Commander Chien Lo Yang

Ship Log Entry—005.2.1

Deep Contact has suddenly lost power to the main engine again, the reasons of which our chief engineer is trying to determine. This is the second time so far we’ve been drifting along using the ship’s inertia to keep our momentum going as we head out of the system. It remains a mystery to myself and the Captain as to why this keeps occurring. Chief Engineer Amanda Berkins is working on correcting the problem, but she’s rather tight lipped on the reasons why. I find that rather odd for such a genius child, especially one that built the engine in the first place.

Could it be that the Omega Group is not as brilliant as they like to believe? Again, that seems rather implausible, given the group’s track record and technological skill. Perhaps the rush into getting this mission going cut some corners during the installation of the drive? Maybe? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

This long excursion out of system has been taxing on the crew. With not much to do until the drive can be fully restored, they’ve resorted to numerous pranks and practical jokes on each other (some of which I’ve had to reprimand them for), and some have chosen to go into stasis until we’re actually out of system. Captain Riley has taken to his quarters for now, catching on some, in his words, “Much needed sleep”. Whereas I, have been trying to keep busy by rechecking the 3D printers, updating system reports and doing a detailed inventory of all the communication beacons we’ll be dropping once we’re clear of the heliosphere.

Things are rather dull, for now, though… so, guess that’s all I’ve got to say. Let’s hope the next few months go quicker than they have been leaving Earth.

* * *

Sitting his quarters, listening to some classical music, Captain Riley was stretched out on his bed, arms folded behind his head, eyes closed, and hummed along to the melody. Suddenly, there was a disruption as someone knocked on the door. Riley’s eyes popped open and glanced back in frustration. He ignored it at first, but when the rapping happened again, he grew ire.

“Who is it?”

The music was too loud, and drowned out the voice of the person speaking on the other side. Riley, again, was annoyed. He detested the interruption and sat up on his bed. He commanded the computer to lower the volume and repeated the question to the person outside his door.

“Yes! Who is it, for bloody-well sakes?”

“It’s Commander Yang, sir. May I come in for a second?”

“Of all the…” Riley griped.

He stood up and pressed the touch button on the side of the door frame, it unlocked the door and it slid aside. Riley glared at him in frustration.

“What is it? Why didn’t you just use the door bell?”

“Sorry for disturbing you, sir,” Yang said as he stood there before him. He was fully in uniform, unlike the Captain, who merely had a white t-shirt on and his casual track pants. The officer tried to ignore Riley’s appearance and handed him a clear-glass tablet. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if you were sleeping.”

“I was trying…” the captain grumbled.

“Yes,” Yang acknowledged, giving a slight apologetic look. “Again, I’m sorry for that. I thought it more prudent to knock, just in case. I mean, I know those door chimes can be rather loud…”

“And knocking isn’t either? Hm?”

Yang apologized again, and held out a tablet he had in hand.

“I just wanted to give you my daily report and sign off for the night.”

Riley bitterly snatched it from Yang and tapped the screen. The translucent device protected a holographic text that hovered over it horizontally. The Captain swiped it impatiently, giving all the information a quick scan and turned it off once he reached the end. He gave a sigh and casually tossed it over to his bed.

“Uh-huh… all good…” He quipped. “Now, is there anything else? What’s the status of the engine? Are we anywhere with that yet?’

Yang looked at him, then at the tablet that he plopped onto the bed, and then back at him.

“Sir, had you properly read the report, you’d get that answer.”

Riley rolled his eyes at him, “Okay, yes, fine… just give me the low down as we speak. I’ll get rest of the details later.”

Yang was unsatisfied with that glib remark. He gave a scowl and straightened his posture in annoyance. He could see the captain was still being rather difficult to work with. He’d put up with it for a few months already, but now it was grating on his nerves.

“The ship is still under repair,” Yang curtly explained. “The chief engineer is working on the problem, but, she’s made a request to deviate our flight path and head for Neptune. We have enough momentum to use the thrusters to maneuver the ship in that direction. She wants us to dock at the space station in orbit and have the Omega Group engineers on board to assist in the repairs.”

“Bloody hell…” Riley cursed under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “How many geniuses does it take to fix a problem?”

Yang gave no response. He stood there with arms folded behind in his own quiet protest. He knew this was the captain’s decision, but wished he could just implement himself. How he wished he was the captain of this vessel, perhaps this would go much more smoothly if he was in charge. But, being the dutiful first officer he was, he waited for this captain to make the decision.

“Alright, fine…” Riley blurted out after rubbing his nose again. “Let’s alter course and inform Neptune’s orbital station of our arrival. I’ll contact HQ and let them know… yet again…” he stressed, “That our ship is still not out of the system. I can only imagine what they’ll say to me in response. The Admiral is not a patient man, nor is the rest of the military command for that matter.”

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“Aye, sir…” Yang stated, giving a passive glare of disapproval.

Riley immediately took note of his expression. “Something you’d like to share with me, Commander?”

Yang let out barely audible snort of contention and shook his head in response. Riley wasn’t about to let that one go and urged the man to speak up.

“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Yang replied.

“Freely and openly as you’d like, Commander.”

Yang glared back at him, trying not to seem too confrontational, and shared his thoughts on the matter at hand.

“You’re lousy captain… of this ship.” Yang bluntly quipped. Riley gave a look of surprise by that answer, but allowed Yang to continue to speak. “You spend most of your time in here, rather than on the bridge. This isn’t your usual way of doing things, I’ve read the reports of some of the other vessels you’ve served on. You were a model officer on those ships. I can’t help but wonder, why can’t you be just like that on this ship? With this crew?”

Riley took in that question and thought on it for a moment. He could see that Yang was frustrated by his actions, maybe even pissed off a little… okay, a lot, so it seemed. But, he wasn’t sure if he should give him an answer or not. He was the Captain after all, there really was no need to explain his actions. No captain he ever served with did such a thing, so, why would he bother with it now? Yang was meant to be the original captain of this vessel, initially, that fact never seemed to leave the back of his mind. And he could see why they would have gone with him, had they done so.

Yang was more than capable of assuming the role. He had a good rapport with the crew, an excellent knowledge of the vessel and navigational skills to helm her, but the fact remained that the ECUF didn’t put him in the position. Frustrated? Yes, he was sure Yang was more than beyond frustrated with it all. Perhaps he should give him something to ease his mind, to show that he was still capable of being worthy captain to him and the others on this vessel.

“I made a mistake, once…” He said, finally answering the patiently waiting commander. “It cost me nearly everything. Who I was then, isn’t who I am now, try to understand that. They handed me a second chance, so, I’m here to make amends and show that I can do the job I was meant to do.”

“Actions speak louder than words, sir.”

“I don’t always need to explain my actions,” Riley quipped back, gesturing to him. “Especially to those under my command. And as for the crew of this ship…”

Riley eyed the frustrated officer, he rubbed his chin in thought, and adjusted his posture before continuing on.

“I suppose… I could use a bit of a helping hand in that regard. As the first officer, I expect you to be that guiding hand between myself and the crew. When I give an order, I expect it to be carried out without question. I rely on you to get the job done and make sure the crew implement it.”

Yang nodded in response. He understood his function as first officer. Riley explaining it again seemed unnecessary, but it affirmed the role he agreed to take on. The captain patted him on the shoulder, giving a kind smirk.

“It’s going to be a long journey, Yang, even longer if we don’t get this vessel out of the system. Let’s focus on that first.”

“Aye-aye, Captain…” He casually saluted. “I just wanted you to know, I’m here to help, if you need me.”

“Thank you,” Riley noted in kind. “So, speaking as your captain, please… go change our course, oversee the engine repairs, and get the hell out of my face, will ya? Off ya go…”

Yang smirked slightly. Yes, that was him showing a bit of that Irish humour. Some people might have taken offence to that kind of belittlement he just gave, but Yang was of the same sort of dry humour. Maybe that’s why he kind of liked the man in a way. Yang would make it his mission to bring more of that out of the man as the journey continued. He gave a slight salute and turned about. Riley was just about to close the door again, when Yang turned around and glared at him.

“Let me guess… was that… a piece from Mozart”

Riley smiled at him, shaking his head and pointed a finger. “Shows what you know, it’s Michael William Balfe, The Siege of Rochelle.”

“Ah…” Yang nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “Never heard of him.”

Riley gave him a sour face and jerked his thumb for him to leave. Yang smiled and started to laugh. Riley closed the door and plunked himself back onto his bed. He glared back at the door and shook his head again in disappointment.

“Never heard of him… bah! There’s more than just one composer in the history of the world.” He mockingly repeated Yang’s question. “Is that Mozart? Please…”

As he lay back down, and quickly removing the clear tablet that he forgot about, he told the computer to start the music again and folded his arms back behind his head again. Riley started to chuckle, thinking of Yang’s comment, and continued to do so even as the music’s volume returned to the level he had it on last.

* * *

Captain Christopher Riley

Ship Log Entry—008.7.1

We finally made it to Neptune after a few weeks. Deep Contact docked with the planet’s orbital station, Poseidon Alpha One, and began repairs to the main drive system. I’ve been told this could take another few weeks… perhaps even yet another month. I don’t understand how we could have launched with the engine being so far behind in completion. But, I suppose there was a lot riding on this mission being a success for the ECU. Perhaps it was more a PR stunt for the masses rather than an achievement for space exploration. Once again, I find myself with nothing to do. I’m a figure head in name only, an embarrassment to be displayed for all to see. Thankfully, there’s not too many people stationed here, and very few understand who I am and what my past was about.

I miss my wife very much. I’m still not over her death and the urge to drown my sorrow in drink is hitting me once more. I should have stayed in rehab a bit longer, they should have never pulled me out for this. I’ve given permission for the crew to have a rotation of shore leave. Though, I can’t imagine they’ve got too many places to go to enjoy it. The station is rather small and only just beginning to have any kind of civilian entertainment and shops. Commander Yang has been a persistent lil’ bugger in trying to get me to get to know the crew. But, I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’m the Captain, not their friend. Keeping my distance and not getting too involved is the only way I can maintain a sense of authority.

Attachment is weakness for any Captain. It’s always been that way on the ships I’ve served aboard. It was the one piece of advice Captain Leninov gave me when I served on his vessel, The Gorbachev.

He stated it clearly to me:

“The crew must not see you as one of them. You must be above them, ready to command each one to their death’s, if need be, but attachment is a luxury no person of authority should have. You are not their friend. Always maintain an iron fist and ready yourself for battle at all times. Because, as I said, you may have to send one or all of them off to die... if you hesitate, because you care for them, you will not only lose the battle, but it may cost your ship and command as well. Be like stone, always, be like stone.”

That man was nothing but like a stone to us all. He had no qualms about ejecting insubordinate officers in to space or having them thrown in the brig for even questioning him. Fear to him was the ultimate way to command. And while I always felt that to be far too extreme, I must admit (regretfully), his methods seemed to work. The crew never talked back, never disobeyed an order, and ran the ship the way he instructed. I’m not one for installing fear like that, I haven’t the stomach for it. But, I must at least stay distant, if only to keep my emotions out of the equation.

I wonder what Linda would say if she saw me acting like this to the crew? She never approved of the stupid underlying “Captain’s Code” I would impart on her. I know she would tell me to “be smarter” or “stop being a dick”. Yeah, I could hear her saying that. Damn, I’m so lonely. Maybe I should just make one friend or two on here? No, I can’t, it’s not right. I have to keep my damn feelings out of it. Let’s hope the repairs go quick and we can get underway. All this boredom is making me more depressed.

If only I could tell them about the real mission we’re on. My God, how the bloody hell are we supposed to find a needle in the preverbal galactic haystack? This could take a very long time. It’s been almost a year already, and we’ve not stepped out the door of our solar system. Sweet Jesus, we’ve got to get that engine online, and cut our time factor down. Otherwise, this could be a very long journey indeed.