Lessons on Deck 16, Part I

Posted on Thu Apr 1st, 2010 @ 4:32am by Commander Michael Evans M.D. & Vice Admiral Iluvar

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Deck 16, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD07, 0630hrs

ON: [[Deck 16, USS Pandora, Day 07, 0630]]

Dr. Evans escorted the command cadet off the turbolift on deck sixteen. All was silent except for the throb of the warp core just a few decks up. Though brightly lit, it seemed that this deck was deserted, which wasn't that far from the usual truth. All that was to be found on this deck was torpedo storage and launchers and the main tractor assembly. Any windows to be found were generally small and angled downward in their view of space due to the curve of the hull. As they stepped into the corridor Evans silently looked around, as though admiring it.

The moment he stepped off the lift, the first thought that went through Jesse's (NPC) mind was to wonder what possible need there was for him to be in the bowels of the ship. Over the past week, he'd gotten a little more used to working with the doctor and understanding his unusual style, but there were still many things that confused Jesse...and this was one of them.

A voice issued from one of the open doors. "There you are. Was wondering if you'd show up." A woman walked out of the room with a smile and leaned against the bulkhead as she crossed her arms. The rank on her collar indicated that she was a Chief Petty Officer. She had raven hair, an olive complexion, and her irises were pools of liquid black. A pack could be seen on the floor behind her through the doorway.

Surprised that there was, in fact, another individual in the vicinity, Jesse quirked an eyebrow. She didn't seem to be an engineering technician or systems specialist, based on the color of her uniform collar. So far, the doctor hadn't told him anything about what they would be doing today, but he had a pretty good feeling that he was about to find out.

"Areli," Evans greeted. "You know I'd never stand you up," he teased, but then looked away. "Cadet, this is Petty Officer Kerem. She's the senior EMT aboard ship. You'll be assigned to her today. I think she has some work for you," he gave a hidden wink to 'Chief' Areli (NPC).

"Good morning, Cadet," she said in her clear mezzo as she stood straight. "You may call me 'Chief Areli', or just 'Chief', or you can refer to me as 'the Senior Medic'." She did not smile, but there was a glint in her eyes. "Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jesse replied, a little uneasy being assigned to yet another subordinate officer. Despite what he'd learned about the medical profession and the limited insight he'd gained into the doctor's views on command, Jesse couldn't help but feel as if he was moving further away from the command staff. Still, he'd learned enough to know that the doctor usually had a purpose in whatever he had Jesse do, so it was better to sit tight and play along than it was to complain or ask questions.

"Good," Evans said. "I'll leave you two to play, then." Grinning, he stepped back into the waiting turbolift. "Deck seven," he ordered, and disappeared.

"Well, shall we get started?" Areli began. "There are two things I want to impress upon you today. The first will be learned with this..." She handed Eckles a PADD. On it was the location and inventory of every medkit and emergency pack on the deck. "You get to inventory those this morning."

Jesse might have protested, but the one look at the chief told him that it would have fallen on deaf ears. Grudgingly, he accepted the PADD and skimmed over its contents. From what he was seeing, it was going to be a rather long morning. He almost wished he was back in sickbay, doing whatever busy-work the doctor had assigned him.

Areli didn't miss the resignation on the young cadet's face. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll be helping you. Shouldn't take too long."

Indeed, it didn't take too terribly long with Areli's help. She was familiar with the packs, kits, and equipment as well as their locations. She figured Jesse was too by the last one. It was almost 10:00am when they finished. They were taking a short break and sipping a cool, sweetened electrolyte-fortified drink when she said, "Well, are you ready to move on to the next lesson?"

Which is what, exactly? Jesse thought to himself as he took another sip of the drink. Instead, he simply replied, "I suppose."

"Good," she said. "The first lesson was, of course, 'be prepared.' During this next exercise you will leave your medkit where it is now in the other room, but keep your tricorder on you. You will have two assistants: Graf (NPC) has only first aid training, and I will be your second. We will be part of your response team, of which you are in charge." Without waiting for further questions or acknowledgement of readiness from Jesse, she tapped her comm badge, "Evans, we're ready to begin down here."

Immediately a large explosion concussed the air from a nearby compartment. The lights went dark, then returned more dimly as emergency lighting took over. A hissing was heard from somewhere and something acrid could be smelled. An audible alarm sounded from overhead. A man, that one could only assume might be 'Graf', appeared from a doorway and shouted, "Quick! In here!" Then he disappeared back into the room.

Confused, but knowing that remaining still was not the best course of action, Jesse followed the man toward the room. He moved forward cautiously, just in case whatever had just happened triggered something else. There wasn't much time to think about what had caused the explosion, only to move forward and worry about it later.

OFF

A JP by:

Lieutenant Commander Michael Evans
Chief Medical Officer/Second Officer
USS Pandora

Areli (NPC)
Emergency Medical Technician
USS Pandora
Played by: LtCmdr Evans

Graf (NPC)
Environmental Systems Technician
USS Pandora
Played by: LtCmdr Evans

And

Cadet Jesse Eckles (NPC)
Command Cadet
USS Pandora
Played by: RAdm Iluvar