Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - Pandorum (PT2)

[Karrod Niac]

((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))

Niac:  Counselor, XO, Chief Kessler has a room full of explosives a few meters in front of him and you're suggesting I let him know he's also been exposed to the most lethal biological agent known to Federation science?  

Shortrith: I know that if I was in that situation, I'd want to know.

Niac:  I can appreciate that Counselor.  Mr. Raga, how certain are we that his suit is compromised?  Can we tell if anyone else on the team is similarly exposed?

Raga:  Response

Shortrith: There are so many stressors at bay, not knowing the entirety of the situation would make it worse, and heighten the psychological risk.

Niac:  The psychological risk is going to be somewhat secondary if we can't deal with this torpedo problem first, but your point is well taken.  Mr. Raga, any luck?

Raga: Response

Shortrith: What would you like me to do?

He looked first to the Counselor and then to his XO before realizing he'd made his decision already.  

Niac:  I'll tell them.  You're right...they deserve to understand what they're facing.  Unmute the channel.  

His lips pressed into a tight line.  

Niac:  That'll be the first step towards beating this damn thing.  Status of those torpedoes, Mr. Raga?  

Raga: =/\= Response =/\=

Shortrith: Understood.

Renaie took a deep breath before returning to speaking over comms.

Shortrith: =/\= Mr Kessler, I'm sorry you have to hear this from us… =/\=

Niac:  =/\= Chief...I'm putting this on open comms so everyone on the Rose can hear it.  Our probes have positively identified the wreckage of a Tarellian plague ship in this system.  Considering the severity of the situation aboard the Rose we must conclude that they have been exposed.  In addition...Lieutenant, your suit sensors are showing a puncture.  It's very likely you've been exposed.  We're attempting to ascertain if anyone else on the away team has also been compromised. =/\=    

Raga/Shortrith: =/\= Response =/\=

Kessler: =/\= Tarellian? I see. Any news on how this was engineered? Or is this a mutation all of its own? =/\=

There was chatter on the far end of the comm and Karrod heard a member of the away team pose a question before Lt. Kessler spoke clearly again.  

Kessler: ::Keeping comms open:: =/\= Sorry, my mother was a Medical Doctor and an Exo-Species Biologist. As you might expect deadly viruses were not an uncommon topic with her. ::pulling his tricorder out and flipping it open:: Given that no scans have revealed what we know about the Tarellian Virus then it stands that this is engineered to be different or it mutated, correct? =/\=

The steady, focused voice of Mr. Kessler, so focused on working the problem and staying on task, immediately put a small smile on Karrod's otherwise tense face.  

Niac:  =/\= That's a reasonable assumption Chief, I'll pass it along to the team in sickbay.  This should help them narrow down what they're dealing with.  In the meantime, are you or your team experiencing any symptoms?  Anything you could tell us about your condition at this early point could be invaluable.  =/\=

Raga/Shortrith: =/\= Response =/\=

Kessler: =/\= What about medical records from Doctor Wyatt Earp? oO No, wrong history Jack. Oo, Wait, Wyatt Hiller....Wyatt Miller. Yeah Miller, didn't he stay in touch with Starfleet for a while about the plague ship he was aboard? =/\=

Muting the line again he looked towards Toryn and Ensign Shortrith in confusion.  

Niac:  I don't know a Doctor Earp and Miller's as common a human name as Pog is on Tellar Prime.  Got any ideas?  

Raga/Nicolau/Shortrith: =/\= Response =/\=

Karrod could hear Lt. Kessler's breathing growing faster and heavier across the comm.  When he began speaking again the voice seemed less certain and more on edge then it had a moment before.  

Kessler:  =/\= I'm thinking I'm not dead yet, but will be. If this was mutated then you have a far bigger issue on your hands. If this was engineered then there's a cure. the engineers wouldn't be stupid enough to follow in the Tarellian's footsteps and resequence a virus that was known to wipe out civilizations without ensuring their own was protected. Unless of course they were naturally immune. Which means we could develop a cure from them, right? =/\=

A chime from one of the panels near the chair drew his attention.  Lt. Kessler's biosensors were picking up dramatic elevations in his heart rate and respiration.  

Niac:  =/\= Logical conclusions, Mr. Kessler, I'll pass them along to the research team.  Until then, get yourself and your people out of that armory while we dispose of your little torpedo problem, understood?  =/\=

Raga/Shortrith: =/\= Response =/\=

The comm went dead a moment later, the channel closed on the Lieutenants side, and Karrod tapped a few commands into the armrest.  Their view of the Rose was replaced by a cutaway schematic showing the locations of their people, with most clustered in the armory.  To his concern they seemed to be staying in place and spreading out, Lt. Kessler in the lead.  

Niac:  Try to get them back Toryn.  Counselor, I think you just got your first look at how quickly this disease can affect someone.  

Raga/Shortrith: Response

[Tags/TBC]

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Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0