Personal Log 004

Posted on 17 Oct 2014 @ 8:16am by Lieutenant Olsam Mott

376 words; about a 2 minute read

"...and then I finally got reinstated by Captain Holliday. We've begun our trip to Starbase 84, which is supposed to take 27 days. I've not yet decided how to spend my shoreleave, but I will certainly be staying on station. I have little interest in travelling all the way to Bolarus just for cousin Rixx's birthday, which is always an unmitigated disaster."

Olsam paused for a moment, drawing in and letting out deep breaths. He felt like he'd been talking non-stop for half an hour trying to catch up on his much-neglected personal log.

"Computer, end log."

"Unable to comply. This log exceeds Starfleet Regulation 77435-4A regarding data storage parameters."

"What? Elaborate!"

"Starfleet Regulation 77435-4A establishes a maximum data allotment for each personal log based on data availability within the ship's computer core. This personal log exceeds current storage availability by 47%."

"Fine. Override the regulation, authorization code Mott Beta 337 Pi."

"Unable to comply, insufficient security clearance."

"Insufficient!" Olsam sputtered. "I'm a full lieutenant and the assistant chief medical officer of this ship!"

"Override accepted from personnel with Level 8 or higher clearance or members of the senior staff."

Olsam blinked. "Level 8? Are you kidding me? It's an issue of data storage, not life and death! Well... Can't you compress the file or something?"

"Negative. Personal logs are automatically compressed for optimum data storage during recording."

"Well why didn't you tell me it was exceeding the limits when it actually exceeded the limit?"

"Data storage requirements are not calculated until end of recording."

"So you compress the file while I'm talking, but you don't check the size of the file against the availability of space at the same time?"

"Affirmative."

"You've got an attitude problem!"

"Please restate your request."

Olsam glared around the room, unsure where to direct his gaze. Where did you look when the computer was being difficult?

"Fine! Fine. So... Hmm. Let's see. Gotta pare it down, okay. Computer, eliminate all instances from the log mentioning food or food-related substances or events, then recalculate data storage requirements."

"Recalculated data storage requirements are now within acceptable parameters."

Olsam let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally. Computer, end log."

RSS Feed