Captain's Log: Port of Call

Posted on Mon Oct 13th, 2025 @ 9:01pm by Captain Björn Kodak

Mission: Port of Call
Location: Bridge, USS Sojourner
Timeline: Mission Day 14 at 0926

[USS Sojourner]
[Main Bridge]
[MD 14: 0926 Hours]

"Captain’s log," Kodak said, the familiar rasp in his voice roughened further by the long weeks behind them. "Stardate 78214.4. Fourteen days since our encounter with Subrek and the Kordra-Lisrit, and we’ve finally arrived at Pathfinder Station." He leaned back in his chair, lifting his left leg so the ankle rested atop his right knee. "I'm not sure if I'm relieved to see the place or just stop moving for a while. Probably both, I suppose," he said, the soft light from the main viewer catching in his golden eyes.

"Docking went smoothly," he began again. "Pathfinder’s teams wasted no time getting started on the long list of repairs. The work Tork, Parsons, and the rest of Engineering did after Chief F’rar’s death kept us spaceworthy, but there’s only so much patchwork a starship can take," came his gently exasperated sigh. "Hull fractures, power relays, EPS conduits: you name it, something’s cracked or fried. But we made it here under our own power, and that counts for something," the Chameloid nodded to himself. "The station’s engineers will handle the rest but our people deserve commendation. Getting us here whole was no easy feat."

Kodak paused to glance at the engineering status feed on the PADD he was holding. "Speaking of engineers, I’ve officially named Tork as our new Chief. Lieutenant Parsons tells me his help has been a godsend and, apparently," a smirk slightly rent the Captain's mouth, "our resident Ferengi's ability to macguyver jury-rigged solutions is nothing short of miraculous. Given the kind of trouble this ship regularly encounters," he reached forward to pull his crossed ankle closer to his body, "I think that's a skillset I'd like to keep in ample supply around here. It's already saved our people once and, I suspect," he blew a low breath between his lips, "it will again."

Kodak's voice softened as he changed subjects then. "As expected, Doctor Marwol has sadly left the ship. Though he'd resigned some time back, he agreed to stay on until we put in at Pathfinder," the Captain explained. "His work saved more than a few of us and he stayed on long enough to see the crew safely here. I respect that. He’s earned a quieter life, wherever it takes him," he said, a note of somber acceptance in his tone. "Lieutenant Cassian Maritz received reassignment orders and has also departed the ship. We’ll miss his steadiness, but Lieutenant Bailey Good will be stepping into the role of Chief of Security and Tactical. She’s more than proven herself since the Kordra-Lisrit, and I trust her to carry that mantle forward."

Kodak’s gaze drifted toward the aft bulkhead, his expression tightening as his thoughts took him through the walls and down several decks to the brig. "The surviving Kazon taken prisoner during the Kordra-Lisrit engagement has been transferred to Pathfinder Station’s custody. Starfleet Security will decide what to do from here. I don’t envy them the task. A Kazon in Federation custody raises complicated questions none of us are equipped to answer. What does Starfleet do if remnants of Subrek's sect demand the prisoner's return? We'd be naive to believe all of Subrek's people were aboard that vessel when it exploded..."

He exhaled through his nose then, some of the tension leaving with the breath. "We've also said goodbye to Kaldri and Mr. Uvari. I'm not sure," the Captain continued, "where they'll go from here. But Kaldri plans to find the remnants of her family once her shuttle has been repaired by Pathfinder's engineers. If we'd had the people power to spare for repairing her ship sooner," he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, "I suspect she'd have left even sooner. But Ikade, on the other hand," Kodak took a breath, "almost seemed sad to go."

Feeling restless as he recorded his log--a necessary task he did not relish--the Captain lowered his crossed leg so that both feet were flat on the deck again. Strong legs lifted him into a standing position even as his arms crossed, his right hand lifting to thoughtfully stroke his beard. "I think Ikade formed a trauma bond with Lieutenant Irynya and I can't help but wonder if that might bring him back into our orbit someday. I guess we'll find out but, for now, he's off to rejoin his own people. Kaldri offered him a ride to a nearby Trabe outpost on her own way home."

Footfalls took Kodak across the bridge, a nod to the duty officer giving her the conn as he passed through the rear doors. He knew the computer would continue to record his log from one location to another and, given the sensitivity of what he was about to report, a locale change made sense. It was just a quick cross-hall step that brought him into his ready room and, with a weary sigh, he lowered himself down into his chair to pull up crew readiness reports on his terminal. Many bore red labels from Commander t'Nai, indicating the people highlighted as such were in dire need of time off to deal with the events of recent days.

"In the meantime, the crew is due for shore leave. They’ve been through hell. Captivity, loss, and the kind of strain that doesn’t fade with just a few night’s sleep." With a flurry of tap-tap-taps, he approved the bevy of shore leave recommendations. "I want everyone to have space to breathe. Counselor Qo’s been working closely with the crew since the rescue, and I can’t overstate how grateful I am for his presence. He’s been the gravity holding this ship together in the wake of so much heartache. But our people need more than just counseling right now. They need time away from the ship in new environs to help them forget. At least for a time," he said, his thoughts drifting to Andrew and all that his paramour'd been through.

Looking through the large window of his office, Kodak studied the visible section of Pathfinder there, now more complete than it'd been the last time they'd set eyes on the station. "New personnel are coming aboard over the next few days to fill in some of our crew gaps. The faces change," the Chameloid Captain rasped, "but the spirit of this ship endures. It always has. Always will," he punctuated, "or at least, that's the hope. For now, though, I’m content to rest in our cocoon of safety here at Pathfinder," he said, his thoughts turning briefly to Xex and the incredible transformation of their Chief Medical Officer.

"We made it. Bruised, battered, and tired, but whole all-in-all." Kodak gave the station one last look through the window before turning to the shelf of neglected bonsai behind him. Rising, he picked up his golden watering can and nodded with finality: he had work to do here, too, it seemed. "End log," came his command as he lifted the can's spout to gently rain hydration on the cherry-pink blossoms of the first tree in the row.


=/\= A post by... =/\=

Captain Björn Kodak
Commanding Officer