Captains Log:

We are now approaching the Colludia system where a large proportion of the Fourth Fleet is gathering in order to relax or enjoy the activities this place has to offer.  A schedule has been set up to allow all members of the current 77 strong officers and crew the opportunity to let their hair down and if need be; recharge their batteries.

I am also pleased to be informed that once the current shore leave is concluded we are to head for Starbase Bravo and collect 14 newly qualitied personal, which will finally bring us close to our full complement.  Frontier Day took a massive toll on numbers, and as a result we have been short staffed since I took command; other ships having taken priority.  That issue is now being remedied.

Although for the most part everyone will be free to do as they please; subject to local laws, customers and upholding the good name of Starfleet; myself and the senior staff have been invited to attend an important function in honour of a previous rescue mission which saved the life of a wealthy local’s daughter.  The family has invited us to their island.

The only down side to this wonderful gesture, is that we are expected to dance; an apparent custom of this particular family.  I for one couldn’t dance to save my life; however I am also the person with the least opportunity to escape such an ordeal.  I therefor feel it the duty of my staff to attend and either enjoy it or suffer with me.

<End Log>

**********

Around an hour and a half after compiling her Log, Commander Anacostia-Bolling found herself at Shuttle Bay 2; where Chief Petty Officer Rockwell was busy running checks over the old Type 6 shuttle craft they had aboard.

The Viking had once belonged to a stolen Norway-Class vessel the USS da Vinci had been tasked to track down.  With the USS Stavanger destroyed in order to prevent it being used to escalate tension between the Klingons; the old shuttle had found itself restored to its former glory by the Chief Petty Officer during his off duty hours; and added to the ships inventory.

Rockwell stepped out from behind the compact shuttle, dressed in a blue denim shirt with two breast pockets; the right one of which had a pair of sunglasses sticking out of it; khaki cotton chinos, with a leather belt and a wide brimmed cream coloured safari hat with a thin black band around.

“Come to see us of Captain?” Rockwell asked, removing his hat and slapping it against his thigh, as if removing dust with neither item of clothing clearly had on them.

“I was just passing through.” She responded, adding with a smile. “Just make sure they don’t want to keep Lieutenant Beriev.”

The Saurian science officer poked his head from out of the shuttles hatch.  He too was dressed casually. “They are not going to mistake me for one of their dinosaurs!”

Crewman Ithran the Andorian from the Life-Science department; such as it was on a small ship like this, must have heard what was said.  What may have initially started out as a laugh, quickly turned into a loud cough, which finally died in his throat when Lieutenant Beriev glared back at him.

Just then the last member of the away team arrived; a short human male by the name of Chesterfield.  He held up the video recorder he had dangling from a strap round his neck. “Sorry I’m late, Ma’am, Sirs, only I had to find this.”

He moved past the three of them and entered the shuttle.  It wasn’t so much the rather antique looking device he was caring in order to record images of the dinosaurs that caught their attention, but rather, the very loud Hawaiian shirt that was behind it; sky blue with palm trees and tropical flowers.

The Commander tapped the Chief Petty Officer lightly on the shoulder. “I’ll let you and the Lieutenant deal with the matter.  I’m suddenly needed elsewhere.”

She started to walk towards the hanger bay exit. “Have fun, and we’ll see you in ten days.”

*********

Ensign Hayley Green, Chief Engineer of the USS Grus, was in a good mood, it was fairly rare for her not to be.  The standard of operations within Main Engineering and the running of ships system in general, had seen noticeable improvement, since her appointment to the role.

She move between the various consuls and monitoring stations, her hips wiggling from side to side as she went, a song on her lips, but only softly. “Oh, yes, sir, I can boogie. But I need a certain song.  I can boogie, boogie-woogie. All night long.”

The rest of the team on duty watched her with curious interest as they continued to perform their own tasks.  Just then the Captain walked in and the singing was brought to an end.  Anacostia-Bolling gestured towards the Chief Engineers office, which the two of them headed for.

Green noted the slight look of concern on her superiors face, and out of nervous habit, started rattling off a list of issues that had either been dealt with or had an unexpected habit of recurring at inopportune moments; watching for any chance on the Commanders face.

“Your Sonic Shower is operating at the wrong frequency again, Henry is on the ceiling of deck 8…”

Anacostia-Bolling held up her had to forestall any additional problems. “Sit”

Green did so and the Captain followed suit.  “It’s about this function, the details you appear to have gather from a Logistics shaped bird.”

“Don’t blame Artin, I mean Ensign Dravid.” She swiftly corrected herself.  “We talk a lot over launch and he didn’t know you’d not said anything yet.”

“I’m not here to blame anyone.” The Captain gave her best attempt at being reassuring.  “It’s just that the Chief Engineers invite is for Lieutenant Yolanda, as he held the position when we made the rescue.”

There was a significate chance in the current Chief Engineer’s posture and demeanour. “That’s ok; I’m glad you came and told me before the meeting.”

A few minutes after the Captain had gone; Ensign Green came silently out of her office.

“Everything ok Chief?” Ensign Sparrow asked noting his boss was now looking less cheerful that she had entering the office.

She sighed long and hard. “Apparently Cinderella will not be attending the Ball.”