From the Captain's Chair

   (The following is a very short installment of CHUY DAH but there will be more to report at a later time.)

   A lot has happened over the last 24 hours and I'll do my best to summarize all of it.  Effective Stardate 2014:07:12, I relieve Captain K'Dot and assume command of IKV Doomslayer.  She will retain her position as Chief Medical Officer and resume those duties when her Leave of Absence ends.  I look forward to having her, Cmdr. Bastian & Ensign Tosh back with us when the time comes.  I give my word that I will not betray the trust that's been put in me at this time.

  There are some Promotions to announce, 3 of them to be exact:

1.  Petty Officer Tahd K'Tarra is promoted to Chief Petty Officer with the Honorific of ahktai-.  Until further notice, he is also assigned as Acting Security Chief.

2.  LT Kami tai-Makhleod is promoted to Lieutenant Commander with the upgraded honorific of vestai-.

3.  By Order of General K'nocrod, Cmdr. Kha'vid sutai-Makhleod is promoted to the rank of Captain..  Wait a minute!...  That's me! 

 


Captain Kha'vid sutai-Makhleod
Commanding Officer / IKV Doomslayer

From the XO's Chair

Where has 2013 gone?  It feels like I just posted here a few days ago.  The year 2014 is upon us and with the help of our Quartermaster & the Admin. Officer, we hammered out a calendar for part of the coming year.


. March 8th- General Meeting at Damon's All American Pizza in New Philadelphia, OH 1230hrs.  We are supposed to have at least two Honored Guests.  'Hope to see everyone who can make it for this one!

. April 12th- "Dinner and a Movie Night" at Cmdr. K'Ana's home.  It'll be "pot luck" and we'll enjoy a movie or two together.  Starting time is 1800 hrs. (6pm)

. July 12th- "1st. Annual Doomslayer Christmas in July Party" in Cmdr. K'Ana's back yard.  This idea was the brain child of LT Kami, our Admin. Officer.  We wanted to do a cookout and she made an offhand comment that we might as well have our Christmas Party while we're at it since we can't get anyone together for the ****ing Holidays!  Be careful what you wish for, Lieutennant...  Bring an item for the Gift Exchange but don't spend more than $5.
Starting time is 1600 hrs (4pm) and this event (or at least part of it) will be in full Klingon Uniform.   It's time that we had a group photo of our present crew in their best attire.

That is what we have scheduled for the time being but there has been talk about planning a possible Away Mission to West Side Market in Cleveland, OH.

I also want to take this time to welcome a new crew member to our ship.  Her name is Nancy Fulton but henceforth, she will be known to us as Crewman Jaw'joH K'Tarra.  We are glad to have you with us, Jaw'JoH.

I also want to take this time to share a couple of thoughts.  For two years now, it's been my honor to serve as your 1st. Officer.  For part of that time, I have also been your Acting CO while Captain K'Dot and family have been on administrative leave.  I have done what I can to keep things going and will continue to do so.  I'd like to think that the Chancellor and the Admiral would be proud of us.  No, scratch that...  They ARE proud of us.  No matter what's been thrown at us, we drive on and move forward..  "A thousand times, undefeated!"

Admiral Konnor once called us "the most dangerous crew in the Fleet!"
Time and time again, we will prove him right!

This is all I have for now and I will be signing off.
Qapla'

Cmdr. Kha'vid sutai-Makhleod
1st. Officer / Acting CO, IKV Doomslayer

Tales of the IKS Fire Blade!

As promised, here is everything I've done on this writing project up to now.  More will follow soon.  The 1st series is titled "New Arrival"..

"New Arrival Part #1"

Our story is set aboard the IKS Fire Blade a K'Vort class cruiser. The Commanding Officer is Captain Kuhr. He is not a great hero that you will find enshrined in the Hall of Warriors. It's not likey that he will be invited to join the Order of the Bat'leth anytime soon either. However, he is a good Officer with a repectable Battle Record and a somewhat rough, no-nonsense command style. Kuhr has many years of service to his credit and his crew is proud to call him their Captain.

The morning shift has just taken over on the Bridge & the Captain has appeared on deck. He immediately turns to his 1st. Officer, Commander Jaan, "XO, Report!"

XO- We dock at Outpost 37K within the hour to pick up a supplies and a handful of replacement crew.
CPT- How long?
XO- If all goes well, we will have everything done and be back underway in six hours, no more than- -
CPT- Four!
XO- Sir?
CPT- Four hours, XO. We will do all that needs to be done and be out of there in four hours. I don't like this station and we will not be here any longer than required. If it takes longer, those at fault will answer to me, starting with YOU!... Is there anything else?
XO- (Hands the Captain a Datapad) Yes there is.. We have some crew who will be leaving us today.
CPT- (Takes a seat in his command chair, reads over the pad and flips a switch in the arm of the chair. His voice comes over the ship's loudspeaker) Attention all... This is the Captain. I have been informed that the following crew will be leaving us today. (Captain goes on to read 10 names from various deaprtments aboard ship, going from the most senior in rank to the lowest.) You have all performed admirably and done your jobs well. For that I commend each of you. If you had not, I would have killed you by now. Make no mistake of that. Some of you are moving on to new assignments while others are leaving the Defense Force. Regardless of where you go from here, the entire Crew wishes you well and so do I.. Qapla! (switches off conn)

The ship docks without incident. Shortly afterwards, there is a brief arguement between the XO and the Station's Dock Master. There is rumor of some sort of scuffle but apparently nobody saw anything. A short time later, there is yet another exchange between the Station Commander and the Ship's Captain. Once again, there are rumors of violence but there were no witnesses.

When it was all said and done, the IKS Fire Blade concludes its business and is underway in exactly 3 hours and 51 minutes, a new record for both the Station and the ship. On a side note, it appears that both the Dock Master and the Station Commander met with unfortunate accidents within minutes of each other. Fortunately, neither of them had any life-threatening injuries and they will both be out of the Infirmary in a matter of days. It's such a strange coincidence that all of this took place while Captain Kuhr and his crew were visiting the Station.

A short time after getting underway, the Captain & XO proceed to the ship's Recreation Hall where new crewmembers were taken to wait. It's here that they will officially report for duty. Normally, this is done as they board but an exception had to be made this time. The reasons for that have already been mentioned.
XO- Before we go in sir, there's one thing I need to tell you about. It concerns one of the new Officers. He is a--
CPT- It can wait, XO. Tell me after we're done with this..(The two enter the room and everyone snaps to attention. He immediately begins to address the new arrivals.) I am Captain Kuhr, your Commanding Officer and this is Commander Jaan, the XO. I will be brief. My rules are simple. Do your job! Carry out the duties that you are assigned or I will get someone who can.. Bekks.. (Enlisted and / or Noncoms) Take notice of the woman stainding behind you. (An older but fierce looking Klingon female stomps her right foot as she snaps to attention.) She is Ta'jaH, ranking Noncom aboard this vessel. You will address her as Chief. An order from her is an order from me. Officers, you may hold higher rank than Ta'jaH but I suggest that you respect her experience and years of service. If you can't do that, have enough sense to stay out of her way. (Captain steps back)
XO- You all know what is expected of you now. Stand forward and present yourselves..
Each new crewmember steps forward, giving his name, rank & House they are from if applicable. All of them are waiting for the last one in line to do so, knowing that at least the Captain is in for a bit of a surprise... Then, it comes. "Lieutennant Charlie Richards, Starfleet Reserves... Reporting for Temporary Assignment, SIR!"

Sure enough, there is a Human in a Gold-trimmed Starfleet uniform standing at the end of the line. By appearances, he's slightly below average height and pale skinned (even by Human standards). As far as Humans go, he even appears to be a bit of a weakling. All of this immediately catches the Captain's full attention. For the first few moments, Kuhr is shocked beyond words. This has to be a joke! After taking a moment to collect himself, he slowly steps up to the Starfleet Officer and gets face to face with him..
CPT- Who are you and WHY are you HERE?
Lt.R- I'm LT Richards, sir...
CPT- I know that! Tell me WHY you are aboard MY ship...
XO- Sir, this was what I wanted to speak to you about... As you know, The Empire has an Officer Exchange with the Federation. Four days ago, I advised you that one might be assigned to us for a brief time.
CPT- You should have advised me again this morning, XO.. Why was I not informed when he came aboard?
XO- Given all that happened at the station with the Dock Master and his CO, I did not know about this until an hour ago, sir.
CPT- Point taken, XO.. (turns to Ta'jaH) Chief!... Take charge of your Bekks.. (back to Jaan) XO, send the new Officers to their Department Heads. I will see you and this Human in my Wardroom in half an hour...MOVE!
Everyone disperses, going about thier tasks..

	IKS Fire Blade "New Arrival Parts #2 & 2.5" « Reply #2 on 10-23-12 at 12:10pm »
The allotted time passes. The XO and LT Richards report to the Captain as ordered. The Captain is seated at his desk while the young LT is standing at attention in front of him. The XO is stading nearby. CPT- I have read most of your file Lieutennant and I want a few things explained so we understand each other. Am I correct in stating that you're not even a real Starfleet Officer? LtR.- Respectfully, you would be wrong, sir. I am a Reservist. I serve for two days each month, plus a 20 day training cycle each year to keep my skills sharpened. Ones like me can be called up for Active Duty at any time if the need arises. That happened during the Dominion War and I spent the better part of 3 years on Active Duty. CPT- Understood... Here is what I don't get. How did you end up HERE on a Klingon vessel. Did your Starfleet send you to us with no chice in the matter? LtR.- No, I volunteered for this. CPT- Why? LtR.- It was time for my training cycle and I wanted something challenging, not just another boring 20 days at some petty outpost or a ship that doesen't seem to do much of anything. This appealed to me.... A few years ago, I served with some Klingons. We were together as part of a Joint Security Detail for a Diplomatic Conference on Earth and-- CPT- Aaah yes, the Peace Conference... You were hoping to serve with them again. Is that correct? LtR.- Yes but I knew the chances at that were slim at best, sir. I still wanted this anyway. As I already stated, sir...I like a challenge. CPT- You Humans have an old saying that I've heard once and I like it... I think it's.... "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.." How long will you be with us, Lieutennant? LtR.- 20 days, sir... That's when I'm supposed to report back to Outpost 37K, unless this ship is delayed due to a mission. I would go back afterwards in that case, sir. CPT- Good, we are to recieve new orders at any time now. Our next mission will probably be a Freighter Escort. It's a slow and tedious task but essential in this part of the Empire. I'm assigning you to the Ops station on the Bridge for now. Your file says you are qualified for the position. I suppose our Ops station will be different than the one you are accustomed to but you will adapt. The XO here will brief you on your duty hours, the location of your quarters etc..One last thing... According to the rules of this Exchange, I can't kill you for incompetance. Other than that, you will get no special treatment here. I expect you to meet the standards set for any other Junior Officer in the Defense Force. If you cannot do that, we will have a problem. Do you understand me? LtR.- Yes sir, I will do my best. CPT - You are dismissed. Wait outside for the XO. (The LT turns and exits while the Captain looks to the XO) Stay for a moment... (They wait for the LT to leave.) I only glanced at the file that was sent with him. Have you read all of it? XO- Yes, I have. The Human trained at Starfleet Academy for 3 years and was Field Commissioned during the Dominion War. Most of his time was spent as a Junior Administrator at a Shipyard on Mars. Prior to joining Starfleet, he studied at a Vaaan-duhr-bilt Uuuniversity for 4 years. CPT- Vaaan-duhr-bilt.... XO- It's in a city called Naaash-ville.. The file states that he is from that city. He was Captain of the Chess Team at that school.. CPT- Human style Klin Zah....an interesting game but inferior to ours. This is not why I wanted you to stay, XO. I am concerned. Why would one like this be sent to us? He's no Warrior, at least not by Klingon standards. High Command should have assigned him to some Admin post, similar to what he is used to, not a Battlecruiser. XO- I was thinking the same thing, Captain. CPT- At first, I thought this was General Graag's idea of a joke. It seems like he takes pleasure in making things complicated at times. XO- I've noticed that, sir. If I may ask...what did you ever do to him? It must have been-- CPT- You may not ask or comment, XO! (long pause) Watch the Human carefully. If he can't do his job here, Starfleet looks bad and not us. If he gets killed or seriously hurt on MY ship, that will reflect poorly on me and I would answer to General Graag himself. If that should happen, you won't be here to replace me as Captain. This is all I will say on that matter. Let the Human rest for a few hours and put him to work on 3rd watch with you.. Dismissed! (OOC note: As you might have already guessed, General Graag is Captain Kuhr's superior and more will be heard from him at a later date.) *****************Part #2.5*************************** Personal log entry/ LT Charlie Richards: After my meeting with the Captain, the XO briefed me on protocals and my Bridge responsibilities. I got familiar with my station & asked a few questions. The Captian was right. It is different than what I'm used to but that shouldn't be a problem. A Tech Manual, written in Fed Standard would be a big help right now but that may be too much to ask. My first shift on the Bridge starts tonight. I went to the Mess Hall for Dinner. It wasn't bad at all, much better than the food on Outpost K37. There were a few Klingon dishes that I've been warned to stay clear of, something about being too harsh for my non-Klingon stomach but I haven't found anything that I can't eat yet. Just like the Outpost, there were 2 Noncoms serving everyone. I'm guessing they didn't know what to think of me. I pointed and asked for a bowl of something that looked like some kind of stew to me and one of cooks looked at me like I had lost my mind. He kept saying, "Nobody asks for this unless there's nothing else.." I can't see what all the fuss was about. I liked it. It was really good with the dark bread rolls at the end of the serving line. I also got to meet one of my new shipmates. The Mess Hall was pretty crowded & finding a seat was a little tough at first. I wound up sitting across from Crewman Uhr from Maintenance. He seemed surprised that an Officer, any Officer would even speak to him. Once again, I got a strange look when he saw what was on my tray. He pointed at the bowl and asked, "You like that?" He was about to tell me what was in it when Chief Ta'jaH showed up & tapped him on the shoulder. She took one cold, hard look at him and barked, "Back to work!" I couldn't make out what she said next. I speak Thlingon Hol & there's a Universal Translator built in to my communicator. I still wasn't able to understand but I don't think it was anything nice. As Uhr was leaving, she sounded off for everyone to hear, "7 minutes! That is all the time it should take to eat your meal if you still have duties to perform, no more than that! Take it as a warning!" Four other Noncoms quickly finished and made their way out of the Mess Hall. Since arriving in the Empire, I've noticed that not all Klingons wear Battle Armor... I mean not all of them in the Defense Force. It seems that a lot of Noncoms wear a utility uniform instead, one that's tailored to their specific job. For example, the cooks wear black trousers with soft-sole black boots and a brown tunic that's cut much like a Chef's jacket. Maintenance Techs wear a sleeveless one-piece jumpsuit that's either brown or grey. They have large cargo pockets sewn on both sides of the chest and similar ones on the legs. A tool belt, thick work gloves and leathery steel-toe boots complete that uniform. It's funny that I never thought of that 'til now but it makes sense. I noticed the same thing with Enlisteds in other departments but those two stick out in my memory. It's time to get some rest. My first shift on the Bridge starts in about 4 hours. I have a room-mate in my quarters but was told we would rarely see each other. I can't remember his name but he's a Junior Officer from Security. The XO had Chief Ta'jaH show me to my quarters earlier. She advised me to leave him alone and he would do the same. I don't understand that. There's no reason we can't get along, at least none that I see but I've rambled enough.. I set an alam to wake me at 2230 and the shift begins at 2300. 'Better get some sleep. -LT Richards Next, we have Crewman Uhr (Maintenance Tech.) writing a letter home: My Dear Mother, It was good hearing from you again and thanks for sending me my old work gloves. The ones issued by our idiot Quartermaster were too flimsy and don't last very long. I went through 5 pairs in 6 months and he's threatening to take the cost of the gloves out of my pay if I keep "wasting" them. I hope AbboH is feeling better soon and I want to see him next time I come home. Be sure to tell him I said that. They woke me up last night and called me to the Bridge. I had just gotten to sleep too. We have a new Officer aboard ship, one that you would never expect to see here. He's a Human Lieutennant from Starfleet. It's part of an exchange program with the Federation. I met him yesterday and spoke to him for just a moment. His eating habits are a little weird but he seemed alright. I don't know what the Empire sent in "exchange" for him but I hope we get it back soon. This Human must be stupid or something. Less than an hour on the Bridge and he did something that caused his entire work station to freeze up. Nothing worked! He has no idea what he did to cause that and neither did anyone on the Bridge but it suddenly becomes my job to fix it... I had to shut down the Ops Station, crawl underneath on my back and reboot everything, system by system. This took the better part of two hours while the Captain, XO and the Chief took turns glaring at the Human and staring intently at my work. It shook me up a bit and the Human did not look so well by the time I was finished. By then, it looked like the Captain was ready to stab someone. The XO had this frustrated look on his face and the Chief.... I've seen her angry but not like this. It looked as if she was ready to grab that Lieutennant and push him out an airlock. I was never so happy to be done with a job and ready to get out of there. As I was leaving, I saw the Captain point at me & whisper something to the Chief. She nodded in agreement. I hope they don't intend to blame this on me. I'm due for a promotion in 5 months. I'm sure to find out later but right now, I don't even want to know. One last thing Mother, tell my little brother that I said no.. He can't have my old room and everything had better be just as I left it when I come home! I won't warn him again.. Your Loyal Son, Uhr (special note// AbboH is a nickname. Loosely translated to Fed Standard, it means Grandpa or Grandfather but there's a little more to it than that. It's deeper and more personal.)

Part #3

LT Richards' Personal Log: Eight days aboard the IKS Fire Blade and this assignment is much harder than I expected. All things considered, I am still doing well. A few hours after my first fiasco on the Bridge, I got a knock on my cabin door. I wound up being face to face with TajaH, The Chief. She threw a datapad at me and barked out, "READ THIS & LEARN IT... NOW!... Sir!" It turns out that she presented me with a Tech Manual on K'Vort class Bridge systems, written in Fed Standard. It has been quite useful. She told me later that the pad would need to be destroyed before I leave this ship. It's funny, I've heard people aboard this ship say and I quote, "Cmdr. Jaan (the XO) may be the Captain's right hand but TajaH is his boot!" I'm starting to see why that statement is true. She keeps order here and keeps members of the Crew in line, Officers and Enlisted alike. She is respected by the Noncoms and feared by most of the Officers. A reliable source tells me she came aboard with the Captain when he took command and has been with him for a long time. Moving on to another subject, I see a problem in my near future. I was invited to play Klin Za in the Rec Hall with some of the crew and wound up facing my room-mate, Ensign Mahr from Security. It was close but I beat him in 2 straight games. He nearly had me both times. He took offense when some of his cohorts teased him about being "oiutwitted by a HU-MAN"!... As I said he didn't take it well and he seems like he's not the type to let an insult go unanswered. Since he blames me for it, I am expecting some kind of reprisal soon. (Day #9) Just as I expected, it has begun. When I woke this morning, my boots were fused to the deck. This could have been easily done with a disruptor on a low setting at close range but I'm still trying to figure out how he did it without waking me. It's a good thing I brought an extra pair along. There was more in store for me after my Bridge shift ended. I return to my quarters to find my sleeping mat torn to shreds. It was an extra piece of comfort that I brought to make the Klingon "bunk" a little more bearable. I see what Mahr is trying to do. He is trying to provoke me into a fight and then make short work of me with his bare hands. 'Not going to happen. Using violence a to protect myself or as part of my duty is one thing but I don't believe in fighting for sport or in anger. I suspect that this is only the beginning.. ****************************************************** Captains Log entry: It's taken long enough but The Fire Blade has another mission to carry out.... Freighter Escort, again.... We are proceeding to the Pheben system and will meet up with a convoy of 4 class H Freighters and another battle-cruiser. The freighters will be escorted from their orbit around Pheben Prime to the Homeworld. It is a tedious and somewhat boring task. We will be sharing the duty with The IKS Kethas, under command of Captain K'Maq. I am the Senior of the two Captains. K'Maq served aboard this ship a few years back... Tactical Officer at first and then as XO. I pushed for his promotion and I'm proud to say that he is doing well with a Command of his own. I do not like these escort missions for a number of reasons but the main reason is the Freighters themselves. Class H cargo vessels are out-dated old rust buckets. They are large, bulky, cumbersome, hard to maneuver and unbelievably SLOW... a best possible speed of Warp 4.5 under optimal conditions. They have marginal shielding and minimal defensive weapons of their own. The only reason I can see why these ships haven't been scrapped altogether is because of their capacity. They can haul 3 times the amount of cargo that their newer & faster counterparts are capable of. Someone must see that as an acceptable reason.... I do not! These escort missions are needed at the moment because the Freighters have been an easy target for certain scum that's been polluting our Empire... Orions, Ferengi and worse.. They call themselves "Trader Vessels" & "Salvage Ships" and are allowed to legally operate within our borders but let's be honest and call a thing what it is... When they attack our freighters, they are Pirates and nothing more. Of course, they deny any wrong-doing at all times but a few have been caught in the act. At least 5 times this year, I have suggested to General Graag that this problem could be solved if he would give me 2 other cruisers and 30 days to go hunting. His response was always the same, "Not yet, my friend.. I'm not saying no, just to be patient.." In all honesty, my "patience" is wearing thin in this matter.. On another subject, the Human Lieutenant has been aboard the Fire Blade for 10 days now and has shown a marked improvement, carrying out the duties he has been assigned. Reports from the XO say that he is adjusting well, except for som odd eating habits and a minor conflict with one Ensign Mahr from Security. My orders to the XO are to observe & report for now but not to intervene. I want to see how the Human handles this. Tales of the IKS Fire Blade (New Arrival Part #4) « Thread Started on 4-13-13 at 10:39pm » The Fire Blade is still two days away from their mission in the Pheben System but at the moment, there's something going on at the Mess Hall. The rumored conflict between Ens. Mahr from Security & the visiting Human has gotten a little more heated. This time, Mahr has taken the liberty of openly embarrassing LT Richards in public by first offering a drink he supposedly didn't care for and then pouring it on his head. Richards tries to quietly exit but Chief TajaH follows him into a nearby corridor. After making sure they are alone, she grabs the Human by his shirt and slams him into a wall. T- "This has gone on long enough, sir! You MUST stand up and DO something about it! The whole khestin' ship knows what's going on and they're waiting to see if you intend to ACT!" R- "I only fight in self defense. It's what I've been taught all of my life.. It's part of a code that I live by.." T- "I can respect that but this IS self defense if you take time to think about it! Sit back & do nothing and everyone here will see you as a weakling and a coward.. You think it's bad now? Let him get away with this and it can only get worse. The Captain & XO ordered me to look after you but I WILL NOT stand for you if you won't STAND for YOURSELF! Do you get it now.... SIR!?!" TajaH lets go, snaps to attention and turns on her heel to leave. She is stopped by a hand on her shoulder. R- "I get it now, Chief... Walk with me for a bit." The Human makes his way back to the Mess Hall with Chief TajaH following and approaches the table where Ensign Mahr is sitting. He stands there silent for a brief moment.. Mahr looks up with a degree of surprise but also seems to show some contempt.. "NuqneH, HU-man.. I'm eating now!" "Ensign Mahr.. It's customary for a Junior Officer to stand when being addressed by a superior. That rule applies in my Starfleet and HERE!" Mahr slowly gets to his feet & acknowledges the Chief's presence for the first time. "Is she going to fight for you now? Is that how this will work. I'm not stupid enough to tangle with the Chief..." "She's only here to make sure this stays between the two of us, nothing more.." It's right around this time that Chief TajaH turns and barks an order to everyone else in the Mess Hall.. "VemoH!... Everyone out!... NOW!" It's amazing how a simple word or two from TajaH can get anyone's attention aboard Fire Blade. With just 4 little words, Officers & Noncoms alike are scurrying for the main Mess Hall door.. As the last one exits, someone slaps a button next to the doorway & the big sliding steel door that's never closed... is closed. (Fade to black..) Tales of the IKS Fire Blade (New Arrival Part #4.5) From outside the Mess Hall, some noises are heard from those who decided to wait & see how this plays out. There are sounds of a table or two being overturned, metal trays crashing to the floor and a few noises that most had trouble identifying. Two or three minutes pass & the noises stop. There's a loud click and the Mess Hall door slides open. The first to exit is Mahr but he doesn't look so good. First, there's a nasty looking gash over his left eye that's bleeding quite freely. The second thing noticed is his right arm, hanging from the shoulder at an odd angle and it's clear that he can't move it. He stops & glares at onlookers for a moment and tries to say something but no words come out. Instead, his eyes roll up so one can only see the whites and he falls face first on the deck. Being the last to exit the Mess Hall when this started, TajaH is the first to enter. She finds the LT Richards at the far wall near the serving line. He's seated on the floor with his back resting on the wall and he's struggling to get up. He must have taken quite a pounding in the rib-cage to be moving that slowly. The Human's face is badly bruised and both eyes are nearly swelled shut. He's also bleeding from the mouth & it's obvious that some teeth are missing. He tries to smile at the Chief before speaking, "It's a little hard to say who won.." "It doesn't matter. You stood up to Mahr and put up a good fight. That wins you some respect here. One thing to ponder though... You're walking to the Infirmary on your own and he's not. That says more than you know. 'Better get there and let the medics look at you. You still have a shift on the Bridge in 40 minutes!" A short time later, both Officers are being tended to by the medics while a Doctor supervises. The first thing that's taken care of is Mahr's cut over the eyebrow. It's sewn up with sutures. Next, his dislocated shoulder is tended to. It took two medics to hold him still while a third grabs the arm and pops the shoulder back into place with a loud snap. The only sound made by Mahr himself was a grunt followed by a loud string of obscenities. LT Richards on the other hand is given a mild painkiller & two injections in the face that bring down the swelling around the eyes rather quickly. He's also told to return after his Bridge shift so the Doctor would see what can be done to replace his missing teeth. Treatment for both of them is finished around the same time and they are pronounced "fit for duty". They exit the Infirmary together. The Human turns left, headed for the Bridge while Mahr turns right, heading for his post at "Secured Quarters" (aka the brig). Richards hears Mahr call out to him. "Human! (LT R. turns to face Mahr) .. That armlock you used.." "Yeah, what about it?" "I want to learn it." Mahr snaps to attention, salutes with his uninjured arm & turns to leave. "Teach me how to do those palm strikes first and we have a deal!" "Good, I will see you after duty hours. Maybe we can play Klin-Zha after that!" It seems a bit odd a first but fitting that both of them turn & walk away laughing..

CHUY DAH April 2013

From the XO:

As per the Captain's request, I am offering a few submissions for the Newsletter...  Where do I begin?   Okay, I got it...  Here we go..  Arm-bar, wrist-lock, ankle-lock, rear naked choke....

If those are not the submissions she was talking about, I have this to offer:
With Admiral Konnor's passing, there were some items that were given to us and are being used to rebuild the ship's archives.  To be more precise, we now have a collection of back issues of this newsletter, dating back to the very first Chuy Dah.  There was also an assortment of Tech journals & handbooks, tailor made for various Department Heads aboard this ship and they were issued accordingly.  Another item (or items) is a collection of photos from different Camp Dover's, Doomslayer Picnics and other Ship functions going back at least 15 years.  Finally, there was one last piece that was added and this one was by far my favorite..  It's an non-published short story, written by a noted Trek Author who shall remain nameless for this forum.  The story is titled "A Good Day To Live" and was written as a gift for our own Chancellor Klaad.  It is a good read.  Recently, I spoke with said author and was given permission to make copies of the story for any
 Crew-member who wants one.

Aside from the Archives, I do have some other news to report.  I am currently working on my own writing project at the moment.  It's called "Tales of the IKS Fire Blade" & it is based aboard a K'Vort Class Cruiser called the IKS Fire Blade.  You can see my work posted on the IKEF Message Board.  Also, not to long ago, I posted Part #1 of my first storyline involving this ship & crew.  'Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed putting it together.

What else can I report?  Oh yes...  For those who did not know, LT K'ami & I are Grandparents again, two more times over in fact.  Our daughter Anna (aka Qiana Makhleod) & her boyfriend, Jerry Nape welcomed their son, Gauge Alexander Nape into the world on December 11th, 2012.  On January 10th of this year, my son Josh (aka Qos Makhleod) & his fiance Tosha Hackney welcomed a daughter, Wynter Emmy Young.  Little miss Wynter shares a Birthday with our own Chancellor Klaad and I think she has a little spark of his fighting spirit.  At just two hours old, she was transferred from Union Hospital in Dover to Akron Childrens' Hospital due to respiratory problems.  It took a couple of days but she fought her way through and is now doing very well.

We have welcomed some new recruits over the last few months.  First, we have Ensign Tosh Makhleod who is now our new Medical XO.  It could be said that our own Cmdr. K'Ana has brought us two more.  Her son Tahd switched from the Cadet Corps to the ship's Active Roster and has been promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 3rd. Class.  A friend of the Commander's has also shown an interest and we hope to be hearing from her again soon.  We also have an Honorary member to speak of, Mr. Dale Pierce of New Philadelphia, OH.  In addition to being a scholar and a published author with at least a dozen books to his credit, he has also been a longtime friend & ally of Admiral Konnor and myself.  Even though he once said that active fandom isn't his thing, he is a kindred spirit who fits in with us better than he knows.  He shall be known to us as Thought Master Dahl'pirz Makhleod, Master Scribe & Storyteller.

This concludes the XO's report..
Cmdr. Kha'vid sutai- Makhleod
XO, IKV Doomslayer

CHUY DAH April 2012

From the XO's chair:

It still seems weird, sitting here and someone's missing; but it's just like we said before... Doomslayer is still here. We are still flying. Yes, we have been hurt from our losses, but we are not beaten. "For just as mere life is not victory, mere death is not defeat. And in the next world i shall kill the foe a thousand times, laughing, undefeated." That is the spirit of the Doomslayer, for no matter what is thrown at us, we just keep coming back.

For the next quarter, the crew of the Doomslayer will be more active than they have been in some time. However, right now, we would have it no other way. On 12 May, 2012, we are planning an informal away mission at the New Town Mall in New Philadelphia, OH, in honor of our Chief Enginer's Birthday. The ships company will gather to attend a movie of Commander Bastian's choice and the time will be announced closer to the mission date.

On 9 June, 2012 is the annual IKV Doomslayer Picnic at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia, Ohio. This year's picnic will be in memory of our departed ship mates, Chancellor Klaad and Admiral Konnor. All who can attend are invited to join us. Festivities will begin at 11:am. The crew of the Doomslayer will supply a main course (fried chicken) and we ask everyone else to bring a side item or two, whatever you wish, to share. Please bring your own beverages, or they may be purchased at the park concession stand. If you plan on attending, just let us know in advance so we have an idea of how many will be coming.

On 14 July, 2012, the IKV Doomslayer returns to the Bread Head Bakery in Dover, OH for a general meeting. As always, we welcome anyone in Fandom or anyone interested in fandom to attend. This crew is always on the hunt for new recruits.

Cmdr. Kha'vid sutai-Makhleod
XO / Chief Security Officer
IKV Doomslayer
Flagship
IKEF

CHUY DAH February 2012

From The Captain's Chair

With our first meeting after the passing of Admiral Konnor under our belts, I feel confident in saying that the Doomslayer is still going strong. We had a great turn out, and I would like to thank everyone who attended for coming out despite the weather. I'd also like to thank Lt. General Vamphry zantaI-Tumid, and Colonel K'jinn sutai Tumid, the Captain and XO of the Tumid's Wrath H.A.V., for not only joining us but lending their support during this time of transition.


Speaking of transitions, we have a few people here on the IKV Doomslayer who are changing or adding positions as well as a New Recruit!

• Commander Sebastian vestai-Makhleod will be taking on the position of Chief of Operations along with his duties as Chief Engineer.

• Commander K'Ana vestai-K'Tarra has been reassigned as the Ship's Quartermaster. (Nice to see you out of the air ducts my dear...)

• Master Chief K'Jor Makhleod (son of Cmdr. Sebastian & Capt. K'Dot) is now officially assigned the position of Security XO, with all of the rights, privileges & responsibilities entailed by that position.

• I would like to welcome our newest member, recruit Hov'puq Thorson who has become a member of house Makhleod! It is also my pleasure to announce that Recruit Hov'puq Thorson Makhleod is promoted to the rank of Ensign and assigned as Engineering XO with all of the rights, privileges & responsibilities entailed by said rank and position.

Congratulations to one and all! It is an honor to have you all aboard the Doomslayer. Let us all face the battles of our future together, with courage, dignity, and honor! We shall bring glory and honor to our ship, our houses, and the IKEF!

Qapla'!

Capt. K'Dot-Ka'li



Feb. 2nd: Khavid and Kammie’s Anniversary
Feb. 7th: Margaret Wander Bonanno’s birthday
Feb. 11th Doomslayer General Meeting @ Bread Head Bakery
Feb. 14th: HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Feb. 14th: Cadet Qos’ birthday

Mar. 10th: Doomslayer General Meeting @ Bread Head Bakery
Mar. 13th: Cadet Recruit Rha’lyn’s birthday
Mar. 17th: Honoring the passing of Chancellor Klaad
Mar. 17th: HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY (“Everybody‘s Irish tonight.” -- Murphy McManus, The Boondock Saints)

Sad News

It saddens me to have to report that we have lost another great member of the IKV Doomslayer. Admiral Konnor sutai-Makhleod, CO of the Doomslayer, passed away January 11th due to complications from existing health issues. He was laid to rest earlier today after a beautiful and touching service attended by family and many friends. He was a warrior with out equal and the halls of Sto'Vo'Kor will echo with the tales of his great deeds.

Let it be known to one and all that the fate of the Doomslayer will never be in question. As long as one of us lives, this ship will continue to fly. I must say, however, taking over command was never my goal. But the fates have other plans for Admiral Konnor, so now here I sit in the big chair. I can not replace him, nor will I try. But I will do my best to lead this ship with the courage, honor, and devotion to the crew that Admiral Konnor so exemplified.

Captain K'Dot-K'ali sutai-Makhleod
CO, IKV Doomslayer
- Flagship - IKEF
House Mother & Proctor
of Clan Makhleod

October 2011

(According to the computer stats, CHUY DAH has passed the 60-post mark!)

Greetings, one and all, to the October issue of the Empire's top newsletter, the excellence that is CHUY DAH. . .

This is going to be a short newsletter, because let's face it, not much is really going on right now. Not because of apathy or inattention, but due simply to that daemon we call "real life". And that's okay, because it's been a helluva year for us all, a hell in various forms. Not to say there haven't been high points, but it's been hard, and I think we've all needed the time to take care of things.

That being said, onto business:

I'm suspending this month's meeting, as well as next month's -- but would like to suggest an event for this month, which is somewhat related to our "Dinner and Movie Night":

On October 21st, a new version of one of my all-time favorite movies -- "The Three Musketeers" -- is due to be released. One of the major stars is our late Thought-Admiral's dream girl, one Milla Jovovich (as Milady DeWinter). And since our movies were going to be a Milla retrospective anyway, I suggest that we attend this movie and have dinner at New Towne Mall. As for me, I plan on seeing the movie on the 21st (or 22nd) regardless, but I'd like to think that the boss would appreciate the symbolism of this event.

Also, a certain member of this crew (who is currently MIA at this time) has a birthday around this time, so we can celebrate it as well...

I'd appreciate crew input on this.

And now, before I sign off for the time being, a moment of Zen...

Hell May Have Very Well Frozen Over...

Crew, today is a special day. "Why is that, Admiral ?" you may ask.

(Go ahead, ask.)

It's a special day because today, after 28 years of swearing he'd never get married, my favorite bass player and one of my personal heroes, Gene Simmons, is finally tying the knot with his lady, Shannon Tweed.

In honor of this cosmically rare event, I raise a flagon of the Clan's best bloodwine in their honor, and am officially ordering bloodwine to be served freely in the galley all day today!

TO THE MARRIAGE! QAPLA!

Lest we forget

On this day in our history, let's make sure that we at least took a moment to remember the events that occured, as well as raise a flagon of bloodwine and the howl to the valiant souls who were taken far too early along with the warriors who continue to fight the good fight even now.

QAPLA!

SEPTEMBER 2011 -- BACK TO THE ACADEMY

Greetings one and all! The halls of the ship are far quieter now, thanks to the fact that all the cadets are back at the Academy -- and it's not a moment too soon; I was getting tired of all the foodfights in the galley!

It's September, and this is the Back To School issue of the one and only CHUY DAH -- accept no substitutes!


FROM THE ADMIRAL'S CHAIR

Okay, I guess there are those of you who've been wondering what the heck's been going on with me and why things have been so quiet. Here's the full explanation:

About a month or so ago, I began developing spasms in my upper back that would alternate between my shoulder blades. A CT scan showed me something I wasn't expecting: possible cancer cells in one of my rib bones. Needless to say, I was freaked out for a bit, as was my family. But the docs started me on a new type of chemo that's in pill form, and that I can take at home (4 pills, twice a day - bleh).

Good news: The spasms stopped.
Bad news: The side effects of this new drug include potential muscle and joint pain.

Couple that with the sudden influx of tropical storms and the changes they make, and I'm down with a little thing called "barometric orthralgia", which translates into arthritic-like attacks in my knees and ankles. Bottom line, I'm not walking far, not without a wheelchair, walker, or cane. The pain got bad enough that I ended up in the Aultman ER one Sunday, wondering why I can't even stand without screaming (you know how the pain scale goes 1 to 10? I found 12).

But, over time (with the help of certain lovely painkillers), this cleared up, and now I'm walking normally, just a little slowly right now as I get my strength back. I couldn't get to the computer easily, so that's why there's been no newsletter. Till now.

Okay, there's more. If you've been following my recent Facebook postings, on August 18th, I also became a great-uncle for a 2nd time! My nephew Mark and his fiancee Joy had a son, Layne Michael Miller, who came into the world at 5 lbs. 10 oz. and 18 inches long. From what I was last told, he's coming along just fine. So this also means we have a new Cadet as well!

And last -- but by no means least -- I have finally gotten published!

The book in question is an original manuscript I wrote in 2009, titled JERICHO HILL AND THE CASE OF THE FALLEN ANGEL. It's my try at hard-boiled detective fiction, and it's available through a direct link at www.lulu.com (I've got the link, so let me know if you'd be interested...). The Dover Public Library has the second copy -- my parents have the first one.

Enough about me.

This month's meeting location has been changed from 1 pm at Bread Head Bakery to 2 pm at my house, due both to a fire on September 3rd at the Main Moon resteraunt and the fact that I will be house-sitting September 10 (which is this Saturday). This is not the Dinner and Movie Night; just bring some kind of snack, and I'll provide the drinks. Hope to see everyone then.

The Calendar of Events is next...

CHUY DAH - July 2011

If you're hoping for the Empire's Swimsuit edition, sorry, this ain't it...


INTRODUCTION
To start off this issue, a belated Happy Birthday to our Chief Logistics Officer, Lt. Cmdr. K'Ana! Hope you had a great day and drank as much bloodwine as you could...

SHIP'S BUSINESS
This month's meeting will be at our usual meeting place -- of course I speak of the Bread Head Bakery -- on Saturday, the 9th of July, at 1 pm (this is due to the new closing time of the BHB: 3 pm).

Since most of our cadets are now much older, it's time that our roster illustrate this. So I've taken the liberty of retooling it to better reflect the changes. It'll work a little something like this:

Ages 0 - 9: Trainee

Ages 10 - 13: Specialist

Ages 14 - 18: Officer

Any crewmember under the age of 18 will now carry an NCO rank without any honorific, and will be summarily promoted at the appropriate age.

While I'm on this subject, I've decided to personally add an special Honorary Member to it; my pastor, Reverend Michael Lowry, who has recently left my church and returned home to Maine, will now carry the office of Ship's Chaplain, with the honorary commission of Commander. You may be wondering why I've done this. Not only has he been a good friend and spiritual guide to me and my family, he's the first minister I've ever known who freely admits to being a science-fiction fan (especially a fan of Doctor Who). This was my tribute to him.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

July 9th: Doomslayer General Meeting @ Bread Head Bakery -- 1 pm.

CHUY DAH - June 2011

Okay, to start things off, I've discovered I'm going to have to borrow a page from the Federation and get myself an aide -- my desk looks like a battlefield (not that that's a bad thing, mind you, but it does make one fall behind on matters).

Belated Happy Anniversary wishes to my 2nd and 3rd in commands. . . I couldn't ask for a finer duo to work with.

In honor of their anniversary, I'm mandating that there will be an extra ration of bloodwine with all meals for this coming week!

This month's meeting will be held at the New Towne Mall's miniature golf course on June 11th at 1 pm -- that's right, once again, it's time for the Doomslayer Invitational (Mini) Golf Classic!

Calendar of Events to follow. . .

CHUY DAH - May 2008 (Mother's Day Special)

This issue of CHUY DAH is dedicated to all those of the maternal persuasion -- of course I speak of Moms everywhere -- on this special day. Like I always say, without our Moms, where would we all be?

Additionally, this month's issue is also dedicated to the members of the elite Special Operations team known as SEAL Team Six, the team that took out the world's most wanted terrorist, Usama ben Laden. To you gentlemen, KAI KASSAI and a big HOORAH!

Okay, now onto business. . .

This is May, and according to the ship's calendar, our event for this month is the annual Ship's Picnic, which will take place on the 14th at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia at 1 pm. As usual, it's BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic), and we'll need an advance party to find a table for everyone (I'm taking volunteers for this detail). I'd also like to add that I'm lifting the moratorium on fried chicken and watermelon; let's just be careful where we are at the time, okay?

I had a good visit last month at Borders with Captain Kh'Per, who sends greetings to everyone.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 8th: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

May 12th: Chief Engineer Sebastian's birthday

May 20th: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" released

May 21st: Captain Kh'Per's birthday

May 30th: MEMORIAL DAY (where we remember the warriors who fought for us)

May 30th: Adm. Konnor's birthday (did you think I was going to let this pass?)

CHUY DAH -- April 2011

FROM THE ADMIRAL'S CHAIR

First of all, I'd like to begin this newsletter by thanking everyone who attended last month's memorial dinner at The Manor. I think we all enjoyed the evening, and even the Chancellor would have loved it as well. (K'Ana -- sorry to hear that you had tonsilitis; you were missed, let me say for the record.) It's still hard to believe that it's been over a year now since Chancellor Klaad went on to the Black Fleet...

This month's event will be our semi-annual "Operation: Get out of Town" excursion to the Canton Sector this coming Saturday afternoon. The gathering point -- as usual -- will be the Borders bookstore on The Strip in North Canton.

You don't have to exclusively stay there; there are plenty of stores in the area -- but as for myself, you know where I'll be found. I'd like for all of us to meet around noon (or whenever you can get there).

An update on my medical condition: I've completed all the radiation therapy, and am now concentrating on healing from the burns that I suffered from it (unfortunate side-effect, I'm told). I'll be seeing my oncologist this Thursday, and find out what the next step in my treatment.

The Calendar of Events (and any further news) will be coming next...

MARCH 2011: Remebering and looking forward

From the desk of the XO, Capt. K’Dot-Ka’li sutai-Makhleod


It's March, 2011... Didn't we just start the year? Where does the time go? I look out the window here and see the grass is green and some of the trees are starting to bud already. There are children with skate boards instead of snowballs. I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose. Having spent all of my time here on Terra in this one area, I should be used to the fickle changes in weather. Ah well.

The regularly scheduled meeting is being replaced this month by a quiet family dinner on March 17th in honor of Chancellor Klaad. Take a moment my friends and raise a glass, drink a toast, and remember not only our fearless leader, but all our fallen brothers and sisters. They deserve no less.

As we remember those who have gone on, let us also look to the future as we celebrate the birthday of our youngest member, Cadet Recruit Rha’lyn! Happy Birthday little sprout!


Calender of events:

March 13th: Cadet Recruit Rha’lyn’s birthday

March 17th: Doomslayer family dinner

March 17th: St. Patrick's Day

February 2011 -- the Valentine's Day issue

Greetings, brothers and sisters! Yes, I'm back in action, still somewhat sore from recent surgical procedures, but as I always say, you can't keep a good Klingon down for long! (Unless there's a good Klingon woman and a great deal of bloodwine involved, but enough about my therapy...)


FROM THE ADMIRAL'S CHAIR

I'd like to start off by thanking all crewmembers who attended the first meeting of 2011 at my residence -- this was the largest meeting we've had in quite some time!


The Bread Head Bakery has recently informed me that they have changed their closing time from 6 pm to 3 pm on Saturdays. Given that our standard meeting time was usually 1 pm, this might serve as a problem. . .but since we of the Mighty Doomslayer strongly adhere to the principles of "improvise, adapt, overcome", there is a solution.


Starting in February, any Ship's meeting that takes place at the Bread Head will start at 12:30 pm, instead of 1 pm. One of the staff members (a friend of mine) has said that as long as she's there working and cleaning up after 3 pm, we're welcome to stay if our meeting runs longer then usual. So this problem is covered -- but make note of the schedule change, folks!


Continuing on...


As we discussed at the January meeting, we will be collecting for the ship fund from every crew member to build up operating capital for future missions. The amount will be $3.00/month (to be collected at meetings/events) or $36/year (how you choose to pay it is up to you). I'm not going to say that if you fall behind, you're barred from the next event or anything like that; just remember to keep up.


I'd also like to receive individual reports for future newsletters, people. That's all I'm going to say. And will keep on saying till I start getting them on a regular basis!


I'd like to congratulate two newly-promoted noncoms who joined the ranks of the crew at the January meeting:

Master Chief Petty Officer T'Lisen, our newest Security Specialist

Petty Officer 2nd Class Qod, our newest Operations Specialist

(Ah, they grow up so fast...) Congratulations, young warriors - - I know you'll serve this ship well!


Now, before I put up the February Calendar, allow me to leave you with a moment of Zen:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February is Avocado and Banana Month! ( I had no idea)

Feb. 1st: Working Naked Day
Feb. 2nd: Groundhog Day (Punxsutawney represent, yo!)
Feb. 2nd: Commander Kha'Vid and Lt. K'Hammie's Anniversary
Feb. 2nd: Imbolic (???)
Feb. 3rd: HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR (The Year of the Rabbit)!!
Feb. 6-12th: National Jell-o Week
Feb. 8th: Lt. K'Wendah's birthday
Feb. 8th: Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Feb. 12th: Doomslayer General Meeting @ Bread Head Bakery -- 12:30 pm.
Feb. 13th: Get a New Name Day
Feb. 14th: Cadet Qos' birthday
Feb. 19th: The 30th Anniversary of the death of AC/DC's original lead singer, Bon Scott
Feb. 28th: Public Sleeping Day

January 2011: A New Year, A New Log

From the desk of the XO, Capt. K’Dot-Ka’li sutai-Makhleod


Another year here on Terra has passed. 2010 is gone and I can’t say I’m sad to see it go. It’s been a rough year for many here on the Doomslayer, and for many others through out the ‘verse. Let us raise a glass of blood wine and remember all those that have gone ahead to Sto‘Vo‘Kor and in salute to all who have survived to continue the battles that have been set before us!


I am happy to report that Admiral Konnor has dealt well with the medical issues he has faced this past year. The surgery went very well and was completed in less time than it was expected to take. He is recovering well and is in very good spirits. Qapla! Admiral Konnor! We, the loyal crew of the IKV Doomslayer, are honored to serve with you and provide all the assistance we can while you continue your recovery!


As with every new year, it is time to rethink, reorganize, and redo many things for the ship! This means we will all be filling out paper work and updating the Ships Calendar as well during the upcoming meeting. Also, please keep in mind that Admiral Konnor has offered up the option to reinvent your self (character wise) if you so choose. So think about whether or not there are any changes you would like to make to your persona. Due to the Admiral’s health, we will be meeting at his house this month at #pm. Please bring any information you may need to update your medical forms as well any information regarding an activity or away mission you would like to see the ship undertake this year.





CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

January 3rd: National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.
These treats can also be made with prunes! What a delicious treat for every Klingon warrior!

January 4th: Lt. Kammie’s Birthday

January 8th: Doomslayer General Meeting: Admiral Konnor’s Dwelling at 2pm

January 8th-14th: Universal letter writing week- Don’t forget to write home to Mom.
She misses you and longs to hear of the battles you have won!

January 10th: Chancellor Klaad’s Birthday (RIP)

January 15th: Cmdr. Kha’Vid’s Birthday

A Note From The Admiral

I'm sending this out from my dwelling, where I'm getting some long-overdue R&R (or so the CMO tells me). I'm doing well, but still fairly sore from the procedures. . .feels like I've been stampeded by a herd of targs. 2010 has been a helluva year, even more so then others, and I will happily raise a mug of bloodwine to its departure. We have suffered losses that would cripple other warriors. . .and we have taken hits of our own in various forms. But despite everything that has happened to us all, one fact remains intact: we are still standing. A bit bloodied, bruised, and sore, but still we stand. And I take a full measure of pride in that -- as you all should as well.

As I write this, 2010 has about 24 hours left to live, and 2011 -- that new and undiscovered country -- is waiting. Let us not go into the unknown with heavy hearts, but with hearts ready to take on whatever comes. We are still The Mighty Doomslayer, the home of The Most Dangerous Crew in the Fleet. . .so the question must be asked: 2011 -- ARE YOU READY FOR US?

I'd like to end this note with the lyrics to a song from the soundtrack of "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" -- and when you read these words, I think you'll find a fitting way to sign off the old year and begin the new. The song is titled "Better Days", and Kahless knows, we could use some right.

Here's to us all -- QAPLA!

Adm. Konnor

Better Days
by: The Dirges

You, my friend, must realize
The time we have won't last
You can't erase the past
Lord knows I've tried
There are times I've been weighed down
Black and blue inside me
Old wounds still residing
Beneath my skin

So let's raise a glass
To better days
Forget the past
And our wicked ways
Just let me sing
This one last song
And make this feelin' last
All night long

A fresh start is what you need
So let's begin again
I will be your friend
From this day on
You can rely upon me
If you ever need to
I will help you get through
And find your way

So let's raise a glass
To better days
Forget the past
And our wicked ways
Let's sing together
This one last song
And make this feelin' last
All night long

Forgive yourself
Know all is well
Dust yourself off
And tell your blues
To go to hell

So let's raise a glass
To better days
Forget the past
And our wicked ways
Let me just sing
This one last song
And make this feelin' last
All night long

Let's raise a glass
To better days
Forget the past
And our wicked ways
Let me just sing
This one last song
And make this feelin' last
All night
All night
All night
Long

December 2010 - The Xmas Special

FROM THE ADMIRAL'S CHAIR

Greetings, one and all! As I write this, it's about as cold as Rura Penthe outside my dwelling; I still find it hard to believe (even after all this time) that the Terrans actually find this type of weather enjoyable. . .

Before I get to business, a medical update: as of last Monday, I've concluded my chemotherapy treaments. I'm scheduled to undergo surgery on December 27th, and will be out of action (for the most part) about 6-8 weeks. This means that I will NOT be writing the next issue of CHUY DAH. . .and unless someone volunteers to take over this task, I'm going to have to appoint someone myself. Don't say you weren't warned.

As always, December means that it's time for the ship's annual Christmas Party, and this year's party is going to be a combination of events; not only will it be a Christmas Party, but also the ship's Dinner And A Movie Night as well.

The party will be this coming Saturday -- December 11th -- at my residence, starting around 4 pm. Capt. K'Dot Kali will be providing the main course, while I provide the drinks, table service, and the movies and place. We'll need at least a side dish or two, along with at least one dessert. If you feel like providing anything more, by all means, feel free to do so.

As for the evening's movies, this year will be a Boondock Saints retrospective (both The Boondock Saints and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day). I hope to see everyone this weekend.

I nearly forgot -- there will be a "White Elephant" gift exchange as well. Bring something you have but haven't used (that would be suitable, gift-wise), and if you feel so inclined, spruce it up a bit.

Before the festivities get too far gone, there will also be a brief meeting.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Dec. 11th: Doomslayer Xmas Party/ Dinner & A Movie Night @ Admiral Konnor's - 4 pm
Dec. 14th: Fleet Mom's Birthday
Dec. 17th: Milla Jovovich's Birthday (Chancellor Klaad's favorite actress)
Dec. 25th: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dec. 27th: Adm. Konnor's surgery & medical leave
Dec. 31st: NEW YEAR'S EVE