JP - Lieutenant Madison Marsh, Lieutenant Gila Sadar, Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper, & Commander Alora DeVeau - “The Velestus Conference” - Part IV
Madison Marsh
Part IV
((Later that day - Entrance to Tarola’n Conference Center, Tarola’n, Velestus))
Alora had thoroughly enjoyed the panels, and all of them had given her some ideas as well as new breakthroughs and technology to look into and possibly implement at Denali. At the end of the day, though, she was glad for a break. Shyla had moments of fussiness, but thus far they had been easily contained and she’d missed very little. Fortunately, videos would allow her to go over them again and see anything that had been talked about when she’d been tending to her daughter.
As soon as it concluded, Alora planted herself at the entrance to the conference center. Shyla, recently fed, remained awake, her black eyes staring at the blobs of colour that filled her world. Since her sight was still developing, she focused on very little, giving her an almost absentminded expression. Alora leaned down and kissed the top of her head, and when she looked up, she saw a trio of familiar faces headed in her direction. Smiling, she greeted the other women warmly.
DeVeau: Hello ladies. How did the rest of your day go?
Sadar: Quite well, Sir, thank you. ::to Marsh:: I have to relent, Madi-net, and admit that this was a very good idea. So much new research, and hearing it presented in this manner rather than reading the journals themselves give a much more nuanced perspective.
A smirk was evident on her lips as she addressed and responded with both confidence and care towards her friend Gila. Madison was the type of person that revelled in taking others out of their shells, but ensuring that it was both a viable and comfortable process for them whenever possible,
Marsh: I told you so girl! I agree, this experience is always conveyed better in person as opposed to reading about it in black and white. I’ve always acquired more knowledge through live interaction over journals and scholarly articles.
Hopper: I couldn’t agree more. ::Grinning:: It’s giving me ideas – maybe we can organize to have speakers come and present at the Outpost as well on scientific topics… if we can convince anyone to travel the distance!
Alora nodded, then motioned toward the doors.
DeVeau: Tell me more! We can talk as we walk.
The four Starfleet officers headed out of the event hall, making their way down the streets of Talora’n. Despite the late time, the twilight sky was still plenty bright - no doubt owing to the binary suns in the sky - and the temperature was pleasant. Gila still felt slightly off being out-of-uniform while in the company of two senior officers, but she’d slowly gotten accustomed to the idea over the day.
Sadar: I gathered that it was a controversial panel that Dr. Bhurr held, but I found it quite illuminating. The field of emergency medicine in active conflict zones always has to find shortcuts to the most effective medicine demanding the fewest resources. Especially considering the events going on in the Alpha Isles, I found it a most relevant topic to discuss.
Meanwhile Madison listened to her friend voice her perspective on the matters at hand. She could tell that she was off a little bit, but was proud of her friend for making the effort to socialise with others. It was a benefit to provide her with reps in social interaction. Now on the other hand, Madison was quite unphased by DeVeau and Hopper's ranks, they both put on their pants the same way she did. On top of that, to be fair, she had known Alora since she greeted her for introductions on the academy green at Starbase 118. She had served as her friend and mentor ever since then.
Marsh: I could relate to Dr. Unsworth’s point being that it is a challenge in the field to derive cures for populations that may be unfamiliar. I have experienced that twice during missions on the Narendra working with my dear friend and colleague Doctor Wethern. We don’t have all of the supplies that we have on our starbase, so we have to work together to have a fighting chance towards obtaining our goals.
Hopper: That’s really what it’s all about – that ‘frontier medicine’ experience fresh cadets are always pining for, or so I gather. Every challenge is unique and the best way to prepare yourself is really just to further your own understanding. You can’t always anticipate what you’ll need in the field – but you’ll always have your wits.
DeVeau: Indeed. Sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of waiting or even access to the most up to date technology. Sometimes, I think certain higher ups forget that.
Alora had no plans to climb higher in Starfleet, but if for some reason that ever changed and she found herself closer to the top of the chain, she hoped she didn’t forget that. Granted, her time as a medical officer was brief, but she’d returned to school several years prior just to expand her education which had allowed her more insight into the medical field, and since then she had worked closely with medical on numerous occasions when missions demanded it.
Madison could definitely relate to what Alora was talking about as she had seen it already herself. The higher ups meant well, but had forgotten a few important aspects throughout their ascension in the ranks of Starfleet.
Marsh: There are a plethora of higher ups that worked in the field and were clearly successful. However, over the course of time they forget what it was like at our various ranks. My goal is to not forget what it was like to be an Ensign and every other rank below what I obtain in the future. It will help me relate with my crew better as a whole as a result. My hope is that they make subtle improvements over time in our respective fields.
Robin nodded. While she wasn’t about to get deep into it and monopolize the conversation, even she sometimes felt that as the Chief Science Officer of such a large contingent of Starfleet and civilian scientists that her own time and capacity for research suffered.
Hopper: When the PADDwork piles up, it can be hard not to feel ‘out of touch’. I think the best way to stay grounded is to plan to ‘get your hands’ dirty, you know? Do the field work, do the lab work yourself.
Robin clasped her hands together, pleased at her own romantic notion of traipsing through jungles with a portable laboratory kit and conducting experiments in situ.
Hopper: Plus it’s the best way to really test yourself, stay sharp. ::Slight shrug and head tilt:: Granted, hands-on field work can be pretty different for a Science Officer and a Medical Officer.
Sadar: Emergency triage can only do so much if the patients are trapped in a location from which there is no easy extraction or opportunity to transport out. Knowing how to use natural resources, or hybridize medicine in alternate ways, can save lives.
DeVeau: Agreed. We don’t live in an idealised universe, as much as we wish we could.
If such a thing would come to pass, it would probably only be long after Alora was gone and her descendents numbered many generations away from her. Perhaps that time would come, but in the meantime, they would strive to help others and make the galaxy a better place.
She nodded her head in agreement. Madison felt that there were an abundance of areas where they could hypothetically become an idealised society in the future. However, various cultures would have to work willingly together to progressively move forward universally.
Marsh: If all of our respective species worked together, we could benefit so much more than we do now.
Hopper: As a Centauran, though, you’ve got to admit – there’s historically been a bit of a ‘balancing act’ between opening one’s culture to the broader macro-culture of the Federation and, well, erasure. It can be a surprisingly fine line.
Not wanting to get overly-political, Robin switched the topic back to the subject at hand.
Hopper: Speaking of balancing acts – Gila, have you had to do much of that? What you were saying before, that is – emergency triage, hybridized solutions in the field, and such?
Sadar: I’m specialized in trauma medicine and crisis care… N-Not that anyone sane would ever deploy me to a live battlefield, but, y-you know. ::clears throat:: It is still a field of study that I take very seriously.
DeVeau: One panel I went to would have synced with that quite well. It was on the use of plants and animals in modern medicine. Some people forget that even now, most medicines still have an organic origin, whether it be flora or fauna.
The use of animals was certainly controversial, for there were always concerns about the humane treatment of the animals. Some people even staged protests against it, but the fact remained that some of those very people likely wouldn’t exist had their parents not utilised modern medicine. It could have even saved some of their own lives and they hadn’t even realised it.
Marsh: I can understand their reasoning behind experimenting with animals during their time. It is certainly controversial and no one will ever fully agree on it which makes it a topic of interest. However, it is not the most ideal way today as I’m thankful for our technological growth allowing us to run thousands upon thousands of computer simulations prior to testing a cure on live patients.
Hopper: Of course, that is not always an option in the moment. When you have a Talaxian miner in your care in need of an emergency lung transplant, computer simulations kind of have to take a backseat to instinct. Again – balancing acts. Ethics and the efficiency demanded to save a life. ::Smirk:: Needless to say, I’m happy being a physicist instead of a physician.
Sadar: I should think that the use of medical replicators had eliminated that concern? Many ali- uhh, people I’ve encountered seem less interested in finding out where things come from now that replication technology provides a reliable shortcut.
DeVeau: Tonight though, we should relax and talk about each other, get to know one another. Who knows, maybe we’ll have the chance to serve together some time in the future.
Robin clapped her hands together three times in rapid succession, thrilled to be discussing something other than just work.
Madison lowered her PADD to her side as she listened and highly approved Alora’s suggestion. Getting to know others was a social activity that she particularly loved to do. Perhaps it was her background having one of her majors in Counseling at the academy.
Marsh: Yes! We need to get to know more about one another. ::Made a hand gesture to Robin and Gila:: Especially you Robin since the three of us technically just met one another.
Hopper: Absolutely. But I know myself; It can be hard to stop this chatty rock once it gets a rollin’. ::A slight look at Gila:: Some of us are on the quieter side, I take it…
Reliably, Gila grew quiet as the conversation diverted to something of a more personal nature, more than content with simply walking by Madi-net’s side and listening to what the other women said. She ought to have known that wouldn’t fly for long.
Madison smiled and nudged Gila with her elbow softly to get her out of her shell even more. She turned her head and spoke in an enthusiastic tone of voice as she addressed her friends of many years.
Marsh: Gila why don’t you start us off by telling us a little bit about your current path in Starfleet. For example, the two Commanders may have been around the fleet, but for their information have you served on multiple assignments?
Alora had already caught on that Gila wasn’t exactly the sort of person to talk about herself readily, but since she was the only one that Alora didn’t really know, she looked at the young Mizarian, with keen interest.
Sadar: Hm? ::stunned back to reality:: Uhh… N-No. I’ve, uhh, only served on the Artemis for about a year, so…
Madison nodded her head in listening to Gila and remained fully supportive in her mannerisms. This was meant to be a healthy way of guiding Gila and giving her reps to be more comfortable in social situations. She asked leading questions to help increase her confidence in knowing solid topics to discuss.
Marsh: Which campus did you attend at Starfleet Academy?
Alora elected to remain quiet, hopefully allowing the woman to speak freely without more pressure than what Madison gently offered. Robin, too, held her tongue, but looked expectantly at Sadar with an encouraging gaze.
Sadar: I enrolled at the SanFran Campus first, then transferred to the SB118 Campus at the start of my third year. One of my professors got a transfer order, and I really wanted to attend their classes.
Madison provided Gila with a smile of approval. She had come so far in her interactions since being a cadet. It was lovely to see her grow and show the rest of the universe what a lovely person she was outside of the classroom and lab.
Marsh: Those classes proved to be beneficial as you are one of the best up and coming Doctors that I personally know. Really it is just you and Dr. Wethern that stand out to me so far as being key contributors for Starfleet Medical in the near future. I have had the privilege of learning from the two of you throughout my tenure as a Doctor. It Is a great feeling to have such lovely colleagues to learn and grow from.
DeVeau: I attended the San Francisco campus, but I served at Ops for several years - two and a half as First Officer.
Her lips curled up into a smile and, as if she was following the conversation, Shyla cooed softly.
DeVeau: I think I can confidently say I expect to see all of you go far.
**************
Lieutenant Madison Marsh
Mission Specialist
Starbase 118 Ops
ID: O240006MM1
&
Lieutenant Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
ID: A240006GS1
&
Lt. Commander Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer and Second Officer
Amity Outpost
ID: V239806K11
&
Commander Alora DeVeau
Chief Science Officer &
Second Officer
Denali Station
&
Matriarch of the 15th House
Betazed
M239008AD0
--
Mission Specialist
Starbase 118 Ops
ID: O240006MM1
