side makes me think in terms of kiss or kill. I bet Peter has tons of ideas about it in that dusty pile of books he loves so much. Organics are so old fashioned and repressed. Perhaps if his advice about how I need to be more submissive in negotiations, so as to not intimidate the male representatives made sense, I might take him seriously. Pete the 17th century is calling, answer your squire unit. To be honest, I like him, however his growing addiction to the Enciviar is frightening. The problem is he does not seem to see it.

I long for the day when I can rest. A time to enjoy the fruits of our sacrifice. Maybe even a time to love. There are days when even Space-girls get the blues. [Squire: request/music/Bessie Smith] There are days we all need a little sugar in our bowl. We can all dream a little dream.

Victory never sleeps, and neither does her commander. Time again to pull my big girl britches up, grab some coffee and get back to work. I wonder if Paetra is sleeping. I need some sisterly support.

Kitsune Out.

[Activate: Black-Ice(TID)]

Transmission Ends:

Deja Vu All Over Again

Personal Log:

[Feb 13, 2386 13:25] (Sec Lev 12)

Loc: Victory_ Hectora 1 (Rhynoa)

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-282 hr

This is beginning to get tiresome in more ways than one. I have not slept in over 24 hours and the temptation to use a combat stim pack grows by the hour. All I want is to finish with current to do list, eat, shower and sleep. The only thing keeping me stim free is I know using combat drugs to cure sleep deprivation is a good way to rack up a serious body count.

Negotiations with Atum are reaching a delicate phase and every time I leave the turbo-lift on my way to nailing down an agreement a new crisis rears its head and I am called away to fight the crisis of the hour. I was 20 meters from the meeting room and I was prepared to get concessions in exchange for a sweet deal for my guest. There is no secret he is nervous being on-board the Victory and not governing his people. What he does not know is I know what he is after but is unwilling to say.

During our last communication I had to laugh. We are engaged in a contest of will and cunning. Both of us are adept at the art of shadow ops and love the game we are playing. Atum may not know it yet but I hold the key to his continued survival. In our last encounter "Golqua" actually sounded overtly flirtatious. When a scoundrel calls you by a pet name it is a good idea to unsheath your claws and watch your back. While I am flattered on a superficial level I could sense he was paying attention to something else in his cabin. I can only assume he has repaired his holographic "assistant"

Unfortunately once again I received a message calling me back to Echolynn base ASAP. I seriously doubt it will be good news. Gunny pings me and we meet at teleport chamber Alpha for the trip. We are grimly contemplating the reason for the recall. If the head of security and top ranking Earth Intel officer are clueless it is not a good sign. One thing which raises eyebrows is the message routing code. It is not from the Major as we would expect, it was clearly from Dr. Asham Rashid. Why our MD is issuing command orders makes no sense unless the Major has become even more reclusive and withdrawn than the last time I saw him.

I would have liked the luxury of flying Banshee 2 to the base, but I know it is faster and given my situation safer to teleport there. I am not old fashioned and fear the transfer. My main concern is arriving and being forced to wait 12 precious hours till the Victory is once again within the arc of our transmission window. I want to wrap things up and get back on-board Victory. There is ray of sunshine. I need to talk with Anton, Lenny, and Ardree should be arriving on the Gendauw courier ship with the plans for advanced escape pods. When the base was abandoned during the mutiny, all the pods were launched. Paetra's gift of Gendauw technology is much appreciated. When scanning logs from the base I noticed newly found artifacts on a manifest. It seems Peter is enabling Che to hoarde items and not share the information without a fight.

Energize! I can feel the effects of the transfer as I become a sparkling ghost on the transporter pad. I'm going, going, gone.

Transmission Ends:

To Sleep Perchance to Dream.

Personal Log: Kitsune Yamashita

[Feb 13, 2386 12:47] (Sec Lev 12)

Loc: Victory In orbit Hectora 1 (Rhynoa)

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-298 hr

There is no rest for heroes. I look around me and see those I have lived and survived with through this non-stop torrent of events we have been forced to merey react to. For better or worse we are family. If there is a solution to the puzzle we are trapped in, I trust someone will connect the dots.

One thing bound us together on this mission. If we fall nobody will even remember us. We are all flawed; but we were hand picked for what seemed to be a one way mission. Nobody will remember or mourn us if we fall in defeat.That we have got as far as we have speaks to the strength of humanity within us all in the face of extinction. I reject the idea that the invasion has nullified any loyalty of The Terran Alliance. While we all live and breathe we are Terrans and We will not go quietly into the night! To say otherwise smacks of treason.and defeatism.

We have traveled to the ass end of nowhere on a one way fool's error. In spite of this we have found a way to become a force for unification of species into something more that our separate parts. We have ripped the mask off of Phaerian professed friendship to reveal the treachery that lies at their heart.

I've sent formal requests for updating feeds and answering questions from local governments to aid in handling military and first responders . It should also help in the search for missing crew-mates who can be either evacuated or redeployed.. Sent interchange with J454. Compete sanitation of any areas entered by diplomatic delegations. Sent for data on using replicated chemicals for that aug it's lovely.

Contact Paetra via bond on object of interest. Inform her she is needed to contact the base for analysis of artifacts and safe handling procedures. Distribution: all files to science team, command crew/Dept Heads: (need to know only) NB distribution Clearance evaluation pending..

I will be glad when I have a leash on Atoom so I can just say "Nice doggy". I keep trying to explain the facts of life. It is better to play the rooster than become a capon. I think it is time to whisper an alphanumeric series we found on both the Enciviar and Atoom's PALM-20 (Yes Peter you get a ring side seat. I would love to see the deep look at that moment of revelation.

I long for that time when I can be conscious but lucidly dreaming. Whether it is latent ESP or a side effect of my wet-ware does not matter. in some cases thoughts are more powerful than the flesh.

Diamonds are forever, but topaz will do.

Time to shake the trees and see what pops up. Send all: (sec-lev 18) file to who it may concern. (log all responses.)

Transmission Ends:

A Blast From the Past

Personal Log: Kitsune Yamashita

[Feb 13, 2386 15:52] (Sec Lev 12)

Loc: New Baeldra (Rhynoa)

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-311 hr

Life on Rhynoa has changed me. It is like I had lived in a small box half blind and powerless. I have been reborn and now fully I am awake. Something happened which drove the point home. While in the middle of dealing with logistical issues and hammering out details for the conference with the powers that be on the surface a voice filled my head. What made matters even stranger is the voice was of someone I thought was most likely dead at the hands of Phaerian agents. It was one of the Strango brothers. In our silent conversation I was able to establish the fact they were still alive.

I took a chance to test out new found abilities I have discovered to try an experiment. I trusted my intuition and assumed a stable posture suited for meditation. I opened up and pushed out in an attempt to project my being out to manifest where the voice was coming from. For a first attempt I was more successful than I could have hoped for. I was suddenly in a cabin with the Strangos, Deshem was tending to his brother who was sprawled on the deck when he looked up and saw me there. Our communication was cut short when a Pharaen appeared, looked at me and suddenly I was thrown back into my body shaken and filled with nausea.

With the aid of the Gendaow I was able to pinpoint the location of the ship they were on and forward the information to security on Echalan Base. Gunny informed me the base was on a security lock-down and there are a few situations seriously in need of a solution.

My partial success with projection tempted me to make a second attempt to project my awareness onto the base. It was like being a ghost walking the corridors to the main control room. The major was there but unaware of my presence. I was surprised when Lenny turned and looked at me. He slapped his eye and looked again,his fingers danced over his squire unit. Then he spoke and said "Kit is that you?". The major was still oblivious. It took Lenny sending him the proper settings but he seemed to still have problems bring me into focus. Fatigue quickly set in and I was forced to drop the projection. I was nauseated and got the impression my wetware was the only thing that kept me from vomiting. In the end I did discover 2 things: (1) I can project through a force field and rock. (2) There is more to Lenny than meets the eye. I need to buy him a drink and get to know him.

On my end things are moving quickly. Coordinating communications with Victory and with the aid of Modayah for the cooperation of the Idree in the rescue mission. Ardree and Modyah listened to my requests and retired to private quarters to confer. When they returned they were in the company of an ancient Humanoid. From his lavender eyes it was obvious he was Idree. At first he stood silent gazing deep into me. I did not close my mind to him but invited him to look into my mind. He remained impassive but stated that Although Ardree was young, he granted permission to have him speak for his people. There is little to do but return to the Victory with Ardree and the female Gendaow representative Paetra.

So much to do and so little time. Banshee is fueled and ready for take-off. Time to get this show on the road.

Transmission Ends:

Looking for Strays & a Particular Dog.

Personal Log: Kitsune Yamashita

[Feb 12, 2386 24:47] (Sec Lev 12)

Loc: Victory In orbit Hectora 1 (Rhynoa)

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-320 hr

I've gave orders and made appointments to handle the monitoring of surface communications. It should also help in the search for missing crew-mates. I have an appointment with a guy, Sergei-454. He is a fellow student of the game. Time is short and I need to meet Ardree and take the old Wave-rider aka Banshee and pay a visit to Modyah and the remaining members of the Gendaow on Rhynoa.

Always remember to never forget to always remember to never forget...

Transmission Ends:

Surviving Interesting Times

Personal Log: Kitsune Yamashita

[March 12, 2386 21:47] (Sec Lev 12)

Loc: Asteroid Base near Hectora 1 (Rhynoa)

Estimated Safe Launch Window Time: T-324 hr

The Chinese have a curse. "May you live in interesting times." Life has been beyond interesting lately. Some events are so powerful you must flee or stand your ground. We stand at the edge of destruction. The last chance to save so many from extinction. In case you have not noticed the lights are going out and darkness is at the door. Earth may be lost. Nye-Orin and Utosha are under attack and I hope some will survive.

Why the Phaerians attacked poses some questions. We know about the Phaerian attack and near extermination of the Gendaow. We now have star maps for the other side of Phaerian space. For such a cautious and calculating species why engage in a two front war? The combined technological leap involved in the Chimera drive and the EHTOU project may have forced the Phaerians to attack prematurely.

Oh yeah... time to update squire logs and translator/planetary communication feeds.

• Initiate integration of Leaders Biographical information on Rhynoa from ongoing monitoring/archiving program. Run... Cmplt.
• We need to know the whereabouts of the following crew of the Thucydides. A hard look for their ID transponders is needed. Their assistance is critical at this moment. Sent...
  1. Captain Johnathan Ardean
  2. Science Captain Dominic Wolcott
  3. Dr. Sigmin Frein Astrophysicist Emeritus
  4. Kasmir Denibrago EHTOU system Integration specialist
• Send archive access to Doctors P. von Swantz and Asham Rashid for evaluation. I need to know what makes them tick. It is time for a conference with the locals. As our orders were written, There was an implied order to give aid to sentient beings. We have no choice. We do not know why, but we do know Human Rhynoans are 100% the same as the Terran genome. With the Phaerian genocide looming the more of humanity we can rescue becomes an important concern.Sent...
• Request to use the Victory for rescue/reinforcement of crew members of the Thucydides. In some cases creation of a military team to retrieve tactical assets we have left on the surface. Sent...
• Shower and eat on-board the Victory. Sake and chocolate, priceless.
• Note to myself. Check up on Tyriceus. We need a miracle and if any human can do it, I think that man is Aston. Who knows what Modyah can add to the mix. I feel we are opening the door to a new paradigm. I just hope we can seize it and leap through.

Our overly medicated doctor has relieved me from duty and ordered me to sleep. I know he's right, but I can see the countdown timer and know we can waste energy, mass but we can't waste time or opportunity. I think I have found a way to rest and keep working. Sharing thoughts with Ardree can be restful. It's time to dream up a solution to this mess. That is after I tell him the facts of life.

Transmission Ends: