Editing Christopher Adams Interlude (section)

=== Day: 2 - Stardate: 2407.01.21 ===

==== (USS Paladin - Deck 55, Personal Quarters Ensign JG Adams - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 1821) ====

Ensign Christopher Adams entered his quarters and collapsed into the seat at his desk. He was just coming off his first shift in engineering on his new ship, the USS Paladin. With a sigh, Adams addressed the computer, "Computer. Carbonated soft drink with ice."

[There are one hundred twenty seven varieties of carbonated soft drink,] responding the computer.

Sighing once again, Adams responded, "Earth Root Beer." A glow from the replicator appeared and was replaced with a glass of fizzing root beer. Adams got out of his seat with a grunt and lumbered over to retrieve his beverage.

"Computer. Create a section in my person computer memory storage for personal logs and begin recording my first entry.

"Personal Log, Ensign JG Christopher Adams. Stardate 2407.01.21. It's been a rough day. I just arrived on the USS Paladin yesterday and it's been a long hard struggle to come up to date on the complexity of this Meredith class starship. We learned about them in the Academy, but I didn't think my first assignment was going to be on one.

"The trip from Earth was pretty taxing. I met the transport as the commander who snuck into my quarters instructed me to, the whole time thinking this might be a test of my loyalty to Starfleet. There were extra precautions on confirming my identity, and then we had to sneak past the Starfleet Earth defenses by faking our flight plan. I'm still trying to figure out how Admiral Green could post me to a ship loyal to LoDona without revealing himself on our side of the civil war. The commander spoke of an intricate underground in order to sneak cadets out. It must been considering Admiral Green must be somehow involved. We spent a week heading to Starbase Geneva and then switched to another runabout which was heading to the Paladin. I had a couple of conversations with a Klingon security officer who was also being transferred, but she pretty much kept to herself during the trip. Another week and we finally arrived at the Paladin.

"Once on board, I met with the captain and my commanding officer, Lieutenant Steven Matrix. He gave me a tour of engineering and then I took my own tour of the ship, ending with Ten Forward where I met Lieutenant Matrix for dinner. We talked and ate our dinner. Lieutenant Matrix sounds like a great engineer and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"The next morning, my duties started. I worked with several of the engineering techs going over the routine maintenance that has to take place on a normal duty shift. Today was mainly just a day to start familiarizing myself with the ship."

The computer chimed in, [In coming message from Ensign O'Connor.]

"Computer," Adams responded. 'Halt recording of personal log and display in coming message." Adams glanced down at his computer terminal.

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To Friends and Comrades,

It has come to my attention that we have worked very hard in the last few days and deserve a time to rest and truly get to know the newer additions to the crew, of which I am one.  To that end, dinner will be served on holodeck 4 at 1930 hours tonight courses to be determined by whim of the attendees, come as early and stay as late as you wish, bring a friend and have some fun.  Take this time to relax and unwind, if you can not attend this gathering of friends, you will be sorely missed, although I promise more will be planned in the future.  We shall have as much fun as our imaginations (and Starfleet rules and
regulations) permit us to.

I hope to see you all soon.

Signed,
You Friendly neighborhood Irishman, Michael O'Connor

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"Computer. What's the time?" asked Adams.

[The current time is eighteen thirty hours,] replied the computer.

"Wow. That's short notice." Suddenly Adams's stomach rumbled. ~Perhaps I shouldn't have skipped lunch.~ thought the ensign.

"Computer. Resume personal log. I just got an invitation to a party on the holodeck. I should go and get more familiar with my new crewmates."

"Computer. End personal log and save."

Ensign Adams started removing his uniform and walked towards the head for a sonic shower.

==== (USS Paladin - Holodeck 4 - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 1915)====

Dressed now in civilian clothing, Ensign Christopher Adams entered Holodeck 4. The doors opened up on a wooded area with a large cottage tucked away among the trees. A large table was out front of the cottage and crew members milled about. A cool breeze blew through the area. Adams took a deep breath and headed towards the party.

==== (USS Paladin - Holodeck 4 - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 1943)====

Dinner had been placed along the large table in front of the cabin. Ensign Adams loaded up a plate and moved over to one of the tables where some of the engineering techs he had met earlier in the day were starting to gather. They talked about technical details of the ship while enjoying the food.

After about fifteen minutes, a young man went to the porch and addressed the crowd, "If anyone is interested, Rana and I would like to perform for you, and we have an announcement to make."

There was cheering from the crowd as the young man picked up a Vulcan lyre and began to play a song and the woman he referred to as Rana began to sing. As they finished the duet together, the crowd began to clap. Standing up he addressed the crowd again. "That was 'Soon It's Gonna Rain' from the Fantasticks, for which I will be holding auditions for tomorrow for whoever is interested."

One of the engineering techs poked Ensign Adams in the side trying to egg him into joining the musical. "No way, Williams. There's no way I'm signing up for that." From over nearby they overheard Matrix, "I couldn't carry a tune if it had handles."

Adams and the engineering techs starting laughing at their commanding officer.