First Officer's Personal Logs -- Crio Ijoula

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"Computer, begin First Officer's personal log, stardate 66030.1:

My transfer back to the USS Terrasect has so far gone off without a hitch. However, I must admit to being disappointed at not finding Admiral James Harsting in command. He and I had a strong, mutual understanding of each other, as he had known my previous host, Brexen, very well. With that deep friendship transferring to me, with some initial difficulty, I had grown very fond of Jim, as a friend and confidant.

Although I will still be working in the capacity of an executive officer, I can only hope that I can have a similar dialogue with the new commanding officer.

Deep down, I had wondered why Starfleet hadn't filled me in on Admiral Harsting's disappearance... I had to find out through second-hand sources.. Even more surprising, I'm surprised I wasn't asked to take command of this ship, given my command experiences when the admiral and his diplomatic team had been abducted during a prior mission...

I'm sure Starfleet has its reasons for not appointing me in that capacity, though I would like to know what those reasons are.

I have also been asked to take a reduction in rank to Lieutenant Commander, after taking a very extended leave of absence to deal with a family crisis back home on Trill. I guess that's my punishment for having to force the issue, while spearheading a search for my beloved sister, after she had been abducted by a rogue group that I can only describe here as terrorists...

I had hoped that she would've recovered enough to join me back on Terrasect as a physician, but that doesn't appear likely. I guess I'll have to keep in touch with her over subspace, again. I do hope she'll at least come back, even if not in an official capacity...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66032.7:

With more than four centuries of memories and thirteen lifetimes of combined experiences and points-of-view other than my own circling around my mind, I had honestly come to think that nothing could surprise me. Reflecting on that whole of combined experience, memories, personalities, and everything in-between, I truthfully felt that nothing could come as what humans would call a 'curve ball,' with the only exception being when dealing with negotiations, or a first contact.

I can now honestly say that my thinking was flawed on that matter...

To my eternal surprise, I have discovered that the new commanding officer of the Terrasect is none other than the feline-like officer that had previously served as my tactical officer, when Admiral Harsting was abducted during our first contact mission to the far-flung Ktarnian Empire, deep in the Delta Quadrant.

Granted, I did have a big problem with his.. over-eagerness during that mission, by firing on fighter craft, prompting an all-out engagement and nearly provoking a full-scale war. Thankfully, reason had prevailed on that day, and we were instrumental in saving hundreds of lives during the subsequent sabotage of the immense Ktarnian starbase.

At the time, our positions were reversed, and I was in command. Moments after that horrible incident, I had honestly threatened to drag Grabfoot by his tail to the brig, which was well within my rights, considering what had happened. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't take that action, as he was instrumental in helping defend the Terrasect, the Pegasus, and the Ktarnian space station while we were in the midst of rescuing Harsting, my sister, and the rest of the diplomatic team.

I hope we can revive the mutual understanding that we had following that, and that we can rely on each other, as this new crew depends on our ability to get along.

As for the crew of the Terrasect, I noticed many unfamiliar faces onboard. As is a big part of the duties of the executive officer, I will need to get to know everyone under my command -- their names for one, their strengths, their weaknesses, and their personalities. In some ways, I feel as if I'm on a totally different starship, because of so many new faces.

With the Terrasect however, there is a revived sense of familiarity with the ship itself, as I know her inside and out, and know what she is capable of doing. I intend to familiarize myself with any recent upgrades, refits, retrofits, and any new systems installed, so I can be sure I'm completely up-to-date. Commander Grabfoot and the rest of the crew will be depending on my ability to know all of this, especially in a pinch.

I would like to revive an old tradition of the senior officers' poker night, and bring back my interest in music for the crew to enjoy. To do the latter, I will need to see how many musicians we have onboard, but do so rather covertly...

All in all, I have to rate this as an interesting day...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66049.1:

Having received a distress call from the USS Jackson, we are en route to investigate and assist if possible. However, I find myself at odds with the decision to not approach at our top speed.

Granted, I'm not in command, I do respect Commander Grabfoot as a fellow officer, and I am duty-bound to carry out his orders. Yet, I strongly disagree with his judgement in this matter.

Perhaps I need to take a step back and think some more about this, but if I was on a ship that sent a distress call, I'd be expecting help to be coming quickly, rather than in a somewhat 'relaxed' manner.

As a prime example, I remember when we had gotten the distress call from that Nygean transport, we were going at our top speed to get there, pushing the slipstream drive hard to get there in a hurry.

I admittedly wonder what is on the minds of the rest of the bridge crew concerning this situation.

Until we can get more definitive answers from the Jackson or our long-range sensors, it is difficult to say whose approach is better...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66051.9:

I fear I might've blown it, as humans would say...

I've not even been back on the Terrasect for a full hour, and I've already gotten at odds with the CO, so much so that I was insulted in front of the bridge crew, of all places.

I do realize that he may have viewed my disagreement over a decision as a challenge to his authority, but to chastise me like that in front of the crew is wrong... That was one lesson that Jim Harsting reminded me of when he would pull me into his office if he felt it necessary to discuss a problem he had with something I said or did.

When I had a huge problem with Grabfoot's conduct during the Ktarnian incident, I pulled him into the ready room to discuss my strong feelings with him over his conduct, rather than insult him in front of the crew...

Granted, I know very little about the customs and rules of conduct for his people, but in my observation, that was not the way a Starfleet officer, much less one in the position of command, should handle a matter like that.

Considering what happened, I find myself bracing for the possibility of being relieved of duty until further notice, or worse...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66070.9:

I think I'm finally out of danger of being 'tail-whacked' by Commander Grabfoot, and that we now have a better understanding of each other, after I had a lengthy chat with him in the ready room. I am surprised to learn that he did indeed 'throw down the gauntlet' earlier in an attempt to see if I would cross the line of insubordination... Whether that was part of his sense of humor or not, I'm not sure but I really don't want to find out, or repeat that matter.

I might be wrong, but I think I saw the equivilent of an all-out laughing fest try to start when I gave the offer to borrow my calisthenics program. Afterward, he explained to me that he had been badly injured the last time he used such a program, and I guess that the ship's doctor gave him a stern lecture in using such programs in the future...

I'd like to think that the tension on the bridge that had ensued as a result of that disagreement has finally cleared. I'll know soon enough.

We are still about twenty minutes out from the Jackson. I intend to be ready for action once we get there. However, I do fear that there may be more than meets the eye with this matter...

Computer, end log entry...

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66097.1:

We have finally cleared up most of the distress call from the Jackson, and I must admit that I find it a bit puzzling. The information we have now is that they were disabled in an attack by an unknown assailant and that they need medical and engineering assistance. Hopefully, our medical and engineering teams will be ready once we pull up alongside her.

Yet, I can't seem to shake the feeling that there may be more going on surrounding this attack. I hope we'll be able to get additional information from the crew and the ship's sensor logs.

My earlier clash with Commander Grabfoot has hopefully been resolved, and thankfully, the bridge feels much more relaxed. I do realize that there is still a big transition ahead of me, due to events of the last couple of years and no longer being in command for a mission.

Admittedly, the last mission I commanded had intense personal interest on my part to see it through, hence my leave of absence, and my subsequent disregard for orders to stop my search for family...

I hope that I can 'suck in' my pride on this one, and finally learn a lesson or two in humility.. But if there's one thing I've come to realize, it's that humility is one of the lessons that has proven very difficult to be learned and applied by any previous host for Ijoula, including Brexen, and even myself..."

He would turn away from the monitor for a minute, starting to get up, when he remembered something he wanted to add.

"On a much more personal note, I think there is a mutual interest on the part of one of our bridge officers -- a lieutenant who is currently assigned to tactical duties. So far, I know that her name is Kestral, and that she comes from the Chinese region of Earth. It turns out that we do have a number of common interests including music, target practice, and getting a good workout.

It's been a long time since I've been seriously involved with anyone, but maybe it may be time to seek companionship again...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66138.2:

'Old habits die hard' states a human proverbial saying. I never really understood its meaning until now...

Jumping right into action has become an easy thing for me to do, but now it seems to be an easy way to land myself in trouble. Although I would classify that as a sometimes necessary habit, one must know when to control it and keep it at bay.

I seem to be in a need of relaxing on my observations more than ever before... My 'snap-to-it' nature has once again gotten me a stern look from Commander Grabfoot.

At this point, I fear I'm headed for big problems unless I really do some soul searching and relax. Granted, a crisis situation is no time to relax, but if I don't, it could lead to serious issues on the bridge.

On another note, we have a lead on the Jackson... A malfunctioning communications buoy has been found to be the cause of the subspace distortion activity we've been seeing. It is believed that the Jackson crew used that as a distraction to get away from their attackers. However, in spite of compensating for that distortion, we are unable to get in contact with the Jackson.

Strangely enough, we do have biosign readings on the Jackson, and those came back negative... Where could the crew have possibly gone? Long-range scans show three possible planets within escape pod range, but we have no way of knowing for sure yet if they're capable of supporting life. I'd like to think they can, and that the Jackson crew is on one of them.

The only ways to know for sure will be to either board the Jackson and access her computers directly, or remotely link to her systems and go from there. Deep down, I hope we can find their crew alive and well.

When the renewed tensions calm down and we have the data we need, I'm going to recommend a salvage and recovery operation for the Jackson...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66210.1:

'A giant laboratory complex on a pair of nacelles...' is what Brexen would've called the Jackson if she were still here.

Despite being classified as a science and survey ship, I wonder what happened to them, or how they even found out about this system.

Reports so far indicate that they were out here studying a pre-warp civilization, but I'm still trying to figure out what could have possibly led to them being attacked...

I do have a few theories on that, but I need information to corroborate the ideas on my mind and I'll outline them here, in my log... Perhaps, I can get some information to help narrow the field down.

One of them would fit with what information we have so far, that they were attacked because someone else wants a claim on the planet in question, and its abundant resources.

Another thought is that they might have been chased off because of a disagreement with the planetary inhabitants. But my problem with this theory is why would they abandon ship on one of the planets in the system rather than take off at warp speed, unless they were taken prisoner... Somehow, I doubt that a pre-warp society would already have transporter technology, though...

Although it's not unheard of, it could be possible that the Jackson was meeting with someone here, and that the reports were falsified...

Okay... Enough theories here...

The only way to know the truth of this is to find the Jackson and download her logs. I have a feeling that when we get there, Commander Grabfoot will ask me to lead an away team over to the ship for the sake of getting answers... What we will hopefully find should start putting the pieces of the puzzle into place...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 66354.9:

We've reached our rendevous with the Jackson and I am about to take an away team over in a shuttlecraft to investigate. So far, nothing unusual about the ship has been found, but that can all change once we go aboard.

What made the crew take off from their mission in such a hurry? I know that question has been going through not just my mind, but also newly promoted Captain Grabfoot's mind as well."

He would pause for several seconds.

"One should be able to trust their fellow officers. A starship's security officers are not to be going off on new crewmembers and pointing their phasers, ready to shoot first and ask later. It turns out we have an officer like that onboard, Ensign Zebdiel... Either this was intended as a prank in the tradition of an Earth holiday called 'April Fool's Day', or something else was happening...

I don't have a problem with being prepared for anything, but drawing one's phaser on two new crewmembers, one who was just stepping off a Starfleet shuttlecraft that had full security clearance... That is completely unacceptable behavior in any circumstance.

I don't like getting angry at fellow officers, but this incident prompted a greater anger toward an officer than that which had only come out one previous time... In that earlier circumstance, I was able to hold it in and then later vent it on the holodeck... But this time, I felt a strong urge to fight our security chief. I know that is not acceptable for a command level officer to do, and somehow, I held that urge at bay... mostly... It is my sincere hope that Mister Zebdiel can get his act together, before the captain has to deal with him. Sadly for him, I have a fair idea of what would happen if Captain Grabfoot had to deal with him, and it won't be pretty...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 67321.7:

We've been docked at Starbase 240 fpr about a week now. The ship has been undergoing repairs from our battle with the drone that now resides in Cargo Bay Three.. So much weaponry packed into such a small package... is unfathomable what can happen if it were to become fully active...

I haven't had the opportunity to take a look at the results from the tests being done on it and the captain's neural interface to the device, yet... In all honesty, I'm a bit afraid to... given what I've seen already on its capabilities, and the captain's instinctual reactions...

I would imagine most of the crew are still a bit shaken up by the events in the recovery of the Jackson, and I hope that they are getting needed rest and relaxation as they are able to do so.

At this point, I have yet to hear anything about new orders. I plan on checking in with the captain to see if we have received orders, or are just on extended leave.

Computer, end log entry...

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 68619.1:

Terrasect has been in dock several weeks for repairs and what has become a refit following our last mission. Rather than stay on the bridge and sit up there, I felt it prudent to help with the work at hand.

To be honest, I've never been crazy about 'sitting on my hands' when there's work to be done, despite the fact that I've been in trouble more than once for jumping into the thick of things like that.

I have yet to determine if this is one of my quirks that could be a desirable quality or if I should add it to the list of traits that really annoy my commanding officer.

On the plus side, I believe I've earned some much-needed time to spend with Kestral. Now, I just need to come up with a good way to surprise her...

Computer, end log entry..."

[Commander Crio Ijoula]

"First Officer's personal log, stardate 69057.4:

There is a human expression about 'old ghosts' haunting a person. I used to think that was a silly superstition, until now...

I've been in contact with an old friend of Brexen and Jim, Commander Hans Broker, who has informed me that Jim has disappeared, right from Earth. I wasn't able to piece together any ideas as to who or what might've been responsible, until Hans called again with some more details.

Now, with learning a unique energy wave that appeared in the Sol system not long before Jim's disappearance, I'm experiencing that sensation of past events haunting me. I find myself almost reliving the mission that sent us to Ktarnian territory with how vivid the memories are resurfacing. Commander Rhka's future self did say that we hadn't seen the last of him. Now, I'm certain this is what he meant.

While I have strong professional reasons to pursue rescuing Captain Harsting, I also have far stronger personal reasons. Not only were he and Brexen very close friends, but he was one of the first people to really accept me after learning about Brexen's death...

It is true that he basically ordered me to allow her personality and memories to be brought to the surface during the Terrasect's maiden voyage so she could serve as chief engineer, but I hold no grudge toward him for that, under the circumstances. He needed the best engineer he knew for that critical testing of the transwarp and slipstream drives...

I also have yet to hear back from Bri, as she was attending a medical conference on Earth at roughly the same time that Jim disappeared. If anything happened to her..." he trails off with a deep sigh. "...I'm not sure what I'll do...

Computer, end log entry..."