Posted by Lieutenant Marcia Knowles (Chief Medical Officer/Chief Science Officer) in Sickbay

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Harmon (Executive Officer) in Sickbay

Posted by Lieutenant Marcia Knowles (Chief Medical Officer/Chief Science Officer) in Sickbay
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Marcia went into sickbay on the Trenton. She was pulling double duty here, Medical and Science, at least they kind of went together.

That reminded her, she’d have to speak with Engineering about the possibility of science equipment being in or near the Sickbay so that she didn’t have to spend too much time going from sickbay to the science labs and vice versa. Wasting time wasn’t something she liked doing, and her dislike for it was what got her into this opportunity. Some may call it a predicament, but that was negative and opportunity was positive.

“Nurse Toms,” she called out, and the nurse summoned was there almost immediately, “says here you did some science electives at the academy, Nurse.”

The nurse confirmed that, and Marcia said, “you’re part of the joint Science/Medical team, it’ll be set up here, at that workstation, but in medical emergencies, you’ll be falling back on the science. You’ll be liaison here between Doctor Mar and the Scientists if I do need to be on the bridge or in science or on away team duty.” A knock on the door to her office, and Marcia saw it was a scientist, “enter,” Marcia commanded, and the scientist did so.

“Thanks for coming, Ensign,” Marcia said, “Ensign Bry, this is Nurse Toms. The Nurse completed electives in science at the academy, and as you know, Bry, you did some medical electives at the academy. I am the boss of both of you, so we’re going to bring the departments together in a specialist team, with the two of you working together. Unlike Starfleet where the boundaries between the departments are maintained, here we can and will break the mould and protect the Federation from dangers from without and within. What we are doing is too important to play by the rules or stick to regulations. You two get to know each other, I want you to trust each other implicitly, you will be my eyes and ears in Science or Medical when I’m not in either location. Bry, in medical emergencies you are seconded to the medical department. We are setting up your workstation there.”

“Now, you are both to investigate science and sickbay. Bry, show Toms around down there. I want Toms to know all she can about the layout and capabilities of the science facilities. I want Bry to know the layout and capabilities of sickbay. Ask questions, check your understanding and make sure both departments are running efficiently and effectively. There will probably come a time when we need this in order to save the Federation and to survive. I have family I want to see again.”

“Dismissed, Ensign, Nurse. If you are questioned, send the enquirer to me,” Marcia commanded.

Toms led Bry into outer sickbay, and Marcia headed off towards Engineering.

• Knowles CMO/CSO

Aidan took that moment to walk into Sickbay. “Ensign, nurse,” he said as they walked out of the doctor’s office.

“Have you seen Knowles?” Aidan still hated the formality of being on a ship. Yes their was a hierarchy in the field, but it was nothing like on a ship.

Aidan Harmon - XO

Marcia paused on her planned journey to Main Engineering and looked back at the Lieutenant Commander. She replied, “only when I look in the mirror, Commander. I am Marcia Knowles. How may I assist you, Sir?”

• Knowles - CMO/CSO

“Aidan Harmon. I just got reassigned to the Trenton, so I would figure I’d check in with the senior officers. Small crew and all, it’s nice to know who I’m working with,” Aidan said as he stepped forward.

“So tell me Marcia. How did you get stuck pulling double duty on this run?”

Aidan Harmon - XO

She noted the ‘Marcia’, but she decided to keep it on the appropriate levels at this stage.

“Well, Sir, I was on the USS Iforgetthenamenow as a member of the Medical Staff, one of the senior doctors there, and a senior officer on board had a serious incident on the return to the ship from an away mission. I was the doctor on duty and knew advanced surgical techniques from the Cardassians which I wanted to use on the officer. His people didn’t want the surgery, I wanted him to get back to work, and began the surgery against their wishes. I did what was best for him and the ship, his skills were needed. I was stunned with a phaser and drummed out of the mainstream fleets as a result of my disregard for established protocols and wishes of the patient. I was approached with an offer I couldn’t refuse, and apparently my skills in Science and Medical meant I was sent to do double duty. Biology and Xenobiology are my main specialist areas in Science, anyway, so they kind of relate to medical.”

“What about you, Sir,” she asked.

• Knowles, CMO/CSO

Aidan nodded. “Relax Doc, there is no need to stand on formality with me. I come from a forward operating team, I was recruited right out of the Academy. We never stood on rank in my unit. You knew who the team leader was, but the team was built on trust. Because if you can’t trust them to have your back, who can you trust? We only ever pulled out rank when we were bumming a ride form the fleeters. They kind of expected to see a rank. But I’m here because someone higher up thought the Trenton could use my services as a field operator.”

“Though I’ve heard your story before. In the end, that is why we are all here, because we can see what needs to be done, and we aren’t afraid to do what it takes to make it happen.”

Aidan Harmon - XO

“Well then, Aidan, it seems I’m in the right place,” Marcia said with a smile, “I’ve never been one for ceremony and the like myself. Take Science and Medical for instance. Here, with me responsible for both, it could take a lot of running around by me, and/or a lot of comcalls between here and the Science Labs. Frankly, I’d rather spend the time saving lives and solving mysteries. Those two who were leaving here are promising members of Science and Medical, with the right amount of cross training into the other field of expertise that they could work in either department and operate effectively. I’ve told them to work together and to set up a science station here in sickbay and a medical station in the science lab, and to know what’s going on in the other department, cause the life of everyone on the Trenton could rely on Science while I’m in sickbay, or on medical when I’m in the science lab. Starfleet may care about departments and rank and saluting one’s superiors, but I don’t have the time or the luxury of that … silliness.” It was probable she was going to say a stronger word than silliness, and changed at the last instant to a more family friendly term.

“Now then, you are here, I am here, and I’ve got a medical tricorder, here,” she said, and then looked at it closely, “darn it, the isolinear chip in this has blown.” She removed it, opened a draw, and pulled out another. “don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of them here, they come like bananas, in bunches, I find.” She checked it and sighed, contentedly, “there we go, it works.”

“I’m getting myself a coffee, Aiden,” she said, “can I get you a drink as well?”

• Marcia Knowles, CMO/CSO

“One would think that with the black ops budgets that we have, they could at least get us some decent equipment,” Aidan said with a slight chuckle.

“But I’ll take a coffee as well, black.” He followed Marcia along to the replicator. “But what you are saying makes sense. A couple extra seconds running from one place to the other could mean lives. And we aren’t exactly going to get to stop off at any old starbase to pick up some extra crew. Or equipment for that matter.”

Aidan Harmon - XO