Ensign Jovenan – Three-step safety failure
Jovenan
((Holodeck 3, Deck 222, Deep Space 224))
She had almost forgotten her tricorder. There was usually no need to carry one while in space station, and certainly not during shore leave. But exercises were an exception: it was preferrable that the science officer carried one, even if she didn’t know the nature of the exercise. It would be probably very pointless if they had firing range or physical exercise. Nevertheless, a good science officer had their tricorders even for swimming exercises. Was swimming even required for Starfleet officers?
Jovenan arrived at the Holodeck 3. Ensign Jones was already there, whom she greeted by waving a hand. Mere minutes later, the exercise was ready to begin, and Lt. Commander Yalu welcomed them.
Yalu: ::nods to everyone in turn:: Greetings, all.
Jones: ::nodding:: Afternoon, sir.
Jovenan: ::nods:: Hello, sir.
Adea/Any: Response
Jovenan took a look on the others. She didn’t know Commander Yalu except from the crew roster. On the other hand, she knew the two doctors. Commanders didn’t always take part in exercises, which made her wonder if Doctor Adea was there to participate or to evaluate them.
Yalu: I appreciate you signing up for this training, and for making the trip over to the station for it.
The welcoming pleasantries were brief, and the exercise briefing started right away.
Yalu: This afternoon, we are going to drill an experience I hope you never have to deal with in your Starfleet career. ::beat:: But if you do, you’ll want to be prepared. Let’s head on in.
Jovenan: Aye, sir.
Adea/Any: Response
They walked in the large holodeck, or is it holosuite since they were on a station? Either way, the sterile walls of the holo-simulation room soon vanished were replaced by equally sterile sickbay walls. So, this was likely to be a medical exercise. She glanced at the two doctors and questioned what will be her part.
Yalu: We are in the main sickbay of a Galaxy-class starship, and the captain has just given the order to head for the lifeboats. In just a moment, the simulation will begin. We will have five minutes to evacuate Sickbay before the ship is destroyed. ::beat:: This is the point where I’d normally ask if anyone has questions, but seeing as this is an emergency drill, I think it’s best if we just start.
Five minutes!? She’d be lucky to make it to the escape dops herself in…
Yalu: Computer, begin simulation.
The entire room shook. The cacophony of the red alert noises, computer’s voice telling them to evacuate and the cries of wounded people suddenly materializing to the biobeds filled Jovenan’s ears. Glass containers on shelves were shattering. The situation was far from optimal.
Yalu: ::points to injured:: Looks like we’ve got a lot of hurt people here. ::points to science experiments:: And potential for contamination there. What are you going to do first?
Jones: ::looking to the CMO:: Haul and contain? Your orders, sir?
Jones didn’t waste time in waiting for a reply but went to prevent the contamination risk. Jovenan followed the example.
When handling potentially hazardous materials, it is always important to remember the Secure, Contain, Protect: Secure the material so it’s affected by outside forces only minimally. Contain the material so it can’t spread even if handled improperly. Protect the population and environment from the material. If all these steps were done correctly, a single one of them failing would not cause a disaster. Here, all steps were seemingly ignored. But even if they were so careless, surely they wouldn’t store high-level biohazards in such an open place. Then again, this is the Galaxy-class, with decades of service in their record. The safety protocols in the 60s capital ships were flimsy at best. She was lucky to not living in such dangerous era.
Then, one of the containers broke and released some blue gas. Great.
Jovenan
pulled her tricorder out of her pocket. She considered moving closer to the potential
hazard for better reading, but opted to step back to avoid contact. She was hesitating. There's no time for that right now.
Jones was standing by the workstation, hopefully trying to get the material contained.
Jovenan: Can you get the containment shield up?
Jones: Response
It didn’t take long for the tricorder to recognize the substance. Warning signs blinked on the screen of the small device.
Jovenan: Trifluoronitrosomethane! It’s highly toxic, slightly flammable!
Jones/Adea/Yalu/Any: Response?
She moved to the workstation besides Jones. She had probably less strength to carry any of the patients out and knew little of treating them either but was more knowledgeable on chemical substances and ships’ systems. It was better for her to stay there.
Jovenan: I’ll try to get the shield or ventilation up! The patients need you more, Doctor!
Jones/Adea/Yalu/Any: Response
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Ensign Jovenan
Science officer
USS Excalibur-A
E239911J11