Personal Log - Calindra Hejaran

[Calindra Hejaran]

Lieutenant Wu's Wedding Preparations & The Ceremony

I spent time preparing small vid-droids for Alex's wedding. I assembled a small fleet (okay, a dozen) of miniature flying, ultra-quiet droids, each programmed to capture different aspects of the wedding. One focused on the flower girl, others on the chapel, the groom, and the guests.

During the ceremony, the droids zoomed around capturing candid moments, including reactions, vows, and intimate gestures between the couple. I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, hoping to create a beautiful wedding montage for Alex and Ardin.

�

Day 22: Post-Wedding Montage Creation

I managed to compile the raw footage from the vid-droids into a montage for the lieutenant and his bride, adding nearly 100 still photos. They caught some rare moments like children sneaking treats as well as the bride and groom's loving expressions�!!

Met with Lieutenant Wu, he seemed moved and expressed his gratitude for the wedding footage. We discussed my droid work, and Wu shared his interest in robotics. This encounter leaves me feeling validated and appreciated for my contribution�.

A few days later: Arrival of the Ferengi Delegation

Today the USS Challenger hosts a delegation from Ferenginar. Deputy Minister Mazag, a Ferengi engineering guild chairman, boards the ship to inspect their systems. Mazag is initially unimpressed, calling the warp core "obsolete" and "inefficient."

I think I skillfully handled the Ferengi Deputy Minister's disdain, explaining the ship's tried-and-tested warp core system's reliability and efficiency. My quick thinking and technical expertise seemed to impress the Ferengi delegate, even if I had angered them by no waiting for speaking (being female).

I have a few moments now that the tour of the Sickbay has completed, but I have been invited to the reception dinner. Hoping things go well. Will report on it all later.

[Calindra Hejaran]

Personal Log, Ens.. Sorry, Lieutenant JG Calindra Hejaran - Stardate: 79823.3

Where do I even start? It's been a few days, and I'm still wrapping my head around everything that's happened.

It feels like the kind of mission you'd hear about over drinks — the unexpected diplomacy tour gone wrong, a dinner turned hostage situation, and me, a Starfleet officer, in chains on some dusty Ferengi moon, leading a squad of slaves to freedom. I'd laugh if it weren't so real.

Being in Bralok's compound was... I won't forget it, that's for sure.

I'm Starfleet, so I'm trained to handle a crisis, but nothing quite prepares you for captivity and having to think your way out. If there's one thing I'm proud of, it's the bond that grew among those women that we saved — Braklok's so-called 'sister-wives.' They fought back, dug deep, and found their courage when it mattered most. And if I've learned anything, it's that the will to fight, to hold on, can come from the most unexpected places.

Seeing the Challenger appear over that moon was like breathing again, like finally seeing light after days underground. I tried keeping a steady face, but inside, I was so relieved that the ordeal was over that I fell to my knees and cried like a baby, thinking about how close we all came to being stranded there for good. And yet, here we are — alive, back on duty, and ready for the next starbase.

Following their rescue and subsequent debriefing, Starfleet worked alongside the Ferengi Commerce Authority to ensure each woman was given the option to return home or find safe passage and new opportunities within the Federation. Some chose to stay on Ferenginar, seeking out the stability of the post-Bralok Ferengi social reform initiatives led by Grand Nagus Rom, while others expressed a desire for fresh starts, far from the Ferengi system.

A handful of the more spirited among them even approached Starfleet for positions in auxiliary roles, citing the bravery they witnessed among our crew as inspiration. We coordinated with Starfleet Command to place those interested in civilian support positions on Federation worlds where they could safely rebuild their lives.

As for Lian and a few of the others who chose to depart with us on the Challenger, we've ensured they have accommodations en route to Starbase 153. There, Starfleet's Diplomatic Corps will assist with transitional support and, where possible, help reunite them with any surviving family. Some of these women had been enslaved for years and, as such, face the challenge of adjusting back to civilian life. Starfleet has arranged for counselors and social reintegration programs to be made available to them through our partners.

Though the Bralok Incident is a dark stain on recent relations, the handling of the case — and the Grand Nagus's unprecedented response — will stand as a precedent in Federation-Ferengi relations, fostering mutual accountability and a hopeful shift in policy on both sides.

Looking back, the worst part wasn't even the captivity — it was knowing that people like Bralok have power over others, people who deserve better. But knowing Starfleet and the Ferengi Commerce Authority are cleaning up that mess and helping those victims find new lives... well, that's something. Makes all of this feel worth it, somehow.

I guess this was a reminder that Starfleet isn't always the neat-and-tidy assignments we read about at the Academy. Sometimes it's messy, desperate work, but maybe that's exactly where we find out who we really are.

Now if you'll excuse me, the Japanese Onsen program I uploaded to the Holosuit is finally loaded, and I plan on disappearing for a few days.

Cali-out.