Personal Log - Early Observations

Posted on Mon Jan 26th, 2026 @ 1:56pm by Lieutenant JG Rowan Hale
Edited on Mon Jan 26th, 2026 @ 2:01pm

445 words; about a 2 minute read

Personal log, Lieutenant JG Rowan Hale.

Several weeks have passed since I reported aboard the USS Sunfire. The distinction between days has already begun to erode, replaced by duty rotations, alert tones, and the constant vibration of the engines through the deckplates. This is a familiar phenomenon. I have experienced it before. The recurrence is… notable.

Assuming the role of Chief Medical Officer has proceeded with fewer complications than anticipated. That does not imply the absence of scrutiny. Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali has proven invaluable in both administrative and clinical matters. Her insight into crew psychology is precise and uncomfortably thorough. I am aware that she has been assessing me since my arrival. I have not discouraged it.

The medical department functions efficiently. Lieutenant Niali Korial maintains excellent operational discipline and remains composed under sustained pressure. Sarah Wilson demonstrates reliability and sound clinical judgment. Remal Kajun’s bedside manner produces a calming effect in patients that exceeds expectation. It is a strong team. I find myself delegating more readily than usual. This may be pragmatism. It may also be caution.

Senior staff interactions suggest that Sunfire is a ship accustomed to decisive action. Captain Kaylen exhibits measured authority and a consistent awareness of crew welfare. Commander Savar fulfills the expectations of a Vulcan executive officer while displaying a degree of attentiveness that is easily overlooked. Commander House and Commander Ramthorne contribute to a command environment that is experienced, focused, and intolerant of delay. This is not an assignment that permits disengagement.

I continue to learn the ship itself. Its internal rhythms, its inefficiencies, the subtle differences in ambient noise between decks. Certain sounds register more quickly than others. I am still determining whether this is familiarity or something else. The crew maintains a persistent state of readiness, as though awaiting a stressor that has not yet materialized. Prolonged vigilance has physiological consequences. I am monitoring those trends closely.

On a personal level, adjustment remains incomplete. Sleep is irregular and often shallow. I wake more frequently than necessary to routine system fluctuations. Medical records indicate no impairment of performance. That is sufficient for now.

There are periods, typically late in Sickbay, when the ship feels less foreign. During those hours, responsibility narrows my focus in a way that is… effective. Stillness is easier when there is work to be done. I recognize the pattern. I have not yet decided whether it is beneficial.

I cannot yet predict what Sunfire will require of me, or how familiar those demands may become. For the present, I am here. I am functioning. That will suffice.

End log.

--
Lieutenant JG Rowan Hale
Chief Medical Officer

 

RSS Feed