[sb118-khitomer] Lieutenant Ezra Zerva - Something Stirring Up Down On Hixoraa.

[BC Cooper]

((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Khitomer, returning to Hixoraan Orbit)) 

After completing his task with the EMH, Ezra had pulled an all-nighter, checking in with all the security shifts to ensure everything was in order and everyone was where they were supposed to be. Then a double check to the security suite to ensure there were no problems with the makeshift aid station. After that he made a quick stop to the cafeteria to grab a deli a sandwich and a bottle of water to wash it down in the turbolift as he made his way to the bridge.

Upon his arrival Commander Naxell had ordered Khitomer to emerge from the safety of the moon’s shadow earlier than they had planned. From the sensor readings, the amount of radiation from the solar flares was minimal.

A call came through from the surface as soon as they were clear.

Dewitt: =/\=… Khtitomer, do …read? =/\=

The call wasn’t quite as clear as he wished it was, but it did go through and they could hear the XO.

Naxell: =/\= Good morning, Number One. Still a little hazy on our end but we're safe, I'm assured. Status report? =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Good morning to you too, Sir. I’m … I have bad news. Ensign Yorke might be infected … causing the illness down here. I want her to be beamed to … treated under quarantine. =/\=

Ensign Yorke? Ezra quickly checked the computer terminal in front of him. It took all of a couple of seconds to bring up the file on their newest addition to the Khitomer crew. Ezra took a quick glance. A new counselor to the crew it seems and they were infected? That was not good. At. All. Was it just Yorke? Were the others on the away teams okay? 

Naxell: =/\= Understood, Connor. We'll beam her up as soon as this radiation clears completely in a couple hours. Can you keep Ensign Yorke stable until then? =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= I would like to get her up … now, Sir. Something’s stirring up…. =/\=

Naxell turned around to look at Ezra who was manning the tactical station. His security instincts kicked in. His mind was already in the ship's armory, ready to beam down with an arm load of weapons and find out what the Emisan was going on down there.

Zerva: ::beat:: What? What is it? 

Naxell: =/\= Repeat that? =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Get Yorke out of here, Sir. Now. =/\=

Frack! Now things were getting worse. Ezra eyed the torpedos. One well placed… no! There were Starfleet crew members down there and the Emisan’s were supposed to be there, well the closest he could think of was acquaintances. Not so much friends as people they knew and helped relocate from a first contact standpoint. He summarized maybe one day the two, Starfleet and Emisan’s would be closer.

The comm line went dead. Not because of anything they had done here on the bridge, but because something was happening down on Hixoraa. Was it the solar radiation? Or something else? Something that had caused panic in the XO’s voice. The Emisans?

Before he could speak up, Captain Naxell held up a finger. Ezra was in standby mode. The elevator music quickly played in his head. He shook it off ready to ask a buttload of questions.

Zerva: ::nods, whispering:: Yes sir.

Naxell: ::tapping combadge:: =/\= Bridge to sickbay. Prepare for emergency transport. One human, infected. Quarantine immediately. =/\=

Matthews: =/\= Sickbay here, ready for transport to quarantine. Sir, I thought we were already assured that this wasn’t contagious. At worst we’d be looking at a possible disease jumping the species barrier years down the line, if we didn’t get a handle on it now. =/\=

Yep, that would be accurate Richard, he thought. He just hoped it wouldn’t get worse.

Melville-Kilpatrick: =/\= Response =/\=

Captain Naxell gave him a nod. Was that the okay to roll out? Ezra stayed quiet. Listening in.

Naxell: =/\= We're initiating transport now. Your guess is as good as mine, Ensign. But it sounds like this isn't our only problem. Keep me informed. =/\=

Melville-Kilpatrick: =/\= Response ? =/\=

Matthews: =/\= Isn’t our only problem? Wait what? =/\=

Too late for Richard as Captain Naxell ended the call. Yeah there were other problems, but the ensign would have his hands full alongside ensign MK dealing with their new patient to worry about other problems at the moment. Problems that the Captain, Ezra and the away teams would have to deal with.

Naxell: Lieutenant, as soon as that radiation clears I want you to load up a shuttle with marines and as much kit as you all can carry, and reinforce our people. Set down beyond the outskirts, and coordinate with Commander Dewitt. Do not engage unless he requests it. Understood?

Zerva: Yes sir. I’ll be sure we have everything we need and will be ready when the time comes.

Naxell: Response

Zerva: I’ll make it a priority, sir.

Naxell: Response

Ezra gave a nod and then thought it might be better to get started now.

Zerva: Permission to get started now sir, so that we’re ready in time for when the radiation clears? 

Naxell: Response

Tags/TBC

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Lieutenant Ezra Zerva

Security Officer

USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)

A240101EZ2