Season 11: Episode 3 - Decon Duty

[Kali Reyes]

[Turbolift ---> Bridge]

"A pre-warp civilization!"

That was all Reyes picked up, really. Anderson's animated gushing about old holovids and something-something Captain Kirk did a billion years ago simply went in one ear and out the other. Her focus was on her PADD and impatiently waiting for the rest of the Operations report to upload before the doors opened to the bridge.

Anderson continued without a beat. "Calabar is really unique. Their technological advances have evolved close to Earth circa mid-1800's! Can you imagine what it would have been like to live in a life made of gears and steam and-"

"-smoke. Lots and lots of smoke," she drawled and finally looked up. "Their coffee must have tasted like the plague. Actual plague. Pretty appreciative for decontamination chambers, yeah?" Her vision danced a bit with fractal algorithms, but she shook it off and let the hum of the turbolift set her straight.

[Bridge]

Ninety-seven percent completed. She fervently wished to trade shifts with Andross. What she would give to get her hands into the Optical Data Network and clean out the trash data. Does no one ever clean the system's cache for the day?

The doors finally gave way and they found themselves in a busy bridge. It gave her time to let the rest of the report upload while she waited for her turn to greet the Captain with the roster for today. She tried to make this exchange as painless as possible.

"Crewmen efficiency reports for the week, Captain," she greeted and offered him the PADD. "If you don't mind signing off on them. To make it short and sweet, 12.6% increase in work activity, but Lt. Cooper believes the numbers are too low. Second form is a request for an emergency drill after Calabar."

[Alexander Wu]

[Bridge]

Alex had felt Discovery drop out of warp, but pushed it to the back of his mind when no other indication of trouble arose. By the time he had been informed of the last minute crew transfers, both Zero and Jiseth had disembarked, and the ship was well back on course. It was a bit disconcerting, having both their senior flight officers taken away at the start of a new mission, but Alex supposed it wouldn't affect them too much, at least in the short term. Their mission was all about staying inconspicuous, a task which called for a tedious time at the helm.

Stepping onto the bridge, his eyes immediately flickered over the scene, taking note of officers at their stations, along with a small cluster already formed around the Captain's chair. Several faces were new, including the helmswoman who had replaced Jiseth. The preliminary report in hand, Alex strolled over to Pardek's station to wait his turn with Briggs. "Good morning Saf." He began conversationally, nodding towards the helm. "Asides from our new pilot, any idea who else we've picked up?"

[Leela Kaz]

[Main Engineering]

With the plasma injectors stabilized Leela breathed a sigh of relief. So glad the ship warped when the captain gave the orders. She muttered as she moved through the engine room and into her office. Her own office. It was quite a new concept to the young Trill. She lacked much of the visions of grandeur that her previous hosts had possessed. For her, becoming joined was the big life accomplishment. She didn't quite ever envision chief engineer in the cards for herself. She had, however, considered following Preta's path and joining the starship design team but she was still young and had plenty of time to figure these things out.

"Ensign Marks, let's go ahead and get on those transporter diagnostics for Commander Wu. They are due at 1800 hours. Please coordinate with the transporter chief." She ordered as she passed through the doors into her new office. Awaiting her on the desk was a stack of PADDs containing everything form engine specifications to personnel reports. One on the top, in particular, caught her attention.

"Looks like we're on our way to a pre-warp civilization." She muttered to herself. Juval had some experience in this field. She found herself wondering if the Captain would call upon those experiences.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

Klabax had had an interesting day. He'd arrived at Starbase Columbus, and had been assigned for a little over six hours to the USS Phoenix before getting orders to pack his bags - which he hadn't even unpacked yet - and transfer AGAIN to the USS Discovery. He was tired, yes, but he kept working along, having gone through the check in procedure for the second time today, and working his way to sickbay.

He entered the bay, and looked around, trying to find anyone who was working there to check in, looking very out of place around the new area.

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

Klabax had had an interesting day. He'd arrived at Starbase Columbus, and had been assigned for a little over six hours to the USS Phoenix before getting orders to pack his bags - which he hadn't even unpacked yet - and transfer AGAIN to the USS Discovery. He was tired, yes, but he kept working along, having gone through the check in procedure for the second time today, and working his way to sickbay.

He entered the bay, and looked around, trying to find anyone who was working there to check in, looking very out of place around the new area.

[Sickbay]

Zex had finished preparing one side of Sickbay for triage and a potential influx of casualties.  She was moving to the other side when the entrance doors swooshed open.  Naturally, she turned toward the noise.

To her delight, a man had entered the room.  She ran her fingers over her eyebrows, smiled, and stepped forward.  "Hi, I'm Zex.  Welcome to the Discovery" she said.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

Zex had finished preparing one side of Sickbay for triage and a potential influx of casualties.  She was moving to the other side when the entrance doors swooshed open.  Naturally, she turned toward the noise.

To her delight, a man had entered the room.  She ran her fingers over her eyebrows, smiled, and stepped forward.  "Hi, I'm Zex.  Welcome to the Discovery" she said.

[Sickbay]

Klabax turned to see the Deltan. He nodded, giving a grunt of thanks before speaking. "Thanks. Klabax Cottle. I guess I work here now... at least until they try and get rid of me again." he said, moving over and picking up a tricorder, inspecting it. "And you would be?" he asked, trying to be social but at the same time still getting weird vibes from the area around him.

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

Klabax turned to see the Deltan. He nodded, giving a grunt of thanks before speaking. "Thanks. Klabax Cottle. I guess I work here now... at least until they try and get rid of me again." he said, moving over and picking up a tricorder, inspecting it. "And you would be?" he asked, trying to be social but at the same time still getting weird vibes from the area around him.

[Sickbay]

"I just got here myself" Zex replied.  "I'm a Medical Officer, like yourself.  I was previously assigned to the Starbase" the Deltan added.

She followed him to the next bio bed over.  She looked over the equipment and swapped out a charge pack.  Then she turned back to Klabax.

Usually she had an easier time talking with men.  They usually swooned over her.  This one, however, seemed to require a bit more effort.

"I was born on Delta.  I've been in the fleet for a little over a month now.  How about you?" she asked curiously.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

"I just got here myself" Zex replied.  "I'm a Medical Officer, like yourself.  I was previously assigned to the Starbase" the Deltan added.

She followed him to the next bio bed over.  She looked over the equipment and swapped out a charge pack.  Then she turned back to Klabax.

Usually she had an easier time talking with men.  They usually swooned over her.  This one, however, seemed to require a bit more effort.

"I was born on Delta.  I've been in the fleet for a little over a month now.  How about you?" she asked curiously.

[Sickbay]

He nodded as she listed off her previous assignment. There was no doubt in his mind that he had a little more time in the fleet under his belt than her. If he had listed off his 12 previous assignments, they'd be here all day. When Klabax somehow found a way to spend more time in escape pods than in sickbay on some of his postings during the war.

Although many men would have been taken in by her, the combination of his personality and his experiences during the war. He knew that Deltans took an oath of celabacy... but those were usually just vague enough for people to get away with most things. However, it did make Deltans excellent doctors. People would tell them literally everything.

"Denobula for me. Born in the capital... then again we all share one land mass on our planet so in effect all 12 billion people on the homeworld share one giant city." he said, then answered her question. "I've been in the fleet for... twenty four or five years."

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

He nodded as she listed off her previous assignment. There was no doubt in his mind that he had a little more time in the fleet under his belt than her. If he had listed off his 12 previous assignments, they'd be here all day. When Klabax somehow found a way to spend more time in escape pods than in sickbay on some of his postings during the war.

Although many men would have been taken in by her, the combination of his personality and his experiences during the war. He knew that Deltans took an oath of celabacy... but those were usually just vague enough for people to get away with most things. However, it did make Deltans excellent doctors. People would tell them literally everything.

"Denobula for me. Born in the capital... then again we all share one land mass on our planet so in effect all 12 billion people on the homeworld share one giant city." he said, then answered her question. "I've been in the fleet for... twenty four or five years."

[Sickbay]

"Twenty four years?  That's quite impressive" Zex replied with a wide smile.  "You must be very skilled at what you do" she added with a slight flutter of her long eyelashes.

She let the moment pass between them, then she pressed on.  "If I remember correctly, Denobulans are known for having many spouses.  I guess they would be sorta like Deltans in a way" the Deltan added as she turned back to her assigned task.  "Are you married, doctor?" she asked curiously.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

"Twenty four years?  That's quite impressive" Zex replied with a wide smile.  "You must be very skilled at what you do" she added with a slight flutter of her long eyelashes.

She let the moment pass between them, then she pressed on.  "If I remember correctly, Denobulans are known for having many spouses.  I guess they would be sorta like Deltans in a way" the Deltan added as she turned back to her assigned task.  "Are you married, doctor?" she asked curiously.

[Sickbay]

To say that the Deltan had not made an impression would be far from the truth. They were Deltans, it's what they did. This wasn't the first Deltan he'd met, though, and he knew sort of what he was up against. If she wanted to make this a competition, that was fine by Klabax, but it was one that this old, grizzled Denobulan wasn't going to lose.

He nodded his agreement that is was a long time. he then thought back to how many ships he'd been on, how many promotions and subsequent demotions he'd gotten, and how many good men and women he'd served with who were no longer here. "I'm a doctor, not a statistician." he said. "I'll let history and others decide if I am a good one."

He noticed her eyelashes, and had to admit feeling something in him, but he also knew he must practice restraint. "You are correct, Denobulans are, at least in human terms, much more free in terms of relationships, family trees are almost impossible to make out." he stated, remembering one of the last postings he had, where a Captain drove himself bonkers trying to map out all of his relations. "And yes, I am married. At last count, twenty six or seven wives with about seven to ten husbands a piece." He though back to last time he'd counted, and was almost certain that number had grown.

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

To say that the Deltan had not made an impression would be far from the truth. They were Deltans, it's what they did. This wasn't the first Deltan he'd met, though, and he knew sort of what he was up against. If she wanted to make this a competition, that was fine by Klabax, but it was one that this old, grizzled Denobulan wasn't going to lose.

He nodded his agreement that is was a long time. he then thought back to how many ships he'd been on, how many promotions and subsequent demotions he'd gotten, and how many good men and women he'd served with who were no longer here. "I'm a doctor, not a statistician." he said. "I'll let history and others decide if I am a good one."

He noticed her eyelashes, and had to admit feeling something in him, but he also knew he must practice restraint. "You are correct, Denobulans are, at least in human terms, much more free in terms of relationships, family trees are almost impossible to make out." he stated, remembering one of the last postings he had, where a Captain drove himself bonkers trying to map out all of his relations. "And yes, I am married. At last count, twenty six or seven wives with about seven to ten husbands a piece." He though back to last time he'd counted, and was almost certain that number had grown.

[Sickbay]

Zex touched her flat abdomen and giggled.  "Not a statistician.  That was a good one, doctor" she replied.

"I bet the holidays must be quite an event with a family that big.  I had a friend how's parents had divorced and then remarried.  She told that she had had five holiday meals in one day - just so that she see all of her relatives" the Deltans said.

"With 26 spouse, how do you manage to see everyone?" Zex asked curiously as she moved to the next bio bed.  She stared inspecting the equipment.  Then she turned back to Klabax.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

Zex touched her flat abdomen and giggled.  "Not a statistician.  That was a good one, doctor" she replied.

"I bet the holidays must be quite an event with a family that big.  I had a friend how's parents had divorced and then remarried.  She told that she had had five holiday meals in one day - just so that she see all of her relatives" the Deltans said.

"With 26 spouse, how do you manage to see everyone?" Zex asked curiously as she moved to the next bio bed.  She stared inspecting the equipment.  Then she turned back to Klabax.

[Sickbay]

Klabax occupied himself with the emergency medical kit supplies, making up a surplus beyond what had already been there. He had experienced before running out of medkits, and it was never good. As he was making up the supplies, he replied to her. Her giggle had a certain quality to it, but Klabax forced himself not be drawn in by her. He found some humor in the event, each of them working their best to be who they were.

"Social events can be crowded, yes, but usually they are no more compact then the rest of Denobula." he said. "Becides, many of my relations are flung far across the stars, so the last time we had a full meetup was before the Dominion war." He made a small chuckle, thinking about it. "My family was half the size it is now when that happened."

"I have not been back to Denobula for some time, I actually haven't seen any of my relations for at least four earth years. The last time I saw a fellow Denobulan was three years ago." he told her, thinking back in his memories as he worked. "What about you, Ms. Zex?" he asked, turning the conversation subject from him to her.

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

Klabax occupied himself with the emergency medical kit supplies, making up a surplus beyond what had already been there. He had experienced before running out of medkits, and it was never good. As he was making up the supplies, he replied to her. Her giggle had a certain quality to it, but Klabax forced himself not be drawn in by her. He found some humor in the event, each of them working their best to be who they were.

"Social events can be crowded, yes, but usually they are no more compact then the rest of Denobula." he said. "Becides, many of my relations are flung far across the stars, so the last time we had a full meetup was before the Dominion war." He made a small chuckle, thinking about it. "My family was half the size it is now when that happened."

"I have not been back to Denobula for some time, I actually haven't seen any of my relations for at least four earth years. The last time I saw a fellow Denobulan was three years ago." he told her, thinking back in his memories as he worked. "What about you, Ms. Zex?" he asked, turning the conversation subject from him to her.

[Sickbay]

"Doubled in size.  That's pretty amazing, doctor" Zex replied.  "But it's sad that you have not been back home recently" she added.

When the conversation turned back to her, the Deltan turned her body away from the doctor.  "I came from a small family.  It was just my parents and I.  Holidays have always been very special times for me" she said, her voice just a touch quieter.  As if there was a painful memory she wished not to discuss.

"But, I'm single and I'm healthy and I'm happy" Zex added with a slight lift of both shoulders.   She finished inspecting the equipment she had been looking at.  "Did you have time to go over briefing for the mission?" she asked after she turned back toward him.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

"Doubled in size.  That's pretty amazing, doctor" Zex replied.  "But it's sad that you have not been back home recently" she added.

When the conversation turned back to her, the Deltan turned her body away from the doctor.  "I came from a small family.  It was just my parents and I.  Holidays have always been very special times for me" she said, her voice just a touch quieter.  As if there was a painful memory she wished not to discuss.

"But, I'm single and I'm healthy and I'm happy" Zex added with a slight lift of both shoulders.   She finished inspecting the equipment she had been looking at.  "Did you have time to go over briefing for the mission?" she asked after she turned back toward him.

[Sickbay]

"It is amazing, indeed," he said, nodding as he spoke. "I am sure the rest of my family are doing just fine, I doubt I have been missed much." he said. "They didn't miss me during the war, that is for sure."

He noticed the change in her voice and posture, and made a note of it. He wasn't a psychologist but he could tell that this was an uncomfortable subject. "Holidays can be most gratifying. But then work also has it's highs and lows." he said, trying to find a way to change the subject. He was preempted when she did that already.

"Being healthy is good, though I doubt that Starfleet would let us perform our own physicals." he said, with a sarcastic tone to his voice. That tone dissipated as she talked about the mission. "I'm afraid I don't know the Discovery's mission. I was just on the Phoenix until a couple hours ago."

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

"It is amazing, indeed," he said, nodding as he spoke. "I am sure the rest of my family are doing just fine, I doubt I have been missed much." he said. "They didn't miss me during the war, that is for sure."

He noticed the change in her voice and posture, and made a note of it. He wasn't a psychologist but he could tell that this was an uncomfortable subject. "Holidays can be most gratifying. But then work also has it's highs and lows." he said, trying to find a way to change the subject. He was preempted when she did that already.

"Being healthy is good, though I doubt that Starfleet would let us perform our own physicals." he said, with a sarcastic tone to his voice. That tone dissipated as she talked about the mission. "I'm afraid I don't know the Discovery's mission. I was just on the Phoenix until a couple hours ago."

[Sickbay]

"Dwww" Zex replied.  "It's sad that you think that your family doesn't miss you" she said more to herself than the Denobulan.  She simply nodded in agreement about his remark concerning the holidays.

"I heard we are going to a pre warp plant" Zex said, happy for the change in subject.  She leaned slightly toward him and whispered "apparently the Observation Team may have been detected and things got ugly.  Thus the need to set up for triage and critically wounded.  I think we are going to extract them."