All Hands on Deck (Part 5 of 9)

Posted on 03 Mar 2015 @ 7:43pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & EMH Mark X-C "Shirley" & EBH Mark I "Raven" & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Lieutenant Prudence Devin Ph.D. & Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant JG Dorian West & Petty Officer 1st Class Rebecca Williams & Lieutenant Olsam Mott

3,542 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 44 - 0930 hrs

Previously, on All Hands on Deck (Part 4)...

Olsam looked down at his uniform, beginning to wonder just exactly what the problem was, and spotted a bread crumb clinging tenaciously to the piping on his jacket. He pursed his lips and directed a puff of air toward it, sending it falling to the floor. He opened his mouth to explain but heard someone down the line clear their throat, probably Tuula. Something about the sound of it made him rethink the explanation; after all, the longer he stood there trying to explain himself the more opportunity it gave Shirley to say something really dumb and embarrass all of them. "Of course not, Admiral. I remember. I will endeavor to better uphold and represent the high standards of the Galileo in both appearance and duty, sir."

Pleased with Mott's answer, Lirha smiled and nodded in agreement. "Very good, Mister Mott. Carry on, then," she replied rather simply.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

The holographic doctor could not help but let a small smirk spread across her lips. Once again her photonic nature gave her an advantage over the strange Bolian creature - namely in that she did not need to perspire - although of course her advanced program was more than capable of simulating it's appearance, if it were ever necessary.

John on the other hand, had remained silent whilst the Admiral bemoaned one of his doctors - she was a flag officer after all, and it was not his place to step in the way - not yet anyway. For now he was content to allow her to enjoy the pomp of an inspection.

Allyndra thought that perhaps it was time to distract the Admiral's attention from Mott before he just fainted. She knew that Bolian physiology required much more frequent meals.

"Admiral," she said politely. "If I may, let me introduce you to our newest member. Our new Emergency Baby Sitting Hologram whom has taken the name Raven. Raven please step forward."

She looked at Raven and then shifted her gaze to Tuula with that look of don't mess up. "Raven is capable of shifting her form to match the species of the parents or one of parent's choices. Right now we are demonstrating her Orion form. She also is linked into the pediatric database that our EMH has kindly shared."

"Raven you are babysitting for parent the baby has been crying for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week for three weeks in an otherwise healthy child between the ages of two weeks and four months. What treatment would you do?"

"Assuming a human or similar child, it sounds like colic. I would, of course, check for any other red flags or other possible underlying causes," explained Raven, reciting the diagnosis as though she were reading from an encyclopedia. "I would use standard calming methods -- swaddling, holding the baby, and the like. If it continues or worsens and there are no signs of a more severe underlying cause, a small daily dose of dimetrazone may be prescribed."

"That's right!" exclaimed Tuula, beaming with pride. "Raven is awesome, and she'll be able to help with the growing childcare needs of the ship. Isn't that right, Raven?"

"Of course," continued the hologram, slightly enthused at the positive impression she assumed we was making. "My program contains over twenty gigaquads of paediatrical data and child-rearing practices from numerous cultures. For example," she said, focusing on Lirha, "I can tell you that as an Orion, you were likely raised by your tabadi along with any other older sisters you may have as part of the traditional Orion family unit, and you would have learned to assist with housework and raising any younger siblings from a very young age. As well as being taught the family business, if applicable."

Raven just beamed with pride at Lirha. Surely she had impressed the admiral with her knowledge of Orion child-rearing practices.

The rear-admiral peered at the hologram intently as if it were a strange object. She clasped her hands professionally behind her back and slowly walked around the Orion avatar while looking it up and down. This 'babysitting hologram' was certainly something new and unheard of for her aboard a starship, and the concept of the program did seem practical. Galileo did indeed have a large compliment of children which would no doubt become a problem very soon if measures weren't installed to provide for them, and this solution was both unique and proactive.

"Interesting..." she mumbled while continuing to ponder the new holographic crew member. Its assumption about her upbringing was not exactly accurate considering Lirha had been raised aboard a trade vessel and lost her father at a young age, but the rear-admiral decided now was not a desirable time to correct the hologram. Instead, she focused her attention on more practical matter. "Does your matrix include any language databases besides Federation Standard? Can you speak Yrevish?" she curiously asked. An Orion babysitting hologram who could not speak an Orion dialect was of little use to her, after all.

"I have access to the universal translator and the computer's entire linguistic database containing hundreds of alien languages and regional dialects," explained the EBH in perfect Yrevish.

Impressive, thought Lirha after hearing what she deemed to be acceptable pronunciations of certain words in her native tongue. "And you mentioned sharing one of the EMH's database... wait," she paused to look around quickly after realizing she had not seen the familiar curly-blond haired doctor anywhere. She wondered where he was, and decided to quickly summon him. "Computer, activate EMH." Nothing happened.

The holographic doctor rolled her eyes at the command - it was obvious that her program was already running. Staying silent and still for a moment, eventually the EMH figured out that her recent change of appearance must have been overlooked by the Admiral - not unexpected for someone with such a busy schedule. Taking a simulated breath, the hologram stepped forward.

"Er..please state the nature of the medical emergency, Admiral?"

Staring blankly at the red-haired, green eyed woman who had just stepped forward, it took several long moments for Lirha's brain to register that the lady who has spoken was somehow the EMH. "Wait. What?" she exclaimed after shaking her head once she snapped out of it. "Why are you...female?"

"Well...there has been a slight upgrade to my program - along with a selection of new medical database entries, my avatar has been replaced with this form."

The hologram reached up and touched her long red hair, still not entirely used to the sensation of her folicular outgrowings touching her shoulders. After a moment she smiled awkwardly and clasped her hands together in front of her stomach.

"So....surprise?"

Lirha glanced wide-eyed back at Allyndra then back to the EMH. Then to the EBH, and then to Tuula and Olsam. And then back to the EMH. What the hell was going on in sickbay?

"Ah yes we were all surprised Admiral. The recent upgrade and outfit seemed to come with a new matrix based off a different physician." Allyndra was feeling like she was constantly trying to explain things and it felt like flying with a broken wing. She was pretty convinced she would be on what humans called 'on the carpet' in the Captains office.

Now the Orion really needed a drink. Several, actually, and straight up with no ice or mixers. "I see," said Saalm after clearing her throat in an attempt to downplay her growing agitation. "And...are there any other pleasant surprises here in sickbay I should be aware of, commander?" She reached up to push a stray lock of dark hair from her cheek which had probably come astray from all the double-taking she had recently performed.

The holographic doctor blushed as best she could. It seemed that her new personality matrix contained a few extra subroutines for more effeminate mannerisms that she had very little control over.

"I apologise Admiral....I should have informed you of my upgrade...I just thought that the Captain would have told you - he did sign off on the engineering orders after all."

"It has been a rather busy time and with the shore leave as well we are all still catching up Admiral. One other is that we have a new Chief Counselor," Allyndra said and moved toward Prudence. "Admiral, if I may let me introduce Doctor Prudence Devine."

Prudence met Lirha's eyes, her back straight and her arms at her side. "Admiral Saalm, a pleasure," she said and gave her a respectful nod. She had met Lirha before...but this was a different settling and therefore, different rules. And Devin knew how to deal with those, to some degree anyway.

Lirha gave a polite nod to the brown-haired woman who she distinctly remembered from one of the starbase's bars. They'd originally met in the corridor and Prudence had offered her a drink, and so they'd gone on to spend some time chatting and discussing bits of gossip including what it was like to serve under Admiral Riker's command. it was good to see her again.

"Lieutenant, good to see you made it on board. Would you like to present your staff?"

"Of course, Admiral," Prudence said with a curt nod, turning to her side and motioning to Dru. "This is Lieutenant Junior Grade Drusilla McCarthy, my Assistant Chief. And also, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dorian West, who I believe you might have already seen around."

Peering down the line at the two other officers, Lirha slowly began to walk in front of them and stopped in front of Drusilla. It seemed to be almost a surreal moment while she looked at her and took in her familiar features and distinctive blue eyes. "Well...what a pleasant surprise. I think the last time I saw you was on a biobed after your injury?" It had been years since she'd least seen Dru and she couldn't quite remember. Well, maybe not multiple years, but at least one calendar one, and so much had transpired on Galileo's deployments since they had last been friends.

Dru smiled, the slight bangs under her eyes showing her tiredness but she tried her best. She ahd fond memories of the past her and the Orion had shared and no matter what had transpired they were friends. "It's been a while Admiral. I believe that joint congratulations are in order?"

Trying her best to subdue a big sheepish smile, Lirha simply pursed her lips and smiled privately with her eyes instead. "Yes, they are. It is great to see you again and welcome back to Galileo. Much has changed since you left," she added.

Dru wanted to give the woman a hug but restrained herself given their situation. "I'm sure that we will catch up in the next few days Ma'am. I look forward to hearing about the changes."

Lirha nodded in agreement. She was starting to think she'd be better suited as a bobble-head doll with springs in her neck, but it was good exercise for her upper shoulder muscles. "Of course," she replied in a light voice before turning to look at Dorian with whom she was also familiar. "Lieutenant West, good to see you again. And how is your department treating you these days?"

Quinn winked at Dru as he stood in the background, happy to see the young lady return back home...and for his own selfish reasons too.

Dorian gave her an easy smile. The last time he had seen her, they had been celebrating her wedding. The decadence seemed a world away now that they were back to reality. "Well, as always, thank you, Admiral," he nodded to her. "A big change over in personnel, but we're pushing through the psych checks. Of course, it must be nearly time for the annual evaluations of the entire crew...." he said lightly, but there was almost a glint in his eyes, a hint of a playfulness, but only a hint given the situation.

Clearing her throat and waving a dismissive hand, Lirha casually played of the subtle request. "Yes, well, I believe I might be a bit busy in the coming days...and weeks...maybe months... so let us simply postpone my evaluation indefinitely, yes?"

A smile curled at the corners of Dorian's lips at the reply, unable to help it on hearing the words. "I live to serve, Admiral," he tilted his head to her, an ambiguous reply with more than just a hint of humour, but safe and respectful all the same.

"Very well, then," replied Saalm with a small smile before turning back to address the rest of the medical staff. "Sickbay appears to be in good order and all holograms appear to be functioning properly...thank you for your presentations. Carry on," she said, dismissing them from the inspection routine.

"Oh..." Lirha quickly added before she forgot something one of the security personnel had said to her. "I trust there is no unauthorized drug distribution taking place here, and that if someone were to...hypothetically check the prescription database, everything would be in order?"

Rebecca bit down on the inside of her cheek as she tried to keep the frown from her lips. The security officer had been off of her rocker when they spoken to her but she supposed that and Admiral had to be showing to listening to people she gave an ear to. The idea that sickbay would be careless enough to allow drugs to be over prescribed was unbelievable. If it did happen, the staff know it would be the end of their careers.

"What the Twins Above was that all about?" Allyndra wondered. The last she checked there were no unauthorized controlled dispensaries from the stores or replicators. That had been a bit ago. She had left the last check with Mott and looked over at him.

"Doctor Mott I believe you had the last duty for that."

"Huh? For what? The unauthorized drug distribution? No, I don't think I had the last duty for that," Olsam said politely, trying not to embarrass his superior.

In truth, he hadn't been paying attention. The admiral had stopped talking to him, so he'd drifted off into thinking about how to avoid getting crumbs on his uniform in the future. What were they even talking about? His eyes squinted as he tried to recall the snippets his brain might have passive picked up then slowly nodded.

"Oooh. Unauthorized drug distribution. Have you been speaking to Lieutenant Benice? No, we don't do that here, admiral. All our non-replicated medications are present and accounted for; I checked the inventory myself, twice, and asked Dr. Voutilainen to review my count for any inconsistencies. We take that sort of thing very seriously. You can't just have anyone coming in here rummaging through the medicine cabinet. They might mix an axonol with a dose of triptadex, and I think we all know how that would turn out." Olsam laughed, loudly, and looked around. Seeing the admiral wasn't laughing, he stopped and put on a very serious face. "They would die, sir. Massive internal hemorrhaging, complete organ failure. Messy. Very messy."

Straightening up as a most unpleasant mental image entered her mind, Lirha prepared to depart before she had to listen to anymore unsightly medical conditions involving bodily fluids. "Yes, and we would not want to make Ops come and be forced to clean up the mess, now would we?" she rhetorically asked before turning on her heels and heading out of the sickbay. "Dismissed," she added over her shoulder on her way out.

As soon as the door swooshed shut, a sense of relief seemed to come over everyone in sickbay as most of them exhaled in unison. Relaxing her body and slouching slightly now that she was no longer required to sit at attention and endure the scrutiny of the admiral, she turned to face Raven.

"I think she likes you!" exclaimed Tuula to the creation which she had taken partial credit for.

"Really?" asked Raven in a bubbly tone. "That's awesome!"

Olsam looked down the line, then turned to Allyndra and beamed. "Well, I think that went rather well. No one pulled a phaser or anything."

"And that's worth celebrating!" exclaimed Tuula, recalling Allyndra's offer of a drink earlier.

"Oh, right, a celebration," Olsam said, perking up.

He detached himself from the group and headed to the medical supply closet, dragging out Medcart 2 and loading down the top with several small Erlenmeyer flasks. He pushed it over to the group and opened the largest drawer - third down from the top - until it was fully extended. Somehow, he managed to shove a pudgy hand into the back of the drawer and feel around until there was a click, sending a bottle of blue liquid rolling out to the front. He grinned as he held it up then pulled the cork and picked up a flask.

"Everyone loves a little Bolian brandy."

Naois shook his head. "Not me," he piped up after having remained silent during the entire inspection, and apparently having gone completely unnoticed at that.

Prudence watched them, a frown clear on her face, one which made her eyes narrow slightly. She felt as if she was at the Academy; between the holograms and the doctors acting the way they did. She looked over at her counsellors and smiled, giving a nod. "Thank you so much for making this a good inspection. Please go and get some rest, I'll be in the office if anyone needs me," she said and walked through, past the Bolian and the brandy, the two holograms and the gathering of doctors and nurses.

Smiling slightly, Dru was still a little shook up from her exposure to Tuula and Markus; ontop of seeing Lirha again after so long. Taking a page from her bosses book, she also made her way out of the crowded sickbay and headed for her quarters. She had a meeting to prepare for but some time to clear her head before then. She could only hope that that would give her a few hours to pull herself back together and try get down a plan of action.

After accepting a flask of blue liquid from Dr. Mott, Tuula turned towards Dru. Or at least, where Dru had been a moment ago; she had evidently found a way to sneak out while Tuula was distracted by the drinks and was probably halfway to her quarters or wherever she was headed. Frowning slightly, she made a mental note to message her again about her interrupted physical. The longer she ignored her, the more concerned Tuula got.

But, there was no sense in worrying about that now. Not when Mott was passing around the brandy. "Here's to new missions and new challenges," said Tuula, clinking her glass with Mott.

"Thank the Twins that is over," Allyndra grabbed a beaker and held it out for Mott to fill. She waved her hand when he went to stop and with real relief in her voice, "No, more than a little sip. At least we managed to avoid a complete argument between everyone in front of the Admiral."

Olsam nodded. "Yeah, I think we barely skated by... How come the counselors didn't stay? Did I say something? Do they not drink? Are they like monks? Sometimes they seem like monks. Maybe there's an oath..."

Allyndra shook her head, "Not that I am aware but maybe I missed that part. You did know I am certified right? No, I just do not think they like us and our ways. Well, their loss no pour me another glass please."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Commanding Officer's Yeoman
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

Ensign Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

Chief Petty Officer Lyras Ueda
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Kita]

Chief Petty Officer Pax-Inyo
Masyer-at-Arms
USS Galileo

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

CN Ash Rowe
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Father Ethan Walker
Ship's Chaplain
USS Galileo

LCMDR Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Oren Idris, Ph.D.
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Gallileo

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

Jonah Chaparral
Epidemiologist
PNPC Jared Nicholas
USS Galileo

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