Alex Chou's Log for: 1/22/2352 19:45


I couldn't put the funeral services off anymore. Chavez has been hounding me constantly. I cracked and told him to plan them if he's so interested. Well, he did. He's been busy working away and planning. He's already got the first 10 services planned for tomorrow. We'll see how they go.

As far as our thief problem, I'm trying to keep a lid on it. I told Miller to install the camera without telling him why. The only other person I've told is Cortez. I can keep an eye out for suspicious fleet crew, but i figured he'd be better at identifying a suspicious marine. Unfortunately, he responded in his usual way: completely irrational. We were alone in his quarters when I told him. I found him floating on his back reading something on his PID - probably another book on war.

"Why do you think it's a marine that's doing it?", he asked.

"I didn't say it was. I said-"

"Then why should I be suspicious of my men?"

"I'm just asking to keep an eye out-"

"Tell ya what", he interrupted me again. "Let's find out right now if any of my men did it." "He hit some buttons on his PID. "Lieutenant Taylor. I want every marine on this ship to meet in the exercise room in 5 minutes."

"Yes, Sir" came the response. Cortez began putting on his magnetic boots.

I stared at him wide-eyed not knowing what he had planned.

"Come on. I'll drill them until somebody comes forward and confesses."

"NO!", I shouted. "Look I want to keep this secret. I don't want anyone else know'en about it. Rumors might tip off the culprit."

Cortez looked at me for a moment. He hit a button on his PID. "Taylor, belay that last order."

"Yes, sir" came the response with the exact same intonation as the first one.

"Fine", Cortez said, "we'll do it your way Chou, but once you've discovered that your thief isn't a marine, I'll expect an apology." There was no humor in his voice.

I didn't say anything. I turned around, rolled my eyes, and walked out of his room. I think I've had more productive conversations with a blank sheet of paper.

System Command: End Log.