LtCmdr Kettick: Isn't that your job?

[Darwin Awkward]

((Briefing Room - Deck 4 - USS Eagle-A))

Williams: There is more to this… When a biological threat also becomes a systems threat, where does primary responsibility actually sit? With medical, science, or engineering? Because, from a tactical standpoint, it might help to have that clearly defined before the next incident.

The CSO seemed to disagree.

Stapledon:  With all due respect, this might be the wrong question to ask, sir.  Neural gel packs are everyone's responsibility.

The doctor looked perplexed, a sentiment that Kettick shared.

Kettick: Could you please elaborate, mister Stapledon?

Stapledon:  Well..  It seems to me like the issue is more around how do we ensure that...  ::She glanced over toward Lim::  Medical or science can deal with a biological threat to an engineering system.  And how do we get engineers a better understanding of the vulnerabilities of the biological components of those gel packs? 

Lim: I feel like we all have a good ‘understanding of the vulnerabilities’ of the packs after this mission?

The Chief Engineer shrugged serenely.

Kettick: Oh, I have full confidence in the universe to help us discover at least a couple more before the year is over. But in the meantime, we can indeed start to plan around the latest one.

Williams: One more thing. :: He looked at each person around the table, one by one. ::

Williams: Is anyone going to take that last chocolate croissant?

Stapledon snorted.

Lim: I’m good if you want it.

Drex: Please, help yourself, commander.::Gesturing to invite Williams to take it.:: 

The Remmilian nodded, graciously allowing the man his theobromine treat.

Williams: Excellent!

While Williams enjoyed his croissant, doctor Lim came back to the previous topic.

Lim: Back to Commander Williams’ earlier question. I do believe that better defining roles in the case of a biologic threat to the ship to avoid a jurisdiction dispute that wastes time that would be better spent fixing the problem.

Drex: Williams is right to ask. :: He shifted on the chair :: Clarity matters. But Stapledon is also right. When a biological threat becomes a systems threat, it stops belonging to a single department.

Kettick took a sip of his fruit juice before giving Drex's synthesis an approving nod.

Kettick: That seems like the logical conclusion, especially in the cases where the biological agent could affect the crew and the ship equally.

Williams/Stapledon: Response

Lim: From my understanding most of the responsibility bio-neural gel packs falls under engineering since their responsibilities have them acting with the packs and the network far more regularly.

Drex: That makes sense for routine operations. But when something else happens, responsibility expands with it. Engineering may lead on the gel packs, but they shouldn’t be facing a biological threat without Medical and Science already involved.

Kettick: Let us not forget the cases when the biological threat has teeth and claws.

He knew he would not anytime soon.

Williams/Stapledon: Response

The First Officer nodded once.

Drex: That’s the point. If the network fails, all systems are affected, so all departments are already involved. Each department should consider a shared diagnostic plan and, ideally, a group of specialists working across disciplines.

The Chief Engineer considered the words of his Denobulan superior, head cocked sideways in thought.

Kettick: I believe we already have a dedicated department that takes the lead in times of crisis to provide oversight and assign specialists to the various hotpoints as needed. Namely, yours, sir.

 
Williams/Stapledon/Lim: Response

Drex: We can’t pretend to solve it now, but I invite you to think about it. ::He leaned forward reaching of his glass once more.:: Anything else?

The Remmilian looked up from his PADD.

Kettick: In light of the recent events, I would ask Security and Tactical for their suggestions of possible defensive upgrades to our systems. Other departments are of course welcome to contribute in their own areas of competence.

Drex/Williams/Stapledon/Lim: Response

Kettick's head was made of rigid chitin plates, which gave him one impressive poker face. Which was a good thing, because he did not even try to look or sound innocent right now.

Kettick: Now that you mention it, the installation of defensive hardware in the Jefferies tubes could be a viable option in case of an invasion. I will make a note of that possibility.

Tags/TBC