IAS Confidence

Gamma Tucanae II

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Newsletter - April 6, 2417

Hello from everyone's favorite medical lieutenant! It's 0220 hours as I write this, and yet again I got stuck with third shift. Being pregnant is no excuse for getting out of work on the Confidence!

We're almost two months out of port, and over 300 light-years from the nearest allied installation on the Shiba-Inu border. All the action is back at Sol, as usual, not that we mind! It's quiet aboard the Connie, but that's how we like it out here.

Alliance command has been keeping tabs on our status, wanting to know every detail on how the ship has been performing in action. After leaving the commissioning ceremonies at Terra, we made a quick stop at Gamma Tucanae to make a last-minute check of all systems and stow supplies. Then it was ten jumps with the AFGHAN out to the middle of nowhere... Illucian didn't miss by a degree! She's a stellar navigation officer, no pun intended! ^^

While on patrol here, all we really do is keep our eyes and ears open for any activity our sensors can detect; with a range of 200 light-years, we won't miss much! Not that there's been anything to miss... aye yai yai! It would be more interesting to talk about how the crew is keeping themselves amused.

Well, up on the bridge, there's usually not more than two or three people at any given time, and two of them are usually Illucian and Eclipse. The fox can usually be found bouncing around on the lower decks, although she's found enjoyment in taking care of my little one, Aquata. The other kids love her too. She'll make a great mother someday! =)

When Muse isn't down in engineering stealing away with Crystal Phoenix, he's on the bridge, seemingly finding *something* worth investigating. I'm not quite sure what, aside from about 20 particles of space dust per cubic meter, but my brother is always intrigued by his Science station. I guess that's why he's our Science Officer!

Down here in the infirmary, we haven't had *one* patient for anything more than a routine checkup, though a couple interesting things have happened since we left home. It turns out I'm not the only one expecting a little one on the Confidence! Both Ryannktsu and Snowhawk are pregnant, much to the chagrin of Eclipse, considering the uncertain nature of our location. Snowhawk is due sometime in November, and Ryannktsu looks like she could clutch any day now!

Engineering is quite the opposite of the infirmary. What a zoo that place is sometimes! Half the time Menel doesn't even put on his uniform before coming on duty (and doesn't wear anything *off* duty either! o.O) Maggock and Hida are flirting almost constantly (since we aren't carrying a support craft, the shuttlebay personnel have other duties), Crystal Phoenix and Muse are at it about half as much, and K'vn is being... K'vn! Felin's never there during the first two shifts, staying in his berth until third shift, when he sits alone and monitors the systems... I should probably go sea how he's doing after I finish and send this off. ^^

We may not be carrying a ship, but the shuttlebay is anything *but* empty! Our odd fighter pilot, Duo Campbell (I still think he got his name from being bisexual o.O), has decided to make it his personal berth with his sidekick, Kitty! (Have you ever met a talking puma who gave marital advice? O.O) He sleeps on the bare alloy with Kitty curled up at his side. If I hadn't seen him making passes at Connie, I'd think he was mated to Kitty. Maybe he is. >.>

Security is about the only department that doesn't get a break. My mate takes his role very seriously, and always has someone on the bridge and on watch in the corridors at all shifts. Yesterday was actually his hatching day, and our celebration brought new meaning to the term "mess hall"; it was crazy! Violette sure knows how to make a birthday cake that can feed the entire ship, and then some! Then we got rid of the tables and chairs and turned the place into a dance hall for the first time since we left home. I can't wait until it's somebody else's birthday! (hint hint ;)

It may have been a relatively peaceful two months for us so far out here, but we're never too engaged in our own lives to forget the millions of brave officers and civilians fighting to keep hope alive. We're proud to be a part of that fight, be it on the front line or behind the scenes. Our strength is our courage, and united we stand.

From all those aboard the Confidence, good luck and God speed.

Lt. Nauta Sinneau