Alex Chou's Log for: 1/16/2352 20:00


They aren't even proper jarheads, they're a buncha prissy pilots.
-Steven Miller
Yesterday, when I told Miller about reducing his security force, he didn't take the news very well. "You're gonna let a buncha jarheads protect the ship? ", he said. "They aren't even proper jarheads, they're a buncha prissy pilots." It was the most emotion I'd seen from him since... well... ever. The problem was that we had the conversation in the Command Center in full hearing range of Cortez's XO, Lieutenant Taylor. Well, he must have told Cortez because Cortez spent all morning in the Command Center trying to convince everyone how great marines are.

I arrived at the Command Center at 0700 and Cortez was already there. He was talking to Miller loudly. "I know you're about to leave. But let me ask you one more question, Steve. Did you know that when the United Human Government was founded, the first thing they did was create and fund a Marine Corp?"

Miller didn't answer him. Instead he walked over to me and handed me a PID. "I got a list of people I don't want moved from security."

Cortez walked up behind Miller. "Do you know why they founded the marine corp first?"

Miller, without turning around, took a deep breath, rolled his eyes, and walked out of the Command Center. "Steve, wait! It's because-"

I held a hand up to stop him. Chief Steven Miller needs to get some sleep.

That's when Cortez gave me a dirty look. I thought he was about to start yelling. Instead he put on a smile that looked about as authentic as a politician. "All right Alex, Then I'll tell you", he said which annoyed me. An officer shouldn't be referred to by his first name while on duty. Cortez told me story after story about famous battles that were won or loss because of famous marines.

At one point I couldn't help but let out a yawn.

"I don't believe it", he said. "You're yawning at some of the most brilliant military maneuvers of all time."

That's when Steele walked in just in time to save me. "Lieutenant Steele, you're just in time. Commander Cortez here was just telling me about 'the most brilliant military maneuvers of all time'."

Cortez turned his attention on her. "Nah... I'm done with telling stories", Cortez said. "Instead, let me ask you something, Ramona. Did you know that women aren't allowed in the Marines?"

"Duh", she responded.

"But do you know why?"

They're Afraid We'd Beat Up The Men?
-Ramona Steele
"Because they're afraid we'd beat up the men?", she said.

I let out a big laugh.

Cortez looked at me. The smile he had been forcing was gone. "I want a detailed report of the Vinak patrols by 1900 tonight." He then stormed out of the Command Center.

Lieutenant Steele must have felt bad that I was being punished for her joke because she offered to write the report for me.

I refused her offer. I had the a computer spit out an analysis. I spent 20 minutes arranging the information to make it look like a human wrote it. I didn't bother really reading it. At over 5,000 words, I doubt Cortez will either.

System Command: End Log.