The Worst Duty

The memorial service was done and Captain Devore sat in his ready room staring out of the window. There was a planet in view, Class Z, totally unrelenting surface storms and uninhabitable for humanoid life. Devore just watched as the swirling atmosphere was visible to the naked eye. He fumbled the Padd between his fingers until he finally mustered enough courage to do what he needed..........

Personal Log : March 24, 2384

"The hardest duty any Captain has to face is the notification of death to one's family. Ever since I can remember this duty has always been bestowed upon a commanding officer whether it was the ship's Captain, General, or even a Chaplain. We would have thought that this duty may have gotten easier. However, being in the Andromenda Cirrius Galaxy, we are millions of light years away from Commander Shaka's next of kin. That is my only saving grace for if it wasn't so, I would have a VERY hard time."

"In addition to that, my friend since I could remember has now been taken from me. The "old man", as I have reverently referred him as, is gone. Commander Toran Soliel who started with me as my Chief of Security to now... or rather was ... my first officer. Death may be that much more easier to deal with, if there is such a thing, but having someone taken from you is harder. At least you may know that you may see him again or not, but death there is closure in a relationship."

"It has been a few hours since the memorial service. All the senior officers were present and paid their respects even if they never knew either of them. However, Shaka was someone that you couldn't miss. Her eclectic personality, to say the least, was one that would always be imprinted on ones memory. I know she did mine. But what still puzzles me is her softness. It was present covered by a thick layer of attitude, she was still as much a woman as say my wife. She cared, maybe for her job over people, but she did care. At any rate, she is dead and I must now go on as does the ship. May God have mercy on her soul."

End Personal Log