LtCmdr Kettick: I am an engineer, not a doctor

[Darwin Awkward]

((Sickbay - USS Eagle-A))

Letek: It seems the creature left traces of its DNA on your armor. It’s reacting with the chitin, but I don’t quite understand why.

That was... Promising and concerning in equal measure.

Kettick: What would it mean? Is my DNA significantly deviated or contaminated?

The Bajoran shook his head.

Letek: Fortunately, it’s not that bad. Your DNA is completely unaffected. Only the area where your armor was damaged is reacting with the creature’s DNA. 

Ah. Limited contamination, but contamination nevertheless. Not terrible, but... better get rid of it before it became so.

Letek: As nice as it is that the wound is healing on its own, I’d still suggest we remove all traces of the foreign genetic material. Just to make sure tentacles don’t suddenly start growing on you, right?

The Remmilian gave a light hum from his position on the biobed.

Kettick: Unless they start acting independently from my control, tentacles would not even be that bad. But I concur. How are we to proceed?

Letek: With a very simple, old-fashioned method. We’ll irradiate the area. It sounds far worse than it really is, especially since we’re specifically targeting and killing only the foreign DNA.

Ah. Kettick paused for a second, and let himself consider the information.

Kettick: Oh. That's quite milder than I expected, my history of radiation exposure notwithstanding. Then again, I was thinking of what I would do to a piece of hull plating that were similarly affected.

Letek: Response

The Remmilian rattled off the procedure as if it were a weekly occurrence.

Kettick: Remove the affected part and some more around as a safety margin, then sterilise the location with a plasma torch for good measure and seal the hole afterwards. :: The Engineer shrugged as he watched the Bajoran Medical officer prep his tools. :: Still what I would do if I were stranded in the field as a stopgap measure until I could get proper treatment, but your way is obviously superior. And can be applied to a wider spectrum of species.

Letek: Response 

Kettick clicked his mandibles in amusement.

Kettick: I'm perfectly fine with less downtime. Waiting for the front half of my exoskeleton to regrow last time was quite inconvenient, if I have to be honest. And I suppose you have better things to do during this well-deserved shore leave.

TAG / TBC

--

Lieutenant-Commander Kettick

Chief of Engineering

USS Eagle-A

G239107LR0

Your Engineering department kindly reminds you that you are supposed to read the flakking manual.