Family

Posted on Tue Feb 24th, 2026 @ 9:32pm by Lieutenant Jane Belanger Dr

551 words; about a 3 minute read

Computer, begin recording personal log.

I thought I'd never get to settle in my quarters. One minute after I set foot on deck, I had one of the worst medical cases to consider, followed by my first Senior briefing. After lunch and unpacking, I finally got around to meeting my staff officially... Hopefully I impressed on them the way I intend to run the department.

I'm actually running a medical department now.

I'm not so sure how much of it registered for them, since I followed that up with a general introduction to the varied lifeforms I got delivered to the exobiology lab. Then of course I spent half the shift in said lab to work out proper care for it all with the specialist. I will still do a lot of the extractions and preparations by myself until I can be sure it's all done properly. The last thing we need is to hurt the patients we try to heal.

There is forever word of new technologies coming our way. Of course Starfleet Medical needs in-depth studies and trials to validate any and to provide all the correct details. In the meantime, we'll stick with what we know best. I hope to live long enough to see all these promised wonders. Ha!

And then there is that one patient that won't let us offer any healing beyond basic care but is all in my CMO records, unfortunately standing as my first entry. I'll just add that the only person perhaps more sorry than I am is Dr Larkin, since we are lucky enough to get a trained surgeon on the medical roster. He was the one bit of good news today. After a look at his dossier, Larkin is my obvious choice to replace me in Sickbay when needed. All of us need to sleep sometimes!

I'd better follow my own advice there... There was the response to send around following Capt. Caroline Paris' recent message, I went over it in my previous log. Then of course a two-part message for the Morning Star, part one for my parents, part two for the rest of the family.

I learned a while ago that there were a couple changes aboard since my last communication. I must admit these were too far and few in the last year, one thing always chasing another. Dea got married and joined another crew. Thankfully a new hand volunteered at the last stop on a colony. It was very much how my parents started on their own journey as boomers. They never looked back. I know they have this new family member under their wing. They know what an adjustment it is. We can only hope.

Says the one who made the other choice and went for another lifestyle. I am very lucky the Morning Star was so acceptant of my decision. Though it did take a little while, many messages and what few visits I was able to organise thanks to multiple transfers within the Medical Exchange. It is the one point that grates with this Starfleet assignment. I'm far from my old home, my family and I can't see many opportunities to drop for a visit in coming years.

We'll find a way. Jane Belanger, signing off.

Lt Jane Belanger, MD
CMO
Sentinel Station

 

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