"Computer, start log... Actually, just—ah, let's just talk, okay? Stardate 79847.7."
"Today was... wow. I'm finally here on the Challenger. Can you believe it? I actually walked her corridors! And she's so much more impressive in person. I think I just stood there staring when she arrived at the dock, trying to take it all in. For a second, I wondered if anyone noticed me standing there with my mouth open, looking like some starstruck cadet on her first day. But, you know what? I don't even care. She's beautiful."
Meval was still trying to process that this was going to be her new life. She had arrived during some downtime, so it would be a few days before she could truly meet the crew. But she hoped she might run into some of them during these three days of leave.
"They gave me permission for a quick tour, so of course, I went straight to the science labs. They're perfect, like... everything I could have ever wanted, and more. I was touching the consoles and running my hands along the walls, trying to let it all sink in. I keep thinking, 'This is it, this is where I'll work, my space.' It's hard to believe it's real."
She continued her log, almost like a child discovering something new. That first rush of excitement over everything fresh and unfamiliar.
"I have a few days before we depart, so I'll try to settle in and not get too swept away by all this excitement. There's so much to learn, so many people to meet. But I just... I want to remember this moment, you know? This feeling like anything could happen. Computer, is it normal to feel this nervous and this excited at the same time? Because I feel like I could burst."
"End log. Or... yeah, I think that's it. For now."
