#arrested!

[fromscratchmom]

I've watched upwards of 30, maybe even 40 videos of Venezuelans celebrating this morning, both from inside Venezuela and from those who had already fled. Very emotionally moving stuff. Let us all pray for them and for their future!

[e-n-morwen]

Captain's Log, Stardate 92589.58

I have taken command of the USS Ariel, a newly constructed science vessel. To my surprise and great joy, nearly 50 members of the Kestrel's crew have requested to be transferred to the Ariel, including my entire senior staff. They told me that they have been with me across multiple ships, that they know me and trust me, and that they want to continue working with me. They also expressed the unanimous belief that Starfleet's actions are unfair. Even Lt. Flores said that she wants to continue to be my tactical officer, despite recent issues--however, she made me promise that in future I would remember that she doesn't enjoy killing any more than I do, that the point of combat is to protect the crew and the people of the Federation, and that there is a difference between someone like her or K'Valk and someone like B'vat. I think things are going to be okay on this ship, but nonetheless I am making an official statement: I really liked the Kestrel. I'm getting her back, and when I leave again it'll be because I've been promoted, not because I've been driven out.

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 92587.73

Why oh why did I say this might be fun?

I returned to my review certain that my trump card would win: that the signal sent to the Klingons contained no information, that no crime had been committed on my watch.

They didn't seem to care. Instead they wanted to know whether I considered myself as an incompetent captain or not deserving of my crew, and about traveling illegally into the past to fight the Devidians, without contacting Starfleet Command or Temporal Investigations. They wanted to know if I had ever expressed regret at destroying an enemy too easily, and about my choices in the battle with the Remans that killed Dr. Vurnx and the battle with the Jem'Hadar that ended with the destruction of the spy satellite and loss of the repair team.

Every mistake of my career was highlighted. Every questionable call, like purposefully igniting that pocket of metreon gas in the Briar Patch, was questioned. I tried to argue where I could, like pointing out the threat the Devidians posed, but it was like arguing with gravity.

In the end, they concluded that my actions were never criminally negligent, and therefore I would retain my commission and rank, and no official disciplinary action would be taken. I keep my rank and my record stays clean.

However, they decided that in combat situations I am both overly fastidious with regard to actions taken against enemies and overly reckless with the lives of my own crew. I am therefore too dangerous to be left in command of an asset as valuable as an Advanced Research Vessel, and am being reassigned from the Kestrel to a new post as captain of the research vessel USS Ariel.

So... it's goodbye to my friends, goodbye to the ship I was just starting to think of as home, and back to work.

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 92587.49

During recess from my hearing--er, review--I took advantage of one of the nice things about it not being a criminal proceeding: I get to wander Spacedock freely. Too bad all of my friends and crew are stuck on the Kestrel, being interrogated by Security and Intelligence personnel--even the ones with me on the M'gann are being questioned in case they saw or heard something suspicious before or after. Anyway, while I was wandering, I ran into Lt. VanZyl. I guess she's been cleared as well. She had some very interesting news for me: Starfleet Intelligence cracked the code used to send the signal a week ago, and she was able to get her hands on it: "Hello world." That's it. That's the signal that has them up in arms. I think the second half of this review might actually be fun, possibly.

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 92587.45

So apparently, since this is a competency review and not a criminal hearing, I don't get to hear the witnesses against me or have an attorney or anything. I just sit there and try not to cry while they ask questions about my Academy record and how I never took anything beyond the required Command and Tactical classes, the disaster of Oracle's first mission, and then the engagement with the Borg where the Oracle was destroyed. They really grilled me on that one. I suppose losing a ship is supposed to trigger an automatic court martial, but it can be waived by order of an admiral or higher in special circumstances. Quinn waived mine, but gave no explanation why. Somehow, though, that means a panel with Quinn on it questions me, instead of someone questioning him? Plus, this means he hasn't just been pushing me farther and farther into command, he's been protecting me. But why? And why has he suddenly stopped?

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 92587.37

Upon arrival at Spacedock I was taken into custody by Starfleet Security. After a long wait in which I demanded to know repeatedly what the charges against me were, and was repeatedly told they were classified, I was finally ushered into a hearing room for preliminary processing. Before a panel of Admiral Quinn, Captain Sulu, and a woman I didn't recognize with captain's pips, I was informed that on Stardate 92587.17, a coded message was sent to the Klingons from the Kestrel. The entire crew is now being interrogated. I pointed out that on that date I wasn't on the Kestrel, I was on the M'gann--er, Targ--en route to fighting the planet-killer, so I couldn't have sent the message, and they agreed. Seems this isn't going to be a criminal proceeding after all--some time after they had T'Vrell arrest me, they realized it couldn't have been me. Instead, this is a competency review. I'm responsible for what happens on my ship, after all, so if there was a spy under my nose then my ability as a captain is in question. Hoo. This is going to be... not fun.

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 92587.31

Our vacation seems to have been cut short. The first I knew of it was when a very apologetic Kolez showed up, a pair of security officers flanking him, to arrest me. It seems T'Vrell received orders from Starfleet Command that we are to proceed immediately to Spacedock, where I am to be court martialed--for what, I don't actually know. I'm just glad they're letting me access my personal log while I'm confined to quarters. What could be going on? In some ways being court-martialed could be a good thing. I'd miss my friends, my crew, and I'm really starting to love my stubby little Kestrel and her oversized sensor arrays and dozens of labs. But I wouldn't have to fight anymore. That'd be something at least.