My first week on the Shutsugun - many preconceived notions about life aboard a starship have been completely thrown out the window, but I must say I am enjoying the comraderie of my shipmates. I've mostly been interacting with the Junior Grade Leftenants and the Ensigns, who are quite a diverse bunch. I'm intrigued that we had a discussion so soon about our various cultural differences; as one of the few Terrans aboard ship, I find that that others have asked me about my background and history, but have not much to tell them - I was born, raised, and grew up away from Earth, and that's just the way it is. Besides... I am terrible with social interactions. For most of my Academy time I had locked myself in my laboratories, working, striving for the best in everything that I can do. Is that not important, especially with the recent re-appearance of the Borg? Like everyone - I was shocked at the news, and, dare I say it, a bit frightful. But to merely cower in a corner... no. Now more than ever: work, study, exploration, and results are most important against the mortal enemy of civilization as we know it. This is why I am here, today, now, doing what I am doing.
I have found some time for independant work, and have sent a project proposal to Commander Reed. I have not yet heard back anything from him as of yet, but this gives me mroe time to prepare my defense when I do have more questions. I have been availing myself to use the Holodecks to run process simulations on the deflector modifications, to ascertain any weaknesses in the project design, but, from what I can tell, my defense should be essentially solid. Ensign Alisa Zarya has proposed collaborating... but I do not know if an exogeneticist could assist where it comes to electromagnetic and subspace field theory. She is a kind and free-spirited woman, and if circumstances were different I could see myself befriending a person such as her, but do we not have to focus on our duties? I spent some time relaxing on the beach the other night with my fellow junior officers, but I just could not remove myself from my thoughts of duty and what needs still to be done.
Just last night we were on patrol... relatively uneventful. Actually, it was a bit of an anticlimax after my years of training at the Academy. Calling out traffic contacts and navigational waypoints, the random bit of stellar phenomena... while it was good to get behind a true science console (and even more of a thrill to be at a bridge station!) the lack of events on this patrol mission didn't seem to interest me very much. Which isn't to say that I crave action... rather, I crave the peaceful exploration of the unknown just as ancient sailing ships did on the high seas... documenting and observing every bit of new information, studying flora and fauna in their natural habitat, and... sketching out what I see. Yes, I did bring with my pencil set and paper, and have already made a few sketches of my cabin and viewport out into the inky dark of space, Deep Space 9 in the foreground and Bajor nestled behind it... sketches of some my crewmates and aspects of their personalities... Ten-Forward, as the ship moves to warp. Of course, these sketches are just for practice until we truly can get 'out there' amongst the unknown and unexplored, into that voyage of understanding and enlightenment.
Until then, I shall settle into my role as Science Officer. We may be explorers, but we must also temper that with the dangers of the unknown - of the Borg. Ultimately the Borg must be neutralized somehow, and perhaps once that danger is behind us can I finally get back to that voyage of discovery that is buried deep within my soul.
Computer, end log.
