Ensign Sival: Apprehension
Sival .
(( Briefing Room, Deck 1, USS Juneau))
Sival leaned forward as Captain Oddas displayed images of the Anadasans. They appeared to be a cross between humans and Klingons. The only notable feature appeared to be shallow cranial ridges.
Oddas: That’s where our second team comes in. I’m going to take a second team - Mister Falt, and Mister Kendrick with me.
There was a beat of silence in the room.
Sival raised an eyebrow. It was not standard procedure for the captain to join an away mission. However, it was her prerogative. Regardless of whoever was on the team, Sival understood that they would need to blend in with the local population.
Sival: It may be prudent to have your appearances altered so that you appear to be Anadasans. Based on these images, making the cosmetic changes should be a minor task.
Indeed, Sival rather enjoyed the process of transforming an individual into a different species. His attitude about the topic had evolved significantly over the past five years. He used to believe that there was no medical reason for superficial alterations, believing the task better suited for holofilm students and makeup artists. However, as he progressed through Starfleet Academy, and learned about issues such as first contact reconnaissance, he began to realize the necessity of this discipline. He thus put a tremendous amount of effort into learning this new skill, and before long he had become fascinated by the process of making humans appear to be Ferengi and Tellerites to be Andorians.
Given this, he should be eager to put his talent to use, but he was not.
Oddas: Good, we could use some appropriate medical disguises before we beam down, and then Doctor Sival, please join Commander Qinn’s team.
Sival slowly nodded, folding his hands in his lap. For some reason, a feeling of somberness overcame him. He ought to feel excited about joining an away team, but this didn’t feel right. It may have been that the Captain was going down to the surface as well. But his human intuition told him it was something more than that.
Oddas: It will be dawn down at the insertion site in a little over two hours. I’d like the shuttle launched, and our team beamed in before that.
Germanovich: I’ll ready the dive team.
Qinn: Mr. Germanovich, please have Gunnery Sergeant Hean report to shuttle bay 1. All necessary equipment for a potential encounter with the Borg. I want to keep this team light. If all goes well, we can bring down a more extensive team when night falls again. If it goes poorly, I’d like to limit potential casualties.
Germanovich / Any: Response
Qinn: Mr. Sival, take care of prepping the surface team, then meet in shuttle bay 1. Bring whatever you think is needed to analyze potential Borg remains. Also, anything to help us deal with potential hazards related to this being underwater.
Sival swallowed hard and pressed his lips together.
The second task was easily done, but dealing with Borg remains? He was less confident about this, not so much because of his lack of experience, but because the thought of dead Borg rather disgusted him.
Sival: Yes, Ma’am.
Sival realized he would have to struggle more than usual to maintain a professional deportment despite the visceral feelings that the Borg would undoubtedly provoke.
Any: Response
The briefing had come to a close, and people stood up and began gathering in small groups, discussing their relevant roles in the mission. Dr. Indobri and Sival were the only two left seated at the table as Lieutenant Falt approached.
Indobri: Response
Sival: If you would accompany us to sickbay, lieutenant.
Falt: Understood. Thank you.
As he stood up, he gave a questioning glance toward Captain Oddas and Lieutenant, who were engaged in separate conversations, signalling to them that the doctors would be ready for them sickbay. Then he took a deep breath and walked quickly out of the briefing room. There was no time to waste.
TAG / END for Sival
Ensign Sival
Medical Officer
USS Juneau, NX-99801
J239808S11