Into The Field
Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2015 @ 7:44am by Commander Titus Livius Drusus PhD & Captain Liarra Von
Mission:
Pandemic [Incomplete]
Location: Main Science Lab
Commander Titus Livius Drusus had quite forgotten just how good a well-resourced science lab facility could be. Having spent the last fifteen years of his career making do with a starship's often under-resourced facilities (though some were better resourced than others), Starbase 332's institute-like labs now made him feel like a kid in a candy store with an unlimited credit chit.
He had a staff larger than the crew of a large starship, multiple laboratories for any kind of research he cared to direct his energies towards, a resource allocation so large it seemed like it would never deplete and a small army of young graduate science officers all eager to make their mark on the scientific community with the next-best-thing study on this or that. Things couldn't get much better for a science officer.
But there was something not sitting right with Drusus. It tugged at his happiness like a shy child trying to get her parent's attention. Despite the resources, despite the facilities and despite the army, there was a nagging feeling of being caged; of being bottled up. He hadn't felt this burden since his last trip home to Magna Roma, and at least then he had his family to compensate. Titus Livius Drusus needed to fly. He needed to be on the frontier, at the sharp, pointy end of the spear of discovery.
Like a true Magna Roman, though, he did his duty first. Duty demanded that he be here at Starbase 332, so here at Starbase 332 he would be. King of the multiple laboratories and commander-in-chief of his army of graduate science officers. One of whom he was, perhaps unfairly, taking out his frustrations upon just before Captain Von visited.
"How could you have missed this?" he demanded, pointing at the PADD and glaring fiercely at the tall Caitian with the languid manner.
"I ... I don't know, sir," Ensign M'Gora replied, clearly ashamed that he had let his doctoral supervisor down. "I'm sorry."
Drusus sighed and shook his head, then handed the PADD back to M'Gora. "Don't apologise," he said. "This is how we learn. Run the experiment again and this time make sure you factor in the phasic variable. The whole experiment collapsed because of that. It's a wonder you only got inexplicable results and didn't blow another hole in the station!"
Liarra Von had managed to sneak into the science lab just in time to witness the display of frustration. Her duties usually called for leading an army into battle, not through experiments. But while she did feel like Drusus was a little harsh, she sympathized with the Magna Roman. In tactics and command, not following orders to the letter or showing carelessness in your work could result in the loss of life, something far more valuable than the lost time in an experiment. And from the way Commander Drusus was talking, but a mistake in such an experiment could also mean a loss of life. It was good to know that the officer she came to see took his responsibility seriously.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Von said, making her presence known.
The Chief Science Officer turned to face the newcomer and immediately saw who it was. "Captain," he said, managing to mask his surprise with his flat tone of his voice. "I wasn't expecting you," he added before turning back to M'Gora and dismissing him with a flick of his head. With the chastised Caitian slinking away, Drusus turned back to he CO. "How may I be of service?"
Liarra stepped further into the room, closer to the scientist. "I've been given word of a bit of an odd situation. There is a planet a few lightyears away, Monon III, home to a pre-warp civilization. We have a team of researchers and anthropologists stationed on the planet to study and observe the native inhabitants." Von didn't necessarily agree with the occasional practice of putting duckblinds on pre-warp worlds, but it wasn't her place to argue that point now. "Coded transmissions sent from Monon III to Cestus indicates that there are signs of some sort of viral outbreak. Normally the Prime Directive says that we have to stay hands-off, and let the pandemic run its course. But the researcher's initial scans indicate that the virus did not originate on Monon III, that it came from off-world."
Drusus's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise; it wouldn't be the first time some malevolent organisation thought it would be a good idea to test some viral weapon on a primitive society. "Have they been able to match it with a known virus?"
Von shook her head in dismay. "No, they haven't. But their laboratories aren't well suited for studying viruses. The researchers hadn't prepared for possibly bio weapons. Fortunately, the labs on the Carthage are better suited for conducting field studies."
Nodding in agreement, Drusus sensed an opportunity to address his growing cabin fever. "Well, Captain, I'm no virologist, but I know a thing or two about the subject. I'd be happy to accompany the Carthage to investigate."
"Actually, Commander, I was hoping you would lead the mission. Commander Gunning tells me that you've been itching for more opportunities to command."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but hundreds of generations of Magna Roman stoicism reigned it in before it could bloom. "Commander Gunning is correct," he said, a small measure of excitement in the tone of his voice betraying his calm face. "I will gladly accept the mission, Captain."
"Excellent. I'm glad to hear it," Von replied, her multiple lifetimes doing nothing to hold back her smile. "The Carthage is all fueled up and ready to go when you are, though the report from the researchers made it sound like time was critical. The virus was expanding pretty rapidly. You might speak to the chief engineer. She's young, but from what I've been told she's very bright and a hard worker. She might be able to give you a little more out of those old engines."
"Yes, sir," Drusus replied, his mind quickly compiling a list of what he would need. "I'll get us underway as soon as possible."
"One more thing, Commander," Von continued. "I almost forgot. I already talked to Commander Gunning about the temporary assignment change. He also suggested that Doctor Brand tag along with you. She has some experiences with viruses."
He gave a curt nod and said, "I'm sure her experience will be invaluable to our mission. I'll go see her now and then head to the Carthage."
"Excellent, Commander," Von replied as she nodded. "In that case, I'll leave you to it. Good luck." With another nod she turned and made her way back out of the science lab.
Drusus watched the captain leave and as soon as the door slid closed behind her, the smile that had been straining to splash across his face finally won out. He smiled wide and punched the air in triumph, "Yes!" His own command; a real mission to command and a genuine opportunity to impress the brass. This is your chance, Titus, he told himself. Don't mess it up.
As his Magna Roman dignity reimposed itself on his mien, he straightened his tunic and looked around to make sure nobody saw his outburst of joy. Nobody was there. Time to get to work.
"M'Gora!" he barked as he headed off in belated pursuit of his graduate. "Pack your things, we're heading into the field!"
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Starbase 332
Commander Titus Drusus
Chief Science Officer
Starbase 332
