Alex Chou's Log for: 1/13/2352 20:05


I think Cortez is bipolar and off his meds or something. I went to Cortez's quarters this morning. I knocked and the door opened a moment later. I walked in and found Cortez floating in midair, reading his PID. "I want to use 2 of your fighters for scouting", I blurted out.

"Of course", he said without looking up.

"I want them to sneak through each warp point to see if there's any Vinak ships on the other side."

Still staring at his PID he asked, "I already said yes. What else do you need?"

"Waiting for the scout reports may take some time.", I said. I paused before continuing. "I won't be able to meet your 48 hour requirement." I stared at his face looking for his reaction.

"That's fine. I'll inform Lieutenant Taylor to prepare 2 of the fighters."

"Thank you", I said. I stood there for a few seconds. Considering our last... disagreement, I was hesitant to ask anything remotely antagonistic.

"Is there something else, Lieutenant?"

"Why do you want us out of the system so quickly?"

Cortez looked up from his PID for the first time. "Do you know anything about guerrilla warfare, Lieutenant?"

At University I took any history class that dealt with people resisting an occupation. In ROTC I must have taken every class that involved non-traditional tactics. In fact, I probably know more non-traditional tactics than traditional. However, I wanted to know how much he knew first. So I lied.

"Not much", I said trying not give away my white lie.

"You should learn. Do you realize that you and I are now solely responsible for organizing resistance against the Vinak?"

"I hadn't thought about that", I said. I hadn't thought about it because I'm not planning on sticking around that long. As soon as I can get off this ship without being shot by the Vinak or hung by my crew or Cortez's marines, I'm outta here.

"I've been reading up on everything from the H.A.F. field manual to history books about past occupations. One rule of guerrilla warfare is to always keep moving."

"Another rule is, 'don't get killed'", I replied.

"I thought you said you didn't know anything about guerrilla warfare?", he said. He didn't give me a chance to reply before continuing. "No guts no glory" he told me. Which isn't a strategy as much as a marine slogan.

I told him that I "understood". In reality, the only thing I understood was that I was carrying out orders based on a book he had probably read as recently as yesterday and a slogan used to lure people to join the marines. I never thought I'd be nostalgic for Captain Harris.

System Command: End Log.