<snip and move to different thread>

Areiana stood with the other officers, offering a respectful nod to the captain as she gathered her PADD. The low hum of the ship seemed louder than usual, or perhaps it was just the tension settling in her chest. Orders had been given, and now it was time to act. There was no room for hesitation.

Turning on her heel, she stepped into the corridor. The doors slid shut behind her with a soft hiss, sealing off the briefing room and whatever fleeting calm it had held. Already, her mind was shifting gears—priorities aligning, contingencies forming. She raised her hand to her combadge and tapped it firmly.

“Blackford to all medical staff,” she said, her voice steady but urgent. “Please report to the medical bay immediately for an emergency meeting.”

There was a faint chorus of acknowledgments in her ear, overlapping voices confirming they were on their way. Good. No delays.

She quickened her pace toward the turbolift, boots striking the deck with purpose. The ship’s corridors, usually so familiar and routine, now felt charged with anticipation. Whatever was coming, it was serious enough to mobilize her entire team—and that alone told her how little margin for error they had.

“Medical bay.”

The doors slid closed, and the lift surged smoothly into motion. Areiana exhaled slowly, folding her hands behind her back as she stared at the seam of the doors. This was the moment before everything accelerated—the last chance to think clearly before the storm hit.

Her thoughts raced through protocols and personnel. Triage stations would need to be established. Supplies checked—twice. She’d have to assign teams quickly, make sure everyone knew their roles without confusion or overlap. There was no telling what condition the incoming patients would be in, or how many there might be. Worst-case scenarios flickered through her mind, uninvited but necessary.

She straightened slightly, resolve settling in. Whatever awaited them, she would be ready—and so would her staff.

The turbolift slowed, then came to a gentle stop. The doors parted with a soft whisper. Areiana stepped forward without hesitation, already shifting from preparation to action.

Areiana Blackford

Lieutenant Junior Grade Chief Medical Officer USS Chimera

20 minutes later some very tired and grumpy doctors and nurses filed in to the CMO’s office.

– GM Amadeus