If Only Wishing Made It So

Posted on Tue Feb 26th, 2019 @ 8:59am by Captain Benjamin Ingram Dr & Lieutenant Commander Mara Ricci & Lieutenant Commander Meilin Jiang

Mission: S1E2: A Temple To New Gods
Location: USS Resolute, Conference Room
Timeline: MD3 16.00PM

"So...just so we're clear on the fundamentals."

Ingram put the padd back down on the conference room table. In doing so it rejoined its family of other padds, all of them containing in part pieces of a puzzle that was still unfolding. Geophysics reports on the planet's crust, focusing on the mantle shattering impact sites where kinetic weapons had been hurled down from orbit. Environmental analysis on the atmosphere and general environment, which indicted if life was to repopulate Xilos it would need to start from the single cellular stage.

And then was the report from the Operations department, detailing the logistical nightmare of transporting just shy of five thousand people and a few hundred tons of equipment up from the surface.

Ingram turned the padd slightly, to align it with the conference room table's edge.

"Leaving the Xilosian's here, even in the short term, is a death sentence. But is bringing them back to Carpathia any better?" Ingram posited. "Discuss."

"Perhaps in the short term," replied Mara with a shrug. "From the looks of it, their planet is dying quickly. If they like, perhaps we could help them find a new, suitable planet on which to start a colony. I'm sure the science department would revel in the challenge," she added with a slight grin in Meilin's direction.

"Given the extent to which their civilisation has been pruned back, they would still need our support," Ingram mused as he aligned the second padd.

"Either way it's easier to help a population on a planet they can live off of. The teach a man how to fish and all." Dania chimed in.

Meilin smiled meekly at Mara's insinuation. "If it is a matter of mere difficulty, then I do not see the merit in discussing whether we render aid." Her eyes settled back on Ingram with a respectful if challenging gaze. "We are Starfleet, after all. That was what we do. I move we turn the discussion from 'if' to 'how'."

"The how would seem a somewhat trivial matter: the Support Module," Ingram said. He made an elegant throwing gesture towards the empty air of the table, and a holo image of the Support Module appeared. It really did resemble a mushroom, all in white. With another gesture the solid white hull faded away, revealing the stubby stalk filled with its intestinal cram of machinery and plumbing, and then the upper flare of the Agri Dome with its central support pillar.

"Climate controlled, access to basic necessities. I'm sure a Bajoran would look at that and see it as a five star Risan resort spa compared to a 'Forced Relocation Camp'," Benjamin said dryly. "And given the Support and Engineering Modules are being mated together as we speak, they'll also provide transportation out of the system. As a temporary measure, until a more suitable home can be found?"

Meilin smirked triumphantly all through the explanation, but returned her face to a neutral expression once Ingram turned away from the holographic presentation. "Excellent idea, Commander."

Dania nodded, ignoring the entirely too rude a comment and glanced around the room. She didn't have much to contribute at this juncture, as her job would be getting as much information from the Xilosians on the Concordance as possible and predicting how they would react to Starfleet's involvement.

Ingram noticed that Dania was keeping herself to herself, a trait he wished so many others could take to heart. But he could show leniency, perhaps even mercy. And thus he turned his sights on Dr Kiiz.

"Doctor, if you'd be so kind as to tell us a little bit about what caused the mutiny? We've all heard some of the rumours going around, a dose of facts would quite nice at this juncture." Ingram enquired.

Storm looked over at the Trill, blonde eyebrow raised. What had they missed?

Vereyn leaned forward onto his elbows, on the table, "After doing some research and looking at the samples that I have been able to get." He paused, "I have determined that it is a fungal infection. It has a very short incubation period, and is very contagious. I can't stress enough how contagious this is." Turning to the CO, the Trill locked eyes with him, "I suggest that we limit the amount of crew that goes to the Engineering section until we get more information on this infection."

"I concur," Meilin said. "Ensign Kyril-Ma suffered a minimal exposure through an environmental suit defect which compromised his cognition function within an hour. He..." She chose her words carefully so as not to cast undue aspersions against the Xilosians. "... did not survive the crisis."

"Can it be cured?" asked Mara, alarmed. "I mean, do anti-fungals seem to do anything? Is even opening the engineering section safe?"

"The Xilosians claim the fungal infection is untreatable and the resulting Affect Dysregulation irreversible, but we won't know for certain until we perform a controlled analysis for ourselves," Meilin said.

"I plan on running tests as soon as I am able to get more samples of it. It's a fungal infection. Many species have been combating them for years. Surely one of our antifungals should counteract it." Vereyn said with a determined tone. "But then again, this could be something completely different that what we are used too. New quadrant and all."

"Do we know who got infected and how? Do we know where the infection came from?" Dania asked, clasping her hands behind her back.

"What other precautions will the crew need to take?" The Executive Officer spoke up for the first time in the conversation. He was generally soft-spoken unless a situation called for otherwise and was short and to the point generally.

"Outside of limiting access to Engineering what potential does it have to spread to the rest of the station?" Ross reiterated.

"Fungal spores are typically airborne," Meilin said. "Now that we know what to look for, we should be able to prevent infections rather effectively through the transporter bio-scans and the atmosphere controls of the life-support system."

"Any monitoring of the crew recommended?" Ross asked.

"As of this moment, the crew I trust is on the Support Module and the Resolute." Ingram spoke up from his seat. "The Engineering Module, for now, is a hazard zone. Now there were escapees from the Engineering Module during the mutiny, but given the aggressive and abnormal behaviour of one of the infected, we would know if it had taken root. We'll quarantine the crew on the Engineering Module until we return to Carpathia and can devise a more permanent solution. Dr Kiiz, a cure or a vaccine. Lieutenant th'Zohan, I think a standard quarantine ward might not meet our requirements. I'm sure the good Doctor would enjoy your insights on improvements."

Vereyn nodded, "Eye sir. I will get to work on it right away and make it top priority." Making a note in his PADD he looked back at the CO for continuing orders.

"As we carry forward, we can't do without the Engineering Module. Chief Ricci, do whatever you need to do to fumigate the Module. Radiation, chemical, whatever you need. Commander Ross, I'm sure you can lend our talented Engineer a boon. Without the Module's reactor, Canopus Station is non-functional. That means no mains power, no shields, no weapons," Ingram placed a hand on the conference room table. "This is a stout little ship, a fighter. But given a Ronin class heavy cruiser couldn't outmatch a Myriad Thorn Ship, we must be realistic."

"I'd be happy to, sir," the Commander said, then nodded toward the Chief Engineer.

Mara nodded, already thinking of ways to keep them all healthy. Perhaps bio monitors to sense any fungus with which they may come into contact. And maybe everyone should carry a hypo equipped with anti-funguls. Perhaps breathing masks. Perhaps all of the above. Whatever. She was determined to keep her team healthy.

"And finally...Commander Jiang."

The climate control in the conference room dropped a few degree's, as Ingram turned his attention on Meilin.

"I must quite rightly applaud your dedication to Starfleet. First contact, and the rescuing of nearly 5000 refugees. Quite stellar additions to one's service jacket," he said with a smile. "And quite in keeping with your current assignment as Canopus Station's civilian outreach program. Carpathia Colony, the...Rish enclave, and now your very own tent city in the Support Module."

He clicked his fingers.

"Ah, wait. Not yet. That is still to come, and will surely demand a great deal of your time. Begin the preparation, Formation Leader Kle is in sickbay getting treated for various ailments long term confinement can cause. We need to be fleet-footed," his eyes then turned to Commander Storm. "And to that end, Miss Storm will assist you. How better to gain more insight and intelligence than by helping someone move house, huum?"

He leaned back in his chair.

"Have I forgotten anyone?"

Meilin smiled sweetly and shook her head. The subtext clearly suggested that Ingram intended this as punishment, but in truth Meilin would have requested the role had it not been assigned as punishment. "You can count on us, Commander."

Dania nodded at Ingram and Jiang, then raised a hand, "my question from before still stands," she looked over at Ingram and Kiiz. "Do we know who got infected and how? Do we know where the infection came from? Without these questions answered, our efforts may as well be those of Sisyphus if we repeat their actions and get infected ourselves."

"The Xilosians reported Marines entering and subsequently leaving the same structure we did," Meilin said. "It would stand to reason that the Marine detachment was exposed in the same way as Ensign Kyril-Ma. We saw how quickly he descended into a violent state. The Marines may have proliferated the fungal infestation, which would explain the lack of automated filtration methods within the Engineering module. Based on what we've observed, I expect that anyone exposed would be symptomatic by now."

"Indeed. It points them out from the crowd but does make them an extremely effective infection vector," Ingram said in concurrence. "From the admittedly brief time I've spent going over the field reports, it would seem the infection came with the arrival of the Concordance to this star system. It stands to reason the two are linked, supported by the fact the temple structure was laced with the fungus and the scorched earth policy enacted when the Concordance left."

Dania nodded, "so lets get samples, see if that helps us in finding a treatment."

"Yes, the Xilosian solution to the infection is somewhat overly effective. But given we have the entire Engineering Module from which to harvest a sufficiently robust sample size, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure Dr Kiiz already has in mind some improvements to one of Canopus's quarantine labs to accommodate such a prolific infection risk." Ingram tapped one of his padds with a fingertip. "So, any further business?"

"If any unexpected situations or safety concerns arise inform command, be safe, watch your people," the XO said, to everyone.

"I suppose the squad will begin running defence patrols," Axon said. "Also, we should consider setting up a quarantine beacon on this planet so people avoid it."

"A good idea," Ingram said. "A short-range beacon, something that could only be detected once in orbit. Remember, there was a starfaring civilisation that took it in stride to sow the soil of this world with salt. Placing a beacon here will tell them someone on their level of technology or better was here. We are new to this region, and we must be ready for the day we announce ourselves fully."

Meilin tapped her lip in thought. "What little data we have on this Concordance nonetheless leads me to suspect that they have already done just that." She glanced at Ingram and Axon both. "It may be that the denizens of Messier 4 would come upon a planet devastated so thoroughly to the point of ecological sepsis and immediately understand what it means: the Concordance was here."

"Yes but we don't need to advertise that we were here just yet." Dania thought to herself as she kept her expression impassive.

"Good, then we're all on the same page," Ingram said and brought his hands together in a little clap. "You have your assignments. Axon I'll want you to hold on a moment, I have a special assignment for you that requires a deft hand. Everyone else, let's be about it shall we?"