The Journal of Orzal Dax.

Deezell, bless her, got back to me. She's very frail these  days but her mind is still in one piece or as she put it 'no holes in this marbles bag'.  Jurlan died three years ago as far as she knows. Not totally confirm but she heard him referred to in the past tense. She knows that he trained a group of bounty hunters over the last 20 years of his life. This group call themselves the Vleeb Botherhood.  They are well known for going after artifacts,  treasure and assorted high valued materials. She said that the circumstances of these thefts do fit their M.O.  She told me under no circumstances should even consider trying to track them down. If they are anything remotely like the gang Jurlan had aboard his ship, the Red Kite, then they are extremely dangerous.   I have passed all the information I have to Colony Security who have assured me that they will liaise with StarFleet Intelligence.   I guess my sculpture and the other items are lost....

Colony Security has completed a full spectrum scan and it appears that they were removed using a tight confined transporter beam coupled with a localised sensor jamming beam. Now, they tried to trace the source but that's where the trail goes cold. It would appear that at some point there was a cloaked ship in orbit but as far as we can asertain, it's not there now. Based on that, I fear the chances of me getting the sculpture back is slim.  I reached out to Deezell Vox to see if she can help. You see, she once knew a notorious bounty hunter and smuggler called Jurlan Topsinenggi, who was also well known for using very creative means by which to steel artifacts from other worlds. I'm not sure if Jurlan is still around but Dee did say his species was quite long lived.  Even if Jurlan isn't around anymore, Dee might know of people of similar talents and interests. We will see where that avenue takes me.

So, a sculpture that I purchased on a visit to Earth, about year before Ranih and I move to Docosie III, has suffered the same fate as the other items made from Tuluriam.  Now, I wouldn't be that put out of it had been something mass produced, but this was a one off piece made by the renowned artist, Ludo Finster.  His pieces are considered to be some of the most beautiful, inspired and thought provoking works of the 25th century.  I fear that if whomever is stealing the items is only interested in the metal itself, then this one off piece could now be lost and no longer able to be enjoyed. That, to me is a crime all of its own, the destruction of art. In liaising with Colony Security, I have arranged for a wide spectrum scan to be conducted at each site where an item was taken.   I will get to the bottom of this.

I replicated a set of overalls and got started working on restoring the Kestrel fighter.  Finding the time can be challenging, but I find it quite therapeutic. There's a lot to do. The list of parts I need to replicate is quite extensive. Sure, could probably call in a few favours with the Colony's engineers and get then to fix her up but where's the fun or satisfaction in that? Anyway, on a completely different topic entirely, there has been an odd occurrence happening over the last few weeks.  Items from different residents gardens have been disappearing. Things like, outdoor furniture, ornaments etc.  Obviously we have checked security footage but all it shows is the item(s) there one moment and gone the next. No sign of anyone or anything. It's completely bizarre.  I was merely curious about it untill something of mine went missing only yesterday. I had a sculpture in our garden, that I got from a trip to Earth, and that has disappeared.  I've started to loo...

I forgot to mention this but we managed to set a date for our wedding, Stardate: 150346.34, 7th May 2473.  Our honeymoon is going to be in the Scottish Highlands, on Earth. It's a long journey from Docosie III but well worth it. We will be staying in a quaint historical cottage just outside Invermoriston which is situated on the shores of Loch Ness.  We will be away for a whole month. It's going to be wonderful. I wonder if the people in the Scottish Highlands see many Trill people. 

When I heard that a passing transport had onboard a none functioning Kestrel Class Fighter and was taking it to be scrapped, I just couldn't allow that to happen and so I managed to persuade them to let me have it.  When, as Captain Ezri Dax, I took command of the USS Aventine in 2380, we had twelve of these beauties  They were a dream to fly. They were fast, agile and lethal. The non functional one is now in one of the shuttlebays on the planet surface and I plan to restore it.  I just hope Ranih doesn't mind my new hobby. 

Hello, I'm the author of the Orzal Dax Journal. I thought I would quickly introduce myself. I'm Jamie, 48 and from the UK. I've been a fan of Star Trek since my late Godmother got my Star Trek II The Wrath of khan on VHS for my 15th Birthday.  I enjoy The Original Series (TOS), The Next Generation (TNG), Deep Space Nine (DS9), Voyager (VOY), Enterprise (ENT) and Strange New Worlds (SNW). I've met a fair number of Star Trek actors including Terry Farrell, Nicole DeBoer, Armin Shimerman, Robert O'Reilly, Cirroc Loften, Christina Chong, Marina Sirtis, and Chase Masterson.  I hope you are enjoying this blog. Feel free to send me any feedback via... orzaldax@gmail.com. Thanks  Jamie. 

We 'all' know what Ranih's weakness is. Her mother mentions it regularly when we join them for days out when we also have a meal together.  Ranih has a serious sweet tooth and tonights desert was a classic, a Strawberry and Meringue Sundae. Look at this thing...it screams naughty decadence at full volume.  She's the sweetest person I know, so maybe her love of all things sweet adds to it. 

I suppose there are considerably worse things to have an addiction to. I'm not entirely sure where my new found desire for a good cup of coffee is steming from. Jadzia liked a good Raktajino with Kira and Tobin liked a good strong coffee as well. I've liked good quality coffee well before I was joined so I guess it could be a combination of all of the above.  In any case, this one looks almost too nice to drink and spoil the art. 

Last night was absolutely fantastic. We had Jake and his wife over for dinner. Ranih and Jake's wife, Korena got on really well but after dinner they left us two to reminisce and journey back to times long gone.  When Jake hinted that he had a slight crush on Jadzia, I asked him if he and Julian ever compared notes. He spat out his wine at that comment.  He has another signing tomorrow at the bookstore and then he journeys to Bajor and DS9. It's remarkable how that station is still going. A true testament to Cardassian engineering and the joint perseverance of Federation, Bajoran and Cardassian engineers.  To make Jake happy, I had a go at making a Jambalaya. It was not as good as his father, Benjamin use to make, but I think he was impressed. So good to see him again. 

Jake Sisko arrived at the colony this morning. Due to work constraints I wasn't able to meet him as his transport arrived.  However, I did, of course, attend the book signing, which was quite busy. A fair number of people had come from other places, besides Docosie III.  The look on his face when I introduced myself was just wonderful. That joyous sparkle was in his eyes just like I remember as both Jadzia and Ezri. I got a hug. Wonderful.  After the signing session, we had a coffee together and a few cakes.  We spent a good 2 hours just chatting and reminiscing.  He did tell me a little about his life now but we were both more interested in the old days He looks good for his age but I could still see that young man I once knew who had a delightful smile, beaming with a sense of fun and optimism.

I have a modest sized office at home. I don't actually work from home but it comes in handy for times where I might need to, for whatever reason and it's good for dealing with general business for myself and Ranih.  An old friend of mine, specifically Dax, gave me a house warming gift when Ranih and I moved to Docosie III.  Deezell Vox got back in touch with Ezri Dax in 2403. Up until that point, she held a grudge.  When Dax was joined to Joran Belar, someone who should never have been allowed to be joined, he became violent and unstable and as a result murdered the doctor who made the recommendation to remove him from the program to cover up the fact Joran had been joined. He had killed at least two others in addition to the doctor.  One of the two he killed was the fiancé of Azrel Vox. Deezell Vox decided not to hold a grudge anymore and became good friends with Ezri.  And so, as a house warming gift, Dee got me this beautiful owl in traditional stained glass ...

This blog could end up overloaded with pictures of our holographic cat, Jodo.  He is absolutely gorgeous and adorable. He has damaged my chair, though. It turns out there is a setting that makes his claws harmless and we hadn't enabled it. Oops. I wonder what else he's had his claws into.  The amazing blanket he is cuddled up next to was crocheted by Ranih. She is getting very good at her crafts. She tells me that the community she goes to, the Craft and Chat group or as Ranih calls it, Stitch and Bitch, is extremely supportive.  She has knitted me four pairs of socks and our esteemed Governor, Maura, has requested a pair to be made in a deep yellow colour.  Looking forward to Jake Sisko's arrival next week and the look on his face when I introduce myself.

The Fleet Museum was absolutely fantastic. I was seriously in my element and as Maura quite accurately stated, like a kid in a candy store.  Of all the shops we went aboard, there was something about the USS Voyager that left a deep and lasting impression on me.  I think it's a combination of her beautiful proportional design and the staggering journey that she and her crew under took, which I think is still considered the longest away mission in Starfleet history, that makes her truly special. 

When I look across at this sight on our sofa in the lounge, I have to remind myself that our feline friend is a holographic program and isn't real. But the program is so sophisticated, I struggle to remember that little fact.  Since the invention of the holodeck, there has been numerous documented cases of where the dangers of it's use have been put in the spotlight from accidents, deaths and inappropriate behaviour. It could be argued that this program, known as Feline Simulations V1, has its own issues, the main one being emotional attachment to the cat and the potential issues as a result.  I can't deny it. I am fond of him. We will have to keep ourselves grounded to the fact that he isn't real. 

When we get back from the fleet museum, my old friend Jake Sisko is arriving the following week. It's going to be interesting to catch up. I wonder how he will react when I introduce myself.  "Hello Jake, it's me, Dax. Welcome to Docosie III."  I think that's my opening line. I'm looking forward to seeing him again. 

I thought the next exciting event to look forward to would be the visit from Jake Sisko, next month but it would seem I have that wrong.  A group of us from work are taking a trip to the Fleet Museum, at the end of the week. Everyone knows I love starships, and not just StarFleet. Maura, who will be joining us, said I will be like a kid in a candy store and she's not wrong there.  This is going to be fantastic.

Normally, I am what you call a level headed person and can navigate my way around the daily obsticles of life as they wander or, often, get hurlled in my general direction. However, today was just, well... odd.  Not a single one of the tasks and jobs I had to complete today went the way they were suppose to and in every instance, I had to find a different way to to get it done or find someone to help me.  Don't misunderstand me here, I enjoy helping others and asking for the help of someone is in no way a sign of weakness or incompentance. No one should ever be ashamed or put off from asking for help if they need it.  It just felt very unsettling that nearly all the jobs I needed to do today, say 80% of them, had something happen that meant the normal process could not be undertaken in the normal way.  I got them all done in the end with help from various other colleagues, whom I probably now owe something from one of the colony's bars and/or restaurants.  But a...

Just sat on a break enjoying a freshly brewed Ristretto Bianco. Sadly the cafe at work doesn't do a Raktajino.  Unlike Ezri, I actually like them. If I have the urge for one, I have to visit the Klingon restaurant "jaj vIghaj" (Own the Day)  in the Central Complex.  It's not quite a Cortado, which is my usual choice, but it's just as good and satisfying.  Ranih, myself and some work friends will be going to jaj vIghaj at the end of next week. They have a Warrior's Buffet on. Should be fun. I might try to sneak in my usual joke to start things off... "On your marks, get set, Gagh."

Rahni and I went to a concert last night. The music was something we had recently heard and become interested in, panpipe music from the Andes (that's on Earth) We recently heard a piece of this music whilst at a local café and we found it strangely captivating and beautiful.  The piece we heard was called "Amores Hallaras" by the artist "Incantation". The title is Spanish and translates as " You will find (other/more) loves ," often used in songs and poetry to suggest finding new affection after loss, meaning "you'll find another love" or "many loves you will find" .  Ranih loves a tune called "Cacharpaya" (primarily means a farewell party or send-off, often with music and dancing, especially in Andean regions of South America.) All in all, a very enjoyable evening. 

As part of my work, I do have regular meetings with the senior management team, headed by the Colony Governor. I haven't really spoken much about them in my journal so far,  but today's meeting was quite interesting.  Our esteemed Governor, a lady by the name of Maura, took us through the expansion plans for the colony.  Docosie III has become quite a popular talking point throughout the Federation in recent times and there is significant potential for the need for extra homes and facilities.  Maura is a very passionate person when it comes to the future of the Colony and the wellbeing of its current and future residents and visitors, which the latter has seen a significant rise in the latter half of 2472.  I am getting to know her better with each meeting and it's clear to me that she has great dedication to the Docosie Project.

I happened to be helping my colleagues on the immigration team with an influx of new residents to the colony. This now explains the sudden development of new homes and facilities.  Anyway, I noticed a name on the file of the new residents coming in a few months time and I must say I was pleasantly surprised but somewhat apprehensive. Just before I moved to Docosie III with Rahni, I learnt of the sad passing of Julian Bashir. After Ezri passed away, Julian moved in with his and Ezri's son and his wife but sadly he passed away not long after.  Now, it seems, Benjamin Bashir and his wife Alora are looking to settle down and retire on Docosie III. We have many retired couples living here as well as young people.  I'm not entirely sure if Benjamin knows who Dax was joined to after his mother died or even, if he does, that I live on Docosie III, hence my apprehension.  I think I will have a talk to Ranih about it tonight. There are no reassociation issues here but I'm not ...

I mentioned in a previous entry in my journal about the amazing crafts people who live on Docosie III. The range of crafts is incredibly varied. We have carpenters, textile artists, potters, jewellery makers, glass blowers, the list goes on.  I recently bought a beautiful bowl from one of the potters who I believe originally came from Earth, specifically, Spain.  I needed a bowl to put my favourite nibbles into when sat in my backyard with a beverage. I wanted one with some personality and not something plain and generic.  I think you will agree that this has character.

At the moment, no one is currently permitted to have a pet, especially one that has the tendency to roam freely. So, we have decided to take advantage of another feature of our home's built in holographic projection system. All the homes and buildings in the colony have a built in holographic projection system. It has a variety of purposes including child care, medical assistance, and entertainment. The medical assistance is used very rarely when you consider how quick the response time is from the main medical facilities. We used the system recently to simulate some furniture we were having made by some very talented craftsmen who live on the colony. The holographic projection system allowed us to visualise where the furniture would go and how it would look. Anyway, we have decided to use the system and create a tuxedo tabby cat, who we have named Jodo. The program is very realistic, programmed with authentic cat behavioural information. There is one element Which reminds you that...

It's a beautiful day today. It's 3°C with glorious sunshine, blue skies and a light scattering of clouds. The snow is starting to melt, slowly, but definitely melting with no further flurries forecast.  I might help a neighbour and his children build a snowman whilst there is plenty of snow. Can't remember the last time I did that. Jadzia built a few during her childhood so hopefully I can help well with this one. 

A mutual friend of ours got this superb picture of me and Ranih earlier today.  I'm obviously going to be completely biased here, but I think we make a lovely couple. 

Ranih and I are sat back in comfortable seats, enjoying an indulgent Toffee Nut Latte with cream and a Hot Chocolate with chocolate sauce at a café in the main centre. Nice and warm but the snow outside is in huge drifts with ones coming up halfway up some of the windows. Obviously everyone used the subterranean network to get her. Well, mostly everyone. There are the odds few who just love the deep snow and like to trudge through it to get here and there like some epic explorers out in an unknown wilderness.  We start back at work at the beginning of next week. Well, I do but Ranih has an extra week before she starts back at the school.