From: Melvin Harry Pollack 
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:38:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE:  Insert Clever Title Here....

[Second Officers Log, Stardate 90411.0917.  At present, we have received
orders to ....  Oh hell, where did I put that packet?  Anyway, we have
received new orders, and the crew is rearing to go.
Where they are rearing to go; I have no idea.
In other news, more trouble seems to have occured within the Science
Department.  Also, I have been informed that I should have a physical and
a medical exam.  Neither sentence is related, but I don't feel like trying
to follow punctuation rules....]
Scene:  Officer's Mess
MD 4.1200
	Sereh lifted her knight and placed it on a level above.  "I
believe you are in check."
	th'Tellan studied the three dimensional chess board.  "It would
seem that you are correct.  Let's see...."  th'Tellan thought for a while,
then made a move.  "Now I'm not sure that I understand.  Is a Science Crew
attempting a mutiny?"
	"I do not believe so, although they would be in a great position
to ousting Murray if they felt it was necessary.  So far, it seems that
they have broken her down mentally, due to their alleged incompetence.
Check."
	"What, you don't think that they're actually pretending to be
incompetent, do you?"  th'Tellan quickly changed his strategy and moved
his rook back to his side.
	"I doubt that it is intentional, although I also do not believe
that they're actions result from simple incompetence.  We may be dealing
with cultural and psychological factors, indicating that we need to shift
our direction."  Sereh moved, and then continued.  "At any rate, they had
a meeting today to determine whether or not to oust the Science Officer.
There have been some complaints about her methods, and the fact that she
has been running tests to raise their competency."
	"Well, God forbid a senior officer make her staff work hard and
act competently.  Just out of curiosity, what is your evaluation of Lt
Murray?"
	"She seems competent, but psychologically unstable.  It seems that
she is attempting to act as her superior officers would act, rather that
finding her own methods.  She also seems to feel that every mistake is her
own fault, and that she wil be judged as incompetent on any of them, no
matter how insignificant.  But the worst part is that she seems so....  so
human."
	th'Tellan shrugged.  "Nobody's perfect, Sereh."
{Note to all readers who are human:  This line is not meant to be taken
seriously, or as a slam against humans.}
{Note to all readers who aren't human:  Not that you aren't allowed to
feel this way.}
	th'Tellan lifted a piece.  "I probably ought to talk to Anne
tomorrow.  I can't to it today; I've got to run drills till 1430, and then
I've got to do a physical and counselor evaluation.  But I think that if I
talk to her, tell her how I felt when I first started, maybe offer to
mentor her....  Hell, it can't hurt.  Check."
	"Interesting move.  I don't think that she would be willing to
talk today.  She had a major problem on the bridge dealing with the
Science Department's new Counseling System."
	"Yeah, it sent me a message saying that she had admitted to beiong
insane, paranoid, and a bad golfer."
	"It made her rather upset."
	"I can imagine.  Who wants a reputation as a bad golfer?  Check."
	"That is an interesting move, but I cannot see the logic."
	"Plans don't always work on logic.  But I have a plan that will
end this game very soon."
	"Indeed.  Checkmate."
	"Oh, I didn't notice that bishop."  th'Tellan stood up, a mock
pout on his face. "Oh, you beat me.  May I have the pleasure of
congratulating the winner."
	"Please, not in front of the crew,"  Sereh protested.  But she
allowed th'Tellan to embrace her, wraping her arms around his waist.
	After a brief kiss, th'Tellan let Sereh go.  "I've got to start
drills now.  But I'll see you tonight."
	"Yes, that would be fine."
	Sereh watched as th'Tellan left, then sat down.  *I should have
told him,* she said to herself.  *I have to talk to him about what's
really happening.  I've got to.  So, why can't I?*
	Sereh began to wonder if she was letting her emotions carry her
away.  *No, it's because the timing wasn't right.  Yes, its the timing and
the location, and I'll be able to talk to him about it tonight.  Maybe.*
	Sereh left the room, lost in thought.
NRPG:
	All - Just the standard "I'm still alive" post.  Maybe a little
character / NPC strengthening.
	James, Christine, Masako - Heads up.  th'Tellan's coming your way.
	James - No fair, how come you get to insult the crew and I don't?
Seriously, I guess that I'll let you write the first installment; you seem
to understand th'Tellan pretty well.  (Although "ZooKeeper" may be a
little strange, even for th'Tellan.)
	Lynnaea / Michael - Sereh's bio will be posted soon.  I promise.
	Bell - When do we learn what the mission is?
Submitted By....
Melvin Pollack
Lt Cmdr Avikar th'Tellan
OPS USS Chesapeake
mpollack@wam.umd.edu
	"The first thing that you must realize is that you must go insane
as soon as possible.  It is the only way that you can keep your sanity."
					-th'Tellan's first law

Go to messages for April 1997 or Main Archive Page