>>5521410<span class="mu-i">[Audio Transcription Cont.]</span>
Father was never the same after we lost Blair. Perhaps that’s why he pushes me so hard.
His firstborn son was raised on these decks - chasing the tails of Marrok engineers through crawlspaces, smuggling rations out from under the quartermaster’s sensitive nose, living and breathing the ancient antech that keeps this old girl’s heart beating. After he was butchered by those wyrm-ridden Rok pirates, I had to step up and leave the academy behind. The Pee-Dee must have a captain of family blood after all - more antech piece of…
<span class="mu-i"><mumbling, unintelligible..</span>
Sure I have all the knowledge, passed down by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers through our new fleet academy but… it’ll never be enough to satisfy Father. Give me one of the new ships-of-the-line, I’d even take a destroyer at this point, just anything with a manual and not two centuries worth jury rigged bypasses and workarounds. At least the family name and our excellent grades were enough to fast track the graduation of my crew and I - misery loves company after all.
<span class="mu-i"><Background chatter.></span>
My bunkmate and quote unquote “future XO” would like the record to state that I’m miserable enough for all of us and should probably get a headstart on those nightmares.
<span class="mu-i"><A huff, possible amusement?></span>
Well, that's gratitude for you.
<span class="mu-b"><span class="mu-i">As a graduate of the Annon Fleet Academy you are familiar with numerous standard operating procedures for the Terran Protectorate Navy’s new line of vessels. These are largely based on the design, practices and knowledge of your family’s ship - the Opal class heavy cruiser, TPN Coober Pedy - the only known ‘live’ voidship to make it through the Cataclysm 256 years ago. There are, however, a number of differences between state of the art and ‘antech’ which may leave gaps in your operating knowledge.</span></span>
>Trait Unlocked: By the Book.<span class="mu-b"><span class="mu-i">Through your extensive studies you have excelled in not one but three key areas of command. These include leadership and two of your choice:</span></span>
>Skill Unlocked: Leadership (Mind|Soul)>Optional Skill: Communications (Mind|Soul)>Optional Skill: Operations (Mind)>Optional Skill: Navigation (Mind|Body)>Optional Skill: Tactical (Mind)>Optional Skill: Engineering (Mind)>Optional Skill: Science (Mind)Though I never knew my brother well, the thought of never seeing him again does weigh heavily with me. Or at least it makes the implant they prised from his skull and shoved into mine itch like all hell. I guess I’ll always carry a little of him with me.
Anyway, I'll wrap this log up here. The itching is usually followed by the vertigo, claustrophobia and out of body experiences - usually in that order. Best just to take my pills and hit the hay.
<span class="mu-i"><Background chatter.></span>
Yes, yes… I know that’s what you just said, smartass. Get in your own damn bunk!
LCdr Dallas Annon, signing off.
<span class="mu-i">[End of File]</span>
