Meeting the Boss

Posted on Mon Jan 29th, 2024 @ 2:47pm by Lieutenant JG Toareth Rouen (née Darqa) & Commander Peeq Elyro MD

1,423 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: Current

Toareth strolled into Sick Bay and immediately looked around. The setup was different than what she was used to and certainly not in the configuration she would have gone with. But, then again, she was the ASSISTANT CMO, i.e. not the boss. She waved off a nurse approaching her already requesting the nature of her visit. The nurse then realized Toareth's uniform, the uniform generally meant for medical practitioners. The nurse apologized and was off.

"Now there is a face I have not seen in a while," said a familiar voice.

Toareth turned and her eyes fell upon, "Kez," she said with indifference. "Now how did you end up on this ship?"

"Just lucky I guess. So, you still seeing that French fellow?"

Toareth decided to lead in with, "I'm the mother of his child," which took the wind out of Keselowsky's flirtatious sails. "And he is the assistant Security chief aboard this vessel."

"Oh...um...well." Kez bent a little, popped a vertebra in his back. "Congrats are in order I suppose. It is good to see you again."

"Thank you. Your CMO. I need to meet with him. Is he...?"

"Oh," Kez stepped to the side and extended an arm. "In his office. This way."

Toareth started toward the CMO office. She was not at all excited about meeting the man but had to get it out of the way. She was not excited about being the Asst CMO but the job had to be done. She figured she probably had more medical expertise and experience than he could ever hope to have but even Toareth knew the difference between having the knowledge and proving to everyone else you have said knowledge.

Right now, and for the foreseeable future, she needed to prove to her CMO, first, that she possessed said knowledge. She stepped up and into the threshold between Sick Bay and the office of "Doctor Elyro?" She hoped she did not butcher his name in any offensive way.

"That's what it says on my nameplate," the Chief Medical Officer of the Britannic answered from his desk. The Edosian doctor had been sitting at his desk with his back to the door as he worked on a large workstation built into the back wall of the office. His three hands were busily typing on the control interface as he looked over his shoulder toward the newcomer. Not missing a beat as he worked - an advantage of his alien upbringing - the doctor was going to ask who the newcomer was, but realized he didn't have to. He had just read the file of the Assistant Chief Medical Officer and here she was to meet him.

"Nice to meet you, Doctor Darqa. Are you settling in well?"

"I am, sir." Toareth stepped forward and took a seat. I reviewed your profile and it seems you had plenty of close calls during the Dominion War. I assume you had to act quickly many times, on your feet and with your gut. On top of that you took part in several First Contacts and explored the Gamma Quadrant. Your experience must be exemplary. I will look forward to learning from you."

Having compartmentalized his actions, the Chief Medical Officer typed as he spoke, "And I from you, Doctor. I am of the strong inclination that I am not a true expert in medicine and that I always have something else to learn. There is always a new procedure, a new technique, a new medication and I may not be aware of all of those facets of medicine."

"Well, I am well travelled with more than 100 years, as the Earth revolves, of experience. I've dealt with many races and have literally seen technology evolve. Though I..." she did not want to comment or elude, in any way, to any of her extra-legal endeavors. "...have done extensive research and experimentation in my time."

"So, of your past assignments, which do you think has most prepared you to serve as the Assistant Chief Medical Officer on a hospital ship?"

"My time aboard the El-Aurian refugee vessels carrying us from our lost homeworld to Earth. There were over 200 of us originally, and only one nurse. I was abled enough to help out and I did just that. That journey lasted many decades and I eventually took on head nurse responsibilities. Though they were refugee transport vessels, they had essentially become our home, our hospital, our school, all of it long term. Nothing I have done in the time since has taught more than what I learned then. That journey alone has prepared me for everything that lies ahead of me now."

Peeq nodded along, listening to the answers provided to him by his new Assistant Chief Medical Officer. He had been aware of the history of the El-Aurians from his medical history. Many of the treatments that he had been most interested in were passed down in the stories of the El-Aurians, who had infiltrated and hidden among the population of many worlds during their long lifetimes. Only the Lanthenites were more long lived than an El-Aurian, at least to his knowledge.

"What are your experiences with archaeological medicine?" The Edosian asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he spoke.

Toareth thought briefly. "During my travels with the El-Aurians, we encountered many cultures and practices. Some were extinct but their knowledge remained somewhat intact. The doctor I worked under and I studied and learned quite a bit. During my time after the Enterprise-Bravo rescue, I travelled about the Alpha and Beta Quadrants." Toareth stopped herself from getting into too much detail; the diseases she caused, the tyrants and warlords she brought down, those who might still be alive and wanting her dead. "I dealt with many races and cultures and practices and possess a wealth of knowledge that I am certain will make me indispensable to this team."

Doctor Elyro nodded, focusing both on the conversation and the computer panel as he typed. His species natural ability to compartmentalize on full display, but he wondered if there was more to her answer. Something missing from what she was saying in her answer. It was a fleeting thought that he quickly filed away for later. "Britannic, being a medical ship, has a towering amount of medical capability compared to most vessels in Starfleet, including other medical ships. Despite this, I am a fan of archaeological practices as they are more people focused than the treatments of today. A computer is a wonderful tool, but they are not infallible and can make mistakes. I need to ensure your comfort with such practices."

Considering the research Toareth already had going on within the computer under her profile and also under heavy encryption on top of her already existing notes regarding experimentation, augmentation, as well as her personal experience in R&D over the decades to include purposefully infecting groups and recording the results, she smiled at him with affirmation. "I am perfectly comfortable with such practices and I will not hesitate to use the tools at our disposal, the research that we conduct, and the discoveries we uncover for the betterment of the lives we affect. I am uncertain of your experience with El-Aurians, but you have my pledge. And an El-Aurian pledge is not to be taken lightly."

"No they aren't. I have a very good friend that is an El-Aurian and his family are all in Starfleet," the Chief Medical Officer explained. "I'd trust him with my life, and have on a few occasions during prior assignments." Checking the chronometer, "Well, have you had a chance to explore the medical centers on this ship?"

"In brief, I have. I plan to make my rounds over the coming days to familiarize myself with all. I look forward to working with you and sharing ideas, as well as learning from you, sir."

"And I with you," the Doctor answered. "Be sure to visit the Medical Pod as well. While I am not in operational control over it, it is an interesting area to explore."

"I will do that," Toareth said with a nod as she stood. She still had another day before she rotation on the schedule started and she wanted to explore the rest of the ship's medical capabilities. Toareth wanted to know what all forms of medical care she would be able to perform but on top of how many places and ways she would be able to continue her researches in secret.

 

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