USS CHESAPEAKE: Isolation Ward

[Christine M. Fontaine]

From: "Christine M. Fontaine" <cfon...@nac.net>
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Isolation Ward

MD 8.0205

Scene: USS CHESAPEAKE: Sickbay: Isolation Ward
----------------------------------------------

Doctor Catherine Ledoux was slightly out of breath as she arrived at
the isolation ward. Physically located next to the main Sickbay, the
isolation ward was a completely independent entity. Autonomous, it
had no direct connections with the main Sickbay. In addition, all of
it's systems were completely isolated, cut off and independent from
the rest of the ship. Nothing was allowed to escape its confines.

Entering the isolation ward involved passing through two access
doors, much like an airlock. Between the two doors was a
decontamination area, to help prevent against any microbes from
entering or exiting the ward.

Quickly tapping in the access code, Catherine passed through the
first force field and waited for the first door to open. The moment
it began to slide, she swiftly moved inside, where she endured a
decontamination procedure that seemed to last forever. Finally, it
was complete, and she donned a biohazard suit; choosing the suit that
offered maximum protection. Feeling rather unwieldy, Catherine keyed
in the access code to the next door, waited for her clearance, and
then finally stepped into the ward.

A quick glance of appraisal confirmed that there were four biobeds
occupied, each surrounded by a two-layered force field that acted as
an additional protective barrier. In addition, Catherine noticed
that there was also a physical barrier surrounding one of the
biobeds, a clear shell encasing that region of the ward.

With a few swift strides, Catherine walked over to one of the biobeds
where the EMH was scanning a prone form. Although Catherine was not
overly fond of the holographic doctors, she had to admit that they
had their uses. By and large, however, she preferred 'live' doctors
and nurses, feeling that medicine needed a human (or Vulcan, or
Sivaoan, or any other sentient race's) touch. Medicine could not
truly be practiced by a computer, no matter how sophisticated and
capable.

As she addressed the EMH, Catherine was thankful that she had had the
CHESAPEAKE's emergency medical system customized the last time that
they had stopped over at DELTA. So, instead of greeting a replica of
the physician who had originally designed the EMH, the vet was
speaking to a middle-aged woman, with short brown hair and brown
eyes. Doctor Ledoux thought that it was a distinct improvement over
the original.

"Report," Catherine stated, as she began to examine the medical
readings herself.

"These three," the hologram indicated the personnel who were
restrained only by the force fields, "appear to be fine."

"We are fine, or at least *I* am," one of them spoke up.

"Yeah," the other two chorused.

"Doc, can you let us out?" the second asked.

"We have to run some scans and tests, but if everything turns up
negative, you'll be released soon," Catherine stated, beginning to
wonder just what was going on.

"Thanks Doc. The sooner the better."

"Yeah."

"Can't be too soon for me."

Turning back to the EMH, Catherine was pleased that the three
individuals had gone in to rescue Lieutenant Malveo appeared to be
all right. Hopefully, they hadn't been exposed to whatever substance
Malveo had been working with. But they would still need to keep them
under observation for a short while, just to make sure everything was
all right.

"They all appear to be healthy," the EMH continued, "and I have
discovered no cause for alarm. If they were exposed to any dangerous
compound, it has either had no effect, or it has been rendered
inert."

Catherine nodded to herself, then moved towards the patient who was
encased by the shell. "And this patient?" Lieutenant Malveo, whose
biohazard suit lay next to him, was stretched out upon this biobed.

"This patient is showing signs of stress. Rapid heartbeat, increased
respiration," the EMH went on to recite a litany of symptoms, all of
which Catherine could clearly see from both the medical monitors and
her own tricorder.

"I have not been able to determine the cause of these symptoms," the
EMH continued.

Catherine, wrinkling her nose at the fact that she could tuck an
errant strand of hair behind one ear whilst wearing a biohazard suit,
was curious.

"No evidence of any foreign substances?" she asked.

"Negative."

"Hmmm," Catherine was puzzled. "I wonder what was causing his odd
behaviour then?" she murmured to himself.

"Continue observation," the vet ordered, "and let's run the following
tests, just to make sure we haven't missed anything." Catherine gave
the EMH a list of procedures, confident that the holographic doctor
wouldn't forget anything.

"Inform me immediately of any changes," she finally said, then, with
one last look at the readings, headed back towards the doors that
offered egress.

Curious and a little bit puzzled, Catherine's mind continued to work
as she left the ward. "If Lieutenant Malveo was not being affected
by a hallucinogenic agent, then just what happened to him?"

Respectfully submitted,

Christine Fontaine
LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM
Chief Medical Officer
USS CHESAPEAKE
cfon...@nac.net

<< NRPG >>

Takako: I hope this is along the lines of what we discussed on IRC.
:)

James: Yelena has most certainly be taken to the main sickbay.
She'll be in good hands there, and Brennan can even come and check on
her condition. <G>

Peach: Never fear - the CMO always comes to the rescue! <G> Malveo
will be all right. :)

All: So just what happened to Malveo? <EG> Don't look at me!
<Chrys glances to Takako>

Take care,

Chrys - hoping that RT mail hasn't accumulated while writing this...

---------------------------------------------------------
Christine Fontaine cfon...@nac.net
http://www.geocities.com/~cccats/RPG/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
RADM FireSong to-Vensre, MD ALBXO Armstrong Lunar Base
CAPT Caylynn Mary Donne, MD CO USS NEBULA
CAPT StarFire to-Ennien, MD MSpec USS ENDEAVOUR
LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM CMO USS CHESAPEAKE
CMDR DarkWind to-Vensre Instr ALB Holodeck 20
---------------------------------------------------------
If I waited for perfection... I would never write a word
- Margaret Atwood -