<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Mission: Exogenesis</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Day: 7</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Stardate: 2446.06.07</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,36,36)">(USS Iluminar - Deck 5 - Isolation Ward - Marine - 2LT
Charles Temerity - 1345)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Temerity had spent his time in the Isolation Ward quietly separating himself
from the crew of the Illuminar.  He didn’t
view himself as a part of the ship’s crew, he didn’t even really view himself
as a part of the Marine complement onboard the ship.  Deep down he understood and knew that it was
his own fault.  He was broken in many
ways in addition to dealing with psychological and emotional issues.  If he had just kept his damn mouth shut and
not asked who had written that intel analysis. 
No one ever bats an eye if you ask “who did the work?” or ask “who was
the author?”, but on this everyone took it as a personal insult.  Charles knew Chief Hammons was no more than a
messenger passing on intel reports that come down from On-High.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Hell, after that day, he had become an outsider even among the Marines
as well.  The Marines that worked in the
Security department were pissed at him because they were not able to wear their
Marine green shirts and be proud of their service; but instead got treated like
pretenders in the Operations gold in addition to being treated like second
class citizens everywhere aboard ship except within the confines of the cargo
bay in which they were quartered.  Temerity
couldn’t really blame them for being pissed at him.  Why not, everyone else was.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">T'Lela wouldn’t be upset if he departed from the service again.  She wanted him to captain a new prototype of pirate
hunter ship for covert operations currently dubbed the Green Knight-class.  He slightly smirked to himself at the
reference to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. 
But before he did any of that, he needed to apologize to the Major,
again, for his part in the failure of the Major’s experiment.  Then he will need to utilize the Captain’s
open door policy with the major and XO present to see if he should submit a
letter of resignation and return to his civilian life with his Gunnery Sergeant
pension. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">As he sat in a corner, apart from the others confined to the Isolation
Ward, he watched the others as they traded anecdotes, jibes, jokes, and simply
be with one another.  They were more than
a crew; they were a family, and inside he was happy that they had each other,
but he never smiled.  And he prayed to
all that was good and holy that they never lose what they have.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">If he could go back and tell the Chief of Security, Lieutenant
Commander T’Mur, that Marines should wear Marine colors while on duty, he
would.  If he could go back and not say a
word at the initial mission brief, he would. 
But he can’t, all he can do is make his apologies, pack his bags, and
vanish back into the vastness of space. 
But all that will depend on if he is still welcome aboard the Illuminar,
or even in the service at all.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Charles mentally retreated further and further within himself. He
barely ate or drank anything, was contending with depression and found himself mourning
for those that had been victims of someone else’s ambitions.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">(Reply:
Any iyw)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">(Reply:
Any iyw)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">(Posted
By: Chuck Raschen)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif">Charles Raschen</font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif"><i>"Life is a Gift That Everyone
Cherishes,</i><span></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif"><i>But has to Eventually Return"
-Mandalorian Proverb</i><span></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif"><i>"Under the Bludgeonings of
chance;</i><span></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif"><i>My head is bloody, but
Unbowed." -Invictus</i><span></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font face="georgia, serif"><i>"Sometimes Bad-Guys Make the
Best Good-Guys." -Leverage</i><span></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black"><span><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></span></span></p></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="2"><i><br></i></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>