Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Iko -- Don't let me loose my voice, it will mean I can't swear
Rebecca Iko
Iko: Look. I feel ‘right enough to help you guys out—
She paused briefly, but then the need to cough passed.
Iko: —And we do technically have a pathogen that a whole bunch of people are affected by to cure.
She was still angry at the UAW. But she also wanted to believe that being a (sort of) Federation of multiple (three) worlds meant that not everyone agreed with forceful relocations and seeing different peoples as inferior and things like that.
No-one deserved to die because of their government.
Wong: Agreed. Also, attempting to consume medicinal alcohol with a helmet on is a feat I am not interested in seeing or encouraging. We have better things to do.
Juriton: But a fun science experiment waiting to happen.
Bec shot Juriton a small unamused look.
Varati: We don't want to throw a party. A minimal dose to contain the spread of mold. Internal disinfection.
Iko: The biggest question is how did it spread from the gel packs to the crew. And if it wasn’t by this mold, which I think we’ve established…?
Then what was the culprit?
Juriton/Wong/Varati: Response
Wong: I’m not ruling out the mold link here. Everything is connected. We just need to figure out how.
Juriton: People who handled the infected packs were obviously the first to become ill. Then frontline medical officers. And then, after that--
He looked down. Bec gave him another look—this time one that was questioning where he was going.
Juriton: It didn’t discriminate, none of our species were immune.
Varati: Obviously, the pathogen is spreading very quickly. And if it's infecting all sorts of humanoid species so rapidly, then it's either extremely aggressive and/or highly adaptable. In the latter case, we'd simply need to develop a blocker for the next stage. Well, that's going to be anything but easy.
Then Wong saw something.
Wong: No way….
Juriton: You’ve found something?
Bec turned to look, pausing momentarily again to avoid coughing—the thing that was honestly the worst part of the whole mold thing. She already felt like she’d hacked her throat apart, she didn’t want to make it hurt any more than it had to.
Varati: Yes, Big Koala, did you find anything?
Bec started to chuckle at Wong being called “Big Koala”. And like cruel irony, the chuckle turned into another set of those violent coughs that had Bec leaning right over, tearing her throat apart.
When she finally stopped, Bec stayed leaning over for a second, catching her breath before (without sitting back up) she pointed to Varati and quietly said
Iko: ::hoarsely:: Please don’t make me laugh.
Then Bec gestured for Wong to continue.
Wong: Well there’s a pattern between the proteins and each of these specimens that have a close enough match to… well…. Macroviruses. It’s only in the protein patterns, though. So it suggests modification.
Juriton: The Zumardi may be dangerous and want us all dead, but hey-- ::holds out palms:: -- you can’t fault their ingenuity.
Bec bit back her tongue. She could taste the blood and all the other by-products of the cough in her mouth when she did so, but she knew it was better than letting herself get angry at Juriton again.
Varati: ::in thoughts:: In any case, they seem to know what they're doing... ::to Wong:: You mean giant viruses, called Girus?
Iko: Now those sound like they’re out of a dream.
Wong: A macrovirus typically starts off small but expands in size from each iteration of itself as its RNA mutates. They can easily go from the size of a mosquito to well…. Something the size of a human. But what I’m seeing here is just the proteins, though. So we don’t actually have a macrovirus here. But we have macrovirus components which is alarming.
Juriton: But not surprising, unfortunately. ::biting bottom lip:: I think I may know why.
Bec gave one of those circling hand gestures for Juriton to continue. But the UAW guy just chucked his hands on his hips. To that, Bec rolled her eyes.
Varati: ::looks up from her PADD to Juriton:: I'm really curious to see what happens...
Wong: Truthfully, I always wanted to study macroviruses and I’ve been trying to obtain a sample for a while now. I just didn’t think I’d be seeing any traces of them out in the wild.
Juriton: Well, you’re in luck. And I hate to spoil the ending for you, Doctor, but I do know why you’re seeing fragments, and maybe this mould, possibly developing into a macrovirus.
Varati: I don't quite understand this... You know where the error might be, and you're only telling us now? Theoretically, we could have been much further along with a solution by now.
Bec was getting impatient.
Iko: Just bloody tell us mate.
Juriton: So, you know how Voyager’s gel packs used synthetic neural tissue?
Wong nodded. Bec did too—a small nod.
Varati: Yes, of course?! Artificial tissue is used to ensure consistent structures and quality…
Wong: Please continue, Commander.
Juriton: During the design phase, we didn’t have the same manufacturing capabilities as Starfleet which is why they are smaller-- and...
Bec gave that same continuing gesture.
Iko: ::quietly:: And?
Juriton: ...we couldn’t synthesise suitable tissue for use in our gel packs. So the decision was made to use our three species’ DNA instead.
Bec gave Juriton a very confused look. She understood what he had said perfectly fine, but the furrowed brow and slightly open mouth showed, really, how dumb she thought the idea was.
Varati: ::incredulous head shaking:: Wait… What?! ::pauses and looks around:: Do you even know what you're saying?!
And honestly, had Bec been able to process it quicker, that’s probably what she would have said. And she would have also gotten the raised warning hand from Wong.
Wong: Commander, are you saying that the jump from gel pack to crew is because the gel packs have a genetic link to the crew?
Juriton: The gel packs just aren’t a random transmission vector. They’re... cousins of ours.
Iko: How did anyone think that was a good idea?
Varati: That’s unbelievable… By the Thousand Gods! !#@$@!
Wong: Varati, language.
Bec gave D’Cyra a knowing look.
Wong: So you knew the whole time?
Juriton: ::Shortcut:: Taking shortcuts to reach the end goal has become the general philosophy of Astrofleet. Just ask all the infected people. And the Zumardi.
Iko: That’s not…
Bec put her head in her hand. She was tired.
Varati: ::to Juriton:: By the Nine Hells! Why are you using a technique you clearly don't understand? ::shaking her head again::
Wong: Varati, compose yourself. Commander Juriton is a guest here. Please treat him accordingly.
If Bec were closer she would have out her hand on Varati’s shoulder or something. But instead, she gave Wong a sympathetic look that hopefully broadcast “I’ll chat to her if you need.” Just… she’d need Wong to take Juriton out probably. And while Bec was sitting up, she wasn’t feeling up to doing too much more than that.
But the ensign was getting worked up. Pacing.
Varati: ::to Juriton:: So, let's summarize for the record: you designed and produced bioneural gel packs even though you lacked both the necessary knowledge and the appropriate materials? I mean, all of this could have blown up in your faces eventually, even without the Zumardi's interference... why not just use isolinear circuits?
oO Because ooo look at us we’re just like the federation! Oo
Wong: Actually…. She does bring up a valid point - why was the DNA of all three of your species used to create the gel packs? Did you have other DNA samples available to you?
Iko: Of like. I dunno. An actual goo?
Every planet had to have some sort of actual goo…
Juriton: Response
Varati: I don't know if I can do that... but well, it's ultimately about the health of your crew, who probably know nothing about this faux pas? Okay, then we need DNA analyses from all affected species so we can develop a generic solution for both the crew and the gel packs. A large-scale denaturation of proteins.
Wong: Agreed. Because right now, we need that information before the mold actually has any possibility of turing into a macrovirus.
Bec nodded.
Iko: I’d rather this… stuff not tear me apart any more than it is…
Nah, she should have called it “$%#@”. But Wong had just told Varati off and what is a First Officer if not a “good example”.
Being caught sick from an alien mold was such a good example to both the Amity and Kelper crews. She was so good at being a First officer. She was totally cut out for the job.
oO Not. Oo
Juriton: Response
Varati: But first I need to check the results from my other scans... we don't want to go from one disaster to another. Let's hope that this time we will be spared the wrath of the gods.
Bec nodded. Moreso out of reaction than saying she comprehended.
Wong: Okay. Varati? Can you work on that with Iko for a moment, please?
Iko: Sure.
Varati: Response
Juriton: Response
Then Wong turned to Juriton.
Wong: Ah, Commander. I think we are going to need a quick chat.
The two had their chat. And Bec turned to D’Cyra.
Iko: What do the scans say? Do you need to make any more?
She gestured out to herself, and the other UAW people in the sickbay—most of which who were unconscious.
Varati: Response
Bec nodded. She looked over at the other two briefly.
Wong: Right. Well. I need you to understand something - when you told us about the genetic link between the crew and the gel packs, that was significant information that we could have used a lot sooner than later.
Juriton: Response
And then turned back to D’Cyra.
Iko: Look. I am sure that you can tell by now that I don’t particularly like Juriton.
She had, after all, lashed out at him once she’d learnt the full story.
Varati: Response
Wong: I want you to think of the crew currently in quarantine right now, Commander. Surely, you have someone there you care about, right? Someone who matters to you.
Juriton: Response
Iko: But that doesn’t mean we don’t have to at least appear like we’re getting along. It’s tricky. I slipped up just recently, but diplomacy doesn’t like it when we shout and swear at people.
Unless they’re Tellarites. Or Bec if you’re joking around. Or probably another dozen exceptions. But her point, hopefully, stood better than she currently was.
Varati: Response
Wong: Withholding information like that means that we won’t be able to help you effectively. It means you won’t be able to help them either by extension.
Juriton: Response
Iko: Found anything new?
Varati: Response
Bec nodded again, and returned her attention to Wong and his conversation.
Wong: I need you to be upfront from here on out, Commander. No holding back on anything no matter how minor. And as you’re doing so, please keep those you care about in quarantine in your mind. Now.... Are we in agreement?
Juriton: Response
Iko: With that out of the way…
She gestured to D’Cyra to share the latest findings.
Varati: Response
Wong/Juriton: Response
Iko: Now, if this thing is becoming a macrovirus…
She paused, catching her breath. With how much her throat had been damaged she was barely holding onto her voice, though she didn’t want to admit any of that, even to her doctor.
Varati/Wong/Juriton: Response
Bec raised her hand, waiting for the latest itch in her throat to pass and not cough out abrasive mold particles and things before she spoke, but that is ultimately the opposite of what happened. And once again she leaned over to heave her guts out. Because that's definetly what it felt like.
Varati/Wong/Juriton: Response
Instead of actually saying what she was going to say, Bec just ended on a quiet, albeit very typical for her:
Iko: Ahhh $#@%...
Varati/Wong/Juriton: Response
Tag/TBC