Pointed Ears in the Right Direction

Posted on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 8:25pm by Fleet Admiral Donatella Figueroa & Lieutenant Commander Seleya & Lieutenant Junior Grade Ethan O'Donoghue

Mission: S01E04 The Outpost Has Eyes
Location: USS Musashi | Briefing Room

Captain Donatella Figueroa did like what she heard and saw from her newly assigned last minute Chief Medical Officer, but Fig was still left perplexed why a damn Vulcan of all things. There were a few dozen species in the Federation, most of them humanoid and yet a Vulcan. They gave me a Vulcan she thought shaking her head as she inched closer to the back of the room where a food and beverage slot was there to be used. She ordered herself and the expected Doctor two Vulcan Spice teas which were rather ironic to her considering Vulcans hated anything spiced or seasoned. Their culinary depth was shallow at best. To a human it tasted like a tea spiced with a poor man's cinnamon, barely a kick. To a Vulcan, however, an acquired taste.

"EJ, would you like one or something else?" she asked the young man who had already taken his place at the table in which the two of them had already sat not too long ago discussing the very same mission materials with the rest of the Senior Staff. However, Doctor Seleya had come aboard shortly after the briefing ended. She knew that EJ had a lot on his mind and he had spent the past hour and some tinkering around down in Musashi's Engineering. "Will you have us ready to go soon?" she added.

EJ Looked up "Just a regular old british tea for me, Vulcan stuff makes my stomach wig out" He said lightly laughing as he fiddled with his new uniform "I hate these things i was used to the old uniforms so much easier to move in hell they were easier to fight in" he said laughing again, the laughs were a hollow comparison to his already banshee-like laughs when he was in the mood for such frivolity "I've tinkered all i can im having the engineers double and tripple check my work but inside of forty minutes this old bird will see speeds she hasent since the early days" He said winking at her. It Puzzled him as to why a Vulcan medical officer was placed aboard, preety sure he dident understand alot of things right now.

Captain Figueroa scoffed. She had brought the two Vulcan teas to the table and went to fetch EJ 'regular old British tea' but she had to be more specific with her ordering. The database was extensive, but old British tea just wasn't in there that way. She knew what he liked though. "Here you go, my dear" she said tenderly not even realizing she had used a term of endearment for the young helmsmen.

"I don't like them that much either, EJ and you are right" she said simply. "They are not easy to move in for combat, but then again...we are supposed to be dawning in the age of peace and exploration again. At least that is what the Starfleet Academy brochures are starting to say now" she teased. It was then the doors slid open revealing the feminine figure of the Vulcan in question.

"Doctor Seleya, please come in...have a seat. I just got you a mug of Vulcan spice tea" said Fig as she proceeded towards her seat at the head of the table. She gestured towards EJ. "Doctor Seleya, Ensign Ethan O'Donoghue, ship's Helmsmen. Ensign, Doctor Seleya that Chief Medical Officer I was just mentioning" she said with a wink.

Seleya gave a nod. She thanked the captain for the tea. "It is a favourite of mine however I must say the spicing leaves something to be desired. I usually add three shots of cinnamon." Seleya took her seat. "I am pleased to meet you Ensign." She placed the objects in her hand on the table, one paper notebook and a pen." She promptly opened the notebook and picked up the pen noting that they were staring at her. Had she done something wrong?

Captain Figueroa said nothing thought she definitely gave a look and flashed one to EJ. This Vulcan is the strangest I've ever accounted. She definitely isn't full Vulcan, but I'm NOT going to have this conversation here. I'll talk to Admiral Essex first and see what he has to say about her since she is here on his orders thought the Captain. "Doctor, as I was saying earlier in the shuttle bay when you came aboard.... The Musashi is going to be on it's way very shortly to the Boradis III colony or what's left of it. We received a distress signal and have listened to it. There's nothing there except the screams of colonist, and it's mostly the children we hear. After that, dead silence. A Federation probe has scanned the planet for life signs and detected none. However, that particular probe is older and we cannot rule out that it's readings are inaccurate or the colonist are underground. The planet had minimal defenses."

"I see. I shall begin preparing sickbay for incoming wounded." She wrote some notes. "How many colonists total were there at last count?"


Fig picked up a data tablet that was on the conference table. "Doctor Calix, your...er the current soon to be former Chief Medical Officer is probably briefing his staff as we speak and preparing Sickbay. Of course with your arrival you will be the ranking Medical Officer and Chief Medical Officer as soon as all the Ts are crossed and Is are dotted. It looks like at last count there were one hundred and sixty five colonist, with eight women expecting" informed the Captain.

She wrote the numbers down, "Understood." She wrote some more and then put her pencil down to sip her tea. "Do you have copies of the last medical records transmitted to Starfleet and a list of names and photos of all colonists?" She knew that Starfleet collected that data at six month intervals.

"No, Doctor I do not. However, you are welcome to request them" she replied. "Unfortunately, we will be at Boradis III before you receive those records" added Fig.

"I see." Seleya tried to be as organized as possible. She wondered why the current CMO hadn't requested those records right away. "I will be prepared Captain." She jotted a few more notes and sat back sipping her spiced tea, It really needs cinnamon a lot of it. Her thoughts of cinnamon interrupted by another that flew into her mind. "When we arrive I assume there will be an away team. Would you prefer your current CMO there or shall I be a member?"

"Doctor, at this point we don't even know if there will be a crater, rubble, bodies, or injured colonist beneath the surface. The probe's accuracy is about as good as seventy five percent given it's age and the geological composition of the planet. If there is need for a medical officer down there, I will definitely take you into consideration. Truth be told I have not decided on the makeup of the landing party yet. But if there are volunteers...I'll consider it."

"Understood." She gave a nod. "If there are no questions for me I believe I have a sickbay to prepare as well as a staff."

Fig nodded. Well, she's direct and to the point. I respect that thought Fig. "Doctor, before you go..." said Fig reaching for one of the data tablets on the table. She handed it to the Vulcan. "I had all the notes recorded from the Mission Briefing plus a few addendums that I added afterwards. Please look over everything before we arrive at the planet. I want you to be as prepared as the rest of the crew even if it is on such short notice."

She gave a sharp nod. "Indeed. An excellent idea. Very much appreciated Captain." She took the device. "I will be ready." She spoke as if there was no room for error. "Permission to return to sickbay?"

"Granted" replied the Captain. "You return to Sickbay and get everything squared away. I'll speak with Admiral Essex per his request, and if everything goes according to plan we will be in the Boardis system soon" added Fig before the woman left the room.

Seleya gave a nod. "Of course." She gave a nod to the navigator and headed out.

Fig took a sip of her tea and looked at EJ. "Well isn't she quick witted and directly driven" commented the Captain. Fig ran her tongue across her bottom lip and let the whole experience just sink in. There were bits and pieces about the Vulcan that she liked, a few things that rubbed her the wrong way, but ultimately it left Fig with a sense of relief. Finally a kindred spirit aboard this starship who doesn't sugar coat or pussy foot around thought the Captain.

"EJ, I want you to draw up a brief report. Everything you looked at, changed, or modified to the engines or any part of Engineering. Have in on K'Niras' desk before we get to Boradis III. It may be useful in the future if we need to shed off some time. Also, find an EV suit that fits you because effective immediately you are on the list of candidates for landing party duty."

Ej sat and obseved until he was spoken too "Its Nice to meet you Doctor" he spoke as he looked to his commanding officer "Ive been drawing up a report as i went captain figuired i could do that as it would save time, i can hand it to K'Niras myself once im done here" he said with a slight smile "Ok then i'll try and get am EV Suit ill make sure to check in with science aswell make sure atmospeherics are ok" he spoke matter of factly "This tea is amazing captain" he said sipping from it.

Fig smiled as she thought about the woman.

Seleya left the office and headed back to sickbay. She had so much work on her plate that she didn't have to worry about dwelling on personal things. What at the CO said about Essex asking her new CO to call him? She wondered what he would say. The moment the thought crossed her mind she shut it down. She had work to do. She would focus on that.