Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Garth (Chief Science Officer) in Main Sim - Sickbay

Posted by Cadet Teresina Jason Christine Tanner (Engineer) in Main Sim - Sickbay

Posted by Lieutenant Tija Aizala (Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim - Sickbay
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(snip)
Tija’s tricorder showed that the parasite wasn’t dead, per se, it was just really cold. Like most biological jungle things it preferred warm, moisture rich, environments rather than cold dry ones. This environment wasn’t enough to kill the creature outright, yet, but it was enough to negatively impact its health and metabolism.

GM Wombat

Tija tapped her left index finger thoughtfully against her lips. So the parasite wasn’t dead, but slowing it’s metabolism down might buy them the time they need to save the other two infected crewmembers. Walking over to the other two biobeds, she instructed the computer, =/\= Lower the temperature and humidity within the force fields surrounding the other two patients to a level that won’t kill the patients, but reduce the metabolism and health of the parasite. =/\= Closing her eyes for a brief moment and taking a deep breath, the doctor waited for the reply from the computer.

Looking towards Garth, Aizala said, “Do you have any other ideas what we can do to get rid of the parasite?”

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Garth sighed in frustration as the scans showed that the parasite was only dormant. He threw his hands up in the air rather dramatically. “Anti-fungals are only mildly effective, environmental manipulation is only mildly effective, we need something that will be a definitive solution.”

Garth paced for a moment and spoke maybe to Tija but probably moreso to himself. “Scans showed no centralized mass of the parasite, which is odd because its actions suggest some sort of intelligence without a consolidated brain. If the parasite is solely relying on the nervous system of its host, perhaps we should be looking at interventions for disrupting that nervous system, although hopefully just momentarily for the living crew members.”

Tija watched him silently, following his train of thought.

He looked up and stopped his pacing. “This is only a theory,” Garth cautioned, “but the parasite showed a faint electrical signal on initial scans. Maybe we can ‘overload’ its hijacked nervous system by shocking the host.”

(Lt. J.g. Garth, CSO)

“It’s certainly worth a try,” the doctor agreed. “We just have to make sure that we don’t kill our patients in the progress. Which means we have to figure out exactly how to go about it.” That said, she walked over to Garth and called up the initial scans to have a look at the faint electrical signal. Thinking out loud, she added, “Electroshock therapy? Or maybe neural stimulation?” She didn’t want to make a hasty decision that might cost the two officers their lives. And yet she also knew that she didn’t have the luxury of time; for if she waited to long, the result might be the same.

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Richards was functionally dead at this point. If the scans proved anything it was that they could do what they wanted to him and it would be ok. The CMO, however, was another issue.

Swelling had started to form around the bite site and careful examination would show little bumps moving under the skin.

GM Wombat

Garth muttered a tellarite curse under his breath as the monitor above the CMO’s biobed beeped in warning of the new developments. “At this point I’m ready to just slap an AED on her and hope for the best. But, maybe we can fine-tune the charge to reduce the risk involved.”

Garth swiped his PaDD and pulled up the crew registry, scrolling quickly to the engineering roster. He slapped his comm badge. =^= Garth to Ensign Tanner. Report to sick bay immediately. =^=

Once TJCT had arrived and passed by the security cadets guarding the entrance to sickbay, Garth ushered her impatiently to the side of the biobed of the Challenger’s chief medical officer. “She’s been infected by an aggressive alien parasite,” Garth said bluntly without introduction, “we’re hoping to fry the flora’s tendrils attached to her central nervous system via electrical shock. Do you think you could work with Lieutenant Tija to adjust an electrical current to a level that would be lethal to the parasite but not lethal to the doctor?” Garth shoved a PaDD with scans of the parasite into her hands. “Time is of the essence.”

(Lt. J.g. Garth, CSO)

“Before I say yes, is anyone sure that doing this is going to achieve anything? There are still team members on the other vessel, if this is a parasite, your words, not mine, and it is able to feel aspects that are in hosts, not just on the other vessel, but here as well, then is it actually a parasite? And if you do shock it, won’t those in the crux of the matter suffer?” TJCT asked. “I’ve seen hosts that were supposed to be dead, that are only offline, and have been woken by whatever is controlling them. Some of them showed other signs that meant the host was still alive but in a sort of stasis. If this isn’t a parasite and is an intelligent creature by doing what you’re planning to do you could upset or anger it to the point, it not only kills everyone that’s been infected but takes control of the other vessel’s systems and destroys the challenger.”

Cadet TJCT

Garth’s wrinkled brow furrowed and the hints of a scowl flashed across his face. He thrust a stubby finger at the dismembered corpse of Ensign Richards a couple biobeds away. “I assure you, Cadet, he’s very much dead. And the same will happen to the doctor if we do nothing. Attempts at communication with the parasite were unsuccessful. I appreciate your caution, but we have a person’s life in front of us that we could save. If there are consequences to doing so, we will deal with those as they come.”

(Lt. J.g. Garth, CSO)

The doctor had just been about to reply, but closed her mouth again as Garth beat her to it. While he wasn’t the friendliest person on this ship, she had a feeling right now that it was good that he answered, as she could feel the anger rise in herself. She was aware that it was only partly the cadet, who irritated her. The other part was that she felt so helpless and irritated by this whole situation.

“And what do you call what’s moving at the bite site?” TJCT asked. “Has anyone checked the others, dead or alive for similar bite marks and moving bits?” She reviewed the PaDD. “Have you taken samples of what is moving? I would suggest putting Richards pieces back together and seeing what happens. If this is not a parasite, but something intelligent, then it would not just allow it’s newly acquired additions to be killed. Just because you say Richards is dead, unless you have got information from whatever infected them, you are not in a position to say Richards is dead.” Cursing mentally she opened her right sleeve and then opened her right prosthetic and withdrew a small vial from her right arm, and opened it, instructing the containment field to make a hole, so she could sprinkle a bit of a silver dust onto the bite site and the area that was moving, before reactivating the containment field. She knew the mineral ZDP5523900AQ1 was used for a lot of things on Coolac, but she remembered it being used to stop signals from being received from one item to an entity. She figured she was going to have to explain or at least answer questions, but if there was a link and this impeded it, it would be worth it. She didn’t like the strange creature’s If there are consequences to doing so, we will deal with those as they come. ~Maybe he could be eaten.~ She thought studying him.

Cadet TJCT - engineering

“Cadet, wha-” Tija started to yell as she moved towards TJCT. Her jade green eyes were blazing and for a petite woman it was amazing how much she looked like an angry sabortooth tiger or a dragon about to spew fire. =/\= Computer, fully close that force field again, =/\= she ordered and stared right at the cadet, arms crossed tightly in front of her chest. “What in the name of the prophets were you thinking, Cadet? Not only could you get hurt, but under no circumstances are you to do anything to my patients without consulting me first and getting my approval. You are not a doctor,” she hissed, her nostrils flared. “And as Lieutenant Garth pointed out, we conducted every examination we could think of and everything you mentioned. I understand that you are trying to help, but what we need right now is to stop the parasite from killing those two people. It already killed Richards and as a doctor I can tell you: He is dead. I’m not willing to lose anybody else. So you have two options now: either you help us give Lieutenant Garth’ plan a try or you leave this sickbay.” Turning around she scanned the CMO with her medical tricorder once more; for one to see what that power did (if anything) and to get a close reading on the bite wound. Without looking at her, she continued, “What was that powered you put on her? Also, there is no one with a bite wound, as the CMO got bitten by Richards. “

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

“And he was… Fine.” TJCT made some calculations on the PaDD and handed it across to the animal looking one. “I do not agree with what you are trying, but then I am simply a cadet. It is the pair of you as ranking officers who are leading the way.” She ignored the question about what it was. She doubted it was a parasite, and she more than considered what they were doing would do anything but kill more of the crew who were on the other vessel, if not those that were on this vessel. “You are both more experienced then I, and I have only AYK to go by. The frequency you need is on the PaDD. You have a ten percent window to increase by, but no more or you will kill the host. I will refrain from offering any further verbal comments or suggestions Lts.” Taking a step back she held her tongue refusing to point out that the Bite came from someone who was obviously infected and there had to be someway for the so called parasite to be passed from person to person. “I shall take your instruction as an order and leave medical at this point.” It was obvious that her people skills needed to be improved. She had no problem with what the CMO had said, other than she didn’t believe that it was a parasite, and had to wonder if either of them had gotten an update from the bridge. She was sure if she was right she would no doubt be called somewhere, until then she’d find something else to keep herself occupied.

Cadet TJCT Engineering.

Garth raised a hand in a “stop” motion and closed his eyes for a couple seconds. “Cadet Tanner. Neither of us have specialized with technology the way you have. What we are attempting to do here requires a delicate balance, as you pointed out. Your expertise is still needed to safely complete the procedure. I don’t feel comfortable making these adjustments you have calculated myself. I would implore you to stay, and help us save this woman’s life.”

Walking to the supply cabinet, Garth pulled out medical gloves, an apron, and a face mask similar to the ones he and Lieutenant Tija were wearing. “You will need these to protect against exposure, as the exact method of transmission is yet unknown, but we believe that it is passed directly to the bloodstream usually by breach of the skin.” He handed the protective garments to TJCT.

“I’m sure Lieutenant Tija can lead you through the medical aspects of the plan. And afterwards, I would be interested to test your hypothesis about reconnecting Ensign Richards’ hand. But the time for experimentation has passed for now. This either works…” Garth glanced at the scans above the patient’s head, “or she dies.”

(Lt. J.g. Garth, CSO)

TJCT stood near the door and closed her eyes, before turning back. =/\= Cadet TJCT to Bridge. Medical and Science believe shocking one of the infected will stop what they are calling the parasite. I do not believe it is a parasite. Could you please update them on whether contact has been made with whatever has control of the other vessel. =/\= She walked towards the pair. Ignoring the items that the creature was holding out, she took a Tricorder off the nearby tray and made the alterations, holding it in her right hand. “I take no responsibility for what you want done.” She told the CMO. “I need access to the woman.” She didn’t bother pointing out that her right hand arm and shoulder was artificial and segregated from the organic. If the CMO didn’t remember that from her physical that was her problem. Her voice was bland emotionless, direct and soft.

Cadet TJCT Engineering.