Securing Medical
Posted on Mon Dec 14th, 2015 @ 11:30am by Lieutenant Commander David Deschanel M.D. & Commander Jordan Gunning
Mission:
By Dawn's Early Light
Location: Main Sickbay [Upper, Deck 83]
Timeline: After "Security Preparations"
The hum of activity in the main sickbay was almost deafening as Jordan Gunning stepped off the turbolift into the wide corridor which acted as a conduit between all of the different wards on deck 83. He smiled at a couple of stressed looking orderlies who had their black uniforms draped with cables and I.V. bags who looked to be on their way to one of the designated triage areas.
"Where's the Chief?" Gunning asked a nurse as he sprinted across the corridor.
"He was in the emergency receiving area last I saw him," the nurse replied hurriedly, not breaking pace as he moved to take the equipment wherever he had been ordered with it.
"And where-" The nurse was gone before Gunning could ask where that was. He decided to wander until he ran into someone senior looking.
The newly-arrived chief medical officer for the station was just leaving the emergency receiving area as Gunning approached it. "If we get any arrivals in here, I want them stabilised as quickly as possible and then moved on to one of the triage areas," the doctor was saying. "Any critical patients are to be beamed direct onto the first available surgery bed. All others are to be moved to one of the triage areas based on how serious their injuries are. The diagnosis and assignment of patients to triage areas will be down to you, Doctor." He was walking briskly with another doctor at his side - a lieutenant by the pips on their collar - as he finished off whatever instructions he was giving.
"Understood, Doctor," the other physician said, before turning around and returning to the receiving area to continue with their preparations.
This doctor's flowing white coat gave him the appearance of seniority, helped by the pips on the chest of his uniform. "Doctor Deschanel? Jordan Gunning - station security."
"Ah, Commander. I expect you're going to be even more busy than we are down here," the doctor said, continuing his stroll around the curved corridor and inviting the security chief to walk with him. "What can I do for you today?"
"I just wanted to check in with you personally, Doctor." Gunning said as he followed the physician from bed to bed. "We've already had our sickbay evacuation assignments sent through but I wanted to get an idea of where you want security personnel placed through your medical facilities."
"Preferably as out of the way as they can be," David replied. "No offence to any of your staff Commander, but unless they're willing to pitch in and help with the wounded, they'll be doing my staff the biggest favour by being as unnoticeable as they can be." Although he knew that was a stock answer most medical officers gave to security chiefs when the question was asked, it was a valid point; if the security was visible enough to cause any delays in the movement of the medical staff, it could cost lives. The question of security did get him thinking however about what was already in place on the station; he was new and wasn't an engineer, so had no idea what sort of in-built anti-incursion technologies would be built into the station and its hospitals. "If you think they're needed in every room to be on the watch for any potential Sojourner beam-ins, then they're best finding an empty corner and staying there. Otherwise, I'd rather they stay near any jeffries tubes that open out here and the turbolift doors."
"Understandable, Doctor." Gunning smiled a conciliatory smile. He knew that it would be best for his people to stay out of their way and if the standard rules of engagement were going to be observed, the medical assignment would be the easiest for the security teams. He made a couple of notes on his PADD and transmitted it to the station chief in charge of the assignments. "I'll have them posted to doorways in the corridors and they should be out of the way enough and also be able to cover the turboshafts - you should be relatively secure from beam-ins down here."
"Thank you, Commander," Deschanel returned the smile briefly. It was good to know that he didn't need to add concerns of hostiles beaming in amongst the injured to his existing list of worries. "Let's hope that they aren't needed at all."
Doctor David Deschanel MD
Chief Medical Officer
&
Commander Jordan Gunning
Chief of Security
Starbase 332
