Red Shirt
Personal Log 546:
I am not stupid. I know that I am going to die in the coming days when the ship orbits its next planet to explore. It’s my turn in the rotation and all the signs are there. There was even a glitch in the duty program and I was simply listed by my service number. But this has been a long time coming. I realized no one knows my name since I am always referred to simply as ‘ensign’. I might as well be wearing a red shirt.
As a kid I spent a lot of time viewing what our ancestors called television programs and I really liked ones that they called science fiction. My favorite was about this crew and their mission to explore strange and new worlds. Watching them discover new places and species, battling aliens, and all the sex the captain was getting, made me join The Fleet to be like them.
I now realize I am nothing like them. I am one of those nameless guys in the red shirts that no one knows and always end up dead. I am suffering from Red Shirt Syndrome, but I have to fix it.
I am going send this log to everyone on the ship before we leave for the planet in the hopes that people will know who I am. I will tell everyone my life story, my thoughts, and my dreams. I will no longer be nameless and that should be enough to save myself.
My n@Me i$ 3n$1gN…
<FILE CORRUPTED>
<TRANSMISSION ABORTED DO TO CORRUPTION>
Command’s Log:
Today was another glorious day for The Fleet. Our away mission to the planet was a great success and opened up future trade relations with the Anthogians.
The Anthogians are fearful, though advanced species. Despite their advanced civilization, they have not ventured out into the galaxy. Not because they do not have the ability to do so, but because they feel others will try to forcibly take their knowledge from them.
After weeks of talks and negotiations, I was able to broker a trade agreement were they help us further our research and development while we bring them knowledge and resources from the cultures we have already encountered. I do feel they will provide a great benefit to The Fleet’s future, but interaction must be handled gently until our two species come to a better understand. I would hate to see what happened to that ensign happen to someone of importance or use.
We had been transported to the surface of the planet without incident. Our Away Team consisted of myself, Science Officer Beaker, Chief Engineer Sparks, Security Chief Gunn, Medical Office Jones, and an ensign for additional security.
Within minutes of landing, we were greeted by representatives of the Anthogian Royal Court. They escorted us to a reception hall for introductions and a meal; allowing us to learn more about their culture, customs and, as the ensign learned the hard way, etiquette.
The meal was somewhat of a ceremonial buffet with numerous dishes set on the table for us to take from and try, but we failed to realize some dishes were only for the Royals. The ensign made the mistake of helping his self to one of these and paid with this life.
Before I had even realized, the ensign gravely insulted the Royals when he ate from one of their entrees. Without notice or explanation, one of the guards shot the ensign with some sort of beam weapon which brought about a very painful death. The images of him somehow being turned inside out will forever haunt me almost as much as his screams.
Luckily, we were able to calm the situation and apologize for the misunderstanding on behalf of the ensign. The rest of the mission went on without incident.