Commander's Personal Entry - November 20th, 3303 - "The Loss Of A Crew Member..."
21 Nov 2017Orion Starhunter
Name: Starhunter, OrionRank: Commander
Ship: U.S.S. Discovery
Class: Beluga Liner
Several days have since passed since my last mission log entry, and while it is well overdue, I bring with this entry sad news.
Several weeks ago, while docked in the Avalon system, I hired a young pilot named Dan Baxter. A young cadet just out of flight school with a large reputation under his belt, and such a large heart.
Shortly after taking him into our "family", he reached out to the children who needed a guide, a teacher on our ship. He began helping the children of the families who took passage on the Discovery, learn their studies, and helping them dream for the stars. While his primary duties were that of being a fighter pilot for my crew, my family, he always did what he could to help others, never once thinking about himself, and to this day I don't think Dan had a single selfish bone in his body.
Two days ago, while running two Community Group missions, we were interdicted by a wanted pilot flying an Imperial Clipper. The pilot demanded a portion of the cargo we were transporting aboard the Discovery, but rather than submit to the pilots deranged demands, Dan suited up, and got into his fighter, determined to cease the threat we faced.
The fight between the pilot of the Imperial Clipper, The USS Discovery, and Mr. Baxter's Imperial Fighter seemed to last an eternity, but the Discovery's shields eventually fell, and we were forced to abandon ship. I remember Mr. Baxter's last words over the comms as he kept the clipper off our backs and we were able to jump back to the nearest starbase, "Don't worry Commander, I've got your six, get the rest of the crew the hell out of....." and then the comms went dead.
Just as the countdown reached one for the jump, I watched as his Imperial Fighter disintegrated in a ball of flame, and the jump engaged, bringing us back to the Zeus system. As the rest of the crew assembled at the station in Zeus at the starbase cafeteria, I didn't have the words. I simply walked up to the bar, ordered a round of drinks. I can remember my words to the senior officers as I raised my glass, "To our fallen family member..."
I will never forget that night, the sight of the explosion, and the dreadful feeling of helplessness. The past few days have plagued me with several questions in my mind. Am I not worthy of the rank Commander? How could I let this happen to a member of my crew, for that matter a member of our family? Should I continue to command the new USS Discovery, and if so at what cost?
Sure, sounds like an easy thing, hire a pilot, lose him or her in battle, and then just move on as if it's all normal. Daniel Baxter was not just another pilot, another mission runner, another face. He was a valuable part of my crew, a dear friend, and a member of our close family. I swear here and now, I will never allow this to happen to another one of my crew, my family again...
Commander Orion Starhunter
USS Discovery
NX1301