Meeting the CMO

Posted on Thu Feb 19th, 2009 @ 12:20am by Captain Elsie Halliwell

898 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Current

With the pending mission-briefing with the senior staff and the amount of meetings Commander Lane had been in all day, the Trill needed to get out of his reducing Ready Room. The Arch was a small ship however, his Ready Room was adequately sized. But the amount of time he had recently spent housed within their bulkheads had staled the air and the thickness of it stifled him.

Walking down the corridor of Deck Four, the arrival of the new Chief Medical Officer interjected his thoughts, and so the Commander changed his direction and headed for sickbay. As he entered it, few staff were evident and so the Trill, not to look conspicuous made a beeline for the CMO’s office. The door was wedged open and the Trill lightly tapped on the door-frame.

“May I come in, Lieutenant Mabren? Or is it Doctor?� he asked with a smile. “I’m Commander Lane and I thought it best to come down and see how you were getting on with things.�

Mabren was busy typing away on his computer, adding the updates to the crew’s records over their recently completed physicals. Hearing the tapping from his door, Mabren reached over and stopped the music. Standing, Mabren greeted the commander, "Hello, mon Capitaine. Please, come in;" he said, gesturing to the chair across from his before he continued. "Things are going well, the crew is responding much better than I was expecting to the physicals. And barring the incident with the phasers, the only medical aliment found so far was a minor infection."

“Infection?� he asked. “Well, I suppose as long as it’s under control… And the phaser incident; I’m still waiting on the full report from the officers in question as to what transpired.� He sighed a little and tapped the bottom of his lip as in contemplation.

He looked around a little and smiled. “I actually haven’t had the chance to come down here, as yet. She’s small but impressive. I hear that Ensign Carter adapted the EMH a little before your arrival. Have you two met?�

"The Counselor?" the doctor started, "No, I haven't. Between conducting physicals and trying to keep on top records, I haven't been out of my office. I hope to be able to meet her soon."

“And, of course, you have already met the ship’s First Officer, Commander Arkham. I’m not exactly sure how you, as the ship’s Chief Medical Officer would feel about her professional relationship with Doctor Halsey. That’s not a problem for you, is it?

Mabren had been wondering in the back of his mind if the CO would bring this subject up, now that he had, "I will respect the Commanders wishes, as I am duty bound too. Even if it's..." He trailed off, searching for the right word before finishing, "Unusual."

“I actually came down here to discuss my own medical queries, Mr. Mabren, if you are agreed. Unlike the good Lieutenant Commander, you are solely in charge of my medical care.� He smiled a little, and then continued. “As you may or may not know, I enrolled and successfully completed the Trill Joining program. I just, now, have to patiently wait for a Symbiont to become available that will suit my… current lifestyle and then I plan to become joined.�

He smiled more widely now, as the prospect of joining pleased him intently. “I would like, very much, if, baring in mind you still serve under my command at the time, you would oversee the procedure once a Symbiont is selected for me. I realise, having just met you, that this request may seem a little out of place, of sorts. However, the selection process could occur at any time and I would appreciate organising these minor details with plenty of notice. Do you have any experience with Trills, Mr. Mabren?�

This request, from what little he understood was no small matter. After taking a breath, Mabren answered the commander, "I have some limited experience. The Zhukov had a few Trill aboard, but as to a Joining. What would all be required?"

“Well,� he replied, inhaling. “The actually joining would be done back on Trill with trained Trill physicians. I don’t much understand the medical procedures that occur, however, once I return back onto the Archimedes, it is more the aftercare that I would appreciate support in. Obviously, never having been joined, I don’t rather know what to expect."

“It’s mainly just a ‘heads up’ kind of request,� he continued, changing tact with the look on the Doctor’s face becoming more and more concerned. “What I mean to say is that, should a Symbiont be selected for me while you are serving aboard, I would like you to be prepared.� He smiled, and then continued by saying, “Does that make more sense, Mr. Mabren?�

"Ah," Mabren said, as understanding dawned, "Sorry. Misunderstood," laughing at himself, Mabren continued, "Yes, that does, sir. I'll be sure to read up on Trill physiology and if I have any questions, I'll come knocking, as the saying goes."

“Thank you, Lieutenant. I’ll expect it. As I said, it may not even be for another 5 years as yet. But, thank you…�





Commander Coltan Lane
Commanding Officer
USS Archimedes

AND

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Gustav Mabren
Chief Medical Officer
USS Archimedes

 

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