A Real Treasure Worth Keeping – Personal Log 001

Posted on Fri Jan 10th, 2025 @ 7:19am by Lieutenant JG Troy Grainger

Troy Grainger – A Real Treasure Worth Keeping – Personal Log 001

ON:

Location - Runabout USS Marquette Cockpit

[Grainger] The long ride out to the Palai System gave time for Grainger to reflect on some of the other enjoyable trips he has made. One was going to the Santa Cruz mountains in California with his friend Jim Tyler. It seemed just like yesterday when he found a beautiful cluster of Green Tourmaline crystals. As a matter of fact, they were here with him in the Runabout. He then drifted off a little bit remembering the trip to the mountains.

Vision Reflection Location - Grainger’s Family Home – San Francisco Bay, California, Earth

[Katie Grainger] Grainger’s Mother turned away from the TV to see Grainger coming down the steps in a hurry. Grainger what going on.
[Grainger] I’m late to meet up with a friend and today we are heading South to the Santa Cruz Mountains to check out what’s there.
[Katie Grainger] Well you take care dear you are going to be climbing mountains after all.
[Grainger] No problem, Mom if we get into trouble, I can use my Starfleet Communicator to call for help. With that he kissed his mother on the forehead and headed out the door. Just as he reached the driveway his friend Jim Tyler showed up.
[Jim Tyler] Grainger how are you. Where are we going today?
[Grainger] Doing good Jim. Want to head to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Trying to find some nice crystals for my collection.
[Jim Tyler] Ok buddy let’s go!!!

Vision Reflection Location - Portola Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, Earth

[Grainger] Hey Jim do you have all the climbing gear I asked for.
[Jim Tyler] Sure do boss. Which mountain looks good.
[Grainger] Checking his charts he pointed almost due West. If I’m right, there are a few caves over there. I have a good feeling about it. After hiking for a few miles through the beautiful Redwoods Forest they took a break. Grainger took a closer look with his binoculars and found a promising cave. Jim, I see a promising looking cave about halfway up the mountain side.
[Jim Tyler] Looks good Grainger. We still have plenty of daylight to climb up and get back down.
[Grainger] in quick time they made it to the base of the mountain in question and started climbing. Jim wow I haven’t done this much climbing in years. I can’t wait to see what’s up there.
[Jim Tyler] They made it to the cave opening. Jim helped Grainger the rest of the way up into the cave opening. Nice cave you found us. He then got out flashlights and they proceeded inside the cave,
[Grainger] After walking about an hour into the cave Grainger saw some crystals shining in the light a few feet away. Hey Jim, I think I found something.
[Jim Tyler] Looking at the crystals Jim said it looks like you found a nice specimen. It looks like Green Tourmaline if I’m right.
[Grainger} Taking a good look Grainger said you’re right and they are larger than I have seen in this area before. A keeper for sure. He then took out his tools and carefully took the crystals off of the wall. After the crystals were packed safely away, they made it out of the cave.
[Jim Tyler] Taking a break at the caves entrance Jim said. All in a good day’s work. Why don’t we head for home.

Location - Runabout USS Marquette Cockpit

A light started to flash on the Runabout’s OPS control panel. Smithers called out. Grainger what are you doing. I told you to keep an eye on the Sensors. Grainger turned off the warning and discovered they were near the outer boundary of the Palai System. Smithers, it looks like we are here at the Palal System finally. Smithers then ordered Grainger to do a full sensor sweep ahead to locate the Amandora and back to make sure no one followed them.

OFF:

Note:

The Portola Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains, California is a real location that I personally would like to visit someday. I looked up this park online. Tons of rock and mineral stores in that area. I’m using the State Park in a Fictional Nature, and I personally don’t condone taking crystal samples off a cave wall unless I have permission first. The State Park in real life is located South of San Francisco. I personally happen to have an inch and a half tall Green Tourmaline crystal sample. In my case I bought it at a Rock and Mineral show many years ago.

I realize this is my Sample Post for having Grainger’s character join the Amandora. It seemed to fall into place nicely and I wanted to share it with everyone else. I hope everyone else likes it. For those who remember Grainger from before this is a look into his past. He is a Geologist after all.