Hale's Personal Log - Evolutions
Posted on Thursday 14 March 2019 @ 14:27 by
446 words; about a 2 minute read
"Blonde roast." Hale placed her usual coffee order from the replicator. The mug whirred and flashed into existence. As she took it up, she spoke.
"Computer, Begin personal log, Hale, Elizabeth K, Current stardate and record."
"File open. Begin when ready."
She sipped gingerly at her coffee for a few moments, then took a deep breath.
"While I'm sure everyone on this ship will have an opinion about what's happened on the Merlin in the last couple days, I thought I should lend my voice to official record in defense of my department head, Lieutenant Junior Grade Stephanie Iris O'Hara. Four days ago, I probably wouldn't have done this. I would like to share what I've learned about Stephanie O'Hara in those past four days. Four days ago, I thought that she was a brash, egocentric, glory-seeking, self-important, slave-driving asshole with a chip on her shoulder and delusions of grandeur... Well, I still think that...."
She sipped thoughtfully at her coffee for a moment and then said "Computer, Delete last two sentences and continue recording."
The computer beeped it's compliance.
"I won't document the incident, as I am sure countless other people have. What I want on the record is what I've seen since O'Hara was freed from alien influence controlling her. I could note here that she helped saved the ship from the cascade virus or that she has complied with every directive given to her by command and medical staff since her liberation... But I don't think that speaks enough to it.
I have seen a change in O'Hara since the incident. She is becoming a better person. O'Hara has shown remorse. She has shown growth. She has shown change. She feels a terrible sense of responsibility for what she's done, even if she technically didn't do it. She feels like she needs to save us from her. She was wounded by this in ways we may never know, but in the end I think she will become a better person for it.
So what did I learn? What was my takeaway from all this? I learned that in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, the Tin Woman does have a heart, and it's broken. Putting it back together is too big a job for just one person."
Sipping at her coffee again, she then said "Computer, Save log and forward copies to the CO, XO, CMO and CCNS."
MCPO Elizabeth Hale
Ranking Engineering NCO
USS Merlin
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