Ens Hiro Jones - Head on a Swivel.
notyourfrog
(( Operations Center, Deck 5, USS Artemis ))
Hiro and Commander Yalu sat, discussing the upcoming mission while enjoying cookies and tea. Hiro had to admit: he liked Yalu's style.
Yalu: I’ve been looking at the information filed by Kef’in Dari, one of the scientists who we’ll be working with at the impact site. ::beat:: Doctor, if you found out that one of your patients was sick with something—let’s say, a mutated gene or a virus with a long, asymptomatic incubation period—can you think of a situation where it would be to the patient’s advantage to delay treatment until a devastating symptom presented itself?
It seemed an out-of-place question to ask, but assuming there was a reason for asking, Hiro considered his answer before speaking.
Jones: If the condition was known and sure to result in some negative impact for the patient's life, I wouldn't hesitate. If however, the procedure carried its own risks, and there was a chance the patient's condition would remain benign, it would come down to a conversation with the patient. There could be a case made though if the treatment posed a greater potential risk to the patient than the fully realized condition the patient may choose the lesser of two evils. Why do you ask?
Yalu: I’m thinking about this meteor impact. The Da’al may not be interested in joining the greater galactic family of nations, but they must have an idea of what goes on in their neighborhood.
Jones: You think they were aware of the impending danger, but did nothing to prevent it?
Yalu: The more I read about this disaster, the more questions I have. One of my past hosts, Benim, was an investigative journalist who was incapable of passing up a good scoop. I have to confess, I’m feeling the urge to go on a little independent fact-finding mission when we get there.
Hiro sat back in his chair, mind racing at this possibility. Up until this very moment, he'd viewed this mission as a straight-forward assistance mission following a natural disaster. Sure it had it's own complications and risks, but the thought of subterfuge hadn't occurred to him. He wasn't even sure how to respond to Yalu.
(( timeskip - post shuttle ride, Ground Zero, Tecra, Da'al ))
Yalu: ::to Osuna:: Lieutenant, you’re responsible for remembering where we parked this thing. If I have to explain to Captain MacKenzie why my team lost a shuttlecraft on our first mission, I’m going to be very sad.
Osuna: response
Yalu: Right, team. Let’s go.
The four members of the team disembarked, and walked down a lane lined by houses and shops. Hiro thought how quaint and frankly idilic it must have been before the meteorite hit. Now, at the end of the street, there was a gaping crater. dust and smoke hung in the air, buildings lay in ruin, and a huge part of what must have been the daily view for those who lived and worked here was simply gone. Hiro's breath caught in his throat. He swallowed hard, already feeling the grit in his nose and throat.
Wasting no time, he pulled the tricorder from his belt and scanned the air quality. He wanted to be sure they weren't poisoning themselves by simply being here. Particulate matter was higher than usual, but the chemical composition was within acceptable parameters for short-term exposure. They would all have more boogers than usual, but he saw no immediate need for the rebreathers. It was better to suffer a little than to appear completely outside the catastrophe. oO Who'd have thought medicine would be so diplomatic? Oo
The recovery command center was set up not much farther on. The collection of makeshift shelters and tents felt like pictures of Hoovervilles from Earth's early 20th Century. They screamed of poverty, suffering, and heartache, but also of the resolution of those inhabiting them to not merely give up.
One of the Da'al walked up to the Starfleet officers, Commander Yalu greeted the man.
Yalu: Kef’in Dari, I presume. I am Yogan Yalu from the Federation starship Artemis.
Yellir / Osuna: response
Hiro remained quiet, not wishing to add to the overwhelming appearance of four clean strangers to this devastated site. He nodded when Dari made eye contact
Dari: response
Yalu: Before we do anything else, I want to express my deepest condolences for what has happened. We’re here to help however we can.
Dari: response
The Commander nodded and gestured to each of his teammates in turn.
Yalu: Based on your expressed needs here, we’ve brought our best people: Lieutenant Yellir is our chief engineer, Lieutenant Osuna is our Chief of Security, and Ensign Jones is our medical officer.
Jones: ::to Dari:: Willing to assist wherever you need, sir.
Yellir / Osuna: response
Dari: response
TAG/TBC
Ensign Hiro Jones, MD
USS Artemis-A, Medical
E239510KD0
"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius