First officer's log, USS Galar

Numerous log entries were made on the first officer's log for the *Galaxy*-class USS *Galar*.

## Entries

### 2371

#### Mission at Benzar

First officer’s log, stardate 48382.9.
The events of the past 48 hours have been officially recorded elsewhere, so this log will offer only supplementary personal observations and comments.
The USS *Galar*’s mission at Benzar has met with mixed success. Time will tell what long term effects, if any, the events that took place here will have on Benzite - Federation relations. In my estimation the intensive coordination of Mor geostructure’s emergency response forces and *Galar*’s security department demonstrates the compatibility of our methodology from the top down. It would be irresponsible to assume that a unified Benzar government would share all the traits as the Mor region, but given the cultural influence Mor has on the greater planetary community it is not unreasonable to predict a similar outcome.
Initial diplomatic efforts made by our teams were well received. Lieutenant Commander Kyl reported that his section’s diagnosis and repair efforts were "...significantly easier than child’s play." Corroborating documents from the Kcod geostructure’s Association of Birthing Technicians confirms the timeliness and quality of his team’s work, though using more moderate language. Kyl’s tendency to add borderline embellishment to his reports remains predictable.
Doctor Morganth’s team worked in tandem with Doctor Hoolo from the Mor Association of Birthing Technicians to identify materials necessary to eliminate the Benzite requirement for respirators offworld. The MABT were very complimentary of Doctor Morganth, Lieutenant junior grade ch’Aroom, and Lieutenant junior grade Tharan; ch’Aroom’s thoroughness in particular was the subject of high praise. I am recommending to Chief Engineer Tval that he be officially promoted to lieutenant junior grade. His provisional period has been satisfactory.
There are still questions concerning the apparent security breach of the ship’s internal sensors. Kyl has forwarded a report by Ensign Nam to the security department and myself which presents compelling evidence that there was no brute-force or side-channel attack. The lockout command was given by an authorized source, using Captain Rectorvos’s credentials. The captain, however, was asleep at the time the command was given. It was, for all intents and purposes, a legitimate Starfleet command. The most probable theory posited by Nam is that the captain’s daily rotational code was somehow obtained and used to lock out the sensors. The knowledge required to exactly replicate such a code would require an intimate understanding of Starfleet command and control protocols; such as a senior flag officer. Even then, timing the use of such information would border on predestination. Alternative theories offering a temporal explanation have been considered, but lack sufficient evidence to warrant further investigation.
Morganth and ch'Aroom both reported the disappearance of the Forum liaison they were working with, a male Benzite named Qorud. We have passed the information through standard diplomatic channels but received no response. At this time, the matter isn’t being pursued. I am inclined to agree with ch’Aroom that this incident feels connected to the computer breach, however, due to the still delicate nature of relations between Benzar and the Federation, I have not authorized additional inquiry on the matter.
Starfleet Command has ordered the *Galar* to return to Earth Station McKinley, ETA stardate 48386.33. Officially, the ship is going in for routine engine maintenance. Unofficially, it seems that Starfleet is concerned with the computer breach and will be sending specialists to review the logs and gather evidence. Captain Rectorvos and myself have been instructed to keep this information on a need-to-know basis. We plan to use the downtime to give shore leave and start various crew training programs that were unable to be implemented due to operational tempo. I am expecting a month of rest and recuperation for the *Galar*.
But I am preparing for alternative scenarios.
#### Operation Teal Vase

First officer’s personal log, stardate 48485.50.
We are currently approaching the Alpha Majoris system to rendezvous with several other Starfleet vessels to perform the first, unabashedly military exercise in over a decade. The mood aboard the *Galar* is...complicated. The Captain has been on edge since we were notified last week. There is a significant resistance ingrained among many officers to the idea of Starfleet time and resources being diverted to martial pursuits. Personally, I believe that we have waited too long for this shift to happen. It was readily apparent when we lost the *Odyssey* last year that the Dominion could not, and perhaps should not, be bargained with. If open war were to break out as I speak these words, the Federation would be in dire straits. Though I have confidence in our fleets, our ability to take, hold, and defend planets is severely lacking. And it seems as though someone very senior at Starfleet Command shares my sentiment.
Operation Teal Vase is the first step towards preparing ourselves for a future I wishfully hope never comes to pass. We will be testing several operational procedures during this exercise, including the combat effectiveness of *Galaxy* wing formations and planetary rapid deployment methods. However, it is clear that Command was forced to comply with extreme restrictions from the Federation Council. Our "assault force" only consists of six starships, though one of *Galar’s* sisters, the USS *Challenger*, is among them. The OPFOR will be virtually simulated due to a deliberate lack of vessels; though the ever inventive Commander Tval has found a way to repurpose probes to form rudimentary defense satellites to practice against.
I have impressed upon all departments the seriousness with which we must take this opportunity. As if to further drive home this point, I was just informed today that a very senior member of SFC will be aboard the *Galar* to observe the Operation. By the end of today, we will all know what we do not know about our capabilities. And the lessons we learn here will save lives in the future.
End log.
First officer's personal log, supplemental.
Today was the last round of analyses and evaluations concerning Operation Teal Vase. While Captain Rectorvos met with SFC and the commanding officers of participating ships, I finished hearing the final reports of *Galar*'s department heads. Discussing results with the Captain has been enlightening, and perhaps cause for concern. It is a basic truth that you go to war with the forces you have, not the ones you want or wish to have in the future. Acting on this principle, the highest levels of SFC are taking steps to mold Starfleet into the desired shape for a conflict that looms ever closer. Operation Teal Vase has outlined where our form meets expectations and where more attention is required. From what the Captain told me, both verbally and non, the work that lies before us is great indeed.
Starfleet's proficiency in the strategic, operational, and tactical levels is mixed. Our starships and crews have always been formidable, however our ability to retain the talent necessary for directing these assets across the quadrants is difficult. The last seven years of the Federation-Cardassian War may have been avoided with clear direction and a steady hand. We proved ourselves capable in the Offensive, yet we failed to deliver a decisive blow. I do not envy those who had to make the decisions though; even the faintest hint of a peaceful resolution is more appealing than an absolute, but bloodsoaked, victory. But such thoughts are above my station for now. The *Galar* is my immediate priority.
One of Starfleet's strengths is in its damage control management. We have a long tradition of making the impossible happen ahead of schedule. Commander Tval put his Damage Control Teams through their paces during the Operation. I expected nothing less from our focused chief engineer. He created a variety of situations and drills with enough imagination that I had a moment of doubt as to his Vulcan heritage. Of particular note was DCT 3-A. Their normal coordinator was out of action thanks to an ill timed case of the flu. Lieutenant Nara suggested that one of her maintenance personnel, Lieutenant ch’Aroom, be given the position for the duration of the exercise.
Under his command, DCT 3-A resolved two of the three scenarios set up for them; not an easy feat given 3-A's composition. Lieutenant Commander Kemble has had a number of complaints lodged against him by his own department regarding his difficult attitude, and Ensign Yevel's reputation of applying excess levels of force to situations needing a more delicate approach is warranted. ch'Aroom's approach was calculated according to a formula that neither Nara, Tval, nor myself expected. He sent Kemble to deal with a crack in the primary deuterium tank, and Yevel to repair a turbolift car that became jammed in the central starboard shaft. His read of Kemble likely told him that he would perform well when separated from the rest of his team. Not a bad thought, as Kemble is known for causing friction when forced to work with others that he deems "beneath" him. Yevel was a straightforward choice for the turbolift repairs, as he has one of the highest fitness scores on the ship and could likely give our Lieutenant Vinaa a run for his money in the pentathlons.
The one area of disappointment occurred with the civilian evacuation exercise. ch'Aroom assigned Ensign Volan to the task; whether he thought she was the right person for the job or simply the only remaining option I do not know. Volan is well known to me. Though she has potential, her experiences weigh down her decision making and cause her to engage in unproductive self-doubt. Even with LT ch'Aroom's assistance, she was unable to convince the civilians to leave the area. Just as superiors are credited for the successes of their subordinates, so must they accept responsibility for their failures. In this case, I believe ch’Aroom decided to make the scenario a learning opportunity for Volan; an ambitious decision considering that he had only been given command of the team earlier that day. It may be the case that Volan learns from her experiences, but Section III of DCT 3-A failed in its task. Results matter. Overall Tval rated ch’Aroom’s performance as "satisfactory".
Commander Kyl's report on shuttlecraft operations was similarly mixed in successes and failures. Commander Hawkins encountered difficulties after the first wave made planetfall. The orbital equipment drop corridors had multiple near misses with shuttles due to confusion regarding which were active. Traffic controllers were overloaded with coordinating shuttles, planetside personnel, and the drops. Reading between the lines of Kyl's report, it is clear that there needs to be better cooperation between security and ops. Vinaa, seeking to gain first hand experience about what expected conditions would be like on the surface, went down with the first wave to help establish the forward command post. However, simulated communication interruptions made it difficult for him to report back to Hawkins the necessary data for adapting to changes in the ground team’s status.
These issues were likely complicated by the additional orders I passed on to Hawkins before the exercise. She selected one of her best pilots, Lieutenant Jitezo, to carry them out. Due to the nature of these orders, it would be natural for some to become distracted. Hawkins doesn't make the same mistake twice though. Whatever else happens, she will be prepared in the future for these contingencies. I am not privy to the results of Jitezo's mission, but I did receive a communication with no sender data which said his "...curiosity is what makes a good Starfleet officer." I am unsure what the context was, but in my experience such a statement is intended to to be both a compliment and a pointed message. Tangentially, Jitezo reported a sudden burst of static from his communicator while waiting on the planet’s surface. I will need to inform the relevant parties.
In the medical department, things went smoother. Commander Stras made the wise decision of assigning Doctor Morganth to the stardrive's sick bay. Together with Doctor Saul Chute, they managed to triage and process over 150 simulated casualties. Chute reports that Morganth’s attention to detail prevented him from making a single misdiagnosis; catching obscure parts of patient histories and making accurate assessments of complex wounds. As an added bonus, it was discovered that having our two resident Betazoids separated between the primary and secondary hulls gave us the ability to work around an EMP caused communications failure with the use of their telepathy. Dr. Morganth "saved" the life of a Bolian who was losing significant amounts of blood by contacting Nara in engineering, who was able to arrive in time to help. I will be investigating options for having another telepathic officer assigned to the *Galar* in case we do not have Dr. Morganth with us in a future combat scenario.
Overall Operation Teal Vase was successful in showing us what needs to be done, both in the higher echelons of Starfleet and aboard the *Galar*. The lessons we have learned are invaluable, and give us a direction to orient our future goals. In the meantime, our mission of discovery will continue. Whatever else Starfleet is, we are still explorers.
End log.
#### Mission to Free Haven

First officer's log, stardate 48629.8.
The events and results of the USS *Galar's* mission to Free Haven have been recorded in the mission and ship's logs, per standard procedure. Due to my limited involvement in the events, this log will contain my observations and comments to supplement the official record.
Both the Bajoran government and Starfleet began this mission with the assumption that excessive solar flares from the Sanelar star were naturally occurring. We were soon dissuaded from that assumption by the research team aboard the *Galar*. Lieutenant Commander Emory Rulon, diverted from his research aboard the USS *Yu Shi*, and Lieutenant junior grade Argus Bloodough were brought aboard before we took a course closer to the star. These two officers worked with Lieutenant Koenig in both discovering and disabling an unfamiliar device in orbit of the sun that was projecting radiation into the star and causing the unexpected solar activity.
A connected revelation was made by the away team on Free Haven. They ran into several roadblocks as they worked to install the control unit for the planetary shield. Lieutenant junior grade ch'Aroom and Ensign Nasyr handled all the technical issues expertly. And when the culprit of the whole operation revealed himself, Lieutenant junior grade Jaro acted quickly to lead the team and locals in neutralizing the threat.
Since the USS *Honshu* was in orbit, the injured ringleader of this whole affair was taken to their sickbay. It was decided that members of our staff would transport over to convene regarding the events.
This situation caused me some frustration with Commander Stras. She claimed that her responsibilities towards her patients prevented her from leaving sickbay. With Captain Rectorvos reluctant to press for Limo to be transferred aboard the *Galar*, I recruited Doctor Morganth to be present during the prisoner's questioning, expecting Limo to be guarded and refusing to cooperate. This was not the case. When the Cardassian learned that his plan had failed and that Governor Saban, or more accurately Lagan, was present, he was extremely forthcoming.
Not wanting to interrupt Lieutenant junior grade Jaro's process of questioning, I had slipped into sickbay via the entry opposite Commander T'Hal's office. I remained unobserved, except from Doctor Morganth, and became concerned at the rage Jaro had just below the surface as he addressed the prisoner.
While it is still unclear how much of the Cardassian occupation Lieutenant Jaro experienced firsthand, it is obvious that it has a deep effect on him. In consultation with Lieutenant Vinaa and Commander Edison, I have decided that Lieutenant Jaro will be recommended for counseling sessions beyond the standard expected after a combat experience. His past did not directly affect the situation at Free Haven, but I am concerned that future interactions Lieutenant Jaro may have with Cardassians could verge on breaking Starfleet protocols. He is a promising officer and I would like to divert him from anything that could jeopardize his career.
The *Galar* remains in orbit of Free Haven awaiting new orders. Lieutenant Vinaa and Lieutenant junior grade Jaro are also meeting with the colony's constabulary to ensure that the Cardassian infiltrators will be secure until representatives from Bajor arrive.
Now I need to visit with Dr. Morganth and thank him for inconveniencing himself and assisting us with some unique situations.
End log.
## Appendices

### Connections

**Departmental:** **First officer's log** • Second officer's log • Chief medical officer's log • Chief of security's log

**Personal:** Zanntos ch'Aroom • Jaro Eden • Nara • Shrive • Tharan • Romel Vinaa