Captain's Log 3

Star Date 04190.3

Goddess, give me the strength to do what is right and guide my paw in the trying times to come.

The Freedom was beautiful from space, like no ship I have ever seen. Her blueprints and the pictures didn't do her justice by half. We had arrived several hours ahead of schedule thanks to the efforts of Captain Mobutu, and I was truly looking forward to getting my paws on her deck and sitting in the center chair again.

We docked and I came across with the young lady that my daughter had hired for Commander Tempres, to help him with his children she said. Bless her for her kind heart and thoughtfulness.

Captain Lee was there to greet us, and I will say he was a gentleman. I gave him my orders and he took it far better than I would have guessed from what my daughter had told me. In fact, I liked him right from the start. Pity I had to get a ship this way.

Unfortunately things went down hill from there. The ship's councilor was there too one Lieutenant JG Seth Brundle. The young man first failed to salute me, then tried to sake my paw as if I were a friend he met on the street. I corrected him, and he went away, but sadly that was not to be the last of it.

I told Lee of my desire to see my daughter, and he agreed to walk me to her quarters, such a nice young man. On the way he was very complimentary of my daughter, and I almost felt sorry for my letter to the Admiral. Had he not acted so disrespectfully to her, I most definitely would have seen him as a potential friend, but I must remember his breach of promise to her. Such is not right.

When we arrived at my daughters quarters Councilor Brundle was there. I wish I was sure of this, but I think he was on the ceiling, at least the blob I though I saw was there. I must get my eyes fixed soon! Anyway he was babbling something to Lee, and again he failed to salute, but I didn't care. Beyond that door was my daughter! To see her I was willing to let almost anything slide. 

She didn't answer when I knocked. Lee tried the bell, but still no answer. Councilor Brundle was babbling something, becoming more agitated, but I didn't care. Lee's assertion that she could be asleep did fit, and I almost let it go, but finally I wanted to see her too badly to walk away. I intended to just step in and give her a lick on the cheek and see her in the morning. So I used my command override and entered the room, but there was an oddly familiar smell in the air mingling with the smell of incense. Candles burned here and there, and clothing littered the floor.

What I found when I had the lights up would have been funny under most circumstances, but this was my daughter. She, and of all people Milton Dammers were making sleeping pretzels and both were nude, explaining the smell. Looks like my daughter had managed what I hadn't and captured him.

I woke them, and Dammers promptly passed out while I got a good smooze from my beautiful daughter. We didn't have much time to talk, and a large audience, but it did feel good to hold her and see her. I wanted to see the kittens too, but she wanted to talk to her man, and I didn't blame her. I intended to have a good talk with him too. Considering where I found him and what they must have been doing, it looked like I'd be calling him son. What a revolting thought!

My daughter told me the cabin across the hall was reserved for me, and so I went out. Number One had left a bit earlier and so I went out alone, feeling a bit rejected. I had dreamed of this day for years, and felt cheated. This was not my loving homecoming with my daughter and grandkittens, it was more like, well I don't know what it was like, but it wasn't my idealized view of what should have been.

When I hit the hall, Councilor Brundle was there again, and still no salute. He also became abusive as well when I ordered him to get my kit as punishment for failing to salute! He'd picked the wrong time to screw with me considering I wanted to be with my little girl and couldn't.

At first it took all I the gumption I could muster not to strikeout at him, then I realized that he was just he wasn't trying to be bad, he was just stupid. He became more and more abusive, and finally I called security thinking just to confine him to quarters till he could rethink his position, but then he threatened me! I had no choice other than to have him taken to the brig. 

When security finally showed up the situation had gotten completely out of control, and I was getting frightened! I'm an old lady and he is a young strong man, and he was threatening me with bodily harm.

The security people tried to take him into custody while I was talking to Lee, and he attacked them! He managed to pick them up and tossed them at me like they were rag dolls!

They landed on me and my old arm broke like a twig under the weight. Damn but it hurt! I struggled up and managed to call for a Yellow Alert, but Councilor Brundle was already gone.

I don't know how, but my daughter got there and gave me something for the pain, Goddess bless her.

As of now I am waiting to have my arm knitted back together and wondering what I should do to the kid. I could cook his ass for what he has done. He showed disrespect to a superior officer, failed to follow a direct order, attacked security officers while in performance of their duties, and verbally and physically assaulted a superior officer causing bodily harm.

Should I wish to, I could have him placed in a high gravity prison for the rest of his life for those infractions, and perhaps I should. I am going to take the Freedom into a deadly situation were the lives of all her crew will be in my paws. If I am lenient with him, the crew may see me as soft. If I am too hard on him, they will hate and disrespect me.

I need some middle ground on this situation, but I just can't see were it would be now. Perhaps Lee will have some ideas. I will ask tomorrow when we have our meeting.

Speaking of the meeting, I hope it goes better than this first day, or my job may just be impossible.