Stardate 20904.28 - "The Big Goodbye"

Captain's Log

Capt Mike Wong

Stardate 20904.27

The following is a recording of the Drake's Decommissiong Ceremony, entered into the Drake's logs for ship's records.

Please stand at ease.

USS Drake CL-2509 was commissioned on Stardate 20311.18 from these very shipyards. During her service, she has been under the command of four of Star Fleet’s finest CO’s.

Captain Alexander Lorien

Commodore Kinziri Jal

Captain Lein Meor

And Rear Admiral Alanna Treborn

The Drake and all who served her and the United Federation of Planets have done so in the finest Star Fleet tradition, and on behalf of a grateful Federation I honor them all.

ATTENTION TO ORDERS!

Captain Tsing Mao Wong, acting Commanding Officer, USS Drake CL-2509. You are hereby ordered to assemble ships officers and crew at 0900 Stardate 20904.27.

Once assembled you are ordered to proceed with the decommissioning of USS Drake.

By order or Vice Admiral Jeffery Linden, Chief of Operations 1st Battle Group.

Admiral Linden, I request permission to decommission the ship.

"Permission Granted." (VAdm Linden)

Commander Strike eight bells.

(Eight strikes of the ceremonial bell can be heard.)

Strike the colors.

“Secure the watch.” (Cdr Nielson)

“Watch secured, sir.” (Cdr Nielson)

Company dismissed.

Crew Logs

Lt Thomas Stack

Stardate 20904.20

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.20 Lieutenant Thomas Stack Ship's Counsellor, USS Drake

Well the day has finally come, we finally part company old friend. I'm sorry I tried to leave you earlier, please don't hold that against me. It wasn't anything to do with you that I tried to leave.

I don't know what to say. We have spent many missions and years together. You where there when my wife died. You housed the aboriginal funeral rite. And I'm sorry that I called your Captain a hypocrite. She wasn't really that bad.

(Slight laughter) And when I got drunk and fell on the floor trying to assault the guest adjudicator for the talent show Mr Phoenix the then FO arranged. He didn't know talent when he saw it. Yes we had some good times too.

You have always protected us and seen us through the good times and the hard times, old friend.

(Thomas stood and wept with true grief. He walked to the door of his quarters and paused. Kissing the bulkhead he said)

Goodbye old friend, I'll miss you.

USS Drake, God bless you and fare voyage ahead, I'm only sorry I won't be with you.

Computer, end recording.

(Thomas left his quarters and the USS Drake for the last time.)

Lt [JG] Griffin Wright

Stardate 20904.19

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.19 Lieutenant Junior Grade Griffin Wright Chief Tactical Officer, USS Drake

So the Drake is being decommissioned, and the crew is being transferred to the USS Dauntless.

I'm not sure how I feel, everything has happened so quickly. First we had to leave our evacuation mission to rush Cdr Crawford and RAdm Treborn to new assignments. Next thing I know, we were leaving Starbase Charlie for Alpha, and now I don't know what's happening.

I just wish I knew more, I hate not being in the loop for these things. I guess we're on shore leave now, but I don't know for how long. The Dauntless has a new CO and FO, so I don't know what to expect, or if we will even continue with our mission. I just hope I can remain in my position - I'm really frustrated at not even having one mission under my belt yet as CTO. Although, we did get a new tactical officer a few weeks ago, and he's been great - its nice to have someone else around wearing the tactical colors.

Hopefully these logs and all the mission logs will be preserved, so people can see what has been happening here. I'll miss the Drake, and don't know what the new ship will be like. It's definitley more of a fighting vessel, which is good for us tactical officers, but I'm worried more of the crew will have transferred by the time we get underway. I hope everyone stays, and I hope we can all retain our current roles - it would make adjusting to a new ship easier for everyone I think.

With these notes, I now sign off for the last time. Goodbye Drake - Its been a pleasuring serving with you, and who knows - maybe you'll get back in the action someday. If you ask me though, it wasn't your time.

Lieutenant Wright, signing off.

Computer, End Log.

Lt Benjamin Vaughn

Stardate 20904.20

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.20 Lieutenant Benjamin Vaughn Chief of Security, USS Drake

What can I say? For myself, this has been the shortest time as Chief of Security on a vessel that I've ever had. The announcement of our CO and FO's sudden leaving came as such a shock, that I still cannot believe it happened. Although I've not been on the Drake that long, I've considered her to be my home and friend, the crew have made my transition go really well. I can only express my wishes that the Security personnel on this ship are the best!

The move to the Dauntless should go relatively smooth. MCPO Char and the Security team have made excellent progress in shutting down our current Security department. I must say I'm looking forward to seeing our new offices on the Battle Cruiser and to meeting our new CO, Captain Mike Wong. I've heard a lot of good things about him and just hope we can all live up to his expectations.

On a lighter note, it was good to find Elliot Rice had been posted to the Drake, along with Lt Dega etc and the others from Sierra. They have all, certainly made my transition easier. It still feels strange, in that, I feel really sad at leaving this Cruiser. But, I suppose it's good to move on. I just hope we can do as good a job on the Dauntless as here on the Drake.

Wonder who our FO will be? Time will tell.

End Log.

Ens Alex Ankar

Stardate 20904.21

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.21 Ensign Alex Ankar Security Officer, USS Drake

Once again, what was presumed to be the beginnings of a glorious career onboard a starship I could call home has turned into a sleepover where I did nothing but sit in sickbay while the contents of my head tried to evacuate the premises. Ok, that sounded a little harsh. To be fair all the time that I've not been in blinding pain I have enjoyed here on the Drake and I'm very pleased to hear that pretty much the whole crew is moving to the Dauntless as well as I have met some brilliant people so far.

I couldn't have really hoped for more in a boss in Lt Vaughn and the whole security department seems to gel well together. Especially Candi, she's wonderful. But I won't tempt fate here. Otherwise one day I may listen to this back and (short pause) well I'm doing it already.

Who knows what my time on the Dauntless will bring? I haven't seen any real action yet and I'm dying to jump right in and prove to my fellow crewmates that I'm not just here to be menacing furniture. It's hard to say that I'll miss the Drake as I never knew her, but it's just procedure I suppose - not having to get to know another crew all over again makes things easier.

A new CO and FO too! Once again, it's hard for me to state opinions as I never really got to know either of them, but I can appreciate that they are brilliant officers in their own rights and the crew who did know them well will be sad to see them go.

The Drake has taught me to never think you know what's going on, someone is always hiding in the bushes with a curveball. Every day is a challenge and I see or learn something new and every day I go to sleep more tired than I have ever been before joining Star Fleet.

And I bloody love it.

End log.

Mid Chris Kane

Stardate 20904.19

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.19 Midshipman Chris Kane

The crew of the Drake has heard disturbing news. Rear Admiral Treborn and Commander Crawford have both been called off by Star Fleet.

We have also recieved word that the Drake, a wonderful ship, is now being decommissioned and retrofitted, and we don't have an ETA on how long it will take. However, we have been assigned to the USS Dauntless, in the 1st Battle Group.

We have found the names of our new First Officer and Commanding Officer. Our First Officer is Lieutenent Commander Nielson from Sierra 18 and our Commanding Officer is Captain Wong from the Enterprise.

I have my biggest regret on my First mission on the Drake and i will endevour to not let down my new ship or this crew again.

I also regret not going to Tekna and helping those people on the planet. All data showed that it was that one in the most danger. Hopefully the Copernicus can handle it and if not will probably call for help.

Computer, End Log.

Lt Korbon Hawkens

Stardate 20904.20

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.20 Lieutenant Korbon Hawkens Chief Medical Officer, USS Drake

I guess this will be my last post as Chief Medical Officer of the USS Drake.

We've just arrived at Starbase Alpha and our new CO informs us that the ship is going to be taken out of service and all of the crew will be shuffled to other posts. To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure how I should feel right now. Given everything else that has happened lately, this last bit of news really didn't faze me. I mean, I've already lost so much, what's one more thing.

(There was a slight pause in the recording. When Korbon's voice returned it was soft, but slowly rose back to normal)

Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim.

It was something my grandfather once said. According to him, it means 'Be patient and tough it out; the pain will be useful to you one day.' I never really understood what he meant; pain wasn't something that was useful. But I've had a lot of time to think about it recently, and I think I'm beginning to get it.

In the two years I've served on the Drake, I've become rather attached; both to the crew and the ship itself. This was my first post, where a fresh faced Academy graduate learned many a hard lesson. I've seen things I never want to see again, had my leg crushed by a shuttle, and was shot at by a group of oversized insects. Pain seems to be the lone constant that ties my experiences on the Drake together. And yet, I wouldn't dream of leaving her for a second.

But I don't get to make that choice.

Truth is, the old girl's getting wrenched out from beneath me. The transition to a new ship's going to be tough, especially given the amount of time I've spent here. The weight of everything that has happened is crushing sometimes, but I'd like to think that, in time, I will be better off for having gone through this ordeal.

(There is another period of silence. In the distance, the sound of glasses clinking together and liquid being poured can be heard.)

I still have to pack, meet up with Quentin at SBA, and catch a shuttle down to Earth. The Drake will always have a place in my heart. (Gulp) And I hope that one day I'll get to see her again.

End Log.

Lt [JG] Elliot Rice

Stardate 20903.13

Personal log, stardate 20903.14. Lieutenant Junior Grade Elliot Rice recording.

The crew of the Drake were recalled earlier today. We're currently at high warp, I believe, on our way to an emergency zone. I don't know any further details about our mission at this time but it seems that whatever the situation is that we'll be dealing with, it's an urgent one.

Though I've spent some time working in Sickbay since I arrived, this is my first full shift, and official approval on my appointment as Assistant Chief Medical Officer has come through now, so I'm feeling a little daunted right now. This is a lot more responsibility than I'm used to and I feel like I'm jumping in at the deep end. That might be for the best, I'm not sure. I'm trying to be positive and I think I've been doing a decent job so far but I'm nervous too. I desperately want to get this right. Lieutenant Hawkens has really taken a leap of faith on me and I don't want to let him down. I don't want to let myself down either. Or Rear Admiral Treborn. Or the patients! Especially the patients. There are so many ways I could screw up.

I'm not going to though. I'm not. I can do this. I'm not going to fail.

In general, I think I'm settling into the Drake well, a lot better than I thought I would. After everything that happened on Sierra-18, I felt so... so... well, it was hard to feel optimistic about the future. Now that I'm here, though, I really believe I'm in the best place for me. Both the Admiral and Korbon have been so welcoming. I guess I don't know many other people yet but that'll change with time. This feels different to when I joined Sierra-18. Back then, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle the social side of things, making friends and fitting in. I don't feel that way now. I still find it hard, really hard, but it doesn't feel out of reach anymore. I hope I'm not kidding myself, but I like to think I'll be able to make a few friends here. And be happy, I hope.

It helps that there are others from Sierra-18 here too. Especially Ben Vaughn. I still can't believe he's really here. There didn't seem to be any hope, he was dead and gone and that was that. But now, he's here and he's healthy and... man. It's amazing. Truly amazing. Makes me smile every time I think about it. There were other members of the Medical department who were transferred here with me too, though I haven't seen much of them yet. Ari seems to be handling things okay, but I'm not so sure about Celia and Sophie. I guess it'll take time for all of us before we're able to put Sierra-18 behind us. I'll keep my eye on them.

Anyway, so far things seem to be running smoothly in Sickbay. Korbon doesn't seem unhappy with anything, as far as I can tell. He promoted me, in fact, which was the last thing I was expecting. We've received a new doctor too, Corporal Jasmine Tyrol, who's a Marine. I really like the idea of having a doctor with Marine training around, and she seems like a good person. I should go check she's settling in okay in a minute, come to think of it. I've just completed Rear Admiral Treborn's physical and she's now conducting a senior staff meeting, I think, so hopefully Korbon will be back with some news about the mission soon.

Fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious.

End log.

Stardate 20904.19

Personal Log, Stardate 20904.19. Lieutenant Junior Grade Elliot Rice recording.

So, it's all change again. I'm not really sure what instigated it this time. Before we reached the Troligan Station, the Drake was recalled to Starbase Charlie. We were only there briefly while Rear Admiral Treborn and Commander Crawford were beamed off the ship. Apparently, they've been reassigned, though nobody seems to know where to or why. That hasn't stopped the rumours from circulating like they always do but the truth is that we're clueless and my guess is that we'll stay that way for the forseeable future.

We left Charlie immediately and headed for Starbase Alpha, where we've just docked. Our Acting Commanding Officer, Commander Ryan Rhodes, has informed us that the entire crew is being transferred en masse to the USS Dauntless and we should get packing. That's all I know about that. I have no idea what happened to the people on Tekna.

I'm trying to be positive and enthusiastic about it but I'm doing a pretty poor job. I was just starting to feel settled here and now I'm on the move again. It's frustrating. Certainly not what I want but it isn't up to me. The Dauntless is a Battle Cruiser too. I'm sure there are people among the crew who'll be thrilled by that but I'm not one of them. I was so excited about my future on the Drake. I thought I'd be able to become involved in all the things I was dreaming of when I joined Star Fleet. Exploration, discovery, making a genuine difference. When I look to the future now, all I see is pointless bloodshed. More death. I hate this.

But Star Fleet is a military organisation. I knew this was what I was signing up for. My very first day on my very first posting was the day the President announced we were at war with the Romulans. That was a pretty clear omen. I really shouldn't be surprised by any of this. It's too late to complain now.

Okay. That's enough bitching. I need to make the best of this. Or try, at least. I'll still be working with Ben and Korbon so it isn't all bad. I hope they're both okay with all this.

I've finished packing, not that I had much to pack, so I guess there's no point in hanging around any longer. Time to say goodbye to the Drake. I wish I'd known her longer.

End log.