USS ALSEA: CMO's Arrival

Posted on 01/29/2016 @ 2:43am
Edited on on 02/14/2016 @ 12:01am

Mission: A Little Border Dispute
Location: USS Alsea/Starbase Lotus
Timeline: 8864.1

 The day seemed to drag on forever. The most tedious part of practicing medicine was completing the patient records, but with so many ships being recommissioned, fit for duty physicals had become priority for Julian and his team. Although the work felt meaningless, this volunteer assignment was vital to fleet operations. It had been a few years since Julian was mission active, since he spent some time teaching at the academy.

"Doctor..." said as they mark II EMH materialized in his office. "If you don't leave in the next 15 minutes you'll miss the opportunity to review the supplies before they are transferred to your next post on the USS Alsea"

Ah yes Julian thought, the Alsea. Not sure how I got assigned to this ship seeing as though the medical facilities weren't up to his standards when it first launched and now it's been recommissioned. Lost in thought, Julian totally forgot the EMH was still standing before him.

"Doctor..."

"No worries" Julian responded. "I'm sure my supply request has been fulfilled." It's the least that can be done he thought.

45 minutes later Julian was done charting and was ready to proceed to the Alsea to report in. Standing in the doorway, Julian took one last look at his now empty office, despite only being there for a short period of time he liked the facilities aboard Starbase Lotus.

"Computer, lights to zero."

The computer chirped and the room went black. Julian tuned and walked to the nearest transporter room. As Julian walked to the transporter room he though to himself how quick this first trip should be. Since this will be the Captain's first full command and the Alsea is being recommissioned, this has to be a shakedown cruise and within a week they'd be back at Starbase Lotus.

As Julian entered the transporter room he noticed there was no crew to man the transporters. Moments later the computer chimed.

"Welcome to the automated transporter system. Please step onto the platform and state your destination."

Automated transporter. I remember the lecture series about this technology while at the Academy, but I didn't know it was already in service thought Julian.

Julian stepped onto the platform, closed his eyes and hoped for the best. "Transport me to the USS Alsea." Within moments Julian materialized in the transporter room of the Alsea now in the company of three security officers.

"Welcome aboard Sir. I'm Ensign Allen. Please state your name, rank and assignment for the record"

"Lieutenant Julian Carter, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Alsea."

"I'm sorry Sir. I'm not seeing your authentication or orders" said Ensign Allen with a puzzled look on his face.

Immediately the other two security officers began to approach. Julian handed him a PADD with his official orders.

"Check again Ensign" Julian snapped. Unbelievable Julian thought. If this is the level of incompetence I have to look forward to, I'll be replacing the entire medical staff when this shakedown cruise is complete.

"Sorry Sir. Just a minor glitch. You are all set and clear" Ensign Allen stammered. "The Captain is on the bridge and awaiting all senior officers to report in."

"Very well" Julian responded and exited the transporter room. As he walked the halls to the nearest turbolift, he was quite surprised by the appearance of the ship. It looks as if it may have had a retrofit, but he wasn't quite sure, something he could strike up conversation with the Chief Engineer about at a later time.

When the doors of opened onto the bridge, Julian immediately headed for the Captains ready room. Pleasantries and introductions could wait, he wanted to report in and head to sickbay for what he knew would be a disappointing reveal, with some hope that he was wrong since the ship looked all new and shinny.

As he approached the ready room door Julian pressed the comm button and awaited the response.     

"Come," Captain Oseno Jureth replied absently, he was still going over pre-launch paperwork concerning everything from the diagnostics on the Alsea's new pulse phaser cannons to approving their store of food for the expected trip to the Romulan colony. Jureth waited until he heard the door close before looking up from the PADD in front of him and then he stood as he recognized the dark haired man in front of him from the personnel file he'd read before coming aboard the ship.

"Doctor Carter, I presume. Welcome aboard the Alsea, I am Captain Oseno."

"A pleasure to be here sir" replied Julian. "Here are my official orders from Fleet Captain Samji" Julian hands Captain the PADD with his official orders on them"

"Do you mind if I take a seat Sir?" Julian questioned.

Jureth accepted the PADD and glanced over the orders before inputting his authorization code indicating the doctor had indeed reported as ordered.

"Not at all Doctor please, sit. Can I get you something to drink?" 

 "No  thank you Sir" Julian responded as he took his seat situated in front the captain behind what seemed to be a ginormous desk.

 
"I want to say it a pleasure to be aboard the Alsea. I remember her from her former days, and I have to say her retrofit outshines her original cruise status, Sir." From experience Julian knew the first command was momentous, and despite his mental reservations about the state of Sickbay, this moment was indeed sacred.
 
"Sir, I have a few questions before I head off to sick bay, but before I ask I want you to know that all crew members have been through their pre-deployment physicals...all except you, since you just came from an extended tour. At some point I will need to perform you final clearance for command." Julian said nonchalantly, as he knew the Captain would pass his physical. "Each crew member is fit for duty. Thera are a couple questionable members, but they do not pose a conflict to their duties, and if and when they do I will alert you." Julian seemed to be getting into his medical reporting rhythm, which was important since he hadn't given this type of reporting for the last 3 years.
 
The Captain seemed to be listening attentively, which was unexpected for Julian. He's never had a captain whose listened through to the full medical report, so he decided not to press his luck and cut things short.
 
"Before I take my leave, I noticed the ship has been retrofitted. Do you know why type of facilities I will be working with in Sickbay?" Julian slightly paused. "Since I don't have an Assistant Chief Medical Officer, I noticed that the Chief Nurse has already been assigned. Typically the CMO selects his senior crew, so one of two things is occurring aboard this ship. Either you as Captain are very selective of your entire crew, or this is not a typical shakedown cruise..."
 
Julian paused for the Captain's response.
 
Captain Oseno listened to the doctor scold him, if in a roundabout way, about his physical. He knew he needed one of course, but between leaving the Horizon, the trial of Sufra, and getting the Alsea ready to deploy he had put it to the side. Jureth knew at some point he would have to get it taken care of, and he would, just not right this second. 
 
"I have not had a chance to inspect Sickbay Doctor, but the Alsea received a complete overhaul on her return from the Azimuth Horizon mission and that would have included sickbay especially since that portion of the ship received significant damage during our encounter with the Romulans and Klingons. I ought to know, I was in command for much of it, but that is a story for another time. As far as the staffing goes, Starfleet made most of the assignments for junior officers as they would like us to get underway as soon as possible. However, if you are not satisfied with the staff you are welcome to make changes, they are your staff after all.  You are correct, this is not a normal shakedown; the Alsea is being returned to active duty immediately. I will have more details at the official briefing, but we will be answering a petition for assistance from a Romulan colony...inside the Neutral Zone." 
 
Oseno paused a moment to let the doctor digest his words and then continued "There is a good chance they will need medical assistance, so you can expect some relief work, and there is also a chance that the remnants of the Romulan Star Empire and the Tal Shiar will not take kindly to our presence. I will, of course, do everything in my power to avoid using our new weapons arrays, but you among all the senior staff know how the Romulans can be."
 
Julian was for one of the few times in his life, at a loss for words. The only words that lingered in this mind was Romulan colony and Neutral Zone.

"With all due respect Sir, Command really believes one Prometheus Class ship is enough?" Julian questioned. "Ive been down a similar road before, and it feels like we've not learned out lesson, so much so we don't even speak of the Nahelem anymore.
 
Julian was beginning to get emotional, but he knew the bigger picture was more important. There would definitely be those in medical need and it was not only his job, but his calling to aid the sick and heal the broken.
 
"Starfleet Command has every confidence in this ship, and in us Doctor." Oseno replied though he understood the physician's reaction to such a mission as they had been assigned. "We are being dispatched to answer a call for assistance and not to start a war. If there is an incident, I can assure you that this ship will not fire first as long as I am in command."


Please excuse my outburst Sir. As you said, i do know how the Romlans can be, which is why i decided to teach at the academy. The biggest fear of a physician is helplessness, and that entire assignment were nothing but hail marries." Julian knew there was a reason he was selected for this assignment. Its no coincident his first starship assignment would be this mission. Julian rose from his seat. “I am here in whatever capacity you need me Captain.” Julian stood tall, rolling his shoulders back. “In light of things, i’d like to get my team ready. If you don’t mind i will take me leave”

As Julian turned for the door, he paused and turned back to the Captain. “As of your clearance physical, i can delay submission to Starfleet Medical for up to 72 hours. After that the regulations will kick in, mandating your XO take command until your in compliance.”
 
Jureth nodded "I will be down to see you as soon as we are away from spacedock."

Julian exited the Captains ready room and headed for Sickbay.

 

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Comments (4)

By Oseno Jureth on 02/02/2016 @ 11:30am

still with us Doc?

By Julian Carter M.D. on 02/02/2016 @ 3:32pm

Absolutely, sorry didn't see the updates

By Julian Carter M.D. on 02/02/2016 @ 3:32pm

Absolutely, sorry didn't see the updates

By Oseno Jureth on 02/03/2016 @ 9:04pm

No worries, it happens.