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CMO Checkin on the USS Dresden

Posted Nov. 6, 2020, 10:16 a.m. by Ensign James Mason (Engineer) (Jeremiah Bullock)

Posted by Lieutenant Elaine Janvier (Chief Medical Officer) in CMO Checkin on the USS Dresden

Posted by Ensign James Mason (Engineer) in CMO Checkin on the USS Dresden

Posted by Lieutenant Elaine Janvier (Chief Medical Officer) in CMO Checkin on the USS Dresden
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
James rolled his shoulders slowly as he ambled towards Medical. It just wouldn’t do to be tense when he met the newest person in charge of patching him up. Thankfully this time he had someone with a bit of shiny looking him over instead of an overworked petty officer. He chuckled and continued on his way. While technically he was supposed to check in with his department head first, he’d spent enough time with the fleet to know that he’d be sent right back out to check in with everyone else relevant right after. Better to knock out the little bits of admin first before meeting his new boss. That way he could get right into the grind of things, and hopefully, start on his superior’s good side.

Stopping in front of the sickbay doors the short barrel-chested man paused for a moment. He discretely stretched his neck and considered cracking it before deciding that he was just wasting time. All it was was a simple check-in with the doc, not another long chat with those humorless Internal Affairs assholes. Come from the DMZ and know a couple terrorists and all of a sudden you were a security threat. Feh. James shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts before slipping into the medbay. At least those schmucks didn’t know the truth.

Stopping before the CMO’s door James sighed. Here went nothing. Reaching up he politely rapped twice with leathery knuckles for settling backed into a relaxed at ease position. A loose adherence to custom never hurt.

Ensign James Mason

As soon as James made the first rap, a serious of barks errupted from inside the office. Elaine startled from her work, “Enj shush,” she ordered, standing up from her desk and grabbing the dog who was standing wagging his tail by the door. With all the reports she had been doing of late, her and Enj had spent more time locked in her office than usual and Enj had began to develop cabin fever. But with only half her reports done, the last thing she needed was Enj taking himself for a self guided tour of the ship the minute anyone opened her office door.

With Enj safely tucked under her arm, Janvier released the safety on the door that designed to prevent Enj from escaping accidently. “Enter,” she called, the doors sliding open on her command. The CMO’s office was not the typical office that Mason would have been expecting. For starters there was a dog bed, and a dog bowl next to Elaines desk. In the middle of the dog bed was a well chewed rabbit toy as welll as a couple of pillows. Elaines desk currently had reports stacked on it that she had been working her way through before James had shown up and a holoimage of Enj. A pile of medical and (a scattering of) psychological textbooks were piled on the other side of her desk. More were on the shelves along with a couple of jars of sweets and a jar of dog treats. At the very top was a pile of blankets.

Across from her desk sat two plain chairs, pushed to the back wall for more room. What was more noteworthy, was the three awards hung modestly on the wall behind them. They were hung in such a way that anyone sitting in the chairs wouldn’t notice them. The first of the three was her Graduation honours award, but the other two were slightly too far away for to be seen from the door way. The CMO herself was very young for her postion. She couldn’t have been older than her mid 20s and could only be described as a petite woman. Under her arm was tucked a very wiggly black and white Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu cross.

Lt. (j.g.) Janvier & Enj, CMO

Of the things James had prepared himself for on the Dresden, actual dogs had not been on the list. He gaped at the closed door for a moment before pulling himself back together. Making a fool of himself could wait until shore leave. Right now he had a senior officer to meet, and gaping like a backwater buffoon wasn’t going to make him any friends. The engineer chuckled to himself, amused that all it took to lose his decorum was a surprise pet.

He heard a muffled “Enter” before the doors to the CMO’s office slid open and revealed an interior that still surprised the junior officer despite James preparing himself. The dog bed and toys weren’t completely expected and neither was the container of dog treats that caught his eye. James’ shock made the new officer feel exactly like an FNG despite having been in the fleet for years. Was two years of officer training enough to make him completely lose his unflappable nature? He pondered it for a moment before shoving it down, not willing to waste more time on pointless rumination. Dog or no dog, strange office or no strange office, he was to report in and make a good impression.

The engineer stepped into the nice office, taking a moment to glance at the graduation honors award and the medical texts covering her desk. He was surprised to see how young the CMO was and mentally raised his estimation of the woman. Either someone really liked her, or she had the chops to hack being CMO on a vessel as big as the Dresden, and he was always one to assume competence unless proven otherwise.

James came to attention in front of her desk and smiled. “Ensign Mason reporting to Medical, ma’am.” He paused for a moment, and continued, looking down at the wiggly little dog. “Nice to meet you as well.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“Welcome aboard Ensign,” the doctor smiled, setting the dog on the ground once she was sure the door was fully shut behind him. The last thing she wanted in the middle of a meet and greet was to look unprofessional as she chased Enj through Sickbay. Even as she lowered him to the floor his feet were already moving so that the moment she released him he was off, around her desk, and happily sniffing around Mason’s feet.

“If he’s too much of a bother, just send him to bed,” Elaine waved a hand vaguly in the direction of the bed on the floor. “Enj is very friendly, though, he won’t harm you…” she paused, “Unless, maybe you’re a tribble.” she joked, pulling out his medical file and scanning through it quickly to boost her memory. With every new file she recieved she made a habit of reading them almost as soon as she had recieved them. But with all the reports she had been having to sift through recently she would be darned if she could remember any of the reports without referencing their file at least once. Unfortunately, as talented as she was, she did not have an eidedic memory. Thankfully it didn’t take her long to refamiliarize herself with the information once she’d read a couple key words.

Lt. (j.g.) Janvie, CMO & Enj

OOC: If there’s anything note worthy in his medical file, feel free to write it in. Otherwise, I’ll assume he has a normal medical history :)

~ Cass

James couldn’t hold back the smile that crept across his face as the small canine snuffled around him. There was earnest happiness in its actions that turned the office from a professional workplace to something cozier and far more inviting. The casual manner that the CMO invited him in and the short spiel she gave him on ‘Enj’ only solidified that feeling. He paused at her comment before deciding to joke back. “I’ll have you know that I’m thirty-nine tribbles in a Starfleet uniform.”

Elaine glanced up from his records, and lightly shook her head as Enj investigated all the smells surrounding. “You sure fooled us,” she chuckled, focusing back on the mans records.

His gut sank just a bit as the CMO continued to peruse his records. The likelihood of her skimming past the portions involving his… laundry list of medical visits were disappearing like free resources before a Ferengi the longer she looked. The number of times that he’d been sent to medical to deal with fractured knuckles from ‘shifting machinery’ during his earliest years in Starfleet had been extensive. Then he’d come back missing a tooth and sporting several lacerations and a dislocated shoulder that had earned him the fiercest dressing down he’d ever earned. Doc Lopez had been completely done with his shenanigans and let him know in no uncertain terms. That in tandem with some of the best buddies this side of the Fleet he’d stopped looking for fights. Unfortunately, his pent up frustration had needed a vent of some kind, and he’d turned to portside rotgut. His affair with the bottle had lasted for two long years that saw him busted down a rank and spiraling out of control.

However, things had changed when he woke up in the hospital after having an alcohol blood level of 0.27%. Doc Lopez had been there, and she’d simply talked with him. The woman had navigated his burgeoning machismo and denial to give him the stern talking to that hadn’t sunk in the first time. He’d been checked into rehab right out of medical, and it was only by Doctor Lopez and Senior Chief Jackson’s recommendation he hadn’t been punted out of Starfleet altogether.

The engineer had been careful to avoid Medical in the future, but he hadn’t been able to escape it entirely. He’d been on the aging USS Bonchune, and one of the plasma conduits had ruptured. The next hour and a half had been a frantic scramble to save the vessel that had seen him burned, broken, and bleeding. That had been his longest stint in the med bay not including rehab. Realizing that his wish for a quiet intro to medical may have been broken the engineer did his best not to sigh. It was a Monday, wasn’t it?

Engineer James Mason, Engineering

As a Chief Medical Officer Elaine was privy to lots of private information, and while most of it was just basic medical information every now and then a person would have a file that was so personal that even she felt uncomfortable reading them or touched her on a personal level. The Dresden seemed to be a magnet for records of either type a or type b. Ensign Mason’s record was one of the rarerer records that touched on both. Her own battle with the bottle wasn’t the same. She had been in her teens when her father had died and she had learned that the precious parents she’d been waiting on her whole life had long forgotten her. Her father had loved her (his eldest) so much she hadn’t even been invited to his funeral. His new wife, and their children didn’t even know she existed. It had stung and she had just discovered alcohol, at the time it had been the answer to all her problems.

Although she hadn’t thought it at the time, being underage had done her a favour. It’s limited access meant she wasn’t always able to drink as much as she wanted and had been able to disguse her problem as ‘teenage rebellion.’ She had been lucky, that someone had straightend her up before she had landed herself in the hospital. Though their efforts had been more callous than they should have been, she couldn’t deny the results. She had curbed her problem, joined Star Fleet and become a doctor. A role she’d found she loved. With a touch of pride for the man she had only just met, she was sure James had done the same. Though from the looks of him, it seemed as if the man didn’t share the sentiment.

A part of her wanted to say something, but she had more tact than that. It wasn’t her place to pry. “The Security department might be the one that visits the most but they don’t hold a candle to the scale of injuries Engineers find themselves with,” Janvier commented lightly, a soft smile on her face showing Mason that whatever she had read in his record she wasn’t judging him for. She shrugged, “I shouldn’t complain, at least they show up when they need medical attention… eventually. Which is more than I can say for my own department.”

Lt. (j.g.) Janvier, CMO

The light jab that the CMO threw at the Security department coaxed a hearty chuckle before it turned sheepish as she pointed the finger at Engineering for hurting themselves something fierce. Thankfully though she wasn’t immediately commenting on his medical record which boded well for him. Her final poke at her own department coaxed another chuckle from the stocky man and a nod. This is better than I’d hoped. Now to just not frag it up.

“Doctors and nurses make for the worst patients?” he inquired, going along with the flow of conversation. It was a welcome change from the way the check-in could have gone, and he was determined to make a good impression. After all, you only got one shot at the first time. “Something something ‘they know their limits’, something something ‘they’ll be just fine’ or other malarkey along those lines?”

James Mason, Engineering

“Something like that,” Janvier chuckled, “But it doesn’t work out so well in practice. No matter how good of a doctor you are, you will never be able to treat yourself as well as another doctor can. I learnt that the hard way at the Acadamy.” her mouth twitched semi-amused as the memory hit her and she winced, “You wouldn’t believe how badly I was chewed out at the Acadamy when the head doctor found out I was healing my injuries on my own. What’s worse is that any physical I undergo, they always know that that’s what I’ve done, beacause it heals differently.”

“Speaking of… I should probably stop gally-wagging as my grandmother says, and get to your physical. You’ll be itching to get it done so you can get settled in,” she smiled softly, pulling open a draw of her desk and grabbing her tricorder. “It shouldn’t take too long… unless you really are thitry-nine tribbles in disguise.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO

“No way to fool your peers I see. I’ll have to keep that in mind as handy dandy blackmail for the future,” he replied with a grin. The engineer looked around the cozy and slightly cluttered office before turning back to look at the CMO. He made a mental note to remember that since by the way her office looked the good doctor was just a bit too devoted to her work at the expense of personal health. “Is this the point where I break for the door to try and preserve the secret of the Tribble Collective?”

“Or accept defeat with dignity,” Elaine opened her arms as if to say run if you dare. She winked, “I’ll keep your secret.”

Rolling his shoulders with a smile Mason looked over at the Lieutenant. “Jokes aside, I know every doc likes to use the tricorder differently so where and how do you want me positioned so you can check to make sure I haven’t managed to bust myself up?

James Mason, Engineering

“Sitting down, works best for me. If we were in sickbay I’d get you to hop on a biobed but since we’re in my office…” She trailed off and guestured to the pair of seats that had been pushed to the furtherest wall of the room, next to Enj’s bed. “Would you care to take a seat?”

Lt. Janvier, CMO

He nodded and then ambled over to the seat. “Don’t mind if I do.”

As he began to sit down the engineer took the time to more closely look at the wriggling bundle of fluff and fur in the CMO’s arms and couldn’t stop another chuckle from escaping. The little thing looked like it was vibrating with excitement and couldn’t decide whether to love their owner or come investigate the newcomer.

“So I have to ask, how did you manage to get.. Enj wasn’t it, onboard the Dresden?” He inquired curiously, situating himself to get comfortable. “He looks affectionate but I didn’t know Starfleet was alright with animal companions?”

James Mason, Engineering

“Some ships are more accommodating than others.” Elaine explained as she approached and started scanning once James looked comfortable, “Enj here is a little bit special as he has his own resume. Even though he doesn’t have any formal training, when he was a pup the Counselors at the Acadamy registered him as a therapy dog for me. My professors took such a liking to him that he ended up graduating honorarily as a medical officer. My last posting he served in medical entertaining the long-term patients and patients who had lost limbs or loved ones.” She glanced at the happy ball of fluff and gave a proud smile, “Turns out, he makes the perfect morale officer. So when I got recruited for this position on the Dresden, I accepted this role on the condition that Enj was allowed to come with me on board. Captain Harris agreed and the rest is history.”

“You’ll find out soon enough, the last year has been a rough one for the ship. In the midst of it all we didn’t have a long standing Counselor for a long time and a lot of people came to rely on Enj for comfort. Even now that we have Lieutenant Commander Reveneer Enj still has a lot of visitors. He’s become quite popular.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO & Enj

OOC: Feel free to let me know how his scan results come back as in your post. :)

OOC: I apologize for just how ridiculously long this reply to get out to you. I hope quarantine has treated you well!

The marvel of technology in the medical officer’s hand revealed a long litany of past medical issues that illustrated the checkered past of the ensign. Fractured knuckles that had broken and healed several times from physical disagreements in port to a healed collarbone that matched with the injuries he’d received on the USS Bonchune. Pair that with faint liver damage and it painted the picture of past that fit Ensign Mason’s service record. The classic troublemaking sailor associated with navies throughout that had given the profession a negative image.

Looking over at the morale officer who was happily panting on his owners chair Mason chuckled before nodding. “I can see why Officer Enj here is such a hit with the crew. He’s got an upbeat attitude that much is for sure.”

“He sure does,” The doctor agreed, smiling proudly at the compliment to Enj.

He looked over to the CMO scanning him before raising an eyebrow in interest. “The CO wanted you bad enough that you got to negotiate for Enj? That’s impressive. Was it your school record?

Ensign Mason, Engineering
OOC: I like longer posts :)

IC:Janvier laughed and shook her head, “My Starfleet Record was above average, but my school records before that were lousy. My school records send mixed messages.” Yes she had done well, but there were plenty of other cadets who scored better than her. And her final year had been a… mess to say the least. The majority of it being spent arguing with her now ex-boyfriend as she quietly made a decision for herself and not for him. Subconsciously her left hand reached out and touch her wrist, there had been all the rest of it and she had only been released from hospital a few days before their first exam.

“Captain Harris wanted me because of my service on the U.S.S Ixlilton, the medical triage ship I spent my cadet cruise on. It’s not the most popular ship for doctors to choose, it’s very design is to go into war zones and give medical aid to injured parties. It’s not pleasant or always rewarding, but I chose it because those people the Ixlilton treat need help and I was damned if I wasn’t going to help them. I must have impressed my CMO because when the Dresden came up with a vaccancy for a CMO he put my name down,” her eyes drifted to the second and third awards that hung on the her wall. They had been awarded to her at the same time that she had been promoted merely 3 years after graduating from the academy. The first of anyone from any department in her year.

Lt. Janvier, CMO

Bump :)

The engineer didn’t miss the way the doctor’s posture changed as she spoke about her final year in school. From the tension that replaced her open stance to her hand snaked around her wrist Mason firmly got the message that whatever had transpired over the course of her final semesters had been truly unpleasant. Thankfully the conversation flowed past after a short pause, not beaching itself of the sand bars of old pain. He took the time to truly listen to her words and the story they brought, mulling over the tale as she conveyed it. She’d been down in the suck, that much was for sure, more than most Starfleet personnel had been in such a short time. The engineer could see the inner grit that had grabbed the CO’s eye, and he could do nothing but firmly agree.

“Well, it sounds like you’ve been closer to the muck, dirt and nastiness more so than most,” He replied, a note of envy threading itself through his tone. He burned to crush the Cardassians for what they’d done in the DMZ, but more than that Mason wished he’d had the chance to prove his worth over the more than a decade he’d been in Starfleet. Other the USS Bonchune he hadn’t been thrust into the middle of the fray, and the monotony of Starfleet life had slowly got to him. It had led him to the Academy, and to some old friends from the DMZ. Both reinvigorated the new officer, giving him the spark to jump back into the daily grind that filled work in the ‘fleet.

“It wasn’t exactly a fun time,” the doctor agreed mildly. She couldn’t help but wonder, at the note of envy she had picked up, just what there was to be envious of.

“Still, it sounds like you earned the position twice over with the work you did aboard the Ixlilton. You jumped in to help people where there was a need, even when it wasn’t the most glamorous.” Mason continued. “I’m glad you’re in charge of making sure we stay in one piece. Well, mostly one piece.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

Was that where the envy sprung from? Her promotion or her choice to do her job even when it was less than pleasant. “I try my best to keep the crew in one piece,” the doctor grinned, “but there is always somebody trying to test my abilities as a doctor.”

The tricorder beeped signalling it had finished it’s scans. As Janvier moved it away so she could read it’s diagnosis Enj slipped back by Mason’s side gently nudging him for another pat. “It looks like you have a fit bill of health.” the corners of her mouth twitched into an amused smile, “A word of advice, if you get yourself into trouble make sure it’s nothing your doctor can’t fix. For the record I don’t know how to grow back missing limbs.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO & Enj

“Aw Doc, are you telling me that if I break to pieces like Humpty Dumpty of yore you won’t be there to put me back together again?” Mason joked, acquiescing to the small dog’s request for more attention as he began to scratch at his ears. “It is good to hear though that my more reckless ears haven’t completely caught up with me.”

Pausing for a moment the new engineering officer took a heartbeat to consider his words before looking over to the CMO with a raised eyebrow. “I have a question for you ma’am.” He grinned and gently ruffled the small dog’s ears. “Aything that Enj likes or needs aboard that I can help out with? He’s quite the lively soul, and it might be nice to come break the monotony to see him. After all one of the worst part of space is the boredom.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“That’s a kind offer.” Janvier smiled, “If you wanted to, you are more than welcome to take Enj for walks. He loves to go visiting but I often get caught up in Sickbay and can’t take him around. He also likes to chase rabbits on the holodeck, he never catches them, I think he just likes the game of it. But I’m often busy enough here that I can’t give him the run around he needs.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO & Enj

Mason listened intently to the instructions that the Chief Medical Officer said, taking particular note about the fact that Enj enjoyed getting to chase rabbits. He noted that things were busy for the senior officer, which he wasn’t surprised about. Keeping a medbay inventoried, clean, and ready to go at any time was no small task, especially on a warship the size of the Dresden?

He took a moment to marshal his thoughts and then spoke to the CMO. “Is there any specific environments that he enjoys the most like forests or meadows?” He took a another second to pause before asking another question. “Any areas of the ship that you’d like me to keep him away from? Engineering I’m assuming with all the machinery?”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

(OOC: My reply got eaten and I didn’t realize until now. My apologies about that!)

(OOC: Happens to me too if I forget to check. My laptop isn’t the most reliable device out there…)

IC: “He probably likes the meadows more,” Or at least it was the area where she took him too most frequently. He enjoyed bounding through the long grass and she found it entertaining just watching his head pop up every no and then as he tried to jump higher than the plants around him. “As for ship areas, I try to keep him out of major departments. Especially if they’re in a busy period. He has a tendency to get underfoot,”

Elaine searched her brain to see if there was anything else he needed to know. She was impressed at his question, taking the care to find out what Enj liked and where he could and couldn’t go. “Be sure to keep a careful eye on him, he has been known to run off when he’s feeling playful. He shouldn’t go out of sight, but he will stay out of reach. If you’ve got treats on hand or know doggy voodoo you’ll be fine. If you chase him, unless you’ve got fast reflex’s he’ll turn it into a game.” It was a trap she had fallen into many, many times where Enj let her get close enough until she could just touch him. Then he’d be gone, off hopping down the corridor, with a spring in his step and his tongue out his mouth. He always looked like he was laughing at her, every time she feel for his tricks and chased him. The game always ended with her looking like a fool as Enj let someone else catch him for her. Although Mason didn’t strike her as the type to fall for Enj’s tricks, it felt prudent to warn him. Just encase.

Lt. Janvier, (CMO)

Mason made sure to pay attention to the helpful information about Enj that his owner was conveying. The little canine seemed to be a rambunctious sort, and that wouldn’t gel with the departments according to what she’d told him. Unfortunately that meant no morale walks down in Engineering for the little guy, but it wasn’t all that surprising. The Chief Engineer had everyone bustling down in engineering, and getting in the way during maintenance would be a quick way to get himself into hot water.

Her advice about how much of a trickster Enj was also was welcome information. Having a mischievous dog playing tag through the corridors of the Dresden sounded like a quick way to get hauled in front of the XO for a tongue lashing. “Thanks for the advice. Void know I would have probably completely fallen for it.”

The ensign looked down at the canine and then back up to its owner with a grin. “Last question I swear. Where does Enj prefer to be petted? Or is he simply a glutton for attention?”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

Janvier laughed, “He’s a glutton for attention. He pretty much grew up being showered in affection and I think it’s a lifestyle he enjoys.” her eyes flickered to where Enj was happily soaking up the attention from Mason illustrating her point. His tail thumped from side to side. He looked up as if sensing that he was being stared up. His lip was pulled up, showing the top of one tooth, almost as if he was grinning back. “As long as he’s getting his attention, I don’t think he’s fussy.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO

Enj was simply and utterly adorable. The little dog knew his appeal and luxuriated in the attention he was able to garner with impressive ease. Mason could easily see the little dog commanding attention from everyone, tail happily wagging all the while as he disrupted work for everyone involved. He chuckled and made sure to scratch gently behind one of the canine’s ear. “This is good to know, and makes sense why he enjoys impromptu tag so much. There’s no better way to ensure attention from his audience than magic tricks.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“Exactly,” Janvier couldn’t agree with Mason’s analysis of Enj more. The dog knew his talents and openly flaunted them, and when he didn’t get the attention desired he knew what to do to get it. “He’s clever… and spoiled,” she added watch Enj lean into the scratch, “but mostly clever. He picks up on things and once he learns something he never forgets it. The best I can do is train him not to do it around me when he picks up bad habits.”

Lt. Janvier, CMO

“He sounds like quite the character to add to the ship roster,” James said with a chuckle before moving his hand to scratch beneath Enj’s jaws. “I look forward to seeing how he pulls the wool over my eyes.”

Looking back to look at the CMO he asked the one question every sailor thought about when checking into medical. “Is there any tests or missing evaluations that I need to knock out for you, or should I be good for the near future?”

Ensign Mason, Engineering


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