Lieutenant JG Vesela Pace - Of Vines and Arthropods
C Souers
(( Medical Laboratory, Gibaria Outpost ))
Pace: There’s also the question of the radiation, multiple nuclei, and general mutation of the cells, but fortifying their cells may slow down the liquefaction in tandem with the arithrazine?
She posed the hypothesis as a question. She felt quite out of her depth here, especially with the threat of melting away so imminent.
V’Lar: An astute deduction. If we are correct that some form of dimensional radiation is the catalyst, then arithrazine could inhibit the radiation, whilst a fortified cellular membrane physically hardens the cell both from without and within. It would not be a cure, but theoretically it would slow cellular corruption.
Commander Tahna gave a small smile to Vesela. She gladly accepted it and gave one back. Even though she felt out of her depth here, she wasn’t alone. She had her crewmates.
Tahna: If we can’t reverse it later, stiffness and loss of range of motion may be a problem. But given the choice between melting or some level of paralysis, I’d certainly take the later. It’s an option to explore.
V’Lar: Indeed. However, it is not simply the immobility of their bodies but of their entire cellular structure.
Pace: Doctor V’Lar’s correct, we have to make sure that we fortify their cells just enough but not too much… otherwise we risk causing them as much harm as the radiation.
There was a ping from Tahna’s PADD and a true grin lit up the room. Everything felt lighter for a moment. Joy was one of the best medicines in the galaxy and Vesela remembered that hope was always on their side. Even in the darkest night the stars were there to guide them.
Tahna: Commander Neathler has sent us scans of some of the flora they’ve encountered. That should be plenty to get us started.
The CMO synced her tricorder and Vesela did the same. With these scans, creating an inoculant would be far easier!
V’Lar: Lieutenant, isolate the specific genomic sequences responsible for their cellular wall integrity. I will use this time to mentally model a retrovirus and delivery vector that would be compatible with all species present. Simultaneously, I will more efficiently organise the medical staff available in order to improve their triage and palliative care efforts and brief them on the requisite protocols for arithrazine usage.
Pace: Yes, sir. On it!
The first officer made her way back to the workstation, but paused to look at Commander V’Lar for a moment.
Tahna: I can’t order more crew into a quarantine zone for something we can’t cure. But I will ask for qualified volunteers to support local medical staff.
V’Lar: Thank you, Commander.
Vesela turned back to her workstation and began to get to work.
V’Lar picked up the tray with the arithrazine and stepped out into the absolute chaos that was the infirmary. Vesela was very glad she was not a doctor. A selfish thought, she knew. But she did not envy the doctor’s task.
The only sound in the room for a moment were the beeps of the workstations. Vesela found her mind wandering, but didn’t know what to say.
Pace: Sir? ::She paused.:: How are you doing?
oO Awful, terrible, people are melting in the next room over, oh and another dimension is creeping its way towards us! Oo
Vesela winced. She did want to make sure that her crewmates were… well, as good as they could be during this terrible situation, but her penchant for small talk in a crisis needed some serious work.
Tahna: Response
Pace: Well, at least this data from Commander Neathler isn’t corrupted. It’s very helpful so far!
Tahna: Response?
The Commander re-entered the room, the doors muting the sounds of agony just outside of their doorstep. She looked as stoic as ever and went right back to work. Vesela went back to work too. The scans were complete, but these plants were unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
V’Lar: The immediate crisis in the adjoining room has been temporarily structured. The local physicians have been briefed on the arithrazine administration and instructed on strict triage prioritisation.
Pace: Thank you, sir.
Tahna: Response
The Vulcan stayed laser focused on her workstation.
V’Lar: Their resilience is being tested and their operational efficiency remains suboptimal, but I believe they are doing the best they can under the circumstances. Given their psychological state and physical exhaustion, I recommend they be relieved as soon as possible, although it should be noted that their existing patient numbers will begin to decline imminently.
Pace: Well, all we can do is our best… Which I think is what we’re doing.
She tried to give the two commanding officers a confident smile.
Death was a part of life. Was this kind of death normal? No. But fate loved to be anything but normal.
Tahna: Response
V’Lar seemed to take a moment before turning to the two scientists.
V’Lar: It is a necessary reality of the mathematics we face; many are simply beyond saving regardless of the skill or will being employed.
There was a short pause before she continued.
V’Lar: I was able to successfully devise a retroviral framework and delivery vector. Have you been able to isolate the relevant genomic sequences?
Pace: Yes, sir! ::She tapped a few buttons on her PADD and transferred the data, relevant bits highlighted.:: I see hemicellulose microfibrils present, along with chitin, and pectins… There also seem to be a few metallic sequences which I wasn’t expecting…
Tahna / V’Lar: Response
Pace: The chitin is interesting too. That could be helpful in the long run with its presence in arthropods and its biomedical properties!
Tahna / V’Lar: Response
———
Lieutenant JG Vesela Pace
Science Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G240106VP4