Alex Chou's Log for: 1/23/2352 19:53


Since Cortez came aboard, it seems everyday follows the same pattern. Good stuff happens, more good stuff happens, and then Cortez happens. Today was no different.

Chavez's funeral services went well. People who knew them spoke well and before I knew, it was over. A little later another one. Even though they were all fairly low-ranked I asked all officers not on duty to attend. To their credit, all of them did.

More good news came today when I found out the Vinak ambush was withdrawing. One of Cortez's pilots was reporting that they were leaving the system. Once they're all gone we're outta here. It was when I was reading that report that Cortez struck.

While reading it I heard Mike Quid behind me say, "uh... Captain?"

I turned around and saw Quid with an arm that wasn't his around his neck and a gun to his head. The owner of the gun had his face hidden behind Quid's head. "Shit!", I shouted.

That got everyone else's attention. Miller leaped from his console and landed next to me. By the time he landed he had a gun in each hand pointed at Mike and his assailant. Steele grabbed a gun of her own and took position next to me. Everyone else froze.

There was a moment of silence. I grabbed one of the gun's Miller was holding. "Whoever you are", I began, "if you surrender now, I won't pull the trigger."

Beads of sweat began forming on my forehead. Then, the gun holding Quid ransom turned up so that it was pointing at the ceiling. That's when I heard a voice I've learned to dread. "Relax Lieutenant, I surrender". The arm around Quid's neck was removed and Mike fell forward revealing his hostage taker to be Commander Cortez.

Once I realized who it was, I almost pulled the trigger anyway.

Steele lowered her weapon and cast me a look of disbelief. Miller kept his gun aimed at Cortez.

"What the hell are you doing?", I said.

A smile was on Crotez's face. "Do you see how exposed your command center is "The whole ship's controlled here and I was able to sneak right in. If I was a hostile you'd all be dead by now."

I was stunned. I didn't know what to say.

Cortez, oblivious to everyone's shock, kept talking. "I can have 2 marines at every entrance every hour of every day. Nothing like this will ever happen again."

For some reason I wasn't angry. I guess I was still in shock. "Why'd you attack Quid?"

"I had to show how exposed your operation is."

Once again I didn't know what to say.

"So?", Cortez said.

"So, what?", I asked.

Cortez rolled his eyes. "So, can I post my marines?"

"No"

"What?! I just showed how exposed you are. You have to let me post guards." His tone wasn't angry, it sounded more like panic.

"With all due respect, Commander. This is still my ship and I will run it as I see fit."

Cortez turned around and walked out. He shouted back. "You're a damned fool, Chou. You're gonna get us all killed."

No one said anything. I looked down at the gun in my hand. I handed it back to Miller. That's when I realized something. "Miller, why do you have 2 guns?"

Miller didn't answer right away. He looked at the floor. Then he looked at me. "It came in handy, didn't it?"

System Command: End Log.