Chief Medical Officer's Log, April 17, 2009 - 2150 hours
Completed a mission today, nothing to report. Fox
Squadron, Corporal M. Sterling, Lieutenant JG S. Montgomery and myself
involved. Went in, got out, dealt with the casualties -- severe injuries
to Corporal Sterling and Lieutenant Montgomery in this case. Later,
treated Lieutenant S. Randall for broken hands. Psych evaluations
scheduled for Fox Squadron. Surgeries scheduled for Corporal Sterling and
Lieutenant Montgomery.
Will be staying in sickbay tonight. Sterling coded
after treatment and I want to be on call if something else goes wrong. I
will need to schedule a meeting with Sterling's cousin, Cadet Maximilian
Sterling, to brief him on his cousin's condition.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, April 17, 2009 - 2300 hours
Michael Sterling will never be the same again. It
has become apparent to me that due to incidents today that he has suffered major
brain trauma, including, quite possibly, memory loss. It's possible that I
could be wrong, but instincts are telling me I'm not. I don't know how I'm
going to tell his cousin -- insofar as I know, Max Sterling is Michael's only
living family. Then again, there's a lot I don't know about Skull 23 -- or
the former Skull 23, as well might be the case.
I'm ready to strangle Garrik from Fox Squadron. Really,
could anyone be so neurotic? I'm still trying to figure out how he became
a fighter pilot. His is one psych eval I'll pay a whole helluva lot of
attention to.
I worry about Steve Randall -- Fox Leader. His stress
levels definitely seem to be higher than mine. He came in tonight with two
broken hands -- most of the fingers in pretty bad shape. He won't be
flying for a while, to say the least. Maybe it'll do him good. Then
again, that also leaves Lucky Solvis in charge. Hopefully he'll deal
better with the stresses of command.
Note to self: Invite Steve over for another drink sooner
rather than later -- maybe after Michael's stabilized.
Seth Montgomery is going to need one of his shoulders and
arms completely replaced. I know that there must be something somewhere
that's an alternative, but his commanding officers are insistent -- they need
him back on the line ASAP. What can we do, really? At least I've
managed to convince him and our surgeon that it's a better idea to just repair
the broken bone and the cartilage damage in his right arm rather than do a
double replacement.
Damn. It's been a long day.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, May 11, 2009 - 0500 hours
Pulling shift in full dress today -- graduation of new
cadets into the corps and I have to attend.
Caseload remains the same. Michael Sterling is still my
major case that I'm focused on, in addition to emergency cases that come
through.
Psych evals were yesterday. Very little that was
unexpected, other than people not knowing various presidents, et alia.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, May 11, 2009 - 0507 hours
Children. I have to deal with children today.
Rookies will be graduating into the main body of the ship's forces. I'll
be there, at graduation, in full dress uniform. I don't really mind being
in full dress -- mine's not uncomfortable, and it's not like I have to wear a
skirt or anything, so I have full freedom of motion there.
I took it out of its bag today and I realized exactly how
long it's been since I wore it. I polished my gold and my shoes -- they
needed it -- and then checked the creases before I tried to put it on. It
still fits like a glove.
I'm worried. I'm worried about everything. That's
not anything new, just a reiteration. We'll reach Saturn in three
days. I'm not looking forward to sitting out in space, in a shuttlecraft,
to rescue pilots. Definitely not looking forward to it -- I'm more useful
in sickbay, but I won't argue the point with Captain Gloval -- not my place,
really. So I'll do as I'm told and hope against hope for the best.
I need to get going. I'm late for jogging with Seth.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, Supplemental - May 11, 2009
Michael Sterling's mental state seems to be of more concern than I had previously anticipated. He no longer "plays well with others" as he used to, although with the help of one Cadet Maximilian Sterling, he seems to have gotten over his aversion to servicemen and women in uniform. I will have to make it a point to rely on Cadet Sterling's recommendations regarding his cousin. It is my opinion that Cadet Sterling will make a fine officer someday.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, May 12, 2009 - 0005 hours
I'm deeply worried about Mike Sterling -- deeply
worried. There seems to have been a major personality shift accompanying
his amnesia, and I find this deeply distressing, especially now that he's been transferred
to Fox Squadron. Steve just doesn't need the stress, and I don't want to
see Michael lose his wings...then again, at this point, I think I'd give just
about anything to get the old Mike Sterling back, overactive libido and
all. Damn. I can't believe I just admitted that. Strange,
though, that sometimes you don't really realize that something wasn't as
annoying as you thought it was until it stops, and the absence of it drives you
even more crazy than the original act ever did. I don't know.
Perhaps it's just because it's a constant reminder of my own failures that it
bothers me so. This never should have happened to him. It's all my
fault. And right now, there's really not much I can do about it at
all. I just wish there was.
I'm under orders now to watch him, not that I wasn't doing it
already. I hope he gets better, I really do. I'm going to talk to
Max. He's been such a help with Michael recently -- maybe he knows what's
at the root of this problem, too.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, May 13, 2009 - 0430 hours
It's fixed, it's done. Michael Sterling, much to my relief, is back to normal -- or what passes for normal for him, anyway. I've learned a lot of things about him and about myself tonight -- or this morning, as it were. I guess all I needed to give to get the old Mike Sterling back was a little bit of time and effort -- and losing a little sleep. Max was quite a help with matters, but Michael really did most of the hard part early this morning. It's amazing what a little talking will do.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, May 14, 2009 - 0040 hours
As of midnight, Garrik Omani of Fox Squadron was section
nined out of the Robotech Defense Forces. He was tried in courts martial
on several counts and was found guilty of most. As such, he lost his wings
and has now become a civilian. I was called to testify on the behalf of
the prosecution and did my duty on the stand.
There were no medical emergencies today. I spent my
time outside of the courtroom reading up on various new techniques and such, as
I've spent the past several days.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, May 14, 2009 - 0050 hours
Fox Squadron, at my request, will be acting as my escort
for the mission at Saturn, and it appears that Seth Montgomery will be my pilot,
also as per request. It's going to be a very messy day, and inside of five
hours, I need to be up and be getting ready for a briefing inside of six.
But for some reason, I cannot bring myself to sleep just
yet. There are so many thoughts raging in my head. I had dinner with
Seth and Michael tonight, and spent some time with Michael afterwards.
Perhaps there's more to him than I always thought there was. Well, for
certain there is, but I believe my knowledge has only begun to scratch the
surface of who he really is. I wonder, though...will I ever truly have the
chance to know him as well as I think both of us would like?
No time for my idle wonderings. I have to be up inside
of five hours, and I should at least try to get some sleep. Saturn will be
messy enough as it is, of this I'm certain.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, supplemental - May 14, 2009
Fox Squadron and my medical shuttle survived the Battle of Saturn with minimal losses. A ship-wide power outage during another operation cost two good people their lives. Chief medical officer was on the bridge at the time of the outage. Recommendation to command staff not to remove chief medical officer from sickbay during combat situations.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, Supplemental - May 14, 2009
I found out today that Alexis has been aboard ship the
entire time. She saved my life and the lives of all those aboard my
shuttle during the Battle of Saturn, but because her attitude is so like mine,
she's been transferred out of Skull Squadron to Fox. Seems to me that Roy
tosses all of his problem children at Steve.
Poor Steve.
I saw Michael for a grand total of about twenty minutes
today. If there's one thing that irks, me, it's that. Well, there's
more than that to irk me, but that was just the icing on the cake.
So. Back to Lex. Turns out that she was part of
the flight crews from the Prometheus, which explains why I never knew she'd
joined up. Then again, with the nice stack of back-mail sitting in a
drawer, it's no wonder I didn't know. That was probably what the unopened
letter from her mother was supposed to tell me. Lex has, very quickly,
started up a feud with Solvis, Fox XO. This whole mess is going to get
very interesting -- or very violent -- very fast.
Poor Steve.
Ah well. I suppose things can't get much more
complicated. At least...I hope they can't. I let Lex take my room
tonight, considering that she's been assigned Garik's quarters, and they haven't
been cleaned out yet, and her things haven't arrived yet. So she's
sleeping in my quarters tonight while I'm on my couch in my office.
Business as usual around here.
Lost two today. Damned power outages...if we hadn't
lost power to absolutely everything, someone's head would have rolled for not
listening to my request regarding priority to sickbay. CS also has to stop
dragging me out of sickbay during combat situations. Dammit, I know I'm
the only combat medtech they've got, but my place is in sickbay, saving lives
there, not sitting on the bridge watching pilots' vital signs. I've
trained someone else to do that.
Come to think of it, where was he today?
Chief Medical Officer's Log, May 17, 2009 - 0800 hours
Corporal Sterling and Commander Montgomery have come down sick with a major bacterial infection. I have confined them to quarters and quarantined them for the time being until the illness runs its course and they are fit to be released.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, May 21, 2009 - 1700 hours
Commander Montgomery has broken his arm and leg in an
unfortunate accident on an undisclosed deck. According to Corporal
Sterling, who brought him in, Montgomery was sleepwalking when the incident
occurred. Montgomery has been treated for his broken leg and arm and
released.
Logged a request with Command that priority power be routed
to sickbay during emergency situations. My staff and I cannot be expected
to save lives if our equipment continually dies on us. This is fact, not
supposition.
There has been a minor outbreak of the common cold aboard
ship. There is little that can be done for it other than advise vitamin C
and bedrest. And chicken soup. Large amounts of chicken soup.
The restaurants in Macross City have been advised.
I have been assigned additional duties by Commander Lisa
Hayes. They are of little consequence, but deserve notation here.
The day has not been eventful.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, May 21, 2009 - 1742 hours
I had a nice chat with Lisa today over a meal regarding
some things. She'd mentioned wanting to talk to me the other day, so in
order to keep her from killing Rick Hunter, I pulled her away from the usual
table to another one so she and I could have our talk. Turns out that it
was partially about my bedside manner -- she reminded me that being a doctor
called the Ice Bitch isn't always such a good thing. I've promised her
I'll try to change that, but I don't know how much good I'll be able to do in
that regard.
We've had an unseasonable outbreak of the common cold aboard
ship. I suppose it doesn't surprise me all that much -- it was only a
matter of time before something such as this came up.
I'm waiting for the flu epidemic I know must be coming.
If we've got the common cold running around, there must be a flu virus running
around, too. It's only a matter of time, just like everything else.
When will the shit hit the fan again? Damned if I know.
<DATA FOR PERIOD 05.22.09-10.17.09 LOST / CLASSIFIED>
Chief Medical Officer's Log, October 18, 2009 - 1934 hours
Today was the Battle of Mars. I have to say that I
didn't see much of the action as I was hard at work in sickbay dealing with
wounded and a unique situation that is probably classified at the highest
levels. Several fatalities, most of those dead on arrival. We lost
one in surgery, two more before we could get them there. The rest of the
injuries have been treated and most of the patients released.
Captain Montgomery is nearly ready to take his exams to win
his MD. I will have to arrange them.
Commander Hayes has suffered some emotional trauma as a
result of Mars. She is being kept under observation.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, October 19, 2009 - 2358 hours
It's been almost a day and it's only just now that I can
finally articulate what's happened. I don't dare put it into my official
logs yet because I don't know how to phrase it without sounding emotional about
it.
Early this morning, the SDF-1 was attacked by alien
raiders. During the debacle, Colonel Michael Sterling's V-T was hit and
destroyed by what is described as one of the "command pods" of the
alien forces. I almost lost one of the closest friends I have in a
goddamned accident -- and then I wasn't allowed into surgery to assist.
It's...a little frustrating, and definitely upsetting.
Michael lived, thank God, and the abrupt departure of my
surgeon after the procedure has prompted me to believe that said surgeon and I
need to have a brief discussion -- usually, you'll brief the people waiting to
hear about the condition of patients. He left. Whether Seth had come
to brief me and Lieutenant John "Lucky" Solvis, a squadron-mate of
Michael's, on his condition was irrelevant. It's not his job -- it was
something Seth was doing as a favor to me, as a friend and a colleague.
The behavior of our surgeon was unacceptable and hopefully will be dealt with at
the earliest convenience. I will be noting this breach in his personal
record.
I realize now that the situation I ran into this morning was
why I held myself at such distance from most other individuals. I also
realize now, though, especially after talking with Lisa and Solvis, that I can't
continue to push people away forever. One of these days I'm going to have
to stop being afraid of getting close to people. I'm not sure if this
realization is a step in the right direction or what. Only time, I
suppose, will tell. I just hope it's not too late.
If I hadn't been so worried and upset this morning, maybe I
would have been happier to see Lisa out of her room, where she'd exiled
herself. When I tried to talk to her at her quarters, she punched me and
told me to get out -- I of course didn't until I'd made sure she was all
right. I was glad for the company, at least, today, and I think she was
happy to have someone to talk to -- I was actually listening, my mind was just
elsewhere at the same time. It's hard to focus when you know that someone
you care about very much is in more mortal danger than usual.
See, usually, Fox Squadron comes home without a scratch on
their bodies -- sometimes their veritechs are in shambles, but they're usually
all fine. This time...it was a mess. That's the only way to describe
it.
I was on the hangar deck when everything happened. I'd
come down to head up the team of medtechs on the hangar deck, in case we had
some crashes on landing or some such, like sometimes happens. Thank
heavens I was down there this time -- I don't know if he'd have made it up to
sickbay if I hadn't been -- but who can be sure? Natalya -- the head tech
for Fox Squadron -- and I were playing cards and sharing a pot of coffee during
the combat situation and listening to the comm chatter on vox. It wasn't
until we'd gotten all the other V-Ts from Fox in that we realized Sterling was
missing. About half the squadron immediately re-launched and they managed
to find him, somehow -- I'll never know how, but I'm so grateful they did find
him...and they brought him back. Damn, was he a mess. I didn't know
where to start.
When we did get him up to sickbay, I got sent to my office,
banned from surgery because of my "emotional state." I guess I
wasn't in much shape to be in there. Then again, Seth probably wasn't,
either, but he hides it better. I don't think he'd like to admit it, but I
think he and Michael Sterling are better friends than they know. At least,
I hope they are. Sometimes, I'm not the best person at reading these
things, but that may be due to my extremely limited experience with
interpersonal relationships.
John Solvis apparently followed the medical team up to
sickbay and waited outside for hours, waiting for word, before I found him out
in the corridor. He sat with me for a few hours after that. I passed
out for about an hour from sheer exhaustion before waking up to him being a
little worried -- I guess I must've collapsed or something. It had already
been a long day -- I hadn't slept since 0430 on October 18, and that was only a
few hours' rest to begin with. Solvis stayed with me until Sterling
regained consciousness and left after speaking with him regarding some personal
matters.
Solvis...he's a nice guy. A little distant, I guess,
but then, so am I. So are all of us, in our own little way. I was
glad to have him with me while I was waiting for word on Colonel Sterling.
It was...quite a relief to have someone who was his friend with me at the
time. The rest of Fox Squadron had to attend to other duties at the time
-- besides, Solvis is Sterling's wingman, so it only seemed proper that he be
the one to keep vigil with me. The rest of them, they'd had long, rough
days, and I don't blame them for not wanting to be around sickbay while
Sterling's life hung in the balance. I don't think anyone wanted to be
there that night, knowing what was going on.
I don't blame them.
Maybe eventually I'll find a way to relate everything in my
official log. I'm not sure, though. I don't think I'm sure of much
anymore. The fragility of life has finally struck me, for the first time
in seven years of practicing medicine. It's never really struck me like
this before. As horrible as this all was, it was quite a learning
experience.
It's also something I hope never to go through again.
Personal hells are never any fun.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, December 15, 2009 - 1700 hours
Commodore Trevor MacGhaowyn was pronounced dead on arrival in
sickbay today. He had suffered a massive heart attack, which killed
him. An autopsy to confirm this was performed. No word yet on
memorial services.
Miss Macross competition today, leaving me
short-staffed. Not much happened. Richard Hunter came in suffering
from a minor concussion after a patrol mishap. Fox Leader was also
examined for injuries.
Other than the death of our Intelligence chief, the day was
quiet.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, December 16, 2009 - 1900 hours
Bookie came in late last night suffering from undisclosed
injuries. File appended.
We have lost Commander Lisa Hayes and Vermillion Team during
a skirmish. No word on their survival.
Multiple injures to ship's staff during skirmish.
Mostly minor injuries reported among survivors.
May take some personal time soon.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, December 16, 2009 - 1907 hours
It's just been one of those days. There's no other
way to describe it. There's been a lot of good mixed with bad today, and I
can't say whether or not everything balances out.
Michael asked me to marry him today, with most of Fox
Squadron plus Natalya present. My answer was a no-brainer.
It's almost nice not to have to hide everything anymore -- I
mean, it's not a great thing that the Commodore died, but it does mean that
Michael and I don't live in fear of him using one of us against the other
anymore. We can actually be public about our relationship rather than
continue to be discreet -- or as discreet as we've proven to be.
The proposal, I think, though, was probably the single bright
spot. We've lost Lisa and Vermillion Team -- we don't know if they're
alive or dead, and I think it won't be long before the crew gives up on
them. I don't want to -- I could Lisa among my few friends, Rick's a nice
guy, and Max...Max is my fiancé's cousin. Of course I wouldn't want to
see anything happen to him. I owe him a little too much.
I think they're all right. Then again, very rarely do
people actually listen to me when I say something like that. I guess most
don't really have a reason to believe a damned word I say, but I really do think
that it'll all turn out as it was meant to. I really do.
I just hope they come home in time to come to a wedding.
Chief Medical Officer's Log, January 3, 2010 - 0640 hours
I have been remiss in my additions to my log of late,
partially due to nothing happening and again due to everything happening all at
once. Commander Hayes and Vermillion Team have returned to the SDF-1 with
little in the way of harm done to them. Their return was a source of hope
as well as problems for our self-contained community aboard ship.
We are set to arrive at Luna soon.
I have not taken personal time yet. I do not know when
I will.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, January 3, 2010 - 1430 hours
Sometimes, life just gets in the way.
I haven't set down much in this chronicle of mine of late --
been doing too much, I suppose, or too little in regards to remarkable
things. Vermillion Team made it back safe, along with Lisa. That was
a relief and a half, despite a certain someone's less-than-joyous greeting of a
certain family member returned from the grave. Ah well. We've moved
beyond that.
My twenty-first birthday has come and gone -- the first that
has passed without a call from my parents to wish me a happy birthday.
Once upon a time, I could have said the same about a message from my brothers,
but that time passed long ago.
I've learned much from my Christmas gift, sufficient to
say. Now all that remains is figuring out how to get through to people who
have been taught for years to think of nothing but hatred for you. I hope
I can do it. Our daughter doesn't deserve to grow up not knowing the
loving brothers I once knew -- I don't deserve to have to forget them, and those
boys whom I loved so much don't deserve to be buried or forgotten.
I'll find a way to make everything right. I have no
other choice. Michael feels differently, but then again, they're not his
brothers. They're mine.
He's lucky. His brother just didn't know him for family
until recently. Me, I can't live knowing that somehow, some way, my
brothers, who I grew up with and I love with all of my heart, have been forced
to hate me.
I can't live with that.
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, March 4, 2010 - 0600 hours
I cannot believe what my brother has become. He's
not the boy I knew, not in the least. I can't believe it.
We're due to land on Earth today. Maybe we already
have, I don't know. I haven't left my office since last night, since
everything happened at Copernicus. Goddamn. Goddamn. I can't
believe it all. I just can't.
How could they be so evil? How could it be in
them? I just don't understand.
They know about the baby. They said they'll be back for
her. I can't let them have her.
<Records for March 2010 through March 2011 lost/classified>
Chief Medical Officer's Personal Log, April 5, 2011 - 0400 hours
It's late, and I know it. A lot of stuff happened
yesterday, including Michael's cousin getting married. That was
interesting, to say the least. I can note here that she's Zentraedi, since
it's common knowledge. I hope she and Max are happy.
I suppose it's more early than late. I have a shift in
another two hours, jogging in another hour. Michael is still asleep and
Roiya...well, she's amusing herself. I know that I will be prescribing
massive amounts of hangover medication when I do get in this morning, what with
last night's celebration and all. I hope there wasn't rioting.
Rioting makes my head hurt, especially when it involves Lynn Kyle -- the sheer
thought of the man, of what he did to my little sister, makes my skin crawl and
my stomach turn. I can't think about it. I can't think about any of
it, any of what was done to them anymore.
But I dwell on it, more and more every day, as the harsh
realizations of this war strike me. There is not much for me in this
world, little more than my family and a handful of people whom I call my
friends. I need everyone that I have.
As time moves on, I begin to wonder if the visions of my
mind's eye will ever come to pass. I wonder, but I know that the odds are
not good. Toronto confirmed that.
It's hard to believe that it was so long ago -- almost a
year, a year next month. The screams still echo in my mind, in my
heart. I should have been able to stop it...but I was too late. I'm
always too late. I was too late for Chicago, too late for Toronto. I
fear that I'll be too late for the world.