Not Dressed for the Job

Posted on Mon Mar 24th, 2025 @ 2:02pm by Lieutenant JG Toareth Darqa & Captain Lukas Fredricks

924 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: R&R
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: Current

ON

Toareth was in Sick Bay, toiling about as the team was doing the same. With the captain having returned, she wanted nothing more than perfection in her Sick Bay. Or as close to perfection as she could manage. It was difficult to keep things in their places and to keep the place dust free with personnel coming in at odd moments. Not to mention the regular rotation of patients aboard the Britannic. The ship was a hospital ship after all. Of course it would have patients with many coming in on regularly scheduled appointments. They did not have to be confined to medical rooms in any of the pods and could get themselves to Sick Bay and back so, why not.

Nurse Chadwick was inventorying supplies and straightening area after area only to go back to a previous area just to tidy up after a patient visit. Chief Keselowski was hard at work also making sure all the supplies were ready to be used, medicines in their proper places, the schedule flow operating as flawlessly as could be.

Sick Bay was a near constant noise box. Though the place seemed a bit in a chaotic array, there was still a certain and special order to it all. A complicated as it was to think on it, Sick Bay was a living organism, operating at optimal efficiency, with error or delay. Toareth felt as though both the heart and the brains of it all. The thought did not overwhelm her though. It centered her and focused her attention.

Finally catching a break, she turned away from a recently vacated biobed and toward her office.

Fredricks walked into sickbay, he felt a small shudder go up his back. He had seen far too much of Britannic's sickbay in recent months. However, he was here for something positive for change.

He saw Doctor heading towards her office. "Doctor Darqa." He said before she disappeared into her office.

It took all but a second later for her to back track out of her office. A few of the medical crewman spread about stopped what they were doing and stood attentively. Others who were working continued their business. Toareth clearly had a look of someone overworked, over tired, and just wanting for things to get back to normal. Then she recognized the captain and her expression brightened up to neutral. She stepped forward halving the distance between the two. "Captain, Sir," she said. "What is the nature of the medical...?"

Lukas held up his hand to politely cut off what the doctor was saying. "Actually, I'm here to see you. I understand Captain Qa'ada carried out my request and made you Britannic's Chief Medical Officer?"

"Yes, sir," she said. Toareth stepped up to the captain. The commotion in Sick Bay quieted down a bit as many were onlooking, curiously. "I am holding down the job as bet as I can until a higher and more qualified rank is brought in to replace me."

"She's been a godsend, captain," Chief Keselowski spoke up from his desk. "Strict at times, but a godsend all the same."

"He's exaggerating, sir," Toareth retorted. "In private, I am sure they will all agree I am a hardass."

Zirvell sat by a biobed, holding the hand of an unconscious patient while a hypospray did its thing. He looked on just as curoius.

"I may not have been aboard the ship but I have been kept up to date with the ship and her crew. All reports I've read have stated you've done a good job, excellent in fact." Fredricks started as he moved closer to the Doctor. "It's funny you mention about a more qualified person being brought in as I don't think Britannic needs anyone else but you. In fact, I think you're not suitably dressed as Britannic's Chief Medical Officer."

Lukas reached up and removed Toareth's black pip from her collar, though she flinched minutely, and replaced it with a gold one. "Doctor Toareth Darqa, I hereby promote you to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the privileges that go with said rank. Congratulations, Lieutenant." He said as he offered his hand for the newly minted Lieutenant to shake.

Everyone in Sick Bay, that could, applauded the newly promoted. Toareth managed a genuine smile though we also finding herself wishing to avoid such a spectacle and being the center of attention. At least this would be short-lived.

"Thank you, Sir," she reached up and fingered at the new pip feeling the smooth gold and not the indented black one. "I am honored by this and will not let you down."

"You deserve it, Doctor. Keep up the great work you're doing down here." Lukas replied with a genuine smile.

"Tha..." she started into another attempt to thank him even though she had done just that. It was clear this was unexpected and she was somewhat taken by her nerves. "That will be all..." she awkwardly attempted to complete the thought she had begun. "I mean...will that be all? Sir?"

Fredricks continued to smile. It wasn't something a commanding officer got to do very often but was still a very satisfying part of the job. "That'll be all, carry on."

With that, Toareth watched as he spun and made his exit. It took another brief moment for her to realize, again, what had just transpired. She then repeated his words, "You heard him. Carry on," as she looked around at everyone. They all sprung back to work. Everyone wore smiles.

OFF

 

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