Personal Invitation of the King

Posted on 21 Oct 2022 @ 7:48pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant JG Delenna Morak

1,142 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Infirmary Labs, Deep Space 9

ON

The Captain of the Starship Cygnus stepped off the ship and onto Deep Space 9 probably for the last time for the foreseeable future, and headed for the Infirmary. Not because he needed the starbase-level care that was offered there (he actually thought the care and facilities on the Cygnus were perfectly fine and was thrilled with Dr. Elodin and his level of care that he and his staff performed), but because he wanted to talk to someone specific there.

During his time aboard Deep Space 9 in the recent days, he had politely asked around about a Counselor. Again, not that he needed it, but he wanted to make sure people aboard his ship had access to the mental care that was needed. The same name kept coming up: Delenna Morak.

Bane had inquired about her duties aboard station and learned there was an over-staffing in the Counselling offices, which meant she was not being used to her potential. As such, she was doing what she could to help out the Medical staff as best she could, which meant she was relegated to medical research.

Reaching the Infirmary and being directed to the Medical Research Bay, Bane saw his target. "Pardon me for the interruption. Are you Counselor Morak?"

Delenna looked up from her work, "Yes, I am. How can I help you?" She looked back at her work and started to put stuff away to talk with the man in the medical laboratory.

She was almost finished with her research but there was still a long way to go. She had yet to find a way to cure the virus or make a preventative, but she felt like she was getting closer.

Plase smiled. "Excellent! Right where they said you'd be," he began cryptically. "I am Bane Plase, Captain of the U.S.S. Cygnus. Your reputation precedes you. I'd like to offer you a job," he said. Instead of continuing to be cryptic, he went ahead and showed her all of his cards. "I'd like to offer you a position on my ship, of Chief Counselor." He hoped she would accept.

"What about my research? I've been at this for almost a year and not left here? I'd like to be able to finish it but I don't believe it would be wise to move the specimens as they are highly contagious to everyone. I definitely do not want things to get muddled up and I would not be able to help them if they didn't have a transporter code or a solved DNA code," replied Delenna.
So far, Delenna had managed to get through all the tests of the length of time it takes for skin cells, blood cells and aging to all happen for every species of the Federation and how long the full cycle would take, ultimately ending in the death.
She would be starting the search for the key chromosome from the Thelusian Flu to help create a vaccine or cure.

The smile on the Captain's face vanished. He had expected, well, a different reaction. It was pretty rare for a Captain to seek out a specific officer to serve on their ship, the exception being the Executive Officer. She hadn't even greeted him. "Counselor, your primary duty in Starfleet is to go where Starfleet sends you. In this case, I am asking you to come to the Cygnus. It is a promotion in position for you."

"I understand that, sir, but who is going to continue the work I am doing or does Starfleet not care about the work I am doing anymore? I have not received written orders or communication for a change in my orders, unless of course you are delivering those orders?" her own smile having vanished as well because yet again she's pulled off a research project that she is in the middle of and in not such an easy position to just leave. " I apologise for any attitude. I have been stuck in here for nearly a year and just finished the research on how the Thelusian Flu reacts to the skin and blood cells of every species in the Federation" taking a huge sigh, "and it is not pretty." [pause] "I want to be able to create a vaccine or cure for it for especially those who do not have transporter technology."

Bane addressed her concerns in order in which she brought them up. "I am sure Starfleet cares about the research. Otherwise, it would not have been assigned to you, or been granted if you were the one that asked for the research opportunity to begin with. That said, there are plenty of medical research bays on the Cygnus that are available to people wanting to conduct sanctioned research by the ships Captain, or in this case, Starfleet. Bring it along. So long as you remember that you primary duty would be to the counselling of the ships compliment and crew." This first impression was not going the way he had hoped and imagined it would.

"Yes, sir. I would appreciate it if the bay had the measure that I have here for the safety of the crew," she said dropping a padd into the door box. "When do we leave?"
Delenna sent a message to the station CMO for containment boxes etc and help packing up. "I have been in middle of research projects for other people and been called to serve on ships when I have been in similar positions, which is why I reacted the way I did. I'd be happy to serve and do both. Personally I actually hate doing research projects but I was bored but I do like to help people especially if they do not have transporter tech."

This please Bane greatly. He finally had a Chief Counselor! "Your specifications for this experiment will be met. When you come aboard the Cygnus, please let Lieutenant Commander Larsen, the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Bast, the Chief of Operations and Dr. Elodin, the Chief Medical Officer know what you need and we should be able to accomodate your experimental needs. And, I think," he said, following up, "That you will get to work with people, or at very least study people, of varying degrees of technological level. Repairs should be done tomorrow and we will be departing shortly thereafter, so please report aboard before then. Welcome to the Cygnus.

Delenna smiled "Thank you, sir," she said. "I'll be there."

Plase nodded in affirmation. "Excellent news, Lieutenant. Er, Counselor," he corrected. "See ya then!" He departed, twittling his fingers at her, a Bajoran custom of departure. Pretty sure it was a Terran one, to.


OFF

Lieutenant Delenna Morak
Counselor
USS Cygnus

&

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

 

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