Lt Cmdr Quentin Beck - Jack and the Giant
Quentin Beck
((CMO's Office, Sickbay Complex, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
The recall order had been annoying, if not surprising, because Quentin had only just gotten back to the planet's surface after clearing the majority of those afflicted by the stomach bug, had only just changed into his swimsuit, was only just about to dive into the deep end of a private pool where he'd intended to catch up a little on his aerobic exercise.
He'd glared at the combadge sitting on the towel next to the pool, turned his gaze longingly on the water… then had sighed and taken a step back. He knew he would have resented it more if he'd actually made it into the pool.
So he'd made his way back to the ship, arriving in a pair of swim trunks and water shoes with his towel wrapped around his neck in the transporter room, then made his way straight to Sickbay; this seemed important, considering the urgency of the order, and he knew he could replicate a uniform in his office.
He'd waved off any attempts to get orders or attention from the nurses and other medical staff - he needed to be in uniform first, thank you - and made a beeline for his office, tossing the very dry towel onto the holographic sofa in the corner of his office and moving around to the replicator. A shipwide comm sounded as he put in the order, and he could feel the slight shift in the vibrations beneath his feet that told him the ship was underway.
Niac: =/\= Attention all hands this is the Captain. I would apologize for our hasty departure from Lolagi IV but it seems like the Admiralty, in their infinite wisdom, have decided we've had more than enough recreation...or perhaps they've simply decided to cut us off after seeing the resorts invoices. Either way the celebratory luau we had planned will have to be rescheduled for a later date. We are on our way to intercept the USS Goodall and take aboard two specialists whom Starfleet Command have dispatched to supplement our crew for the purposes of this mission...I'm certain that once they're aboard and share details about our objectives you'll show them every courtesy and give them whatever support they require. All of that said, we have a few hours before our intercept with the Goodall so I'd like to take this time to confer some awards that we didn't have time to down on the planet. =/\=
A frown touched his features as his brow arched, dark eyes squinting up at the speaker. Being pulled out of shore leave to meet with a couple of specialists from Starfleet Command wasn't usually a good thing in his experience.
Niac: =/\= You all served Acting Captain Kel with the kind of skill and poise I've come to rely on...and due to that, you averted a disaster that would've had far reaching ramifications for this galaxy and, very possibly, many more. To that end every member of this crew has been awarded both the Explorers Ribbon for your investigation of the anomaly and the Defense of Temporal Flow ribbon for preventing a disaster before it could begin. =/\=
Two ribbons that he wouldn't be receiving, since he wasn't on board. Not a huge deal in the long run, but it was one of several things that gave him some regret for taking the job for Division 14. The replicator cycle completed, and he started changing out of his swim trunks and into his uniform.
Niac: =/\= For those of you who interacted with...or were assaulted by...Tholian forces from the Lattice Alliance...namely Lieutenants Shortrith, Evinrude and Ensign Wren, along with Lieutenant Kessler here on the bridge...you have been awarded the Tholian Campaign ribbon. While this is a recognition of your service in the defense of the Federation against an antagonist who is as persistent as they are...shrill, the exceptional performance of your duties was a highlight in the mission reports and debriefings I've reviewed since coming back aboard. To that end...Chief Tucker & Lieutenant Shortrith...you have both been awarded the Leadership Excellence Ribbon for your composure and steady leadership during a crisis. And for your particularly exceptional heroics in defense of others both Lieutenant Kessler and Lt. JG Evinrude have been awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor. Well done to all of you...and my personal thanks. I know the senior staff shares my opinion that your performed your duties with truly exceptional skill and bravery. Oh and there's two more...small matters. =/\=
There was a momentary pause, just long enough to make him wonder if Niac had been distracted for some reason, though the Captain's voice continued as Quentin fastened his collar.
Niac: =/\= While many of you know by now that Mr. Kel has been promoted to the rank of Commander, I want to take a moment to celebrate this enormous milestone...as he accomplished more in his first time in the big chair than some CO's do in their whole career. I have no doubt that someday soon he will bring the skill, cleverness and composure he demonstrated in Ross-580 to his own command...but until then we continue to reap the benefit of his wisdom and his talent. Once again V'Len...well done. =/\=
The corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile before he nodded his agreement. Kel had been the CMO when Quentin had been but a lowly Ensign, fresh from the Academy, but the Trilldorian had welcomed him with open arms and taught him much of what he knew about running the Medical department. He knew he wouldn't be half the Doctor he was today without Kel's support and trust.
Niac: =/\= Lastly...Mr. Kel is not the one one who has continued to over-perform in their time aboard the Ronin and it gives me enormous pleasure to see another of our talented junior officers taking a step further along in their careers. Since joining us as their very first posting, this officer has continually and repeatedly demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations while defending the lives of their crewmates and all those we are called to protect. So to that end and with the full support of the senior staff I am proud to announce the promotion of Lt. Jg. T'Fearne Elaazni to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and responsibilities there of. Congratulations Lieutenant...there's a pip waiting in my Ready Room for you. =/\=
While he was a little sad they didn't get to do the usual award ceremony hullabaloo, he was still very glad to hear his fellow crewmates were being recognized for their service. He was not terribly close with T'Fearne, though the work they had been doing to better analyze and understand her burgeoning telepathic powers had brought them together enough now that he considered her a friend, not just a patient or colleague.
Niac: =/\= I'm reminded in this moment of the wisdom of some of our predecessors, from an era when the exploration of space meant dangerous journeys just to reach the world's nearest moon. I believe it was a human explorer who said 'I have two Outlooks and neither is working...' and I've always felt that was profoundly wise...when that early pioneer was confronted by the unknown, when his outlook was challenged by the unexpected, he recognized it and adapted. He grew. He rose to the challenge of his era just as you have risen to the challenges of yours. I have never served with a more competent group of officers than those among this crew so I know that, no matter what our forthcoming mission has in store for us, we will rise to the challenge as we always do. Ronin Strong. That is all. =/\=
His nose wrinkled a little at Niac's quote, not a hundred percent sure that was correct, though he had no idea which explorer it would have been he was quoting, nor did he have the desire to track it down to correct it. The meaning behind Niac's words was more important, and Quentin agreed wholeheartedly.
((Sickbay, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
As he had no idea exactly how long it was going to take for them to rendezvous with the Goodall besides 'a few hours', he decided it was best to just prepare for… anything, really. Stepping out of his office, he approached the Bullpen, which was bustling with activity, and cleared his throat.
Beck: Good afternoon, everyone; I want to reiterate the Captain's apology for our unexpected departure, as I know many of you put in some extra time with us here in Sickbay when we were supposed to be relaxing. That is, unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of serving as a Starfleet Medical Officer. That said, I want to thank each and every one of you for your willingness to step up when you're needed; I will be adding a commendation to your files and will make sure you all get something special out of it later on.
He paused for a moment, looking around at his team, then smiled.
Beck: Now. I have no idea what it is we're walking into with these two specialists, but we don't really need to know to do what we do best. Standard procedure applies for now. Wyla, I'd like you to lead the effort to prep Ward A and B for triaging superficial and minor injuries. Rox, I'd like you to prep Ward C for triaging any serious injuries that may require surgery; De La Croix, your primary focus will remain those patients, but if you're available and we need help in Wards A or B, please join us at your discretion.
Avae/Rox/De La Croix: Response
Beck: Let's hope we don't need to utilize Ward D. Any questions?
Avae/Rox/De La Croix: Response
((OOC: Feel free to add some more to this scene as you see fit - there is about a two hour gap between this scene and the conference room!))
Beck: Alright, folks. Let's show them why we've got the best Medical staff in Starfleet.
((OOC: Again, plenty of room here to expand - I am jumping forward to the next scene but don't feel like we need to rush.))
((Two Hours Later - Xenobiology Lab, Sickbay Complex, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
Much as he'd expected, his team was working like a well-oiled machine; so much so that he didn't need to supervise and, instead, retreated to the secure domain that was the Xenobiology lab so he could tinker with his drones. The section of the room that had formerly been focused entirely on Tholian biology was dark, the few remaining pieces of equipment covered by a drop-cloth, less useful now that there were no actual Tholians aboard. Hadn't been for some time. And yet he couldn't bring himself to get rid of anything else - not on the off-chance it might be useful, should they encounter another Tholian in need.
Rebuilding his original prototype, Chip, had taken longer than he'd expected. The biggest problem had been the motherboard; it had been damaged beyond repair, and the components immediately attached to it had fried in the process, so he'd had to put the little drone back together piece by piece and reprogram him from the ground up. He'd actually replicated a new chassis, one that would hold up a little better under duress, and had modified the old chassis to serve as the primary body for a new drone prototype, though this one wouldn't fly. This new one, Dale, looked a bit closer to a King crab.
Raga: =/\= Raga to Sickbay and Engineering. Quentin, Marty. Drop whatever you’re doing and report to the conference room immediately. You’re going to want to hear this. =/\=
Pursing his lips, Quentin raised a hand to turn off the light attached to the strap around his head, looking down at the half-completed drone on the table before him. Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, he slipped the powercell he'd been holding into place and the eye on the 'front' of Dale's chassis flickered to life slowly.
Beck: Good morning, buddy. I'll be back, soon as I can; you run a self-diagnostic and review the blueprints I uploaded to your matrix, then build yourself out as best you can. Sound good?
The little crab-robot made a chirping sound, as it didn't yet have anything resembling a vocabulator, before wobbling to its feet and extending one claw as if giving a thumbs up. Quentin grinned and gave it a pat before yanking the strap from his head and tossing it into a pile of equipment.
Beck: =/\= Aye, Commander. On my way. =/\=
((One turbolift ride later - Conference Room, Deck 03, USS Ronin))
Doctor Quentin Beck rounded the corner leading to the Conference Room, the tails of his blue labcoat fluttering around his shins, his focus almost entirely on the padd clutched between the fingers of his artificial right hand. In his left, he held about half of a powdered donut, and anyone with keen enough vision would notice the sprinkling of white at one corner of his mouth, plus a smattering across the front of his chest.
He paused for a moment as he approached the doors to the Conference Room, coming up next to his old pal, Marty, who had apparently beaten him here only by thirty seconds at most. He offered the Chief Engineer a nod of recognition, smiling warmly, his brows raising conspiratorially.
Beck: What do you think's goin' on? Another anomaly?
Tucker: Response
His shoulder lifted in a little shrug before he glanced at the door and indicated they should step through. The doors parted and he indicated Marty should enter first, following close behind; Raga offered them a stoic nod of greeting, and the Doctor's eyes shifted to study the new arrivals. Something heavy was up.
Raga: This is our CMO and our Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commanders Beck and Tucker. Quentin, Marty, these are Lieutenants Venn and Velis. ::he looked at their guests:: If you’d be so kind as to repeat what you told us to them?
Beck: V-squared, huh? Good to meet you, Venn, Velis. That definitely won't get confusing later.
Kel was seated in the CSO's chair, as expected, though sometimes Quentin still felt it odd seeing him there. He dropped his padd onto the table in front of his seat, gave V'Len's shoulder a squeeze (with the artificial hand, so as not to leave behind any white fingerprints), then settled into his seat to make himself comfortable.
Niac/Venn/Kessler/Tucker: response
Kel: What can you say about the creature's physiology? How is it propelling itself? Do we have any ideas on size.
Quentin was still trying to make sense of what little they'd shared since his arrival, his brow creasing heavily as he poked a finger at his padd, taking notes. He took another bite of his donut, eyes shifting to Velis as she started to speak.
Velis: ::folds her hands:: In truth, we don’t know much about the creature. Only that it is very large, moreso than our instruments and scans can measure without days, possibly weeks of deeper research. None of the ships that have been sent to study it have been able to get close enough for more than cursory studies. We haven’t wanted to risk provoking it to defend itself.
'Very large' was not exactly the kind of answer he'd been hoping for, though it sounded as if they didn't really have a clue just how big this thing was. Was it closer to… VGer? Or a Borg Cube? Or something even bigger?
Beck: Um. All due respect, but considering all of the previous ships you've sent to study this thing haven't had much luck, what makes the Ronin any different? Don't get me wrong, I love the girl, but we're not exactly on the cutting edge when it comes to Science vessels.
Venn/Kessler: Responses
Niac / Raga: Responses
Kel: Spaceborne life forms are a long standing interest of mine. We've been tracking several signals which we believe could be cosmozoan, I'll get the data sent to you.
That was a word he hadn't thought about since… his final exam at the Academy, actually. There'd been something seemingly sucking the batteries dry before the little Nova-class ship could regenerate the power and Quentin had been tasked as the Engineer to find out what was going on. There'd been what he would only have described as a baby amoeba the size of a damned elephant attached to the ship's core; the exam had ended before he could find out much more.
Tucker: Responses
Velis: ::thoughtfully:: My task is to work with your science and medical personnel to learn more about the creature. ::glances at Venn:: The lieutenant can perhaps enlighten you more as to her purpose.
Venn: Response
Niac / Raga / Kessler: Responses
Kel: Surely, we won't be taking the creature out of its natural environment?
He let out a snort.
Beck: If this thing is as big as they're making it sound, I'm not sure we could take it out of its natural environment. ::a beat:: Still… I echo Doctor Kel's sentiment. We know next to nothing about this thing, do we really want to see what happens if we try to push it into a cage?
Tucker: Responses
V'Len leaned in to look at Karrod.
Kel: Sir, it's one thing to study a creature, it's something else to attempt to contain or relocate it.
Quentin nodded his agreement.
Beck: I'm not sure they make lassos big enough to wrangle something like this, anyway.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Venn/Velis: Response
Kel began entering information into his padd. The Doctor pushed the last bit of donut into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
Kel: The spaceborne life form the Starfleet has encountered communicate in a variety of ways. I'd suggest a long range scan of the creature's magnetic field and EM emissions. Maybe there's a way we can let it know we're not a threat.
His brows lifted a little before he spoke around the donut.
Beck: That's assuming the thing would even notice us to begin with.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Venn/Velis: Response
Kel: ::looking at Velis:: Do you suppose it would respond to a standard hail?
Swallowing, he rubbed his palm over the bottom half of his face to dispel any powder.
Beck: That would depend greatly on whether this thing is alive or not. I find it hard to believe something this immense is alive, let alone sentient, but I'm sure people said the same thing about blue whales back on Earth a few centuries ago. Just because I'm having trouble conceiving of it doesn't make it impossible.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Venn/Velis/Kel: Response
Sighing, he poked at the padd again, his brow creasing as he considered his next question.
Beck: Okay… so let's assume this thing is alive, it can respond to us somehow, and it does notice us when we show up. What if, by doing so, we just piss it off?
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Venn/Velis/Kel: Response
He shook his head.
Beck: I mean, what if this thing has the same capabilities of a planet killer? What if, by contacting it and making it aware that the ants are studying it, it decides it doesn't like that very much and we become barbequed Roninites?
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Venn/Velis/Kel: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
Lieutenant Commander Quentin Beck, MD, FASFS
Chief Medical Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A238810SA0